Attention Seeking with YSL Rouge Volupté 11 'Rose Culte'

I'm going through a bit of a phase of collecting hot pink lip colours (full post on comparisons coming soon) and so it was only natural that when I saw one of my good friends wearing one of the YSL Rouge Volupté lipsticks in a serious, rich, gorgeous, gorrrgeous hot pink shade, I knew I had to own it. RRP £23.50.

I present to you, YSL Rouge Volupté, Shade 11: Rose Culte. Little bit fallen in love.

(Please click on the photos)

Packaging: It really should be illegal to make packaging this beautiful, I mean who doesn't just die when they see it?! Luxurious and stunningly high quality, it makes you want to whip it out of your drawer/bag just to stare at it lovingly. 

Pigmentation: Incredibly pigmented, this was only one swatch! It is as pigmented when applied straight onto lips and so I have found the best way for me to use this is to dab it on to my lips and then pat/blend with my fingers, building up the colour as I wish. This is a serious, bright, hot pink lipstick that really brightens up your face and really doesn't require much else make-up. 

Long Lasting: This lipstick and my other Rouge Volupté lipstick last foreverrr on my lips. A good 3hours, even after I've eaten, without any need of a touch-up, which is definitely good enough for me!

Tip: Lisa Elridge mentioned in one of her videos that with darker/more pigmented lip colours, you should apply a bit of the product in the middle of both top and bottom lips and then spread it with your finger - this warms up the product, spreads more evenly on your lips and helps it wear longer. 

Texture: This is deliciously creamy on my lips, I don't need to apply a gloss on top. I find that I like to use a lip liner with it but I don't think you have to! It wears nicely and doesn't do that wrinkly/crinkly thing that some lipsticks do when they've been worn for a couple of hours. 

Blush: Nars Deep Throat

Absolutely loving this shade right now. It's easy to soften out for a more Spring time look, and easy to build up so it looks punch-y for Summer. Highly, highly recommend you go check it out at your nearest YSL counter!! This little luxury is very much worth the price! 

Do you own any Rouge Volupté lipsticks? What do you think of this shade, is it too bright or up your street? If you have any other shade recommendations for my skin tone please comment and  let me know, I'd love to check them out!! 

Love, Emma xo

Currently Listening To: Alors on Danse - Stromae 

Laura Mercier Illuminating Tinted Moisturiser

It makes me physically cringe to think of the days I used to walk around my university library with Revlon Colorstay foundation slapped on my face *shudders*. It's taken me a while, but I've realised that less really is more with my skin type. I don't have bad skin, my main problems are pigmentation around my mouth, dark circles and very dry skin - all of which are very manageable and so I enjoy using a skin product that has light-medium coverage for day time.

I've been using the Laura Mercier Illuminating Tinted Moisturiser for about 4 months now and I have really been enjoying it. Before this, my go-to day time foundation was Chanel Vitalumiere, another truly fantastic skin base.

I thought it would be interesting to do a review of the tinted moisturiser and compare it with the foundation - I think you'll be surprised at some of the results! As this is primarily a post to showcase the qualities of the tinted moisturiser, here is how it looks on:

Click Photo
Laura Mercier Illuminating Tinted Moisturiser

CHANEL:  £33.00 | SPF 15 |  30ml
LAURA MERCIER: £33.00 |  SPF 20 |  50ml

Consistency: The first thing that is noticeable is that despite the fact that the Laura Mercier is a 'tinted moisturiser', it is actually much thicker in consistency to the Chanel foundation. One would assume that a foundation would be thicker than a moisturiser, but it can clearly be seen here that the tinted moisturiser is less runny than the foundation. The foundation has spread out a little more and faster, while the tinted moisturiser has stayed where it was first squeezed out.

Coverage: Both of these products are very easy to blend and buff into the skin. I would say the Laura Mercier Illuminating inted moisturiser requires a little more buffing because as can be clearly seen, it has heavier coverage than the foundation. It is noticeably thicker but definitely not in a cakey way. Don't be fooled into thinking that because it has been marketed as a tinted moisturiser that it won't provide 'enough' coverage. The Chanel foundation blends effortlessly and skins into skin to provide a very natural, polished finish. The tinted moisturiser does the same, but with it I require less concealer. 

Finish/Long-Lasting?: As seen be seen above, they have both blended beautifully into my skin, the foundation leaving almost no sign of presence! This is the kind of coverage that is so perfect for day-time and I think they can both be built up coverage-wise a little bit for an evening look. As this particular Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturiser is the illuminating one, you can see that it leaves a dewier finish than the foundation - something I personally love. Neither of them look shiny in a bad way, but look healthy and give off a somewhat iridescent glow. However, I don't think I would recommend the illuminating tinted moisturiser for people with oily skin, I think they should check out the normal tinted moisturiser! But for us girls with dry skin types this is incredible!
The Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturiser lasts longer on my skin than the foundation (I don't use powder, ever), and I think this is because it is thicker and less runny in consistency but the Chanel foundation lasts a decent amount of time too!

I don't think I have a favourite from the two - I genuinely enjoy both of them and would recommend them both to anyone who is in the market for a good amount of coverage for day-time but doesn't like too much. With this post I aimed to clear any misunderstandings people may have about tinted moisturisers, if you choose the right one, it can be a great alternative to a foundation and you don't have to compromise on quality, finish and coverage!

What do you think of tinted moisturisers? Have you tried this one? The next one on my list to try is the new Nars one!!

Love, Emma xo
Currently Listening To: Hey Daddy (Daddy's Home) - Usher

Coppers and Bronze

The weather in London these last few days has been so beautiful and sunny, it's left me waiting rather impatiently for Summer (which is an absolute first for me as I'm way more of an Autumn/Winter girl) and hoping so bad that we all don't jinx it and get poured on in a few days.

I change my make-up up according to the season and when it's sunny I feel compelled to slap on the bronzer. Because I'm original like that. While I usually favour a gold colour on my eyelids, I thought today that I'd be a little more adventurous and play around with more coppery brown tones, and was surprisingly pleased with the result! So here's my copper bronze look that I'd actually wear during the day as well as at night.

SKIN: I'm not one to wear a heavy, full coverage foundation during the day at any time of the year, and especially when it's hot outside I enjoy wearing a light foundation (long time favourite is Chanel Vitalumiere) or a tinted moisturiser. For the last couple of months or so I have really, reeeally been enjoying the Laura Mercier Illuminating Tinted Moisturiser (review to come soon). It offers light but enough coverage and that dewy effect which I strive hard to achieve with my dry, dull skin. I used the tiniest amount of tinted moisturiser here and focused it mainly on my cheeks and chin. 

I'm one of those people who uses a highlighter every, single, time I wear make-up - I couldn't live without it. I favour liquid highlighters and my favourites are all from Benefit. Here I mixed Benefit's Moon Beam with the tinted moisturiser.

Click Photo
EYES: Sleek Storm Palette Copper shade bottom left of the bottom row; MAC eyeliner Engraved; Covergirl LashBlast mascara

EYES: I usually go for golds and browns and black on my eyes and don't really experiment too much.  I decided for this look however, to use the coppery toned brown in the Sleek Storm Palette (couldn't live without this) to make the whole look more bronzy. Packed all over the lid and blended with some black and gold, I kinda achieved the smudgy, bronzey, sexy, roughed up make-up look I was after. Naturally, precision wasn't key to this look. A little bit of black eyeliner smudged around on the top lash line and underneath, lashings of mascara and it was all done!  

Click Photo
FACE: Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturiser in Warm Radiance; Collection 2000 lasting perfection concealer; Benefit Moon Beam
CHEEKS: Collection 2000 Shimmer Shades

CHEEKS: Absolutely LOVING the Collection 2000 Shimmer Shades that I bought on an absolute whim. The shimmer is subtle, the colours are very pigmented and both the colour palettes are very flattering. I just swirled my brush and mixed the colours up and then dusted the pink shades over my cheeks. The bronzy one I applied with my Sigma 187 (I bought it 3 years ago so don't know what the new name is) and applied it all over my face for a very pretty glowy sunkissed look. I haven't reached for my Nars blushes/bronzers for 2 weeks now and that's saying something! These are definitely worth checking out!

LIPS: I went for a subtle browny, goldy nude and used MAC Spice lipliner all over the lid and then Victoria's Secret lipstick in the shade Guilt Free, followed by No7 Liplicious Moisturising Balm gloss in Caramel!

Click Photo
TOP: H&M (current season)

What do you guys think? What kinda looks do you wear over summer? What are your favourite bronzers of the moment? I'm loving the Shimmer Shades and as always, Nars' Laguna! 

Love, Emma xo

Currently Listening to: Earthquake - Labyrinth ft. Tinie Tempah 

Pinking of You

Autumn/Winter are my two favourite seasons. Ever. I hate summer and all it's pressures and I've never really cared much for Spring, yay flowers. A casual, innocent, online browse at the Spring 2012 make-up collections by Chanel (Harmonie de Printemps) and Laura Mercier (Lingerie) however, were all it took to leave me swooning (ok less dramatically romantic, more like drooling) and rather excited for this season!

To honour this romantic, pretty, soft time of the year, I decided to dig out the softer pinks and corals in my collection and put my Winter berries (Sleek's Pink Cadillac and Rimmel's Just So) away for a short while.

I had an event to go to on Sunday that required me to wear an Indian outfit, I went for a white one and paired it with nude/brown smudgey eyes, soft pink lips and a 'natural' flushed cheek. And then as a last minute decision decided to throw on a pair of jingly-jangly turquoise/blue earrings. Adventurous, I know.

(Please click on the photos to see them clearer and bigger- sorry about crap camera quality, use my phone!)

FACE: Laura Mercier Illuminating Tinted Moisturiser in Warm Radiance; Benefit Girl Meets Pearl highlighter; Bobbi Brown under-eye correcter; Benefit Boi-ing concealer; Nars Orgasm blush
EYES: Urban Decay eyeshadow in Naked over lid; MUA eyeshadow in Pearl through crease; Mac Powerpoint eyeliner in Engraved; CoverGirl Lashblast mascara
Lips: Benefit lipstick in Pinking of You

Excuse the rubbish quality! This swatch of the MUA eyeshadow doesn't do it any justice - it is so much more gorgeous in real life. A rich, chocolate colour with a bit of sheen and finely-milled shimmer, it compliments brown eyes perfectly. Creamy (in a good way) consistency, easy to blend, extremely pigmented, SO worth the £1 I paid for it!

Benefit lipstick in Pinking of You. A perfect pretty pink that is extremely moisturising and doesn't requite a gloss to be worn on top!

Incase you were wondering, these are the jingly-jangly turquoise/blue earrings I wore

I'm trying to be more Spring appropriate with my make-up and focus on fresh, dewy, healthy, flushed skin and soft pops of colour on the lips or eyes. Do you guys change your make-up according to seasons or does it make no difference to your routine? Love to hear your thoughts and also if you have any Benefit lipsticks you recommend, do tell me!! 

PS: Notice the difference in my hair between this post and my DIY hair mask post below - do you see how un-shiny my hair looks in this one - I didn't use the mask! 

PPS: Happy Valentines Day! x

Love, Emma xo

Currently Listening To: Isn't She Lovely - Stevie Wonder

White Beret. Pink Lips.

Instagramified....

LIPS: Sleek Pout Polish in Pink Cadillac

Love Emma xo
Currently Listening To: Back at One - Brian McKnight

“Beauty, to me, is about being comfortable in your own skin. That, or a kick-ass red lipstick.” - Gywneth Paltrow

Hello all of you beautiful people! Is everyone having a good weekend?

I was out yesterday doing a spot of shopping and was feeling raaather adventurous and wore my favourite red lipstick out during the day time - such a rebel, I know.
My favourite red lipstick of all time everrr is Nars' Jungle Red (I reviewed it here - link). It is just such a flattering shade of red and does most of the work so I could keep the rest of my face pretty 'clean'!

(Please click on the photo to see it bigger and clearer)

FACE: Nars Sheer Glow foundation, Benefit Boi-ing concealer, Nars Laguna bronzer
EYES: Chanel Illusion D'Ombre eyeshadow in Emerveille (only one layer of it - it's a lot more vibrant the more layers you apply), Covergirl LashBlast mascara
LIPS: Nars lipstick in Jungle Red

I've decided to be a lot more daring with my make-up looks this year and actually use all of the makeup I own and not think "oh I'll use this for a really special occasion, there's no point wasting it on a shopping trip" - I mean WHO KNOWS I may well meet my future husband on a shopping trip and it always pays off to be prepared! 

(Obviously potentially meeting a future husband isn't the priority here...or what I meant at all. It was just an example...ahem you know...)

So I hope you liked it - I will be doing a proper face of the day featuring Chanel Emerveille soon! Do you guys wear your bright colours out during the day? What do you think of red lipstick for daytime - trying too hard or confident?

Love Emma xo
Currently Listening To: Mr Saxobeat - Alexandra Stan

A somewhat natural but bright face of the day!

Hello!!!!
Firstly, a VERY MERRY (belated) CHRISTMAS to you all!! I hope those of you who celebrated had a lovely time with your loved ones!
Secondly, apologies for the slight hiatus slash going a bit MIA without warning! But I am back and have prepared a few posts so I'm gonna start with this one which is a FOTD or really face of the month as I have been sporting this look this whole month!

It's a quite a simple goldy/browny smokey look with just enough shimmer to make it festive appropriate and my new purchase/obsession Sleek's Pout Polish in Pink Cadillac on the lips for a bit of a pop! I always, always, always favour dewy skin over matte as I have dry skin so lots of highlighting products have been being used recently to make my skin look healthy! I have recently been suffering from a really weird, annoying bad breakout on my forehead and so I've had to up my skincare routine and be careful about products (but a post on this will be up soon!) but this little face routine has been working for me!

(Please click on the photo to see it bigger and clearer)
It has not been edited at all (the lip colour really is this bright on me!) but has been taken using the HDR setting on my iphone and also in different lighting so that's why some of the pictures look more orangey.

FACE: Nars Sheer Glow foundation in Barcelona; Benefit Moon Beam; Benefit Girl Meets Pearl; Bobbi Brown under-eye corrector; Benefit Boi-ing concealer; Nars Torrid blush; Nars Laguna bronzer
EYES: Chanel Illusion D'Ombre in Emerveille; Urban Decay Half Baked; Urban Decay Smog and Darkhorse blended into crease; MUA liquid eyeliner; Covergirl LashBlast mascara
LIPS: Sleek Pout Polish in Pink Cadillac

Quick note on this amazing find in Superdrug - MUA Liquid Eyeliner for £1!!! Actually incredible, such a thin, precise line that is pitch black and doesn't budge - very, veryyy impressed (I used it in the above photo) and you can't really go wrong for £1! Be sure to check it out next time you're in Superdrug!

What make-up have you guys been sporting for the holiday season? I didn't go all out with lots of glitter this year but I think it's so fun and you can get away with so much more at this time of the year! Did anyone get any nice Christmas presents?


Love Emma xo 
Currently Listening To: Away in a Manger - Orla Fallon

This is what happens when you are on time for the first time ever

So usually if I'm going out somewhere I'll be running around and faffing about trying to take rollers out of my hair, pack my bag and apply lipstick (all at the same time), like a mad woman, untill the very last minute...and still forget something.
For once, this weekend, I was ready a whole 10minutes early (!) and took this glorious opportunity while waiting to be picked up, for what else but a photo session.
Vain? Me? Never.

(Please click on the photo to see it bigger and clearer)
I know this is not really a proper FOTD as the photos have been edited on instagram but you can still see most of the makeup!)

FACE: Chanel Vitalumiere foundation, Amazing Cosmetics concealer, Benefit Girl Meets Pearl, Nars Laguna, Nars Torrid
EYES: Urban Decay Naked all over lids, Mac Powerpoint in black smudged on upper lash line, Covergirl Lash Blast mascara
LIPS: Rimmel lipstick in Just So (the colour actually looks v.different to this photo!)

How were all of your weekends? Got a post coming up that was really fun to prepare for - untill next time!! 

Love Emma xo

Currently Listening To: Can you feel the love tonight - Elton John 

Smokey Eyes in July

Excuse the cheesy title - but this look is from back in July so I really couldn't resist!
Bit of an old face and outfit of the night but I found it lurking around in a folder on my laptop so thought I might aswell!

Please click on the picture to see it bigger and clearer!

really have no explanation for this ridiculous pose!
Face: Chanel Vitalumiere foundation - 20Clair Intensity 1
Nars bronzer - Laguna
Benefit highlighter - High Beam
Benefit concealer - Boi-ing
Eyes: Black eyeshadow from Sleek Storm Palette
Brown eyeshadow from Sleek Storm Palette lightly blended in crease
Covergirl Lash Blast Mascara
Maybelline EyeStudio Gel Eyeliner on upper lash line and waterline
Lips: Nars lipstick - Cruising

Dress: Topshop
Blazer: French Connection

Hope you like it! Smokey eyes overrated and out or still a classic...what do you think? Personally this is one of my go-to looks for nights out and I dont think a well executed smokey eye will ever be 'untrendy'! 

Emma xo

Currently Listening to: Dappy - No Regrets