Two Warm-Toned Looks from One Palette

I am an absolute fiend for warm-toned shadows as I have mentioned in many previous posts but I often find myself opting for the same variation of shadows when using even my most favourite palettes. The Morphe 3502 has quickly become one of my most used palettes this year so far and I am confident that I would wear every single one of the shadows that the palette contains. This has meant that I have actually fully explored the whole palette for once and not just the same few colours. Hence why today I am doing a post focusing on two looks created from just this one palette. 

Look One

This look is incredibly typical me as it incorporates a warm copper-gold foiled shadow called Rustic in the inner third of the eye, Blaze, which is a warm toned orange, blended through the complete socket of my eye and Rich, a chocolate brown in the outer crease. Paired with mascara and a black gel liner in my waterline, this look is perfect for me both day to night and is definitely one that I feel most comfortable in. 

Look Two

This look is something a little bit different purely for me as I rarely (and I mean rarely) opt for an all matte eye. Hence why I had to sneak a little pit of shimmer in the inner corner for an extra pop. For this, I payed extra attention to blowing out the outer third of my eye using the lighter orange-brown named Spice through the crease and blended towards my brow bone. I used the deepest brown in the palette, Muddy, to add extra dimension to my outer crease and created the gradience by applying the matte cream named Universal onto my inner thirds. I finished this look with lashings of mascara and eyeliner plus a touch of Zippy in my inner corner and ensured that I added a little extra glow to my face so it didn't appear extra flat.

If you would like a full review of this palette including swatches, leave me a comment below!

Do you prefer warm-tones or something a little cooler?

My Go-To Makeup Look On My Friend!

Today I am being a bit of a narcissist and showing off my makeup skills (I use the word 'skills' loosely) that were put to the test when I did my friend and fellow YouTuber, Jemima's makeup.  Doing makeup on yourself can be challenging at the best of times and that especially applies on those days where your skin does not want to cooperate and your brows barely resemble cousins let alone sisters. However, doing makeup on someone else is the true test as it is a completely different canvas to work on especially as Jemima and I differ in skin, hair and eye colour. Nevertheless, this is also where the enjoyment comes into play as it is fun to see how products appear on different skin tones and how one person's eye colour may 'pop' more so than another's. 

We essentially decided to film each other doing our everyday makeup looks but on one another and you can watch both of our faces transform from our own to each other's, live before your eyes! Always the critic, I was expecting to hate my own creation but twinned with Jemima's good looks and the makeup Gods being on my side, I am actually quite pleased with how it turned out.

So please go over to the video (linked above) and show it some love and be sure to check out Jemima's own vid (here) and the rest of her channel as I am sure you will all love it. If you want a full product list of this look also, check out the description box on the video.

Thanks for stopping by!

What products are essential for your everyday makeup look?

My All Time Favourite High Street Highlighter Kit

Sleek Makeup have definitely made a name for themselves in the last few years in regards to having good quality products for an even better price. If they weren't making beautiful palettes with punchy pigments and an array of colours, they were killing it with their blushes that appear to take inspiration from NARS Cosmetics and not only because of their matte, black packaging. Recently, I stumbled across the Sleek Highlighting Palette in Diamond in the Rough on a stand in my local boots and after a single swatch I was sold. For starters, I couldn't believe how affordable the palette was as I only paid £7.99 for six shades that are seriously better than a lot of my higher end glow givers. The palette offers a variety of different shades ranging from icy whites, champagne golds and deep rose hues as well as two consistencies, cream and powder. The cream shades did not take my initial fancy as I often find cream highlighters can sometimes apply unevenly on top of powders yet as you can see by the swatch, the glow from this highlight takes on the appearance of glass and can transform you from a 'tired and dull mortal' to an 'ice queen who has their life together' in a matter of seconds, or maybe that is just my experience. However, it is the champagne gold shade (second from the left) that gave this palette cult status for me. The glow this gives is extreme as it takes on a 'wet' like appearance on the skin which is something I definitely look for in my highlights. You can see this in action in my Natural Makeup Look and you will understand what I mean as after just the tap of a brush on my cheeks my complexion quite literally changes in front of my eyes from dull and dreary to radiant and healthy. I used this throughout the majority of December and honestly would happily throw away the majority of my high end highlighters in favour for this one. I urge you to check this out if you see it in your local Boots or Superdrug!

What are your favourite drugstore highlighters? 

The Battle of the Highlighters

It is no secret that highlighters are very much the in  thing right now. Highlighters are the perfect way to fake a healthy glow on dull days and personally, my face does not feel complete without a dousing of highlight on my cheeks bones and the tip of my nose. It seems like everybody and their nan are on the ultimate expedition to find that ultimate glow so look no further as I am about to give you a full rundown on some of my favourite highlighters that I have been loving over the past year. So let's get straight into it as I have a feeling we could be here for a while...

For starters, I had to mention the MAC Mineralize Skinfinish in Soft & Gentle as this was actually my first proper powder highlighter and the culprit for my ongoing glow obsession. I always recommend this powder to anyone that hasn't ventured into the highlight sphere before as it is a subtle champagne-peach shade and cannot be overly done yet it is still achievable to gain that ultimate glow. It isn't exactly cheap (£24 to be exact) but it definitely is not on the higher end of the market when it comes to price and this pan will last you a good year. As you can see, I actually have mine in the old packaging as it has lasted me that long and obviously there is the fact that I am highlighter whore and I never stay loyal to one which is probably pretty obvious due to this post. 

Next up is the Mary-Lou Manizer from theBalm. This is a much coveted highlight that has previously sat neatly in between high street and high end price tag as it could be purchased in both Debenhams and Superdrug however it now costs £17.49 which I'm pretty sure has increased, most likely because Mary's popularity has grown dramatically in the past couple of years thanks to the blogging industry. Mary-Lou boasts a gold gleam with a subtle shimmer that breaks into a champagne gold when applied onto the cheeks. I recommend this to a lot of highlighter lovers as it seriously adds a bit of oomph to the complexion plus it looks beautiful on a variety of skin tones - trust me. I have used this during the midst of winter when my face is so pale, I'd give Snow White a run for her money, as well during the peak of Summer when I transition from deathly pale to just pale. If you are looking for a champagne highlight that makes those cheek bones pop - check this out!

This next one is probably my all time favourite highlighter to the point that you can see in the picture above that I have almost hit pan. The BECCA Shimmering Skin Perfecter Pressed in Moonstone is probably the most talked about highlighter of 2016 alongside its sister Champagne Pop, and it isn't difficult to understand why. The colour is of course a beautiful pale gold with cool-silvery undertones that looks literally like liquid gold on the skin. However, it is the formula and finish of this highlight that sets it above its competitors. The formula of this powder is so finely milled it quite honestly feels like liquid and takes on a similar appearance when on the skin, to the point that your cheeks actually glisten when adorned with this BECCA beauty and seriously, I cannot get enough. I find whenever I wear this I seriously get addicted to the glow to the point that I am low-key applying this everywhere  on my face and I have no shame. It costs a hefty £32 but seriously I would not even hesitate to purchase this again - this is desert island stuff people! 

The Charlotte Tilbury Bar of Gold Highlighter looks gimmicky but still offers the incredible quality that parallels all of her other products - seriously can Tilbury do any wrong? I purchased this originally as I love how small and compact the product is and felt that this would be the perfect travel sized highlighter and I was not wrong. The swatches of this do not do the gold justice, I honestly feel like a goddess when I wear this and I am never going to complain about that. The only downside is that the product costs £32 (gulp) for a pitiful 4.5g however if you are a regular shopper of Charlotte Tilbury products, this would come at no surprise. I wouldn't recommend this as a first time highlighter but if you are highlighter obsessed like me and are on the hunt for a true gold sheen - this is your gal. 

Finally, do not kill me as I am about to mention a product that costs an arm and leg to ship to the UK but it was soo worth it. The ColourPop Pearlized Highlighter in Wisp appears seemingly inexpensive as it technically costs under £7, although it actually costs a bomb when you add in the shipment charge from the US as well as the tax and all those nitty gritty details. I wish nothing more that ColourPop would create a decent stockists in the UK but do look around if you are wanting to purchase this as some UK sites do sell it but maybe with a slightly increased price. However, despite it's actual inexpensive status, the glow from this little while pot is incredible and the shade is seriously stunning as it offers a beautiful gold with a subtle peach undertone that only adds to the glow on the skin. The consistency of all ColourPop products is seriously odd as they look like a powder yet apply like a cream therefore I would recommend to use a synthetic brush when using any of their products to achieve the ultimate colour pay off. ColourPop offer a wide variety of highlighters that are all seriously beautiful so do go and check them out and pray along with me that they become even more accessible in the UK.

...and breathe. If you read all of that, I love you and will add you to my 2017 Christmas card lists.

I hope you enjoyed this run down of my favourite highlighters and please leave a comment below!

What is your favourite highligher?

Stila Eyes Are The Window Soul Palette

Stila is a brand I love when it comes to their eye products. Their shadows, liners and pigments are always outstanding in quality and I believe are to be completely worth the price. I have been hunting  the Stila Eyes Are The Windows in Soul palette down for a while now and eventually found it hidden away in the online catalogue from Look Fantastic. My initial need for this palette was based on the array of neutral shades in various finishes with incredible pigmentation. Yet, once it became clear how many different looks could be achieved at the touch of brush with the variation of colours, I was in love. I love the spiritual connotations contained within the palette both with the product name and each shade. My favourite shades are without a doubt: Light, Thought, Character and Peace, which in combination with one another, create a beautiful neutral smokey-eye with purple undertones. It also contains Stila's most recognised shade Kitten, a definite must due to the gorgeous pale gold hue that is perfect for both the eyes or as a natural highlight. This is the perfect 'day to night' palette that will be a suitable on-the-go partner due to the amount of shades cased in a compact, tarnished gold packaging with a solid seal and a seriously large mirror. Wether you are a matte lover or a iridescent fanatic, there is enough of each to make it worth your money. Priced at £30, it is expensive but considering it contains 12 shades, none of which are considered to be a 'dud', it is most definitely worth the price. 

Let me know what you think.

What neutral eyeshadow palettes are you loving? 

My Top Shadow Sticks

L-R: Beyond Gold, Misty Rock, Frozen Quartz, Amethyst Aphrodisiac,
Amber Haze, Bad Girl Bronze, Bulletproof Beige, Rose Gold, Glistening Ray.

Shadow sticks, for me, symbolise an easy, on-the-go, smokey eye that anyone can achieve! All you need is your favourite stick companion and your ring finger and/or a blending brush and you are good to go. With shadow sticks appearing on the market in both high end and high street formulas, there is a stick out there for everyone. Today on Nails and Teapots, I am going to run you through my favourite shadow sticks in a multitude of different shades and price ranges. These products can either act as the main event to an eye look or an easy and convenient base that can be partnered with your favourite shadows. I hope you enjoy!

By Terry Ombre Blackstar (here) £29

These are probably my favourite shadow sticks on the market and also the most pricey. Yet, I feel compelled to mention that they aren't favoured based on the fact that their packaging is beautiful. Trust By Terry to create a product that's stunning in both the exterior and interior. These are easily the most pigmented of the lot and the overall look is nothing short then a metallic finish with extreme colour payoff. Wether worn alone or blended as a base beneath eyeshadow - these shadow sticks never disappoint. I've opted for the shades Frozen Quartz, Misty Rock and Beyond Gold and already  have a desperate yearning for more in my collection. My favourite look that is easily achieved with these pencil is to use them as both bases and applied to the waterline for an alternative to black liner. If you are a shadow stick fanatic - you need to get these. 

Charlotte Tilbury Colour Chameleon (here) £19

These are revolutionary products for the shadow world. Not only do these have the best wear time out of any shadow I own they also come a range of clever colours to suit everyone - seriously. The idea behind these Colour Chameleon's is that each shade is made to enhance a specific eye colour with both a day and night colour to introduce an alternative. Considering I have green eyes, I opted for the two colours Amber Haze and Amethyst Aphrodisiac, which both do exactly what they say on the tin (stick). They emphasise the green tones and really make my eye colour pop - a feature that I love. If you're on the hunt for a product that will accentuate your eyes then these are easily what you are looking for. 

Laura Mercier Caviar Stick Eye Colour (here) £20.50

The newest addition to my collection and currently the one I keep reaching more most frequently. Although this isn't as pigmented as my two previous examples, the simple wash of colour blended underneath a similar toned base has easily become one of my most favourite eye looks. The formula is incredibly creamy and takes seconds to both apply and blend. Not to mention the shade Rose Gold, is absolutely beautiful and would work perfectly for a day to night transition. 

Rimmel Scandaleyes Shadow Stick (here) £4.49

The cheaper alternative in comparison to the ones above is easily by Rimmel. Rimmel always seem to make great dupes for higher end products. The Scandal Eye shadows, although cheap, still have amazing pigmentation and extra creamy formulas. I chose the shadows Bad Girl Bronze and Bulletproof Beige. I don't find the wear time as long on these compared to the higher end version but considering they are more than half the price - this factor cannot really be argued. If you want to dabble into the world of shadow sticks but don't want to splash the cash on something too high end yet, I suggest to give these a go! 

No7 Stay Perfect Shade and Define (here) £8

Finally, another drugstore alternative bought to you by Boot's house brand. This is probably my least used of the bunch but that is not to say that the quality isn't still amazing, I just find myself not often needing Glistening Ray, an off-gold colour, to prime my lids. The formula is still really creamy and these sticks are perfect for a simple wash of colour to aid any natural day-time look. It is also the answer to what products you can buy with the constant flow of No7 vouchers from the Boots counters! 

I hope you find this post helpful.

Let me know your favourite shadow sticks in the comments! 

Beauty| Sleek Make Up Blush in Rose Gold with Swatches

Sleek Make Up is one of my all time favourite drugstore brands as except for the more then affordable price tag, the quality and packaging of each product resembles nothing less then something more high end. I've been swooning over Sleek's Blush By 3 palettes for a while now but have been hesitant to buy based on the fact that I had never tried one of their blushers before and well there seemed little point buying three if I ended up not agreeing with the formulas. Instead I opted to buy one of Sleek's Single Blush (£4.49) in the most popular shade Rose Gold a renowned dupe for Nars Orgasm blush.

 Firstly, I must mention that the name couldn't be any more spot on with this shade. A beautiful mid-toned pink with a warm gold shimmer running through the powder making a beautiful, illuminating flush of colour once applied to the cheeks. This truly is a beautiful blush shade and would be great all year around, an absolute bonus in my eyes. The forumla is beautiful with amazing pigmentation, buttery soft to touch and heaven to apply. There was still evidence of this colour on my cheeks a good six hours after application, not bad for a drugstore dupe. The packaging does nothing less then resemble the brand name, 'Sleek' by look and touch, with its matte black extrerior that makes up this petite, little rectangle that is no bigger by length then my ring finger. After giving this product a go, I can't wait to try out more of the blushers that Sleek has to offer. 

Let me know what you think in the comments.

What's your favourite drugstore blush? 

Beauty| High End HAUL! ft. Mac and Zoeva

Earlier this week I uploaded pictures of my Drugstore Cosmetics Haul which marked the end of my six week spending ban. A monumental occasion, I know. Unfortunately, (but also quite fortunately) the money spending didn't stop there and I decided to dabble a bit online with endless scrolling on websites such as Mac Cosmetics, to name a few. I personally cannot get enough of other peoples high end shopping hauls as at times I find myself to be a cosmetics snob and get much more pleasure and excitement when buying things from a premium brand. A blessing for me and my skin but definitely a curse for my bank balance. I've made a personal agreement with myself that once I have bought all of the items below I will lay the card to rest for a bit, at least until next pay day anyway. Here is a brief rundown of each item. I will be doing separate and more in-depth reviews on every said item below, on the blog, in the next few weeks so keep your eyes peeled! 

                                     

Elizabeth Arden's 'Untold' 30ml £35

A sexy, womanly fragrance that's sophisticated yet pretty and perfect for all ages. Not to mention the beautiful, diamond-like bottle that shares a similar resemblance by shape and shine to a huge engagement ring.

                                       

Estée Lauder's 'Bronze Goddess'  100ml £47

The perfect summer fragrance. One spritz takes me back to sandy beaches, a hot sun and coconut smelling sun cream. The long-lasting smell is also a nice touch too. 

Mac Pro Palette x 4 £6.50 and 'All That Glitters' £10

The second of a Mac Pro Palette which has started off with a bang with a beautiful, iridescent pinky nude that I just can't wait to try. This also warrants more shopping as I can't just leave all those empty spaces! 

Mac Mineralize Skin Finish in 'Soft & Gentle' £22

Probably one of my all time favourite cosmetic items. A beautiful highlighter that transforms the face and emphasises the high points. This beauty will always have a place in my heart and make up bag. 

Zoeva Rose Golden Luxury Set £48

I have waited a long, long time for these and they were sure worth the wait. Never have I seen such beautiful brushes. I think my soft spot for rose gold plays a key part in this love affair. The quality of these brushes are amazing and the softness is slightly overwhelming. I'm almost too scared to use these encase a damage the beautiful exterior. 

I hope you enjoyed this High End Beauty Haul. As I said before I will be doing full reviews on these items over the next few weeks. I really hope you enjoyed having a little look in and if you have done anything similar please comment down below!

I'm also running a Giveaway on my blog where one lucky person can be in for the chance of winning three Essie Nail Varnishes. To enter click here and complete each entry on the Rafflecopter. Good luck!

Let me know what you think in the comments.

Have a good day! 

Fashion| OOTD

Today me and a new fellow blogger, Katie from Black Trackk, went out to take a few snaps of what we were wearing. Make sure to check her blog out as her post will be going up later today and if you're lovers of gold jewellery and tartan, you won't be disappointed. 

I'll apologise now for the not-so-great lighting and muddy background but living in England, brightness and sunshine is a rarity, as depressing as that sounds.  This is just an example of a really casual, daytime outfit that ticks all the boxes when it comes to comfortable but confident. Some of you may recognise the jumper below as I won it in a competition on Hollie's blog, Give Me More. I was absolutely chuffed to win and as soon as the package arrived this morning I set to work trying to find some of my own clothes that would go along with the lovely jumper to make a cute outfit.

You can grab your own Ellesse Ski Jumper from ASOS for £40 and I'll tell you now it's cosy, warm and perfect for the blustery weather. I teamed this with a denim shirt from Primark which I bought last year for just under £10. I'm a massive fan of the collar look and thought the light denim colour, contrasted with the Navy blue on the jumper really help to do one another justice. 

I then added a Chunky Chain Choker with a block of gold at the centre to break up the blue as well as add detail. I purchased this from Topshop for £8, slightly excessive for something that feels plastic but it does the job. I also had my nails painted in Essie's 'Shearling Darling' a lovely deep browny-red  colour which, although I didn't apply for the purpose of this outfit, worked because of the deep, sultry colour. I will be doing a blog post soon on all my Essie Nail Polish's so watch this space! 

Last of all, I added a pair of black leggings from Primark and black leather boots from River Island, a  Christmas present but I believe they were priced at £60 on ASOS. Black knee high boots are a staple in my A/W wardrobe as I found them to be flattering yet diligent and most have lasted me ages. I especially love the gold detailing and I pretty much wear these with every outfit, boring I know but they just go with everything! 

Hope you guys like this post. I know this is different to my usual Beauty based reviews but may do some more OOTD's in the future.

Comment below what you think.

What style have you been loving?