In the nude

A nude lip is everyone woman's failsafe, a comfort blanket in the form a lipstick. 

Here are my current fave nude shades, 

Illamasqua in rose pout (1) full of colour, perfect to make that nude lip impact, that's less skin coloured with a deeper pink pigment, MAC myth - which is a pale nude, lighter than hue (2) with a more of a yellow undertone, Body Shop colour crush 310 (3) a slightly darker nude, perfect for warm skin tones, Autograph at M&S - Nude (4) an almost sheer tone with a gloss effect and Kiko - 131 Shiny Lipstick (5) with golden undertones, this colour is perfect for beachy days and adds a bit more shimmer and blends with a natural lip colour and becomes almost sheer. 

Each of these nudes are colour rich so the colour you see is the colour you get, rather than it being overly sheer and the colour disappearing . Mixing any of these with a foundation base really brings out the colours. 

Available from Marks & Spencers, Selfridges and Body Shop, Kiko Stores.

From £6.90 to £18.50 

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KIKO - Soft Focus Concealer

When it says soft focus, it means it, the concealer blenders into the skin camouflaging blemishes. This pen comes with a button end which means you can control the amount you put on and conceal benefits and literally a click of a button. 

I use shade 01 - it comes in 5 shades which are blendable, I also use a darker shade when contouring as they are so easy to apply. This soft formula glides on the skin and melts into your foundation base, or blends with a natural skin tone when going (almost) bare faced meaning it doesn't look to obvious.

I would recommend this to use alone beach side, or as part of an every day, or evening look. 

At the bargain price of £7.50 from KIKO stores or online HERE  

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Kiko Universal Fit Foundation

I have struggled with finding my go to foundation, I discovered KIKO a few years ago whilst away in Rome I can’t say how much of a go to place this is. I would advise a trip first thing, as the store on Regent Street can get a bit packed out as the day goes on and it’s never nice to feel rushed when browsing!

My favourite summer time foundation is the Universal Fit Hydrating Foundation. It’s somewhere between BB and a foundation in texture and has a medium coverage – perfect for sunny days when foundations can seem a little thick and clog pores. This foundation hasn't been around long, but it is a total must for this summer. 

There isn’t many colour ways available but I always find that you can always go a little darker with foundation in the summer when you’re rocking a summer glow. Long lasting and evens out colour, covering redness but not looking over done. Perfect for summer days in the park where going bare faced isn’t an option.

A steal at just £6.90, perfect for all skin types and the hydrating formula fights the drying elements of the heat and air conditioning.

A swatch of the Light Beige - I am generally the lightest shade in foundation, but I chose a slighter darker shade to help blend in with a natural tan as summer works it's magic. 

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 RRP £6.90 Buy online HERE

Paint that pout .. X

It has come to my attention, that for someone who doesn't wear a lot of lipstick, I seem to have gained quite a significant collection. Over the past week. I have challenged myself to wear it more often and, go a little crazy with neon. Well, if the sun won't shine, I have inject a little brightness into my day somehow! 

So, with this in mind, I thought I'd do a little lipstick post. 

First a quick peak at my (growing) collection

Whilst its not horrifically huge, it is for someone who wears Carmex on a daily basis. 

I did purchase a few Barry M neon shades, in my opinion Barry N do the best neon lip sticks, non drying, and on budget. I tend to not go to expensive when things like the neon lip phase in and out, also the likelihood of me actually wearing it, it quite slim. 

Shades pink: 62 and orange : 151

If I'm going to do a statement lip, I play down everything else. So I don't look like a toddler has done my make up while I wasn't looking.

My ultimate fave shade is Rimmel's electric plum. I'm quite fair, so pulling off dark colours can be tricky, but this shade is just right, vampy cool rather than washout. 

A go to for a girly lunch, a cheeky date or even on those days you don't feel like making an effort, this definitely perks up my mood. 

I received this next one in a glossy box box a few months ago, and thought I'd give it a try, I'd never heard of this brand before, but turns out, it's those unsuspecting ones that you fall in love with. Head. Over. Heels.

Creamy peachy? Perfect for summer days, not to bright, moisturising and more importantly, doesn't wear off to easy. I can also identify which coffee mug is mine. 

So, from now on, I vow to wear lipstick more often. 

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