Topshop Make up | Lipsticks

TOPSHOP.  As most of you may be aware, Topshop released their own makeup range in 2010. Although it didn't really interest me at the time, over the past year I have grown quite the collection. There may not be a vast array to choose from, but what they do have, is of excellent value for money, and spot on in my book. I grew very bored of high street makeup, and Topshop came along just at the right time, and injected a bit of excitement back into my makeup bag, without me having to break open the piggy bank.

I'm going to do a series of blog posts on the different items that I own from the Topshop Makeup range, but first up, is my absolute favourite, the lipsticks.

 There is not one thing I can fault with Topshop lipsticks, they tick every box in my opinion. Cute yet sturdy packaging made of metal, rounded with flat top and bottom, making it easy to store standing upright. They have names. Yes, slightly strange that this is even taken into consideration when reviewing a lipstick, but don't you hate lipsticks with numbers instead of names, they almost lack in personality...poor numbered lipsticks. Not to mention how difficult it would be to remember when out looting them. They have great pigmentation (nothing worse than no colour pay off) They aren't drying, and don't leave your lips chapped beyond repair, but also have great staying power. They're only £8-£9 & although this may seem pricey for a high street lipstick, there are plenty in Boots or Superdrug in the £7-£8 mark (Revlon for example) so it's all relative. I also think the quality is comparable to Mac's, so at £8, it's a great replacement.

Check out the Topshop lipsticks. They are my new obsession & they are slowly breeding in my lipstick tin.

♥

Dior Sugar and Spice Diorblush Glowing Powder Blush Review, Photos and Swatches!

J'adore DIOR ,  Dior presents the first blush that plays on color intensity and a variety of finishes to create a natural, healthy glow with a subtle sparkle. A matte finish enhances the natural skin tone, while a pearly finish highlights the planes of the face. Silky and lightly scented, this Couture blush comes in a wide range of colors to suit all skin tones.

There are ten blushes to choose from: Vintage Pink, Sugar & Spice, Peechy Keen, Rodebud, English Rose, Pink in Love, Strawberry Sorbet, Sunkissed Cinnamon, Passion Fruit and A Touch of Blush.

From what I understand, each blush has two blushes with two different finishes - One matte and one with shimmer or frost. You can wear them individually or together, but they should work hand in hand with each other. 

Dior Sugar and Spice is a velvety matte warm cinnamon and a warm, frosty peachy pink. When mixed together, it creates a sparkling warm peachy cinnamon. I want to say that the matte side is similar to MAC Coppertone or Gingerly Blush, but when I swatched them together, both Gingerly and Coppertone are more orange, whereas Sugar and Spice has more of a brick red tone. They are definitely in the same color family, but they aren't at all dupes. 

What I really love about the blush is the overall quality, especially with the matte side. It's very finely milled, and although it is matte, it's not at all dull. The texture reminds me a little bit of the Chanel Joues Contraste blushes. The color is pigmented and the finish is really soft. Even though the shimmery side looks very frosty in the pan, it doesn't translate nearly as shimmery on the cheeks. I've also found that the color stays true all day without fading. I haven't really looked at any other shades in the Diorblush line, but I do think this is a very flattering shade for medium/warm skintones. It may appear a little ruddy for those with cooler skintones.

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Chanel Surprenante (129) Rouge Allure Lipstick Review!

Coco Mademoiselle .  Chanel Surprenante Rouge Allure Lipstick is a vibrant, medium watermelon pink. It has a little bit of a frost and shimmer to it, but it's pretty subtle, and actually looks matte on my lips in low lighting. I'm not really a fan of frost, but it's subtle enough where it's not a deal breaker for me. It's very pretty and I think a color that is well suited for the Spring.

The coverage is mostly opaque with one coat and applies smoothly to the lips with a satiny feel. I originally thought that the formula would be drying, but it actually feels pretty good on my lips despite the fact that it's not a moisturizing formula. It makes my lips look soft and pillowy when I wear it alone, but I like jazzing it up with a layer of glossimer over top to really make the color glisten. Unfortunately, if you apply it over dry or chapped lips, the dryness will be accentuated. This lipstick lasts a bit longer on my lips compared to some of my other lipsticks - maybe around 4 hours or so.

The Round-Up

Pros:

• Soft floral fragrance (which you might like or hate) 
• Doesn't have a gritty texture despite the shimmer
• Feels somewhat soft and velvety on the lips
• It's not drying - but it's also not moisturizing, which can be a con. 
• Makes my lips appear slightly fuller
• Good lasting power (4+ hours)
• Beautiful, glossy black and gold sleek packaging

Cons:

• Because of the slightly frosty finish the color can look a bit dated, nevertheless it's a beautiful shade of pink and great for the Spring/Summer months. If you don't like the finish, you can always add gloss on top, which is usually how I wear it!
• If your lips are dry/cracked, this lipstick can accentuate the dryness (not to the extreme) but still a little noticeable.

Price: $35.

Nude Nails with Love & Beauty (Forever 21) Nail Polish in Nude!

 Forever 21 Nude Polish. I really like wearing nude colors on my nails, but I rarely ever wear them. Mainly because I don't really like the way it looks with my self tanner. But, since I've been going real light on the self tanner lately, I thought this would be a pretty neutral shade.

It's a warm pinky nude that I think is very flattering on my skin tone. Neutral colors on your nails are supposed to elongate your fingers and I actually do think this polish blends in with my hands at a glance and makes my fingers appear longer. The color is soft and milky, but it's not too light or pastel. I'm very happy to say that the formula is opaque and you only need two coats. Many nude polishes are too sheer, which require additional coats. And additional coats for me typically mean that all of my nails are going to smudge (I never wait long enough in between coats).

Anyway, great shade and I'm sure I'll be using this again and again.

Rimmel Lasting Finish Lipstick in Airy Fairy!

Rimmel Airy Fairy is a lipstick you probably all know about. The particular shade is the most popular of Rimmel's shade selection, as it's a great every day color that is flattering on several skin tones. The color is a pink-mauve with a golden sheen. The actual color is quite "cool" (purple/blue toned) but because of the golden sheen, it's a bit more wearable on my warm skin tone. I stay away from lipsticks with any traces of purple to them, as they do nothing for me - but because of the popularity of this color, I thought I'd take the opportunity to try it out in a recent swap. I'm not too crazy about it alone, but it looks really pretty under a pink lip gloss. The formula is smooth, applies evenly and feels moisturizing on the lips. It is fairly opaque and builds well for full opacity.

Airy Fairy swatched on my hand..

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CHANEL No 5

Chanel Nº 5 is more than just a perfume, it’s a way of life. Nothing says class, sophistication, and refined taste than this little glass bottle created over 90 years ago. Timeless in its beauty, its integrity, its Parisian style, and its uncompromised quality. After all these years, CHANEL No. 5 is not only still one of the best selling perfumes in the world, but it still represents everything complex, elegant, chic, and powerful of a woman with unwavering beauty and intelligence. Just like the classic CHANEL jacket, this fragrance is a symbol of a real woman; a woman who knows who she is, where she’s going, and exactly how to get there.

Created in 1921, Coco Chanel wanted a fragrance that smelled like a woman! A scent, just like the complexities of a strong woman, that would be seen as a whole and not the sum of its parts.  CHANEL No. 5 is a composition of notes where one cannot easily distinguish its individual ingredients, instead smelling a bouquet of intricate and elaborate notes that intermingle like a mosaic of scent.

Not only is this perfume unique in its composition, but it was also one of the first fragrances to use synthetic notes called Aldehydes. This move should not be taken as a choice for lower quality, instead, synthetic notes are often used for their unique expressions and their subtle combined effects versus using strong notes of actual flowers and plants. Generally, Aldehydes, like in fragrances like CHANEL No. 5, give the fragrance that ambiguous floral-citrus-soapy scent.

Besides the obvious aldehydic quality of CHANEL No. 5, it is difficult to describe the scent. It is something unique unto itself and is almost impossible to distinguish separate notes. Not only that, but the complexity and vastness of notes used, make CHANEL No. 5 quite an enigma and for the most distinguished and appreciative noses.

Along with the floral-citrus-soapy Aldehydes, CHANEL No. 5 is marked with bursts of zingy Bergamot and Lemon that pierce through the other top notes of intoxicating Ylang Ylang and delicate Neroli. The effervescent top notes almost coming completely lost in the heady floral bouquet of Rose, Jasmine, and Lily-of-the-Valley; not to mention the thick powdery Iris and Orris Root. But the base notes are where this fragrance flourishes.

Captivating notes of masculine Vetiver, smooth Vanilla, glowing Amber, comforting Sandalwood, seductive Civet, and warm Musk draw you in and hold you in their strong embrace. While earthy notes of Oak Moss  and Patchouli ground you to a halt allowing you to linger in the magic of CHANEL No. 5 for as long as you can.

The depth and intensity of these rich base notes, highlighted by the Chypre woodsy Oak Moss and Patchouli,  swirled with heady Rose and dense powdery Iris is the best that I can do at explaining the scent of CHANEL No. 5 and it is a mystery that I long to never solve.

I have often heard people say that CHANEL No. 5 smells like an old grandma perfume, but those who say that, don’t deserve to be wearing CHANEL No. 5 in the first place. If you think it smells like an old-lady fragrance, then you obviously don’t understand it.  And to those who have never given it some time, I suggest you do as it is one of the handful of fragrances that I believe every “real” woman should wear at least once in her life.

If I could be, or live, in the world of CHANEL, I would. Nothing to me better represents what a true and powerful woman should be. A woman who has an eye for beauty and the brains for ruling the world. But if I can’t live in the CC world permanently, then at least when I wear  those precious drops CHANEL No. 5, I have the confidence to be the woman I KNOW I can be. And as Coco Chanel said herself: “A woman who doesn’t wear perfume, has no future.”

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Hugo Boss Fall/Winter 2014-2015 Fashion Collection

Known for its unique modern cuts, hi-tech structured and textured fabrics, a German luxury fashion house, HUGO BOSS presents three womenswear collections of its ranges, which are Boss, Hugo, and Boss Orange. This latest collection is proposed in various looks and moods to complete your wardrobe with stylish chic and refined items of the brand. With its sleek silhouette and sophisticated designs, it’s no doubt the new collection is one of the must-haves day-to-night wear for the up-coming cold seasons

Tailored feminine mood with a touch of modern and sophisticated vibe are the key styles presented in these three collections accompanied by each range signature, while stylishly elegant accessories like bags and shoes add the beauty of this collection, emphasizing the innovative, high-quality proposal of Hugo Boss. Let’s discover the previews of the new catalog to prepare for the next season’s trends.

Boss Women Collection

Jason Wu’s first collection for BOSS Womenswear sets the stage on progressive neutral looks in shades of blacks, navy, and charcoal, while a pop of blood orange, black-and-white prints, and a few earthy tones like teal and burgundy appear for adding tough approach and modern effects.

Known for its modern classic clothing, there’s an active dynamism throughout the selections which are perfect for a statement day-to-night transition. Inspired by the perfectionist approach of great architecture and with the influence of the nature, the new Boss Women Fall Winter 2014 collection strips away any excess details such as frills, pleats or distractions as it strictly focuses on its cut, silhouette and textures.

As a result, cut, proportion, and detail in minimalism attitude are the key ingredients for this collection, featuring sleek and strict designs of flared, long-sleeved dresses, geometric patterned sheaths, beautifully straight long coat and duvet, classic pantsuits, leather pencil skirts and sequin-embellished skirts, along with striking gladiator booties coordinated with structured classic handbags.

Focusing on fashion forward styling that evokes the elegance of European look, Hugo Women Fall Winter 2014 collection features several trendy outfits for the upcoming cold seasons, including structured and printed dresses, skater skirts, sleek cigarette pants and pantsuits, oversize long coats, classic leather jackets, pebble patterned blouses and other items accomplished by the presence of new accessories like handbags and clutches, as well as classic ankle boots that come with a little touch of edge

One exclusive detail that runs through both clothing and accessories of this collection is the presence of big zipper that elegantly combined with structured and textured fabric, emphasizing the youthful energy and strong attitude of Hugo.  With a hint of stretch design and a bolder textured pattern, the looks come in fuller silhouette with a sense of volume.

The color palette is neutral and it comes in blacks, navy, and charcoal, with a little touch of pastel pink and cobalt blue of long coats. Whether you want to go preppy in soft modern style with a touch of femininity or a retro style with a touch of glam rock mood, this seasonal clothing and accessories are beautifully designed for the cold weather without losing its elegance and comfort.

Staying true to the casual, quirky styling signature with bohemian influence, Boss Orange Women Fall Winter 2014 collection takes the inspiration from the seductive allure of Moscow’s night life, proposing range of romantic styles for independently minded young women who love to take music from rock to folk. As it gives a strong vibe of musical flair, the new collection comes with a new offering of Boss Orange’s outerwear, denim, knitwear and smart separates.

The overall looks are utterly chic, presented in colorful prints and smart designs evoking the spirit of free youthful women without losing its classiness and sophistication. Along with cool leather handbags and footwear selections such as classic ankle booties, sneakers, and military mid-calf boots, other selective winter essentials are proposed among its stylish accessories including beanies, sheer colored tights, eyewear and classic wayfarers, even there’s a blue tie for a more preppy statement.

As for the clothing lines, simple yet super trendy and fun, the new ready-to-wear collection for the next cold seasons features stylish skater skirts in different fabrics, cute boyfriend pants in animal and artsy prints, oversize long coats with attractive detailing and prints, chunky knit sweaters, leather jackets, artsy printed mini dress, and chic oversized tees, along with denim selections such as chambray shirts, jackets, and jeans.

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