Spring Lips

Dior Fluid Lipstick & Clarins Lip Perfector Combination

 

 

Whilst shopping with some friends earlier this week i came across the new Dior Fluid Lipstick range. Why hadn't i discovered these little gems before? The Range delivers some beautiful spring colours ultimately causing me to do a quick purchase buy. I chose the Colour 386 in the shade 'Kiss Me' as its similar to the Clarins Lip Perfector i had purchased a few weeks before. When i brought the Clarins shade 01 i loved the natural translucency for an everyday look but at the weekends i strive for something a little different so had been looking for a base colour to compliment this. The Dior Fluid Lipstick is exactly what it sounds like; a liquid form, almost like a gloss but with a denser colour. The Lipstick Comes with a gloss like applicator which enables a flawless application in a single sweep. The high-impact colour and long wear of a classic lipstick, combines with the shine of a gloss. Colour and shine come together as one for maximum impact with intense, long-wearing lip stain pigments which remain after hours of wear. The pigments look natural and subtle. After the gloss has disappeared i apply the Clarins Lip Perfector to re-ignite the colour and look. Overall, I love this combination!

 

 

 The only Downside to this look is the price! Dior Addict Fluid Stick retails in at £26 but i have seen this cheaper online. However Clains Lip Perfector ranges from £15-£18 online. This is definitely an investment but if like me you have an addiction to quality and classic makeup looks these are a must have in your spring collection.

Thankyou for reading,

Alys

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My Weekend Routine

This is the last thing i ever thought i would be doing, but here goes! I've never quite gone completely naked (without makeup) in front of strangers or anyone for that matter! For people that know me well, will know that this is a huge deal for me!

 

As you can see my chin area is my worst affected part of my face. I suffer with acne mainly around my jawline and chin area. I have a really bad habit (my dermatologist constantly reminds me of) in which i touch my skin when I'm anxious or worrying about something. For me this is probably one of the main reasons my skin hasn't ever really properly cleared up!

During the week while I'm at work i don't tend to wear full coverage makeup, as i feel i need to let my skin breathe. So i usually just apply a small amount of tinted moisturiser. But, By the weekend when I'm out and about i like to use this routine for  my face and lips. 

So first of all in the shower i wash my skin with the Clinique redness solutions, which starts to calm and soothe the affected areas by the time I'm out the shower and dressed. Then, when its started to look less inflamed i apply La Roche-Posay Effaclar Duo (I will be doing a post on this very soon so keep your eyes peeled). I let this soak into my skin for a few minutes and then i apply a small amount of Benefit Pore Fessional to the worst areas. This Makes my overall skin tone a little more even for when i apply the foundation. Afterwards I use the tips of my fingers to apply about a pea sized amount of Laura Mercier tinted moisturiser.  Then Again i go over the worst affected areas with my Lancome Long Lasting Softening Concealer. I use this as its not too drying but has a good full coverage. I tap on the concealer with my fingers as it gives a more natural finish. Lastly, on the foundation front, i spray a small amount of Dior Air Flash Spray Foundation onto my Flat edged foundation Brush, and dab onto my skin all over. First i concentrate on my chin and jawline, then all over to merge the colours and make the whole look a little more even. This Foundation is a new find of mine  that i fell in love with as it gives such a flawless finish.

In the daytime i like my lips to look subtle and moisturised. So for this look i apply some of my Clinique chubby stick which gives a very natural colour tint then i go over the top of this with the Dior Lip Glow for the moisture and Shine. I realise this isn't my whole makeup look, but i wanted to show you a before and after of my worst affected areas. Please let me know what you think and let me know what you use on your skin:).

 

Thanks for reading,

Alys

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A Guide to Luscious Lips

One of my main addictions in life has got to be lip balms. I have a constant need for moisturised luscious lips, and as i cant use anything scented on my skin normally, i try to find something heavenly smelling to make up for it! so here are just a few I've been trying recently.

Crème de Rose

'The must have care for damaged lips. The lip balm allies the expertise of Dior research in nutrition to the delicate smoothness of rose petals. All its nourishing power comes from the rare and precious Damask Rose essential oil extract together with an anti-ageing complex and Shea butter. Lips are instantly soothed, moisturised, beautifully plumped and soft. Totally addictive!' http://www.dior.com/beauty/en_gb/fragrance-and-beauty/make-up-and-cosmetics-by-christian-dior-lipstick-m/lips/lip-balm/pr-lipbalm-Y0026470-smoothing-plumping-lip-balm.html

I purchased this a few months ago when it first came out as a little treat for myself. I was extremely excited to try it as I'd read lots of good reviews on it. The balm comes in a cute little Dior box and the packaging itself is unique and looks luxurious. When first opened you can already smell the balm, it has almost a Turkish delight essence. the balm itself is solid so seems to last a long time. I've had it about 4 months now and i am only about half way through, considering i reapply throughout the day ALOT I'm surprised its not empty yet! So if your looking for something special and luxurious i would definitely recommend this. it has now gone down considerably in price so is worth the buy!








Eos


Recently on a trip to New York, my cousin and i came across these cute little sphere shaped lip balms. we'd both seen them advertised everywhere over instagram but not yet been able to try one. We brought one in nearly every colour in order to try them all and loved the look of them! The balm itself is a very light moisturising balm, so wouldn't be very beneficial to very dry lips. it has a very waxy texture which may not appeal to the majority of people. They all individually smell lovely, but have no real long term effect on your lips. You have to apply quite alot of the balm to create a desired effect. The only other con would be the shape of the packaging. originally i like the uniqueness of it, but its not very practical. I usually keep an emergency lip balm in my pocket but this is almost impossible to keep discreetly. overall i wouldn't recommend this to people looking for a long term solution for dry chapped lips. I wanted to love Eos so badly but unfortunately, the product did not work for me.






Nivea Lip Butter

This has got to be my favourite product I've found so far. At first glance it has a hard waxy look about it, but once applied its almost completely opposite. The texture is luxurious and creamy and everything you need in these dark winter months. In just under a day i could see a huge improvement. The vanilla and macadamia flavour smells divine i almost want to eat it every time i apply it. I found the balm lasts quite a while as you don't need to use alot. The only thing that lets it down is its packaging. I think it cheapens the product and don't show it off to its full extent. overall, i would recommend to anyone! It is extremely moisturising and although its very thick and creamy, its a long term solution to cure those dry peeling lips.




Dior Addict Lip Glow

'A made-to-measure lip balm that beautifies and durably enhances the lips’ natural colour. A customised colour result : thanks to its Colour Reviver technology, Dior Addict Lip Glow reacts directly with the unique chemistry of each woman’s lips before releasing its colour ingredient. Lips seem revived from within, amazingly fresh, full and radiant. In addition, its formula enriched with wild mango and luffa cylindrica continuously protects and moisturises. A universal balm for all lips.'
http://www.dior.com/beauty/en_gb/fragrance-and-beauty/make-up-and-cosmetics-by-christian-dior-lipstick-m/lips/lip-balm/pr-lipbalm-Y0027010-colour-awakening-lip-balm.html


Whilst having my makeup done by a Dior rep recently, she recommended i tried this on top of a lipstick. I absolutely loved it! It kept my lips moisturised for a long period of time and kept the colour looking natural and subtle. even without lipstick underneath it gives your lips a soft pink boost, giving anyone a  natural colour an upgrade. Although i don't believe it has any long term effects and it's not going to solve any chapped lips problems, its a short term solution if your wanting to wear lipstick and have very dry lips.

Body Shop Shea Butter Balm

I brought this recently as an emergency substitute when i ran out whilst out shopping. The product itself smells amazing, which is what had drawn me to begin with. When i first applied the balm i really liked the look on my lips, its shiny smooth and almost as good as a gloss. However, after a few applications my lips started to feel sore and they got even more chapped the more i used it. The butter melted quickly and turned into a liquid making it very greasy. This product is ok on the odd occasion when you need a fix but i wouldn't recommend this as a product you can re apply again and again throughout the day. Its a shame because the body butter pots are completely different!


Lastly;

Yu-Be Moisturising Skin Cream



This multi-functional concentrated yellow cream is a cult product from Japan containing natural ingredients such as glycerine and a variety of vitamins especially formulated to target dry skin. It is perfect for use on knees, elbows, feet, and face etc.  I found that you can also apply to chapped lips during the winter, the results were instant and better than using a lip balm. The cream, itself, is non greasy, sinks into the skin and smells slightly medicated. This moisturiser is gentle, soothing, and ideal for sensitive skin types or even someone that suffers with eczema. I also tend to use this on my hands and feet after i've painted my nails as its great for your cuticles. A little goes a long way and you notice an improvement in the texture of the skin almost instantly. A definite staple for the bathroom cabinet! 


Thankyou for reading girls,

Alys
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