ORANGE LIPSTICKS FOR SUMMER

For me, summer brings peach, coral and orange hues. Bronzed skin paired with golden eyeshadow and coral orange lips is one of my favourite looks for summer, these are a few of my most loved orange lipstick shades:

Revlon Lip Butter in Tutti Frutti: Although sometimes prone to melting in the tube on hot summer days, Revlon Tutti Frutti is one of my most worn lipsticks during the warmer months. It's a hybrid between a lipstick and balm and so is lightly moisturising on the lips. It's a pretty, brightening and creamy orange that can be worn as a sheer, subtle tint or built up to a glossy orange lip. See it swatched here.

Nars Velvet Matte Lip Pencil in Iberico: This works so well paired with a striped tee and a pretty gold necklace (like this one). Nars Iberico is a beautiful, bold orange red (swatched here) that lasts well on the lips. I love the formula of Nars lip pencils as they are pigmented, creamy and long lasting - one of the best formula's of lip pencils that I've tried!

Revlon Matte Balm in Audacious: The perfect summer shade, Audacious is a bold, creamy coral that really works well with bronze and gold hues. The crayon applicator makes it so easy to apply or to pop in your bag for application on the go. It's matte and so is fairly long lasting, around 2-3 hours on the lips, see me wearing it here .

Topshop Infrared: There's something about the combination of winged liner and a bold orange lip that I really love. Topshop Infrared (swatched here) is a great, bright summer lipstick with a slight red tone to it making it a great alternative to a red lip.

What is your favourite orange lipstick?

SUMMER WISHLIST

This should probably be called 'my only-slightly-summery/english-weather-appropriate-wishlist', I'm really more of an autumn/winter girl at heart and as much as I try to embrace summer, I always lean towards monochrome, subtler shades and autumn hues!

River Island Cami's: I love the look of this Cream Lace Cami, I can imagine that it would look so pretty paired with a long floaty skirt. I also really love this plum V-Neck Cami, I'm tempted by the black version too!

Essie Petal Pushers: A pretty slate grey polish with blue undertones, this looks like a great alternative to brights for summer.

Monica Vinader Riva Ring: This 18ct rose gold dainty ring has been on my wishlist for the longest time now. It's so beautiful and has little pave diamonds scattered around it.

Jo Malone Wood Sage & Sea Salt Cologne: Whilst visiting a Jo Malone counter, I spritzed wood sage and sea salt on me to see how the scent developed and how well it would last. It's a really nice, fresh summery scent that's unlike any other perfume that I own.

Olivia Burton Winter Floral Watch: I love Olivia Burton watches and I think this beautiful floral design would work well throughout all the seasons.

Emma Bridgewater Large Breakfast Cup: This looks like the perfect morning mug for a cup of tea. I'm really trying to make sure I drink a cup of herbal tea every morning as the warm water helps to prepare your digestive system for the day, this would be a great motivator for me to stick to it!

What's on your wishlist for summer?

TOPSHOP 5 YEARS OF BEAUTY - TOPSHOP BEGUILED

First I found my perfect pair of Ash style autumn boots in spring and now I've found the perfect winter lipstick in summer!

Topshop Beguiled is a beautiful deep berry red lipstick with slight glitter undertones. It has a smooth, velvety formula that applies like a dream for a deep shade and lasts well on the lips (4 hours with no touch up's needed!). I've read reviews that the satin/matte formula can sometimes appear streaky on the lips but I'm yet to experience any issues with mine.

Although it may look a little intimidating in the tube it's so flattering on the lips. Beguiled applies quite a bit lighter and can be worn dabbed on as a stain, straight from the bullet as a wash of colour or built up to a vampy berry red lip. The glitter undertones are stunning, subtle flecks of deep red, fuchsia and copper glitter catch the light to give extra dimension to the shade. 

I love wearing it paired with MAC All That Glitters on the eyes, a shimmery highlighter and plenty of mascara. It's already become one of my all time favourite lipsticks and I will be getting plenty of wear from it on stormy summer day's and all throughout autumn & winter.

Have you tried Topshop Beguiled?

NARS OUTER LIMITS - AN AFFORDABLE DUPE

I've noticed that Nars Christopher Kane Outer Limits eyeshadow has flown off the shelves already. It's a beautiful, sparkly, rose gold eyeshadow that's perfect for special occasions and will be amazing for Christmas and the festive period, I've recently written a full review on it here.

Topshop Chameleon Glow in Shuffle the Cards is practically identical to Nars Outer Limits, the main and only noticeable difference is that the glitter particles in Shuffle the Cards are a lot smaller making the texture smoother and more buttery.

Both Nars Outer Limits and Topshop Shuffle the Cards have a pretty peach toned base with flecks of the exact same rose pink glitter/sparkles running through it. Nars' offering weighs in at 2.2g and Topshop's at 2.4g, although still quite pricey for an eyeshadow, the Topshop version is just half the price of the Nars eyeshadow. I'm always so happy to find a dupe for limited edition shades, shuffle the cards is more accessible, a great Nars Outer Limits dupe and hopefully will be available for a while!

A FEW THINGS TO DO THIS WEEKEND

Make a cream cheese bagel topped with strawberries & blueberries for brunch.

Scroll through the Primark hashtag #PrimarkAW15 for copper, beautiful dresses & pom pom shoes (so cute!) or the Cath Kidston A/W15 hashtag on instagram (#CKAW15) for sausage dogs, autumn leaves & pretty, festive prints!

Stroll around the farmers markets, buy fresh peonies.

Pull out your favourite bright lipsticks ready for summer.

Browse the sales - Topshop and Zara sales have just started and they're both looking so good!

Re-read the Harry Potter series, with snippets of information about Fantastic Beasts being released, it's the perfect time to delve back into the magical world.

Buy pretty cards to frame from Paperchase.

Have a little Lush shopping spree followed by a pampering afternoon with a long bath, fresh pjs and Netflix.

Make a Summer berry & Cashew Cream Pie, it's healthy, raw, vegan and delicious - recipe here

Get a little green fingered and re-pot your plants, it's best to do before summer and then you can pop them in pretty ikea pots!

SUMMER BEAUTY

With Summer on it's way, I've placed springs pastels to the side and pulled out creams, brights and lighter bases ready for the warm summer days. 

Caudalie Beauty Elixir is a staple for me on sweltering hot days, it contains organic balm mint, rosemary, grape, rose and orange blossom to smooth the skin and give a burst of radiance. Just a couple of spritzes of this refreshing beauty mist perks up dull skin and leaves it feeling cool and fresh.
No other eye cream really compares to Balance Me Wonder Eye Cream for me, it's a rich but lightweight cream that contains virgin coconut, rosehip and carrot oils, brightening lemon oil, cucumber oil and hydrating hyaluronic acid. I've been using this on and off for a couple of years now, it's the only eye cream that's ever made a noticeable difference to my dark circles.

I always opt for cream or gel based eyeshadows in the summer, Maybelline Colour Tattoo's in Eternal Gold and And on Bronze are so easy to use for a quick wash of colour over the eyes and they last all day on me without creasing or smudging. For an everyday shade I like to wear Maybelline Eternal Gold (swatched here) with lot's of mascara and a shimmery peach lipgloss.

For blusher, Sleek Rose Gold is the perfect summer shade, it's a dreamy coral pink with flecks of gold which gives you a beautiful warm summer glow. Topshop Head Over Heels is a creamy, coral peach blusher that blends seamlessly as a cream before setting in place as a powder. It works so well used with Topshop Glow Highlighter in Polished, a beautiful, almost ethereal highlighter. MAC Gleam eyeshadow - a shimmery golden peach shade, also works well as a summer highlighter, both really help to brighten the complexion and give a pretty glow to your cheeks.

I've been reluctant to move away from wearing deep reds, greys and berry shades on my nails this year but Essie Peach Daiquiri - a bright peachy pink, and Essie Vanity Fairest - a shimmery pastel pink are so pretty for summer. I've been wearing Essie Peach Daiquiri on my toes and Essie Vanity Fairest on my fingers for a soft, pretty manicure.

On my lips, I've pulled out two of my favourite pinks, Nars satin lip pencil in Yu (swatched here), a beautiful bright cool toned pink that works well worn alone or dabbed on as a stain and Revlon Sultry Samba (swatched here) which is a matte fuchsia pink that lasts well on the lips and feels soft and creamy in texture.

Lastly, for fragrance I'm still so in love with Marc Jacobs Daisy Dream. It's a breezy, girly scent with notes of blackberry, jasmine, pear and coconut water that and smells delicate, warm, airy and light.

What are your beauty picks for Summer?

NARS CHRISTOPHER KANE OUTER LIMITS EYESHADOW

After just one glance at Nars Outer Limits from the Christopher Kane collection, I set a reminder on my phone to buy this on the day of it's release. This dreamy, iridescent rose gold eyeshadow consists of mesmerising flecks of pink and gold glitter, it's simply stunning and so irresistible.

It doesn't have the same buttery texture as other Nars eyeshadows, in-fact the texture is slightly disappointing, the flecks of pink and gold sparkle can be quite chunky and I experienced a fair bit of fallout on application. However, If you don't mind putting in a little bit more effort than usual, then this sparkly eyeshadow does give great payoff. You need to prime your lids - I used Nars Smudge Proof eyeshadow base beforehand and then use a flat shader brush to pack on the shade, this leaves you with a long lasting, beautiful rose gold sparkly eye. It's perfect for special occasions, Christmas and the festive period, my favourite time of the year.

Despite it's minor faults, I really love this eyeshadow. Thanks to it's beautiful packaging and rose gold sparkles it feels quite special, I don't mind giving it a bit of extra time to make it work and I'll definitely get a lot of use out of it on special occasions. The photo really doesn't do it justice, I posted a snapchat yesterday (sophiesmakeup) to try and show it in a little more detail.

Although it's not the best formulated Nars eyeshadow that I own, it's still a stunning shade that makes me smile everytime I look at it. I also may have found a buttery textured and more affordable dupe - I'll pop up a post soon!

THINGS THAT MADE ME HAPPY THIS WEEK #10

Monday: Watching my Peonies bloom - after 2 whole weeks of waiting I had just about given up on my peonies as they still hadn't bloomed, their leaves were drying out and they were looking a little sorry for themselves. I decided to give them a couple more days before I threw them out and the very next day, they started to bloom!

Tuesday: After reading Sophie's DIY Hair Tie tutorial I ordered some hair elastics, there are so many colours to choose from here, I chose scarlet, burgundy, a silvery grey and toffee, a rose gold shade. I spent the day fashioning up my own hair ties, it's unbelievably easy to do and works out a lot cheaper than buying them!

Wednesday: Hearing that Ben & Jerry's have decided to create a dairy free ice cream made my day. Since giving up most dairy I've missed Phish Food so much, fingers crossed for an almond milk version (more details here)! Also I watched the new Hunger Games trailer with wide eyes, it looks amazing, I can't wait to watch it in November!

Thursday: Indulging in a huge bowl of spelt pasta and fresh basil pesto, it's a new discovery for me, the ultimate comfort food and a nice alternative to wholewheat pasta.

Friday/The Weekend: I'm finally well enough to venture out of the house again and I'm planning on shopping for some more Topshop 5 Years of Beauty Make Up (that rose gold packaging!), candy floss grapes and soft primark bedding (I love the look of these pillowcases!), I'm also visiting my mum to wish her a belated happy birthday - I think she's making a dairy free cashew cream cheesecake too which sounds incredible!

What's made you happy this week?

ESSIE MAXIMILLIAN STRASSE-HER

It's not your typical spring/summer shade but Essie Maximillian Strasse-Her is a slight reflection of this gloomy, stormy weather we've been having in the UK. I'm not quite ready to embrace bright nail polish shades yet and I feel like Maximmilian Strasse-Her is the perfect transitional shade for thundery summer days spent reading Harry Potter and drinking hot chocolates.

This is the kind of shade that looks different to me every time I look at it, sometimes it's a cement grey, sometimes it's more of a muted blue and sometimes it has green tints to it. Overall it's a really pretty shade that's flattering on the nails.

The above photo is day 4 of 2 coats of Essie Maximillian Strasse-Her, I'm on day 6 now with minimal chips, it's one of the longest lasting Essie polishes I own and a new firm favourite in my collection.
I've also been keeping my cuticles hydrated with Essie Nail Treatment Apricot Cuticle Oil, it contains a mixture of nourishing oils and leaves my cuticles soft and supple.

Have you tried Essie Maximillian Strasse-Her?

TIPS FOR GLOWING SKIN

When my skin is clear, radiant and glowing it really helps to boost my confidence, my make up applies like a dream and I have more frequent no make up days. Here are a few things I like to do to keep my skin glowing and in good condition:

Eat Well: For me, the most important step to healthy, glowing skin is to make sure that I'm eating well and filling my body with good and nutritious foods. Sweet potatoes, oranges, strawberries and blueberries are loaded with vitamin c which helps to produce collagen, almonds and avocados are rich in protecting vitamin e and brazil nuts, oats and coconut water contain selenium which maintains skins elasticity. Eat Pretty by Jolene Hart is a great book to read for more food properties and benefits. 

Drink Water: To help your skin stay radiant and clear, it's beneficial to drink at least 2 litres of water a day. On Caroline Hirons advice, I've also started to drink cups of fresh ginger tea, it reduces inflammation and improves circulation, as a result my skin has never been so soft and radiant.

Skincare: For an everyday boost of radiance, Origins GinZing Energy Boosting Moisturiser contains panax ginseng and coffee bean which helps to keep your skin vibrant. For a weekly treatment, Ren Glycolactic Radiance Renewal Mask is a brightening, renewing mask that contains natural fruit acids, leaving skin radiant, smooth and clear.

Make up: Mixing a couple of drops of a shimmery, opalescent highlighter like Seventeen Skin Wow Primer into your foundation can help to give you dewy, glowing skin. Alternatively, you can dab a creamy highlighter on top of your foundation, Topshop Glow Highlighter in Polished is one of my all time favourites, there's something ethereal about the colour, it gives a beautiful luminescent glow and the pearly peach tones help to brighten the complexion.
Using a brightening blusher like Sleek Pixie Pink or Topshop Head Over Heels (a creamy coral) can also help to keep your make up looking fresh and radiant.

Exercise: Lastly, yoga, facial exercises and working out increases circulation and can help to keep your skin looking fresh and glowing. I love to do Lisa Eldridge's Facial Massage Routine as often as possible as it makes such a noticeable difference my skin. 

A LITTLE MAKE UP WISHLIST

There are so many pretty make up products out at the moment, I've been really drawn to red polishes, creamy textures and shimmery shades, these are currently at the top of my make up wishlist:

Nars Christopher Kane Eyeshadow in Outer Limits: This looks like the perfect shimmery rose gold eyeshadow and I've actually already ordered this sparkly, slightly festive shade. It was one of those products that I just couldn't resist and after noticing that it's currently double indulge points at Space NK, I placed an order straight away!

Essie Aperitif: I've been after the perfect red nail polish for a while now and Essie Aperitif looks like a beautiful deep rich rich suitable for all year round.

Charlotte Tilbuy Eyes To Mesmerise in Jean: I fell in love with the look of these dreamy cream eyeshadows after watching Charlotte Tilbury's Amal Cloony's Wedding Make Up on youtube. It contains vitamin e, the texture looks so beautiful and Jean looks like a stunning champagne and great everyday shade.

Charlotte Tilbury Kissing Lipstick in Coachella Coral: This looks like the perfect summer shade, how beautiful is that packaging!

Topshop Glow Pot in Polished: After owning this highlighter for a good few years now, I think that now is the perfect time to repurchase a new one, especially with Topshop's beautiful limited edition rose gold packaging. This creamy, iridescent highlighter looks almost ethereal and gives the skin a beautiful luminescent glow.

Hourglass Ambient Lighting Blusher in Luminous Flush: There are so many amazing reviews of these radiant blushers, Luminous Flush looks great for summer.

By Terry Ombre Blackstar in Misty Rock: Every time I see this eyeshadow I fall in love with it more and more. It's a stunning taupe with lavender tones and fine silver glitter running through it, slightly darker than my normal choice of eyeshadow shade but theres something so special about Misty Rock.

What's currently on your make up wishlist?

STEPS TO MAKE YOUR LIPSTICK LAST LONGER

There are a few steps that I like to take if I want my lipstick to last all day, this is tried and tested  through heat, rain and several cups of tea with only a little touch up needed throughout the entire day!

Prep your lips: Using a lip scrub like Lush Mint Julips can really help to keep your lips soft and in good condition. Apply with your finger in small circular motions to gently scrub, buff and exfoliate keeping your lips smooth and supple.

Moisturise: After buffing away any dry skin, apply a rich nourishing lip balm like Nuxe Reve De Miel to help create the perfect base for lipstick. It contains honey, sweet almond oil, calendula and shea butter and leaves your lips plump and hydrated.

Pick your shade: With your base ready for lipstick, it's then time to choose a shade. Opting for the right formula can really help your lipstick to stay put and increase its lasting power. Matte shades often last longer than a satin or glossy finish, Topshop Beguiled, Mac Rebel or Revlon Matte Balms are some great matte options.

Application: Using a lip pencil can help to prolong lipstick wear time and if your lipstick does fade then the pencil will stay put underneath. Apply a thin layer all over your lips before applying your chosen lipstick shade with a lip brush or straight from the bullet.

Blot and Seal: Take a tissue and separate it in half so that you only have one ply, place it over your lips and sweep a fluffy brush loaded with translucent powder (I use Mac Prep and Prime Transparent Finishing Powder) over the top of the tissue to seal in the lipstick. Apply another thin layer of lipstick, dabbing it on and then tissue, powder and seal it in once more.
This is a technique that I've picked up when studying and working in Make up, It works really well for me and it should keep your lipstick fairly long lasting.

Sleek Matte Me Liquid Lipsticks (the one pictured above is Sleek Matte me in Rioja Red*) are also a great, quick and easy option for long lasting lips, you can just apply 1-2 coats to moisturised lips and it dries to a velvet matte finish that lasts for hours and hours.