Nars Lip Pencil Collection

The Nars Lip Pencils are without a doubt one of the best lip products I’ve ever tried yet they appear to be rather underrated too! I have gathered quite the collection now both from the matte range and satin range and I thought I would share all the shades in my stash and why these are worthy of a splurge!

In order of colour from lightest:

Descanso (Satin) (LE) : This is the lightest in the bunch being a gorgeous peachy rosy nude. It comes in a satin finish so is beautifully creamy and has a nice sheen to it. It’s one of my least worn shades from the bunch but I definitely need to reach for it more as it is so pretty! Sadly, this shade was limited edition from the Holiday 2014 range.

Torres Del Paine (Satin) (LE): An exotic sounding name with an equally exotic colour. This colour is similar to Descanso but leans more peachy and coral-y. It is a bit more bright too so works lovely as a go-to Summer shade. Again annoyingly this was always limited edition from Christmas, sorry!

Iberico (Matte) (LE) : One of my favourites, think Mac Lady Danger, a gorgeous vivid orange-y red. Again this is such a lovely colour for Summer as it is super striking and bold. This one is in the Velvet Matte formula which is definitely my favourite of the two, whilst it’s matte, it is still comfortable yet long wearing. Again this was also from the Holiday 2014 collection so sadly no longer available but as I mentioned Mac Lady Danger appears very similar!

Yu (Satin): Yu is a gorgeous bright bold fushcia pink and is totally unique to my collection. This kind of bright pink was my go-to back in my younger teen days yet now I tend to lean towards mauve-y plum shades of pink. However I still love having this option in my stash and when I did finally try this I was incredibly blown away. The lasting power on this is incredible, I literally couldn’t get it off my lips it was that long wearing! The pigmentation is also amazing as well as having a lovely creamy formula!

Bahama (Matte): One of the newer shades in my collection yet one that is probably the most ‘me’. This is a gorgeous rosy mauve brown shade, which appears much darker in the swatches! This is a great everyday shade with a really nice matte formula.

Walkyrie (Matte): This is another newbie for me, similar to Bahama but more reddy brown instead of pink-ish. It is also a bit more bold but still a great everyday shade and a great pick for those who love their brown-y nude colours.

Cruella (Matte): Everyone needs a staple red lipstick in their collection and this is mine. I absolutely love this shade, it is a deep red that looks so beautiful at this time of year! The formula is one I can always rely on too for being long wearing and comfortable to wear, great for an evening out! Definitely one I would recommend to try!

Mandore (Satin) (LE): This is the perfect Autumn shade (although the next shade is that too!) Mandore is a gorgeous deep oxblood red so the perfect Fall/Winter shade. This one is in the satin formula with a creamy comfortable finish that has a slight sheen but it still remains pretty long wearing. This was limited edition again from the Holiday 2014 collection but still seems available from the Nars website!

Damned (Matte): Lastly another new addition to my collection is this gorgeous deep berry magenta shade which again is perfect for this time of year. I’ve only worn this once but I’m impressed so far, I just need more courage to rock a bolder lip more often!

Have you tried the Nars lip pencils?

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Urban Decay Vice Lipsticks

As a lipstick hoarder, nothing is more exciting than getting my hands on a new lippy to add to my stash! Even better however is trying out a new lipstick formula for the first time and that is the case with these newbies from Urban Decay. Urban Decay have launched a new 100 collection lipstick range entitled Vice, yes a whopping 100 lipsticks with six different finishes so there is something out there for everyone. I picked up a couple of shades from the range and I am already obsessed!

The first shade I picked up is Backtalk, the one shade I had my eye on from the first launch. Backtalk is definitely one of my kinda shades, a pretty cool toned pink that works perfectly as an everyday lip colour. The shade comes in the Comfort Matte formula which again was made for me, as it says really, a comfortable and non-drying matte finish. I am truly in love with this shade and this is definitely a formula I will be picking more shades up from!

 

From the swatches, the two shades look incredibly similar, very much like most of my lipsticks but I swear they are different! Rapture leans more into warmer tones being a rosy plum-y shade. The formula is also different in that this shade is a cream finish. Obviously it means that the shade doesn’t wear for as long and it also is sheerer in pigmentation to Backtalk. Although with a cream formula, it offers a creamy, comfortable and easy-wearing formula. A great pick for people who aren’t a fan of matte finishes!

(L to R) Backtalk, Rapture.

Have you tried these lipsticks?

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A Mini Charlotte Tilbury Haul

Whenever I am feeling a little splurge I always go for Charlotte Tilbury. It is no surprise I am a huge fan of the brand as I have mentioned quite a few products on the blog. I am always lusting over something from the brand and when they released a new range of lipsticks, I just had to pick one up. Of course I couldn’t just buy one thing so I did a little double splurge, what’s new!?

Talking of the new lipstick range, Charlotte has released a new line of lipsticks entitled ‘Hot Lips’ with each lipstick named after a famous female personality. £1 of every lipstick sale also goes to an international charity supporting women which obviously makes the purchase even sweeter! I do think however more than a £1 could’ve been donated but at least it’s something, right! I picked up the shade Secret Salma which is a gorgeous deep rosy plum colour. The shade comes in Charlotte’s incredible Matte Revolution formula which is super creamy and comfortable whilst being matte.

Of course, my CT wishlist is always growing so I was excited to see that she had a special 30% off some items on her website. I had been desperate to try out her cream Eyes to Mesmerise eye shadows so I had to pick one up since it was on offer. I picked the shade Bette, which is a gorgeous Amber gold shade. The formula is super creamy and incredibly long lasting on the lids. It makes a very easy and quick eyeshadow look perfect for makeup on the go.

Are you a fan of CT products? 

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July Favourites

If you read my latest Life Lately post then you may know that this month wasn’t my strongest beauty-wise. I kept to a low-buy all month and the majority of it was spent makeup-free. Since I haven’t bought many new things either, when I have been wearing makeup it has been sticking mostly to my known favourites from my stash. So, in terms of favourites this month it has been pretty short and sweet and more skincare focused.

Starting with the one makeup item however that I have been obsessed with for the past couple of weeks. Not a newbie by any means and one I have mentioned plenty of times before, in fact it may have been in a previous favourites? It is the cult favourite Mac Velvet Teddy lipstick. Now it really took me a while to truly love this shade. I have a lot of Mac lipsticks in a similar colour family with others that I prefer more like Mehr and Twig for being that bit more pink and flattering. Velvet Teddy lies to the browner toned side of things with a hint of peachy tones. I always liked it but it never blew me away until recently. I strangely was desperate to wear it one day and I have been wearing it constantly recently. It is just a perfect nude that isn’t too brown and basically the whole my lips but better. So worth the hype!

Moving on to skincare bits, I have been trying a few new things recently skincare-wise and have been sticking to a much better routine now especially since I have had so many makeup-free days. First up is another cult product, this time the Pixi Glow Tonic. I had been desperate to try this exfoliating toner for so long cause if Caroline Hirons approves then it has to be a winner, right!? This is the first product I’ve tried from the Pixi brand but I am already thinking of many more products I want to try out. I have always been pretty poor and irregular in using toners/exfoliators in my routine but since I picked this up I have been trying to make sure I am getting my regular use. At first use it is quite difficult to understand what the product is doing but after a good few weeks I can definitely see a difference in my skin. Scarring from blemishes have been massively reduced and that is always my biggest concern as well my skin appearing fresher and smoother. I think I’ve found myself a great staple now in my routine!

If you recall my Origins beauty box post, then it will be no surprise that I am mentioning a product included in that post. I finally got to try the Origins VitaZing SPF 15 Moisturiser and I have been loving it from my first use. I do find moisturisers can be quite tricky to get right, many are pretty basic but not this. The consistency isn’t too thin yet it isn’t too thick and heavy, it feels moisturising and firming on the skin without feeling tacky. It also has a very sheer tint and delivers the most beautiful radiance which just makes this moisturiser so worthy of the pennies. It adds a lovely glow to the skin that looks flawless and healthy. Oh and did I mention it also has SPF included, winner! Again, this could be another long time skincare favourite of mine!

What have you been loving lately?

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The Summer Lip Edit

When it comes to lip products I am always more of a neutral kinda gal. I have my go-to shades which usually consist of every variation of nude going (I swear they are different, really!). However when Summer comes around I am all for something that little bit bolder. Bright corals and fuchsia shades are all that I crave in Summer time and just look great alongside a tan and my Summer attire. I left out my lip choices in my Travel Makeup Bag post so I thought today I would share my go-to lip picks for the sunny season. I did have a couple more shades however they are very similar to a few that I am going to mention anyway!

Starting with the lightest shades from the bunch. I got my first use out of the Illamasqua Matte Lip Liquid in Surrender. I picked this up way back at the start of the year and mentioned it in this haul. The shade is a bright pink-y peach that basically has Summer all over it. This is the first I’ve tried one of these Illamasqua liquid lipsticks however the formula applied quite streaky on me at first and the colour looked a bit odd on my appearance. However when I patted it down, it revealed a nice softer nude peach colour, perfect for a more toned down look. The formula ovbiously requires a bit of work but the finished result is worth it!

Keeping with the lighter options but moving on to the coral-y shades, I love Charlotte Tilbury Sexy Sienna. This is a beautiful peachy coral shade which can be worn toned down or more vibrantly. The CT formula is also worth a shout for being super creamy and comfortable to wear. To amp it up even more, Mac Tropic Tonic is pretty much like the bolder sister with a vivid pink-y coral colour that is definitely one for the tanned.

To the more bolder picks now, Relentlessly Red is much like a more pinker toned Tropic Tonic. The name is rather misleading, it is definitely not red but more of a bright fuchsia pink. The Retro Matte formula is also super long wearing. Moving on to a more redder toned option, I have also got my first wear out of the Illamasqua Glamore Lipstick in Soaked which is a gorgeous orange-y red shade. I love these kind of shades, more summery than a typical red with the orange undertones yet still so wearable. Lastly, is my latest new lip addition that I picked up at duty free, Mac Flat Out Fabulous. I had wanted this shade for so long and I am so glad I picked it up! It’s a beautiful plum-y fuchsia shade that looks so flattering and such a wearable way to venture into purple tones. Love it!

What is your top Summer lip pick?

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Five For Fall: Lipstick

If there is one thing to get excited about at this time of year it is without a doubt berry and red toned lips. You’ve seen my blush choices for the new season but now it’s time to look at some of my favourite lip picks for Autumn, all of which of course follow the typical plum/red/berry tones.

First up is the darkest in the bunch and one of the budget options from the drugstore. Revlon Black Cherry is an intense plum toned shade that was basically created for this time of year. Personally I actually find this shade a little too dark on it’s own but when applied on top of the Benefit Benebalm tinted lip balm the shade is much more wearable. This is actually my only lipstick from Revlon, in fact the only product I own from the brand but I definitely need to pick up some more as the formula is beautiful. Super creamy, the lipstick glides on smoothly on the lips and is a dream to wear.

Speaking of fabulous formulas, I am a huge fan of the Nars Lip Pencils, in fact I think they are one of the best lip products around. The formulas are everything you could want in a lipstick, super creamy and comfortable to wear but also well pigmented and long lasting on the lips. The shade Mandore was part of the limited edition collection last Winter although it appears to be still available. It is a gorgeous deep red shade that will not look out of place during the colder months.

The shade I will probably be getting the most wear out of during the Autumn months is one of the new additions to my collection, Mac Plumful. I mean come on what is a lip post without a Mac lipstick! With a change in season I basically had to head to Mac (it’s like a tradition obvs?) and I had one shade in particular in my mind that I just had to pick up. Plumful is an incredibly popular shade and as the name suggests is a beautiful plum-y pink colour that is completely different to anything in my collection. It is a lustre finish so has a balmy texture whilst the colour appears more on the sheerer side of things although I find Plumful to be rather buildable and can be worn as more of statement lip. This is a lipstick I know I will love for a long time to come.

Another new addition from Mac is from their matte range namely the shade D for Danger. I had originally planned to pick this up at the same time as Plumful although it was out of stock. Luckily for me though I spotted this online at the House of Fraser and was rather surprised to find it slightly cheaper at £14 rather than the usual £15.50. Whilst not much a saving it’s always nice to grab some sort of bargain especially on Mac. The shade is gorgeous and perfect for Autumn. A typical dark berry red shade with a comfortable but long lasting matte finish.

Lastly, I obviously had to mention the Fall classic. Rimmel Kate Moss 107, the perfect berry lip at an affordable price. This is actually a very similar shade to D for Danger that it could be considered as a dupe. Again this one has a matte finish and lasts well on the lips whilst still feeling comfortable.

What is your favourite lip product for Fall?

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Clinique Melon Pop

Over the last few months one brand in particular that has impressed me with their new releases is Clinique. Clinique always came across as a very heavy skincare focused brand to me although recently I think they have totally upped their makeup game. A couple of products that had my heart crying out was the Lip Pop and Primer lipstick range and the Cheek pop blushes. I picked up one of each and appropriately went for the same shade in Melon Pop, think summery coral-y pink.

Back a few months ago I got my hands on the Melon Pop lipstick from their newly released Lip Pop range. It is safe to say there was a lot of hype surrounding this range and there was no way I was not going to pick up one of these gorgeous lipsticks. Firstly, a hallelujah for lipstick packaging that shows you what shade it is without having to look for a tiny label on the bottom. The mirror top with the pop of colour to the bottom definitely looks the part sitting on my dressing table. The shade Melon Pop is the the perfect Summer shade, a peachy coral-y colour that has much more intensity than a pale pink but isn’t too in your face. The formula is perfect as you would imagine. Super moisturising and comfortable on the lips. As said by Ruth Crilly, it is the perfect lipstick for those dabbling in lipstick for the first time and it couldn’t be truer. The lipstick has a perfect glide-on texture that doesn’t stick to dry or rough patches. Although if I had a criticism it would be the lasting power. This shade in particular isn’t the most long lasting, it’s the lasting power you would expect from a creamy lipstick similarly to some of the Mac cremesheen shades. Although I have heard that the darker shades in the range are pretty impressive in longevity so that may be my excuse to try out another one from the range!

Onto my more recent purchase, the Melon Pop Cheek Pop blush. These blushes were launched last year although Clinique added another few shades to the mix this year. Melon Pop was a new addition to the bunch and I couldn’t wait to get my hands on it! The packaging is super simple but with a clear casing it shows off the beauty that is the embossed flower design that is truly beautiful. Who said pretty packaging ever lured me in? Never! Like the lipstick, the shade is light and summery. When added to the cheeks it adds a subtle glow to the cheeks and creates a healthy natural flushed look. This blush is one that can be applied with a heavy hand as the texture is super fine and has a buildable colour. The texture is beautiful, it doesn’t feel powdery and blends in beautifully on the skin. I think I may need another one of those…

Have you tried Clinique makeup?

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Mac Brave Lipstick

It really didn’t take me long before I finally got my hands on the ever so popular Mac Brave. If you seen my last Mac lipstick post on Mac Mehr you may recall me lusting over this particular lipstick and of course by the time the post went live I had already purchased it. Typical. Now even if you don’t own Mac Brave you are probably aware of it through the hysteria that was created from the Kylie Jenner lip look. I know you are probably sighing at the mention of that again so forgetting the Kardashian connections, here is my latest Mac loving.

Now I mentioned Brave in my Mac Mehr post as they follow a very similar shading. Along with shades such as Twig and Faux these shades make up a range of similar 90s lip nude shades. Think mauve pink/brown colours that are the perfect my lips but better. Mac Brave takes more of a pink route similarly to Mehr but more muted. The soft pink shade is perfect for everyday wear and for something a little bolder it works perfectly paired with Mac Soar lipliner.

Mac Brave has a Satin finish which is probably my favourite finish of Mac lipstick. The formula is creamy to apply and feels comfortable (more so with lip balm underneath) but also has a demi-matte finish to it so feels a lot more long wearing.

I am super glad I picked this one up as I am loving it. It really is perfect for everyday wear and after picking it up in Duty Free it was pretty satisfying to save a few pounds!

Also, excitedly I wanted to let you all know that Styled by Lauren will be having a little makeover! Hopefully by the end of the week it will look a little different so I hope you like it but more on that later! Also, I now have a blog instagram account! Follow me @styledbylaurenblog!

Are you a fan of Mac Brave?

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Charlotte Tilbury Matte Revolution Sexy Sienna & Lost Cherry Lipsticks

Hello everyone, I am finally back to normal blogging again after my holiday which I will speak about later. I have a pretty exciting post for you all today, a little look at the goodies I got in my first ever Charlotte Tilbury splurge. Now you may have already spotted these goodies in my What’s in my Travel Makeup Bag post but I thought I would give you all a more in depth look into the beauty that is Charlotte Tilbury. There is no denying the hype surrounding pretty much every CT product and I finally took the plunge to see what all the fuss was about.

The CT lipsticks are probably one of her most popular products being loved by every blogger going. So obviously being a lipstick lover I had to pick up a couple! With my holiday abroad coming up at the time I lusted after a couple of brighter shades perfect for Summer. I picked up the shades Sexy Sienna and Lost Cherry. Sexy Sienna is a beautiful pink-y coral shade inspired by Sienna Miller whilst Lost Cherry is described as a ‘pastel fuchsia’.

The two shades are part of the Matte Revolution range so as the name suggests they both carry a matte finish. Matte lipsticks usually have the tendency to be drying on the lips but the Charlotte Tilbury lipsticks have a formula like no other. This is by far the best matte formula I’ve ever tried. The lipsticks are super creamy and smooth to apply and feel so comfortable on the lips. It really doesn’t feel like your wearing a matte lipstick but you are still getting the longevity benefits. These are definitely some of the best lipsticks I’ve tried and I am now totally lusting after more!

I should also make a mention to the makeup bag I also picked up from CT. Since I was going away I really wanted a good bag and this beautiful crimson and rose gold one was top of the list. It’s so beautiful and I just loved putting my makeup in it. Charlotte Tilbury also do a similar bag that is cheaper that I now really want too cause obviously you can never have enough makeup bags, right!?

Are you a fan of Charlotte Tilbury?

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