After finishing lunch at work last week I was rifling around in my bag for something to slick on my lips before going back to my desk, on my first reach in to my bag I pulled out two lipsticks and upon opening them to compare shades and much to my surprise I discovered that they are practically identical!

MAC Patisserie  is an old favourite for that my-lips-only-better look, the Lustre lipsticks are among my favourite lipsticks as they provide a fuss-free juicy wash of colour. Patisserie is just the most perfect rosy-brown shade which works with any look, be it natural or bolder. Anyway on to the fabulous dupe I have discovered...

A couple of weeks ago I picked up a couple of bits from the new Rimmel by Kate Nude Collection on a bit of a whim, I've not used a Rimmel lipstick in years but I have to say I was pleasantly surprised! I favour the more natural looking makeup products for my daytime looks so a good nude is always welcome in my stash, I was drawn to shade 45 instantly as it reminded me of my favourite ever lipstick by MAC - Faux. On lips shade 45 is just like the lustre finish lipsticks in that it has a glossy sheen and a subtle amount of colour.

Comparing the two Patisserie leans ever so slightly more on the brown side and shade 45 more on the mauve side however they are very similar when wearing. At £5.49, a third of the cost of MAC's Patisserie you could throw this one on everyday and not need to worry about it running out!

This Weeks Most Worn

My most worn products over the last week are a collection of both old favourites almost forgotten about and new discoveries which I'm loving, all of which I really couldn't be without in this heat.

MAC Mineralize Skinfinish Natural has seriously left me wondering why on earth I hadn't tried it before. For years and years I had avoided finishing powders as they took me back to those awful matte, pasty pale years of my teens. After struggling more than most years with controlling shine I decided to purchase this powder as it not only controls shine with a semi-matte finish but it also provides another light layer of coverage. When wearing you can barely tell you're wearing it, it doesn't cling to imperfections or to those fuzzy little hairs we ladies have, just a smooth natural finish. Love!

Another MAC favourite at the moment is their Pro Longwear Paint Pot in Soft Ochre. My usual favourite eyeshadow primers aren't keeping shadows on my oily lids, this stuff not only works great as a matte eyeshadow on it's own but also doubles up as a long wearing natural base that doesn't crease or fade. My Urban Decay Naked Basics Palette has made an appearance in my daily routine again, with the shade Stark being my everyday shade, I'm seriously gutted they don't sell this shade on it's own as I will be lost without it!

My Bobbi Brown Creamy Concealer has made it's way back into my makeup bag, I'd almost forgotten how good this stuff is! I do suffer with a little creasing under my eyes so I make sure I tissue off any excess product and set with powder to avoid it settling into the creases, the result is much brighter and more rested looking eyes.

I do currently have a Too Faced Better Than Sex mascara open but when I saw Benefit release new shades of their They're Real Mascara I was instantly drawn to the brown shade, I have to say its pretty good. The mascara itself doesn't give me the most volume and lift I've ever had from a mascara but I am enjoying the more natural look of brown lashes apposed to my normal black. I'll post a more in-depth review of this one soon.

Last but my no means least we have my current favourite blusher from Clinique, Melon Pop Cheek Pop. This stuff looks so nice with my current tan, it gives cheeks the loveliest wash of colour but keeping them looking natural and not powdery. I have the coordinating lipstick, Melon Pop and when worn together it really pulls my whole summery look together.

See any of your favourites or anything you've been dying to try?

MAC Pro Longwear Paint Pot | Soft Ochre | Swatch & Review

MAC Pro Longwear Paint Pot £15.50

After reading what feels like a thousand posts on MAC's paint pots and almost daily donning a barely-there-eye I decided to purchase Soft Ochre last week and it really is one of those products that has left me wondering why the hell I didn't buy it before!

I wear MAC's Studio Fix Fluid foundation in the shade NC15 and Soft Ochre matches my base perfectly, covering any darkness on my eyelids and leaving the perfect nude base. 

MAC claim their Paint Pots to be 'a highly pigmented colour that goes on creamy and dries to a vibrant, intense finish' and I'll second that! Soft Ochre has a completely matte finish which lasts and lasts, I have quite oily eyelids and this cream eyeshadow doesn't crease or fade, it also works as a great base for eyeshadows to help longevity and intenseness.

I've definitely got the bug for MAC's Paint Pots, which are your favourites?

My MAC Lipstick Collection | Part 2

Following on from yesterday's post with the brighter shades in my MAC lipstick collection today I'm going through the more muted shades in my collection. These shades are the ones I reach for more on a daily basis as they are are more toned down and easy to wear. So here's the second part of my MAC lipstick collection...

First up we have Faux the Kylie Jenner lip shade that everyone was donning last Autumn, I wore this shade for 6 months straight when I got it, it's just the perfect amount of pink and brown. Next up we have Patisserie which is no stranger, it's that perfect my lips only better shade and has been getting a lot of wear from me over the last couple of months. Thirdly we have Creme Cup, I must wear this shade more often as it's just the perfect pinky nude, I find this works best when I'm a little on the paler side. Next we have Angel, I loved it when I first bought it but nowadays I'm not so keen, I love the colour it's just this lipstick has a frosted finish to it which I'm not keen on. Last but not least we have Snob, this is a gorgeous blue toned almost bubblegum pink shade that is so fun to wear, another I need to break out more.

Which are your MAC lipstick favourites?

My MAC Lipstick Collection | Part 1

I seem to show a lot of enthusiasm and post a lot about the new products I add to my ever growing makeup collection yet I never seem to talk about the products already living in my collection. MAC lipsticks are a firm favourite in everyones makeup collection, they offer a huge spectrum of shades and enough finishes to please us all. So here's part one of my MAC lipstick collection...

Starting from the left we have Russian Red, a gorgeous deep red with blue undertones and a matte finish, this is one of my favourites for a night out as it offers that perfect timeless red lip. Next up we have See Sheer which is slightly muted coral shade with a glossy finish, I've just realised I've not worn this since last spring and I need to break this out more now the summer is approaching! Thirdly we have Ravishing from the Cremesheen collection, a lovely coral-orange shade. Morange is one that still scares me a little, I bought it at a point in my life where I wanted to be more daring with my lip colour choice and I must admit I have picked it up and been to scared to use it more times than I actually have used it. Last up we have Flamingo, this shade got a good amount of use from me last summer, it's just the right amount of pink with a gorgeous sheen to it thanks to being part of the lustre collection.

Stop by tomorrow for the second part of my MAC lipstick collection, the more nude shades.

MAC Wash & Dry Collection 'Crisp Whites' Blusher Review & Swatch

MAC Wash & Dry Collection | Crisp Whites Blusher £20

I'm not ashamed to admit I only purchased something from MAC's new Wash & Dry Collection purely for the packaging, as I do with most of MAC's limited edition releases and as with most of MAC's new lines my attention was drawn directly to the blushers. Out of the two I was drawn to 'Crisp Whites' described as a pale tangerine with fine gold shimmer. This shade is so me, I feel I look my healthiest when wearing peach or coral toned blushers.

The formula of this blusher is light and blends very well and the shade is much more subtle than the description of tangerine may indicate, making this blusher perfect for daytime looks. I did purchase the 'Ripe Peach' blush from the Toledo line that MAC released back in February which I am yet to muster the courage to use as it's just too beautiful!

Did you get anything from the new line?

Welcome To The Stash | MAC Patisserie

MAC Patisserie | rrp £15.50

I have lusted over Patisserie for longer than I care to remember and on the Easter Bank Holiday Friday when the weather was a little gloomy this famous nude just fell into my basket whilst browsing online.

Patisserie is from MAC's Lustre lipstick range meaning it's sheer and leaves a gorgeous non-sticky sheen to your lips. This seriously wearable pinky nude is going to become my new go-to lipstick I can just feel it.

Patisserie really is like my lips only better meaning I needn't worry about liner to prep and it's moisturising enough not to need to worry about applying balm beforehand (like I find i have to with some of MAC's more pigmented lipsticks). After wearing this lipstick everyday since receiving it I'm left wondering why on earth I didn't buy it before?!

Most Worn | This Weeks Makeup Bag

Milani Baked Blush in Luminoso | rrp £5.99

I discovered Milani from a photo on my Instagram feed and instantly fell in love with their baked blushers, after reading a few reviews I decided to go for the shade Luminoso, the most gorgeous peachy gold shade which instantly lifts my complexion. The brand is american so it is a bit of a pain to get over here in the UK, there are a few eBay sellers and the website I got mine from afrohairandbeauty.com.

Eyeko Brow Gel | rrp £18

Eyeko is a favourite brand of mine, they seem to deliver great quality products in quirky packaging that sets them apart from other brands. This eyebrow gel is one of my favourites, the formula tames stray hairs and leaves brows looking glossy and perfected.

MAC Prep + Prime Skin  | rrp £21

This has long been my favourite primer, although I may stray at times I always return. The ultra fluid silicone formula smoothes out my skin and ensures my foundation has a perfect base. The primer has fine iridescent particles in it that leave my skin glowing.

Body Shop Honey Bronzer | rrp £13

Its not often I hit the pan on a product, Body Shop's Honey Bronzer will always be that one product I do. The buttery formula of this matte bronzer blends seamlessly and (shade 2) works perfectly on my pale skin.

Lancome Hypnose Mascara  | rrp £22.50

You will see this mascara feature in a lot of my posts, it does the most amazing job of delivering long, separated lashes with a glossy black formula which doesn't smudge or flake. Perfection in a tube.

Bobbi Brown Corrector  | rrp £19

Bobbi's corrector has been my miracle eye product ever since I discovered it 2 years ago. I've not found a product that does a better job of disguising dark circles and brightening the eye area than this.

Bobbi Brown Shimmer Brick | rrp £34

When these beautiful shimmer bricks were released I tried to convince myself that I didn't need one, that I could create the same effect with products I already own but I caved in and I have to admit I was wrong. Pastel Peach is the most uplifting combination of colours that leaves my face glowing!

Lancome La Base Paupieres Pro Eye Primer | rrp £21

Currently my favourite eye primer, I don't often wear eyeshadows but I do find this does a great job of neutralising discolouration  on my eyelids and providing an even base for my eyeliner.

Clarins Instant Concealer | rrp £21.50

I must admit this concealer has grown on me, a few months ago I wrote a post on my dislike for it however lately I have been using it more and after finding the right technique for application (finger instead of sponge) I really like the finish.

YSL Touche Eclat | rrp £25

I know many a beauty enthusiast would gasp at me saying this but I'm just not that in to it and I'm literally just trying to use it up as I hate the thought of throwing £25 in the bin! Designed to conceal, highlight and brighten, I struggle to blend it properly and find I get better results from other highlighters.

Maybelline Eye Studio Gel Eye Liner | rrp £7.99

A smooth gel formula that glides on and is blackest black. I find the formula is great for a fine slick of liner above the eye however I do find it smudges and transfers when I go for a more bold look.

Most Worn | This Weeks Makeup Bag

After an 8 day week at work last week I was left needing as much help to fake the glow of 8 hours sleep as I could get and although I felt like the walking dead inside these little treasures ensured it didn't show on the outside!

MAC Strobe Cream | RRP £24.50 50ml

This product is my ultimate quick fix for tired skin, it's loaded with antioxidants, vitamins, green tea and iridescent particles to enhance the effects of light on the skin under all lighting conditions. I like to apply a small amount after moisturising and it really leaves my skin with a glow.

Rimmel Lasting Finish Blush | Santa Rose | RRP £3.99

I love it when you discover a fantastic product from an old brand, this blusher is just that. I will admit that in the last couple of years I have got swept up in the media hype of high-end products and have dismissed a lot of the drugstore brand releases, how wrong have I been?! Whilst browsing the aisles of my local Boots this little gem really jumped out at me, it's the perfect combination of peach and pink that goes with everything and leaves cheeks with a healthy flush of colour.

Bobbi Brown Corrector | Porcelain Bisque | RRP £19

This is my wonder product for tired eyes. I'm quite pale so I use the fairest shade Porcelain Bisque, I'm yet to discover another product that rivals the ability of this one to lighten and brighten the eye area. 

Makeup Revolution Radiant Light | Exhale | RRP £5

Out of all of the powder highlighters I own, including some high-end brands like MAC and Urban Decay, this highlighter is my all-time favourite! The formula is so finely milled that your skin is left with the perfect amount of glow and not looking like a disco-ball!

Lancome Hypnose Mascara | RRP £22.50

Since purchasing this mascara I have been completely converted from my usual brand and won't consider anything else! This mascara does an amazing job of separating and lengthening lashes and doesn't dry and flake like some brands.

MAC Pro Palette Eyeshadow Refills in Brule and Espresso

If you caught my post on my quite recent purchase of a Unii Palette you'll know that I'm now quite set on building a customised palette with everything I need in it to get ready in the morning (with the exception of foundation!) and my latest editions to this palette were MAC's Pro Palette Refills in Brule and Espresso. 

For my everyday makeup palette I really wanted to include neutrals that can be quickly applied without much fuss so I decided to choose Brule a creamy-beige for my eyeshadow base and Espresso a neutral brown for my eyebrows. 

I own a lot of MAC products i.e. foundations, lipsticks, primers, highlighters etc and I have to say that these two eyeshadows for me don't live up to the hype. I don't find them as highly pigmented as others claim them to be, especially Espresso and I much prefer my Urban Decay eyeshadows. Maybe it's just these shades but it has seriously put me off trying any more shadows from MAC. I will use them up as the shades themselves are perfect for me but it's just the lack of pigment which means I'm to and from the pan with my brush constantly that annoys me.

Do you own any MAC eyeshadow's? What are your thoughts? 

Kylie Jenner Lips - MAC Faux Lipstick Review and A Dupe!

I'm a little obsessed with the nude 90's lip that Kylie Jenner has been rocking lately and although she's never confirmed which shade she wears a lot of beauty enthusiasts have said it's MAC's Faux lipstick. Not only do I bring to you today MAC Faux but a dupe so good I really had trouble telling them apart when uploading my photo's to this post! 

So here we have MAC Faux...

And NYX Thalia...

On lips you can barely tell them apart! Here's a couple of swatches...

L MAC Faux
R NYX Thalia

NYX's Thalia is a great dupe for MAC Faux, so if you're looking for a cheaper alternative for Kylie's nude lip I would definitely recommend it! 

MAC Faux is a satin formula which glides on to lips and has a gorgeous vanilla scent very typical of MAC's lipsticks, I've been wearing it every day since purchasing, it is gorgeous! NYX Thalia is a similar creamy formula, it feels a tad more waxy but at a quarter of the price of Faux I think we can live with that!

MAC Ravishing

A couple of weeks ago I added to my MAC lippy collection with the gorgeous Ravishing from the Cremesheen family. Ravishing is a clean, light peachy coral shade with excellent pigmentation and has a milky texture on the lips. This shade looks lovely co-ordinated with a peach toned blusher, keeping the rest of the face minimalistic. 

MAC Ravishing

At first I was a little worried I wouldn't be able to pull this colour off as I'm quite pale (NC15) but I adore this colour, it's the perfect understated coral shade. I've been wearing this most days with a light dusting of my Body Shop bronzer and a little eyeliner and mascara and it lifts my complexion.

MAC Creme Cup Lipstick Review

Being a huge lover of pink lipsticks I couldn't resist making Creme Cup part of my (vast) lipstick collection. 

Creme Cup is a light, blue-toned pink from the Cremesheen line of MAC's permanent collection. This subtle shade isn't overly opaque and is very build able, it leaves a gorgeous sheen on the lips.

Creme Cup is a gorgeous dusky pink that every girl should have in her collection, perfect for day or night. Since purchasing this has been my top choice for lippy for work, it's just the right amount of colour and sheen for a polished look.

MAC Snob Lipstick Review

Another addition made to my MAC lipstick collection last week was Snob, a light neutral pink. Like all other MAC lipsticks Snob has a vanilla scent but is taste-free and comes in their signature sleek packaging.

Snob is a cool-toned medium pink with ever-so-slight grey undertones and is part of the Satin finish line in MAC's permanent collection. The finish is quite opaque and I did find it a little dryer than any of the other Satin finish lipsticks I've tried from them but nothing that can't be solved with a little lip balm prior to use.

I absolutely adore this shade, it's slightly bubblegum pink which I think is a really fun colour for and girls lipstick collection. This shade wears for around 4 hours on me before the need to reapply and as it's a light shade doesn't stain at all.

MAC Morange Swatches And Review

A bit of a late post on one of the latest editions to my MAC lipstick collection but here's a quick post on Morange. I purchased this little beauty from the social shopping site Cohorted for £12, a nice little £3 discount compared to the regular rrp. 

Morange is a vibrant amplified creme finish that's very opaque. This glistening shade of lippy is a medium-dark orange with a subtle sheen, not for the faint hearted with it's vibrant coral and orange hues. 

I am blessed (annoyingly) with naturally dark pink lips so Morange doesn't pop on me as brightly as it seems in the tube, which if I'm honest I'm quite happy with as it may have looked a bit too much on my fair (NC15) skin. Another great lipstick from MAC which will get plenty of use over the summer!

MAC Flamingo Review

A couple of weeks ago, much to my delight, I spotted on MAC's website that they had brought back a few limited edition items that will now be back in stock permanently. I hastily purchased Flamingo, a milky-neon peach/coral shade from the lustre range that I had foolishly not purchased the last time round.

(Unfortunately) I was blessed with naturally dark pink lips so some of the lighter shades of lipsticks don't always 'pop' on me, Flamingo comes out as more of a salmon pink on me which I absolutely love! The Lustre range are my favourites from MAC, they leave lips with a gorgeous sheen and you can either have just a slick for a more toned down look or you can easily build intensity.

As always a great investment from MAC...

Jodie

xoxo

Urban Decay

Yesterday morning I received my Urban Decay All Nighter rrp £9 setting spray from Cohorted for the bargainous price of £6.52! I really only bought it as I already use MAC's Fix-It Spray and I have been wanting to compare the two for a little while. The packaging is practical and the pump dispenses just the right amount, sometimes I feel that MAC's Fix-it can dispense a bit too much and you can end up looking a little slick in area's...something that after using for a while you can master avoiding.  I used the UD setting spray yesterday morning, the weather was vile outside so it's arrival was perfect timing! The spray feels pretty weightless and doesn't affect your make-up underneath the only thing I will say is that it made my skin feel a little tight, the sensation subsided after a few hours though. I found that the UD didn't give as much of a dewy finish as MAC Fix-It but as much as it pains me to say this as I adore MAC products...it does keep my make-up in place a lot better! All Nighter features temperature control technology which lowers the temperature of your make-up keeping you looking flawless in even hot or humid situations. Suitable for all skin-types, even oily and combination this is the perfect setting spray for summer. Jodie xo

May Favourites

I really wanted to keep my May Favourite's list to a bare minimum, I didn't want to be all like 'Look how much I've bought this month!' and just share with you the products I've used everyday without fail and not just list every beauty product I have bought (and there was a lot!). I've kinda gone back to basics this month, concentrating more on skincare and maintenance, here's some of my favourite purchases...

First up is MAC's Angel lipstick rrp £15 from Cohorted, I did a post about a week ago on this gorgeous lipstick, I've worn it pretty much everyday as it's the perfect subtle pink for daytime looks.

Next up we have L'Occitane Immortelle Divine Lotion rrp £42, I discovered this wonderful product through Latest In Beauty with their British Beauty Blogger beauty box collaboration. When I saw the Divine Lotion listed in the box contents I just thought t was going to be some naff body lotion...how wrong was I?! Divine Lotion helps cellular renewal giving you a more radiant, younger looking complexion. I've been applying this lotion after cleansing and toning but before my serum/night cream and my skin feels so soft and it really does leave your face glowing. I will definitely be purchasing the full-size product when my sample runs out.

Toni and Guy's  Prep Heat Protection Spray rrp £6.39 is one of the best heat protection products I've ever used. It protects my hair without leaving any sticky or greasy residue as some other products do and the scent is a really clean, refreshing smell. It doesn't dry my hair out or make it stiff, instead it aids the blowdrying and straightening process leaving me with shinier hair. This has definitely become one of my haircare staples.

Balmi Mint Cube Lip Balm rrp £4.99 has become my current favourite lip balm. It comes in cool, convenient packaging and the formula is lovely. The main reason I went for Balmi was that I was looking for an un-tinted, conditioning balm for work that meant I didn't need to stick my fingers in the product (germ-a-phobe!). I have used the little Vaseline tin's for years and love them as they are multi functioning and last forever but after a recent bought of illness I just got really paranoid about spreading germs! Balmi is a great balm, the packaging is kitsch and the formula has a rich blend of natural ingredients including Jojoba Oil and Shea Butter so it leaves your lips really conditioned. On top of that it has SPF15 and UVA protection so it's perfect for outdoorsy types!

Jodie

xoxo

MAC See Sheer Lipstick Review

I picked up MAC's See Sheer rrp £15 lipstick last week when Debenham's were running a 10% off beauty offer, not a massive discount I know but I'd had my eye on it for a while and the discount swayed me a little more!
See Sheer is part of MAC's Lustre collection, described as a muted-orange coral colour it actually comes out a darker more raspberry colour, with ever so slight brown undertones on me as I already have quite dark pink lips. I love the finish of this lipstick, it has a creamy, glossy kind of finish to it, but not sticky like most glosses. It's very moisturising and lasts very well, I got around 3-4 hours between application.

MAC See Sheer Lipstick

Although a little disappointed it didn't come out as light on me as I's expected, this can't be helped due to my natural lip colour and will definitely get loads of wear from me. I'm looking forward to buying some more shades from the Lustre range as the finish is gorgeous! 

Jodie

xoxo

MAC Angel Lipstick Review

I received this little beauty last friday from Cohorted with a very reasonable discount of £3, I probably didn't need another lippie but seeing as it's MAC, it only cost me £12 and I received free postage...who's going to say no?!
MAC's lipstick Angel is part of their 'Frost' collection so as the title implies it has and ever so slight micro-shimmer and delivers a gorgeous warm-pink. Like most other MAC lipstick's I have tried it does have a faint Vanilla scent to it but it doesn't taste of anything. I got around 3-4 hours wear from this colour, I do find lighter shades tend to fade just a bit quicker. 

MAC Angel Lipstick

My lips are quite pink naturally so it looks more of a bubblegum pink on me, I found applying  bit of balm before the lipstick stopped the drying sensation I get with frosted lipsticks. I absolutely love this colour, it will be a perfect nude-pink for those days when I can't, or don't have time to decide on what lipstick to wear.

If you haven't already visited Cohorted then you should definitely check them out! The cohorts start at 6pm on Monday night's, I've already picked up some fab high-end bargains and their service is great!

Jodie

xoxo