Posts Tagged ‘cosmetics’

I’m not a fan of Ms. Moss but kudos to her, Sophie Ellis Baxter and Lily Cole for alerting me to the latest revolution in nail colour technology.

Ladies beware: I think I have found the answer to speedy drying yet chip resistant polish. And, what’s more, it’s only £2.99 a bottle. Behold…. Rimmel’s I ♥ Long Lasting nail polish!

You know, I’m not much of an advertisement whore but I’m completely head over heels in love with this product. I wouldn’t even consider myself much of a nail fanatic; if anything I find nail polish shopping a chore and a bore rather than a God-given pleasure.

But there is something about the Hotshot and Electric shades which really caught my eye when skipping my way through Boots the other day. And what’s more, the cute “♥” symbol on the packaging really appealed to my girlieness. Proof, then, that it really is the smallest of things which make your day, and that I really am so gullible as to be won over by a ‘♥’ symbol on the packaging of a nail polish bottle.

On the subject of hands, I also decided to update my ring collection now that the high street is awash with super-discounted jewellery sales. The dimpled oval ring on my index finger was an absolute steal at £2 from Wallis (reduced by £8!) and the very fussy beaded piece on the middle digit was slightly more expensive at £9 from Oasis. I felt the detailing was worth it though, and being a student meant I got a couple of quid off the price tag!

Oh man, I am such a sucker for cocktail rings and pretty nail polish colours. What are your favourite nail polishes, and are you a fan of pretty rings? Spill.

Not quite as outrageous as red, though more grown-up than your average pink: this season’s plum shades are ideal for injecting a bit of Autumnal goodness into your wardrobe.

At the moment I am totally digging all things plum. Despite not usually being 100 per cent keen on Marks & Spencer’s make up range, I recently picked up one of their lipsticks in Mulberry, only to discover that I absolutely bloody loved it. Not only does the lipstick come in a very profesh-looking silver encasing, the shade is super-long-lasting, and not so dark that it looks offensive when applied.

One of the things that is so great about lipsticks is that you can wear them in so many different ways. This means, then, that no matter what the day, time or occasion, your plum lipstick will never dare to look out of place.

So when and how to wear your plums, ladies?

1.) Stain it!

This is the best option for those who are lipstick-shy, or those who simply want to rock this look in their lunch hour without appearing too try-hard or daring. Plus, lip stains have proved popular with the likes of Thandie Newton and Keira Knightley, so how can we not try this one out?

How to apply: This works best without any kind of lip conditioning treatment underneath, so make sure your lips are ultra smooth by buffing them with a flannel first. Then, using the lipstick, make several light strokes across the bottom and top lip. Make sure only to apply a very light slither of colour. Then, using a forefinger, drag and smudge the colour across the lips to make it even. Finally, blot with a tissue and, voila, a very matt but very effective lip stain!
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2.) Gloss it!

Perfect for a glamorous evening or adding a bit of dazzle to an otherwise plain outfit, this technique will definitely draw attention to your plummy pout.

How to apply: Using a lip brush (MAC do the best brushes ever… I swear…), stroke against the lipstick until you have a neat, half-a-pea-size amount of plummy goo on the tip. Spread this plummy goo onto the centre part of the upper and lower lip and the, very carefully spread to the outer corners, ensuring you avoid achieving the clown-mouth, or Pamela-Anderson-siliconed effect. Less is more!

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3.) Just lipstick it!

For all those confident chicks out there: get out your lip liners out and apply apply apply!

How to apply: Before application, apply a dab of concealer / foundation over your lip area. This will encourage your lipstick to stay on for longer. Trust me, it works! Next, using a similar-coloured lip pencil, stroke a faint outline around your lips, being careful not to stray too far outside your natural lip line. If you want your lips to look fuller, simply apply liner slightly over the line at the point of your cupids bow and the central part of your lower lip.
Finally, fill in your lips with your plum lipstick, keeping inside the liner. Et voila, a perfect plum lipstick pout!

Question time: What are your thoughts/opinions on this season’s hottest shade? Will you be donning the plum lipstick for daywear or nights out on the town?
Also, if anyone has any other great tips for lipstick application, please let me know!