topshop haul.

naughty me. i'm sorry, blog - i've been ever so busy. i haven't done a review/purchase post in so long and what a way to bring it back with some gorgeous products from topshop! i tried fighting it but i just can't do it anymore: i just love their products. i recently popped into the flagship store and treated myself to some meadham kirchoff nail wraps (they have vaginas on them, so now my fingers can scissor), a lip pencil in "fearless" and a matte lipstick in "all about me". i've never used nail wraps before, but i'm saving them for a special occasion so i won't be showing them to you just yet (read: i haven't figured out how on earth i put them on, so i am postponing that trouble for another time).

i admit that i am always so pleasantly surprised by topshop's products - more so than their clothes in fact. i mean, this lip pencil's shade is fantastic. i can think of at least four lipsticks i own which would go with it as it is a really standard pink. it's not gimmicky or wacky, which is what i was after. and yes, it's not a revolutionary shade by any means, but i had been looking for a shade like this for so long and nowhere else had it. the lip pencil has decent pigmentation (not like the ones by mac though, which are just crazy) and feels nice on the lips. but then again, it's not as creamy as the ones by no 7... so although i'm in love with the colour selection of lip pencils at topshop and grateful for this pink goodness in my life, in terms of formulation, they're not my all-time favourites. then again, the other brands i've mentioned are slightly more expensive, and if you're on a budget then these really are decent for the price.

sorry for the rubbish swatch.

however, the star of the show (and the reason i ventured into topshop in the first place!) is the lipstick. a topshop make-up artist follows me on twitter and had their latest campaign shot as her profile picture. i asked what lipstick the model was wearing, and made up my mind to buy it. i had never tried topshop lipstick before, and when trying out new lipsticks, going for a matte shade is high-level dangerous business. totally high risk behaviour. it's essentially jumping into the deep end, because matte lipsticks are where so many brands can often get it wrong (so wrong). but step aside, ladies. "all about me" is a loud, attention-grabbing hot pink and definitely lives up to its name. unfortunately it's a blogger's nightmare though, as i can't get a photo which accurately depicts the shade: sometimes it looks red, sometimes purple, sometimes pink! but trust me when i say that this is definitely a hot colour which would suit many complexions.

having worn it for a few days now, i can happily report the following: topshop matte lipsticks are brilliant. intense colour, coupled with staying power and a creamy formulation despite it being matte? AND CHEAP?! absolutely cracking stuff. i always go on and on about how revlon matte lipsticks must be concocted with fairy dust or unicorn hairs or something to make them so magically creamy - but this formulation definitely comes second place (which is still a compliment of the highest order). 

 i find it quite interesting how higher-priced brands still fail to accomplish creamy matte lipsticks though, and wish they'd follow suit. if topshop or revlon got their mitts on my beloved 'ruby woo' and made it creamier, i would definitely be in lipstick nirvana. so yeah, i'm pretty sure that topshop is slowly becoming my top recommendation for make-up if you want to spend less but still get great quality cosmetics.

also that perfect-looking plait on my head? not my real hair. that's right - gettin' wiggy with it. i look so tired.

face: 17 primer, illamasqua skin base foundation (10), collection 2000 lasting perfection concealer (#2), clinique airbrush concealer (03 light), mac mineralize skinfinish (medium plus).

eyes: maybelline gel liner, no 7 lash adapt mascara, mac eyebrow pencil (stud).

cheeks: topshop (high five).

lips: topshop lip pencil (fearless), topshop lipstick (all about me).

pink sunday! no? does that not work?

i am busy busy busy. busy doing uni work, busy writing, busy editing, busy drafting, busy applying. unfortunately this sort of work doesn't come with an expiry, and so things will be very hectic from now until june. it's solid work, and absolutely exhausting. i hope that i don't neglect this blog too much as a result of that.

what can i say. i'm back on the pink lipsticks. i would do a post on my lipstick collection but that would be taking my workload up to another level, haha! as it's winter and very drab outside, this was admittedly an unusual choice - my outfit was very grey and so i just needed that pop of colour. i usually go for the more deeper, less in-your-face pinks when it's cold outside. nevertheless, i absolutely love this shade and the fact that it's a cremesheen formulation makes it even better - it's super duper creamy and extremely long-lasting.

face: 17 photo primer, mac studio fix fluid (nw30), clinique airbrush concealer (03 light), mac mineralize skinfinish (medium plus).
eyes: urban decay primer potion, urban decay eyeshadows (virgin, oil slick, tiny bit of twice baked), rimmel kohl pencil, rimmel exaggerate liquid liner, max factor false lash effect mascara, mac eyebrow pencil (stud).
cheeks: sleek blush (rose gold).
lips: mac (speak louder).

i am also rather proud of myself for finding a nail polish that is the exact match of my lipstick. loooooooook! it's like they're dupes of each other. i bought this along with barry m's grey nail polish (does it have a shade name? it probably does) as i've been hankering over a grey nail polish for the longest time.

nails - barry m (shocking pink).

this pink actually isn't so shocking - it isn't neon or some kind of baby pink barbie shade. it's a really sweet, bright berry-pink, and is totally me (i actually HATE it when people say "that's so me~", what have i become)... i wore it for about 4 days which is possibly a new record and it didn't chip once despite me skipping a top coat. considering how cheap barry m is, i really really love it.

gushfest over.

so sleepy...

i think i have narcolepsy.

i am tired. somehow i feel as if all the sleep in the world is just not enough and it's beginning to show on my face. i graduate in september and my biggest concern is no longer my weight, but having big dark circles under my eyes. i used to be able to cover it quite decently with make-up, but the sleep-deprived look is slowly fighting back and with a vengeance. my favourite concealer is clinique's airbrush concealer as it is really light, easily blendable and feels so smooth. it's also one of the few brands that caters for my special shade of yellow. it's still my favourite product when it comes to covering up spots and blemishes (i have a fair few right now), but is slowly finding itself unable to cope with the epic bags under my eyes. i think i am definitely going to branch out and see if anything out there is up to the job.

ramble aside, this is the make-up i wore today. if i had thick black eyeliner on, i would be able to say that this is my staple look: simple eyes, bright cheeks, and bright lips. i decided to go for something a little bit smokier and softer though, just to make it a bit different from my usual thing.

i would also really appreciate it if everyone could ignore the eyebrow situation that is going on here - as i am going on holiday, i am trying to not touch them until later this week (right before i leave) so that i can get them fixed up. they are shocking, i know. :(

face: 17 primer, mac studio fix fluid (nw30), clinique airbrush concealer (03 light), mac mineralize skinfinish (medium plus).
eyes: ruby & millie eyeliner pencil (brown/black), revlon grow luscious mascara, maybelline gel liner, the body shop brow and lash gel.
cheeks: bourjois bronzing powder, nars multiple (portofino), no 7 highlighter (peach).
lips: revlon (wild orchid).

bright pink lip.

the sunshine is out! seems as if london has finally got its act together. work was relatively sluggish all day, but the moment i had to leave i received a barrage of emails. just typical. my make-up was pretty low key, didn't have much on in the evening except drinks with a friend...

LOL jk i totally added buttloads of pink to my face. i hope the photo above demonstrates why i complain about my eyelashes being too long. i've always had relatively long eyelashes (nothing compared to my brother though) but following an unfortunate anger-induced incident with an eyelash curler, they were a little lacking. after approximately a month of using revlon's 'grow luscious' mascara to make them grow back quicker, they're back to their old self but... even longer. whoops.

face: sephora smoothing primer, mac studio fix fluid (nw30), clinique airbrush concealer (03 light), paula dorf magic stick (#2), mac mineralize skinfinish (medium plus).

eyes: urban decay primer potion, urban decay eyeshadow (midnight cowboy rides again), maybelline gel liner, rimmel exaggerate liquid liner, max factor false lash effect mascara, mac eyebrow pencil (stud).
cheeks: mac blush (fleur power).
lips: revlon (cherries in the snow).

impromptu baby shower.

i've realised that being useless gets you absolutely nowhere. that's right - an epiphany! when you're useless, you ask for help, and when you ask for help, you then owe that lovely person and it doesn't always work out in your favour. you see, i love doing things for people, except this. 'this', is being a last-minute plus one to a baby shower. considering the fact that i thoroughly dislike babies and am not crazy about the slow-but-noticeable americanisation of british culture, baby showers are not for me. i'm really not the hallmark target audience here. but yeah, i owed that person, and after having my present idea of condoms turned down, i have decided that the best thing for me to do is to sit quietly in a corner and eat. i remain inoffensive that way.

dress - monsoon, clutch - monsoon, shoes - dolce & gabbana.