The Perfect Red Lip

The red lip is an iconic make up look which exudes a timeless, feminine feel. Probably the most famous patriot of the red lip is none other than Marilyn Monroe, who was known for layering different shades in order to create the illusion of fuller lips. But still today we continue to sport the look.

Marilyn: the poster girl for the iconic red lip

Not the greatest lighting, but you can see how the pop of gold really illuminates the lips!

Whilst I personally love the look of red lips, naturally they are not always the easiest or most appropriate choice from day-to-day, but for special events a red lip is definitely my first port of call. My current favourite product for mastering the red lip is the Rimmel London Moisture Renew lipstick in shade 500 'Diva Red'. This is more of a darker toned red than a brighter one, but when applied with a lip brush gives a dramatic and defined look.

My top tip for the red lip definitely has to be to apply a gold coloured eyeshadow on the lower lip in the centre. It really gives a beautiful sheen and 3D effect to the lips which looks gorgeous when it catches the light.

If I really want to wear red lips in the day time then I tend to opt for the Maybelline Lip Stains in "Shy Red" which, as the name would suggest, provides a slightly more muted, wearable daytime shade that adds a flush of rouge to the lips without looking too overdone.

Whats your tips for achieving the perfect red lip look?

Emily xxx

MAC Studio Sculpt Concealer

From this photo, hopefully you can see how thick the consistency is

After hearing that the MAC Studio Sculpt Concealer was one of the best around for covering the purple/blue  tones of under-eye circles I decided to give it a go, as they are something i've always struggled with. Previously, after experimenting with several concealers (including YSL Touche Eclat) I had settled with the popular Collection 2000 Lasting Perfection Concealer, which offers a good coverage and brightens the under eye area. However, in order for me to feel that my dark circles were completely eliminated, I needed a couple of layers- hence my reasoning for trying Studio Sculpt. I was matched to the colour NW20 which contains peachy pink undertones to correct the blue/purple ones. The concealer has a very thick, paste-like consistency which means that a small amount can be blended out to cover a wide area. The thickness of the consistency is what enables this concealer to provide a thick coverage under the eye area, which I found to work well, almost eliminating the discolouration completely. However, if using this product, I would say to be  sure to use a small amount to avoid making the under eye area look too cakey. I also quite like to add a layer of lasting perfection over the top to brighten the skin, something which studio sculpt does not do. Priced at £13.50, if you suffer from under eye circles (or blemishes, which it is equally effective with) then I would recommend giving studio sculpt a try- a small amount will provide very good coverage. To use this product, I also picked up the Barry M Concealer brush, this allowed me apply the concealer and blend it out well- the brush is available at Superdrug £2.99

As you can see, the concealer provides a good coverage which pretty much blanks out the purple tones under my eyes, however they are still slightly visible to a certain degree.

The Barry M Concealer brush

Beautifully Blue: Nails of the day

After posting about picking up this 'Cyan Blue' colour from Barry M, I was pleased to find that it applied well and gave a gorgeous finish which was accentuated with my favourite Sally Hansen Insta Dry topcoat.

The pretty bottle- Love Barry Ms packaging!

Applies well, you only need about 2 coats

Cyan Blue! A beautiful sky blue colour which is perfect for summer

Painted onto my nails


I think this is a really great polish that would be a great addition to everyone's collection, so be sure to pick up from either Boots, Barry M website or Superdrug. The Barry M nail paints are priced at £2.99


Love,
Emily x