FIVE PRODUCTS FOR: THAT PERFECT RED LIP

Okay, so we all know that it's such a pain to get that Taylor-Swift-esque red lip down to a tea, but here are my top 5 products to help you along the way. 

Firstly, your lips are gonna need prepping and for this, I definitely recommend the lip scrubs from Lush, particularly the Bubblegum flavour. They are really sweet and effective and (total bonus), due to them solely being made from all yummy ingredients, you just lick off the evidence. MMMM. 

After this, you're going to want to pop a bit of lip balm on, just to keep your lips soft and supple. No one likes a dry, flaky lip- especially not when it's going to be the focus of attention, right?! My tip; do these two steps before you do your foundation and eye makeup, leaving your lippy 'til last giving the lipbalm some time to work it's magic. I'd suggest using either the Carmex (pictured) or Burt's Bees. I've tried that many lipbalms and these are the only two that make any change to my lips!

So, now we add some colour.. Firstly, you're going to want to take a lip liner. You can pick these Natural Collection liners up from your local Boots store for under £2, although if you're looking for something a little more long-wearing, I would also recommend the Maybelline Color Stay pencils- they are fab! It's completely up to you, but I do prefer (especially with the red lip) to over-outline my lips ever so slightly, just because my lips are very thin. Pleeeease, please don't go overboard, we aren't trying to look like Ronald McDonald here, kids. Do this in thin strokes from the cupids bow outwards, and then line the bottom from the middle to the corners. This step not only stops the lipstick itself bleeding* (*running out your lips in strange wonky lines- not attractive), but it will help you get an even lipstick application and help you to stay within the lip line. 

With a red lip, try and use a flat, thin lip brush to apply it with. This one that I have pictured is one of my favourites and it actually came in a set of brushes that I actually bought off eBay! Using a brush will stop the product from going onto the lips too thick (which can make the overall look go patchy) and generally, it makes the lipstick last longer, especially if you put a couple of thin layers on. A brush is also handy if you've not got a lip liner with you, as you can use the brush and your favourite lipstick as a substitute. 

Lastly, you're going to want an actually red lipstick. Bet you never guessed that one, huh? My go-to red lipsticks are Mac Ruby Woo (which I would have pictured, but it's a little shabby now) and this L'Oreal Color Riche in 461. Personally, I tend to reach for cool-toned reds that have a slight blue tinge to them, as I find that these suit my skin tone and they also make my teeth seem brighter and whiter. I do love more orangey-reds, but only tend to wear them when I have a tan (Topshop Rio is my ultmate fave!).

I hear a lot of people saying that they "can't" wear red lipstick. I say nonsense! Remember, there is no such word as can't. Ease yourself into it- firstly, but a red-tinted lip balm on, then go for a red gloss, then a sheer red lippy and then just build up the intensity from there. I know that the red lip can take a little practice, but keep going and you'll get there! I hope that this has been helpful- do you have any extra tips?!

xxxx

FIVE PRODUCTS THAT WILL GET YOU GLOWING

To give yourself the best chance of getting a glow that Millie Mackintosh herself would be impressed with, start with a fresh, clean face, preferably exfoliated and definitely moisturised base. Products will cling to any dry skin and will definitely ruin your base.

The first products that you should be putting on your skin should be a primer and whenever I need a dewy, glowing base I turn to these two babies; the Bourjois Happy Light Luminous Serum Primer and the Look Beauty Perk Me Up Skin Brightening Primer**. The Bourjois, as the name states, is a serum so it evens out the texture of your skin and gives it that dewy feel that foundation sits perfectly on. I love that this serum is somewhat translucent (with a hint of pink)- it's more the texture that makes the overall look, rather than a shimmer as such and that is why I tend to use this first, and then put half a pump on the Look Beauty primer on the higher points on my face (cheekbones, nose, forehead, cupids bow) as this is the primer that actually has the shimmer; when I say shimmer, please read as shimmer and not glitter. Ew.

** So the Look Magazine Beauty Range seems to have disappeared recently- this is something that upsets me. I literally loved their foundations, lipsticks and nail polishes :( if anyone knows anything about this, please let me know!

Next up, I'll use my chosen foundation (at the mo I'm leaning towards the Revlon Colorstay foundation in Ivory), dabbing blobs over my face and then adding in little dollops of Benefit High Beam to my cheeks, forehead and nose and then blending all over my face. This just gives my foundation more pazazz, not leaving my face flat and lifeless. I'll then pop a little bronzer under my cheekbones and up on my temples to help give my face some more dimension and then I'll grab the No.7 Instant Radiance Highlighter Stick, swiping a tad over my cheekbones and down the bridge of my nose.

I like to finish of my dewy look (after I've put on my eye makeup and my brows), I'll take my The Balm Mary-Lou Manizer highlighting powder and, using a fluffy eyeshadow brush, I add a tiny bit of this product under my eyebrows, into the corner of my eyes, onto my cupids bow and a tad more onto the bridge of my nose. This is the best highlighter I've ever tried; I got it last year when I was in New York and have used it every day since and somehow, I still have half of the stuff left! Fantastic. It's so, so pigmented and lasts all day. Bonus too; Superdrug have just started selling this here.

Are there any products that you use to fake that 10-hour-sleep, 8-glasses-of-water-a day-glow? Let me know! xxx

SOAP AND GLORY; MARVELIPS!

Working for Boots has a lot of perks. We get cheaper products, celebs are forever just popping by, we participate in all kinds of charity events, we get to go to said charity events, but one of the main perks of the job is that we are in completely overwhelmed with Soap and Glory.

This makes me very, very happy. It's no secret that I am a massive fan of Soap and Glory; their products always work and do just as they say they will, everything smells delectable, the packaging is super-cute, the product names just simply whimsical and their witty humour on the labels are just something else- if you haven't seen this yet, have a quick peek at your nearest S & G product and you will see exactly what I mean.

One thing that I've said that I'd try more of is their makeup- for some reason, it's just a brand of makeup that I would never purposely go to look at, nor would I consider picking up any of their range if I was in need of, say, a new lippy however recently, I've been super lucky to try a few key pieces of their range and I thought that I would share a couple of reviews with you!

The first thing that I tried was this duo lip pencil. One end is the lip shade and the other end is an instant plumping effect- a highlighter for the lips.

This is the nicest nude pencil I've ever had the pleasure to use. The shade is sooo 'your-lips-but-better', which is something that I've been reaching for just recently.. (Does anyone else go through nude lips / statement lips periods?? Just me? ok.)

The colour-end of the pencil is fantastic. As I said, this shade is a beautiful nude- it just makes my lips seem fuller and it instantly makes me look more 'made up' but in a good way. I can put this on at 7am and by lunch time, I can still see that it's there, still practically perfect. It also smells like Chocolate Orange which is probably just another reason why I love it... I also read online that it contains super sparkling pigments, however I can see no such thing, so don't be put off by this.

I just don't get the other end. The highlighter end. It does nothing for me. However, this doesn't worry me because it's easily ignored. One thing that I have noticed though is that you can use it as an eyebrow bone highlighter.. I guess that's making decent use out of it, even if it's not relevant.

Anyway, as you can see I've bought another one (mainly because I wanted to take it eeeeverywhere with me but I kept losing it), but yeah. I'd 100% recommend this to you. I just wish that they would do other shades, but I'm glad that they perfected this one first.

Marvelips is £8 and available from Boots stores nationwide.

PHILOSOPHY PURITY THREE-IN-ONE CLEANSER

£17.50 for 236ml from all Boots stores Nationwide

So tonight, featuring on TangledinBeauty is, dare I say, my new holy grail cleanser. Yep, I know that using the HG status is kinda risque, I mean what if I find a new HG cleanser and upset this one, but really guys please try this! Its definitely something that you'll thank me for.

I was given this sample at work one day and after hearing such rave reviews, I was very excited to get home and wash away the day's makeup and grime (ew). Wow, I've never been so impressed with a product upon first use- it was love at first use for sure.

You only need a 20p-sized blob in your palm, lather up under warm water and massage into your face and neck for 30 seconds. Rinse off as you usually would and pat your face dry et voila! Perfectly, squeaky clean skin in 30 seconds. I dare you to take your cotton pad and another cleanser and try to find a scrap of dirt that this cleanser hasn't already removed. I've used this with heavy-coverage makeup and super-heavy eye makeup (I'm talking smokey-eye, eyeliner and 4 coats of mascara) and still, just one rinse and it's all gone.

Another fab thing with this cleanser is the smell; I've heard a lot of people complain about this, however I've really enjoyed the medicinal scent that it gives out. Fair play, this might be slightly too strong for some sensitive noses, but I've not qualms about this whatsoever. 

I've also noticed, and this is the only new product that I've introduced into my skincare regime, that my skin has improved drastically within the last 6 weeks of using this. It's clear and when I do get that occasional pimple, it's just a tiny one that is gone within the day. My skin is also much less red, pretty even and a lot brighter, too. This stuff has worked wonders! 

Also, I really like the fact that they offer different sized bottles; the smaller size retails at £8, the medium bottle around £18 and the largest bottle is around £28. This seems pretty pricey, but let me tell you, I've been using this tiny sample bottle on a daily basis for around 6 weeks now and as you can see, it's about half-way gone. I imagine that the biggest bottle would last for at least 6 months. I really like that you can get it in a sample size- I'm gonna get the big bottle and keep topping the sample bottle up so that I can take it away on holiday/trips without having to lug the big bottle around with me. 

There is only one negative thing that came to mind when reviewing this; the price! Personally, I do think that it's ever so slightly overpriced, however I 100% would pay it purely because of the results that it gives. I think this would definitely put people off purchasing it, but one thing that is great is that when you purchase a full-sized bottle, you get a 'try me' sample and if you don't like it, you can return the big bottle and get your money back. 

Overall, I would say that you're silly not to give this a go- you'll get the sample size and, like I said, you'll get the full refund if you don't like it, although I can almost guarantee that you won't look back!

Have you tried this yet? What did you think to it? xxx