MAC Ruby Woo Lipstick

My love for MAC lipsticks will never die, ever. However, some of them really outshine the others, Ruby Woo is one of those treasures. My love affair with Ruby Woo started last year when I was on the hunt for the perfect red. Ruby Woo has been a cult favourite amongst bloggers for years so I thought I'd try it myself.

Ruby Woo is thee perfect red to suit every complexion and hair colour going, one of the many factors that make it so desirable. It is a cool toned red, a blue based one to be precise. Ruby Woo is a retro matte finish, this is one up on the classic matte which means it has super staying power on the lips. However this does come with the downfall of it's texture; it is by far thee driest lipstick I have ever come across. It has a velvet/suede and prep is essential to getting the best finish when using this a bees wax lip balm is great, trying to apply alone to a dry lip will drag the lips.

Overall, Ruby Woo is a firm favourite of my MAC lipstick. Although it requires some time and effort, the finish and colour pay off is flawless. It's only downfall is that it does dry the lips out especially in colder months and does off towards the inside of the lip quite quickly so does require top ups. For some reason, it's a killer to actually get off when you want it to! Cherry lip liner by MAC is a hoot at preventing any bleeding although I manage without a liner a lot of the time. As always, it comes in at £15 which is slightly pricey but definitely worth every penny.

MAC Modesty Lipstick

My last MAC lipstick post was one of the two new beauties I'd invested in. I thought it was time to discuss my opinion on my other. I'm a massive fan of big bold lips on brunettes, however in the daytime it sometimes just doesn't suit a very casual laid back look. But I didn't want that to tarnish my love for lipstick and wanted to find something I could wear everyday. I've always been a fan of nude lipsticks on other people. They've never been something that suited me though, I'm not sure whether it's because I always pick something that washes out my complexion which is not a good look, especially in the colder months.

Behold, MAC Modesty is for me, the perfect nude. With a pink hue and that 'your lips but better' shade it makes perfect for everyday wear as well as muting down your evening look with bold smoky eyes. The lipstick is in one of my favourite finishes, Cremesheen, which makes it super creamy and moisturising on the lips so doesn't require much prep. Cremesheen is a lot more pigmented than Lustre and Glaze which does means it does require as much product to get the impact you want.  Because of the colour and finish, it's quite a low maintenance choice and doesn't require too much precision in application or topping up which makes it a great everyday pick.

It is a colour you'll need to learn to work with. At first I hated it and found it to be too glossy and muted. However if you blot it, it will eliminate most of the excess sheen and also help it to last longer on the lips. I'd definitely recommend this shade to those of you with fair-olive skin tones and would probably say it's slightly on the light side for darker tones but each to their own! MAC lipsticks are still standing at £15, pricey but always an investment. This has quickly become one of my favourite lipsticks and I wear it pretty much everyday.

Face Of The Day #01

Every now and then I like to spend a little more time on my make-up and try something different. I'm one of those people who stick to the same routine with my look as I'm usually in a rush and know what things work for me. The other day I played my eyes up a lot more than I usually do and really loved the way it turned out; it also gave me a chance to use a few of my Christmas presents too. Anyway I thought I'd show you what products I used and what I did with them to create it.

Products That I Used: MAC Studio Fix Fluid in NC20*, MAC Select Cover Up in NC20*, MAC Mineralize Skinfinish Natural in Light*, Soap & Glory Thick & Fast, MAC Lipstick in Modesty, MAC Eyeshadow in Charcoal Brown*, Rimmel Glam Eyes Liquid Liner, Benefit Whole Lotta Lovin'! Make-Up Kit.

*Colour used will vary due to skin tones and hair colour

Firstly, I applied one pump of MAC Studio Fix Fluid on my face, blending it in with a Real Techniques Buffing Brush. I then used MAC Select Cover Up to conceal under my eyes and to cover any blemishes and redness, I blended this in with a Real Techniques Expert Face Brush. I then lightly dusted MAC Mineralize Skinfinish Natural all over my face with a Real Techniques Powder Brush to set my make-up. Then for my brows I used a MAC 208 Brush and MAC Eyeshadow in Charcoal Brown to define the shape of my brows and fill them in. 

For my eyes I used my Benefit Whole Lotta Lovin'! kit, I used a MAC 217 Brush to blend Creasless Cream Shadow in No Pressure all over my lids, I also lined under my lower lash line with this using the same MAC 208. I then used a Real Techniques Deluxe Crease Brush to blend Longwear Powder Shadow in Nude Swings up to my brow bone. I then blended It's Complicated into my crease using Real Techniques Base Shadow Brush. I then lined above my lash line using Rimmel Glam Eyes Liquid Liner and gave my lashes a few coats of Soap & Glory Thick & Fast. To slightly contour I used Hoola bronzer. To finish the look I used MAC Lipstick in Modesty.

December Wishlist #01

1, 2, 3, 4, 5

(1) I've had my eye on this little Ted Baker beauty for a while now and I'm waiting to see if it hits the sales at a decent price soon as I'm in love. I know there are similar designs knocking around for a lot cheaper but this one looks so classy and tasteful compared to others I've seen. (2) I recently brought a beautiful pair of going out heels from Miss Selfridge (as I don't trust having my Kurt Geigers' at uni with me) and I was seriously impressed. I actually wanted this pair at first but the store didn't have my size in stock, gutted. (3) Ah my favourite perfume of all time although I've been Vera Wangless the past few months, with Christmas coming up I can always rely on momma bear to replenish the stock so I can have my signature scent back! (4) I recently took a skirt back to Topshop as it didn't quite look right on and I wasn't all that keen anyway (my boyfriend described it as vile) but this one seems a much better version of the other and the colours are beautiful so I may have to pick this one up instead. (5) I haven't brought any new MAC brushes for a while as I tend to opt for Real Techniques. However, I may have to invest in this lovely 187 as I've heard great things about it and you can't beat MAC for fluffy brushes!

How To Clean Your Make-Up Brushes

Having acne prone skin and using a base on my face requires clean effective tools. My make-up brushes are a god send and without them my poor spotty face would be having my hands transferring all kinds of bacteria on it of a daily basis. Cleaning your brushes is an essential but gruelling task in order to keep your face blemish free and your make-up application as seamless as possible. There are a number of ways in how you can clean your brushes but I thought I'd write up a little post showing you my way of doing it in case you're curious.

I don't own many brushes as you can see, I don't apply a huge variety of products and I wash my brushes every few days so it isn't too much of a problem. My brushes are all MAC and Real Techniques which are fantastic may I add so check them out if you're on the hunt for good brushes! My brushes can get really grubby quickly, mainly from my base make-up and clogged up brushes aren't too hot at applying non-streaky foundation. Every few days I take my pot of brushes to the bathroom for a good wash at the sink. For this I use a Dove hand wash as they clean well without stripping the brushes too much so it leaves them soft and fluffy once they're dry. I also take a hand towel and some toilet paper.

First, I run the tap so it's warm, too hot can damage the hairs on the brushes and too cold won't lather up the wash enough to thoroughly clean them.

I wet the hairs on the brush and also my left hand.

I then pump the wash onto the head of the brush. The amount will depend on the size of your brush, an eye shadow brush will require a lot less than say a powder brush.

I then swirl the head of the brush around my wet palm in circular motions for around a 30 seconds. If you have quite a thick dense brush I suggest also using your fingers to work the product into the hairs.

Then thoroughly rinse the wash out of the brush under warm water. Give them a little squeeze with your fingers to get the excess water out.

And finally, wrap them in tissue or toilet paper and leave them overnight to dry.

The result? Clean fluffy brushes that work a dream. I've also heard you can microwave brushes zap all the bacteria out of them but my MAC brushes have metal on them so I don't think I'd even try this. You can buy fancy brush cleaners but like my skincare, I don't think something is properly clean without using a product and clean water. Give this a go and let me know how you get on or if you have any other suggestions on how to clean brushes.

MAC Girl About Town Lipstick

Since moving to Nottingham I've definitely uped my game with making more of an effort on a daily basis with my make-up. Something I've really got into lately is wearing brighter colours on my lips, something I thought I'd never do! Anyhow, I've become quite addicted to MAC lipsticks and I knew my first stop for getting something to add to collection would be here.

I'm not a massive fan of pink lipsticks, being brunette with big brown eyes, I tend to steer towards berry and red and shades. However this time I went well out of my comfort zone. I wanted a bright pink, nothing too sickly, just something with a bit of kick but dark enough to focus the lips and become the main feature of my make-up. I've seen this shade kicking around on a few vloggers channels such as Tanya Burr and thought it looked stunning with brunette hair, win.

Girl About Town is a beautiful fuchsia pink with blue undertones. Blue undertones are perfect in  a lipstick as they suit a variety of complexion and also make your teeth look whiter which is always a good thing! As always, you pick one of these bad boys up from MAC for £15 (pricey I know). Girl About Town is an amplified which is my first encounter with this finish. It's quite a creamy consistency but the colour is much more bolder than a lustre. Perfect for those winter months where your lips aren't always in tip top condition.

The colour itself is a very bright pink but not sickly pink. I tend to stick to wearing it more of an evening as it's quite bold but could also be played down by keeping your face and eyes very simple in the day.The finish is quite glossy and you won't need to layer it up to much to get maximum impact for it's colour. It sits nicely on the lips without drying although it does need to be topped up as it transfers quite easily. The great thing about Girl About Town is it's super wearable all year round so it's a good investment for your lipstick collection.

October Wishlist #01

1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6

(1) These were a little cheeky find on Missguided. I'd been lusting over the oh so similar ones on Topshop but at nearly half the price I'm leaning more towards bagging these beauties. There's nothing worse than achy feet on a night out and these say 'height with comfort' for me. (2) Back in my September post I had this very same bag in purple, but since finding it in my new favourite colour, I want this one now... or both! The elegance of the little satchel combined with the modern colour is oh so perfect. (3) MAC Modesty has been on my wishlist ever since I purchased my first MAC lipstick last month. I'm really impressed with the formula and the colour of Modesty is a perfect daytime lipstick. (4) I've brought this dress in pink from Topshop, it's the perfect night out dress for university as it's not too dressy but says 'I've made an effort', however I brought an 8 which is too large so I'm thinking of exchanging it for this green beauty. I know green isn't everyone's colour but I think it would look fantastic on red heads, brunettes and blondes. (5) I've convinced myself if I can't quite afford a Mulberry handbag I'll have to settle for a purse soon. This one is perfect as black goes with everything, gold hardware is beautiful and the layout inside is great for my hundreds of cards. (6) I've never been a fan of these wedge trainers however after seeing these styled, I've fell in love with this Kurt Geiger pair, Geiger always steals my heart! Only problem is the price tag means I'd have to save up.

September Wishlist #01

1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6

(1) I've wanted a Ted Baker phone case like forever. However they're exactly cheap for what they are so I've made do with a fairly cheap polka dot one since I had my phone. House of Fraser has currently got a few in the sale and I've got my eye on this little beauty, who doesn't love a cute dog? (2) When my nails look pretty I can't get enough of rings. I don't own any silver ones and this one caught my eye. The simplicity and cute little rhinestones makes this ring a perfect day/night accessory. (3) I only actually own one scarf, but recently I've been making more of an effort to wear it and now I'm quite fond. This pretty little leopard design with lime green accents is perfect and I need it, like now. (4) I'm a massive fan of anything ditsy and cute dresswise, this little number in Topshop is about as 'tea party' as it gets and would be a perfect piece to layer up over autumn. (5) I've never experimented with highlighter before, but since I've gave bronzer a chance I'm considering it. Benefit are famous for their highlights and High Beam is definitely something I'd want to give a whirl. (6) I'm all over MAC shadows since I purchased 'Charcoal Brown' to fill my brows in. They're very pigmented, apply nicely and blend well. Naked Lunch is a perfect neutral for day time wear all over the lid. Teamed with a darker tone in the socket it would look beautiful.

MAC Prep + Prime Transparent Finishing Powder

When you have oily/combination skin, a finishing powder is essential to the majority of foundation applications. However, I like to use something light and not too heavy that is going to make my skin look cakey and completely matte all day. I've never used a setting powder without skin-tone colour to it before but I thought I'd take a gamble on something different.

MAC's Prep + Prime Transparent Finishing Powder is a lightweight, colourless setting powder which is perfect for dusting over liquid foundations to set them in place and increase their longevity. It also helps to reduce shine as well as minimise the look of lines and imperfections. The powder is pressed in it's tin and appears a chalky white colour. When swatched it does look quite scary however when used on a powder brush it applies transparent and mattifies the face. It's great for people who don't want to add more colour to their face and because it's colourless it's suitable for all skin tones.

The powder is slightly on the pricey side retailing at £20. I did find it didn't last as long as other powders and I hit pan pretty quick. However I did think the powder did everything that it claimed, however it's claims of being 'transparent' were questionable. I did find it left my skin with quite a chalky finish and therefore I wouldn't recommend it for darker skin tones as it would lighten the complexion. I did have to top it up quite frequently as it did let my natural oils come through. I haven't repurchased but went back to MAC and brought a different product instead.

August Wishlist #01

1, 2, 3, 4, 5

(1) This little beauty of a playsuit has been on my want list for the past week. I'm not usually a massive fan of playsuits but the print on this is gorgeous and features a lace panel on the back also. (2) This won't be in my life anytime soon but the more and more I swoon over the Mulberry Lily, the more I need it in my life. The simplicity and compact size as well as it's gorgeous tan leather, love! (3) Crown and Glory make the most beautiful crowns, this burgundy colour is beautiful and will really finish off a cute chiffon or skater style dress for a girly evening outfit. (4) The newest addition to the Marc Jacobs perfume collection, Honey, in a similar bottle to the previous Dot, Honey has a more fruity summer twist with notes of green pear and mandarin. I can't wait to get my hands on this. (5) Hands up if you couldn't get your hands on Rhi Rhi Woo at the launch. A twist on the classic Ruby Woo, a slightly darker toned red with a matte finish, which girl doesn't need this in their life?

MAC See Sheer Lipstick

Whilst in Birmingham yesterday handing in some CVs in, I found myself at the MAC counter as usual. This time however I felt it was the right time to pop my lipstick cherry. I've never been a massive fan of having anything but a lip balm on my lips but recently I've been brave and pushed myself to try new products. I've been loving bold lips, especially vampy colours like plum and deep reds. However, I don't have any subtle colours which are suitable for daytime wear.

I don't have the best history in choosing these sort of colours, being someone who wears quite a heavy base, I find nudes can really wash me out so I tend to stay away from them. I'm also not a huge fan of paler pink shades, if I go pink I like to keep it dark and defined. This one caught my eye, not a shade I had heard of before so I thought I'd give it a whirl. MAC lipsticks have recently gone up to £15 which I do think is a tad pricey, but if they are amazing as they are hyped up to be, the price tag shouldn't be an issue.

See Sheer is described by MAC as a grapefruit pink, however in it's tube it appears more of a coral/burnt orange colour. It's in a lustre finish which is good as I wanted something quite creamy and moisturising on the lips during the daytime as matte would show off a multitude of lip sins. Lustre finish is described as being semi-sheer and a wet look on the lips. I really love the bullet shape of the MAC lipsticks and the tube itself is pretty durable. This may sound weird but it also smells really good too, sort of vanilla like. Some cheaper lipsticks can smell pretty terrible and industrial.

It lives down to it's full description of lustre. It goes on quite sheer so you do need to build it up to achieve this finish. It's very glossy like and moisturising on the lips, however it did show up some slight dry areas so a little prep is advised before application. I'm really impressed by the colour, I can see why it gets overlooked in it's tube as it does look quite dark and unwearable. On the lips it pays off as a peachy/coral shade which would go great with a matching blush for a spring/summer everyday look. I'm glad I gambled on this colour and I will be getting my wear out of it, I can't see what else MAC has to offer!