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

Current Favourites

I know I will ramble my way through this post so I will keep the intro nice and concise. Since it has been a good while since I posted on this blog (I’m so sorry to my neglected child), I figured I should update you on what I have been loving the past few months.

Hourglass Ambient Strobe Lighting Powder in Incandescent Strobe Light 

I have been wanting to use the Ambient Lighting Powders for years, yet for some reason I chose to buy this new ‘strobe’ version instead. Don’t ask me why. Though people who religiously use the original powders say this pales in comparison, I think it is a great everyday highlight. It is a nice soft powder with pale holographic glitters that shine both blue and pink, but not in a very intense way like most popular highlighters. I apply this on the tops of my cheek bones and usually end up dusting it over my cupids bow and nose because it is so subtle. At this rate I will use this one up pretty quickly. 

Revlon Ultra HD Matte Lipcolour in Dependance 

Last winter I was obsessed with MAC Plumful but this winter I am all over this liquid lipstick. It is a beautiful light formula that dries matte but is not too dry (ie. crusty) on the lips. The plum purple colour is bold while remaining wearable for every occasion. I have worn this on everyday trips to the shops and not felt too overdone and worn it to parties and been included in the circle of girls who check to make sure our bold lipsticks aren’t on our teeth (yep, me and my friends actually do that, you have to look after your girls). On top of that, this formula smells like lollies and that is something I can get on board with. 

Nars Velvet Matte Lip Pencil in Bahama

Ah Vivianna Does Makeup, you enable me so. Much like most of the makeup I own, I saw Anna using it first. From the second I clicked on the video I knew that this pink-toned brown must be mine. It fits right into the on-trend 90s lipstick vibe while being made with the classic Nars Velvet Matte formula, it is a great combination. The only thing I dislike about this product is having to sharpen it but concessions must be made for greatness. The brown is light enough that it works with my ghostly skin and blonde hair, so if you’re fair like me this might be the one for you. Even my boyfriend and my brother complimented me on this lipstick, if that is not the seal of approval I don’t know what is. 

MaxFactor Velvet Volume False Lash Effect Mascara 

I will admit, I am a bit of a mascara floozie. I flit from tube to tube without much rhyme or reason (apart from my Covergirl Clump Crusher #forever) and this is my most recent love. It has a plastic wand that gives lots of volume, the longer I use it the more volume it gives, while still keeping the lashes nice and separated and lengthened. The bristles on the wand are quite long which means I have stabbed myself in the eye more than once. Why must everything we love hurt us?

Colourpop Super Shock Cheek in Smokin’ Whistles 

This is like the more intense version of the Hourglass highlight I wrote about earlier. It is the intense wet look that I love so much on my cheek bones for a special occasion. It is a really pale pink shimmer that comes up the same colour as my skin but reflects the light beautifully when it hits me at the right angle. These Colourpop powders are so unique in texture as they are almost bouncy when you put your finger into the pot, this makes them so easy to blend and they are packed with shimmer to give a real stunning sheen. 

Colourpop Super Shock Shadow in Kathleen Lights 

I bought this shadow in the ‘In The Lights’ Quad but this shade stood out above all (though I would recommend getting the full set). It is the most gorgeous orange toned metallic eyeshadow that just blends over the eye so easily and really packs a punch. It can be all over the lid with a simple matte brown through the crease or as a topper in the middle of the eyelid for a smokey eye. I wore this combined with a cream gold foil shadow from Australis as my eye look for my school formal a couple of weeks back, which garnered me many compliments. On top of that, I love Kathleen’s videos so supporting her and her products is an added bonus. 

Origins Drink Up Intensive Overnight Mask  

This is one of those cult products that I have been hearing about for yonks but only just dipped my toe into. Man, have I been missing out. First of all the scent is a positively delicious mango tropical smell which makes it worth it in itself. On top of that, this does a great job at really hydrating and plumping the skin overnight. After using it, I always wake up with much more radiant and soft skin, which is exactly what you would hope. 

Phew, that was a long one, I told you it would be. If you made it through that whole thing, thank you so much for sticking with my despite my very lengthy hiatus. I’m glad to be back and getting into the blogging world again. 

Lots of Love, 

Shannon

Day 12: Christmas Quiz

Merry Christmas Eve! This evening I'm going to get in the real festive mood by doing a Christmas questionnaire that I found online. I'll just answer the ten questions as best as I can and share some of my Christmas traditions, thoughts and memories with you in the process. 

1. What do you enjoy most about Christmas? 
As cheesy as it sounds, the thing I enjoy most about Christmas is getting to spend quality time with my family. Because my brothers are older and off living their own lives, it is good to have an excuse to trap them with us for 48 hours and hang out. All my family is just so fun and loving that any time we're together is a good time. 

2. Do you travel at Christmas or stay home? 
We stay home for Christmas, spending Christmas morning at Mum's house and then travelling a whole 10 minutes to Dad's house after lunch. Our grandparents live quite a while away but we go up to see them before Christmas to celebrate and exchange gifts. 

3. What is your favourite holiday tradition? 
As a kid my favourite tradition used to be that we were allowed to open one present on Christmas Eve but as I've gotten older we gave that up to save everything for the big day. Now I'd say my favourite tradition is just our Christmas lunch, we always have the same roast and it's so delicious, well worth the 365 day wait. The food accompanied by the company makes it a tradition I never want to lose. 

4. Did you take pictures on Santa's lap? 
Haha only once. As a kid I was so frightened of Santa that I would have to sit about two metres away from him in a little sleigh or something for my pictures. Eventually when I was about 8 I manned up and sat on the big mans lap, I was incredibly uncomfortable with the whole thing. After that I never took one of those pictures again. 

5. When did you learn the truth about Santa? 
I don't really remember honestly. I think on some level I always had my suspicions but I'm sure the truth was confirmed to me by the TV at some point. 

6. What is your favourite Christmas movie? 
'SANTA, I KNOW HIM!', yep, my favourite Christmas movie is definitely Elf. It's such a fun and quotable film that I will watch over and over again every Christmas season. 

7. What is your favourite Christmas carol/song? 
I'm not terribly good at choosing favourite songs so this is a tough one for me. Today I would say that my favourite christmas song is Jingle Bell Rock but I'm sure tomorrow I would say something else. It depends on what I heard recently I guess. 

8. What is your favourite part of Christmas lunch? 
Potatoes. Followed closely by pumpkin - my brother and I have a long-standing tradition that I get his pumpkin so that I have extra. Then after that I really love this special butter my mum makes and melts over the beans and snow peas. I also really like the meat. Basically I love it all. 

9. What is your favourite Christmas dessert? 
Our only consistent Christmas dessert is the traditional pudding, which is not really my favourite. Ever since I was a kid I have always had a bowl of custard instead of the pudding and since custard is one of my favourite things on this planet, I'm going to have to say that my annual bowl of custard is my favourite Christmas dessert. 

10. Who do you spend Christmas with? 
It changes every year but the core group are my Mum, Nan, brothers Mitch and Tom (though Mitch is living overseas this year so he will not be there *sad face*), Dad, his wife Christina, my sister Sammy, my grandparents cousins Cheryl, John and Gloria and our neighbours Wynn and Khanh. Other than that, various girlfriends, boyfriends, great aunts and uncles, cousins and friends drift in and out on a yearly basis. 

Please feel free to answer this quiz yourself, either in the comments below or on your own blog. I would love to read what you have to say! 

Lots of Love, 

Shannon