High-End Makeup Tutorial

Product List:
Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk Foundation
Tarte Rainforest of the Sea Aquacealer Concealer
MAC Prep + Prime in Light Boost
MAC Pro Longwear Blush in Baby Don’t Go
Laura Mercier Secret Brightening Powder
Anastasia Beverly Hills Dipbrow Pomade in Dark Brown
Anastasia Beverly Hills Tinted Brow Gel in Brunette
Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Flawless Finish Powder
Hourglass Cosmetic Ambient Lighting Palette
MAC Pro Longwear Paint Pot in Camel Coat
Anastasia Beverly Hills Modern Renaissance Palette
MAC Eyeshadow in Nylon
Bobbi Brown Gel Eyeliner
Kat Von D Tattoo Liner in Trooper
Estée Lauder Sumptous Extreme Mascara
Charlotte Tilbury Cheek to Chic in First Love
Jeffree Star Cosmetics Skin Frost in Peach Goddess
EOS Lip Balm
Lime Crime Velvetines in Cashmere

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?

'Miss Kensington' by Charlotte Tilbury x Norman Parkinson Collection

Okay, this has easily been one of my all time favourite collections from 2015. As soon as I saw the first initial promotions for this I knew I had to have it. Charlotte Tilbury is probably one of my all time favourite high end brands ever. Seriously, her cosmetics are all completely faultless when it comes to quality, shades and of course, that rose gold packaging! Yet, when you collaborate rose gold  metal with timeless, vintage photographs from Mr Parkinson himself, you have yourself something heavenly. Long story short, I basically bit the bullet and purchased the whole Miss Kensington collection because I seriously could not resist and felt it to be a pretty good deal at the time. I am not lying when I say I was slightly emotional when opening up that perfectly, packaged burgundy box decorated with a matching ribbon. The beauty inside seriously surpassed all expectations which I know sounds so ridiculous but seriously, I live for things like this. So for anyone that is interested in trying any of the products contained within this collection, keep on reading... 

First, is probably my most favourite product out of them all, the Dreamy Glow Highlighter Youth Illuminating Powder (£45). This is a beautiful, finely milled powder that adds a 'lit from within' glow to the skin with a subtle peachy, pearlescent sheen creating a radiant complexion. I love the safari vibes connoted by the outside of the packaging, which almost emphasises the warm, soft focus effect created by this miracle powder. I can seriously see myself getting a lot of use out of this all year round. Next is the Colour of Youth Healthy Happy Lip & Cheek Glow (£40), a beautiful pinched pink with a youthful sheen that adds a wash of a fresh, rose-hued glow to the cheeks. I apply this with a petit stippling blush to the apples of my cheeks and blend it out along my cheek bones to lift my face and emphasis the look of adolescents. The formula, though creamy, lasts all days and almost emphasises the natural flush of ones cheeks. The Eyes to Mesmerise Cream Eyeshadows (£22) in Jean and Marie-Antoinette are beautiful additions to the collection and offer great base colours for any shadow looks. I love the soft gold hue of Jean and find the rose-gold shade of Marie-Antoinette, the perfect accomplice to many of my go-to eye looks. The formulas of these are ultra creamy and glide onto the eyes to give a subtle glow. The collection also comes armed with a beautiful chocolate brown liner in Barbarella Brown (£19) and the talked-about Full Fat Lash Mascara (£22), both of which pack a punch when it comes to colour and formula. Finally, the last product in the collection is the gorgeous Matte Revolution Lipstick in Miss Kensington (£23). This is a perfect pinky nude with an incredibly matte finish that lasts a long time but remaining comfortable as opposed to other matte lippys. I find this shade really emphasises the fullness of the lips and is a perfect everyday pink that justifies the steep price tag.

I hope you enjoyed a rundown of the gloriously, glamorous collection from Charlotte Tilbury. All of the products mentioned are available to purchase separately, so it isn't necessary to purchase the whole collection! Let me know what you think in the comments.

What product has caught your eye?

February Beauty Favourites

I know this is slightly late considering we are a week into March but I really wanted to do a post focusing on my favourites from the past month as the products it features are ones that have only just been introduced to me and already I love them. So first all of all, The Balm Cosmetics Mary-Lou Manizer which, unless you have been living under a rock, you will have probably heard of as it is raved about all over the blogging world. This is a perfect champagne gold hue that diffuses light thus adding a soft highlight to the skin. If you're someone who prefers to avoid shimmer, then steer clear of this as it's definitely one of my more 'sparkly' highlighting products but applied with a light hand, the shimmer adds to the beautiful glow on the skin. Another great attribute of this product is the multi-use feature it contains. Applied with a damp shadow brush, this creates a gorgeous, pigmented cream-gold eyeshadow that acts as a perfect base colour. I seriously recommend giving that  a go! Next up is the Charlotte Tilbury Dolce Vita quad which I won't go on too much about as I have already written a full review on this palette here. If you're after a product from Charlotte Tilbury but are unsure on which one to get, I seriously recommend picking up this one. You will not regret it. Next is the Shu Umera Eyelash Curlers. I have never been one to really use eyelash curlers as my eyelashes have a natural curl that can be easily accentuated with a decent mascara. Well so I thought, until I purchased these eyelash curlers on a whim and after one use - I was hooked. This adds an immense curl which I didn't even know existed, you need to try them! Finally, I have a fragrance favourite which again I am sure most of you have heard of. The Eccentric Molecules 01 fragrance is created from a traditional base note that adds allure to any scent. This fragrance is unique as it smells different on everyone who wears it and is seriously addictive. I have worn this pretty much everyday through-out February as I seriously cannot get enough.

Let me know what you think in the comments.

What are some of your favourite products from the last month?

The Perfect Palette Tag

First: Urban Decay Naked 2 & 3. Second: Too Faced Chocolate Bar & Natural Eyes. Third: MAC Pro Palette & Warm Neutrals. Fourth: Urban Decay Naked Basic & Charlotte Tilbury Dolce Vita. 

I've been tagged by a number of people to do the The Perfect Palette Tag and I apologise that the reply has been slightly delayed and I am probably the last person to jump on this beauty bandwagon. Even so, I didn't want to miss the opportunity to discuss my favourite palettes with you as they are easily my most favourite purchases and the one I get the most satisfaction from - as sad as that sounds! 

Perfect Palette Tag Questions:

1. Best Packaging 

Even though there are so many palettes out there, that are dressed in gorgeous packaging with rose gold accents (*ahem* Charlotte Tilbury), I actually decided to choose MAC for this answer. I like the ultras slim feel of their palettes and the clear tops, that allow for you to see every colour you own without having to open the actual palette. They are perfect for display purposes and are ultra-versatile due to their removable pans thus allowing you to mix and match your shades and build your perfect palette. 

2. Best Colour Payoff

This has taken me a lot of thought to decide as I usually dabble in the likes of MAC and Urban Decay and both, as you most probably know, have great pigmentation. Yet, I decided to choose the palettes from Charlotte Tilbury mainly due to the loose pigment shade that features in each of her quads. Although, they're glitter pigments the colour pay-off is insane and seriously completes any smokey-eye. Admittedly, I actually purchased both my Tilbury palettes because of this little pan of glitter. There is all review of this palette on my blog which you can check out here. 

3. Most Versatile

Urban Decay are probably one of the most talked about brands when it comes to their eyeshadows. I can guarantee that the majority of the beauty fanatics out there own at least one of their Naked palettes. For most versatile I opted for the Naked 2 as the range of shades allow for a beautiful but simple daytime look yet but also caters for an amped-up evening look due to it's deeper hues, ranging from matte to iridescent formulas. I seriously love this palette.

4. Best for Travelling

Again, from Urban Decay comes the Naked Basics 2. A teeny-tiny all matte palette, that although has only a few shades, can easily cater for pretty much all neutral looks. The cool-toned shadows are incredibly buttery, blend beautifully and last perfectly. If you're just getting in to makeup and want something that's easy to use and easy to wear, I highly recommend this one, or its just as beautiful twin - the original Naked Basics palette. 

5. Biggest Regret

I really struggled with this question as I don't really regret any of my purchases. I obviously have palettes that I don't reach for as much but I don't necessarily regret them. I'm sure there are palettes or shades that I'm not thinking of but for now I'm going to have say none for this question.

6. Best Colour Names

The answer to this question was easily going to be a product from Too Faced as although some of their names can be a little risqué, I love the creativeness behind them. If you own any of the Too Faced palettes, you will know what I mean. The Chocolate Bar palette in particular, I felt really in-cooperated the theme into all the shade names eg. Black Forest Truffle, Milk Chocolate, Amaretto, Salted Caramel etc. Plus the fact that it actually smells of chocolate due to cocoa powder being one of the ingredients, is a serious added bonus! 

7. Least Used

As much as I love my MAC Warm Neutrals palette, I really do not get enough use out of it! I think the range of shades and formulas, is just slightly overwhelming and I never know what shades to pair with what. Nevertheless, I am making a subconscious effort to reach for this palette more as it really is beautiful. 

8. Most Used

This question was easy and the appearance of this palette proves that. My MAC Pro Palette contains shades I picked myself and I have used at least one of these colours almost everyday since purchasing them. The shades featured are probably my all time favourite eyeshadows ever and the ones I find myself reaching for when I want something simple and easy but still pretty. The shades are Naked Lunch, Nylon, Charcoal Brown and Mythology. Review of some of the shades are on my blog here. 

9. Most Loved

Other than the MAC palette I previously mentioned, my other most loved palette has to be the Urban Decay Naked 3 (yes I know, another one from UD). This palette was an unexpected love of mine as admittedly I got this purely because of the hype surrounding it when it was first released. Yet, since then I have found this palette to be amazing when it comes to creating pretty, pink-gold makeup looks that always seem to be the ones I get the most compliments on! 

10. Desert Island

I always find these questions kind of strange as realistically if I was stuck on a Desert Island, makeup would be the last thing I need but I'm probably being really boring! Yet, if for some reason I felt compelled to take one, I would definitely take the Too Faced Natural Eyes palette as I feel the range of shades can be used to create unlimited makeup looks that are more-than-easy to apply. I also love the petite, tin packaging thats surprisingly quite slim. The only thing this palette lacks is a decent mirror!

I tag anyone who wants to answer these questions and let me know below so I can check out your answers!

Let me know what you think.

What are some of your favourite palettes?

Charlotte Tilbury| The Dolce Vita

Charlotte Tilbury always seems to be winning on the 'epitome of luxury' front. What other brand offers incredible quality products cased in a beautiful, deep burgundy and rose gold packaging? Every product I have tried from the brand has surpassed my expectations and I always find myself wanting more. I had been undecided on the Dolce Vita (£38) palette for some time. The colours, although beautiful, in the pan seemed slightly, almost daring. The warm-toned browns and terracotta red were colours I always felt I could never and would never pull off and instead I opted for The Golden Goddess palette - trust me to go for the safer option. Yet, evidently a few months later I bit the bullet and bought this little quad as well and I seriously cannot get enough! Each of Charlotte Tilbury's palettes offer four different shades, all of which have a unique purpose. The first of which is the Prime shade. A beautiful, light pink shade with a subtle shimmer (think MAC's Naked Lunch), this looks gorgeous swept over the lid and in the inner-corners for a highlighting effect. Next up is the Enhance colour, this was the shade I felt the most unsure about but interestingly it's now my favourite! This beautiful red-toned brown, deepens the socket of the eye, adding perfect definition. Which is then made even more beautiful with the Smoke shade. This chocolate brown shade with added shimmer, helps to accentuates the crease and creates the perfect smokey eye-look. This shade really brings the whole thing together. Finally, comes the Pop shade which is a copper-gold, pressed pigment glitter that reflects light when applied to the lids thus adding a little extra something to the make-up look. With all this description in mind, I think it is pretty clear as to why this is now my current favourite palette. 

What do you think? 

What's your favourite eyeshadow quad?

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!