2 Topshop Lipsticks

I think due to recent posts it is pretty clear I love darker makeup shades for the Autumn/Winter, and this post certainly follows that theme. Today we have 2 purple based Topshop lipsticks, both £8, and both smell amazing, I'm serious Topshop lipsticks smell so good!

The lighter of the two is Inhibition, a matte formula, which isn't that matte in person, but when photographed, with flash as well, looks very matte?! I'm sure that shouldn't make sense, however, I do love the colour, it is probably the more wearable of the 2. And then the darker is Depth, a velvet formula, which is extremely moisturising and perfect for making a statement.

I am absolutely in love with these lipsticks, however I am not entirely sure I can pull them off so PLEASE let me know in the comments what you think!

There isn't really anything else to say other than the fact that these lipsticks are fantastic quality and a perfect addition to my collection, so I will let the pictures do the talking from here...

With Flash.

Without Flash.

First up, Inhibition.

Next up, Depth.

These shades, I think, would look incredible on any skin tone.

The colours really are gorgeous!

Love El

xxx

Quick & Easy Smoothie Recipe

I haven't posted a recipe for a while so I thought it was about time I did! I actually already have a couple more in mind that are perfect for Winter, but this one has got a bit of a Summery theme. However, I think smoothies make great snacks instead of reaching into the cupboard for something naughty, a smoothie is filling and good for you!

Now you could freeze the yoghurt that you use, but I thought with taking the Frube just out of the fridge it didn't make the drink too cold!

What you'll need for this smoothie:

• A handful of grapes
• A handful of strawberries 
• 1 Frube (I used vanilla) or some yoghurt

There isn't much point in giving specific steps for this recipe as all you need to do is add all of the ingredients and blend! However, one tip for this smoothie is that you may want to remove some of the grape skin or sieve the drink at the end just because I found there was more skin then expected! But that's it for this recipe, it may be easy but the drink was very tasty!!

The blender I have and used is the Breville Active Blender which is fantastic and if you're after a blender but don't want to spend £99 on the NutriBullet I can certainly recommend this one!

It may be Autumn and very cold outside but I feel a smoothie is okay to have any time of year!

Love El

xxx

Lush Haul (Christmas Products) Part 1

Another haul post for today, however instead of being Autumn themed this one is Christmas themed! As my posts continue into Winter you will learn how much I LOVE Christmas!! 

Anyway getting into this post properly, I received a couple of Lush vouchers a month ago for my birthday and have only just got round to spending them. As my birthday is in October it has become a tradition to ask for Lush vouchers as their Christmas products are my absolute favourites! And they usually come out at the end of October.

Today is part 1 as I haven't actually spent the other voucher yet, but I intend on spending it soon. These 3 products are the ones I get every year and I absolutely love them, they are also all bath bombs.

Left to Right: So White, Golden Wonder, Luxury Lush Pud.

First up we have So White, I absolutely love this bath bombs it just turns the water a pink colour but it somehow makes the water so moisturising! The scent of this is gorgeous in my opinion and makes my bathroom smell so good! The scent is apples, along with the ingredients of bergamot oil and rose absolute which both help to make you feel calmer, and then neroli oil and orange flower, which apparently helps to revive your Christmas spirit!

Next up is Golden Wonder, which is originally in the shape of a gold present but as it dissolves there is an explosion of colours, glitter and stars! Although it isn't that annoying glitter that goes everywhere, because personally I don't like being covered in glitter when I get out of the bath! The smell is made by the mixture of sweet orange, lime and cognac oils that according to Lush will make you feel festive!

Last but certainly not least is the Luxury Lush Pud. Last year the bottom of this was actually purple which made you look like you were sat in a bath of ribena, I actually really liked the purple but this year it is neon pink changing the bath water pink which I do like too. So just like the Golden Wonder bath bomb you end up with many different colours everywhere in the bath! This one is so fun to throw in and look at the colours disperse. Whilst this is in your bath you will be smelling tonka absolute, ylang ylang and lavender oil, now I know some of those sound made up, but apparently they all help to relieve tension, so that is fantastic after a long day!

That is the end of this Lush haul! 

I love all 3 of these products and will certainly repurchase! 

Love El

xxx

Lips of the Day + MAC Dupe

After posting my Autumn MAC Haul on Thursday, I thought it necessary to do a lips of the day post with the lipstick from that haul, MAC's Diva.

It is safe to say I have fallen in love with this lipstick, it is so perfect for Autumn, and even good for all year round as you can apply a tiny bit to tint your lips for a more subtle look!

Even though this lipstick is a Matte formula it is so creamy and moisturising, which you possibly would not expect! Another amazing point about this lipstick is that it is so pigmented! So after all these points you can probably tell I love this lipstick a lot, and I actually don't have any negative things to say!

One thing I do when applying dark lipsticks is take some of my concealer to give the lipstick a nice clean line on my lips. However, in these photos I clearly didn't do the best job of applying it because my bottom lip looks slightly wonky!

With Flash. 

Without Flash.

With Flash.

Without Flash. 

This is certainly going to be a staple lipstick for me!

However, if you do not want to spend £15.50 on this lipstick I do have a dupe for you at only £4.99! Now the dupe I used to show you the similarities was part of a collection, Sleek's Cranberry lipstick. BUT Sleek's Vamp is exactly the same so if you want a good dupe go for Sleek's Vamp! I just find the with my Sleek lipstick it isn't as creamy and a little drying. The Sleek and MAC lipstick are both Matte.

 With Flash.

 Without Flash.

With Flash. 

Without Flash.

I hope that if you feel the need to buy the MAC lipstick you feel much happier paying £4.99 for the dupe!

Love El

xxx

Autumn MAC Haul

Now I think it's fair to say I spent too much money in MAC on Autumn themed products. When I see Autumn themed you'll know exactly what I mean when you see the colours! However, with buying too much means you have to blog about it, so that justifies it right?!

A couple of products in this post I have been lusting after for a while but then some others I kind of saw and wanted...which really isn't good in an expensive shop! But I am glad I got these products as I do love them all a lot!! 

Without Flash.

With Flash.

Without Flash.

With Flash.

These eyeshadows are all so pigmented, creamy and also the swatches were difficult to get off my hand so they obviously have fantastic staying power! 
I can't wait to create a look/a couple of looks using these eyeshadows to show you!

Beauty Marked would make a fantastic crease colour, just like Sketch. Beauty Marked has some red glittery undertones which make it that little bit different! Trax is a gorgeous purple lilac colour with a gold undertone, much more gold than in pictures, and this is why it was one of my I saw I wanted products! Then Sketch, I would describe as being a very warm toned brown, a perfect crease colour! And then finally Cranberry, this is just such a beautiful shimmery red, cranberry colour (obviously El its called Cranberry, I'm so good at descriptions...)

Beauty Marked, Trax and Sketch are all velvet finishes and Cranberry is frost.

Without Flash.

With Flash.

I won't say too much about this lipstick as there is already a blog post about it ready and waiting in my blogger drafts. But all I will say is this is such a perfect dark, vampy red, and I love the fact it is a matte lipstick!

I bet you can all see how this is Autumn themed now, and I hope I haven't made you want to spend too much money!

Love El

xxx

Part 3/3 - Dramatic Bronze Eyes Inspiration

Before I begin I just want to say I am a bit gutted that the colours of the very end result haven't come out as beautiful and smoky in these pictures as they look in real life! I wish I could bring you all into my house so you can see how stunning this look is but as I can't do that I'm sure you can imagine! But it is official I'm in love with this look, also it makes my eyes look super blue because of the bronze/gold colour, so that is certainly a plus!

This post is the 3rd and final part to my makeup look episode thing I was doing, but I will of course post eyeshadow looks I do in the future at random!

The particular shades and products I used to create this look:

• Using the lightest gold shade first from the W7 10 out of 10 palette, I applied this all over the lid and into the crease.
• Then applying the Rimmel Stir It Up Cream Eyeshadow in 700 Wassup, I applied this on the outer third of my eye.
• I then used the middle gold/bronze eyeshadow of the palette on top of the Rimmel Shadow and using the first colour on the bottom row I applied this on the centre of my lid. When all of these gold colours had been applied I blended like mad to create a gradient effect!
• I then used the two top shadows being pointed at on the very outer corner and through the crease until I was happy with the smokiness!
• Then using Maybelline The Rocket Mascara in Waterproof I applied this to the top and bottom lashes, personally I think this looks fantastic with and without false eyelashes! But the first lashes I tried for this look were the Red Cherry Lashes in #47, just because it's always fun to play around with products you have!!

I then tried out the more natural Red Cherry Lashes in #747S.

So there we go the end of this 3 part series! I can't believe how much support and compliments I have received for this series and therefore want to say a MASSIVE thank you to you all!!!!
See you Thursday!

Love El

xxx