So July has come to an end and it appears to have taken the summer weather with it. We have put the duvet back on the bed and I wore a jumper the other day. A JUMPER. I hope the sun comes back soon, I’m not ready for autumn yet!
To cheer me up I’ve put together the bits and pieces that I’ve been reaching for again and again this month. So what have I been loving?
I’ve just posted a video of my beauty favourites for the run up to the wedding and also the make up I used on my wedding day,
I hope you like it!
Lex
Topshop The Damned Lipstick
I’ve reviewed some of the Topshop lipbullets before so you will know that I have a lot of love for that formula and colour range. I’ve also got a few of the actual lipsticks which are on my ‘to blog’ pile (I am so far behind!) This particular lipstick called to me not only due to the great name but also the deep, burgundy colour of the lipstick in the bullet. I had been wanting some more dark colours for a while so when I saw this, I knew I needed it.
The other lipsticks I’ve tried by Topshop were matte so I was intrigued to see what their velvet formula offerings were like.
I am torn. On the one hand, this lipstick feels lovely to wear and looks wonderful. Sorry for the dark photo above but that’s the only way I could show the true colour of this lipstick – in artificial light it looks more pinky but is definitely a bit vampier in natural light. The formula is creamy and easy to apply although as it becomes more matte as time goes on it feels a bit drying. It’s also not as long lasting as the matte versions, but that’s to be expected I suppose.
The Topshop packaging is a definite thumbs up: matte, simple and instantly recognisable. Love it.
This is still one of my favourite darker lipstick shades and is apparently a pretty good dupe for MAC ‘Rebel’ (a lipstick that is definitely on my wishlist) I just wish it lasted a bit longer.
Which are your favourite Topshop lipsticks, I think I need more!
Lex
I don’t wear bronzer, which may shock some of you. So I have asked my lovely friend Jen (@twopinkpeonies) to write a guest blog for me this week. I am trying to badger her into starting a beauty blog – go and tell her she should do it!!
Over to you Jen:
I’ve never met a bronzer I didn’t like: Light ones, dark ones, orange ones, brown ones, cheap ones, expensive ones, shimmery ones, matte ones; it doesn’t matter to me, just get it on my face; my ears; my neck; my décolletage; my shoulders; even my feet. Yes, even my feet, but that’s a story for another day.
Bronzer is one of those magical products that has the power to make me feel a foot taller and a stone slimmer. A little more the girl from Ipanema and a little less Jenny from Enfield. I like to use it to add some dimension to the round face my parents kindly bestowed upon me. It adds definition where I don’t have any and really lifts my complexion.
I started dabbling with bronzer at quite a young age, brushing it manically all over my face whilst of course forgetting to colour match my ears and neck; that look was all the rage in Southgate in the early noughties dontcha know! I wish someone would have told me how to apply bronzer “correctly” when I was a teen, dusting bronzer over the forehead, temples, cheeks and jawline in the shape of a number 3 each side, so I could have been a sophisticated teen rather than looking like I’d spent 8 weeks in the Costa del Sol. The only thing is, I know that now at the ripe old age of 27 and yet, some days my fingers still get possessed by the spirit of the Costa’s (mainly Anthony Costa) and I leave the house somewhat overly bronzed.
There is a bronzer to suit everybody, whether you’re an English Rose or a Scottish Thistle (that’s not really a thing, is it?). I would urge anyone taking their first steps into the wonderful world of bronze to purchase a light, matte bronzer as it will be far more forgiving as you practice and I urge anyone at any level of makeupdom knowledge to steer clear of using bronzers containing shimmer on your face because looking like you’ve fallen asleep head first in a strippers cleavage is never a good look.
Am I saying that you need to be tanned to be beautiful? Absolutely not! The author of this very blog, the lovely Lex, doesn’t wear bronzer and she is one of the most beautiful women I have ever seen in real life. Bronzer isn’t for everyone, but give it a go and see what you think. What’s the worst that can happen?
I suppose I had better recommend some bronzers while I’m here, then, eh?
Rimmel Natural Bronzer £5.99 HERE
MAC Bronzing Powder £20 HERE
Bourjois Delice de Poudre Bronzing Powder £6.99 HERE
NARS Bronzing Powder £26 HERE
Go forth & bronze.
Jen x
Thank you so much for guesting on my blog, Jen. I loved your post! It has maybe tempted me into trying some bronzer. Next time I see you, bronze me up!
