Current Favourites | Jan 2015

Despite the freezing cold and bitchy antics of this year so far, I have come across some fabulous new-to-me products to share. If you are a permanent passenger on the beauty band wagon, then some of these may not come as a surprise- especially Benefit's Roller Lash, which has already surfaced the beauty blogging world like a tornado. But, if you're looking for some hot new products to either add to your kit, or to your personal makeup bag, this post is for you- or you might just be a makeup addict, like myself. My first favourite of the month not only screams for a premature Spring/ Summer, but contains fresh, floral notes that match it's super cute packaging. Marc Jacobs Daisy was very recently gifted to me and so far, so good. It has a very clean, floral scent that fills my surrounding air with some fresh scents and girly vibes. I'm usually more of Guerlain Insolence kind of gal, but something new and different seems to be satisfying my perfume palette- can't argue with that can I? The next product has quickly become my favourite drugstore concealer. It brightens my atrocious dark circles and ties together my whole look. The Maybelline Instant Anti-Age Eraser concealer undeniably has a very unhygienic applicator, but has trended the drugstore beauty department for a few years. I finally gave in to the hype and tried this little gem- now i'm hooked. It wears very lightly on the skin creating brightened, flawless under-eyes as well as a great base for any makeup look. The product itself is perfect for tote touch-ups and for a drugstore concealer, is actually very long-lasting with the help of a little setting powder. Another favourite, the MUA Eyeshadow in 'Fudge' is also a product I have been loving because 1) it's matte and 2) it's so versatile. I use this cheapo beauty buy under my eyes for a more dramatic under-eye highlight, as a bog standard highlight and as an eyeshadow. This shadow doesn't have outstanding pigmentation, but applies evenly and gives a really nice sheer, matte finish upon application plus it's £1- how can you beat that?

Now for an oldie, but a goodie. MAC Lip Conditioner in 'Pink Fish' is a limited edition product that released in 2008- a time that humoured my overpriced beauty addiction. I often forget I even own this product and in all honesty- it's one of the most moisturising lip products I have ever owned. It adds instant moisture to your smackers but also with a cheeky pink tint. A couple of other lip products I have really been enjoying is a combination of both KIKO Smart Lip Liner in '712' and YSL's Rouge Volupte Lipstick in 'Peach Passion'. This lip combo is a great alternative to the dark mauve/ brownish tones that have been popular throughout Winter, and really compliments clean, natural makeup. The consistency of the rouge volupte lipstick from YSL can only be described as heaven; the formula is beyond moisturising, pigmented and works well when applied with both fingers and brushes. To see what I think about the Kiko Lip Liners, click 'here'. Now for the grand finale, the piece de resistance- Benefit's Roller Lash Mascara. Unless you've been living under a rock, you'll know that ELLE magazine distributed samples of the exclusive mascara in this months issue. I luckily managed to get my hands on the £4 publication to only be amazed by the little sample that came with it. The wand of this product, grips to the eyelashes like a shark to bait; it perfectly curls them from the very root and lengthens so much, that my eyelashes actually tickle my brows. The formula isn't great in the volumising department but really does help to separate and extend each eyelash, making the eyes pop. As far as durability, this bad boy leaves you with fluttery and fabulous eyelashes all day.

What products have you been loving lately?

2015 Makeup Trends

Eau Natural/ Dewy Skin 

With runways giving us less on the face and more on the eyes, it's easy to notice that natural looking skin will definitely be on the cards for 2015. Marc by Marc Jacobs has leaked the word "sweaty" to describe the complexion of upcoming seasons, and this most certainly will involve some high shine. So, out with your old powder compacts and in with the finest dewy setting spray! Although perspiration seems to be the theme, cream highlighters will be a perfect way to re-create this trend from the comfort of your own make-up bag. For a more glamorous and refreshing vibe, the MAC Fix+ not only retails for a reasonable £15.50, but can be sprayed before and after makeup application to create a dewy and healthy finish to the skin. If you're on the hunt for something with more of a sheen and glow- The Body Shop Radiant Highlighter & MAC Strobe Cream will give you a run for your money. Both can be mixed in with your foundation, applied before or after or just simply applied to the places where light will naturally hit your face; cheekbones, cupid's bow, centre of nose and forehead. If you're not quite ready to depart from your powder-based products, then by all means create this glow using your favourite powder highlighter. One of my personal favourites is NARS Highlighting Blush in 'Albatross'- a product that adds a golden sheen to the higher points of the face, helping to add that 2015 glow and enhance healthy looking skin. 

The Body Shop Radiant Highlighter £12.00

Bright Liner for SS15 

With this year being all about enhancing your natural beauty, it's nice to see a bit of colour here and there. Bright liner has been an on-off trend for years now, and with the help of Pat McGrath- it's made it's way back. I find that a natural, barely-there face looks outstanding with just a subtle pop of colour- like bright liquid liner. Something that Lime Crime mastered months ago, but is definitely a product and trend that will make any eye colour pop. It's the perfect way to interpret this Spring/ Summer without wearing all the colours of the rainbow- minimalism is key to keeping it classy ladies. This being said, Saint Laurent showcased another trend for this year- graphic liner, why not incorporate the two? A natural face, glowing cheeks and a bright liquid liner?

Louise Gray for Topshop Long-Lasting Eye Liner 'INTENSIFY' £7.00

Soft Brown Smokiness 

The smoky eye, something that can go from 'oh so glamorous' to "who just punched you in the face girl?". With brown it's easy to get right, and this shade will compliment you light eyed ladies without a shadow of doubt. A wash of colour on the lid will leave you feeling on trend and will add a subtle, naturally sultry shadow to the eyes. Using a smaller shadow/ pencil brush will enable you to smudge your choice of brown eyeshadow onto the lid, and underneath the eye- making them stand out more. Blending will be key to making this work, if you're not feeling that confident start off with a lighter brown shade and then get darker, and smoky as you get more confident. 

MAC E/S - Soft Brown, Woodwinked & Expresso, £13.00

Pop of Purple & Berry 

Whether it be a layer of lavender on the lids to a smudge of berry stain on the lips, this year is calling all purples and reds out to play. A look that can easily be adapted because let's face it, not everyone can pull off lilac purple on the lids without looking washed out- or ill. For the lips, aim for a natural impact that isn't anything too precise, but still effective. Apply in smudge-like manner to create an effortless stain, much like what we saw backstage from Topshop Unique SS15. 

MAC E/S - Beautiful Irish, Parfait Amour & Sketch, £13.00

So, by touching down on just a few of this year's upcoming trends, you can gain some insight on what is going on backstage in the fashion world, and recreate trends yourself. A natural face is easily achievable- it's all about bringing out your inner beauty with some sort of ease- plus a pop of colour here and there. If Rocker-Chic is more your thing, then check out SS15 fashion images for some metallic vibes by Anna Sui and statement liner by Givenchy.

What are some of your favourite SS15 makeup and hair trends?

Beauty Blogger Tag

I was recently tagged by the beautiful Hayley from The Beauty Flash Blog to do the oh so famous Beauty Blogger Tag. These are a little cheesy and naff so bare with me and I'll try my best to make you laugh.

What is your natural hair colour?

So, my hair is naturally dark brown and like most hair, looks lighter in the Summer and darker when it needs a good wash. If you tell me I have black hair, I will probably give you the stink eye.

Do you dye it yourself OR go to a Salon?

I have actually done both in the past- both resulting in either ginger/blonde highlights or patchy red hair. If I am playing it safe with my colour (like a lighter or darker brown) than an easy and quick packet dye always wins.

How often do you wash your hair?

My hair is literally the bain of my life. It gets so oily, so quickly which results in very often washes and lot of dry shampoo. Due to my hair being coloured, me and my Mum absolutely swear by the Aussie Colour Mate line- it's fab for coloured hair and leaves your locks smelling fruity and delicious! Do you guys have any advice or products you would recommend for greasy hair?

Do you wear the same hairstyle everyday OR try and change it up?

As you can probably tell, I am pretty pants when it comes to hair and because of this, majority of the time my hair is either down with a little LUSH Sea Salt Spray OR up in a messy bun. When I am styling it for a night out, I like to use a smaller curling barrel to create tight curls and then brush them out in result of glamorous and shiny locks.

Do you do your own Mani/Pedi OR go to a salon?

This just keeps getting better doesn't it? Well, I am in fact a nervous nail bitter, so my natural nails have never experienced any attention; apart from what they get from my nashers. When I do have a bit of cash to flash, or there's a particular event coming up then of course, like any other girl- I get my nails did.

How long does it take you to do your make-up?

It almost always varies! I can go from being able to do my everyday makeup in 10 minutes, to something for a night out that can take 30 mins. Surprisingly it's never more. One thing I do love to take my time on, is letting my foundation, contour and highlight cook. (If you watch RuPaul you'll understand) If you don't, I'm judging you. 

Do you collect make-up OR buy what you need?

Like most probably answered- both. Guilty I know, but we all at some point have bought make-up for the sake of just having it. A prime example of this is when I go into PRIMARK and convince myself that I need a £1 Kohl Eyeliner; you know, just incase. Then never even use it twice before it disappears. What can I say, make-up is honestly an addiction- like couponing for American mums. 

How often do you wear false eyelashes?

So, as it goes I'm not actually a massive false eyelash kind of gal. I was kindly blessed with Persian genes = naturally long eyelashes, so a couple of coats of mascara usually does the trick- even on a night out. Every now and then when I do get bored of mascara I love to use super long to medium individual lashes; much more natural and effective than false eyelashes with a strip or black band. 

Will you leave the house without make-up?

Yes, the whole shabang- the bun, the sweats and probably even without a bra. I am an absolute scruff when I want to be, and that is very often. I've found that as I've got older, I've started to become more comfortable with my bare face and even prefer it some days. It's important to let your skin breathe!

Do you wear make-up when you're alone/ with your family?

It honestly depends on what I will be doing, or where I will be going. If it's just a standard day in the house where I'm just chilling then I tend to wear no make-up and often don't even get dressed out of my pajamas. As I said, I can be such a lazy scruff sometimes... Okay, all the time.

Do you plan your outfit the night before?

I am literally one of those psycho people that will keep themselves up at night, anxious thinking about silly things- outfits being one of those. I think because I'm not 100% happy with my body image and weight, dressing for my size is essential and therefore in my mind it's impossible to simply just 'chuck anything on'. If I know what I am wearing and I am prepared, then it won't upset me or get me frustrated! Control-freak much?

How often  do you change your handbag?

A lot! My typical go-to accessory is my Vintage Bally Shoulder Bag- the only designer bag I own. It's perfect for day to day stuff like shopping, running errands and socialising but isn't big enough for uni. So, for uni or going to the library I carry my really big shopper style bag from H&M. I am definitely a small bag/ clutch person and even then, I loose my things in small bags.

Do you speak a foreign language?

Unfortunately not, which is definitely a disadvantage in today's world; but I can understand bits of Creole, French and Spanish. When I say bits, I mean small bits.

Do you keep a list of products you want to try from other blogs?

I keep lists for everything honey. My whole notebook is full of them- products I want to try, clothes I want to buy, What I'm going to eat; it;s never-ending. Better yet, nowadays I will screenshot products on my phone and they just accumulate in my photo album.

How did you come up with your blog name?

I'm not really sure how! I guess I'm just really witty and smart- yeah, let's roll with that idea. Only kidding, but I remember throughout Sixth Form I wore 'Morange' by MAC religiously and people started to catch on to it, like people would always say "you always wear that orange lipstick" and it just stuck. So when it was time to transform my blog I figured what better name than the one of my favourite lipstick. It also was fitting because it's not only make-up related, but I was aware that many other beauty blogger, make-up readers and youtubers were familiar with the infamous MAC colour. 

What's your favourite colour?

mm interesting question, so unique. My favourite colour is Green and I don't know why it just is. I don't even own anything green, I just like it and always have from a young age.

So, as tedious as that was to do, it is in fact a great way for you guys to get to know me a little bit- even if it is just what colour my natural hair is. I would like to tag anyone who wants to do this, comment below and I'll go and have a look at your response! Hope you're all having a fab week! 

x

Kiko Smart Lip Pencil Review + Swatches

It's safe to say that 2014 was the year of the lips. Everything from lipstick colours and plumpers to more controversial trends, such as Kylie Jenner's pout. I'm always on the hunt for reasonably priced, good quality lip liners- but aren't we all? Kiko to me, is almost like a slightly better European version of ELF Cosmetics and has unbeatable prices for the quality provided. I roamed the Kiko Store in Guildford like a sex addict in Ann Summers, where I found beautifully pigmented shadows, vibrant lipsticks and most importantly, cheap lip liners. The colour range is very broad from dark plum purples to bright cherry reds, and amongst all the choices I might have even found a dupe for my holy grail MAC 'Soar' lip liner. I spent a total of £10 for four lip liners- bargain or what? Lets see what I think of them...

First off, I have to mention that these bargain liners are 1) ridiculously pigmented and 2) glide on the lips like cocoa butter to the skin. They don't quite have the stain power of MAC lip liners which I often like to wear alone, but are fantastic for applying underneath lipsticks. The formula is almost too smooth to believe and one that thing that makes these liners stand out, is that they are £2.50 each- yea you read right. You can't really go wrong with a price tag like that and considering the variation of shades in this range; well, why not?

My Chosen Four

Smart Lip Pencil '710 Rouge Noir', £2.50

A deliciously rich plum/ purple shade; something we could definitely see Rihanna sporting all year round. I chose this dark vampy shade because it swatches beautifully against the skin and seems to be a tone that will suit every skin colour. It's creamy and highly pigmented BUT be sure to moisturize your smackers before hand, because I did find that this colour in particular clings to the dryer parts of your lips- creating an uneven application.

Smart Lip Pencil '706 Classic Red', £2.50

So, I'm usually more of a deep red kind of gal, but with it basically being a New Year and my skin starting to appear even paler- I opted for a bright red colour that would be a match made in heaven for MAC's infamous 'Ruby Woo' lipstick. It has a very bright blueish tone that will make your pearly whites sparkle and your skin glow. This would look divine on a paler skin, but who's to say it won't look fab on a deeper complexion?

Smart Lip Pencil, '712 Rose Mauve', £2.50

Whilst in the Kiko store I came across two potential Kylie Jenner lip products, this being the lighter one. It has a more pinky tone to in comparison to the other one and again, glides on perfectly giving that 'your lips but better' vibe. This cheap and cheerful liner has the potiential to be my new favourite and it could possibly be a dupe for MAC 'Soar' lip liner. Scroll down to see them up both swatched!

Smart Lip Pencil '704 Brick Red', £2.50

Now we're still on that Kylie Jenner lip hunt, and that's when I found another shde a bit darker than the '712'. When swatched on camera this colour has a very orangey tone to it, that I hoped would in fact be more neutral and brows. It is still gorgeous on, but gives your 'my lips but better' look a more peachy tone- a bit like a darker, matte version of 'Peachstock' by MAC. This is actually going to be a gorgeous everyday colour for the summer and will look very complimentary with a peachy or nude on top. What do you guys think?

(left to right) 710, 706, 712, 704.

(left to right) 710, 706, 712, 704.

(left to right) MAC 'Soar' Lip Liner, Kiko '712' Lip Liner.

Overall I am very pleased with these bargain lip liners. They have great pay off and will without a doubt, become staples in my make-up bag! Have you guys tried anything from Kiko? If so what do you think? 

x

Real Techniques Nic's Picks

When it comes to brushes, Real Techniques have been getting it right since their first release in 2011. The notably affordable and chic looking make-up accessories have intrigued almost every girl around the world and have somehow overtaken MAC and Sigma Brushes in the space of nearly three years. The brushes do not shed after washes, they are unimaginably soft to touch and blend any product to a T. This set comes with a generous (for the price) but yet standard five brushes. The packaging is beyond professional; perfect for anyone with a kit and look pretty fabulous on my make-up table. The contrast of metallic silver with a matte black grip area work brilliantly- let's break it down shall we.

Cheek Brush (Set Exclusive):

My new holy grail foundation and powder brush, although it would work just as fab for contouring and applying cream products. It has not only become a staple in my personal make-up bag, but also in my kit- this brush is the reason I bought two of these sets; don't judge me. The synthetic hairs are incredibly soft but firm, allowing fluid and cream products to blend deliciously. I don't even know the whereabouts of my beloved Beauty Blender anymore- that's how in love I am with this tool! It's a fluffy dream that puts any other foundation brush to shame. 

Duo-Fiber Face Brush:

This baby fits perfectly in the make-up category of anything cheeks. Contouring, blush and even highlighting are made more natural when using this brush; it distributes product evenly and again- blends like nobodies business. This whole duo-fiber bollocks doesn't usually tickle my fancy but when using this brush for powder based products, it genuinely does affect the blending and application. An effortless face is easily accomplished with this tool- bravo!

Base Shadow Brush & Angled Shadow Brush (Set Exclusive):

So, when it comes to the best blending brushes, these are pretty much on par with our all time fave MAC 2'17. The quality is splendid and this shows when working with both eyeshadow and concealer. The Base Shadow Brush in this kit is your standard dome shaped blending brush, it is somewhere between the MAC 2'17 and 2'24. It gives an airbrush finish when used in conjunction with concealer, and blends eyeshadow beautifully in the crease. The Angled Shadow Brush in this set was simply made for applying and blending colour into the outer-v. It is again, soft and can be used for anything; concealer under the eyes, brow bone highlighting, crease blending and as I said, outer-v application. If you are looking for a cheaper alternative to the infamous MAC 2'17 then look no further. 

Eyeliner Brush (Set Exclusive):

One thing that almost always seems to disappear is my eyebrow brush, so before I found this amazing set I was on the hunt for an affordable one. The hairs are short and firm which results in precise distribution of colour, and really helps to feather out and blend those areas of the brow that you don't want to be as harsh. I am yet to try this brush with eyeliner but I have applied eyeshadow to the lower lash line with and it works fabulously! 

Did anyone else get this December bargain? Does anyone not like it? Overall I am so beyond pleased with these brushes that I as I said before, I actually bought two! One for myself, and one for my kit. Real Techniques are actually just coming out with their 'Bold Metals' Brush Collection as I write this- if anyone has them yet, what are they like? I love the shape of them!

x

New Years Eve Make-up: Rose Gold Edition

2014 was a solid year girls. We did well! A couple of wine-infused rosy cheeks and the all-too-common, yet completely deserved, weekends off that no doubt led to 'horror movie prop' faces thanks entirely to the hangovers from hell. But overall, we looked great throughout. So let's start 2015 as we mean to end it again, this time next year- looking HOT. Embrace this New Year's Eve with a brightening, smoky-glitter look that will change your everyday neutrals to a face that will get you a midnight kiss, and prepare you for the biggest night out of the year. Seeing as Rose-Gold was such a popular trend this year gone, I thought I would include it in this look and here's how to create it.

• Start with the eyes, glitter is a tricky business- as is fallout. Prime the eyes with a base that gives a correcting coverage but will also allow the eyeshadow to hold in place. For this look I used MAC 'Painterly' Paint Pot; it is an absolute delight for redness and veins on the lids. Next you'll want to grab your favourite transition colour for the crease, I used NYC Smooth Skin Bronzer 'Sunny' which is also what I used to contour with! Blending is key for something this heavy, once you have that transition colour in place, take a slightly darker shade of brown and run that through your crease- remembering to blend, blend and.. blend. 
• Next apply 'Shag' by Urban Decay on the lid followed by a gorgeous Rose-Gold glitter. The mess-of-a-product I used is a glitter by OCC in 'Beige' which is most definitely the prettiest colour I have ever seen BUT is an absolute pain in arse to apply, because of how fine it is. The only thing left to do is add some dimension to the eye and smoke it out with some black eyeshadow in the crease. Take the medium brown shade you used after your transition colour, and apply that with a fluffy brush to the lower lash line of the eye.
• Finish the eyes with a nice coating of mascara and you're nearly ready..
• The brows will frame this whole look, so go with something fierce but nothing verging onto a scouse brow. Imitate the hairs lightly with a precise brush and pact down the your product when filling in the brow. 
• For my model I used the Maybelline FITme Foundation which provided a more natural finish that I added coverage to with powder. On a night like New Year's Eve long lasting make-up is essential so powder will be a purse staple! Concealer under the eyes will ensure brightness under the eyes as will a lighter powder in the same area. To the cheeks I contoured for a photo-ready face and applied MAC 'Pink Swoon' to the apples of the cheeks. Seeing as the eyes are mainly glitter, it's important to keep the cheeks matte because a blush with shimmer would just be a hot mess. 
• The final part of this make-up look is the lips. I applied a beautiful pure pink lipstick to my model's lips in order to draw attention to the eyes and compliment the glitter. MAC 'Angel' lipstick was perfect for this!

So, hope you guys have enjoyed this! Let me know what you think and follow, like, share.. blah blah! You know the drill. Have a fab week guys!x

Makeup Recipe: Sad to Sassy

So, undertaking transformation sassy can apply to anyone whom is looking to jazz up their make-up every so slightly- without looking like Lady Gaga on a bad day. We've gone with a very natural look that embraces winter with a warm mauve lip and still maintains that glamour with a soft shimmer on the lid, and pop of white on the waterline.

INGREDIENTS:

Larger than pea-size amount of moisturiser

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1 to 2 pumps of chosen foundation

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Real Techniques Nic's Picks 'Cheek Brush'

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Even application of concealer 

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Translucent/ Coloured powder

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pea-size amount of Too Faced 'Shadow Insurance'

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MAC 'Phloof' eyeshadow

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MAC 'Soft Brown' eyeshadow

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MAC 'Expresso' eyeshadow 

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MAC 'Fascinating' Kohl Liner 

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MAC 'Cork' eyeshadow 

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MAC 'Twig' Lipstick 

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MAC Zoom Lash 'Black'

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NYC Smooth Skin Bronzing Powder 'Sunny'

• Begin by taking a slightly larger than pea-sized amount of your chosen moisturiser, here I used the very affordable Superdrug's own brand Natural Radiance Balm. It smells like christmas and leaves the skin looking perky in preparation for these cold winter mornings!

• Once your emollient moisturiser of choice has sunk into the skin- it's operation flawless! Your foundation of choice should leave space for a build able coverage and create natural looking skin with immaculate coverage. The secret to a good base is not only the artist herself but her tools. My brush of a life time is the Real Techniques Nic's Picks 'Cheek Brush'.

• Concealer and powder are now the only things getting in between you and creating those sassy eyes. A large part of this look is based on the brightness under the eyes, this creates a very awake effect. I'm usually all about that dewy skin, but for this look I powered this soon-to-be sassy bitch to create a matte effect that would photograph beautifully. I usually try to use a lighter powder colour under the eyes to emphasise the effort we made with the concealer.

• Now, whilst your face is sassy, your eyes aren't... yet. Start by priming the eye using a very small amount of Shadow Insurance by Too Faced then begin to apply the shadow. The design calls for shadow to be applied from light to dark so begin with some beautiful shimmer, subtle and never glittery. I used MAC 'Phloof' all over the lid, then grab your favourite transition colour (mine is 'Soft Brown' by MAC) and apply it gently to the crease using a window wiping motion . Take it as high as you wish but leave some room for brow bone highlight. To deepen and add dimension to this look, I took MAC 'Expresso' and added this to the outer-v of the eye and smoked it out ever so slightly on the lower lash line. 

• White Eyeliner- a simple and effective single product that will help to brighten the eyes and make them appear larger. Apply this naughty number to your waterline, blink a few times and apply lightly again. Avoid getting the pencil in your eye or all over your lashes- if you do, no worries that's what Mascara's for!

• Moving on to the brows. I simply used MAC 'Cork' eyeshadow again to replicate the hairs of my models natural brows and voila!

• For the lips, just make sure they're moisturised and lipstick friendly. The fabulous colour used in this design is MAC 'Twig'. It compliments every skin tone and adds a lovely warmth to the face.

• The final touches are applying mascara. My mascara of the moment would have to be MAC Zoom Lash- a product that is great in the lengthening department. To really finish this look add a complimentary matter mauve blush, maybe even something with a little brown in it. I used a very old school product, Sally Hansen's little pocket palette from god knows what decade in the colour 'pink'. Before I forget, it's key to use a bronzer in this look to really compliment those neutral tones in the eyes, warm up the face and even add some definition with contouring. 

There you have it guys and gals. You could share this recipe with all your friends and family and they could become sassy too! Massive thanks to Meg Wills from Club Sass for approving and modelling this look! Let me know what you think guys!