MAC // 'DIVA' LIPSTICK

I have always had the opinion that a bold, red lip did not suit me, so for a long time I have put it off and always chosen to wear the darker purples if I was going to an occasion or somewhere more special. 

Spending the majority of my time around the MAC counter in Selfridges, I came to the conclusion that it was about time to ditch the dark purples for a while, and invest in a dark red lip colour. I was quite fussy however when I had to choose. This is because I didn't want to settle for a bright red lipstick, but instead a darker 'vintage vamp' type of colour. This is because I wear a lot of dark gold colours on my eyelids and I thought it may look better.

I picked up 'Diva', when I accidentally found myself standing at the MAC counter one afternoon. My flat mate wanted to start her own palette, so I saw this as the perfect opportunity to question the beauty guru's and see what colour would suit me best.

'Diva' is a very dark red colour, and comes off the bullet as a matte finish. I prefer matte finish lipsticks as they seem to last longer on the lip, and even when they begin to fade they always leave a stain which I also believe to look quite flattering.

Trust me when I say you do not need a lot of this product at once. I made the mistake of applying a little too much the first time that I wore it, and it just got everywhere. I advise to use a lip brush at first for precision purposes, and then go in with the bullet itself to deepen the colour if you wish. The colour ended up staying on all night, no matter how many drinks I had or what I had to eat. I wore this colour with a gold eye look, and even though some may say that it's either 'lips or eye' I thought the look went really well! Definitely one of my statement lipsticks in my collection I would say.

The online link to 'Diva' can be found HERE, and the lipstick retails for a price of £15.50 which is definitely worth it!

What bold lip colours are you loving at the moment?

August Favourites | Beauty & Lifestyle

As it is very nearly the end of the month, I decided to do an 'August Favourites' post!

Personally I feel this month has F-L-O-W-N by, purely down to my holiday, my AS exam results and just general coursework to make the days pass by. Therefore I thought I would squeeze in a post for you all, showing off the products that I have been loving this month!

Soap & Glory - Smoothie Star Body Lotion

Soap & Glory 'Smoothie Star'

I have always been a huge fan of Soap & Glory products, but I instantly knew this product was going to be used every day this month. The bottle states that the product features a 'waterlock moisture trapping matrix', and the bottle states correctly. This product leaves your skin feeling full of moisture for at least 24 hours. As I suffer from quite dry skin, I put all of my trust into this bottle and it didn't fail to let me down. The product also includes almond, cocoa, yogurt, oat and honey leaving a very almost edible 'cookies and cream' scent on the body. As my bottle is almost empty, I will be sure to be purchasing another bottle soon. 

Soap & Glory 'Smoothie Star' can be purchased at Boots for £10.00

Max Factor - Wild Mega Volume Mascara

Revlon 'Wild Mega Volume' Mascara

I am quite a skeptic when it comes to trusting what a mascara claims to say on the bottle, but I thought "hey max factor, I will see what you have to offer me", and there I was, buying the newest of their mascaras. I tried the mascara as soon as I got home, (not because I'm a freak like that) but because I was off out with my family. I usually have to use 2 mascaras to get the full volumising effect, but with this mascara the effect was instant, and also I didn't have to use too much with lots of layers. This mascara is perfect for both a night out and a simple day look too.

Revlon 'Wild Mega Volume' mascara can be purchased at any drugstore for £6.99

Rimmel - 'Kate' Lipstick

Rimmel 'Kate' Lipstick in shade 08

I am a huge lipstick lover, and when I pop into a highstreet drugstore I make sure that I take time to look at all the different colours and brands of lipsticks before I leave. I came across this lipstick due to a friend called Linsey (Red Velvet Kiss <-- Check her out!) as she was currently using this as her daily lip colour. I fell in love with the lipstick and the colour instantly. The lipstick itself is very pigmented meaning you do not need a lot of it when you use it, and because it is so glossy you do not need to use a lipgloss over the top for shine. Therefore, you can make the most of the full package. Cheers Lins!

Rimmel 'Kate' lipstick can be purchased from any drugstore or Rimmel counter for £5.49

No7 - Highlighter

No7 Highlighter Packaging

I received this highlighter as part of a pack for christmas 2012. I hadn't really thought about looking into the highlight packet as I didn't really know what to do with it, until I came across Tanya Burr. I noticed that she was using a highlighter to add highlights to different parts of her face after she had finished applying her makeup. I noticed that the highlighters looked a tad like mine, so I thought " 'yolo' and all that shabang" and I gave it a go! The highlighter is very shimmery so you do not need to apply a lot when you use it, and it looks A-M-A-Z-I-N-G in photographs. However, because it was part of a bundle, there is no individual price for it (massive thumbs down), but if you can find a duplicate of the same highlighter but on its own, please comment and let me know!

No7 Highlighter Colours

Nivea - BB Cream

Seeing as though everyone was raving on about BB cream, I jumped on the bandwagon and picked up one to try out. When I choose foundations, I have to be careful of which ones I pick due to the fact I have really dry skin, and I often result in using a moisturiser before hand. BUT NO. This product is absolutely fabulous on my skin right from the very start. It gives my skin moisture and coverage, and my skin is no longer dry! The BB cream also adds illumination to my skin, so it no longer looks dull. Thanks Nivea!

Nivea 'BB Cream' can be purchased from any drugstore for £5.00

Glamour Magazine

I love a good read of a magazine, but I always find that the thinner ones run out too quickly for me. Therefore I resulted in buying a thick, glossy, fabulous Glamour magazine to satisfy my needs! The Glamour magazines are always filled with gossip, fashion, beauty products and little 'pick me ups' when they are needed. I will be making sure that I purchase next months edition for more advice and beauty tips. 

Glamour magazine can be purchased from almost anywhere for £2.00

I hope that I have given you a few bits and bobs for you to try out yourself, or if you have already given them a try, comment below and let me know what you think!

Ciao for now!