My Most Worn Nude Lips

Left to Right: Colourpop Ultra Satin Lip in Alyssa, MAC Lipstick in Patisserie, Nars Velvet Matte Lip Pencil in Bahama, Rimmel Lasting Finish by Kate Lipstick in 42 and Nars Velvet Lip Glide in Unlaced

I can’t even remember the last time I wore a statement lipstick. That might just be my memory weakening in my old age but it’s also because I almost exclusively wear nude lipsticks these days. There is just so many different colours, finishes and brands that I see no need to stray from more natural colours. I think they compliment my makeup better and make me feel more comfortable to wear them for hours on end. 

People make fun of me for having so many lip products but each one is so different that in my own head I justify the need. That is why I found it quite difficult to narrow it down to just five of my favourite nude lipsticks.


Colourpop Ultra Satin Lip in Alyssa 
This is the only traditional liquid lipstick on the list. Not necessarily because I do not enjoy wearing them but because on an everyday basis I like a very comfortable formula over anything else. This strikes the perfect balance between the opaque pigment of a liquid lipstick and the comfort of a normal lipstick. It does dry down to matte, so if you’re expecting it to stay more creamy this is not the formula for you, but it doesn’t become transfer proof or make the lips feel tight and restricted. In terms of colour, it is a slightly purple-toned nude, as most of KathleenLights’ Colourpop collaborations are.


Mac Lustre Lipstick in Patisserie 
By far my most worn lipstick ever, it is the only one I have actually had to repurchase because I cannot imagine my handbag without it. It is a beautiful natural peachy-pink shade that looks just like my normal lips but slightly brighter, adding a bit of light to my complexion. The formula is very creamy which makes it super comfortable to wear, though this means that the wear time is not the best. I don’t find this particularly bothersome as on an everyday basis I would often prefer comfort over longevity and it is one of those lipsticks that you can slap on without a mirror so reapplication is a breeze.


Nars Velvet Matte Lip Pencil in Bahama 
On a deeper skintone, this would definitely be a nude lipstick. On me, though I still consider it to be in the natural family, it comes off as a bit darker and more brown toned. It is not something I would wear if I was trying to look as though I wasn’t wearing much makeup. I love this formula Nars has created as they appear very matte on the lips (which is what I prefer for this type of shade) yet it remains quite comfortable to wear. Even when most of the creamy feeling has worn off, it leaves a nice pigment on the lips. The fact that it is in a pencil makes it super easy to apply and to get looking perfect every time.


Rimmel Lasting Finish by Kate Lipstick in 42 
I was after a slightly lighter nude when I stumbled upon this gem in my local Priceline one day. Most of my natural lipsticks fall into the trendy browny-nude category but sometimes I just want a classic nude, which this definitely is. It is quite pinky when swatched on the hand but on my lips it comes off a smidgen more peach. The formula itself is really nice, it applies to the lips softly with even pigment. It is a very creamy finish, not shiny but then definitely not matte. Overall, it is a very nice everyday lipstick that does with any makeup look.


Nars Velvet Lip Glide in Unlaced 
The most recent addition to my collection, this Nars offering has quickly made it to the top of my most worn list. It is not necessarily because of the colour, which is a very nice light peachy pink, it’s more the formula. It is Nars’ take on a liquid lip that is very moussey and soft to wear. It comes up a satin finish that is far from transfer proof but is so nice to wear all day every day. I am definitely going to look into investing in some more colours in this line.


Of course there are many other lipsticks in my rotation but these five are by far my most worn and most loved in my collection.


Have you tried any of these lipsticks? Is there any other nude lipsticks that you love the most? I’m always looking out for recommendations that might make it onto my must buy list so please let me know in the comments.

Lots of Love,

Shannon

Super Simple Chocolate Overnight Oats Recipe

Anyone who knows me well knows that french fries are my main food group. I simply can’t help it, the golden crunch lures me in every time. Despite this, I do make occasional attempts at living a healthy lifestyle and it was during one of these attempts that I stumbled across the idea of overnight oats. I’d heard some other bloggers talking about it but the idea always seemed kind of gross to me until I actually tried it myself.

I started using this recipe during my exam period when it was very important for me to have a filling (yet not bloating - aka no Maccas breakfasts), healthy and simple breakfast. Though I thought I wouldn’t like it, the chocolate variation seemed the most appealing. Over time I have developed my own recipe from research I did on the internet.

I know that my recipe has sugar in it, I’m not claiming that this is the most healthy recipe in existence - nor is it even close, but I’m not that obsessed with health goods that I can’t handle a small bit of sugar. That being said, if you don’t want to use the brown sugar that I do, you could always use agave syrup or another natural sweetener of your choice in its place.

The same can be said with the milk and the yoghurt, though I use the dairy variations most of the time, in the pictured version I had used coconut yoghurt and the recipe works just as well with almond or soy milk. This is the kind of thing you can really adapt to your own lifestyle and tastes, just have a play around with it, but here are the ratios I use.

Ingredients:

• ½ a cup of Oats
• ½ tablespoon Chia Seeds
• 1 tablespoon of Cocoa Powder (I tend to do a mixture of cocao powder and cocoa powder but it works perfectly with just cocoa powder on its own)
• 6 tablespoons of Milk
• 2 tablespoons of Vanilla Yoghurt
• 1 tablespoon of Brown Sugar
• Strawberries and Banana to serve

Method:

1. Mix all of the ingredients (bar the fruit) in a container that has an air-tight lid and leave overnight.
2. Cut up fruit and present it on top of the oats - then mix it all in because who cares about how it looks.
3. Enjoy!

See how ridiculously simple that is? It makes mornings so much easier when your breakfast is readily prepared for you and organising it the night before is super simple as well.

Please let me know how you go if you try the recipe, especially if you add your own variations. I would love to hear what you think.

Lots of Love,

Shannon

The Ultimate Basics Palette

This is the palette I never knew I needed or wanted. After owning the Naked 1,2 and 3 palettes, as well as the original Naked Basics (I know, it’s excessive) for a while now, I figured my days of Urban Decay palettes were over. Then, like a sign from God, my Dad gave me the Urban Decay Naked Ultimate Basics Palette for Christmas and it was love at first sight.

Sure, I’d heard good things about the eyeshadows on the internet but it was not until I got to see it with my own eyes that I truly understood what all the fuss was about. This is the perfect palette for a person who wears natural makeup everyday or someone just starting to delve into the complicated world of eyeshadows. In fact, it’s a good choice for anyone.

The palette contains 12 buttery matte shades broken up into two rows. The first row is more taupy purples and the second row is more brown with a grey and a black thrown in for extra measure. They are all very pigmented and wearable shades that blend beautifully with a synthetic brush. I tend to pack the shadow on with a flat shadow brush and then blend out the edges with a fluffier blending brush.

The packaging is breathtaking with the metallic copper casing that gives the optical illusion of depth. It is nice and sturdy with a big mirror so it would be perfect to take travelling. Personally, I am a fan of the new square packaging Urban Decay is using recently as I think it differentiates their palettes from the traditional rectangular look.

My favourite shades are Faith and Instinct as I like to wear them on their own all over the lid for a casual every day look. I also, of course, love Extra Bitter because it is very unique and not necessarily something you would expect to see in a natural palette such as this. It is a welcome addition as I wear it through the crease or in the outer corners to warm up a golden eye.

Overall, in case you hadn’t noticed, I really like this palette and would highly recommend it to anyone who feels as though they need some more matte blending/everyday shades in their collection. Is it a must for those of us who have eyeshadow palettes coming out of their ears? Probably not. Is it super useful to have all the shades you need to blend out a look in one place? Oh yeah.

Have you tried out the Urban Decay Ultimate Naked Palette? Do you love it as much as I do? Let me know in the comments.

Lots of Love,

Shannon

Goals For The New Year

Looking back on 2016 I can’t help but notice how big of a year it was. Not only for the world, with a slew of questionable political decisions, terrorist attacks, celebrity (and gorilla) deaths and other earth shattering events that made us dread turning on the news each night, but for me personally as well.

Thankfully, my personal life wasn’t nearly as bad as the world at large. In fact, I had a pretty damn good year. Of course there was a few troubles and a few losses but overall it was a year of profound change for me. I turned 18, discovered the joys of having an active social life, got a boyfriend and some new friends, got my licence and a car, finished high school, got a job and received a university enter score I was happy with.

Listing it all out like that makes me sad that the year is ending but as I move out into the world and onto university, it is time to move my sights towards 2017 and everything I want to achieve in the next 365 days.

Get Back Into Blogging

This may seem obvious, with this blog post signifying a new beginning for Lots of Love, Shannon, my biggest aim of the year is dedicating more time to my little corner of the internet. Sadly it was pushed to the side in favour of my school work (and plenty of procrastination) but now that I have more free time I want to get back into my favourite hobby. At the moment, I don’t want to be fixed into any strict schedule as I get my sea legs back but eventually I will really nail down my organisation and get fully back on track.

Save, Save, Save

I have to admit, 2016 was not a good year for my bank account. I vow to change that over the coming months. There are so many more expensive items I want to invest in (namely, trips and a new car) but I can’t do that unless I have some cash in the bank. Since I’m still living at home and don’t have much I need to spend money on, I want to make sure I put 40% of each of my pay packets into my savings account each week.

Make an Effort

One of the things I learnt in 2016 was the value of friendship and how you have to make a real effort to stay close with the people you love. Having finished high school, now is the time when people begin to grow up and apart. While I know this is an inevitable part of life and I will (hopefully) make plenty of new friends at uni, I also plan on making a real effort to stay in contact with those who mean the most to me. Be that a quick text once a week or frequent lunches, I will put in the work to keep these relationships going rather than let them slip through my fingers because I’m too lazy to keep in contact.

Go On Adventures

At least once a month I want to try and do something I have never done before. Often, I find myself falling into the trap of doing the same thing over and over. My friends come to my house, we sit and talk. If we’re feeling particularly crazy maybe we watch a movie or play a game. While that is fun sometimes, I think this year is the perfect time to mix it up a bit and make the most of all the activities Melbourne has to offer.

Look After My Skin

I always like to include something super doable when I’m writing my goals. Not only so that I can feel like I have achieved something if I fail at all the others but because there is a lot of value in giving yourself props for reaching your more simple dreams. That is why I aim to look after my skin in 2017 by moisturising my body each day and doing a face mask once a week. It won’t take up too much time but it will make a significant difference to the way my skin looks and feels, not to mention hopefully reduce the likelihood of early-onset wrinkles.

I’m sure many more goals will crop up throughout the year, especially as I get into uni and understand all that my course entails, but for now these are my aims. I hope through completing them 2017 can top the past year and become the best year of my life.

I would love to hear what some of your goals for the new year are so please leave them in the comments.

Lots of Love,

Shannon