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?

Barmy about theBalm

So we're back with another cringey title so please excuse my latest excessive use of puns. TheBalm Cosmetics, for me, is a new brand in my collection and one that has a lot of 'talked about' products (*ahem* Mary-Lou Manizer) that are completely deserving of the hype. I have tried a selection of their products be it lip glosses, eyeshadows, blushers and highlighters - all of which have had great results. Yet, the Schwing Black Liquid Eyeliner has easily been the most outstanding. I'm a liquid liner fanatic so I rarely go a day without lining my upper lash line to the point that I actually look 'incomplete' if I go without. So, because of this, I am always on the hunt for an easy breezy liquid liner that doesn't take my upmost concentration to apply. I recently wrote a raving review of the Benefit Push Up Liner (here) and have in the past confessed my love for the Lancôme Artliner (here) - both times claiming that these are the best eyeliners I have ever used. So clearly, I am not very faithful, but I am going to throw it out there and say now that THIS eyeliner is the best I have used! I picked this up on a whim, partly because I was overwhelmed to find a stockist for theBalm products in an actual shop and not online (easily pleased I know!) and partly because I never experiment too much with my liner likes so I felt like pushing the boat out slightly. I am now very glad that I did. TheBalm Schwing liner is blacker then black with incredibly staying power and an ultra fine nib that allows to you do a flick with no major casualties. The liquid formula allows for smudging time if this is the look you are wishing to achieve but also sets quick enough to avoid that black-on-upper-lid look that sometimes occurs with other products and is the bane of my life! With a bit of pressure the flexible nib caters for all your liner needs so if you like a thin line purely to accentuate the lashes or something a little thicker - this liner is the one for you! Priced out only £13.49, the quality is an equal match to its higher end predecessors or even slightly exceeds them in some cases. I strongly recommend you check this out and find out for yourselves! If you would like to this in action check out my Instagram (here)!

Let me know what you think.

What's your favourite fool-proof liner?

I'm All About That Base

Firstly, let me apologise for the not-so-subtle Meghan Trainor pun in the title. I seriously could not resist. A flawless base is rule number one for great make up application. Without it, the whole look just falls flat. Yet, luckily there is a huge, huge, huge range of products out there for anyone and everyone to fit particular skin tones, colours, complexions etc - but you don't need me to tell you that. I've tried out a long list of products in the hope of achieving a flawless base for the rest of my make up and although I don't feel like I'm necessarily there in my search, the products I am currently using are definitely helping me on my way. That isn't to say that I love every product I am currently using but instead they're teaching me what types of products work well for my oily-to-combination skin and what products certainly do not. So in order of application...Hourglass Veil Mineral Primer (here): To be very honest with you all, I do not feel this is particularly worth the money. For a minuscule 10ml you have to be willing to fork out £20 which wouldn't be so bad if a little went a long way but instead I find I need at least two pumps per application to achieve the full effects of this product. There are no obvious differences to my skin once applied other then a slightly subtle radiant glow yet that's not to say that this will not work out for everyone. Interestingly, I bought this after receiving a large amount of recommendations. Yet, disappointedly I feel my search for the perfect primer is most definitely not over. Nars Sheer Glow (here): I don't know if I can actually summarise into words how much I love this foundation. I am currently working through my second bottle and still love it just as much as the first. The radiant glow, medium to full coverage and easily buildable formula with not an ounce of 'cakeyness' (is that a word?) in sight. If you are on the hunt for a flawless foundation, you need to try this one! Nars Radiant Creamy Concealer (here): This is one of my all time favourite concealers purely for its immense coverage, creamy consistency and its good application (with a lovely doe foot applicator) for both under the eyes and for concealing pesky blemishes. Although at £22 it is pricey, it does have a lovely performance. The only downside to this product being how quickly it drys out in the bottle. I feel some of my high street alternatives actually have a better competition when it comes to the products formula yet the good qualities weigh out the bad in my eyes so this still currently remains as a staple in my collection. Lastly, to set this all in place, I use the MAC Mineralize Skinfinish Natural in Light (here): This is my all time favourite powder and pretty much the only one I have used everyday for the past year and a half. I'm currently working through my second one of these and have just hit pan (yay!) which I feel, pretty much proves how much I love this. It's great at mattifying shine, adding a bit of extra coverage but certainly doesn't leave the face looking 'flat'. I can not recommend this powder highly enough!  

Let me know what you think in the comments!

What products do you use for a flawless base?

Tom Ford Matte Lip Colour in Pussycat

My lipstick collection has only really started to expand within the past year or so. Prior to this, I was much more drawn to glossier-than-gloss lip glosses (how many times can I say gloss in one sentence). So I am quite aware that this matte lip product is on the complete opposite end of the scale. Tom Ford lipsticks, for me, signify the epitome of luxury. The gold plated edges, weighted feel, square form and of course the satisfying, *click* from the magnet that locks the product shut. I really cannot fault the packaging in the slightest. The formula of this is mega creamy, applies heavenly and gives an incredible coverage - so take note - this is not sheer! I'm always slightly apprehensive when wearing lipsticks with a matte finish as although the longevity of the product will always be arguably decent, I cannot stand formulas that feel drying. You know the ones, those lipsticks that mean you have to spend the next five days applying copious amounts of Carmex to make up for that 'perfect' pout. Yet, surprisingly, the formula on the Tom Ford lipsticks are not drying at all but instead have a particular velvet feel that means you can look good wearing your mattes and feel good too! The particular shade  I chose is 04 Pussycat, this being mainly because I felt if I was going to splash a ridiculous amount of cash onto one product (£37 - eek!), I want to at least get a colour that is fairly unique. I know what you're probably thinking and yes, it's just pink. Yet, the muted, pink shade with hints of plum and a cool undertone looks absolutely beautiful once applied on the lips and creates a colour that I find to be pretty much unique in my collection. Therefore, other then the high price tag (that I'm still cringing over) I find this lipstick almost faultless. 

What do you think? Let me know in the comments!

What is your most luxurious lip product?

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! 

MAC Mineralize Skinfinish in Lightscapade

Let us all just take a moment to appreciate this beauty that is the MAC Mineralize Skinfinish in Lightscapade (£23). With the wintery months well and truly upon us, I feel nothing looks prettier then dewy, highlighted skin to compliment that bold red lip or sultry smokey eye. Highlighters for me are a staple in my everyday make up routine and without it my face just appears incomplete. I've previously always opted for the champagne gold hues when it comes to accentuating the high points of my face so I decided to mix things up a little. Lightscapade is a concoction of blue, pink, yellow etc. veins of colour merged together into an individually baked formula. Each package is different meaning no two people will ever have the exact same deepness of shade when applying. A product with a touch of a wild card, making it slightly more enticing. The colour created when swatched completely surpassed my expectations. A light, polished colour with subtle pink undertones that perfectly highlights especially those with pale complexions. I honestly feel all fare skinned ladies need this in their collection. The powder formula is smooth and applies like velvet onto the skin with excellent wear time and incredible pigmentation. If you're looking for one last item to add to your Christmas list, make it this one!

Let me know what you think.

What's your favourite highlighter? 

The Autumn Red Lip Menu

The Autumn Red Lip Menu 

Autumn is now upon us so it's fully acceptable to relocate the knee high boots, put on the fur coat and wrap yourselves up in a million tartan scarves. The Autumn/Winter season is probably my favourite, there's something about being wrapped up in the cold weather, the longer nights and Christmas on the horizon, that always makes me feel excited. Another element that seems to be more approved in the Wintery season is, of course, the red lip! My red lippy collection seems to have suddenly grown within the past year but I seriously can't get enough of the wine, berry and cherry red shades. So to get everyone in the spirit of things, I thought I'd give my followers a run down of my all time favourite red lipsticks - high end and drugstore! So here is the The Autumn Red Lipstick Menu...

MAC Dark Side £15.50- 

A deep, burgundy shade in an amplified creme formula.

One of my all time favourite lipsticks with it's shiny finish

and the vampy, red-purple hue. 

Revlon ColourBurst Lacquer Balm Enticing £7.99- 

A chubby lip pencil with a high shine finish and sheer pigmentation.

MAC Plumful £15.50- 

A rosy pink-plum shade with an easily builded formula. Perfect 

for those who don't feel confident enough to wear a bold lip

but still want something red toned for A/W. 

Rimmel London Lasting Finish By Kate Moss 030 £5.49 - 

A beautiful red shade with a dark pink undertone. One of my

favourite reds from the drugstore! 

Charlotte Tilbury Matte Revolution Glastonberry £23 -

The perfect plum pout with a matte finish. Great quality and

excellent pigmentation.

Dolce & Gabbana Passion Duo Intense £26 - 

The darkest in the collection. There's no surprise that it's called

'Intense'. A dark red-brown with a glossy finish and ultra 

creamy formula.

Revlon Colourstay Moisture Lip Stain India Intrigue £7.99 - 

An extra shiny formula with bold, beautiful colours. Takes a bit

of work to get these glosses perfectly blended but the end result

is really beautiful. 

Rimmel London Kate Moss Matte Lipstick 107 £5.49 - 

One of the most iconic, raved about reds out there. A beautiful 

deep berry shade teamed with a matte finish that is as good as

many of the high end lip products that I own. 

YSL Rouge Pur Couture Glossy Stain 16 Fuchsia £25 -

The first high end lip product that I owned. Has one of the 

prettiest finishes that I've ever seen. A fruity but subtle scent 

incredible staying power. Honestly the stain effect will not budge! 

Rimmel London Lasting Finish By Kate Moss 01 £5.49 -

Comes up a lot brighter in the picture but this is a really beautiful 

deep red with a creamy formula. Amazing pigmentation evidently

and a lovely cherry scent. 

NARS Velvet Matte Lip Pencil Damned £18 - 

A lovely red shade with a plum undertone finished off with a soft,

velvet matte finish. The formula is quite drying so be sure to smother

your lips in lip balm before. A really gorgeous product that's easy to

apply in its stick form. 

MAC Pedro Lourenco Lipstick Ruby £16.50 -

A limited edition red dressed in rose gold and matte black packaging.

One of the prettiest finishes I own for a red and lasts well on the lips

with a fade-to-matte stain formula. 

                            

Topshop Lipliner Deception £5 -
One of my all time favourite shades. A bold, dark red that's easy to
apply in it's pencil form, giving ultimate precision for a great red lip
or a base for other products.

What's your favourite red lipstick for A/W?
Let me know what you think in the comments!