THE PERFECT NUDE LIPSTICK SEARCH #30LipsIn30

Every girl needs a signature lipstick. For most, it's their perfect nude and others may opt for a bold lip on a day-to-day basis (props to you brave ones). Maybe a favourite MAC lipstick or even one from the drugstore - whatever the brand and price it needs to be one you're comfortable with, one that can be worn every day and go with any eye look. Well, that's what I would want my signature lip colour to be. I've been on the search for my perfect nude lipstick for a while now. It hasn't always been a particularly active search per se, but I have been building up my collection of nudes for a while hoping that I'd come across one. I'm still yet to get my hands on MAC Patisserie (I've come so close a couple of times) which I have high hopes for but this is where I am as of now.

I don't think I've quite found my signature colour yet, but I definitely think I've hit a little milestone recently. I purchased my first Urban Decay revolution lipstick online quite a few months back, in Naked2, and as soon as I opened the box I knew it wasn't my kind of colour - a completely brown nude. I tried it out anyway and fell in love with the formula. It was among my first high end lipsticks and I adored the creamy formula which glided onto my lips and looked gorgeous. I just didn't love the colour so it ended up mostly unused looking pretty in gunmetal packaging amongst the other lipsticks in my collection. I never really forgot about the formula and ended up picking up another online this time in Naked. It will all a bit deja vu-like as I swatched the colour and again I didn't fall in love (maybe a lesson to learn in online lipstick shopping?). This one was more pink toned, but quite warm. A similar situation happened as I wore it a few times but it didn't last.

Fast forward some weeks, and inspiration hit me. One lipstick was too brown, and the other too pink. Do you see where I'm going here? The idea to mix the two finally came to me and here we are. I think this is the closest I've come to finding that perfect peachy pink lip I'm after. It's not perfect as mixing two lipsticks isn't ideal - you have to carry them both, and it's always going to end up slightly different but the formula keeps me coming back. For now, I'm happy. This lip combo will go with any eye look and can be worn with or without gloss.

I think when I finally find it, I'll just know. And don't worry, I'll make sure to pass on the message. Suggestions are more than welcomed. Do you have a signature lipstick?

Tina xx

FOTD: BROW POWDER FOR EYESHADOW?

Today's look is a pretty simple one. I started off by priming with Dr Brandt Pores No More Pore Refiner and Maybelline Dream Smooth Primer. These two are going to get a lot of love in the next month if I'm going to complete my Over by October challenge. I'm still holding on to the last few drops of my Bourjois Healthy Mix Serum in 53 Light Beige. I am amazed that there is any product left. I have run this bottle dry. My concealers of choice were Collection Lasting Perfection Concealer in 2 just in the places where I needed some extra coverage and then Maybelline Fit Me Concealer in 15 to brighten under the eyes.

To set everything I used my Rimmel Stay Matte Powder in Silky Beige. A new favourite of mine; the Bourjois Délice de Poudre Bronzing and Highlighter Duo was used to warm up the face and add a subtle highlight to the high points. I then added a little natural flush with Essence Silky Touch Blush in 4 Natural Beauty. 

For the eyes I did something a little different using my Sigma brow powders sample I received as a free gift. I previously have only been using one powder in my brows but thought I would give the others a try as an eyeshadow. The warmer powder in the Auburn duo is a gorgeous warm brown that is perfect for the crease when blended out. Another free gift was put to use, as I took a shadow from my Estee Lauder quad in Tempting Mocha which is a gorgeous bronze shade perfect for sweeping across the lid. The usual liners and mascaras were used: Rimmel Scandaleyes in Black, Urban Decay in Demolition, Maybelline The Rocket Waterproof Mascara and No7 Stay Perfect Mascara.

Finally for my lips I went with my new MakeUp Revolution The One Lipstick topped with Maybelline Colorsensational Gloss in Cashmere Rose.

THE £4 URBAN DECAY NAKED 3 DUPE

The Urban Decay Naked palettes are some of the most loved and purchased eyeshadow palettes out there, but also pretty pricey at £37 a piece. The latest version of the palettes, the Naked 3 has been out for a while and features predominantly rose gold shades.

The high price point of the Naked palettes can turn some people off, and I don't personally own any. I have swatched them in store and the shadows are buttery, soft and pigmented. Google the palettes and you'll get a thousand swatches and reviews. When I heard about MakeUp Revolution's Iconic palettes resembling the Naked palettes at only £4 I knew I had to get my hands on them. I ended up purchasing the Iconic 1 and 3. I've spoken a lot about the Iconic 1 on my channel, but today I'm focusing on the Iconic 3.

The swatches show how good the pigmentation of these shadows are, with the darker shades performing naturally better than the light. Some of the lighter shades don't show up too well on my pale skin - ha. The stand out for me is the rose gold shade corresponding to the much-loved shade Trick in the Naked 3 palette. 

One of the things I've observed about the Naked 3 is that many reviewers have commented that they don't get as much use out of it because it is so focused on those rose gold shades. Although they are gorgeous, it can be slightly one dimensional and may be less versatile than the first two palettes. £37 is a lot of money for a special occasion palette, but £4 is much more reasonable. This palette isn't an everyday staple for me but it's great one to have in my collection. MakeUp Revolution house, in my opinion, some of the best drugstore shadows on the market and this palette is a must-have. 

You can find the palettes on the MakeUp Revolution or Superdrug website. My local Superdrug now even has a stand for the brand, so check yours too. There's a few other gems among the collection. Try some out!

MakeUp Revolution Iconic 3 Palette here, £4

FOTD: UNDER-EYE HIGHLIGHT

The Kim Kardashian look is one that is difficult to transition onto an average person. The average person in question today is none other than myself. I've watched probably hundreds of videos and read umpteen blog posts on highlighting and contouring. There's always a huge emphasis on getting the right shade of bronzer/contour but not so much on the highlighting part.

Today's face of the day is one I'm quite fond of because of that bright under-eye highlight. It's taken me a while to practise getting the under-eye area highlighted enough to be noticeable but not too much that it's stark white and painfully obvious. A little mixing and matching and it's all gone a bit right today.

Base: Benefit Stay Flawless 15-Hour Primer; I have a small sample of this and I've really been loving it. I've never found a primer that I've loved before but I think this may be my favourite I've tried. Works best if your skin is on the oilier side of the spectrum.
Bourjois Healthy Mix Serum in 53 Light Beige; It's on its last legs but I haven't given up on the bottle yet. Love this stuff.

Concealer: MAC Prolongwear in NC20; you can't go wrong with this stuff. It's my favourite concealer for the lasting power alone; not even mentioning the coverage.
NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer in Chantilly; I mixed in a dab of this and I mean a dab. This is the lightest shade and it is light. I bought this when the shade I wanted was out of stock and it is a bit much alone but mixed in with the prolongwear it proved to be a winning combination. Really good for those of us with pale skin.

Powders: NYX HD Studio Finishing Powder; A touch of this powder and you have a flawless finish. It's a staple of mine.
NARS Laguna; another favourite; perfect for bronzing up the skin in no time.
Sleek Face Form Palette in Fair; used the contour shade in this to, well, contour. Just a little.
Milani Blush in Luminoso; adds a little peachy-pink sheen to the cheeks.

Eyes: NARS Smudgeproof Eyeshadow Base; an eyeshadow primer is essential for my oily lids.
Rimmel Eyeshadow Paint in Rich Russet; I kept things simple with this long lasting liquid eyeshadow all over the lid.
Make-Up Revolution Iconic 1 Palette; I added a touch of the darker matte brown in this palette through the crease just for some added definition.
L'Oreal Super Liner Perfect Slim; this is my favourite liquid liner in pen form that I've tried. It's very easy to use as it's flexible enough, but not too flexible that it's uncontrollable. I only took this about halfway onto my lid for a subtle wing.
Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-On Pencil in Zero & Demolition; Zero to tightline and Demoltion for the waterline. They do not budge.
Maybelline The Rocket Waterproof Mascara + Estee Lauder Sumptuous Extreme Mascara; one layer of The Rocket makes sure my curl holds all day and then the Estee Lauder mascara adds some extra volume.

Lips: MAC Viva Glam V Lipstick; I picked up a couple of new MAC lipsticks recently and this is the perfect everyday shade.