How to get the "your lips but better" look

Long time, no post! Life got a bit hectic and I was lacking inspiration. Anyway, two products have just entered my life that have given me the inspiration to post and tell you about how amazing they are.

Rimmel exaggerate lip liner in Eastend Snob and Rimmel nude collection by Kate in 45 make the perfect 'your lips but better' look. (Also the blusher above is bloody lovely too).

To apply, I first line my lips with Eastend Snob accentuating my Cupid's bow and then use the liner to fill my lips too. With this method the colour pretty much lasts all day! Then I apply the nude lippy in 45 over the top and the look is complete. 

It is the perfect lip colour for autumn and makes your lips look lusciously full.

Have you tried the Rimmel nude collection? What are your favs? 

Emma

Makeup favourites 2014

I have tried so many new products this year, that I thought I'd share some of my favourites.

Clockwise: Tanya Burr lipglosses, Rimmel exaggerate liquid eyeliner, Collection mosaic glow, Bourjois healthy mix foundation, Real Techniques brushess, L'oreal Miss Manga mascara

Tanya Burr's new makeup line flew off the shelves on it's release and I must say I am a fan of the glosses. They wear well and there are a lovely range of shades available to suit everyone.

Rimmel's exaggerate liquid eyeliner has been a firm favourite for years now. I haven't found another drug store brand to rival its strong colour and excellent staying power. 

Collection's mosaic glow is a lovely shimmery bronzer which is subtle enough for day wear when applied lightly and can be built up for a glowing evening look. 

I brought the Bourjois healthy mix foundation by mistake. After reading glowing reviews on numerous blogs about the serum, I didn't realise that there was a liqud foundation as well as the serum type. But it was a happy mistake as its been a firm favourite ever since. 

I doubt there is a blogger in the UK who doesn't own a Real Techniques brush. The quality is amazing, the bristles are sooo soft and the price is pretty decent, especially if you keep your eye on Amazon or Superdrug deals.

Miss Manga mascara was a new release for L'oreal in the earlier par of this year. For me it beats Benefit's They're Real hands-down providing glorious long thick lashes that people can't help but notice.

What have been your makeup favourites this year? 

Have a lovely Christmas and new year everyone.

Week 11 manicure challenge

When I saw this nail varnish on another blog, I HAD to have it. It is Rimmel's space dust in Aurora. It retails at £3.99 but ASOS have it on offer at the moment for £3. Isn't it just gorge?!

Week 4 manicure challenge

This week I have rediscovered my Rimmel matte polish. I have gone for multi-coloured nails with a jewel effect design on the ring fingers using my nail dotting tools.  

I was inspired by this look on Pinterest, but mine look no where near as classy. Nevermind though as I enjoyed trying something different.

My first time at nail stamping

Today I had my first go at nail stamping! My sister came over at the weekend and lent me some bundle monster plates so I thought I'd give it a go. I won't go through the "how to" as there are so many videos on YouTube on the subject and they are all quite easy to follow. 

I started off by doing a couple of coats of Rimmel's Marshmallow Heaven then used Barry M's silver foil effect for the stamping as recommended by my sister (thanks sis). Finally I topped it off with a top coat to protect my pretty stamps. Note to self for future; try to apply top coat in one swipe as if you keep going over a spot it smudges the stamp.

Overall, it's a fairly easy method to come up with really effective results. It is harder to do the hand you write with as I'm sure you'd expect, but not impossibly hard.

I think I'll invest in some plates of my own.

 

I used bundle monster plates 213, 317 and 320.

Blue tipped eye lashes

Today I just wanted to share a little makeup trick that I use. I know people tend to think of the 80s if you mention blue mascara, but used carefully it can be very effective.

I have the Rimmel Extra Super Lash mascara in shade 003 Electric Blue.

I apply a couple of coats of my usual black mascara, then apply this blue mascara just to the tips of my upper lashes. This ensures that it doesn't look over-powering and is nice and subtle to use during the day.It is noticeable up close and in a certain light and I get a lot of compliments on my eye makeup when I do this. I think it brings out the blue in my eyes!

It looks really obvious in the picture because of the flash, I promise it's not this "in your face" in the flesh!

Triangle nails

Ease: ★★★★★
Effectiveness: ★★★★★


This is my last post in August. Since I started this blog a short while ago, I've clocked up just over 400 views. Thanks to everyone who has read and commented on my posts.

Anyway, back to business...


I saw this style of manicure on the Cute.A.S.Nails blog recently and decided it was something that a person of my novice nail skills could do.

I used my Rimmel nail varnish that I've mentioned before in previous blogs. I started off with a couple of coats of the marshmallow heaven, then used the matte finish top coat. Once it was fully dry I taped the points on the nails and used a thick coat of pear drop to create the triangles.

This is the finished result!

Rimmel 1000 Kisses Lip Tint

 Rimmel 1000 Kisses: ★★★★

Recently I won a competition to be a beauty panelist for the "Beauty at Tesco" Facebook page. Tesco have sent me four lip products and my job is to review them. Here is the first product I tried - Rimmel's 1000 Kisses in 100 Endless Blossom.

One end of the product contains the tint. It is like a felt tip and feels like you are drawing on your lips with a colouring pen when you apply it. The other end is a waxy balm to coat over the top of the tint that provides a glossy shine. 

When I first applied the product my initial concern was that the product comes out darker than it appears on the packaging. However, after a couple of wears the colour has really grown on me, although I think if I were to incorporate it in to my daily look I'd need to come away from the smokey brown eyes that I normally wear. I think the same rule applies with makeup and it does clothes, you know the one about either legs or cleavage but not both? Best to focus on either lips or eyes but not both.










You can wear just the tint, or you can apply the balm to make it glossy. The tint on its own lasts really well, however, when you apply the balm it makes the colour easier to rub off and I doubt it would last for 1000 kisses!

Overall the product is enjoyable to use, I really like the felt tip which gives a good application and even coverage and the fact that the tint tastes subtly fruity. With the balm on too, your lips feel pleasantly moisturised.The only thing to improve for me would be to make the balm not soak the colour up so that it could transfer on to your man should you give him 1000 kisses.

I think I would buy this product, but maybe the nude shade would be better suited to my colouring and go better with the colours I normally wear.

Chevron/fishtail nails

I came across this nail technique on Robin Sparkles blog and thought it looked really effective, so here is my attempt!

The good thing about this technique is that it is pretty easy to do with your wrong hand as well. So both hands end up looking decent.

I used Rimmel nail varnish in 702 Marshmallow Heaven, 703 Peardrop and 239 Your Majesty.

Fishtail braid nails

I came across fishtail braid nails on Twitter a few days ago and it was love at first sight! They look so effective, especially if you get the colour balance right. I had to try this method straight away...

www.lucysstash.com

I bought some Rimmel nail polish at the weekend thanks to a nice little offer in Boots, so thought the fishtail manicure would be the perfect way to try it out. I used Rimmel Lasting Finish in 702 Marshmallow Heaven, 703 Peardrop and 025 Strawberry Fizz.

As this was just a first attempt practice type thing I only did the full fishtail on my thumbs, on the other fingers I did two diagonal swipes on the tips.

Also I must mention that I did this freehand-it's bloody hard! With hindsight, maybe tape would have helped.

However, I'm pretty happy with the result even if it's a bit on the scruffy side at close inspection.


What do you think?!

Laser nails

Ease ★★★★★
Effectiveness ★★★★★

This is not a product review as such but more of a technique review. I saw "laser nails" described on Cute.A.S.Nails blog and thought they looked quality and it sounded like something I could do myself.

I started off painting two coats of Barry M Baby Pink polish on my nails and letting it dry thoroughly. Then I cut some thin strips of tape and stuck them at angles on my nails (2 per nail, except 1 on little finger). Then I coloured in between the tape with Barry M in Mushroom and Rimmel in Silver. I left it to dry mostly and took the tape off and there they were - pretty laser nails! I did then do a clear top coat just to protect it all and smooth it over.

This is very easy to do, no assistance needed and looks really effective. No special equipment needed either, just your favourite nail varnish colours and some scissors and tape.

Have a go and show me the pics please!