New MAC Lipsticks

Everyone’s a sucker for a MAC lipstick, right? When we went to Paris back in March, I couldn’t help but treat myself to a few from Duty Free, discounted prices and all that, just makes it pretty much impossible to refuse. I headed over not knowing what I wanted which is always a bad move... 

About 15 minutes later and a hand full of swatches, I’d narrowed down a selection but was pretty torn between the few colours I had chosen and decided to go with 2 of them. I picked Taupe up on the Debenhams website a few weeks back and used my Beauty Card points to buy it (total bonus!) but Sin and Victorianna, from the Toledo collection at the airport. 

Top - Victorianna, Middle - Sin, Bottom - Taupe 

Each of these lipsticks are a Matte Finish, all very long lasting. I do find Sin very dry though and if I haven’t moisturised my lips well enough before application, it pulls my lips and they look very dry. Victorianna applies very easily though, a silky finish and it doesn’t budge at all! A perfect addition to your brights collection, although they no longer sell this shade online, so check your nearest counter or Debenhams store! Lastly, a nude that I love and isn’t constantly sold out - Taupe. Its the perfect ‘Naked lip’ colour but enough to show that you’re wearing lipstick. I love wearing this with a simple brown eye, and bronzer! 

I’m still looking to add to my collection though so send me your favourite MAC lipstick colours so that the next time I feel a splurge coming on, I know what to look out for!

Before and After Make-up Look

I think I finally have my blogging mojo back... YAY! Although, I do still have a 3000 word essay to plan and write and I guess procrastinating whilst taking photos makes it more productive than doing nothing, right? I’m loving my Naked palette’s at the moment and I really enjoy reading posts that have before and after pictures in them too, just to see what magic make-up can really do! However, don’t ever feel like you need to cover your face in make-up to look or feel better, do it because you enjoy it, not because you feel you need it!

I’ve created a super simple look that can be changed so much just by using different shadows and lipstick - today, I went for ‘Snakebite’ and ‘Suspect’ from the Naked 2 Palette and a Topshop lipstick in Straight Ace. 

For the base, I’ve used Maybelline’s Instant Eye Eraser and Revlon Colourstay Foundation for Combination/Oily skin - on top of that, I used Rimmel Stay Matte powder and I’ve been using this trio for months now. It gives an immaculate, full coverage look which is what I love and it doesn’t fade throughout the day. For blush (also not in the photo, sorry!), I used a tiny bit of Make-up Revolutions’ The One Stick in Matte Pink and blended it out. 

Moving to eyes, I used ‘Suspect’ all over my lid and applied ‘Snakebite’ to the creases and outer lower lash line for a little more depth, I forgot to include a picture of my eyeliner but it’s the Collection Fast Stoke liner which is INCREDIBLE! I blended all of this out and applied a few coats of Mascara, firstly Rimmel’s Lash Accelerator Endless Mascara and then Make-up Forever’s Mascara on top. My eyebrows are constantly the bane of my make-up routine, I can never get them right and am never fully satisfied but I used Anastasia’s Brow Wiz in Brunette today. 

Moving onto the lips, before I applied any make-up, I popped a bit of Rodial’s Stem Cell Lip Balm on them to keep them smooth and to stop cracking or dryness from the lipstick and then applied a good layer of Topshop’s lipstick in a deep, rich purple colour. 

You can see the difference, obviously, but the redness in my skin has gone with thanks to the foundation, my eyebrows are a lot fuller although still not even (cousins, not sisters, remember girls!) and my eyes look a lot more defined and brighter! You could change to a darker shadow to create more of a smokey eye or even a nude lip to keep it simple but overall, there are so many looks you can create just by using a few simple products and the changes it will give are incredible!

Urban Decay Summer Collection & Giveaway 2015

Urban Decay is one of my favourite 'high-end’ brands as their products are still affordable, it doesn’t completely skint you out when you treat yourself to a Lipstick or two and of course, the beloved Naked Palettes are loved by all, so when the release of their new summer products went live, I knew I had to get my hands on some of it! I was very kindly gifted a few items from the Summer 2015 Collection and wanted to show you that you need at least one of these products in your summer make-up bag! P.s. Keep scrolling to find out how to win an Eyeshadow, Lipgloss and Eye primer!

With 12 New Shades in the Afterglow 8 Hour Powder Blush, 8 Fabulous coloured Eyeshadows, 14 Amazing shades of Lipgloss and a Brand New O-Zone Primer Pencil, you’ll struggle to choose just one thing you love... I’m absolutely in love with the eyeshadow ‘Tonic’ as it’s a two-toned shade with a mixture of purples and blues and ‘Quiver’ in the Blusher is an amazing, bright Pink shade - perfect for Summer days! The pigmentation of the blushers is a little light, apart from ‘Quiver’, as you can imagine, but they’re perfect for a lighter finish if you don’t like heavy colour (you can always build it up which is what I have done!) The eyeshadow pigmentation is incredible, exactly like the Naked Palettes, the shadows barely crease and the colour lasts on the lid all day - with or without the use of primer! The Lip-glosses are silky once on the lips and aren’t sticky which is the main thing that puts me off wearing them. The packaging is also really heavy duty so there’s no worry about the tube breaking or the applicator bending. 

Every single one of these products is amazing and well worth adding to your summer make-up stash. You can buy everything online now at www.urbandecay.co.uk or head on over to feel unique.com and grab yourself 10% off when you choose Urban Decay as your favourite brand!  

Eyeshadows - £14.00 each 

Afterglow 8 hour Blusher - £19.00 each 

Revolution High colour Lipgloss - £15.00 each

Now, if you’re familiar with my little blog, you’ll have noticed I haven’t had chance to post that often due to university deadlines and because of that, my way of saying sorry is giving one of you lovely readers, the chance to win some Urban Decay goodies; ‘Beware’ Eyeshadow, ‘Failbait’ Lipgloss and a set of Eye-primers. UK ONLY! All you have to do is complete the Rafflecopter widget below:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Please be aware that:

1) You must be following me on GFC and leave your GFC name in the RaffleCopter box provided so  that I can check. If you don’t have GFC, you can be following via Bloglovin'

2) You must follow me on Twitter @MissEmmaLou_ and leave your Twitter name in the RaffleCopter box provided so that I can check - Winner’s will be announced via Twitter too!

3) You must leave a blog post comment telling me what products you like the look of most, please include a contact email with this comment too! 

4) Spam entries, entries that have not done any of the previous things or entries with invalid information will not be considered. Entries coming from obvious competition accounts will also be invalid and all entries void.