However much I love my berry-toned wintry shades I thought I would focus on some more unique and interesting shades that can be worn on the nails for autumn/winter.
I'm a bit of a magpie when it comes to interesting nail polishes but I do love a bargain. So many hours have been spent looking at nail polish swatches to hunt down cheap but amazing shades online. I know a lot of people turn to textured nail polishes when they want something a bit unique but I'm all about duochromes and opaque glitters. So here are my top 5 that I absolutely love!
Left to right...
W7 - Metallic Saturn (91)
A wonderful green gold metallic here that just hits the spot for Autumn. Slightly duochrome is different lighting but on the whole just an amazing jewelled old gold/green shade. Only requires two coats and as you can see with a very smooth finish. This is actually from the W7 Metallic Plants Collection which you can see amazing swatches of via Honey Munchkin here. Buy from Amazon - £3.50 here.
Sally Hansen Xtreme Wear - Chocolate Nut (full nail swatch below)
Over the past year or so Sally Hansen has become my favourite nail polish brand - from brights, to nude and glitters, I am always impressed with the quality and the shades, not to mention the interesting shade names. This specific polish is such an ideal shade for autumn/fall as it's a lovely warm brown with subtle gold glitter running through it. In fact it was so pretty on application that it made me realise I own very few brown nail polishes and definitely none like this. Application is spot on only needing 1-2 coats and as the nail polish states it does dry as hard as nails! Buy from eBay - £3.19 here.
W7 - Moondust (99)
Another impressive W7 nail polish that I had to include. This is like no other nail polish I own in formula or appearance. First the formula is just so amazing like the finest liquid sand nail polish that just glides onto the nails and dry almost instantly. Also even with 3 coats (though it only needs two) it feels so thin on the nails, really different. As for the micro glitter it does appear on the whole to be mainly silver but once it catches the light beautiful flecks or red and blue can be seen! Buy from eBay - £2.85 here.
Kiko Lase Nail Lacquer - Venom Teal (435)
A duochrome teal/purple here that borders on the more teal. This is a stunny vampy offering from Kiko that is wonderfully glossy and edgy. Application is a breeze in two coats and dries to an ultra glossy finish. I'd personally wear this as an evening shade as it's rich and jewel toned, plus artificial lighting seems to pick up the purple in the shade especially around the edges or the nail. Buy from Kiko online - £4.90 here.
Sally Hansen Complete Salon Manicure - Gilded Lily
This is maybe my ultimate autumnal nail polish as it reminds me so much of crushed dry vivid autumnal leaves. Gilded Lily is a wonderful combination of copper and gold glitter in a minimal clear base. Unlike a lot of densely packed glitters this does require 3 coats but it creates a glossy looking glitter rather than the finish looking rough/dry. A wonderful nail polish that literally glows in winter sunshine. Also a great dupe for OPI Golden Eye. Buy from Fragrance Direct - £1.49 here.
As mention Sally Hansen Gilded Lily is my favourite of the five but I also love W7 Moondust and Sally Hansen Chocolate Nut (just look at that beautiful subtle shimmer) so much.
If you would like to see any more full nail swatches of the polishes I have mentioned in this post please do let me know and I will make sure to create a nail post on it!
Fee xo.
Today I thought I'd talk about my favourite nail polish for autumn. There are two reasons for this... 1. It is now officially autumn 2. Electrify is currently on sale at Beauty Bay for only £5.56 here!
As I've previously mentioned I really don't care which brands I purchase glitter nail polishes from... it's all about how sparkly it is and the colour of the glitter. I truly believe even 99p glitters can be amazing but if it's super special I am willing to spend £5+. So this is one of my more special glitter nail polishes that I absolutely love!
China Glaze Electrify was actually a part of the Hunger Games collection which was released last year in 2012. The nail polish itself is made up of red and gold glitter which is packed tightly into the bottle, meaning only 2-3 coats are needed for an opaque finish (like I've done with these nails).
As this is a mixture of red and gold glitter I feel this gives an overall copper glow from afar which just reminds me of crisp autumn leaves - so pretty! I also love how this glitter polish glows both in bright light and even when it's dull. It really is something special and so autumnal.
As this is is a packed glitter it is super easy just to wear it on it's own like I've done here but also great for wearing in different ways. Above I've just come up with some ideas over different base colours. My personal favourites are the Electrify over a black base coming up from the base of the nail and over the lilac which I didn't imagine could work. I also quite like the idea of using it as dots, though I would be neater on my own nails.
This really is an amazing glitter and is actually one of my favourite nail polishes ever which is saying something when I own over 300 nail polishes! I may actually have to do my Top 10 Nail Polishes at some point actually!
As mentioned Electrify is currently on sale here.
What is your favourite nail polish for Autumn/fall?
Fee xo.
Lip products are something I have way too many of. I'm a total lip balm hoarder and I actually have trouble using everything I have because I haven't enough storage. Well that is what I tell myself.
However I think it gives me enough knowledge to advise on lip care. So here I have selected my favourite products for autumn - from hydrating but light lip balms to tints and moisturising lipsticks.
Prep with a Lip Scrub
If you suffer from dry lips and want to wear lipstick or a lip tint then preparation is key. There sadly aren't many lip scrubs on the UK market so here are two of the main ones. Of course you can always make your own DIY Lip Scrub - so many recipes online.
Lush Lip Scrubs
£5.50/25g - Lush here
These little glass pots of sugar based lip scrubs come in 3 different flavours - Bubblegarm, Mint Julips and Popcorn. Pow Wow, above, was a limited edition scrub which is no longer available. With very little ingredients (castor sugar mixed with jojoba oil and flavour) these do feel quite homemade but in a nice way. Though I would say they are a little messy as the sugar does fall off the lips as you are rubbing it in. My next one to try is going to be Mint Julips, I wasn't such a fan of the Popcorn one as it does have a salty, slightly bitter taste. If you don't want to spend a lot these are great.
Sara Happy Lip Scrubs
£19.00/30g - Beauty Bay here
A lot more expensive lip scrubs here that would have to be a treat to yourself or a gift (it will last you years mind!). These now come in 7 yummy flavours - Creme Brulee, Red Velvet, Brown Sugar, Lemonade, Vanilla Bean, Peppermint and Lavander. Annoyingly these don't come in glass jars so the feel of the packaging does feel rather cheap without the box but the scrub itself is amazing. Only a little is needed to exfoliate the lips well and the consistency is spot on. It does suggest you don't lick this off but the flavours are so amazing I can't help but lick my lips to remove the remaining scrub. My favourite has to be the Red Velvet scrub... A-mazing! You can find a thorough comparison of both scrubs in a post I wrote here.
Moisturise with a yummy Lip Butter
With the autumn wind you definitely need a least one lip balm in your bag and on your desk. I prefer to save thick lip balms until it gets really cold and opt for light but nourishing ones that come in nice flavours/scents.
The Body Shop Lip Butters
£4.00/10ml - TBS online here & in-store
I've been a lover of these lip butters for the longest time. They come in 7 amazing flavours, from yummy to really fruity and last a long time. The formula of this is what I truly love, just so buttery and light to wear on the lips and sorts out any dryness. Shea Butter is my favourite for colder months as it's a pleasant scent and helps my lips that little be more.
Soap & Glory Smooch Operator Lip Butter Balm
£5.00/4g - Boots
This is a fairly new addition to my vast lip balm collection. On first use I was slightly worried that it would be too sticky for my liking as under the finger in the pot it does have a sticky texture and it does feel sticky on the lips for the first minute. But I discovered this melts into the lips and the stickiness disappear. What I love about this balm is that it stays on the lips for hours though eating and drinking, really impressive. I also enjoy the coconut scent and the slight warming feeling on the lips. A new alternative to Carmex I would say!
Nivea Lip Butters
£2.25/16g - Boots, Superdrug, Tesco
The Nivea Lip Butters have been my go-to balms of 2013. Caramel Cream is wonderfully scented and feels amazing on the lips and Raspberry Rose reminds me of a lovely fruity yogurt. These are light but hydrating on the lips and not at all sticky. You will always find at least one of these in my handbag.
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| L-R: Black Cherry, Peach Kiss, Lovesick, 09 Neon Red, Applelicious Pink |
Easy to Wear Lip Tints
Tinted lip balms and sheer lip crayons are so easy to wear and generally cheap. So my collection is pretty vast. I love lip tints in summer and would be lost without then on holiday but they are also great come colder months when you want colour on your lips but they aren't in the best condition. Lip Tints are comfortable to wear and won't cling to dry skin like a lot of lipsticks will, making them a nice choice for autumn.
For an easy to wear tint I highly recommend the Hurraw Black Cherry Tinted Lip Balm (£3.99 Big Green Smile here), it's the easiest tint to wear I've come across which I'm sure is down to it being raw and organic! The red tint is quite pigmented and it's such a good lip balm. I also really like the new Baby Lips Lip Balm (£2.99 - Boots here), not as nourishing but Peach Kiss, above, is such a nice nude shade. NYC Applelicious Balm (£2.49 - Superdrug) also offer a great range of tinted lips balms that have great pigmentation and a lovely sour apple flavour... and so cheap!
For a more lasting tint I would suggest Revlon Just Bitten Balm Stains (£7.99 - Boots here) that wear off to a stain which is really nice and also come in a ton of shades. For the novelty/cutesy factor I had to include Tony Moly Petite Bunny Gloss Bars (£3.46 - eBay here) which add a light tint to the lips and a glossy sheen, great to diffuse dry lips - and who wouldn't want to pull this out of their handbag!
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| L-R: Notting Hill Nude, Rose, Strawberry Shortcake, Apricot Sugar |
Hydrating Lipsticks
When picked out lipsticks that will help with dry lips or work well with dry lips it can be hit and miss. Sometimes the formula will cling and highlight dry areas of skin or you will find the lipstick just makes your lips feel drier as the day goes on.
Revlon Lip Butters (£7.99 - Boots here) do vary in pigmentation from shade to shade (looking up swatches is a must) but the more pigmented ones really do feel like a hybrid lipstick/lip balm. Strawberry Shortcake for me is a lovely brightening pink hue that stays put and feels more like a balm on the lip. Another alternative to a tinted balm or lipstick is Lanolips Lips Ointment with Colour (£8.16 - Boots here). Above is the shade 'Rose' which is a soft pink that looks very much like a lip gloss, yet doesn't feel like one at all and is super hydrating.
As for actually lipsticks I love the Rimmel Moisture Renew range, very affordable (can be found on eBay and Fragrance Direct for only 99p) and just enough moisture to not slip straight off the lips. I also find the formula defuses the appearence of dry skin. Another range I absolutely love is Clarins Joli Rouge (£14.40 - Escentual here) which are long wearing yet moisturising. These look great on, with a dewy finish and come in some really lovely shades.
I'd love to hear how you deal with general dry lips and what lip products (lipsticks or tints) you use when your lips aren't feeling as hydrated as they should be.
Fee xo.
When picked out lipsticks that will help with dry lips or work well with dry lips it can be hit and miss. Sometimes the formula will cling and highlight dry areas of skin or you will find the lipstick just makes your lips feel drier as the day goes on.
Revlon Lip Butters (£7.99 - Boots here) do vary in pigmentation from shade to shade (looking up swatches is a must) but the more pigmented ones really do feel like a hybrid lipstick/lip balm. Strawberry Shortcake for me is a lovely brightening pink hue that stays put and feels more like a balm on the lip. Another alternative to a tinted balm or lipstick is Lanolips Lips Ointment with Colour (£8.16 - Boots here). Above is the shade 'Rose' which is a soft pink that looks very much like a lip gloss, yet doesn't feel like one at all and is super hydrating.
As for actually lipsticks I love the Rimmel Moisture Renew range, very affordable (can be found on eBay and Fragrance Direct for only 99p) and just enough moisture to not slip straight off the lips. I also find the formula defuses the appearence of dry skin. Another range I absolutely love is Clarins Joli Rouge (£14.40 - Escentual here) which are long wearing yet moisturising. These look great on, with a dewy finish and come in some really lovely shades.
I'd love to hear how you deal with general dry lips and what lip products (lipsticks or tints) you use when your lips aren't feeling as hydrated as they should be.
Fee xo.
Each year I let makeup trends pass me by and do my own thing. But this year I thought I'd take note of backstage makeup looks for A/W 2013 and select a few trends that I feel I will be enjoying this Autumn.
Below are 5 Autumn/Winter makeup trends that I love and some product recommendations for achieving each look.
Dewy Skin
Dewy, luminous skin is something I instantly associate autumn makeup with. I love achieving glowing skin, highlighted along the cheekbones with a flush of colour to the cheek like autumn wind can achieve. A key trend this A/W is luminous skin and minimal makeup so this will be one to sport at the weekends for me.
For an overall dewy, glowing finish to the skin base products work well. For under foundation Bright Here Bright Now Instant Energy Boost Balm (£12/50ml - Boots) will create an illuminating base to apply foundation on to or can be mixed with foundation for a more sheer finish. This is a good multitasker that is ideal for early mornings and tired, dull skin. A slightly more concentrated version of this is the Lush's Feeling Younger Skin Tint (£12/20g - Lush here) so only a little is needed either mixed with foundation or under foundation on the high points of the face, an especially lovely product for pale complexions.
For over foundation I will be continuing to use the Garnier Tinted Eye Roll-on in Very Light (Approx £8 - Boots, Superdrug) but not as a concealer or on the under eye area! Even on my pale skin this is fairly light and also thin so I roll this along my cheekbones, down my nose and in triangle shapes under my eyes by the side of my nose. Then I simply blend out with a buffing brush or my fingers. This really does illuminate the face without any shimmer which I love. For added natural looking highlight to the cheek and brow bones I highly recommend Bourjois' New Java Rice Loose Powder (£9.99/5g - Boots here). Feather-light and perfectly light reflecting this will add radiance with the finest amount of shimmer creating a fresh dewy look to the skin. Also how pretty is the vintage inspired packaging?!
Metallic Eyes
Smokey metallic eyes are definitely my thing so this was a trend that I was excited to see. This season however I will be opting for darker metallic shades and rich plum-y tones. For a deep plum smokey eye Maybelline Colour Tattoo in Metallic Pomegranate is the perfect shade and intensity (£3.84 - eBay here or £5 at Boots). Though all Maybelline Colour Tattoos are on trend in shade and can be used in a similar way to MAC Paint Pots as an all over colour on the lid or as a base for a smokey metallic eye.
As for palettes my go-to choice this Autumn is the Kiko Colour Impact Eyeshadow Palette in Lounge Warm Tones (£16.90 - Kiko here or in-store) with 3 matte and 3 metallic shades this is the perfect palette for autumn/winter smokey eyes - worth every penny! However my ultimate palette is Pur Minerals Beautiful Creatures Eyeshadow Palette which sadly isn't available to the UK (U.S only) however the Pur Minerals Untamed Palette is available to Marks & Spencers (£30 - M&S here) does look very similar. Really the texture of Pur Mineral eyeshadows is so so rich and buttery and as you can see the pigmentation is amazing.
My budget favourites for the metallic trend are the Manhattan Go Big Eyeshadow Pens which are just amazing for only £1.27 each via eBay here. Reviews to come very soon with swatches!
Feline Eyes
60's Twiggy eyes, soft feline flicks and precise winged liner - eyeliner is most definitely in this autumn/winter. My everyday go-to look constants of winged eyeliner but this trend has definitely made me what to try out some different looks especially the top and middle images above.
For a precise look L'Oreal Super Liner Perfect Slim in Intense Black (£5.95 - Feel Unique here or Boots) does an amazing job, the nib is firm but flexible and the style of the pen is very easy to grip and use. But for a more bold look I would highly suggest the new L'Oreal Super Liner Blackbuster Intense (£6.99 - Boots here).
If a soft smokey feline eye is more your thing then the high street is the place to look with Sleek, Rimmel, No7 and Maybelline all providing creamy pencil eyeliners. My personal favourite is Sleek's Eau La La Eyeliner in Noir (£4.99 - Superdrug here), this jet black shade is highly pigmented and creamy with such lasting power which I love to smoke out with Models Own Angled Brush (£5.00 - Boots here). For a softer look Kiko Twinkle Eye Pencil in Flexuous Burgundy (£6.90 - Kiko here or In-store) gives a soft brown shimmer and actually preforms like a high end liner - totally in love with this!
Bright & Berry Toned Lips
One trend that will be totally new to me this autumn is bold lips! My usual shades consist of nudes or berry tones, but this season I'm going to try to embrace the bold lip, especially with glowing skin and minimal eye makeup. My shades of choice will be bold oranges and bright berries. Clarins Rouge Eclat in Juicy Clementine (£14.80 - Escentual here) is an absolute favourite of mine from the packaging, to the scent, to the consistency and of course the wonderfully bold orange shade. Revlon Just Bitten Balm Stain in Lovesick (£7.99 - Boots here) is another bold shade that I love which has a slight berry hue making it ideal for this bold autumn trend.
For deep berry lips Rimmel's Moisture Renew in Berry Queen, bottom right swatch (£2.68 - eBay here) is juicy and hydrating making it ideal for winter. But for a rich berry lip I highly recommend Rimmel Lasting Finish Matte Kate Lipstick in 107 (£5.49 - Feel Unique here) which is a truly wonderful shade.
Wow, what a long post!
Hope I have given you a few ideas to mix up your makeup bag (Muji drawers for Bloggers!) this Autumn.
Fee xo.
Berry toned lips, nights in with better TV (X Factor!), walking though crisp leaves, burnt orange glitter nails, snuggles with a blanket whilst reading a new book, snoods & scarves, glowy fresh skin, fresh early mornings, tights with ankle boots, new makeup launches, Halloween, yummy rice pudding in my slow cooker, new ideas for blogging, soft shimmer smokey eyes, look forward to Christmas.
Yes, I know it's still summer and we are due another heat wave, but my mind keeps thinking of the change of season and what it will bring. Other than Christmas and snow I am not a fan on winter at all. But Autumn is a whole different story! I love the colours and the change of fashioon/style which means more layers and tights. But I also enjoy staying in and watching good TV and I'm a huge fan of Halloween!
As for makeup my Urban Decay Naked 2 Palette always comes out and gets a lot more love as I really like a soft neutral smokey eye come Autumn. For dewy skin I will be using Dr Jart Premium Beauty Balm as this is the one BB cream that I have found to give such radiant skin. As for lips this doesn't really change, I stick to my usual nudes - Vivo Barely There Lipstick and Barry M Lip Gloss in Toffee, but as the weather does get more crisp I start to wear more berry shades with Maybelline Colour Elixir Mulberry and Rimmel Moisture Renew Berry Queen. On my nails I will be wearing a few of the shades from the fairly new Model Own Elements Artstix collection and Velvet Goth collection. But my favourite all time shade is a glitter nail polish from China Glaze - Electify (seen above).
I would love to hear what you are looking forward to come Autumn/Fall!
Fee xo.
Yes, I know it's still summer and we are due another heat wave, but my mind keeps thinking of the change of season and what it will bring. Other than Christmas and snow I am not a fan on winter at all. But Autumn is a whole different story! I love the colours and the change of fashioon/style which means more layers and tights. But I also enjoy staying in and watching good TV and I'm a huge fan of Halloween!
As for makeup my Urban Decay Naked 2 Palette always comes out and gets a lot more love as I really like a soft neutral smokey eye come Autumn. For dewy skin I will be using Dr Jart Premium Beauty Balm as this is the one BB cream that I have found to give such radiant skin. As for lips this doesn't really change, I stick to my usual nudes - Vivo Barely There Lipstick and Barry M Lip Gloss in Toffee, but as the weather does get more crisp I start to wear more berry shades with Maybelline Colour Elixir Mulberry and Rimmel Moisture Renew Berry Queen. On my nails I will be wearing a few of the shades from the fairly new Model Own Elements Artstix collection and Velvet Goth collection. But my favourite all time shade is a glitter nail polish from China Glaze - Electify (seen above).
I would love to hear what you are looking forward to come Autumn/Fall!
Fee xo.
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