Here we are on the first day of autumn. Summer seemed to disappear ages ago and did so practically overnight, only to return again with some glorious sunny days. Even so, I'm already embracing the season. With the recent purchase of a few autumn essentials, I'm good to go. As much as I love summer, the autumn brings some of my favourite things - slippers, roast dinners, scarves, deep bubble baths, cosy PJs and chunky knits.

But this year I have a new obsession that comes in the form of lipstick and blush. I've never really used either of these things on a daily basis but having become ever so slightly addicted to beauty channels on YouTube I'm becoming increasingly drawn to blushed cheeks and pretty pouts.

Lisa Eldridge is my favourite channel. I hold her fully responsible for the large majority of my recent skincare and beauty products purchases, of which there have been many.

For the first time ever I wore bronzer this summer but I'm popping that away for the foreseeable future and embracing my pale skin. Instead I'll be relying on blush to give my pale complexion a boost.


I bagged this Rimmel Stay Blushed! cream blusher, after seeing Lisa Eldridge use it on Alexa Chung in her Alexa Chung tutorial. Sadly, this blush is the only thing that Alexa and I have in common *sigh* but it is a pretty colour (Sunkissed Cherry) and great for teaming with an nude or orange lip. It has a slightly thicker consistency than other cream blushers I've tried but it melts into the skin on contact and blends easily.


I've also picked up some tips on how to make your lippy last longer, it's a pet hate of mine to leave it on the rim of your coffee cup (why can't it just stay put?). It's stopped me bothering with lippy for years but, thanks to another of Lisa's videos, I now think I've cracked it (seriously this girl crush has got to stop!).


My Autumn look will most certainly feature a stained berry lip. I treated myself to two berry colours to see me through the cooler months ahead. I picked up Rimmel Kate Lasting Finish no.30 and Revlon Super Lustrous in Black Cherry, both are so beautiful I couldn't decide between them. And thanks to One Lipstick, Many Ways to Wear it Tutorial! I've been using this on my cheeks too.

Having gone a little overboard in the lipstick department over the summer I was looking to expand my blush collection, so doubling up lippy as a blusher will save me a small fortune. It also means my lips and cheeks will compliment each other perfectly #win.

How are you ringing the changes for Autumn?

Love

On a recent blogger meet up we all expressed our wonderment at beauty bloggers and their ability to create different make up looks. We decided that our collective make up style was either make-up-on or make-up-off.

Despite a drawer full of the stuff I only ever seem to recreate the same look - neutral eyes with lots of liner. Sometimes I'll add some blush, sometimes a slick of lippy, never both.
So, this week I tried to pick items that would make me try something different - namely, elf primer eyeshadow in Sultry satin and Misty mauve, and 17 eye pencil in metallic purple. Within minutes of applying the eyeshadow my eyes glazed over and began to sting. So it was back to my trusted neutral eyeshadow palettes for me. You can't say I didn't try.

A New Year resolution of mine was to master liquid eyeliner once and for all. Again, I tried (I really did) and I actually started to get the hang of it but when I looked at the result, I had to be honest, it didn't really suit me. It was too harsh so I decided to stick to what I know - a smudgier, smokey eye.

Do you have different make up looks? Is your make up collection, like mine, largely untouched?

Despite being really slap dash about posting these I have been changing my make up every week in an effort to use the un-used.

I only have three mascaras, Avon Supermagnify mascara that I use all the time on my lower lashes and Dior New Look and this one - Boots Lash Adapt that I'm simply alternating each week. I highly recommend all three.

Elf Brightening Eye Colour in Ethereal. I like these quads but I hate the applicators (they scratch!) but the colours are good, really nice for daytime.

Elf Lip Stain (I think they have changed this product as they now look like this). This gives a nice matt colour which I like, but it you fancy gloss then there is some on the other end.

Avon Anew eye liner. I've discovered that this has been discontinued, which is a shame as it's lovely. I like the smudger on the end but more than that I love the staying power of this eyeliner. It really doesn't budge.

Avon Illuminating Face Pearls, I've had these for ages and I should use them more. They add a lovely shimmer without being to over the top. I often forgo blush because I worry that being so pale I'll look little Aunt Sally.

What item of make-up could you not live without?

Love

I have been really crap at keeping up to date with these posts! This time around (which is actually a few weeks ago now...) I used some long forgotten items.

Revlon Powder Blush in Berry Rich. I chose this because it was a muted soft pink with only a teeny tiny bit of shimmer. I really like it but it doesn't last all day, some reapplication would be necessary, but I don't carry cosmetics around with me for touch ups. I used to but found that I didn't use it much so I made my bag a little lighter and left the lot at home. This isn't to say that, since then, there haven't been occasions when I was in dire need of some cosmetic help and cursed my decision to leave my make up bag at home!

L'Oreal Trio Eyeshadow for blue eyes. Lovely colours and good staying power (especially when using Elfs eyelid primer). This is great for both a natural sweep of colour or for creating a daytime smokey eye.

Dior Diorshow New Look Mascara. I.love.this. It has a tiny brush but has the power to transform my pathetic lashes. Seriously, go get yourself a tube.

Inka eyeliner in graphite. I got this is a Glossybox, it's organic but a little to shimmery and pale for my liking. It's grey with a hint of silver, which is pretty but I prefer something darker.

Elf eyelid primer in Champagne. This is my second favourite elf eyelid primer after the sheer one. I wear this alone for a shimmery look. It's subtle enough for the daytime and stays put. Can't fault it.

What make up products do you love?

Love

My August challenge has made me think about not just the clothes I have languishing in the back of my wardrobe but all the things I have that I rarely use. Take my make up drawer for example - it's full of stuff and yet I use the same items day in, day out.

So, taking a leaf out of Lauren's book I decided to do a weekly make up, shake up to mix things up a bit. Although so far I haven't been organised enough to post weeky. Oops.


Firstly, I have to say that there are some items that I just could not do without - eyelash curlers, obviously. Elf Eyelid Primer (introduced to me by Lauren), Avon Supermagnify mascara, the only thing that works on my lower lashes. Benefit Erase Paste, a recent find but one I instantly fell in love with! And Body Shop Brow and Liner Kit, I searched high and low for a decent eyebrow kit and this is by far the best and the only one that doesn't leave me with orange brows. These will remain in my make up bag no. matter. what.


Week One
Elf Brightening Eye Colour in Brownstone, great colours, my favourite being the maroon colour which I used as an eyeliner quite a lot. I hate the eyeshadow applicators that come with it. They're hard and scratchy. Yuck.

Boots No7 Lash Adapt mascara, I'm on my second tube of this. It's fab, I was absolutely certain that I'd reviewed this, I haven't but I meant to! I have fine, stubborn lashes but this stuff works a treat and the claim that you can apply several coats to build up fullness and length is true, although seven layers (so they say) is pushing it for me.

Eyeko Skinny eyeliner in black, I received this in a Glossybox some time ago. I really like the formula and it stays put but it didn't fit in my make up bag (it was too long) so it got thrown in the drawer. However, my larger make up bag and I are now loving it.

Becca Beach Tint for cheeks and lips in watermelon, another Glossybox item. It smells divine. I only use it on my cheeks for a pinch of colour, it tastes a little odd and doesn't really last as a lip colour. I don't normally bother with blush but this is really nice.

Soap and Glory Sexy Mother Pucker XL Extreme Plump XL Lip Plumping Gloss I've had this for ages, it's nearing the end. It's great stuff, lasts for ages, gives a fuller lip (don't expect miracles though it's plumping not totally transformative), it leaves lips soft and tastes yummy. I'd happily purchase this again, as soon as I've used up all the other lip glosses in my possession, which could take a while. I don't use lip gloss on a daily basis so I don't know why I have so many.

Love