Top 5 Spring Lip Products

Here in Australia, it is heading into Spring and that means breaking out the vibrant lip products. I've been going through my collection and I have found the five lip products I'm most excited to wear this spring. 

Revlon Colorburst Lip Butter in Tutti Fruitti 
The lip butters are some of my favourites, they're subtle and moisturising while still injecting a bit of colour into a look. While most of these colours fall into a shade of pink, this one is a light orange colour. I don't really know how I feel about orange lip shades just yet, I feel that I may be a bit too pale and they might make my teeth look really yellow, but I'm still excited to give it a go and see how I can make it work. I know orange lips are on trend and I think this might be a good entry level product. 

Revlon Colorburst Matte Balm in Unapologetic 
I've spoken about this before and it's back now that the weather is picking up. This product is insane, it's super duper fluorescent and the colour pay off is fantastic. You can lightly pat it on for a more muted look but I love to pile it on and give it it's full effect. It is a pink with orange undertones, so it comes off really bright and in your face. Though this shade probably wouldn't be for everyone, I personally love it and think I will get a lot of wear out of it. 

Milani Lipstick in Fruit Punch 
There is nothing much to say about this lipstick really, it's just the perfect pink for spring. It has a very classic lipstick finish, not glossy but not 100% matte either. The shade is not too vibrant, instead it just adds a tiny kick of colour to your normal lips. 

Maybelline Color Elixir in Fuchsia Flourish 
The Elixir Glosses are my absolute favourite and this pink shade is absolutely amazing for spring. They're so opaque that you don't need to wear any products underneath if you don't want to, for this particular shade I think it is best to let the gloss do all of the talking. The shade of pink is slightly more purple undertoned than the others in this post, which I think is really flattering on my skin tone. 

MAC Lipstick in Pink Pearl Pop
This is a creamsheen finish, so it applies well and doesn't feel at all heavy on the lips. Pink Pearl Pop is nice and subtle, much like the Revlon Lip Butters, so it is perfect for everyday wear. It adds a slight brightness to your lips without being overpowering. I love to simply pat this onto my lips and then apply a lip balm over the top to make my lips look naturally pink. You can also build it up for a more intense colour, which is really pretty as well. 

These are some of my favourite products to put on for a day out in the spring-time sun. What are yours? I'd love to know the types of colours other people like to wear during the warmer months. 

Lots of Love, 

Shannon  

Best. Top. Coat. Ever.

Recently I noticed that all of my nail polish has been staying on for a whole week with VERY minimal chipping. This certainly wasn't the case a few months back, but I put it down to my growing knowledge of what brands are good and bad. After a quick manicure that consisted of a single coat of my favourite (previously thought to be long lasting) nail polish and almost instant chipping, I had a bit of an epiphany. It's the top coat! How could I have been so blind? 

I have been using Sally Hansen Diamond Flash Top Coat for a good few months now and it really does wonders. Not only does it prevent chipping for up to a week, oh no, it has other talents too. It is a really fast drying formula that you can actually feel working itself through the polish. That might sound a bit weird, but I can actually feel a cooling effect when I apply this to my nails and that is the top coat working its way in for maximum hold. It can smooth and blur any inperfections in the polish (we can't all be manicurists...) and will help decrease the look of any streaks. Plus it's not too expensive either, which is a massive bonus. 

My only bone to pick with this is that because of the black bottle you can't see when it is about to run out, I'm only complaining because I know I'm going to run out at some point and I don't want to have to live without it. 

This is my holy grail nail polish top coat, what's yours? Is there possibly any better than this? 

Lots of Love, 

Shannon 

Beauty Interview with Anna Blush

The beauty pictured above is Anna from the blog Anna Blush and she is this weeks participant in my beauty interviews. As per usual, Anna runs an amazing blog, I wouldn't choose someone with a crappy blog would I? She does some great some beauty reviews and some other fabulous things as well. As a fellow Aussie, I understand her frequent Priceline hauls (sometimes it's hard to restrain yourself) and excitement when The Body Shop lowered it's prices (score!). Lets jump into some cool answers from a cool person: 

1. What is the first piece of makeup you remember owning?

I’m fairly sure this was one of those all in one palettes (not sure of the brand), complete with waxy, sticky lipgloss and chalky eye shadows. Oh, and I remember a fairly bright red blush.. What taste!

2. What is the number one beauty product on your wishlist at the moment? 

Ahh this is too hard to choose just one! I think I’d have to say Nars Sheer Glow Foundation- I’ve heard it’s absolutely amazing and have been craving a more dewy finish lately.

3. How many different foundations do you own and which is your favourite? 

Now this question makes me feel bad about answering foundation for the previous question. I own.. 14 foundations! A completely unnecessary amount but my favourite has to be Esteé Lauder’s Double Wear. Provides all the coverage I need but doesn’t appear to cakey or unnatural.

4. What is the type of beauty product you hoard the most? 

I would have said skincare but recently I’ve managed to rain that in slightly, so it would have to be eye shadows. I have such an eye shadow weakness. In a palette? Even better!

5. How many steps do you have in your morning skincare routine? How about your evening skincare routine? 

My morning routine consists of cleanse, spritz hydrating toner and moisturise. Evening is a little lengthier; double cleanse, tone, treatment then moisturise. I also do a face mask 2-3 times a week.

  

1. MAC or Nars? Nars. I don’t own any of either (one day I will!), but I definitely find myself lusting after Nars the most! Those eye shadow palettes…

2. Rimmel or Revlon? Rimmel for sure! My favourite drugstore brand by far. Amazing nail polishes, foundations, blushers and my all time favourite Stay Matte Pressed Powder.

3. Mascara or Concealer? Mascara. Although my skin is far from perfect, I would rather build up coverage with foundation than go without anything on my lashes.

4. Skincare or Haircare? Skincare all the way, absolutely no question about it!

5. Purifying mask or hydrating mask? Purifying. I use a purifying mask every week for my acne prone skin.

6. High end or Drugstore? This is a tough one. I’d like to say high end, but I find it so difficult to part with that much cash so I’d have to say drugstore. There’s some total gems in the drugstore too.

7. Blog or Vlog? (both to watch and make) What a tough question! I love both reading and watching about beauty and obviously write my own blog but there may be some YouTube on the horizon! I’m going to say vlog.

8. Hair up or hair down? Hair down. If I was better at doing up-do’s I think I’d prefer them but I’m not really great when it comes to hair.

9. Red or Pink Lipstick? Pink. Not quite brave enough to rock a red lip yet.

10. Highlight or Contour? Contour. Highlighting isn’t too high on my priorities with such oily skin so definitely contour.

Thank you so much to Anna for doing this for me! I'm constantly surprised at how supportive and kind the blogging community is. Make sure to check out her BLOG and follow her on absolutely everything. 

Lots of Love, 

Shannon 

The One With All The Moisturisers

While I was going through my weekly pamper session on Sunday evening, I realised just how many different types of moisturisers I use. After considering it for a while, I've decided to do a round up of everything I use to keep my skin soft and baby-like. 

Soap and Glory Hand Food 
This is the newest addition to my holy-grail moisturisers list. Previously I was using a really crappy hand cream that actually made my hands dry (I continued to use it because it was a HUGE tube and I felt it was a waste, but I eventually gave it up) and then I picked up a mini version of this for my handbag and fell in love. I would buy it solely for the smell, I have no idea what it smells like other than 'soap and glory' but it's amazing, fresh, fruity and scrumptious. It's just a bonus that it actually moisturises my hands really well without leaving a film or stickyness. 

Body Shop Body Butter in Brazil Nut 
I'm sure you've heard all about the Body Shop Body Butters already, so I won't waffle on too long about them. I use this on my legs a few nights a week (basically whenever I remember...) and on my arms about once a week. It's really thick and hydrating but it sinks into my dry skin easily without being too greasy or gross. This scent is deep and nutty, not my absolute favourite but nice for winter. As the warmer months are coming in Australia, I will move on to my favourite coconut scent. 

Lucas' Pawpaw Ointment 
This is my favourite lip balm, I have raved about it many many times on this blog. It also has many other uses, one of which is a really intense moisturiser for any problematic areas. It does leave a greasy feeling so you couldn't use it all over your body and definitely not during the day. I apply this to specific areas if they are peeling or scarring and it clears it all up nicely. I also apply it to scabs if I have any because it makes them come off clean. Magic stuff this is. 

Body Shop Shea Body Whip 
This is the moisturiser I use all over my body in the mornings. Once again, I don't do it everyday because I often forget. This is nice and light, it is super easy to apply and it disappears on the skin. A great one for after a morning shower. 

Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturising Gel
I've spoken about this before so I will keep it brief. This is a nice light moisturiser that keeps my skin hydrated, but I can't feel it on my skin once I've rubbed it in. Really simple. Really good. 

So there we go, all of my moisturisers have been reviewed in one handy place! 

Lots of Love, 

Shannon 

Beauty Interview with Honeypot Blogs

This week's beauty interview is with Honeypot Blogs and I couldn't be happier about it. Another blogging newbie who is already finding amazing success, which she totally deserves. Her blog is great with mostly honest, well photographed reviews of beauty products and a few different types of posts added in there. She is a lovely girl and (as you can see in the picture above) quite the beauty. Lets see her answers to my beauty interview: 

(My questions will be the bits in bold and Toni's unedited answers will be underneath)

1. What is the first piece of makeup you remember owning? 

It has to be a collection 2000 eyeliner pencil. This was the first piece of make-up I really started experimenting with, I definitely when through the grungy teenage phase, where the more black eyeliner I had the better.

2. What is the number one beauty product on your wishlist at the moment?

 I am really in love with the Naked 3 palette, I need it, every bone in my body needs it but I've been very good and not bought it…yet.

3. How many different foundations do you own and which is your favourite? 

To be honest, I only own two right now because I blend them together to create a really nice look. I have the Rimmel Wake Me Up Foundation which I absolutely love but it’s just a fraction too light for my skin tone so I mix it up with Max Factor Lasting Performance foundation which is really long wearing.

4. What is the type of beauty product you hoard the most?

I have a stupid amount of lip products that I never use, I love lipsticks but can never find the right shade. I rubbish at remembering to re-apply them as well which makes it pointless in me buying them…but they’re just so pretty.

5. How many steps do you have in your morning skincare routine? 

How about your evening skincare routine? I am very fussy about what goes on my face and actually I choose to use very few products, I love the Simple face scrub but I only use this twice a week, sometimes 3 times if I feel my face needs it. I moisturise every day and night this is very important to me and I use Simple Deep Cleansing face mask once a week. That's it!

Now onto a few quick-fire this or that questions: 

1. MAC or Nars? Nars, I want everything Nars 

2. Rimmel or Revlon? Rimmel, I don’t even own a Revlon product.

3. Mascara or Concealer? Mascara, I would literally be lost without my mascara, I have blonde eyelashes so I look like an alien without it.

4. Skincare or Haircare? Skincare

5. Purifying mask or hydrating mask? Purifying Mask

6. High end or Drugstore? High End though I clearly only have Drugstore products right now.

7. Blog or Vlog?  I love watching vlogs but would never do one so I’m gonna have to say blogs

8. Hair up or hair down? Hair down.

9. Red or Pink Lipstick? Red, though I would never be able to confidently pull off wearing red lipstick

10. Highlight or Contour? Contour, to fake gorgeous cheek bones of course

Back to me, I would like to thank Toni participating in my little questionnaire. Make sure to check out her BLOG and give it plenty of love! 

Lots of Love, 

Shannon 

A Mini MAC Haul

Okay. From now on I am on a REAL spending ban. I have no real reason for why I placed a cheeky online MAC order a couple of weeks ago, other than that I really wanted it. I've had my eye on this palette for a couple of months and I decided to bite the bullet and pick it up before it disappeared forever. The lipstick was just because I wanted to reach the quota for free postage...pathetic I know. That being said, they're amazing products so I'm glad I've got them. 

Sharon Osbourne Eyeshadow Quad
The fact that this is Sharon Osbourne's collection is a bit odd, she's not exactly a person I have anything in common with, except for eyeshadow choices apparently. As MAC eyeshadows are, these are creamy, blendable and perfect. I think that is just a given by now. I find the vast numbers of MAC shadows quite overwhelming so these pre-made quads are the best way for me to try them out. These colours are all really wearable, the bottom left is slightly orange toned which is different to anything else I have. 

Pink Pearl Pop Lipstick 
I love the diversity of this lipstick. It can be worn full on for a pink pearl pop (hehe) or it can be warn patted onto the lips with a bit of gloss or lipbalm over the top. Much like the eyeshadows, the cremesheen formula is tried and tested. It's not too matte but not glossy, it's a nice middle ground. I've been keeping this in my handbag because it goes with just about everything and can really brighten up my face. 

There's always about a million things I want from MAC, there's so much choice! This is what I chose and I'm really happy with it. 

Lots of Love, 

Shannon