BEST Dupe For MAC’s Ruby Woo Lipstick

As a beauty fanatic I truly believe every woman (or man, no judgement here) needs at least one red lipstick in their makeup bag! Skin colour and whether you have warm or cool undertones may be factors in helping you decide which shade of red you’re drawn to and best suited to but in this post I’m going to be talking about the best dupe I have found for Ruby Woo from MAC if you aren’t the biggest fan of the retro matte formula.

What makes Ruby Woo so great?

If you aren’t already aware as to why Ruby Woo has cult status here’s a bit of background. Ruby Woo is described as a vivid blue-red and the shade is very inclusive, suiting a range of skin tones from fair to deep. For many, including myself, it is the perfect classic red, it’s not too warm or too cool and it doesn’t pull orange, berry or burgundy, it’s straight up red. It is also the kind of red that makes your teeth look white… who doesn’t want that?!

Meet the Dupe: Ruby You – MAC

No, that’s not a typo and you may think I’m cheating a little with this dupe but it has everything I know and love about the original Ruby Woo with a few minor differences. In 2021 MAC introduced Ruby’s Crew, launching their world famous red lipstick in fan-favourite formulas including powder kiss liquid lip colour and a tinted lipglass. I’ll be comparing the original Ruby Woo to Ruby You and sharing swatches. I do see a place for the both of these in my collection and won’t be getting rid of either. However, if you’re on the hunt for a good red or know someone who is, this post will help distinguish between the two.

L-R: Ruby You and Ruby Woo

Formula & Longevity

Ruby Woo has a retro matte formula giving it a completely matte, velvety finish. This means it is long wearing with intense colour payoff. The lipstick will get you through the day/night without needing major touch ups and does last when eating and drinking. It is supposedly kiss proof as well, I’ve never put this to the test but I imagine if you’re giving someone a quick peck on the check it’s fine. I’ve touched my fingers to my lips when wearing Ruby Woo and they have always come away clean.

Ruby You is part of the Love Me lipstick line. It is a weightless, argan-oil infused formula that gives an instant hit of colour and all day moisture with a soft, satin finish. If you have dry lips you will prefer this formula as it glides on and is the best parts of MAC’s satin, amplified and lustre finishes all rolled into one. As there is more slip with Ruby You I do advise a lip liner (I recommend a lip liner with all red lipsticks) to help the colour fade more evenly throughout the day. If you are eating or drinking this may need to be reapplied and checked during the day, it won’t give as much longevity as Ruby Woo. On the lips the difference isn’t obvious but in the arm swatches you will see Ruby You has more shine.

Packaging

Ruby Woo comes in the standard black bullet packaging. It also has special red packaging with the shade name on the bullet as part of the Ruby’s Crew launch but I’m not sure if that packaging will be permanent or is available for a limited time only.

Ruby You follows the look of the rest of the Love Me line, a shiny ombre bullet showcasing the colour family each shade is from: nudes, purples or reds. This is my first Love Me lipstick from the reds and the packaging is beautiful! I have a few other lipsticks from the Love Me range and I think the packaging is some of the prettiest in my makeup collection. This packaging also makes the lipstick easy to identify in your makeup bag/drawer.

Price

Ruby Woo in the regular black bullet will set you back $35 (NZD) and $38 (NZD) in the special red packaging.

Ruby You will set you back $38 (NZD) – a little more expensive but worth it for the packaging I feel.

Application

Both of these lipsticks are easy to apply and control. There is less glide with Ruby Woo purely down to the formula. If you have dry lips I would also recommend applying a small amount of lip balm to the lips 10-20 minutes beforehand to help Ruby Woo go on easier. This still gives the velvety matte finish and precise application without giving the lipstick too much slip. If the lipstick is applied directly after the balm it can be harder to control and get precise lines. Ruby Woo is pretty much opaque with one layer and doesn’t require much building up. Ruby You glides over the lips but I need to apply two-three layers to get opaque, even coverage. Ruby You is easier to maneouvre to get into the corners of the mouth due to its formula.

Swatches

Arm

Top: Ruby Woo
Bottom: Ruby You

Lips

(Both shades applied over Olive lip liner from xoBeauty)

Top: Ruby You
Bottom: Ruby Woo

Conclusion

Now that you’ve read about both shades, who should purchase each one? If you don’t mind a matte lipstick formula, want to save a little bit of money and want colour that lasts all day, go for Ruby Woo. If your lips are on the drier side, you want a red that is soft, easy to apply and re-applying lipstick throughout the day doesn’t bother you, go for Ruby You.

To be honest you can’t go wrong with either of these. The colour is identical, both are comfortable, pigmented and have good longevity. What you like in a lipstick will ultimately determine which is right for you.

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My Blush Collection

I’m having a real moment with blush lately. Sometimes I go through phases where I don’t wear blush a lot but recently I have been appreciating the lovely, natural flush it gives my cheeks and how it pulls a look together. I believe blush is one of those products you don’t need to own a lot of different shades of if you’ve found a couple that really suit your skin tone. I know what works for me and what I personally like. I tend to go for mauve tones and blushes that have a bit of shimmer and can be built up. If you’ve followed my blog for a while you may have heard me mention these products but I thought this would be a great way to collectively talk through my favourite blushes and if you have fair-light skin like me these will also work well for you.

Starting from the blush I’ve owned longest and working through to the newest:

1. Dainty Doll – Billion Dollar Babies

Firstly, look at that pan! This is the only cream blush in my collection but it is my most used blush hands down! Billion Dollar Babies is a neutral pink-brown nude. It may look plain in the pan but once it is on the face it adds the most natural flush of colour whilst making the skin look dewy. This blush is the most versatile I own and it really does go with every makeup look! I don’t tend to wear bronzer or contour when I wear this blush as I find it layers better on top of foundation this way and stops my makeup looking heavy. I keep this blush in my everyday makeup bag on top of my dresser which contains products I reach for often.

2. Dainty Doll – You Are My Sunshine

You Are My Sunshine is a dupe for NARS Orgasm and I purchased this blush a couple of years after I started blogging. I don’t know how I first heard about Orgasm but I remember thinking it was such a beautiful shade and the fact it suits many different skin tones is a bonus. I found this blush brand new on eBay for $8 (NZD) and this easily comes in as a close second to Billion Dollar Babies for being my most used. This blush is also my personal favourite in my collection and I love the healthy effect the peachy golden shimmer gives the skin. A little goes a long way with this blush and if I’m feeling under the weather or want my makeup to pop this is the blush I’ll choose. It pairs well with my fuchsia lipsticks and a light shimmery shadow on the lids.

3. NARS Mini Orgasm Blush/Highlight Duo

I picked up this NARS duo in 2018 as I was curious to see how my dupe for Orgasm compared to the real thing. Taking pictures for this post was actually the first time I had swatched both blushes side by side. They are equally as beautiful and look similar on the skin but Orgasm is more pink and easier to diffuse whereas You Are My Sunshine is more peachy and shimmery and needs to be applied with a lighter hand. I bought the NARS duo as it has a blush and highlighter meaning it’s convenient for travel and takes up less space. Despite the fact the blush is mini it will still last a long time. Orgasm is a classic shade and if you haven’t tried it I highly encourage you to give it a go, it may look intimidating in the pan but it is a surprisingly versatile shade.

4. MAC Mineralize Blush – Warm Soul

I forgot I owned this blush for a little while because my Dainty Doll blushes are so good at covering all bases that I didn’t find myself for reaching this one as often. A couple of weeks ago I used it for the first time in ages and fell in love all over again. Warm Soul has a baked mineral formula meaning it layers well whilst still looking soft and gives a pearl-like shimmer. This blush pairs really well with a pink highlight or if you prefer something simple and subtle, Warm Soul can be worn on it’s own and applied a little higher up to double as a blush and highlighter. The microshimmers will catch the light and make the cheeks look more sculpted.

5. Max Factor Creme Puff Blushes – 10 Nude Mauve and 20 Lavish Mauve

I purchased both of these in February so they are still relatively new to me. I have used each shade a handful of times so far and I’m happy with how they perform. This range of blushes is supposedly similar to the Hourglass Ambient Lighting Blushes so if you’re looking to try a cheaper alternative, these are a good option. Nude Mauve has a muted pink/brown tone whilst Lavish Mauve is brighter and more pink. The marbled effect in the pan is gorgeous and these blushes also contain microshimmers similar to Warm Soul so they can double as blushes and highlighters. If you have a deeper skin tone these particular shades would make pretty highlighters but if you’re fair like me they are perfect blushes.

Swatches:

Left to right: Billion Dollar Babies, You Are My Sunshine, Orgasm, Warm Soul, Nude Mauve and Lavish Mauve.

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Have you tried any of these blushes? What’s your favourite blush?

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MAC Laissez-Faire Love Me Lipstick Review

Last year MAC launched their Love Me range of lipsticks and I hadn’t really heard much about these until recently when I saw a YouTube video of someone swatching and trying on a bunch of shades. The Love Me lipsticks have been made to express the love and respect you have for yourself and come in 24 shades – a mix of nudes, purples and reds. I will talk more about the formula later but what sets it apart is that it’s infused with argan oil and represents a new type of sensation and texture from MAC. I think this range will appeal to a lot of people.

I purchased the shade Laissez-Faire which is described by MAC as a muted greyish pink. This shade has a neutral undertone and it doesn’t pull cool on the lips. Read on to see me compare Laissez-Faire to other lipsticks in my collection and point out similarities and differences.

Claims

• Instant hit of powerful colour
• All day moisture
• Weightless feel
• Lighter than air texture

Packaging

Each lipstick has MAC’s distinctive bullet style packaging with a shiny ombré effect. The outer packaging of each shade is matched to the colour family it belongs too; the nudes have a nude and black bullet, the purples a purple and black bullet and the reds a red and black bullet. The packaging is very pretty and probably the nicest in my lipstick collection! I like how these have been given a different design to MAC’s regular lipstick line, it makes them easy to distinguish in your drawer or makeup bag. The packaging doesn’t look cheap or feel any less luxurious.

Formula

The formula has been enriched with moisturising argan oil and nourishing lychee fruit extracts to keep lips soft and nourished all day long. The texture does feel very lightweight on the lips and it can be layered without feeling heavy. I would describe the Love Me formula like a cross between MAC’s satin and lustre finishes. They have the pigmentation and look of a satin lipstick and glide on effortlessly like a lustre. I find the formula fades evenly throughout the day and you will get a good amount of wear time before needing to reapply. I feel I can’t always test how long lipsticks last fairly as almost every colour lasts a long time on my lips. However, you will easily get more staying power than a gloss or lustre.

Application

Laissez-Faire applies like a dream. The colour goes on smoothly, is not streaky and 1-2 layers is perfect for even, pigmented coverage. The lipstick doesn’t feather or sink into lines. With the mauves and lighter shades I wouldn’t say you need a lip liner. The lipstick applies true to how it looks in the bullet and can be re-applied without disturbing the existing colour underneath.

Wearing Laissez-Faire

Swatches & Comparisons

Blankety is the lightest of these shades and the most beige. Hug Me is the closest match to Laissez-Faire but it is more sheer due to the lustre finish. Bois de Rose is the most similar in texture but it is more of a rosy pink. Brave is the brightest pink and also the most pigmented.

Other ‘Love Me’ Shades I’m Interested in

• Hey, Frenchie! (deep mauvey nude) – Purples
• Pure Nonchalance (lavender) – Purples
• Très Blasé (light peachy beige) – Nudes
• Under the Covers (dusty rose pink) – Nudes

I do have a knack for blind buying lipstick and I’m lucky that the colour in the bullet tends to be how that shade applies on me. There are a handful of other shades I like the look of and would consider picking up but before committing to them I’d like to watch more swatch videos or preferably, swatch the shades in store (lockdown permitting).

Summary

I am very happy to have Laissez-Faire in my collection and the pink tones remind me a little bit of Syrup which is my all time favourite MAC lipstick. The packaging is absolutely gorgeous and the formula lives up to the claims. The lipstick feels extremely soft and weightless on the lips and you get a decent hit of colour with the first swipe. I’m not really interested in the darker shades and the reds but it would be interesting to know if they perform as well.

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Have you tried any lipsticks from MAC’s Love Me range?

What’s your favourite MAC lipstick?

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Testing Four New Foundations

If you’re a regular viewer of The Anna Edit’s YouTube channel you may have seen her video testing six different foundations over the course of six weeks. She shared thoughts and opinions on each and I’m doing something similar in this post. I have purchased a couple of new base products recently and have two drugstore foundations that have been sitting unused in my collection for a while. I will be mentioning the claims of each foundation, how each one applies and performs, doing a shade comparison and ranking the foundations from my favourite to least favourite.

When it comes to foundation I like a lightweight formula that doesn’t feel heavy on the skin. I like a foundation that offers natural coverage, evens out redness and is easy to blend. I prefer a finish somewhere between dewy and matte and one that is suited to dry skin types and doesn’t sink in to or accentuate lines.

The four foundations being put to the test are:

1. IT Cosmetics Your Skin But Better CC Cream in Fair
2. MAC Studio Fix Fluid Foundation in NW10
3. Rimmel Wake Me Up Foundation in 010 Light Porcelain
4. Max Factor Miracle Match Foundation in 40 Light Ivory

Claims

IT Cosmetics Your Skin But Better CC Cream

• SPF 50
• Hydrates skin while diffusing the appearance of imperfections
• Full, flawless coverage that won’t crease or crack
• Anti-ageing benefits
• Delivers seven products in one

MAC Studio Fix Fluid Foundation

• SPF 15
• Medium, buildable coverage
• Natural matte finish that is smooth and blendable
• Oil production, shine and visible pores are kept under control by specially treated micronized pigments
• Up to 24 hours wear time
• Ideal for all skin types

Rimmel Wake Me Up Foundation

• SPF 20
• Instantly reawakens skin with a healthy, radiant glow
• Light, moisturising texture applies smoothly and leaves skin feeling soft and comfortable
• Gives a flawless natural-looking finish
• Visible anti-fatigue effect with peptides and vitamin moisturising complex

Max Factor Miracle Match Foundation

• Enhances the look of skin for a healthy-looking finish
• Hydrating formula creates a natural, dewy complexion
• Blurs imperfections
• Lightweight texture for seamless blending
• Suitable for sensitive skin
• Oil free

Shade Comparison

Left to right: IT Cosmetics Your Skin But Better CC Cream – Fair, MAC Cosmetics Studio Fix Fluid Foundation – NW10, Rimmel Wake Me Up Foundation – 010 Light Porcelain and Max Factor Miracle Match – 40 Light Ivory.

IT Cosmetics Your Skin But Better CC Cream is the most yellow toned but this blends out well and the product is designed to be colour correcting so it works on my skin tone and doesn’t look too dark once it is applied.

MAC Studio Fix Fluid Foundation is the one I feel matches my skin tone the best. It is quite pink in contrast to the IT Cosmetics CC Cream on the left but you can still see the neutral tone coming through. MAC’s shade system is really useful if you aren’t strictly warm or cool toned.

Rimmel Wake Me Up Foundation looks orange-pink and this is what makes it my least favourite colour match. 010 Light Porcelain looks similar to NW10 but the more I stare at the two middle swatches the more I notice how much better NW10 blends into my natural skin colour.

Max Factor Miracle Match Foundation is probably the most neutral toned swatch and this neutral tone also translates onto the face. This shade isn’t the lightest that Max Factor do but it doesn’t pull overly warm or cool and I can get away with it. I need a touch of warmth so I don’t look washed out.

Application/Formula

IT Cosmetics Your Skin But Better CC Cream – This blends easily, a little bit of product goes a long way and product feels lightweight – like a soft mousse – as it is being blended into the skin. The finish is the perfect amount of matte and dewy and can easily be made to look one way or the other depending on your preference. For example, I don’t use powder often as I’m a dry skinned girl but if I was using a glowy primer with a bit of slip and this CC Cream I would powder. Alternatively I could use a primer that is not glowy and not powder as the CC Cream would add a natural dewiness to the skin on it’s own. This doesn’t have a typical foundation scent, it’s zesty and reminds me of laundry powder but fades quickly and doesn’t put me off using the product.

MAC Studio Fix Fluid Foundation –  This is the only one of the four foundations that claims to be matte and it still looks nicer on my skin compared to a couple of the others. It is a very soft matte finish that does not cling to dry skin and covers well. I use 1 and a half – 2 pumps to cover my face, the pumps are quite small and I find that extra half pump gives me the finish I like. The formula doesn’t feel heavy and drag across the skin and is comfortable to wear. I had a sample of this foundation last year in NW13 so if you’ve read this post you’ll know the formula is one I enjoy.

Rimmel Wake Me Up Foundation – I purchased this foundation towards the end of 2018 but was focused on finishing up a couple of others first so it has sat mostly untouched since then. Upon initial application this does feel a little heavier than the previous two foundations and I feel like more buffing is required to get this blended into the skin. In comparison to MAC Studio Fix I only need one pump of Wake Me Up as more product comes out at once. This foundation is certainly the most dewy of the bunch but what I find lets this down is lack of coverage. Going in with another layer doesn’t necessarily fix it and as product feels heavier the brush soaks some up.

Max Factor Miracle Match Foundation – I can’t go past the scent of this foundation, it is the most unpleasant out of these, it’s like a cross between feet and corn chips (it’s weird). This test has taught me pricier foundations tend to have more of a lightweight formula and blend into the skin more easily. The product itself doesn’t feel heavy on the skin but the brush does soak a bit of product up. The formula feels quite thin and light and I need 2 pumps to get the coverage I like but this foundation does layer. Miracle Match is billed as hydrating and dewy but upon initial application it can be a little drying.

Performance

IT Cosmetics Your Skin But Better CC Cream – This CC cream can definitely be built up to full coverage and it does conceal and cover imperfections whilst still looking natural. The hydrating element of the formula means it doesn’t settle into lines around my nose and mouth. After a full day at work my face looks exactly the same as it did 10 hours earlier, there’s no fading or excess shine and my skin doesn’t feel like it’s caked in makeup. I can see why people love this, it lives up to the claims and delivers in spades!

MAC Studio Fix Fluid Foundation – This foundation claims to last for 24 hours and whilst I don’t wear makeup for that long this does have good lasting power. This stays put without breaking down or fading and keeps my skin looking nice and naturally made up. I think this will make such a lovely everyday foundation for work.

Rimmel Wake Me Up Foundation – Where this foundation falls down for me is the lack of coverage. It barely looks like I’m wearing anything on my skin and doesn’t work unless I’m having a good skin day. It is very light coverage and doesn’t build all that well either. This can almost make me look too pink and washed out. This foundation does perform better over top of Fenty Beauty’s Pro Filt’r Primer as it is slightly more matte and combats the slipperiness of the dewy formula.

Max Factor Miracle Match Foundation – This performs better than the other drugstore option in this test. The formula feels a little drying when it is freshly applied but once product has sat on the skin for a while and my natural oils come out it looks fine. I can build this up to medium coverage which I struggled with with Wake Me Up and I also think this has decent lasting power, I don’t think it would break down too much after a day at work. I definitely think this needs to be worn in conjunction with a creamy concealer, my little pot concealer from MAC does accentuate spots and dry patches with this foundation.

Summary and Overall Ranking

Testing these four products together made me realise what I like in a foundation and put me in a better position to evaluate how they perform. Being able to compare and contrast has been useful and there are elements of each foundation I like. I will definitely be keeping two of the foundations and I want to do further testing and see how well the two foundations I didn’t enjoy as much blend with a sponge and how they perform with a different concealer applied on top. Foundation is an important step in my makeup routine and if I have to spend more to get a nicer result I’m not mad about that. I think price will be less of a factor in future foundation purchases.

The results:

1st place = IT Cosmetics CC Cream
2nd place = MAC Studio Fix Fluid
3rd place = Max Factor Miracle Match
4th place = Rimmel Wake Me Up

I ranked each foundation on six different criteria using a points system. The highest number of points, 4, was awarded to my favourite in each category, 3 points to my second favourite and so on.

(Click the image to make it bigger)

Rimmel’s Wake Me Up and Max Factor’s Miracle Match both tied on 10 points but Miracle Match has the edge as the overall look on the skin is nicer.

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Have you tried any of these foundations?

I hope you enjoyed this post. I know it was a wordy one and well done on making to the end!

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August Favourites 2018

August has been the first month in a while where I have felt positive again. I am not crying and wallowing and I feel like I am moving on. I am listening to music a lot and singing which always helps and I take joy from small things. Time is a healer and I hope each month continues to get better.

Onto this month’s favourites:

1. MAC Mineralize Skinfinish in Soft & Gentle – Hands up who knew this would feature! I have used this item pretty much every day since I got it and the colour adds such a gorgeous, subtle glow to my skin. I’ve tried it as an all over face powder a few times too which also looks nice. This is quickly becoming one of my favourite makeup products for daily use.

2. L’Oreal True Match Lumi Foundation in W1-2 Porcelain Ivory – I purchased this foundation back in March and while I am focusing on using Rimmel’s Match Perfection as part of my Project Pan I have delved into this foundation numerous times since purchasing it. The formula is lightweight and thin in texture which I like as it doesn’t feel heavy on the skin. This gives a dewy effect without too much shine and is a really lovely foundation.

3. Roxy 33 Black Glasses – When I toyed with getting new glasses a couple of months ago I knew I wanted a black pair. I went on many trips to the optometrist and tried on numerous pairs of black frames – I had a criteria. I wanted satin-matte black frames, plastic arms (my previous pair had metal arms and the coating was peeling off which is why I was hesitant to have metal arms again) and the lenses couldn’t be too deep otherwise they’d touch my cheeks and look too big for my face. I settled on this pair from Roxy as the pink metal on the inside of the lenses and bright pink arms are very me. I was so close to choosing the Kylie Minogue 04 frames in black though. I’ve received a few compliments on this pair of glasses and I feel pretty when I wear them.

4. xoBeauty Liquid Lipstick in Serendipity – In my June Favourites I featured another of these liquid lipsticks in the shade Carpe Diem. I absolutely love Carpe Diem and Serendipity is beautiful too. Serendipity is a lovely peachy-pink nude and the formula is amazing, they don’t dry down matte and stay slightly creamy once applied. They fade evenly throughout the day and last through eating and drinking at work. They have a lovely creme brulee scent too.

5. ‘The Breakup 💔’ – Earlier this month I shared my most personal and intimate blog post yet detailing my breakup. I am so proud of this post and since writing it I feel like a weight has been lifted off my chest and I’m not carrying around this big secret anymore because I shared what happened and how the breakup came about with my blogging friends. Everyone has been so supportive and the comments on this post make me smile, people really poured their heart into what they said. *CLICK HERE* if you haven’t read ‘The Breakup 💔’ yet.

August’s Spotify Playlist:

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What were your favourite things in August?

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GRWM: Trying New Makeup

Over the past couple of weeks I’ve had some new makeup arrive and I wanted to create a look with the items. Two products from MAC feature as well as the Cocoa Blend voyager palette from Zoeva. Zoeva is a brand that I haven’t tried before but other bloggers always talk about how nice their eyeshadows are and I wanted to try them for myself!

Products listed in order of application:

Products with (N) are new items.

1. Olay Complete UV Lotion Sensitive – I’ve been using this as my day moisturiser for the past few months and it feels very lightweight and smooth on the skin. I don’t have any complaints and I haven’t noticed more breakouts than usual. I’m very lucky being dry skinned that I don’t get a lot of acne. This contains SPF but doesn’t have a strong sunscreen smell.

2. Makeup Revolution Ultra Face Base Primer – Now that I’ve finished the Vitamin C face mist from The Body Shop I can focus on using up this primer. The more I use this primer the more I like it and realise it does keep my makeup in place longer and makes my makeup apply nicer.

3. Rimmel Professional Brow Pencil in 002 Hazel – You know the drill with this. Been using it for a couple of years now and it makes my brows look natural whilst filling them in slightly. I’ve got thick, dark brows so I don’t need to do much.

4. Rimmel Match Perfection Foundation in 010 Light Porcelain – Earlier in the year I was stuck in a rut with this foundation and how thick the formula felt to apply and felt on my skin. The primer helps this foundation apply more easily and one layer of this works better than two. I always add more coverage with concealer and bronze up if my face looks pale.

5. MAC StudioFinish Concealer in NW10 – This concealer is really good shade wise for me and I like the coverage it gives and the fact you can layer it if you need. You may only need a small amount on a spot but you may need a bit more to cover redness and I find it covers redness well. I apply concealer around my nose and chin where I get natural redness and sometimes I’ll use any excess on my finger on the inner corner of my eyes to brighten or on the eyelids as an eye primer.

6. The Body Shop Honey Bronzer in 01 Light Matte – I’ve been loving using this bronzer almost like a powder lately. I apply it to my cheeks, my chin, my nose, the sides of my forehead and in a ‘w’ shape around my nose and eyes. I tend to reach for my setting powder more in summer when it’s hot but because I have dry skin I don’t want it to look cakey in winter and I find sweeping the bronzer lightly sets everything and adds a light golden colour at the same time.

7. Zoeva Cocoa Blend Voyager Palette (N) – This is a mini six pan palette of the original 10 pan Cocoa Blend palette by Zoeva. The shades included are Bitter Start (matte white), Substitute For Love (matte light brown), Freshly Toasted (matte red-brown), Pure Ganache (bronze-gold shimmer), Warm Notes (cranberry shimmer) and Subtle Blend (bronze shimmer). There’s base shades, transition shades and shimmers meaning you can create a simple look or a glamorous one. Every shade in this palette is pigmented and the feel of the shadows is lovely and smooth. They swatch and apply the same to the eyes as they look in the pan. The small size means this palette will be great for travel and it’s so cute! I don’t mind the small pan size because realistically it means if I love this palette enough to use all of the shadows up it’s a good thing.

For this look I used Bitter Start as a base shade, Substitute For Love in the crease and Subtle Blend as a shimmer topper all over the lid.

8. L’Oreal Lash Paradise Voluminous Mascara – I’m still loving this mascara! The formula is starting to dry out more now and I’d say I’m not far from finishing it but it has been such a pleasant product to use. I can rely on it to make my lashes look the same each day and it definitely makes my lashes look fluttery and voluminous.

9. MAC Mineralize Skinfinish in Soft & Gentle (N) – Only days after I ordered Soft & Gentle I read a blog post from Rachael about products she regrets buying and this is one of them. In the comments she explained that it would be better suited to people with a lighter skintone than her which reassured me because I am very fair. Safe to say this product is beautiful and I love it! I don’t find the shimmer too much. I prefer a subtle highlight and the gilded peach bronze colour isn’t too warm for me either. I’ve also worn this product all over my face a bit like a powder and it looked lovely. I see this becoming a product I reach for everyday and use all the time.

10. MAC Hug Me (N) – Pictures online make this lipstick look sheerer than it is. Pretty much how a shade looks in the bullet is how it will apply on me. Hug Me is a lustre finish, which is one of my personal favourites, and means it is very comfortable to wear and has a little bit of shine without slip. This lipstick is described by MAC as a ‘flesh pink’ but I don’t quite agree with that. It’s more of a brown-pink and it’s a really gorgeous everyday colour that I see myself wearing a lot.

The Finished Look:

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Have you tried any of these products and what do you think of this look? Have you purchased any new makeup lately?

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The MAC Lipstick Tag

Hey everyone! I saw this tag seven months ago on Molly’s blog and I finally got around to doing it! Like most beauty bloggers, I adore MAC lipsticks. The range of formulas and selection of shades combined with outstanding quality is a winning combination! MAC lipsticks are worth every cent and the hype surrounding them is definitely real. Let’s jump straight in to the tag!

1. What was your first MAC lipstick?

My first MAC lipstick was Syrup. I chose this colour after hearing Lily Pebbles mention it in a number of her videos and I couldn’t have been more happy with my choice.

2. What was your most recent MAC lipstick addition?

I haven’t received it yet, but my brother is buying Matte Royal for me for my birthday this month.

3. What is your most used MAC Lipstick?

It’s a tie between Syrup and Patisserie (another Lily Pebbles inspired choice). Both of these shades are lovely as everyday colours as they’re relatively neutral and they go with absolutely everything!

4. What is your favourite nude/pink/red MAC lipstick?

Nude: Blankety – The perfect nude.

Pink: Without Your Love – From Ellie Goulding’s MAC collection.

Red: Ruby Woo – It’s the only red lipstick from MAC I own.

5. Have you ever repurchased a MAC lipstick?

Not yet. I definitely see myself repurchasing Syrup once I’ve used it up and possibly Patisserie as well.

6. Which of the different MAC finishes do you own?

2 x Lustre, 2 x Retro Matte, 2 x Cremesheen and 1 x Amplified making for a total of seven lipsticks. Not a lot, but still a nice little collection.

7. Which shade do you want to wear more?

Blankety. It is such a beautiful nude with an incredible formula and I don’t show it enough love.

8. Which shade doesn’t get enough hype?

All Fired Up. This is the most gorgeous fuschia-red colour which are my favourite shades to wear. Despite being retro matte, this lipstick isn’t drying.

9. Do you regret buying any shades?

Sunny Seoul – kind of. It’s a cremesheen which isn’t my favourite finish and sometimes this shade can take a few layers to build up nicely and provide even coverage. It’s my least worn MAC lipstick but I don’t want to get rid of it because it’s still stunning. Maybe I’ll pass it on to my mum.

My (Soon To Be) MAC Lipstick Collection:

10. What next?

I want to do a thorough swatch test. I especially want to swatch Brave as it is talked about so often and seems like another perfect neutral everyday colour. I’m eyeing up Show Orchid as well for when my current fuchsia shade runs out. I don’t need any lipsticks right now but I can always look for the future, right?!

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I hope you enjoyed reading this tag and definitely give it a go if you’re a MAC lipstick fan!

Spring Makeup | Collaboration with Drifting Lexi

Back in April, Lauren from Drifting Lexi and I did a Spring/Autumn makeup collaboration. We each came up with a look to represent the season we were going into as we live on opposite sides of the world! Six months later, and it’s time for a role reversal – it’s my turn to showcase a Spring inspired look. I wanted it to be bright and fresh and I definitely achieved that!

Note: This look also doubled as the makeup I wore to Ellie Goulding’s concert at the weekend.

Products Used:

As usual, I began by applying my trusty Simple moisturiser.

• Rimmel Professional Eyebrow Pencil in 002 Hazel
• Max Factor Lasting Performance Foundation in 101 Ivory Beige – This foundation gives skin a lovely, natural appearance whilst still making the skin look flawless. This is due to the medium-high coverage of the foundation. (I also used this foundation because it is more travel friendly than Rimmel’s Match Perfection which comes in a glass bottle).
• Collection Lasting Perfection Concealer – 1 Fair
• Maybelline Colour Tattoo in Barely Branded – I applied this shade as a base to my eyelids, making it easier for eyeshadow to stick to.
• Maybelline ‘The Nudes’ Palette – I patted the gold shade all over my lids on top of Barely Branded.
• Rimmel Day 2 Night Mascara – I applied one coat of lengthening mascara before going in with one coat of volume mascara a couple of minutes later.
  
• Dainty Doll Powder Blush 004 You Are My Sunshine – The flecks of gold in this blush make it perfect to highlight my cheekbones. It also teams so well with the gold eye look.
• MAC Without Your Love – This lipstick is a beautiful pop of light pink and I love wearing this shade with the eye look above. Without Your Love brings the look together and makes everything look fresh and bright!
• Rimmel Oh My Gloss! #150 Glossaholic – Without Your Love is quite a pale shade and I find adding a lick of gloss over it tops everything off nicely and completes the look.

The Finished Look:

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Don’t forget to check out Lauren’s post and let us know what you think of each look!

Be sure to check out our previous collaboration posts from March (HERE) and (HERE) too!

Shop My Stash: Peach & Light Pink Lipsticks

This is the third installment in my ‘Shop My Stash’ series where I talk you through my lipstick collection by colour. Peaches and light pinks have become a bit of a staple in my collection and they are perfect for those days when you’re not sure what to wear and want a lip colour that goes with anything. I love wearing pink lipstick and because I have so many pink lip products, I have had to split my pinks into two separate posts. If peachy-pinks are your thing, these will be right up your street!

1. MAC – Patisserie

Patisserie would have to be one of my most worn lipsticks and is also a contender for my most worn MAC lipstick. Lily Pebbles and Vivianna Does Makeup inspired this purchase and it is money well spent. You’ll see in this post, most of the lip products are MAC and that’s because I don’t want to spend $40 on a lipstick that only gets worn every once in a while. I like wearable, everyday shades and Patisserie is my favourite of the peachy bunch. I won’t rattle on about this lipstick too much because I have down a review all about it HERE. In short, it’s a gorgeous peachy terracotta shade in a lustre finish which suits a number of skin tones.

2. BYS – Pretty Little Thing

I’ll be the first to admit I barely wear this lipstick and I’ve only worn it a handful of times. There’s nothing wrong with the actual shade itself, but when trying to apply this shade on my lips it looks patchy and doesn’t look as pretty as it does in the tube or swatched. This swatches differently to how it applies on the lips and I don’t know why, which really bothers me. Maybe I just need to wear the lipstick a few more times and break it in? The best way to describe Pretty Little Thing (which is a VERY appropriate name) is like the lipstick version of NARS’ Orgasm. It’s got a gorgeous golden-peachy shimmer and looks so pretty in the bullet.

3. MAC – Revved

Revved is the only lip pencil that I own to date and it was re-promoted as part of Ellie Goulding’s MAC collection. Revved was already an existing shade (called Revved Up) and it is the epitome of peach. What’s unique about Revved is that it offers the comfort of a balm, colour and sheen of a gloss and the precision of a lip pencil. The pencil wind up application is easy to use and it doesn’t feel cheap. The product itself is nice and creamy but the only thing I would say is this isn’t the longest wearing product. The colour fades nicely though so it’s barely noticeable.

4. Dainty Doll 004 Material World

I see this lipstick as my ‘formal’ pink and what I mean by that is, it’s a nice inoffensive shade which I’ve worn for a few job interviews in the past. I don’t just wear it for job interviews as it is such a pretty pink in it’s own right and I love pairing it with a lilac/light purple eye look. The formula of Material World is slightly sheer but builds up nicely. In my opinion, this is the perfect girly pink and even though it is one my lighter pinks, it doesn’t wash me out. As Dainty Doll caters to redheads and pale-skinned beauties, this may not be the best shade for darker skin tones.

5. MAC – Syrup

Again, here I am talking about Syrup by MAC! I will keep this pretty brief because I’m sure you all know how much I love it by now. I still wear Syrup all the time after purchasing it over a year ago and there’s no occasion it’s not suitable for. Syrup is a slightly darker nude with pinky-mauve undertones and even a hint of berry to it. Syrup was also a Lily Pebbles inspired purchase and it also proves it’s versatility. I am much paler than Lily and I’ve got tons of freckles and it looks lovely against my pale skin as well as Lily’s slightly olive complexion.

Chanelle’s note: I may have said this before but Syrup would be a perfect lipstick choice for a first date! – It makes an impact but isn’t too bold or over the top.

6. MAC – Without Your Love

This lipstick was a birthday present from my brother and the limited edition Ellie Goulding rose gold/glossy black packaging is to die for! Without Your Love has a cremesheen formula which I’m not going to lie, isn’t my favourite. A lot of people love the cremesheen formula and this lipstick is fine but one of my other MAC cremesheen lipsticks isn’t as nice. This lipstick is sheer but it’s a sheer that adds a little je ne sais quoi to your lips. I personally love layering Rimmel’s Oh My Gloss! in Glossaholic over the top for more impact.

Swatches

Top To Bottom – Patisserie (it’s not as brown in real life), Pretty Little Thing, Revved, Material World, Syrup and Without Your Love.

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Take a further look at my lipstick collection:

• Nude Lipsticks
• Orange & Red Lipsticks
• Berry & Purple Lipsticks
  

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Leave a comment with your favourite peach and light pink lipsticks!

What’s In My Travel Makeup Bag? | Winter Edition

I am one of those girls who loves applying their makeup and coming up with loads of different looks. I carefully plan out each look in advance (usually the night before) or pick a key product I want to incorporate. When I travel, it’s important the makeup I take is versatile and I don’t take more than I need to. I also like to bring tried and tested products with me. I did a What’s In My Travel Makeup Bag? when I went away in January after my birthday but I have made a few tweaks and updated the contents since then.

1. Simple Radiance Brightening Moisturiser SPF 10: I may have only worn this a handful of times so far but I have been impressed on each occasion. The size is perfect for travel as it won’t take up too much space and the fact this has SPF is another plus point as my Max Factor foundation doesn’t.

2. Max Factor Lasting Performance Foundation in 101 Ivory Beige: I went through a stage of not wearing this foundation for a while but using it again lately reminds me why I’m such a fan. It makes my skin look flawless and provides fuller coverage than Rimmel’s Match Perfection. I prefer this for traveling as a plastic tube is less hazardous than a glass bottle.

3. Collection Lasting Perfection Conealer – 1 Fair: I am running out of words and things to say about this concealer! In short, it’s great and it looks really nice paired with the Max Factor foundation.

4. I ♡ Makeup Goddess of Love Highlighter: I had to bring this along! (#highlightonfleek). This adds a beautiful, subtle glow to any look and if you want a bolder look, don’t apply blush and be a bit more heavy handed with your highlighter.

5. Rimmel London Professional Eyebrow Pencil in 002 Hazel: I wouldn’t go back to not filling in my brows after using this. It’s so quick and easy and I love how it makes my brows look.

Chanelle’s Note: Bronzer features in the picture but I didn’t take it as it didn’t fit in my makeup bag.

1. Max Factor Excess Shimmer in Copper: This is one of those products I throw on when I don’t know what to wear and is one of those colours that goes with everything. I wear this a lot and I just love everything about it, how it applies, the staying power and how pretty and shimmery it looks on the eyes.

2. Maybelline ‘The Nudes’: My favourite eyeshadow palette had to come along for the ride! I am still singing it’s praises because I love how versatile this palette is; there are mattes, shimmers, cool tones and warm tones. This palette is also sturdy and compact which is useful for travel. I love layering shades from this palette with the Max Factor eyeshadow to create deeper, bolder looks.

3. Rimmel Day 2 Night Mascara: I’m sure you all know by now that Rimmel mascaras are my favourite! I’ve mentioned this a few times on my blog lately and so far so good, it gets the job done and I don’t have a bad word to say about it.

Day One: Tanya Burr – Afternoon Tea: I wanted something easy to maintain as I was flying early in the morning and didn’t quite feel like applying a bold lip at 6am. Afternoon Tea is such a pretty, everyday shade and easy to reapply throughout the day if required.

Day Two: BYS – Fuchsia Surprise (day) + Bourjois – Frambourjoise (evening): I opted for separate colours (both bold) for the two parts of my day, one casual and the other more glam. Fuchsia Surprise is my favourite out of all the lipsticks I own and because I’m wearing neutral colours, I want a pop of my best lipstick shade. For nighttime, I opted for a more glamourous look and went with a classic red lip! My footwear also represented each look, casual for the day, glam for the evening.

Day Three: Urban Decay – After Dark: I decided to pack another bold lipstick, this time more traditional berry tones of autumn/winter. Again, my outfit was very neutral so the colour wasn’t over the top and added to the wintery feel.

Day Four: MAC – Syrup: I bought this lipstick along because it is such a versatile shade. It would go with all four of the outfits I decided to wear, but I thought the pink/mauve tones would tie in nicely with the stripes in particular.

Re-post of outfit collage for your convenience

I noted which lip product I wore so you could match them up with my outfits. Do you agree with my lip choices for each of the four days?

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That concludes everything that was in my travel makeup bag this time round! Let me know what you think of my choices and what products you include in yours!