Favourite Winter Lipsticks

 Throughout the winter season, I love wearing darker lipsticks. Here I have made a compilation of my most loved winter lipsticks, including both high end and drugstore brands.

Starting with liquid lipsticks, I am obsessed with the Everlasting Liquid Lipstick from Kat Von D in the shade 'Lolita'. It's a deep chestnut rose shade and it goes beautifully with any makeup look, especially on a daily basis.

The second liquid lipstick that I love is 'Veronica' by Anastasia Beverley Hills. It's a really deep mauvey purple. The formula of these lipsticks are great as they dry matte however they aren't drying at all and they are super long wearing.

Next, I have loved MAC's 'Velvet Teddy' lipstick for years now. It is a deep toned nude which goes with any make up look. This lipstick is perfect if you don't like darker lip shades. It has a matte finish but is really creamy and not drying at all.

Moving onto more affordable lipsticks, Rimmel London's 107 is a classic! This is a berry shade and it isn't too dark. The formula is also lovely and creamy but it can easily wear off so definitely use a lip liner underneath.

My next favourite is Revlon's 'Black Cherry' Super Lustrous lipstick. It is a very deep plum shade so I would only buy this if you really love dark shades.

Lastly, I absolutely love the Matte Coloursensational lipstick in 'Divine Wine' from Maybelline. It's similar to the Revlon lipstick although it has a more red tone and it has a matte finish. I wear this shade all the time and I featured it in my Everyday Festive Make Up.

Thank you for reading and I hope you are enjoying my recent posts. Merry Christmas everyone!

Favourite Festive Eye Shadows

Here are my favourite eye shadows for the party season!

Stila Magnificent Foil Finish Eye Shadow: Kitten

I recently bought this and I  must say that I love it! It's a rose gold foiled shadow that you mix with the primer that comes with. This eye shadow is amazing at adding a pop of shimmer to any eye look. Just be wary though as it can easily transfer and crease so use a good eye shadow base before hand.

Tanya Burr Cosmetics Eye Shimmer Pot: Champagne Sparkle

I got this in the Tanya Burr advent calendar this year but I'm sure you'll be able to find something similar. This glittery pigment is a gorgeous deep gold, I just wear this either all over or just in the center of the lid. It catches the light so beautifully making it perfect for any special occasions!

Tanya Burr Eye Shimmer Pot: Snow Day

Again from her advent calendar, this is a white iridescent glitter which literally looks just like snow! I love to wear this all over the lid, on the inner corners or layered over a winged liner. It is so versatile and looks so pretty when it catches the light.

MAC Glitter: Reigning Riches

This came as part of a gift set that featured in my Beauty Lover's Gift Guide so unfortunately it is now out of stock but I have found a glitter from MAC which is incredibly similar, called Reflects Rust. This is a copper and red glitter which looks gorgeous all over the lid with a smokey eye!

MAC Pigment: Melon

I have loved this pigment for years now because it is so gorgeous and goes with any makeup look at all! It's a gold shade that has a hint of pink running throughout it. The pigmentation is amazing and it blends so easily too. 

Makeup Geek Foiled Eye Shadow: Magic Act

This is an incredibly pigmented eye shadow that blends so easily. This shade is a light gold which looks stunning on the inner corners or on the inner half of the lid!

Makeup Geek Foiled Eye Shadow: High Wire

Again another amazing pigmented eye shadow that has a foil sheen to it. High Wire is a silver shade and this is perfect for anyone who prefers more cooler tones rather than the golds and coppers. It looks stunning in the center of the lid with a super dark smokey eye.

Thank you for reading and please comment below your favourite festive eye shadows. Merry Christmas!

My Favourite Christmas Films

During the festive period, cuddling up with a blanket and hot chocolate whilst watching a Christmas film sounds like heaven. So I thought I would let you all know what my all time favourite festive films are.

The Santa Clause 

A firm family favourite! For as long as I remember, this film plays on repeat in the Brocklehurst household during the holidays. 

Santa falls off Scott Calvin's roof on Christmas Eve and Scott's son, Charlie, persuades him to try on Santa's suit, not realising that he now has to accept all of Santa Claus's duties! Staring the hilarious Tim Allen, this film is packed with jokes for both children and adults, making it perfect for the whole family.

The Nightmare Before Christmas

Tim Burton is known for his creepy yet incredible films, but The Nightmare Before Christmas is definitely my favourite. In "Halloween Town", Jack Skellington, the pumpkin king, decides to spread the joy of Christmas across the globe. But, his good intentions place Santa Claus in peril, creating a nightmare for well-behaved children everywhere! With fantastic music and jokes, this film is great fun and perfect for the autumn and winter months.

Home Alone 2

Out of the Home Alone franchise, the second is definitely the best in my opinion! Kevin McCallister, a mischievous and ingenious eight year old, somehow arrives in New York City alone whilst traveling to Florida on a family holiday. With bounds of money and credit cards, Kevin turns NYC into his very own playing field. Until, the notorious 'Wet Bandits' arrive in the Big Apple, conspiring a massive festive break-in. But as always, Kevin greets them with countless awesome booby traps no one could forget. As a family, we watch this every Christmas Eve in matching pjs!

How The Grinch Stole Christmas

This has to be the most hilarious Christmas film that I have ever watched, it is funny for all ages so all the family can enjoy it! It is an live adaptation of Dr. Seuss' well known tale where the heartless Grinch decides to wreck the spirited people of Whoville's Christmas. By leaving his cave to steal anything Christmas-related from the town, accompanied by his dog, Max. However, Cindy Lou Who, an adorable little girl, creates a glitch in the miserable creature's plan. I have to admit that I know this film word by word and often find myself quoting it!

Mrs. Miracle

I came across this brilliant film a few years ago on the Christmas film channel on TV. Originally a book by Debbie Macomber, a widowed dad, Seth Webster, is in desperate need of a miracle to help him keep his family together and to control his two rebellious twin boys. When a sassy, patient and wise nanny, Mrs Miracle, arrives she manages to calm the chaos and eventually give Seth the courage to find love again. Staring the legend, Doris Roberts, this film is truly a heart warming classic that I watch a number of times throughout the festive period.

Favourite Winter Nail Polishes

Here I have gathered together my favourite nail polishes for the festive season, including a range of colours and glitters.

Starting from the left, this is Ciaté's silver nail polish in 'Fit for a Queen' is gorgeous. I usually wear this on my ring fingers and thumbs with a white polish on the other nails. It goes with many outfits and looks so Christmassy!

Next is my ultimate favourite sparkley nail polish, 'Tassel Shaker' by Essie. If you are like me and you are obsessed with copper than you'll be obsessed with this nail polish too. It is a blend of copper and gold flecks which look so gorgeous, especially with a dark burgundy polish! 

'Festival' from Nailsinc, is my all time favourite nude polish. It has a brown mauve undertone which makes it a darker nude perfect for the winter period, it looks so classy and chic and it also goes well with any outfit.

Red polishes are a must for Christmas and my favourite is Essie's 'Thigh High'. It has a purple undertone and a shimmer which shines gorgeously in the light.

If you prefer more darker coloured nail polishes then this one is perfect to add a bit more glam to your nails. Rimmel London's 'Diamond Dust' is a gunmetal shade with holographic glitter and is so perfect for the party season!

Essie's 'Ready to Boa' polish is a deep shimmery bronze. In the light, it shows different shades of bronze, making it look so gorgeous and glam.
In the middle is Ciaté's 'Snow Globe', it is perfect for Christmas as the white holographic flecks remind me of snow! Personally, I think this looks best over a white polish.
Lastly, I love 'Amethyst Glitter' from Barry M. It's so gorgeous and has multi-coloured glitter which is perfect for parties and looks amazing in the light!

Thank you for reading and I hope you liked this post and are enjoying my Beyond Christmas series so far! Comment below your favourite nail polishes for winter.

 

Favourite Festive Candles

Throughout the colder and Christmas period, I love lighting numerous candles around the house. It not only makes the entire house smell like Christmas but it also makes me feel more relaxed. These are my most loved candles that are burning almost all the time.

Firstly, the Tuscany Candle in the Gingerbread House fragrance smells amazing. Like its name, the candle has a gingerbread scent which reminds of Christmas. Usually, I light this candle in my kitchen because it isn't to heavily scented and makes the room smell as though you've just been baking. I purchased this candle from Clintons.

Next, one of my favourite Christmas candles for a few years now has been Yankee Candle's Snow in Love. It has a creamy and fresh scent, so this is perfect if you aren't a fan of sweet smelling candles. I personally think that this candle can be lit anywhere in the house as it's comforting scent isn't too strong or heavy. This can be bought from Yankee Candle.

One of my favourite bloggers and YouTubers, Zoella, recently brought out a range of candles and room diffusers. This is the second gingerbread scented candle in my favourites and the reason why I love it is because its spicy and warm scent makes my house smell just like Christmas. It has a heavier scent than the Tuscany Candle and so I tend to only light it at night time and in either my bedroom or living room. However, I would definitely recommend using a jar topper (these can be purchased from Yankee Candle) as this candle otherwise can burn rather quickly and the wax can be wasted on the side of the jar. This candle can be bought from Superdrug for only £10.

For years now, I have loved Yankee Candle's Fireside Treats candle. It has a marshmallow and slightly woody scent which is warming and comforting and isn't too heavy or overpowering. You can buy this from the Yankee Candle store.

A new favourite of mine is the Festive Spice Candle from Next. Its fragrance is the classic Christmas spicy scent and I like to burn this in my living room as it is a homely scent that again isn't too overpowering. This candle is also huge and in my opinion it burns really well and steadily, without wax being wasted on the side of the jar.

Lastly, I have been loving the Marks and Spencer Frankincense and Myrrh Mercury Candle. Its scent is warm and slightly spicy and sweet which is unlike any other candle I own. Although I have burned it completely, I will definitely be repurchasing it during the Christmas season. I also bought the potpourri with the same scent which is currently in my room making it the whole room smell festive.

Thank you for reading and stay tuned for a different blog post each day of advent in my Beyond Christmas series.

My Top 5 Favourite Face Masks

Once a week I like to treat myself to a face mask. Here are my 5 favourite ones I wish to share with you.

For when my skin is breaking out I use the Montagne Jeunesse Tea Tree Face Mask to combat my spots or blemishes. It is a cloth infused with spearmint, tea tree and bearberry which leaves your skin energised, revived and clean. The tea tree treats blemishes, whilst the spearmint refreshes and calms the skin. Lastly, bearberry naturally brightens, exfoliates and prevents fine lines and wrinkles.
This mask can easily be purchased from many supermarkets (Asda, Sainsburys etc.) or Boots at an extremely affordable price.

Similarly I enjoy using the Lush Mask Of Magnaminity when I have a few spots or my skin feels congested. It includes honey - a natural moisturiser, cleanser and antiseptic -  peppermint oil, to stimulate the skin, primrose and aduki seeds which gently exfoliate the skin. This mask also comes in a self preserving formula and can be purchased at your local Lush shop or ordered online.

At a more high end price I love the Clarins Pure and Radiant Mask to soothe, deep cleanse and comfort my sensitive and combination skin. With its pink clay it helps to thoroughly cleanse skin and refine pores. Perfect for oily or combination skin, it leaves skin appearing matte and fresh. Available to buy online or at Debenhams and Boots.

When my skin is dehydrated or dry, I always use the Clarins Hydroquench Cream Mask which simply boosts moisture, radiance and comfort. Again, Clarins products can be bought online or at Debenham or Boots in the UK.

Lastly, as a great exfoliator and  purifying mask, the Manuka Docotor ApiClear Purifing Facial Peel Mask works wonders to remove impurities (like blackheads) from pores, leaving your skin looking air brushed! It plumps, softens and exfoliates skin with its naturally antibacterial, antiflamitory and soothing manuka honey and purified bee venom. Although that sounds incredibly dangerous it really isn't, as it has similar properties to the honey and is proven to encourage naturally occurring cell regeneration, boost collagen formation, prevent sun damage and accelerate the recovery of damaged skin cells. Manuka Doctor products can be purchased from Superdrug, Feel Unique and their own website.

I hope you found this post useful, please comment below any feedback or product recommendations and follow for more Beyond Beauty posts. 

October Beauty Favourites 2015

Now we have rolled into November I thought it would be appropriate, as a beauty blogger, to share with you the items I have most loved throughout October.

Essentially, I have been focusing on finding the perfect base, that is long wearing and suitable for all different genres of makeup.
Initially, I fixated on improving and protecting my skin from becoming dry as the weather is growing much colder in England.

This is the Soap and Glory Ultimelt sold at Boots for £10. I discovered this perfect cleanser that removes all traces of makeup and soothes my skin, which was specifically what I was searching for. Whenever I use this product its spa like scent comforts and relaxes me as well as making the process of removing makeup enjoyable and quick. Simply, use a grape sized amount and massage over dry, makeup ridden skin for a couple minutes. Then soak the muslin cloth, included with the cleanser, in warm water and gently wipe away the cleanser and makeup to reveal your now pampered and silky skin.

I secondly aimed to come upon a light daily moisturiser to help preserve smooth hydrated skin during the winter. Luckily a moisturiser that I bought on a whim turned out to be a perfect match for what I was hoping to find, the Garnier Moisture Soft + for normal to dry skin smells wonderfully fresh and awakening. As for how it performs underneath makeup, it is brilliant! The duration of my foundation wearing on my face has lengthened and it allows my makeup to apply smoothly and it adds a healthy glow that slightly shows through my foundation, giving a much more natural appearance. This product is available to purchase from Boots, priced at only £3.99, a bargain!

Moving onto makeup:

During a quick makeup run in, of course, Boots, I came across the Revlon stand where I had previously planned to pick up a new dark lipstick and matching lip liner for winter time. I noticed at the top of the stand there was an offer including with the purchase of two products you received a free Revlon Photo Ready Primer! I hadn't heard anything about this product but seeing as it was free I couldn't say no! With not much hope for the product I tried it beneath my foundation, in my T zone, where I usually become oily throughout the day. Once I came to remove my makeup after a busy day I was pleasantly surprised to see how well my foundation had lasted and the lack of an oily shine across my face. As I've continued to use this primer I have fallen in love with it and it is now a part of my holy grail of products! This is available to purchase from Boots for £9.99, I'm very glad I did get this for free!

This Revlon Colour Stay Foundation for Oily to Combination skin has been a very much adored item throughout October, I wear the shade Buff which perfectly matches my fair skin. Available to buy from Boots, sold at £12.99. Although I would say the price of this foundation is in fact highly priced for a drugstore foundation, in my opinion, it is completely worth the price as the item has lasted me incredibly well considering I have practically worn it everyday for a whole month! A little of this product goes a long way and applies smoothly and leaves me looking flawless.

For covering my dark circles beneath my eyes I decided to give the Collection Lasting Perfection Concealer another chance after having a disappointing trial with it a couple years ago. Whether they changed the formulation I'm not sure but Its creamy and full coverage formula will disguise any under eye bags or blemishes and will last you all day/night. it's easy to blend and I would definitely recommend you give this a try if you're in search of an affordable, long-wearing concealer. You can find this from Boots for £4.19.

During winter and autumn I prefer my makeup to look more glowing and less powdery, therefore I have been using the Rimmel London Stay Matte powder in translucent. This powder contributes to controlling the oils in my T zone without leaving a powdery or cakey finish. It allows my skin to have a healthy glow without looking oily or shiny. This powder is well raved about and at first I was quite apprehensive whether it would be worth the hype, however it is! This item is available for purchase from Boots, priced at £3.99

I was on the hunt for a bronzer that yet again adds a glow to my skin and doesn't appear orange on my pale skin. I saw the Maybelline Dream Sun Bronzer in brunette, you can buy this from Asda for £5,  and was automatically drawn to it due to the three different shades. All would be perfect for any shade of skin tone, the lightest shade would be perfect if you have extremely fair skin or as a golden highlighter on more deeper complexion. The medium shade is fabulous for a light bronze without looking orange at all and lastly the darkest section is great for a deeper skin tone or for contouring. I usually swirl my brush in all the colours and apply to my cheekbones, temples and forehead, leaving me looking incredibly bronzed and shimmery.

Previously, in summer, a lovely lady named Michelle that works on the Lancome stall at Boots in Preston, that we know well gave me and my mum some samples of the brands most popular products. Michelle gave me this blusher in Rose Paradise, and since the colour appears very intense and bright I neglected it for a couple months until I plucked up the courage to try it out one morning. Pleasantly surprised by its unexpected subtly, it added a pop of colour to my cheeks that made me look as if I was well rested and awake! This blusher is available to purchase from Lancome and online at Boots for £28.

As I have stated, I love my makeup to be more glowing in the colder months to give me a healthy shine, even if I am suffering with the common cold! One of my favourite places to visit to find beauty bargains is TKMaxx, that's where I found a luxury sample of the Mary-Lou Manizer from the Balm in a set with other samples of popular Balm items. The set only cost £9 but unfortunately I haven't seen it since or on their website however you can get your hands on it from Super Drug for £17.49. It adds the most gorgeous highlight to your skin and leaves you looking like a golden Greek Goddess all day and night!

Brows have been a main focus point in the beauty and fashion world and this Maybelline Brow Drama in medium brown creates fullness in your brows and keeps the hairs tamed. A great dupe for the Benefit Gimmie Brow, you can purchase this eyebrow volumising gel from Boots for £4.99. This gel adds the perfect volume to your brows without them looking like slugs! The unusual wand surprisingly works wonders, allowing you to reach every hair.

Lastly from the makeup items, is the new Lancome Hypnose Volume-a-porter mascara lengthens and lifts revealing lashes you didn't realise existed! Priced highly at £22.50, this amazing mascara can be purchased from Boots. This new formula lets you layer mascara to your desire without them clumping at all, you can wear this with any makeup look, whether it be a plain lid with a bold lip or smoky eyes with a subtle lip. I often wear this mascara with a smoked out lid when putting on false lashes doesn't appeal to me and I still get people asking whether my lashes are real!

My final October favourite would have to be the L'oreal Elvive Extraordinary Oil for colour protection. It assists in maintaining  my coloured hair silky, smooth and vibrant. Improving the appearance of split ends, this oil enriched with six flower oils is truly extraordinary, like it states on the bottle! This would be a definite recommendation for those of you with coloured, dry hair that needs a saviour! Invest in this incredible oil from Boots for £9.99.

Share your favourites from October in the comments and I hope you enjoyed reading my post! Follow me for more Beyond Beauty posts.

My Favourite Autumn Drugstore Lipsticks 2015

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When we enter the colder months of the year, a recurring trend of dark lips appears across the beauty and fashion world. As of my first blog post I am showing you my most regularly worn drugstore lipsticks during Autumn and Winter that are just as rich and pigmented as higher end brand lip products.

From left to right: Rimmel London Kate Moss 107, Rimmel London Kate Moss 01, Rimmel London Kate Moss 30
Rimmel London 180 Vintage Pink, Maybelline Matte 975 Divine Wine, Revlon 477 Black Cherry.

 Rimmel London's Kate Moss lipsticks are all extremely creamy and long wearing, they are comfortable to wear as they are not sticky nor smell. However they do tend to transfer onto teeth and can smudge onto skin.

I find that the Rimmel London Moisture Renew lipstick in Vintage Pink doesn't blur onto skin or teeth and is extremely creamy and hence the name is especially moisturising, I often wear this lipstick with a heavy smokey eye.

Maybelline's Divine Wine Matte lipstick is incredibly soft and pigmented and is very long wearing, it can smudge but once blotted it doesn't move at all.

The Revlon Super Lustrous lipstick is wonderfully opaque and rich on the lips, it can tend to smudge onto skin but if blotted it won't budge!

Lipsticks swatched from top to bottom: Rimmel to Revlon

With the more darker shades I usually wear them with a more simple eye look rather than a smokey eye otherwise it can look too heavy and bold for everyday wear. All these lipsticks are perfect for any event or just for common place wear.

The Rimmel London Kate Moss lipsticks retail for £5.49 at Boots,

Rimmel's Moisture Renew Lipstick in Vintage Pink is priced at £6.49 at Boots,

the fifth lipstick: from Maybelline in Divine Wine from their matte collection costs £6.99 from Boots,

and finally the Revlon Super Lustrous lipstick Black Cherry is retailed at £7.99 at Boots.

Thank you for reading and follow me for more Beyond Beauty posts.