Mac Lipstick - Jubilee

   This was my very first Mac lipstick purchase, and how very exciting was it to go up to the Mac counter for the very first time! (not to mention slightly intimidating!) However, I walked away with 'Jubilee' which is a 'Lusture' finish. Mac describes it as a 'Naked Beigey-Pink' which I do actually agree with. It gives your lips that 'your colour but beter look' and because it is a 'lusture' is gives a nice shine that makes your lips stand out. The reason I chose this shade was because I wanted to try a neutral shade, but with a pinky tone running along with it to wear at work,  so nothing too brown in other words.  I feel that this lipstick achieves this, and gives me some colour, without without being too over the top. It's super easy to apply, and I do normally wear it without any lip liner, but I am finding myself going back into my bag to re-apply every few hours or so. Being that this was my first Mac lipstick, and I didn't want to go too adventurous with my first colour choice! However, I am very keen to try out more shades. I feel as though I am being pulled towards 'Hue' (which is a cult favorite i've noticed!) and Viva Glam V, which are again both very pink/neutral shades, but as I am coming to realize  no girl can only just have a few Mac lipsticks! No mater how loud my bank balance protests!

  My camera makes its look much more of a neutral 'pinky' shade rather than the brown tones that this lipstick has in it. However, I would say that the colour shown here is more of a representation of what it looks like when it is translated onto the lips. I wear this for when I'm at work, or college, because it's not the kind of lipstick that screams 'look at me!' its much more subtle and refined, in fact my best friend didn't notice that I had anything on my lips when I wore it for the first time! Boys eh?

Overall a lovely lipstick that is great for daytime wear!

No7 Instant Radiance Foundation - Calico

     Sooo, about 3 weeks ago I went to Boots in the hunt of a new foundation, because I had run out of my 'Rimmel Match Perfection.' I have really pale skin, therefore I am always a bit skeptical of choosing the right shade, and obviously in boots there isn't anyone there to help you with the different shades, and sometimes the testers are missing (boo!). With all this in mind, I went to the No7 stand, and asked the assistant to 'Colour Match' me, which is a relatively new service by No7 that electronically matches anyones skin tone to one of their foundations. I got matched with 'Calcio' Which I'm convinced is one of their fairest/or is the fairest in the range. I opted for their 'Instand Radiance Foundation' because I wanted to try the more 'dewy' look rather than the 'Stay Perfect' more moisturizing formula. I have to say that I really like this foundation, and does give me a nice glow! I'd say that it has a light coverage because my freckles shine through, although it is buildable if you do want more coverage. It doesn't feel thick when applied, which is a factor that I look for in a foundation, because no one really wants to have the 'cakey' feel or look on their face now do they!? I have dry skin, so I suit the more 'dewy' formulas that bring the glow into my skin. Especially with being pale, this foundation is perfect for 'putting some life' into my face.  Unlike the Rimmel 'Wake me up foundation,' this No7 formula doesn't have noticeable shimmering particles in it but still managed to brighten the face. I have tried the Rimmel one, but actually prefer this to it, because the Rimmel shade collection let me down. The lightest shade in that collection is just a little too dark for me, so sadly it didn't live up to the extraordinary large hype for me (unpopular opinion!) although the formular was fantastic. Another thing that I like about this product is that it has a pump, which makes life just that little bit easier doesn't it!?

Its a nice lower priced foundation, but I would say that is isn't my absolute favorite. 

    I apply it with my 'Real Techniques Stippling Brush' because I find that it helps to give me a flawless look, and it is so easy to blend around the chin and hair line with this brush. I also have the Mac 190 foundation brush, which I used to use all the time, until I recently bought the stippling brush, so I am yet to try this foundation with the 190 brush. If you don't have the stippling brush, I recommend that you go out and buy one! It can be applied smoothly and evenly with just the hands, as it is easy to blend. 

   If you want a foundation that lifts and brightens up your face, then this is the one to go for, and if you feel like you want a change from the Rimmel 'Wake me up' foundation.

 Priced at £12.50.

Recent Daily Essentials.

      These are the items that I have been using daily on a regular basis for the past few weeks. Normally I go for a no eyeshadow winged eyeliner look using my Mac fluid liner, however, seeing as it is coming into Spring, I want to try and go for a new more natural look, without any eyeliner on the top of my lids. When I first started to change my normal makeup look, I didn't really like it, I felt that my eyes looked bare without the eyeliner. However, my new look is starting to grow on me, and I can't wait to try other combinations of the various neutral eye shadows that I have!

1. No7 Instant Radiance Foundation - Calico

2. L'Oreal Paris GlamShine Stain Splash - Lolita

3. Urban Decay Naked Basics Pallet

4. Rimmel Lash Accelerator Endless Mascara - Black

5. Collection - Lastin Perfection Concealer - No 1 Fair

6. Real Techniques Stippling Brush

(Hello freckles!)

Urban Decay Naked Basics Pallet.

After hearing so many people talk about this beautiful little pallet, I finally caved and bought it. It's such an amazing pallet, filled with neutrals which I think suit any season. In total there are 5 Matte shades and 1 shimmer shade, and they are just so easy to blend together to create that effortless 'I've not spent a lot of time blending these together' look. It fits perfectly into the palm of my hand which is great for travelling! And has a perfect large mirror that covers the lid of the pallet, so no need to put any other mirror in your makeup bag!

The way I wear these colours on my lid is just normally very natural, I've recently been ditching the winged eyeliner look and replacing with a natural smokey eye and mascara look using this pallet. I love the look it creates, and because I'm so pale, the colours just help to give my eyes that much needed definition instead of an unattractive 'washed out' look. I usually take 'WOS' all over the lid using my Mac 217 brush, then blend 'Naked 2' with the same brush into the crease and down the lower outer edge of my eye. Then taking 'Faint' on the very edge of my Mac 239 brush, and just make a line in the crease where I had just put 'Naked 2' until I reach about the centre of my eye. Then taking the 217 brush again, I blend the two colours together. To finish, I dab my ring finger into the only shimmer colour in the pallet, 'Venus' and put it along the brow bone and tear duct area as a highlight. 

Overall a gorgeous little pallet by Urban Decay, and I can't wait until my 'Naked 2 Pallet' comes for me in the post this week! 

Rachel x

(Left to right) Crave, Faint, Naked 2, WOS, Foxy, Venus.

(Foxy and Venus are especially hard to see against my oh so pale skin, but look perfect on the eye!)