My Favourite Concealer

If I'm in a hurry and can only do the bare minimum make-up wise in the morning, my three must haves are concealer, cheek tint and mascara. I'm very lucky that I have pretty good skin, but as a Uni student I definitely don't always keep it in tip-top shape with late nights either working or partying! One absolute saviour for those dark circles and the odd blemish or two is Collection 2000 Lasting Perfection Concealer.

I had been using MAC Select Cover Up in NC30 for about a year and a half, but ran out of a tube and decided to try this as I had heard many good things about it. On a routine shop in Boots I picked one up in the shade 'medium' (after blending into my jawline to check it matched me, something many people don't do when they are shade-testing a foundation or concealer - your hands are not the same colour as your face!). It can be found here for a pretty scrumptious £4.19 (much cheaper than MAC Select Cover Up at £13.50!).

Don't get me wrong, Select Cover Up is a great concealer and lasts forever, but it just wasn't thick enough to really cover dark circles or blemishes. I was actually mesmerised by the Collection 2000 Lasting Perfection's ability to literally cover up anything, flawlessly! In the picture above you can barely see my dark circles or any blemishes (there has been no photoshopping ;)!) and the shade is perfect for my skin. I float between a MAC NW25 and NC30, but this is smack bang in the middle.

If you're stuck and haven't a clue which concealer to go for, this all-round gem is worth picking up if it is available where you live - you wont be disappointed!

Mega Love xx

Top Lip Products

I love lip products, but I'm very picky about what I use. I stay away from products which are drying, sticky, slippery or rediculously overpriced. I have a lot of lipsticks and balms, but very few glosses... just my preference. Of course I tend to gravitate towards particular colour themes at different times of the year etc. but these are 7 staples in my collection that I wear all year long and never get sick of. That being said, I highly recommend them to you! :)

1. Hazard (Topshop) £8

Long-lasting, true blood red, satin finish, fades gradually and evenly. Wear is about 5 hours I'd say, depending on what you are doing!

2. Impassioned - Amplify Finish (MAC) £13.50:

Warm hot pink, definitely more orange/coral in there than blue undertones. Great for a statement lip that isn't red. Really comfortable to wear, lasts about 4 hours I would say, again depending.

3. Hue - Glaze (MAC):

First ever MAC lipstick. Glaze lipsticks are semi-sheer and very moisturising. This is the perfect nude for me, as anything too beige or pale makes me look like a corpse :-/. This makes the lips appear very full, has just a bit of a hint of pink to it to warm up the face. Many, many people love this lipstick..I can see why. Wear is 3 hours or so.

4. Hibiscus [Ltd Edition] - Cremesheen (MAC):

This came out with the Surf Baby collection this Summer, and I have worn it SO many times. It is an orangey-coral that hints at a red lip. As the finish 'cremesheen' suggests, it is very moisturising, feels like a lip balm when worn. Wear isn't as long though, maybe 3-4 hours. SO GORGEOUS!

5. Angel Delight Cream Puff Moisturising Lip Cream (Collection 2000) £2.99:

This is by far the most unique lip product I have ever tried. It looks like a gloss in the tube, goes on like you are wiping a cotton pad over your lip, and dries to a satin/velvety lipstick! When you rub your lips together it feels a tad velvety..very pleasant :). I absolutely LOVE this colour..it is a great mid-tone nude and I wear it most days. OH! And they smell like Angel Food Cake - to. die. for. Lisa Eldridge highly recommends these, and at £2.99 they are a steal.

6. Scandal Pout Polish SPF 15 (Sleek Makeup) £4:

I believe this came out with Sleek's Valentines Day collection earlier this year. I had never tried the pout polishes, but decided to give this one a try. It is a great true red, with blue undertones -  looks AMAZING on cool and neutral skin. It is basically a tinted lipbalm, but honestly these give the same pigmentation of colour as a glossy lipstick. The bright colours in particular would be a great option for those who aren't quite ready to take on a lipstick, but want a hint of that bright lip. Wear is a good few hours, and they taste and smell of vanilla or cakey-goodness, and they fade evenly.

7. Lip Venom (DuWop) £15:

I remember popping into a Sephora about 7 years ago to pick up some of this stuff as it was ALL THE RAGE. My friend and I got home and tried it, and were super intrigued and excited by the slightly painful tingling sensation it brought to the lips. This is the original lip-plumping gloss. Slightly sticky, smells like spicy cinnamon and ginger, and definitely a winner in my books. Ingredients in the gloss cause a slight irritation to the lips (non-harmful!) which increases blood flow to the area. The result is bee-stung looking, fuller, pinker lips. Nifty and quite fun :). I must add, planting a kiss your other half with this stuff definitely adds the element of surprise ha!

L-R: Hazard, Impassioned, Hue

 L-R: Hibiscus, Angel Delight, Scandal (No swatch of Lip Venom as it is pretty clear!)

Mega Love xx