OCC Lip Tar

Whilst I was in Vegas back in November, I couldn't help but indulge my inner spend-a-holic with a trip to beauty Mecca Sephora.

I've been desperate to get my hands on Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics  Lip Tar's for a good few years now, after swooning over their vibrant shades in various make up magazines and trying them at the yearly IMATS trade show after I'm all spent out. So luckily for me and my purse, Sephora had a fantastic four piece mini set, ideal for my globe trotting kit!

The kit features four shades, a light peach pink, rich fuchsia, pillarbox red and deep dark plum, all of which can be mixed to create customised shades. Each shade is richly pigmented, meaning a little goes a very very long way! 

OCC Lip Tar offers the longevity of a lipstick in the easy of application of a liquid gloss. On application, I noticed how fluid lip tar is, it leaves the lips super glossy until it dries down within a minute or so, to a satin finish. Once dry you can barely feel it, which is exactly what I like in a lip stain! Unlike most stains, Lip Tar contains Hemp and Peppermint oil and vitamin E, meaning lips stay hydrated during wear. 

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I'm really loving the bold red, and think this one is bypassing the kit and straight into my handbag! So, I just need to hurry back to the sunny states to stock up on more shades!

Evo Fabuloso Colour Intensifying Conditioner

As much as I love my red locks, the speed at which the vibrancy fades can sometimes leave me considering a much more subdued tone. From using a specialist colour shampoo to the various colour masks I have collected over the years, nothing seems to brighten and deepen my barnett as much as I want.

My latest purchase, Evo Fabuloso Colour Intensifying Conditioner in Copper promises to "achieve a rich copper tone on colour treated hair." Not only does this conditioner enhance colour, it is also helps to reduce frizz, add shine and deeply nourish damaged hair.

Not heard of Evo before? To be honest, the brand only came to my attention last year when we looked for a brand to use at So Coco Rouge, and now it's one we often use on shoots. With uniquely named products, including Love Touch (Shine spray), Liquid Rollers (Curl cream) and Root Canal (Volume spray) and simple, modern packaging alongside products that actually work,  Evo is now a favourite amongst UK hair salons. Founded in Australia in 2004, Evo's "mission is to create innovative, salon only products that are simple, luxurious, effective to use and that make people smile" and I'm pretty sure they have met this mission already.

Available in 7 shades, Fabuloso is seriously simple to apply. Wash hair as normal, towel dry and comb through. Depending on hair length take 4-8 pumps of conditioner (I have shoulder length hair and used 6) and comb through from roots to ends. I focused the majority on the ends, as this is where my colour fades most. Then its time to wait! 3 minutes of shower scrubbing later and its time to rinse!

One blow dry later and my hair is looking much healthier and definitely revived. A great way to quickly enhance your colour for a special occasion, or a valuable bargain to ease the far too regular salon appointments!

Available in 7 shades- Copper, Mahogany, Purple Red, Chestnut, Caramel, Light Beige and Platinum Blonde.

Kryolan Lip Stick Sheer

After wearing my vibrant lip stain for a few days, I was really excited to try a softer, sheer finish, with my next new Kryolan find- Lipstick Sheer! Being a huge fan of Kryolan, my favourite sheer lip tint is currently their Lip N Cheek, so I've been really excited to try the latest product in the range!

Lipstick Sheer not only provides a gorgeous wash of feminine, elegant colour, the formula is packed with Vitamin E, meaning your lips are cared for and nourished all day long. 

A great win, win make-up and lip care find!

Just like the Kryolan Lip Stain I featured earlier this week, these lip colours have some wonderful names- such as Audrey, Scarlett and Keira. Yes, that's right, they are names after iconic  Hollywood actresses- past and present! The 18 strong shade range include both rich reds, warm pinks and pretty neutrals.

So, being a red lip lover, my first choice was obviously Audrey- because you can't ignore Ms Hepburn now can you! This beautiful orange toned red is perfect for a summery coral twist on a classic red lip. Second choice goes to the pretty pink-red, Iris, which is my favourite red hue and one that will no doubt worn very regularly!

Application of Lipstick Sheer is quick and easy. The natural wax formula ensuring a smooth application, even straight from the bullet. Unlike Lip Stain, where I felt a lip liner was necessary- with Lipstick Sheer it is not. A pretty, sheer finish can be ruined with a harsh liner, but if you simply can't leave the liner in your make-up bag, make sure you blend the liner with your fingers or a lip brush, for a softer look. 

If you are looking for a softer way to wear your favourite lip colours during the summer months, I would highly recommend Lipstick Sheer- you'll definitely be finding a few of these in my make-up bag, that's for sure!

PS- for us space saving pro's- these are even made in a palette!

The Red Lippy Project

If you have enjoyed reading my past blog posts then you'll be well aware of the following two facts-

1. I love wearing every shade of Red Lipstick (not that this page title gives that away...)

2. I am a great supporter of raising awareness of cancer and finally finding a cure.

So, when I heard about the Eve Appeal joining forces with The Red Lippy Project during Cervical Screening Awareness Week, I knew getting involved would be right up my street. 

From the 9th, until the 15th June, I'll be rocking a new shade of red every day, in the hope it will spark conversations leading to the topic of cervical screening. Which, lets be honest girls, is a topic we all shy away from more often than we should. If Movember has worked in getting our guys checking themselves, then a girly gossip over a MAC lipstick should surely be easy?!

Cervical screening, or smear tests as we most commonly refer to the process as, is a topic my close friends and I have discussed at length, especially since the sad passing of Jade Goody back in 2009 and the introduction of the HPV vaccine in schools.

Until we reached the screening age of 25 last year, we often left in limbo- too old for the vaccine and too young for screening. What about us? What if our health is already in danger?

That said,  when my 25th birthday arrived, along with the clearly marked NHS letter, I honestly couldn't of been more scared. So scared, that I was nearly in the 32% of 25-29 year olds who missed their first screening.  Thankfully, during a routine doctors appointment 9 months later, my GP put her foot down. I wasn't leaving until it was done. 

And, honestly? It was nowhere near as bad as I imagined and thankfully I was one of the lucky ones, my results came back clear.

So ladies, lets get involved and encourage all of our female friends to attend screening!

 'Be bold, be glamorous, and join the Red Lippy Project'

You can follow the fun by visiting their Twitter, Instagram and Facebook

To finacially support the Eve Appeal's important research, you can also donate here

Red Lips even in Summer?

As a girl who wears a matte pillarbox red lip on a daily basis, when it comes to Summer I am usually at a loss as which lip colour and texture to turn to.

Last year, for example, I rocked orange toned reds, such as MAC Vegas Volt and Lady Danger finished with a slick of MAC Lip Conditioner to protect my lips from the UK's mild sun.

The year before I even headed down the pink route, with my all time favourite MAC bright  Girl About Town, but this year I was really at a loss.

Left- Vegas Volt.                   Right- Lady Danger

That was until the team at No7 introduced me to their new BB Lips and High Shine Lip Crayon.

Both offer a sheer slick of my favourite 'real red' colour, perfect for the long hot summer we are all awaiting!

I must admit I was a little bit wary of BB Lips to begin- really yet another product spouting this 'BB' / 'CC' nonsense?!! (I'm a little concerned this will carry on until we reach 'ZZ' in 2038....)

But, one simple application later and I had quickly reversed my opinion. 

My initial reaction was to how pigmented my 'Berry Rose' shade was. I imagined it would be a very sheer tint, but it actually gave me the depth of colour I usually experience from a cream or moisturising lipstick. The angled plastic end makes for simple application, even when mirror-less. But as the colour is so strong, I would still advise taking a peek in your compact just to check its looking good and neat!

With such a glossy finish, you would usually expect a sticky, tacky texture- but surprisingly BB Lips feel smooth and  very comfortable to wear. Packed with rich emollients and anti-oxidents, as well as an SPF 15, its the ideal lip care product to wear all year round.

Now, onto my High Shine Lip Crayon, in which I chose the red toned shade (surprise, surprise) 'Berry'.

Shaped like a kids jumbo crayon, these glossy lip colours are perfect for a soft lip look. But, if like me you have an odd lip line, you may want to lightly line your lips in a matching shade, just to act as a guide line when applying.

One application leaves my lips with a slight hint of colour, but brilliantly, you can re-apply as many times as you wish to achieve as strong a colour as you wish! Like BB Lips, the finish is glossy, yet feels smooth and highly moisturising. 

Priced at only £8.50 and £9.00, and currently on a Buy 1 Get 2nd Half Price offer, these are definitely two summer staples I won't be without!

OPI Nail Envy

Carrying heavy make-up kits, daily typing and the rubbish weather we have had this spring have definitely taken its toll on my poor nails.

Breaking, cracks and splits are a pain to most people- but when you work in the beauty industry it is even more important that your nails look good 24/7!

So, for me its OPI's hero product, award winner and best seller Nail Envy to the resuce!

Containing hydrolised wheat protein, (which is very similar to Keratin the protein our nails are made of!) calcium and vitamin E, this is one nail strengthener that packs a punch. 

Application is simple- clean your nails of all varnish using a non-acetone nail varnish remover and file nails down to a suitable length. I like mine just over the finger tip, perfect for when I am working around the delicate eye area!!
Nail file wise, I absolutely love the OPI crystal file, which enables you to file in any direction without the risk of causing splits. Be careful not to drop yours though- trust me, they do shatter when dropped on a tiled floor!!!!

1. Apply your first coat of nail envy, which acts as your base coat. 
2. Follow with two coats of your favourite OPI nail lacquer, if you wish
3. Apply a second coat of envy as your top coat
4. Apply another coat of envy every other day 
5.Remove on day 7 and start again!

OPI claim you will see visible results within 4-6 weeks- and they are not wrong!!

I like to use the Original formula, which has a high gloss, but the Matte formula is perfect as the base coat as it ensures your nail lacquer adheres well for a long lasting chip free finish.

The Matte formula is also a favourite amongst men, children and those of us who work in catering or care industries. My mum for instance works for the NHS and the alcohol hygiene gels they constantly use causes havoc with her nails. Using Matte envy protects her nails and creates a healthy looking nail, but it's completely undetectable. Win win!

If like me, you are a fan of gel polish like OPI Gel Colour or Shellac, its important give our nails some extra TLC in-between appointments. I like to give my nails a break one week a month, treating them to some Nail Envy love, to prepare them for the next gel application. The beauty being I can still wear my favourite red polish whilst treating them!


OPI is available from most UK salons, Boots, John Lewis.
But, for a real bargain, tune into QVC on Sunday 16th June at 12 noon where you will find a fantastic OPI offer to celebrate their latest nomination at this years QVC Customer Beauty Awards!

If like me, you already love Nail Envy, then you can place your vote here!

My love for Gatsby.

Since I first sat cross legged in front of the television, watching the antics occurring at Fat Sam's Speakeasy and admiring Tallulah's fur stole, I have been smitten with the 1920's.

 My love grew further when, aged 16, my GCSE Drama and Dance projects focused on the era, and as the only lessons I took a real interest in, I reveled in the topic. 

Fur coats, cloche hats, red lips and secluded jazz bars still remain a few of my favourite things, and if I could hop in a time machine and experience it all for real, even just for 24 hours,  I would be the first in line to do so.

So when I heard one of my favourite stories- The Great Gatsby- was to be re-created for the big screen by the genius Baz Lurman, my love for the era and excitement grew and grew. So much so, that my friends, family and twitter followers must be rather sick of me going on about it!

I even held my very own Gatsby birthday party earlier this year, in a bar hidden behind a bookcase,  just to grab my own slice of the prohibition pie!

Birthday Celebrations!

After years of waiting, and week of listening to the soundtrack 24/7,  it's now less than a week until the UK film release.  Not that I have had a countdown or anything.....

 Long loved Gatsby fans like moi and new ones, intrigued by the media attention, will no doubt flock to their nearest cinema, where the Daisy and Gatsby of our generation will be portrayed by Carey Mulligan and every 90's girl's Romeo- Leonardo Dicaprio. 
Carey Mulligan has been one of favourite actress's and elfin hair icon since I first watched her in An Education back in 2009, and I couldn't think of a better casting for Gatsby's leading lady.  And if you have any doubt she wasn't born for the role, then you should turn your attention to the May issue of American Vogue.  To me, she truly encompasses the essence of Daisy Buchanan. 

These stunning images were shot by Mario Testino and styled by the legendary Grace Coddington. 

Being a typical make-up junkie, my eyes were instantly drawn to Carey's vintage inspired make-up, which was created by cosmetic genius Mark Carrasquillo, whose work often graces the pages of Vogue. Although this bold look appears tricky, its simple to recreate when you have the right tools- and this is how I plan to turn myself in a modern day Daisy!

  Daisy’s soft, smoky eye-
In the 20's they favoured a more rounded shape, but for a modern take, Mark has slightly winged out Carey's shadow to suit her natural eye shape.

1. Apply a small amount of a light shimmer cream shadow, such as MAC Cream Colour Base in Shell from lash line to the brow bone, using your fingers. 

2. Using a soft black eyeliner pencil, I like MAC Smoulder, apply short strokes into the lash line working from the outer corner towards to  inner, stopping two thirds of the way in. Repeat, moving up the eye lid until you have reached halfway between the lashline and socket line. 

3. Take a flat brush, by favourite is MAC 239 , and pat a dark brown/charcoal shadow on top of your eyeliner. For added warmth I like to use Illamasqua Shadow in Wolf.

4. Time to blend! Using a clean fluffy brush, blend the shadow on the lid up into the socket line. Use both back and forth and circular movements to blend seamlessly. Be careful to only use this brush in the upper parts of the dark eyeshadow, we want the area closest to the lashline to stay nice and dark! Try Crown Brush C139

5. For the metallic finish to Carey's eye make-up, apply Illamasqua Liquid Metal in Surge to the inner third of the eye and tear duct, using a synthetic brush from Crown. Use your fluffy brush to blend the edges of the two colours together.

6. Apply your kohl pencil to the water line and under the lower lash line until you meet the shadow in the outer corner of the eye. Blend the darker shadow over the pencil line under the lower lashes using a pointed brush, such as Crown C321, until you reach the metallic shade in the tear duct. 

7. Finish with two coats of a lash building mascara, such as Lancome Hypnose.

The iconic 20's red lip:

1. Line your lips using a rich red lip liner such as MAC Redd. Start at the cupids bow, before moving to the outer edge and work up into the bow. Repeat to the lower lip, again starting in the centre. Fill in your lips using the liner, this will help your lip colour to stay in place all night. 

3. Apply a matte red, I like Art Deco, Dita Von Teese, using a lip brush. No7 Lip Brush is one of my faves. 

4. Finish by applying MAC Pigment in Naked to the area immediately above the cupids bow using a cotton bud.

Voila! Daisy is reborn!

I hope you all enjoy The Great Gatsby, as much I hope I will!

In the meantime, take a look at this fabulous behind the scenes video Vogue created, I particularly enjoyed hearing Carey read an extract from the novel.

You can't repeat the past? Well, of course you can!

http://www.vogue.com/videos/behind-the-scenes-of-carey-mulligans-great-gatsby-themed-cover-shoot/

No7 Stay Perfect Lip Stain

When you are a lipstick devotee like myself, you are always on the hunt for the latest miracle product offering that perfect pout all day long.

When I heard that my beloved No7 were launching a lip stain, in a design similar to a felt tip pen, I was intrigued. In the past I have tried Stay Perfect Lip Lacquer, which, due to the liquid formula is rather tricky to apply. Especially if, like me, you are always late and tend to rush your lippy application on a moving train!! They are also not to be used in situations involving wine. Trust me on this one girls!

Available in five shades, ranging from a pretty nude to a striking red, with plum pinks in-between, there is a Stay Perfect Lip Stain shade for every cosmetic eventuality. 

These slim double-ended pens feature the stain on one end and a moisturising clear lip balm on the other. As a women with minimal handbag space, this is a win win situation.
 No7 have also cleverly created a 'double lid' to the stain end- meaning that even if the cap comes off, the nib itself won't be damaged or dry out! The team over at No7 are obviously very intelligent indeed!

Image- Boots.com

Being a red lip obsessive, I dived straight for 'Ruby'-  a pink toned red. 

The pointed nib makes for precise application and I'm sure most of you can achieve a perfect edge to your lips using it. But if, like me you have an uneven lip line or you haven't got the most steady of hands, you may find it beneficial to apply a lip liner in a similar shade before hand. 

Remember, this is a stain- meaning one small slip, and you may resemble a child who has drank far too much cherryade. Definitely not the desired effect!

Merely seconds after application, the stain has dried, leaving my lips with a pretty red flush yet feeling like there is nothing on them at all! The beauty of these stains, is that you can re-apply for added depth of colour- something I have been unable to do with previous purchases, as it has tended to feel sticky and overloaded.

As with all lip stains, my lips quickly feel dry, but after a slick of the clear balm my lips are re-hydrated and left with a subtle sheen rather than a heavy gloss. It's essential to reapply the balm throughout the day not only to prevent dryness, but this also helps to keep your colour even.

After 12 hours of wear, 2 meals and endless glasses of water, I'm pleased to say my lips are still looking perfectly polished!

Looks like I may have found another favourite to my red lip collection!