Guest post: Berry Lips!

Hey guys! I'm Gill from GillianEtc.com and today I'm gonna do a guest post on autumn makeup, specifically berry lips!

So berry lips are always a big trend in autumn, but more so this year. With Gothic influences on the runways to Cheryl Cole sporting some deep reds and purples, it seems that everyone is loving a deep berry lipstick for 2012. So how can you recreate this? Well, I've tried to put together a handy 'how to' guide!

ON A BUDGET

image from drugstore.com

Berry lips are all about the matte finish, so if you're on a budget, my pick is a very daring one, from the Kate Moss/Rimmel Lasting Finish range. It's shade number 04, a deep purple that is quite difficult to pull off by itself, but if you've got the skin tone for it, or if you layer a lipgloss (I use an old MAC Lipglass) on top, it can look stunning. If the colour of this lipstick scares you, there's always the lighter shades in the newest shades of this lipstick - each is a berry colour suitable for autumn, and they're a lot more subtle than this!

SPEND A LITTLE (MORE), LIVE A LOT

image from maccosmetics.co.uk

If you're looking at spending a little bit more on your lips, I'm of the opinion that you can't go wrong with MAC. For this category, I've chosen quite a tricky lipstick, as it is from a collection, so it's limited, but if you can get your hands on it, you should because it's a stunning colour!

The shade I've chosen is from the Marilyn collection, and it's called Deeply Adored. As the name suggests, it's a really deep, almost burgundy red, and it's the darkest lipstick in the new Marilyn range, but that doesn't make it difficult to pull off - actually, quite the opposite. This is a shade that will suit all skin tones, and I find it's particularly striking when worn with minimal makeup on the rest of your face (no smokey eyes here ladies!)

BIG SPENDER

 image from johnlewis.com

If money is no object, have a look at this Yves Saint Laurent Rouge Pur Lipstick in Sweet Dark Purple (which isn't the colour shown in the image, as I don't own it and can't afford it haha!) Unlike the name suggests, Sweet Dark Purple is actually quite a neutral colour, and a good stepping stone into the world of berry lips. It's still very pink, although it is much deeper than normal, and although I havne't tried this lipstick, I'm sure that it's a very good product given it's price tag!

What do you guys think of berry lips, is it a trend you'd dare to try?

Gill

xxx

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Guest Post: Winter Makeup Essentials

Hey guys, today I have a guest post for you from the lovely Emily, from One Way Beauty. I personally have the Rimmel blush and the Maybelline eyeliner and would definitely recommend them! Enjoy reading!!!

Hi Passion For Makeup readers, I'm Emily from One Way Beauty and today I am going to be sharing my winter make up essentials with you all. I tend to find myself reaching for different products in the summer and winter, and now that we're entering the colder months my winter products have come out in full swing.

MAC Pro Longwear SPF 10 Foundation in NC15 - £24.00 from MAC

17 Instant Glow in Medium Bronze - £4.59 from Boots

Rimmel London Powder Blush in 001 Santa Rose - £3.99 from Boots

In the summer, you'll rarely see me wearing a foundation with medium to high coverage, however in the winter I prefer to cover my face a little more and make the most of foundation staying on my face rather than melting and slipping off. MAC Pro Longwear is my foundation of choice for a medium yet buildable coverage because it stays all day, hence the name, and keeps oil at bay.

If your summer glow faded as fast as mine then a bronzer is your best friend this winter! I envy those who have a tan all year round although unfortunately by September my glow has virtually disappeared and my skin is often left looking dull. I love the 17 Instant Glow bronzer for adding some colour to your face. It is matte so great for contouring too.

My third and final essential for the face this winter in the Rimmel London powder blush in 001 Santa Rose. Rosy cheeks are set to be very on trend this winter, and this Rimmel blush is perfect for creating that 'pinched' look. The small amount of shimmer will also perk your skin up on those dull winter days!

Urban Decay Lipstick in Wanted - £13.00 from Debenhams

Clarins Gloss Prodige in 04 Candy - £15.50 from Clarins

Berry/dark lips are set to be everywhere this autumn/winter. I love Urban Decay's lipstick in Wanted because it is so moisturising and gives the 'just bitten' look without making you look overdone because it is slightly sheer, so it's perfect for the daytime. Clarins Gloss Prodige in 04 Candy is a personal favourite of mine when I want a gloss rather than a lipstick. I love the subtle gold shimmer within the gloss, although this will not be for everyone.  You can see a swatch of Wanted here and a swatch of Candy here.

Maybelline Eyestudio Lasting Drama Gel Eyeliner in 01 Black - £7.99 from Boots

Figs & Rouge Balm in Pomegranate - £4.99 from Boots

I have one more winter trend to mention, and that is eyeliner. Eyeliner has always been popular, but this season it's taken a new turn with all sorts of creative looks such as dots, cut out liner and other crazy designs! My favourite eyeliner is Maybelline's Lasting Drama gel eyeliner. This eyeliner is so soft and creamy. It comes with a brush too which is surprisingly a nice brush! 

My last product is not technically makeup however it is an essential for me and I just had to include it! This product is a Figs & Rouge balm in Pomegranate. Indoor heating and cold weather contribute to sore, dry lips in the winter and I usually hear most people I know complaining about dry lips when it's really cold! I am no different and my lips always become sore. However, this Figs & Rouge balm quickly sorts out any dryness whilst tasting and smelling delicious at the same time! This balm is a multi purpose product, and can also be used on the face, hands or body, saving precious handbag space!

I hope you enjoyed reading about my winter makeup essentials! Thank you so much to Hattie for letting me guest post on her blog. Don't forget you can check out my blog here.

You're very welcome Emily, thank you for taking the time to write a post! I hope all of you enjoyed this post - I sure did :)

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MAC Lipstick Collection - September 2012

Hi everyone! 

I am going to show you my MAC lipstick collection today. I do not have a very big collection but I may be purchasing a few more when I go to Arizona in October!

I also wanted to quickly announce the winner of my 30 Follower MAC giveaway - Congratulations Clara - @florencia_clara and thank you for entering everyone!

Anyway, let's get back to the lipsticks!

 Left to right - Offshoot (Limited Edition), Peach Stock (Limited Edition), Creme Cup

MAC 'Offshoot' - Limited Edition - MAC Me Over Collection

I think this probably my favourite MAC lipstick that I own. It is darker than my natural lip colour but is still a pinky red toned lipstick and I just absolutely love the colour for Autumn!

MAC 'Peach stock' - Limited Edition - MAC Me Over Collection

Ok, so I actually really don't like this colour on myself. I think it is slightly too peachy and orange toned. I would be happy to sell this lipstick for a good price. If anyone is interested feel free to email me or tweet me!

MAC 'Creme Cup' - £14.00 from MAC

I am in love with this lipstick for any time of year. It is the perfect pale pink that goes well with any makeup look I choose to do. However, when I have chapped, dry lips this lipstick really sticks to dry patches. Other than that though, I absolutely adore it!

Hope you liked this post. If you would like to see an overview of my entire lip product collection then leave a comment!

Thanks for reading. 

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30 Follower Giveaway!!

So, as promised here is my 25 30 follower giveaway.

From the results of the poll that has been open for a few days, I am going to be giving away a MAC lipstick. I will not be purchasing the lipstick until the end of the giveaway when the winner will choose their preferred shade.

a Rafflecopter giveaway 

Good luck!!!!

Thanks for reading.

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Mini Motivational Monday & Which Giveaway Item(s)?

Hey guys, so this is going to be a really quick post. 

I promised I'd do a 25 follower giveaway, and I have passed that number but I am still doing one!!

I just wondered what item or items you would be interested in winning?

Here are a few of my ideas -

1. MAC Eyeshadow - Winner would choose the colour

2. MAC lipstick - Winner would choose the colour

3. MUA Items - These would be chosen by me - e.g. Eyeshadow palettes, single eyeshadows, lipsticks, blushes etc.

4. Nail Polish - Either Essie or OPI. Winner would choose colour



I have a poll in the sidebar of my blog so vote there, also comment below if you want!!

Voting will be open until 29/08/12 at 11am GMT so get voting :)



Here is a motivational quote for today - Mini Motivational Monday!!

The truth, right there!

Thanks for reading.

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Styling Sunday - Burgundy Bliss

Burgundy is one of my favourite trends for Autumn/Fall. I simply love the colour, it's beautiful. I can't wait to wear darker colours. Autumn and Winter are definitely my favourite seasons! Here are a few things I found that would be awesome for Autumn.

1. River Island - Burgundy Ponti Skater Skirt - £16.00 from River Island
2. Topshop - Nail Polish 'Ruthless' - £5.00 from Topshop
3. ASOS - ATHENS Leather Chelsea Ankle Boots - £50.00 from ASOS
4. Clinique - Almost Lipstick 'Black Honey' - £16.50 from Clinique
5. H&M - Jumper 'Burgundy' - £14.99 from H&M
6. MAC - Eyeshadow 'Sketch' - £12.00 from MAC

Tell me what trend you're loving for Autumn!

Thanks for reading.

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MAC Paint Pot Collection - Review and Swatches

So, as you can see, I have 9 of MAC's Paint Pots. These can be purchased for £14.50 each from MAC

Top row (Left to right) - Let's Skate!, Bare Study, Morning Frost

Middle row (Left to Right) - Nubile, Treasure Hunt, Rubenesque

Bottom row (Left to right) - Genuine Treasure, Idyllic, For Effect

MAC Let's Skate! - Glitter & Ice Collection

Light pink with gold shimmer. Doesn't look overly shimmery in the pot, but when swatched, it is very shimmery!

MAC Bare Study - Permanent Collection 

Cool toned beige. This is probably my favourite of my collection because as a primer it makes your eyes look much brighter. I also love using it as an inner corner and brow bone highlight, it's beautiful!

MAC Nubile - Posh Paradise Collection

Creamy peachy beige. This is a bit darker and pinker than my skin tone but I love using it as a base for my eyeshadow. This would be perfect for someone with a slightly darker skin tone.

MAC Morning Frost - Glitter & Ice Collection

Frosty taupe brown. I love using this on it's own if I'm feeling lazy! It makes your eyes look brighter and it is so simple to just sweep on in the morning!!

MAC Treasure Hunt - Posh Paradise Collection

Cool toned yellow gold. This is great as a base for golden shadow!

MAC Rubenesque - Permanent Collection

I love using this in the Summer. I will be taking it to America in October when I go on holiday. It is perfect for sweeping over the lid when you don't want much makeup on at all! Perfect summer colour.

MAC Genuine Treasure - Posh Paradise Collection

Glittery antique gold/bronze. Due to the glitter, the texture is pretty rough and gritty. It is also not as pigmented as any of my other Paint Pots. For those reasons, I don't use this very much..

MAC Idyllic - Posh Paradise Collection

Frosted burgundy red. I really like this colour but have not used it much at all. I think I will use it more when Autumn and Winter come around because it's definitely not a Spring or Summer colour. Very pretty though!!

MAC For Effect - Glitter & Ice Collection

Charcoal grey/black with silver shimmer. This is gorgeous as a base for a smokey eye. I will be using this more in Autumn and Winter because again, I don't think this is a very summery colour. 

Pros:

- Versatile. These can be used as a primer for your eyeshadow or can be used as a cream eyeshadow on their own or for a complete eye look.

- Quality. The MAC paint pots are extremely pigmented and creamy (with the exception of Genuine Treasure). They are also easy to work with as they are easily blend able and don't crease on me.

- Value. A 5g pot will last you a long time. I got my first Paint Pot (Bare Study) around 9 months ago and I have barely made a dent in it!

- Packaging. The glass pot makes the product feel very luxurious. However, if you don't like sticking (dirty) fingers in a pot, then maybe you could check out MAC's Paints which also retail for £14.50. If anyone has tried MAC Paints then comment below because I'd love to try one!!

Cons:

- Price. At £14.50 a pot, they are very expensive. However, they last a long time so you have to consider that too.

- Colour range. The colours in the permanent collection are all neutral. MAC release Paint Pots occasionally in limited edition collections but not that often.

Overall:

Packaging - 4/5

I love the luxurious feel of the product. Very impressive!

Product - 5/5

Long wearing. Easy to use. Pigmented. Creamy. Versatile. Awesome.

Price - 3/5

For how long they last, I can just about justify the price. For a cheaper alternative you could try Maybelline's Colour Tattoos which are £4.99

Tell me what you think of MAC Paint Pots in the comments!

Thanks for reading. xoxo

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Wishlist #1

I absolutely love internet shopping but unfortunately my bank balance does not. So these are a few things that caught my eye whilst browsing!

1. River Island 'Molly Jegging - Berry Denim' - £35.00 from ASOS

2. MAC 'Nail Lacquer - St Germain' - £10.00 from MAC

3. Zara 'Studded Cowboy Ankle Boot' - £69.99 from Zara

4. Zara Home 'White Jasmine Candle' - £9.99 from Zara Home

5. Nike 'Legend Slim Capri Pants' - £30.00 from JD Sports

Hope you enjoyed this post. I am getting the IKEA ALEX 9 Drawer Unit today so an organisation post should be up soon!!

Thanks for reading. xoxo

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Going for Gold - Olympic Special

I thought it would be fun to do a series of posts inspired by the London 2012 Olympics and the medals they are handing out (gold, silver and bronze). So, first off, lets start with some awesome gold beauty and fashion items!

Beauty:

Barry M 'Gold Foil Nail Effects' - Available from Superdrug for £3.99.
I have this polish in silver and it is opaque in just one coat. I think this would be the perfect gold polish to be sporting during the olympics.

Nails Inc 'The Medal Collection' - Available from ASOS for £15.50

Well, you can't get more perfect than this can you! This is also pretty good value as you get 3 full size Nails Inc polishes for £15.50 (£5.16 each). As you can tell by the name, this set was created in honour of the Olympics so it could be a souvenir or keepsake right?!?!

Urban Decay 'Half Baked' - Available from Beauty Bay for £14.00 

This eyeshadow is the perfect gold to sweep across your lids. It is perfect for Summer and for supporting whichever team you're routing for (Team GB!!) I have this in my Urban Decay 'Naked Palette' which I am reviewing and swatching in tomorrow's post!

MAC's 'Supernova Blush' - Available from MAC for £19.00 (limited edition)

I know it's not entirely gold but this blush has beautiful swirls of gold running through the hot pink. This looks absolutely amazing but I don't know if I can justify spending that much when I have too much makeup already... If you are thinking of picking this up, it is limited edition so better hurry!

Fashion & Accessories:

TFNC Sequin Prom Dress - Available from ASOS for £45.50 (on sale from £65)

This dress is so pretty. I'm not sure I could pull it off but it would look amazing on the right person! If I was to wear this, I would pair it with all black accessories.

Micheal Kors Gold Chronograph Watch - Available from ASOS for £199
If you fancy splurging on a gorgeous, classic watch then this MK watch is perfect. Personally, if I were to spend this much on a watch it would be the Rose Gold MK Watch because it is so pretty!!

River Island Gold Glitter Platform Heels - Available from ASOS for £31.50
These gold heels would look amazing with a little black dress! They would add just the right amount of glitz and glamour to an outfit. They only have a limited number of sizes left so get in there quick!

Hope you liked my take on GOLD coloured pretty things!! Stay tuned for silver - that will be up soon - after my Naked Palette Review & Swatches!

Thanks for reading. xoxo

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Nighttime (and occasional) Skincare Routine

Everyday - Nighttime: 

MAC 'Cleanse Off Oil' - Buy here

If I have been wearing makeup during the day, then I will first remove my makeup using this product. I apply around 1 and a half pumps of this with my (clean) hands and massage it onto my face. I also remove any eye makeup with this and it works so well. It even gets off every single trace of waterproof mascara!! I then rinse this off with warm water.

Clinique 'Liquid Facial Soap - Mild' - Buy here

I then put a pump of this into my hand and work it into a lather. Then I use this to wash my face and then rinse off using warm water. I then pat my face dry.

Clinique 'All About Eyes' - Buy here

After this, I pat a small amount of my eye cream under my eyes and around the eye area.

Clarins 'Huile Lotus Face Treatment Oil' - Buy here

Finally, I drop 5-6 drops of this treatment oil onto my hands and then pat this all over my face, focusing on my t-zone area. At first I was very apprehensive to try this product as I have fairly oily skin. Therefore, it didn't seem very sensible to apply oil to my face. However, after thinking about it, if you apply oil to your face to moisturise it, then it won't feel the need to produce excess oil!! Anyway, this product makes my skin feel amazing, my skin feels super smooth and soft in the morning. 

Occasional:

No7 'Beautiful Skin Purifying Exfoliator' - Buy here

I have only used this a few times but I already really like it. I apply a small amount to my hands and then massage it onto my face working in a circular motion. Then I rinse it off with warm water. It makes my skin feel so smooth. I am going to start using this once a week.

No7 'Beautiful Skin Purifying Mask' - Buy here

This mask is a mattifying mask for normal/oily skin and it is unlike any other mask that I have tried before. You apply it to damp skin and the mask actually warms up on contact with your skin. You really don't need much of this to cover entire face so it will last a long time. Then, you rinse off the mask after 2 - 3 minutes and honestly after using this my skin felt like silk and it was really matte. If you have the same skin type as me, you should definitely try this product.

Hope you enjoyed this post.

Thanks for reading. xoxo

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Current Morning Face Routine - Skincare and Foundation

I have been using this morning skincare routine for around 3 months now and I like it, it's easy, however, I can't help but feel that it could be better. If anybody has any suggestions for oily/ combination skin, please comment!

Cleanser - Clinique's 'Liquid Facial Soap - Mild' - Buy here

This cleanser is actually the dry skin formula because I had a sample of this one and really liked it as it didn't dry out my skin like some cleansers do. I have acne prone skin so some cleansers tend to dry out any acne I have and makes it more noticeable and more difficult to cover up. 

Anyway, this cleanser lathers really nicely and is fragrance-free which is something I like in a cleanser. Also, the 200ml bottle has lasted me a very long time which makes the £14.00 price tag seem reasonable. However, it is a very gentle cleanser and I'm not sure it really does anything to combat my acne. I think I may try a different cleanser when I run out of this one. 

Eye Cream - Clinique 'All About Eyes' - buy here

After cleansing my face, I apply my eye cream by lightly tapping it under my eyes. This pot is actually a sample that I got in one of Clinique's gift offers that they frequently do - you had to buy two products, one being skincare, in order to get a free gift. This mini pot is 7ml so contains half the product of a full size tub which retails for £23.00 at Boots. This tub has lasted me for about 2 months and I am only around a third of the way through it. I have definitely noticed a difference when using it as it definitely reduces puffiness and minimises dark circles. Overall, a great product and I think I will repurchase it, although I do really want to try Bobbi Brown's 'Extra Repair Eye Cream' but it is £40 so I don't know if it's worth it. Leave a comment if you have tried it!!

Moisturiser - Kiehl's 'Ultra Facial Moisturizer with SPF 15' - buy here

After I apply my eye cream, I pat this moisturiser all over my face. It sinks in to my skin really nicely and quickly however does leave my face feeling kind of greasy but it doesn't bother me that much because I usually just apply makeup afterwards so it doesn't stay that way for long. I love that this has SPF15 in it for the Summer and I honestly don't mind the slight sunscreen scent of this product although I know some people can't stand that smell so I guess it's a matter of personal preference.. 

 Setting Spray / Primer - Urban Decay 'De Slick' - buy here

I use this religiously every morning that I apply makeup (because we all know sometimes you just can't be bothered!!) about 10 minutes after applying moisturiser and before applying my foundation or BB cream. I then use it after my foundation (but before my powder) as well to help me stay vaguely shine free and help my foundation last longer. I think this product is well worth the money because a bottle does last a really long time and also, the cooling effect of the spray really wakes you up in the morning!

Foundation - Revlon 'Colorstay' - buy here

Because it's Summer (not that you'd know it in the UK) I haven't really been wanting to wear a full coverage foundation every day so have generally been reaching for one of the two BB creams below. However, I have been wearing my trusty colorstay foundation when I want something that covers my blemishes fully or when I know I will be out all day and want my foundation to stay put! I do really like this foundation however I find that you have to blend it fairly quickly because it does dry pretty fast.. I have been through about 3 bottles of this foundation though and will definitely be repurchasing it when mine runs out. I apply this with my Sigma 'Flat Top Kabuki' brush which can be purchased from here.

BB Cream #1 - No7's 'Beautiful Skin BB Cream' - Buy here

I got this BB Cream in 'Light' however although it blends out to be fairly sheer, I would definitely say that this would not suit very pale girls. This BB cream has a medium to thick consistency but in my opinion is a light to medium coverage product. Therefore I feel the need to use quite a lot of concealer to cover up blemishes and acne scarring and this makes it feel slightly more cakey and thick than I would like. I bought this with a No7 £5 off voucher so it came to £7.95. I don't think I would repurchase this at £12.95 however I would repurchase if I had another £5 off voucher as unlike Dr Jart's BB cream (below), this BB cream doesn't tend to be as drying on the skin and does have a really nice natural finish when applied with your fingers.

BB Cream #2 - Dr Jart's 'Regenerating Beauty Balm' - Buy here

As I said above, I thought this BB cream tended to dry out my skin slightly however not so much that I don't love this product. For a BB cream this product has amazing coverage. The cream is very thick however blends like a dream. I'd say this product could be either light, medium or heavy coverage depending on how it is applied. I find that the highest coverage is achieved when applied with your fingers. I also use concealer and powder over the top and find that coverage is enough for me. It also doesn't feel heavy on my skin at all but I do find that I tend to get a little shiny throughout the day so you do need to add powder to combat that. This product was very pricey at £21.00 however I think it was worth it because a little really does go a long way!

Concealer - MAC 'Studio Finish Concealer' - Buy here

This concealer is very creamy and blends very well. However, it does tend to look a little cakey and make my makeup feel more heavy. I really don't like that feeling and feel like there must be better concealers out there so I won't be repurchasing this. However, it does it's job for now and it does cover blemishes and dark circles fairly well but I don't think it works for me personally...

Powder #1 - Maybelline's 'Dream Matte Powder' - Buy here

I use this powder over the one below when I am paler or when I haven't applied fake tan as it is lighter than the MAC powder. I love this powder and feel like it completely keeps shine at bay! I apply it with the powder puff that it came with and then brush off any excess powder with my Sigma 'F30 - Large Powder Brush' which can be purchased from here and it works a dream!!!!! Seriously, go get some!

 Powder #2 - MAC 'Mineralise Skinfinish Natural' - Buy here

This powder is the one I use when I am tanned and honestly I would say save your money and just get the 'Dream Matte Powder'. I wish I had just got Maybelline's powder in a darker colour because I don't feel that this does as good a job at keeping me shine free.

I will be posting my current nighttime skincare routine soon so stay tuned for that and leave any suggestions for products you think I might like!

Thanks for reading. xoxo

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