The Long-Forgotten MLBB Shade

Having had a few interviews with recruitment agencies in the past week or so, I've been reaching for 'my lips but better' (or MLBB) lipstick shades in an effort to look polished. One of my absolute favourites is MAC Viva Glam V but I bought it before I was unemployed and at £14 it's not the most budget-friendly option for jobseekers.

Today I rediscovered this little beauty in my lipstick drawer, sadly looking a bit battered but doing the job nicely.

Sadly discontinued, NYC Ultra Moist LipWear in 323B 'Buff Chamois' is a creme neutral rose with a slightly glossy finish and a cushion-y, comfortable feeling on the lips. This shade (and the rest of the range) are widely and cheaply available on eBay though, if you're in the market for a job-interview-every-day-office-wear-type lipstick.

Light swatch - Heavy swatch

I really recommend checking this one out. It's such a shame they discontinued this line as they are so comfortable to wear- really moisturising and balmy, which is perfect for long days at work or nerve-wracking interviews.

FOTD: New Year's Eve

This New Year's I decided to go for a 60s-futuristic inspired look with metallic silver lids, cut crease and big fluttery lashes. If you can't do shiny eyelids and big eyelashes on NYE, when can you? The eyeshadow shape was also inspired by Lisa Eldridge's Biba Shopgirl tutorial, which if you havn't watched you must go and do so RIGHT NOW. I'll wait :)

EYES
MUA Professional eye primer
Urban Decay 24/7 pencil in 'Zero' (outline/ base for black shadow)
17 silver/black eyeshadow duo (silver on the lid, black in the crease and lower lashline)
Darling Girl 'Apparition' eyeshadow (foiled on the lid and more patted on top dry)
Collection Extreme Felt tip liner
Clinique High Impact mascara
Perfect Girl Brit Rocks Eyeluscious Lashes (a cluster trimmed from each end of the lash and used on the lower lashline)

FACE
MeMeMe Beat the Blues highlighter (under foundation and as a highlighter on top)
Bourjois Flower Perfection foundation
Bourjois Healthy Mix concealer
Soap and Glory Kick Ass concealer
ELF All Over Colour stick in 'Pink Lemonade'
Illamasqua 'Hollow' Cream Pigment
NYC Smooth Skin pressed powder

LIPS
MAC 'Summer Shower' lipstick

I hope everyone had a fun and safe NYE and best wishes for 2013!

FOTD and Write Up: Festive Mixed Metals

I decided to do a festive look for you and do a write up for it because I think this is a super-quick way to get a very sparkling and party-ready look for Christmas or New Years.

I started with the eyes and, after priming, swept and then blended a cool brown into the crease (ELF Studio Cool Bronzer) and a matte off-white highlight colour on to the browbone (ELF Studio Cool Bronzer). I patted a gold pigment over the eyelid (MAC 'Gold Mode' pigment) using my fingertip, but a dense, flat brush would do as well. Next, I used a silvery glitter eyeliner in a thick line across the lashline (Collection Glam Crystals glitter liner in 'Hustle') before lining again with a black liner very close to the lashes for extra definition (Collection Extreme felt tip liner). The last step for the eyes was lashings of mascara, but false eyelashes would be really lovely for parties.

Once the eyes were done I used Clarins Beauty Flash Balm all over my face and buffed on a matte foundation (Bourjois Flower Perfection foundation). I then used a liquid highlighter to strategically add glow to the tops of my cheekbones (MeMeMe 'Beat the Blues' highlighter). I used a cream contour and a healthy pink cream blush (Illamasqua 'Hollow' Cream Pigment and ELF All Over Colour Stick in 'Pink Lemonade'). I skipped powder to keep the look glowing rather than cakey.

For the lips I used a plum lipstain for longevity and the stain-y texture- and piled it on to get the colour deeper (Palladio Lip Marker in 'Plum').

I was really pleased with this sparkly look, even though it was relatively simple to achieve. I think the mixed textures really help to highlight the mixed warm and cool tones. I'd love to hear what everyone else is wearing this festive season!

Quick Review: MUA Professional Eye Primer

When MUA released an eye primer at the bargain price of £2.50, I was pretty excited. I actually picked it up ages ago when I thought my George primer was running out but hadn't got a chance to use it until recently.

I actually like that it comes in a sleek tube with a doefoot applicator, because anything in a squeezy tube just seems to separate and need smushing around before you can use it.

The product is a creamy consistency, easy to blend out and is a very pale concealer-type colour that blends out to invisibility. I don't think this would leave an ashy cast on darker skintones as you need so little product and it doesn't seem to leave any pigmentation on the skin.

I used Darling Girl's 'Crypt Keeper' for these swatches and as you can see the shadow is more vibrant and the shimmer is more rich when it's applied over the primer. This primer has a slightly sticky finish to it so it really helps shadows cling to the eyelids and appear true-to-pan.

Wearing this for long periods of time I've found that it can crease if I carelessly apply too much, but if I make sure to spread a tiny amount over the lids then there's not a crease in sight. Definitely recommended!