L'Oreal Botanicals Fresh Care - The Range That's Helping To Protect My Coloured Hair

Regularly bleached, coloured and heat styled to within an inch of its life - it's fair to say that I put my hair through its paces. So when it comes to caring for it, it's of the utmost importance that I choose good quality products that will nourish and protect it as much as possible. I'm always looking for shampoos and conditioners that will put much needed moisture back into my hair without weighing it down, and when I discovered the L'Oreal Botanicals Fresh Care range, it sounded like exactly what I was looking for.

L'Oreal Botanicals Fresh Care Geranium Radiance Remedy Hair Care Range

If I'm honest, it was the packaging that first attracted me to this range. I would never have guessed it was L'Oreal, or indeed any drugstore brand, based on the way it looks. It really is quite sleek and beautiful - much more like a high end salon brand than something you can pick up in your local Boots. I was even more intrigued when I learned that the whole range is vegan, created from natural botanical ingredients and essential oils, and free from silicones, parabens and colourants.

There are several variations within the range: Lavender, for fine and fragile hair, Safflower, for dry hair, Camelina, for unruly hair... as my tresses could be described as any of the above, and since all the different shampoos and conditioners look and smell so delicious, it was hard to know which to choose! I started off with the Lavender masque - a lightweight yet nourishing deep conditioning treatment that I loved so much it found its way into my 2018 Beauty Favourites. However, I was keen to find something that would prolong the radiance of my freshly coloured hair between appointments, and perhaps add some shine back, so as much as I adore the scent of lavender, I decided to move on to the Geranium products.

L'Oreal Botanicals Fresh Care Geranium Radiance Remedy Shampoo

L'Oreal Botanicals Fresh Care Geranium Radiance Remedy Conditioner

Formulated from a blend of Geranium essential oil, Soya and Coconut oil, the Geranium Radiance Remedy products are specifically targeted to coloured hair, to hydrate, detangle and reveal shine. They are wonderful to use - the products feel creamy and yet light at the same time, and the floral fragrance that fills the shower when I wash my hair is simply glorious. When I've finished conditioning, my hair feels like silk and my Tangle Teezer glides through it effortlessly.

I have seen some very mixed reviews of these products, and my feeling is that the range is perhaps more suited to people who, like me, have fine hair. I love that it's left feeling soft, yet still has bounce and body to it. Anything richer might leave my hair weighed down and looking lank and lifeless, but perhaps if you have thicker hair, these products might not quite deliver the results you need.

L'Oreal Botanicals Fresh Care Geranium Radiance Remedy Hair Masque

Speaking for myself, I love how they make my hair look and feel. Anything that can breathe new life into my hair when it's overdue to be cut and coloured is a definite keeper in my book! I even think they have helped to restore a little shine, although my bleach treated hair is never going to excel in that department. All in all, I'm a huge fan, and will definitely be repurchasing the Geranium products as well as trying others in the range.

Have you tried the L'Oreal Botanicals Fresh Care range? What hair care products are you loving right now?

Kate x
Collective Haul - Beachwear, makeup and accessories

With my late summer holiday just a couple of weeks away, a little shopping spree was in order! There's a mix of makeup, fashion and accessories here, so I hope you enjoy!

As always, you can watch the video right here or over on my YouTube channel, and if you like what you see I would love for you to subscribe over there for more videos.


See you next time!

Kate x
L'Oreal No Makeup Makeup Range - First Impressions

It's unusual for me to go out and buy (almost) an entire makeup range in one go, but having seen L'Oreal's gorgeous no makeup makeup featured on several blogs over the past couple of months, I just couldn't resist. Featuring a BB Cream, bronzer and peachy blush as well as seriously Instagram worthy highlighters in both palette and liquid form, the whole range promises to give you a beautifully natural and effortless, "I woke up like this" glow. As that is pretty much exactly what I want to look like, particularly in the summer time, and because the products looked so pretty across my social media feeds, I didn't think too hard before giving into the hype. I've only been trying these out for a little while, so this will be something of a first impressions post, but no doubt my favourites will feature in some upcoming makeup looks I'm planning on putting together over the summer months.

Bonjour Nudista Skin Tint BB Cream


L'Oreal Bonjour Nudista Skin Tint BB Cream

Nicely packaged in a pretty, lightweight and portable tube, this looks like the perfect base to take away with you on a summer holiday. It's available in 5 shades (Light, Medium Light, Medium, Medium Dark and Dark), and offers a breathable formula, light coverage and a luminous glow.

The shade Medium Light is a good match for my skin tone, and the product feels beautiful to apply, almost like a face cream. Unfortunately, no matter how much I put on, it seems to disappear into my skin like a face cream too, providing me with a coverage so sheer I might as well not have bothered applying it (or indeed buying it) in the first place. It's a shame, as it looks like such a pretty product, but while I am much more a fan of lighter base products these days than I used to be, I still like them to provide at least some coverage. So, unfortunately, I am not a fan of this one.

Glow Mon Amour Highlighting Drops


Glow Mon Amour Highlighting Drops in Bellini

This versatile liquid highlighting product is available in two shades, Champagne and Bellini. With it being summer, I opted for the warmer, decidedly golden goddess like Bellini. Housed in a not particularly travel friendly glass bottle with a messy drop applicator, it is nevertheless a beautiful product, offering all the peachy, shimmery goodness anyone could want. You can use this in a variety of ways, but my current favourite is to add a couple of drops to my foundation to add a subtle, all over sun-kissed glow.

L'Oreal Bonjour Nudista and Glow Mon Amour Swatches

Left, Bonjour Nudista BB Cream in Medium Light, Right, Glow Mon Amour Highlighting Drops in Bellini

Back To Bronze Matte Bronzing Powder


L'Oreal Back To Bronze Matte Bronzing Powder

This is described as a soft matte bronzer with no shimmer or glimmer, perfect for adding a natural bronzed glow to the skin. The colour is warm without being too orange, and looks beautiful dusted over the high points of the face as an all over glow. It's quite pigmented, so a light hand is needed, but I think it would also be a great product for contouring with if that's something you like to do. A really nice useful bronzer to keep in your stash.

Life's A Peach Blush Powder


L'Oreal Life's A Peach Blush Powder

A gorgeous warm blush that actually smells of peaches! Again, this is heavily pigmented and a little goes a long way, but it really does look so beautiful on. Along with the bronzer, I've been wearing this a lot since I got it. The two together give the most gorgeous, healthy summer glow. If you're not into the highlighters so much, you could skip those in favour of these two products in order to create that warm, bronzed look without the sparkle.

L'Oreal No Makeup Makeup Packaging


L'Oreal La Vie En Glow Highlighting Powder Palette

Just like the liquid highlighter, this highlighting palette is available in warm and cool toned options. I went for the warm, and I love it! You can wear all four shades together for a super glowy look. I have tried this and kind of love it, but it is a little too much for everyday wear for me, so I will save it for my next date night. For a softer glow, the two lighter shades are beautiful and very wearable, and I can see all four working as eyeshadows too, although this is something I have yet to try. If you are a highlight fan then I would definitely recommend this, as there are so many lovely options for combining the different shades together.

L'Oreal La Vie En Glow Highlighting Powder Palette Warm Glow Swatches

La Vie En Glow Highlighting Powder Palette in Warm Glow. From top - Sundust, Blazing Gold, After Love, Bronze Kiss

The BB cream aside, I have no regrets about buying any of these products and I'm sure I will be getting plenty of use out of all them throughout the warmer months. If you're looking for some new makeup to give you that natural, glowy, beach goddess glow this summer, I wouldn't hesitate to recommend L'Oreal's No Makeup Makeup range. The best thing is, it won't break the bank either, so more money for bikinis!

Have you tried any of these products?

Kate x

Some links may be affiliate links. This poses no extra cost to you, the customer. All opinions, as always, are my own.
August Favourites 2017 featuring Rimmel, 3ina, H&M and L'Oreal - 1

How was August for you? Mine has been pretty good, if quite chaotic, with a big family get-together bang in the middle of it. We had a lot of people staying with us, and were hoping for some good weather so that everyone could sit and eat out in the garden. It rained. Typical! Even so, it was lovely to see everyone and the rubbish weather didn't seem to matter in the end.

As always I have a random collection of things I've been loving throughout the month to share with you, so let's get started.

August Favourites 2017 featuring Rimmel, 3ina, H&M and L'Oreal - 2

1. Rimmel Kate Super Gel Nail Polish in Gilty Pleasure - Confession - I bought this over a year ago, put it away, and completely forgot about it until recently. I've seen a few people wearing this kind of shade and I'd actually been contemplating going out and buying something similar, so it's a good thing I had a clear out of my nail polishes and found it again. It's the loveliest pale gold metallic polish - the kind of shade you can wear all year round and with every outfit you own. I usually change up my polish every time I do my nails, but for the last few weeks I keep going back to this as I've been enjoying wearing it so much. I don't find that it lasts much more than a couple of days before chipping, even with a top coat, but that just seems to be the way it is with me and nail polish, so it doesn't bother me too much!

August Favourites 2017 featuring Rimmel, 3ina, H&M and L'Oreal - 3

2. H&M Wraparound blouse - Annoyingly, this exact blouse doesn't seem to be available any more, but this one and this one are both very similar. I have been loving it for quite a bit longer than just the month of August, but for some reason haven't featured it on the blog before now. For me, it's a much more wearable take on those incredibly popular striped, wraparound blouses with the enormous sleeves that almost seem to fall off the shoulder. Those are beautiful, and I can understand why my Instagram feed has been peppered with them throughout the summer, but if you're petite like me you will understand that the struggle is real when it comes to actually wearing something like that on a day to day basis. Constantly having to tug at and readjust your clothing just isn't cute. This one, however, is so easy to wear and looks just as pretty.

August Favourites 2017 featuring Rimmel, 3ina, H&M and L'Oreal - 4

3. H&M Sunglasses - Well, now I'm going to be even more annoying, because not only are these no longer available on the website, I can't find anything remotely similar either. You may, however, still be able to find them in an H&M store. I really love the 70s vibe of these, as well as the dainty gold frames which are ideal for my ridiculously small head. H&M sunglasses are so affordable, and these make a nice change from my usual aviator style. They go with everything, but seem to work best with flowing dresses and big hair.

August Favourites 2017 featuring Rimmel, 3ina, H&M and L'Oreal - 5

August Favourites 2017 featuring Rimmel, 3ina, H&M and L'Oreal - 6

4. 3ina Shiny Lipstick in 200 - There's just something about bright, glossy lips in the summer that I really love, and this pretty lipstick from 3ina ticks all the right boxes. Somewhere in between a hot pink and a light berry in colour, it's one of those products that makes you look like you've made an effort with your makeup even when you're hardly wearing anything else. It's pigmented enough to pack a punch but not so much that it's difficult to apply, and it's become a bit of a go to for me throughout August. All you need is a bit of foundation, some sunglasses and this lipstick, and you'll look polished to perfection!

August Favourites 2017 featuring Rimmel, 3ina, H&M and L'Oreal - 7

5. L'Oreal Paradise Mascara - If you follow me on Instagram, you might have seen me talking about this product on my Stories. I wasn't really in need of a new mascara, but I was totally seduced by the hype and the pretty packaging, and I'm so glad I was! The length this gives your lashes is sensational, and it's pretty good on volume and separation too. I have seen mixed reviews on it, and I should probably mention that the formula is a tad on the wet side, which I think is why some people don't get on with it. However, apart from the occasional tiny dot of product ending up on my eyelid on first application, which is easy enough to wipe away, I haven't had a problem with it. If you crave length from your mascara then I highly recommend checking this out. It also contains castor seed oil to nourish and condition the lashes.

What have your favourites been this month?

Kate x
June Favourites 2017, featuring Chanel Les Beiges Foundation, L'Oreal Color Riche Matte Addiction Lipstick and more - 1

So, precisely how did we get half way through the year already?! June has been a hectic but very nice month. I got to spend a few days in London with my sister, which is always one of my favourite things to do. The weather was so beautiful too so it almost felt like we were on holiday, and with the amount of iced coffees we consumed, let's just say I don't think that Starbucks will be going out of business any time soon.

As usual, I've handpicked a few favourite items of the month, so let's get started shall we?
 
June Favourites 2017, featuring Chanel Les Beiges Foundation, L'Oreal Color Riche Matte Addiction Lipstick and more - 2

 1. Chanel Les Beiges Foundation - Back when I first started blogging, I only wore full coverage, long lasting foundations and couldn't imagine wearing anything else. Now, partly because blogging has taught me so much about taking care of my skin properly, I feel like I can branch out into lighter bases more. Chanel Les Beiges is one I've wanted to try for a long time and I've been loving it this month. It's a great "compromise" foundation, offering a healthy glow without being overly dewy, and a decent amount of coverage without venturing into mask like territory. There are so many others I would like to try, but I think this one will be a mainstay of my collection for a long time to come. I have shade 20 which is a good match for my fair to medium skin.

June Favourites 2017, featuring Chanel Les Beiges Foundation, L'Oreal Color Riche Matte Addiction Lipstick and more - 3

June Favourites 2017, featuring Chanel Les Beiges Foundation, L'Oreal Color Riche Matte Addiction Lipstick and more - 4

2. L'Oreal Color Riche Matte Addiction Lipstick in 640 Erotique - As far as I can tell there is nothing new about this lipstick range, but for some reason I hadn't discovered it before a few weeks ago. The formula is just gorgeous. The finish is matte, but probably the softest, creamiest matte I have ever encountered and very comfortable to wear. The shade Erotique is a beautiful rosy pink nude and I've worn it almost every day this month.

June Favourites 2017, featuring Chanel Les Beiges Foundation, L'Oreal Color Riche Matte Addiction Lipstick and more - 5

3. DHC Liquid Eyeliner* - DHC is a Japanese beauty brand. I hadn't heard of it before it started popping up on my Instagram feed over the last couple of months, and then as luck would have it, a very kindly PR company sent me a couple of things from the brand. One was this precision point liquid eyeliner. While my favourite Kat Von D Tattoo Liner is difficult to beat, this one comes very close indeed. It has a super fine nib that gives a beautifully precise, black line. I really love the shiny pink packaging too!

June Favourites 2017, featuring Chanel Les Beiges Foundation, L'Oreal Color Riche Matte Addiction Lipstick and more - 6

4. DHC Olive Virgin Oil Swabs*  -  The second DHC product I was sent was this box of cotton buds. Also beautifully packaged, this is such a simple but brilliant idea. Each individually wrapped cotton bud or swab is infused with virgin olive oil, meaning that they are perfect for cleaning up any eye makeup mistakes. I used to dip a cotton bud into makeup remover to do this, and now I don't have to! They're also useful for moisturising small areas like cuticles and around the nose. I did wonder if oil infused swabs would feel greasy to the touch, but they don't at all. They just feel like regular cotton buds until you start to wipe them over your misplaced eye makeup, and like magic, it disappears.

June Favourites 2017, featuring Chanel Les Beiges Foundation, L'Oreal Color Riche Matte Addiction Lipstick and more - 7

5. H&M Skirt - I wore this skirt pretty much every day during the June heatwave (all four days of it!) It's an effortless piece as it goes with everything and the slightly longer length is ideal for city wear. H&M appear to have a slightly different wash in stock now but from what I can see, the cut is the same.

June Favourites 2017, featuring Chanel Les Beiges Foundation, L'Oreal Color Riche Matte Addiction Lipstick and more - 8

What have you been loving this month?

Kate x

*Gifted item. All opinions, as always, are my own.
February Favourites 2017 - 1

So, how was everyone's February? Mine felt as if it flew by, and was something of a nondescript month, without anything particularly exciting happening. Still, on the plus side, there were no disasters either, so I guess I should just be grateful for that! This month's favourites is a mixed bag - some new things, and some old faithful products that you are sure to have seen me declaring my love for at least once or twice before! It's mostly beauty this month, plus a book that I think pretty much everyone who blogs will be interested in.

February Favourites 2017 - 2 - L'Oreal False Lash X Fiber Mascara

1. L'Oreal False Lash X Fiber Mascara - First up, something new - this double-ended mascara from L'Oreal. I've seen quite a few mixed reviews about this, but I personally love it and think it gives some serious impact to my lashes. You apply the primer end first, to add volume, and then the end with the fibres for length. Some people claim to have experienced the fibres falling onto their face or into their eyes, but I've experienced neither and have really been enjoying using this. I don't mind the extra time it takes to apply the two different steps and think it's well worth it for the results. I would be interested to know if anyone else has used this and if so, what did you think? 

February Favourites 2017 - 3 - Primark Eyelash Curlers

2. Primark Eyelash Curlers - For the longest time, I've used Shu Uemura eyelash curlers, which cost around £20, but having heard about these pretty Primark ones, I decided to give them a go this month. Apart from not feeling quite as weighty in my hand, the Primark curlers are really no different from the Shu Uemura ones. They curl my lashes just as well, and they only cost £1. No, that's not a typo. They cost £1. Plus, they come with a spare silicone pad, and they're rose gold! Needless to say, I won't be going back.

February Favourites 2017 - 4 - Maybelline Super Stay 7 Days Gel Nail Color

3. Maybelline Super Stay 7 Days Gel Nail Color -  I've featured a couple of these in monthly favourites posts before, and having added a couple more shades to my collection this month (Midnight Red and Divine Wine), I feel it's only right that I give a shoutout to the range as a whole. The colours are beautiful, the formula is a dream to work with and the wide brush makes application quick and easy. I've got my eye on a couple of lighter shades for spring as well - I'll probably end up owning the entire range before long!

February Favourites 2017 - 5 - The Body Shop Spa of the World French Lavender Massage Oil

4. The Body Shop Spa of the World French Lavender Massage Oil - I reviewed a few products from the Spa of the World range here and truth be told, I've been loving all of them this month. I decided to single out the lavender oil, though, as it has made so much difference to the quality of my sleep lately. I don't use this for massage at all, but put a few drops on my chest and wrists before I go to bed and breathe in the relaxing scent as I drift off to sleep. I've been falling asleep quicker and having a much more peaceful night since I started using this, so I'm keeping it on my bedside table for good now!

February Favourites 2017 - 6 - Clarins Extra Comfort Foundation and Zoeva Buffer Brush

5. Clarins Extra Comfort Foundation applied with Zoeva 104 Buffer Brush - This foundation has popped up in my favourites before now, but I've been loving it so much this month that I had to mention it again. I find I enjoy this more whenever my skin feels that little bit drier, and with the cold weather we've had throughout February, that's certainly been the case. It's a full coverage foundation with a lovely dewy finish, and if it only lasted a little bit longer it would probably be my all time number one base product. However, the drier my skin, the longer it lasts, so it's often something I love in the winter. I've also been enjoying this Zoeva brush to apply it with. As someone who's always applied foundation with their fingertips, it's been something of a revelation! The finish is smoother and more flawless with this and I wouldn't hesitate to recommend it.

February Favourites 2017 - 7 - The Million Dollar Blog by Natasha Courtenay-Smith

6. The Million Dollar Blog by Natasha Courtenay-Smith - My final favourite this month is this book on blogging which I stumbled upon by accident when searching for something to read. The Amazon reviews were excellent, so I decided to give it a go.  I'm just over halfway through it and I'm finding it really interesting so far. It's fun to read the stories of established bloggers and how they managed to turn their blogs into successful businesses, but there's also a lot of good tips about how to approach content creation, which I think anyone with a blog would find really useful. If you click on my link you'll find it on Amazon and you can check out the first few pages for free if you're interested.

What have you been loving this past month?

Kate x
January Favourites featuring Benefit, Miller Harris, Mac, Too Faced, L'Oreal and H&M - 1

It's monthly favourites time again! January has been pretty productive for me this year. Last year and the year before I was moving house, and everything else had to go on hold, so it has been really nice to be able to get on with things from the start this time around. In terms of my blog, I've felt a renewed sense of enthusiasm after feeling a little bit lost at the end of last year. In part, this has been due to having the opportunity to work with No7 this month - a brand I've loved for years - but also, I think, because I took some time off over Christmas to recharge my batteries and really think about what I'm trying to achieve with my little corner of the internet. Taking a break is something I'm often scared to do, but it can be invaluable in terms of putting things into perspective and generating new ideas, so I'm going to make a mental note to myself to do this a little more often! All in all, it's been a positive start to 2017. 

January Favourites featuring Benefit, Miller Harris, Mac, Too Faced, L'Oreal and H&M - 2

As well as getting started on those new year goals, January is often a time when a lot of people cut back on spending. That certainly seems to have been true for me this year, as pretty much all my favourites are rediscoveries of forgotten treasures from the bottom of my makeup drawer. I have to say, as much as I love acquiring shiny new things, there is a particular sense of satisfaction to be gained from shopping the stash, especially when you are reminded of how much you love something that has somehow slipped out of sight and out of mind.

Here's what I've been loving this month.

1. Benefit Rollerlash Mascara - My appreciation for this mascara has been something of a slow burner. When I first bought it, I was fixated on the claims about how well it curls lashes, and expected to be able to throw away my eyelash curlers once and for all. This wasn't the case for me, and I think it made me disappointed in the product to start off with. However, once I had fished my eyelash curlers back out of the bin and tried Rollerlash in partnership with them, I realised that it's actually really nice, especially for length. I usually go for volumising mascaras, but lately I've preferred the more delicate, fluttery effects of this one. 

January Favourites featuring Benefit, Miller Harris, Mac, Too Faced, L'Oreal and H&M - 3

2. Miller Harris Vetiver Insolent Perfume* - I'm sure I've mentioned this fagrance hundreds of times on the blog by now, but if you're unfamiliar with it, you can check out my full review here. This is a sophisticated and heavy fragrance, not for the faint-hearted, but I absolutely love it. I've had a few evenings out this month, and with the weather being so cold, I have enjoyed wearing this warm, earthy fragrance more than ever.

January Favourites featuring Benefit, Miller Harris, Mac, Too Faced, L'Oreal and H&M - 4

3. Mac Eye Shadow in Tempting - I'd forgotten I had this, so it was a treat to rediscover it in the depths of my makeup drawer! For my day to day eye makeup, I tend to use just one shade over the lid and blended into the crease, and bronze colours like this are perfect. Tempting is a lustre finish with a really beautiful shimmer to it. I think I have worn this just about every single day throughout the month of January.

January Favourites featuring Benefit, Miller Harris, Mac, Too Faced, L'Oreal and H&M - 5

4. Too Faced La Creme Color Drenched Lip Cream in Nude Beach worn with L'Oreal Infallible Mega Gloss in Protest Queen - I am obsessed with this lip combination. The Too Faced Color Drenched Lip Creams are probably the most comfortable lipsticks I have ever worn. They feel like a lip balm to apply, but they have a beautiful, creamy, sheeny pigmentation to them too. The shade Nude Beach is a gorgeous pinky nude which I seem to have been drawn to a lot this month. I think it has something to do with wanting spring to start right after Christmas! Protest Queen is one of L'Oreal's cream finish lipglosses from the Mega Gloss line, and over the top of Nude Beach it is just perfect. It's almost identical in colour and just intensifies the creaminess and, er, sheeniness. I've put the two together in the swatch above.

January Favourites featuring Benefit, Miller Harris, Mac, Too Faced, L'Oreal and H&M - 6

5. H&M Turtleneck (similar) - I have lived in this for pretty much the whole month. An absolute bargain, this is a fitted black turtleneck jumper with just the tiniest little design detail in the ribbing on the front. Perfect with jeans and a big fur-lined jacket during the day, and tucked into a leather pencil skirt for the evening. We've had some freezing weather in the last couple of weeks so it has been lovely to be all covered up in this. I can't find this exact jumper on the H&M website, but the one I've linked to is nearly identical and also a great price.

And that rounds up my first monthly favourites of 2017! How has January been for you, and what have you been loving this month?

Kate x

*Gifted item. All opinions, as always, are my own.
Every time I write a post like this, I seem to feel the need to add words like "some" or "a few of". It's as though my inner compulsive shopper is anxious at the thought that I might actually have enough of something, and wants to make it clear to everyone reading that I am still allowed to buy more if I want to. We could psychoanalyse what this says about me, but let's not. Let's just look at pretty lipsticks instead, OK?

There's nothing ground-breaking here, just a selection of lip products I already have in my stash that I know I'm going to be reaching for as the weather starts to turn colder. I've divided them into four categories, so let's get started!

1. The Nineties Nude
 
Autumn 2016 lipsticks 1 Mac Velvet Teddy, Too Faced Naughty Nude


I still can't get enough of these brown toned nudes. During the summer months, I gravitated more towards pinks, but now it's autumn I'm back to these. They're easy to wear and very flattering, and despite how popular they've become, I still think they make a refreshing change from pinks and peaches. 

Is there anything I can say about Velvet Teddy that you haven't heard already? Probably not. I only managed to get my hands on this recently (possibly because everyone else is over it?!) and in my opinion it's totally worth the hype. It's what I would call a "soft matte" in that it's still comfortable to apply and wear and does have a very slight sheen to it. As for the shade, it's what a thousand others have tried to emulate - the perfect nude. I can see this bullet getting worn down in record time!

Autumn 2016 lipsticks 2 Mac Velvet Teddy, Too Faced Naughty Nude

Left, Velvet Teddy, Right, Naughty Nude

Naughty Nude is one of Too Faced's Color Drenched Lip Creams, a dreamy, sheeny, buttery soft formula I'm obsessed with - so moisturising you feel like you're applying lip balm. It's slightly lighter and more sheer than Velvet Teddy, which makes it the perfect choice on days when you don't feel like wearing a lot of makeup.


2. The Warm Spice

Slightly deeper and warmer than the nineties nude, this is perfect when you want something that packs a little more punch, but still feels effortless.

Autumn 2016 lipsticks 3 Mac Mocha, Mac Spice, Estee Lauder Seductive Honey


Autumn 2016 lipsticks 4 Mac Mocha

I've had Mac Mocha for a while and it's still one of my favourite lipsticks. Shade-wise it's quite similar to Velvet Teddy, although a touch darker and redder. It's also a satin finish as opposed to a matte.

Autumn 2016 lipsticks 5 Mac Mocha, Mac Spice, Estee Lauder Seductive Honey

Mac Spice lip pencil is a little bit deeper still, and works beautifully on its own or in combination with Estee Lauder Pure Color Envy Sculpting Gloss in Seductive Honey - a match made in heaven that I already talked about way back in my April Favourites. I've worn the gloss a lot throughout the summer, because it's quite light and will go over anything, but I'm looking forward to pairing it with Mac Spice again now autumn is here.

Autumn 2016 lipsticks 6 Mac Mocha, Mac Spice, Estee Lauder Seductive Honey

From left, Mac Mocha, Mac Spice, Estee Lauder Seductive Honey, Spice and Seductive Honey together

3. The Vampy Red

Autumn 2016 lipsticks 7 L'Oreal Blake's Red, Mac Ruby Woo, Rimmel Kate 01
 
Clockwise from bottom left - L'Oreal Blake's Red, Mac Ruby Woo, Rimmel Kate 01

I will always love a classic red lip. It's the perfect finishing touch to a glamorous night out look, but can also work magic when paired with a super simple jeans and white shirt combo. It's great at any time of year, but I tend to favour these full on vampier shades in the cooler months, opting for something more like an orange or bright pink in the summer.

L'Oreal Color Riche Blake's Red from the Pure Reds collection is an old favourite of mine. It looks a little orange-toned in the photo above, but it's not at all - in fact, it's more of a pinky red as you can see in the swatch below. It's velvety, pigmented, distinctive and beautiful. Wearing this is the next best thing to actually being Blake Lively.

Ruby Woo by Mac is another lipstick that's been part of my collection for some time. A real true red, it's described by Mac as "very matte" and it really is. It's like trying to apply chalk to your lips. However, if they're in good condition and you're prepared to work a little bit at applying your lipstick, the result is really stunning.

Autumn 2016 lipsticks 8 L'Oreal Blake's Red, Mac Ruby Woo, Rimmel Kate 01

Rimmel 01 from the Kate Moss collection is the latest addition to my stash of red lipsticks. Since they were kind enough to put my name on the lid, it would have been rude not to buy it, no?! This one is slightly darker than the other two and a lot glossier. I haven't worn it out yet, but I've played around with it and it's a real cracker. I can't wait for an occasion to wear this!

Autumn 2016 lipsticks 9 L'Oreal Blake's Red, Mac Ruby Woo, Rimmel Kate 01

From left, L'Oreal Blake's Red, Rimmel Kate 01, Mac Ruby Woo

4. The Deep Berry

Call me a basic bitch, but it wouldn't be autumn without berry coloured lips to sip your pumpkin spiced latte with, now would it? Actually, I've never had a pumpkin spiced latte - they don't appeal to me! Berry lips, on the other hand, definitely do. This duo from Rimmel is the sum total of what I own in this category, so I quite clearly need to buy some more at the earliest opportunity.

Autumn 2016 lipsticks 10 Rimmel The Only 1 Under My Spell

 Rimmel Under My Spell lipstick and lipliner 

This fabulous lipstick is from Rimmel's The Only 1 range. It's a stunning, blackcurrant shade that makes a real statement - best to keep the rest of your face very simple when wearing this. The liner - which I bought purely to help me apply the lipstick more precisely - is from the Exaggerate range but is also called Under My Spell. However, it's been about a year since I bought this and I can't seem to find it online anywhere. Obsession looks very similar but I haven't seen it in the flesh, so can't say for certain if it's the same shade.

Autumn 2016 lipsticks 11 Rimmel The Only 1 Under My Spell

Left, Lipstick, Right, Lipliner

Do you own any of these lip products? What lipstick shades will you be rocking this autumn? And am I the only one who isn't tempted by pumpkin spiced lattes? I'd love to know!

Kate x
Blogger Template Created by pipdig