Top Picks for Summer Lips

Hello there lovely readers, today's post as i'm sure you can tell from the title are my top lip products for summer (using that S word seems a little optimistic)

The majority of the products i've chosen are relatively cheap, coming in under the drugstore price range excluding the one MAC lipstick of course. There is a little bit of a pattern going on as they are all fairly neutral peaches and pinks which I think you can't go wrong with during the warmer months. Here is a rundown of the names and shades in case they aren't easy to read on the swatches image.

• Rimmel Exaggerate Full Colour Lip Liner in Eastend Snob. (Don't forget a lipbalm underneath this one!) £3.99
• Topshop Lips in Desert, £8
• MAC Angel, a frost finish, £14
• Rimmel Apocalips in Luna, £5.99
• L'Oreal Rouge Caresse in Aphrodite Scarlet, £8.19
• Topshop Lips in Pillow Talk, £8
  
  What are your go-to summer lip products? :)
   
  Catherine, xo 

 

L'Oreal Rouge Caresse Lipstick | Aphrodite Scarlet

Long time no speak! (This is becoming quite a frequent statement from me on the blogging front, apologies!)

Today I wanted to share with you a product that I've had for quite some time, probably around 6 months? It's the L'Oreal Rouge Caresse Lipstick in the shade Aphrodite Scarlet. When these lipsticks first hit the shelves I had heard a lot of people saying they were L'Oreal's answer to Revlon Lip Butters, however after using this I can say they are totally different in terms of texture.

The Caresse lipsticks feel very lightweight when applied, quite unlike the Lip Butters which are a lot more creamy when applied. I absolutely love the L'Oreal offering as it's a perfect day time substitute to a full opacity lipstick, it provides a lovely wash of colour without being too over the top.

I think a true testament to how much I like this product is that I bought it in a reddish-pink shade which I would usually steer clear of for every day wear, however it is perfect for a fun pop of colour and the intensity can be built up if you feel like it! 

Have you tried any of the Caresse Lipsticks? 

Catherine, xo

15 Facts About Me

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 (Just in case you forgot what I look like)

I thought I'd do something a little different for a change. I don't usually write much about myself, so I'm doing the facts about me tag that's been floating around :) Hopefully you feel like you know a little bit more about the girl behind this blog.

• The most obvious; I'm naturally ginger
  
• I've never broken a bone *touches wood*
  
• I had braces for exactly three years
  
• I can rap an awful lot of songs, especially Kanye West, word for word
  
• Anyone who knows me can vouch that I'm a bit obsessed with Ellie Goulding. Although I actually really disliked her the first time I listened to one of her songs.
  
• I cried at Chris Moyle's last radio show
  
• I've been a member of the audience on Greg James' feet up friday show on Radio1
  
• Almost all of my friends call me CMK rather than Catherine. I like it :)
  
• I'm ridiculous when it comes to films. There are so many classics I haven't seen. The Lion King always gets a great reaction from people.
  
• I have a scar on my left knee
  
• I passed my driving test the second time around
  
• I gave up learning the piano but I'd love to be able to play an instrument well
  
• I can't deal with sweetcorn. The sight of it makes me retch
  
• I study Marketing and love it
  
• I get nervous doing some of the most simple things

If you have done a Facts About Me post feel free to leave the link in a comment as I love to read them!

Catherine, xo

 

They're Real! I swear

(Benefit They're Real Mascara, £18.50)

Now if you haven't heard of Benefit's They're Real mascara, where have you been hiding?! Being hailed as the UK's best selling mascara I had great expectations for this product. Although I wasn't running out the door to buy it, perhaps because of the steep price tag. 

I would usually shy away from plastic mascara wands as I have felt they don't work very well for me in the past, (and poking yourself in the eye with one is not pleasant). However, I have to say I got on very well with this one! They're Real creates exceptional length there is no doubt about it. Personally I apply around two coats of this stuff as I have very fair eyelashes, but once it dries there's not much hope of adding another coat. 

Benefits 

• Great wand, especially the rounded end which grasps the outer lashes better than most.
• Lengthening 
• Holds curl very well    
• Lovely packaging 

The only issue I have with this mascara is that it can be very difficult to remove, although this does mean that it stays put all day :)

 

Have you tried the UK's best selling mascara?

 

Catherine, xo

 

P.s apologies for the scary eye close up!  

MAC Mineralize Skin Finish- Soft & Gentle

(MAC MSF Soft & Gentle, £21.50)

Hi guys!

For Christmas I received my first MAC product that isn't one of their lipsticks (which I seem to keep loosing.) It came in the form of the beautiful Mineralize Skin Finish in the shade Soft and Gentle.

MAC describe this as a luxurious velvet-soft powder with high-frost metallic finish. It's the first powder highlight that I've tried and very unlike Benefit's High Beam which I swore by for a long time. As the name suggests, it is more of a gentle highlight and does not pick up as harsh on camera as I have sometimes found with High Beam. 

The only issue I have with this product is that under artificial light (bathroom mirror i'm blaming you for this observation) it can look a little over-powering with the shimmer. Other than this it is a beautiful highlight for cheeks and brow bone and it will definitely last a long time. I can see this becoming somewhat of a staple.

Have you tried any of the mineralize skin finishes?

Catherine, xo 

Yves Saint Laurent; Shocking Mascara

(YSL Effet Faux Cils Shocking Mascara, £23)
 
Hi everyone, long time no speak!

Today's post is about my current favourite mascara. I picked his little beauty up in duty free when I was flying home from London last month. I had the blues from coming home, so I thought I would buy something to cheer myself up. I decided to go for a mascara because it's probably my favourite make up item to try out, and after reading Fleur De Force's post on this mascara back in the summer I thought I'd give this YSL Effet Faux Cils Shocking a go!

Firstly, YSL were not lying when they named this Shocking! It is probably the most dramatic mascara I have tried.  It's a very 'wet' (technical terminology) which I'm usually not a fan of as I feel it can give you spider-like lashes. However this one works wonderfully, particularly if you're looking for a great mascara for a night out. One downside of this product is the steep price tag, which I wouldn't usually spend, but this was a little splurge.

Overall, this is an amazing product and I would recommend it for a night out as it is a little dramatic for everyday use.  Definitely something you could put on the old Christmas list! 

Have you tried any of YSL's offerings? 

Catherine, xo

Review- L'Oreal Elvive Nutri-Gloss Crystal

Firstly, I must apologise for the lack of blogging the past few weeks as I've just started back at University and didn't have much time. 

Now I do have to admit that I have never been one for experimenting with various types of shampoo, in fact I usually stick to Herbal Essences, Aussie or whichever is on offer! I have spotted the Elvive Nutri-Gloss Crystal many times and thought it looked interesting (purely for the sparkles and the pink packaging), so when I saw that it was on offer I decided to give it a go and see if it really works.

The product claims to illuminate and smooth the hair's surface for better light reflection and crystal shine through the use of visible micro-crystals and mother of pearl powder. 
They also claim crystal shine and feather touch, which after using a full bottle of the shampoo, I totally agree with.
From the first use I definitely noticed my hair feeling softer and not as heavy. I also haven't experienced any issues with product build up. It has worked a treat every time! 
I found the scent to be very nice but not over-powering

Have you tried Elvive Nutri-Gloss Crystal? What is your favourite shampoo at the moment?

Catherine, xo