'In The Nude' Makeup Tutorial

If you like the look of my 'makeup of the day' that I based on the Balm Nude-Tude Palette and paired with a Kylie Jenner lip kit, please head on all over to my YouTube Channel to check out how I achieved it.

Products used:
YSL Le Teint Touche Élclat Foundation in B30
Anastasia Dipbrow Pomade
MAC Pro Longwear blush in Baby Don't Go
Rimmel Brow This Way Gel
Tarte Rainforest of the Sea Concealer in Fair
MAC Prep and Prime in Light Boost
Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Flawless Finish in 1 Fair
Hourglass Ambient Lighting Powder in Dim Light/ Incandescent Light/ Radiant Light
theBalm Batter Up Eyeshadow Primer in Moonshot
theBalm 'Nude-Tude' Palette
Kiko Colour Definition Eyeliner in 01
Kat Von D Tattoo Liner in Trooper
FairyDrops Scandal Queen Mascara
Tarte Amazonian Clay Blush in Exposed
MAC Mineralize Skinfinish in Soft and Gentle
Kylie Jenner Lip Kit in Koko K

Let me know what you think!

What are some of your favourite 'nude' pieces in your collection? 

My Current Top 6 Products for Under £10

I have realised that the Nails and Teapots beauty blog can often get a little 'high end heavy' at times. Which, although admittedly I do often tend to splash the cash more when it comes to my make-up. There are a lot of gems on the high street that need to be shown a little more love. I have previously done a post like this before (here) which was very popular so again, I am going to give a rundown of my six favourites items from the high street that will not break the bank. 

First up, is the Max Factor Creme Puff Blush in Lovely Pink (£8.99) these entered the drugstore earlier this year and were a beauty blogger hype. They aesthetically appear similar to the Hourglass ambient lighting blushers, a Space NK favourite that costs about the same as all of the products mentioned in this post added together. Max Factor is probably one of my favourite high street brands as I often find their makeup is comparable with a lot of high end brands and isn't ridiculously expensive. Many a times I have found a mascara of theirs that has almost reached cult status. Their Creme Puff Blushers kill it in terms of quality, pigmentation and shade range. I feel there is a shade for everyone and all of which can be easily dusted onto the apples of the cheeks for a naturally flushed look. Each shade can be easily builded meaning it is difficult to overdo it and simple to manage. I have done a full review of a number of their shades which I will link here. 

Next, is the Soap & Glory Archery Brow Pencil in Hot Chocolate (£8) a product that is pretty much an identical dupe to the Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Whiz - a Sephora favourite. This product has been redesigned and previously had the brow pencil on one end and a tint on the other which although was nice, never really fitted well into my brow routine. So instead they replaced the tint with a spoolie brush which is perfect for styling the brow hairs before applying the product. I love it when brands listen to their buyers and this was definitely a case for that happening. The pencil is waxy but pigmented and applies easily with minimal pressure. The product lasts all day and the ultra-fine end allows for extra precision when aiming for that perfect brow. The only downside is the lack of shades that really only cater for blondes and brunettes. 

The Bourjois Velvet Rouge Edition Lipstick in Nude-ist (£8.99) is easily one of my most favourite lip products from the high street. It is the perfect 'your lips but better' shade that is super easy to apply with the handy doe-foot applicator. The formula is incredibly matte but is easily one of the least drying matte products that I have ever tried. Once applied this honestly feels like velvet on the lips, hence the name, making it one of my most comfortable matte lippy's. This shade is really opaque and lasts for hours so no drinking straw necessary. There are a variety of shades available in your local drugstore so do go check them out if you are after a marvellous, matte lip for day-to-day. 

The Rimmel Scandal Eyes Liners (£3.99) are some of the best eyeliners I have ever tried. I actually prefer to use their black liner over brands such as Urban Decay and MAC as I find the shade to be perfectly pigmented, easy to apply and most definitely stays all day. The shade I have been using  the most recently is Nude as I feel this is perfect to brighten up the eyes for a more Summer appropriate look. After each application I am always amazed about how much colour payoff this pencil gives without transferring. I seriously would happily never use another brand of liner again. 

I have raved about the Topshop beauty many times but I have seriously been loving the Topshop Lipstick in Nevada (£8) since their limited edition release of their most celebrated products from the past 5 years. Nevada is a perfect nude and reminds me a lot of MAC's Creme D'Nude but for almost half the price. The formula is ultra-creamy creating an opaque finish whilst feeling heavenly on the lips. I wore this pretty much everyday throughout the month of May and still love it now. It is one of those lip products that tends to always be in my bag ready for application. I have done a MOTD post where you can see me wearing this lipstick here. 

Finally, the L'oreal Colour Riche L'Ombre Pure Eyeshadow in Golden Nude (£5.49) is one of my all time favourite 'go-to' eyeshadows when I am looking for a simple make-up look that takes a matter of minutes. Each shade in this range has outstanding colour pay-off due to their pressed pigment formula. I own a number of the shades, some matte and some iridescent and I can personally vouch for the fact that they are seriously blend-able and pretty much the definition of a 'buttery' eyeshadow. These are some of those products that I would happily pay more for as they are that good in terms of quality and colour. If you are after an eyeshadow that you can wash all over the lids and go, then seriously check these out. 

I hope you enjoyed this post!

What are your favourite products for under £10? 

MAC Mineralize Skinfinish in Perfect Topping

As promised in my Current Beauty Favourites post, I am writing a review on the MAC Mineralise Skinfinish in Perfect Topping (£24). MAC has an amazing collection of Mineralize Skinifinish's which  actually contains one of my all time favourite highlighters, Soft & Gentle. Perfect Topping is a shade that I have virtually heard nothing about, I found it online from the MAC Cosmetics shop and was mainly drawn to it because of the woven pattern embossed into the powder. Shallow, I know but I am glad it caught my eye. I am always on the look out for a highlighter that emphasises the high points of my face but also adds a soft focused finish to my make-up look but of course it also has to be suitable for my fair skin. Perfect Topping is a gorgeous neural pinky-gold that adds warmth to my complexion without making me look over-the-top. In the pan it looks slightly unnerving considering the peach, pink and purple tones merged together in a baked formula but as you can see by the swatch above, it transfers onto the skin in a far more subtle way. I am not sure if this is still available online but if you can hunt one down I seriously suggest snatching it up while you have the chance. 

I hope you enjoyed this post. Let me know your thoughts in the comments below!

What highlighter are you loving at the moment?

Estée Lauder Pure Colour Crystal Lipstick

Estée Lauder as a brand, always promise great quality for a steep but highly justifiable price. I am sure everyone has heard of their cult classic foundation, Double Wear and almost everybody has spent what feels like forever, wishing they would bring back that limited edition 'Tease' blush that seems incomparable with anything else. Yet, I have never heard much talk about their lip products so I decided to bite the bullet and buy one myself. The Estée Lauder Pure Colour Crystal Lipstick (£21) in Crystal Baby has a creme formula and a sheer pigmentation. It is perfect for an everyday lipstick that you can just throw on without a mirror handy. The colour is a nude pink with a subtle shimmer that sounds scary but do not worry, it is a far cry from being frosty so you will not be looking like a 70-year-old cougar. The packaging is weighty with a gold finish that feels the epitome of luxury, a good thing considering the price. This type of lipstick has an abundance of beneficial ingredients including Shea Butter thus feeling completely comfortable on the lips and leaving them moisturised but still with a decent wear time. If you are after an everyday lip product or want to splash the cash on a high-end lipstick that you are guaranteed to get your money's worth out of, then definitely go and check these out!

Let me know what you think in the comments!

Have you tried any Estée Lauder lip products? 

MAC ft Philip Treacy

I recently managed to bag a few items from the Philip Treacy collection from MAC. This was not a collection that I heard much about and wouldn't have even been aware of its existence if it wasn't for the sneaky MAC email I received in my inbox minutes after the release. Due to my sheer panic and unawareness, I picked up a few items on a whim but thank goodness I got lucky, as each item is seriously beautiful. The two winners for me are of course the highlighting powders in Nude Pink and Blush Pink. Due to my incredibly pale skin, Blush Pink would look gorgeous as a subtle bronzer with a slight glow due to the stream of silver sinner running through the powder. Nude Pink on the other hand will be a perfect, lightweight blush that adds a bit of highlight to my cheeks thus making it a good duo product. I also picked up the lipstick in Hollywood Cerise, which is an extra-pretty deep pink colour that reminds me a lot of Flat Out Fabulous but with a Satin finish. I seriously cannot get enough of these MAC collections are always find myself going crazy over any of their releases. I hope you enjoyed this short post focusing on each item I picked up.

What product takes your fancy from the MAC ft Philip Treacy collection?

Max Factor Creme Puff Blushers

Max Factor are easily one of the most competitive brands on the high street. I often find a lot of their products compete with similar products from higher end companies. I am a big lover of their mascaras and find that their quality is actually better in comparisons to brands such as YSL and Lancôme. Max Factors new Creme Puff Blushers are a recent addition to the beauty scene and have already been compared to the likes of the Hourglass Ambient Lighting Blushers and the MAC Mineralize Blushers. With six shades to choose from, there is pretty much a shade for anyone and everyone. The merged, baked formula offers a multi-tonal colour that looks effortless once applied to cheeks. Each blush comes with a slightly iridescent finish thus adding an extra hint of subtle highlight making highlighter almost unnecessary. I picked up the shades 15 Seductive Pink, 20 Lavish Mauve and 30 Gorgeous Berries. Seductive Pink is a beautiful muted-purply pink shade with a slight hint of gold that naturally warms up the complexion. This looks beautiful applied to the apples of the cheeks and is a perfect neutral day-to-day blush. Lavish Mauve is similar to the former shade but slightly paler and much more peachier when applied to the skin. I think this is probably my favourite of the three as it is totally wearable. Gorgeous Berries is the boldest of the three colours, with a deeper reddy-pink hue which can be easily sheered out after application therefore making it still easy to wear. The pigmentation of these blushers are outstanding and the long lasting formula is almost identical to brands such as MAC. If you're looking for a cheaper alternative to a mineralise blush, pop down to your local Boots and pick up one of these for just £8.99. 

Let me know what you think in the comments.

What shades takes your fancy?

MAC Mehr Lipstick

There's something about the sophisticated black bullet of a MAC lipstick that makes them so satisfying to buy. They are easily my most favourite thing to add to my collection which probably explains while I now own 33 (eek). I was drawn to this particular shade as although it seems pretty basic, it is actually a pretty unique colour in my collection. I tend to be drawn to nudes or deep reds for Autumn but this little dirty blue-pink is something I have never come across before. I find it easy to get stuck in a rut and always reach for something plain and un-daring, (think MAC Hue) but every now and then I like to reach for something a little bit more edgy but still safe - as paradoxical as that sounds. The blue undertone of this lippy helps to accentuate the whiteness of ones teeth adding a boost of confidence. Another aspect I was drawn to was the matte formula as I don't own many matte neutrals only bolds. This really adds to the beauty of this lipstick as it creates a perfectly defined pout.

Let me know what you think.

What's your favourite MAC lipstick? I'm always on the hunt for more. 

August Favourites 2014

It's the beginning of September, so that means it's August favourites time! This month I pretty much established an 'everyday make up routine' due to the fact that I found a palette of colours and finishes that worked well for me. So seeing as I've been using pretty much the same products on a daily basis, this meant that it was pretty simple to round up my favourite products from the month of August.

First things first, a rather overused and well-loved eyeliner pencil from Rimmel. This is the Scandaleyes Waterproof Kohl Kajal pencil in the shade Nude. Nude eyeliners are simple but extremely effective when it comes to making the eyes appear more bright and wide awake. I've used this everyday this month and traded it in for my typical black eyeliner to adopt a fresher brighter complexion for the sunny months. This is ultra pigmented and honestly stays in place all day, I highly, highly recommend it! Next up is one of my all time favourite (and expensive) blushers I own. This little sleek, black package of beauty is the Le Blush Créme De Chanel in the shade 64 Inspiration. This gives a beautiful, natural flushed appearance to the cheeks with a satin finish that lasts and lasts all day, better than any other blush I've tried. The colour is build-able so wether you want a slight wash of colour or an intense pop to the cheeks, it's really up to you. Another product that I've used non-stop this month is the Dior Addict Gloss in the shade 257 Venus. This is just a really pretty pinky-nude with a shimmery, ultra-shine finish that looks beautiful with any make up look. This is my go-to lipgloss on a daily basis as it looks so natural but still very lovely. This next favourite is definitely my 'most loved' of the month and that is my MAC Pro Palette, I've been using at least one of the four shades in this palette everyday this month and I honestly can't get enough. My favourite eyeshadow combination that I've fallen in love with is the shade Naked Lunch washed over the lid with Mythology blended through the crease and then Nylon dotted onto my tear duct, all of which creates a simplistic but 'pretty in pink' smokey eye. Next up is a fragrance favourite,  this being Estée Lauder's Modern Muse - a repurchase of mine that I bought and loved all through A/W 2013 and used up way before the first signs of Summer. I then tried to dabble in some other perfumes that were more fitting for the S/S months but now the weather is cooling down and thicker coats and leather boots are making an appearance on the runway, I decided to repurchase this beautiful fragrance and have loved it even more. Last up is a revolutionary product when it comes to self-tan. Of course, it's by St Tropez, my favourite fake-tan brand and it's their Self Tanning Express Bronzing Mousse which is basically a beautifully bronzed self-tan in a bottle where you can choose the depth of colour depending on when you wash it off. You can let it develop for just an hour for a light wash of colour of three hours for a deep, dark bronzed glow that carries on developing for up to eight hours and the colour pay-off can last up to a week. If you love fake-tan then I seriously suggest splashing the cash on this one!

Let me know what you think in the comments.

What products have you been loving in the month of August? 

Collective MAC Lipstick Haul

One of my most popular posts that I have ever written for this blog was a full run down of all my MAC Nude Lipsticks, equipped with pictures, swatches and a mini review on each one. Considering that post went down a treat I've decided to give you all another MAC lipstick orientated post but this time a collective haul of all the bullets I've picked up over these last couple of months. So let's get started. 

Toying Around

Be brave and go bold with a bright and vibrant Coral-Pink with an Amplified finish that appears beautifully creamy on the lips. This Limited Edition beauty was a wild card buy for myself because of the seriously unsubtle shade but I'm pleased to have it in my collection and feel it will be a nice alternative to a red lip for Summer. 

Pink Plaid 

A muted Pink with a blue undertone that looks sultry and subtle especially with its Matte formula. This is a 'your lips but better' colour that dresses up any everyday look or goes hand-in-hand perfectly with a brown smokey-eye. 

Lovelorn

Another nudey-pink that has a similar tone to Pink Plaid but transfers slightly more sheerly on the lips thanks to its Lustre finish, creating a pretty, pink pout that's perfect for all year round. The blue undertone emphasises the whites of ones teeth giving you a winning smile, a perfect accessory for any look.

Angel

A soft baby-pink colour that gives off a nude appearance but with a slightly more obvious hint of pink. This is a great lippy for when you want something simple but still with a bit of colour as so to warm up ones collection. The Frost finish isn't my favourite but it doesn't do the colour any injustice.

Plumful

My most recent purchase. A beautiful, rosey-plum shade that may look daring in the bullet but the Lustre finish means it gives just a lovely, sheer wash of colour that compliments any skin tone and works well for Summer but I can imagine even more so for Autumn/Winter. I can tell this is definitely going to quickly become one of my favourite MAC lipsticks in my collection. 

I hope you enjoyed this post. Let me know what you think in the comments!

Have you bought any MAC lipsticks recently?

Daniel Sandler Watercolour Fluid Blusher in Acid

The beautiful blusher that gives a pop of colour but still looks like skin for only £15. What product is more perfect for 'no make up' make up days? This product was one of those 'I really want it but I can't get hold of it so now I inevitably want it more' but luckily I found it in the least expected of places - Topshop, Oxford Street. I had the option of two colours Acid (a bright pink) or Trip (an exotic orange). These I understand are the two most popular shades or at least the two most easily obtainable but that's perfectly fine with me as I personally love the shade I chose, Acid. It's pink, it's pretty and it's completely different to any other blush (or even product) I have ever tried before. When I first used this I was very hesitant about the application process. It's a pink coloured water, what on earth do I use? What motion works best? Do I need to set it? It turns out these questions are completely and utterly irrelevant as this is really very easy. According to your preference, you can apply the fluid with your fingers, a blush brush, a stippling brush or Daniel Sandler's very own Watercolour Brush. All of them work magic, which I feel is down to the blush itself. The liquid consistency is a dream to work with, to apply, to blend and to personalise to just how you like it. I just love how even though it appears bright and bold in the bottle, it really is a beautiful, sheer pink with a slight illuminating quality to it once applied. Plus there's an added bonus that you can also apply this to you lips as well. What's better then pretty rosy cheeks than the perfect pink pout? I really can not wait to try more shades from the collection, especially some of the more nude-pink shades as I can imagine these to be just beautiful. 

Let me know what you think!

Have you tried any of Daniel Sandler's products?

OOTD | Bright, Coral, Floral.

So my other OOTD post seemed to go down very well with my followers which I'm incredibly pleased about considering they're not something I'm overly accustomed too. I therefore decided to take a few snaps of my outfit today as it features pretty much all new additions to my wardrobe which I have been loving wearing. The main focus of this outfit being, of course, the jacket. I originally saw this jacket full priced and instantly wanted it but sadly they didn't have my size. Or maybe not so sad as a few weeks later I then find the same jacket in the perfect size for half the price! How ace is that? 

Dress: Pull & Bear (£19.99), Jacket: River Island (£25), Shoes: Primark (£12-£15), Bag: Primark (£6), Lipstick: Topshop Sheer Lips in Pleased as Punch (£8) 

Beauty| Benefit Highbrow

Benefit's High Brow (£15.50) has been around for a good while now but has seemingly gone unnoticed being a simple, slightly unnecessary product when comparing to their liquid tints or flash BB creams. I've never find a brow bone highlighter a necessity as one can easily create such a product with likes of a light, nude-y eyeshadow, be it matte or iridescent. Yet, after a while I found myself in need of a staple, brow product that was natural enough to wear on a day-today basis or complete a smokey eye. 

After reading many mixed reviews on such a product I was hesitant to try it on first application. Luckily my expectations were exceeded and the product worked beautifully, lifting the natural shape of my brows and making my overall eye area appear younger, awake and rejuvenated. The subtle, Linen Pink hue means that when blended correctly, the colour is perfect for all shades of skin, a bonus in my eyes.

The key to getting the best out of this product is blending. This chubby pencil is ultra-pigmented and looks very unsubtle when first applied. This issue can be easily fixed with a detailed eyeshadow brush that can blend out the colour in every which way. Luckily the consistency of the product is extra creamy making it a dream to blend. Once applied seamlessly, the overall product appears faultless and fulfil's its 'high' brow claim. The only negative to this product arises when not blended properly. The product can then appear cheap and chalky and lasts clumsily on the eyebrows meaning all the attention is taken away from those beautifully, groomed brows. Luckily, this is a negative by application though, not the actual product so don't let this put you off buying said item and seeing for yourself if it will become a new staple in your cosmetics collection. Especially with the new release of Benefit's Speed Brow, you may find these two products becoming your very own brow 'dream team'. 

All in all, a lovely product that has definitely been a wonderful addition to my everyday make up routine.

Let me know what you think in the comments.

What's your favourite brow product?