Sportsgirl skirts...

You know how some seasons every item of clothing you see in a store screams out to you? Well this Spring/Summer, that has happened to me, especially when I walk through the doors of Sportsgirl.
Long flowing maxi and midi skirts are the prominent trend this season, and this suits me down to the ground! I love the slightly retro vibe of a longer skirt, and it also makes me feel a lot more comfortable, knowing that I can move around and not show everyone my underwear!

The first skirt is a floral full midi skirt from Sportsgirl (similar here).  Even though it initially looks quite dressy, it can be dressed up and dressed down. Sometimes I pair it with a black long-sleeved top, a pretty belt, a red lip and even some heels.  Other times I throw on a slogan tee (from Myer), and some Summery ballet flats.

This next skirt, is the 'Sporty Pleated Midi Skirt' from Sportsgirl (here).  Every time I walked past the shop window it called to me, and eventually I decided I couldn't live without it! It has an elastic waist, so it's incredibly comfortable to wear. It's cut so that it has a diagonal hem. Again, you can dress it up or down, depending on where you're going. And because it is slightly out of the norm, it definitely gets some attention! When I wore this, I received so many compliments! 

What is your favourite trend for the season? Are there any other skirts I need to buy? (Because I clearly don't have enough!

Beth. x 

The Christmas List...

Christmas is a time for giving to others, spending time with loved ones, singing carols all day every day and thinking about the deeper meanings of the holiday.  Receiving gifts is just an added bonus of this exciting time of year... That being said, today's post is a list of things I would love to have wrapped up under the tree for me!

1. The Complete Set from Zoeva. - Every blogger on the planet wants the rose gold Zoeva brush set, but when I was browsing the Luxola website I stumbled upon this set that has almost double the brushes and is cheaper too! It's not like I need more brushes, but these ones are lovely. 

2. Crosley Executive Turntable - Black (CR6019A-BK) - A record player has been on my wishlist for some time now, and this one from Crosley has had amazing reviews! Perfect for the music lover who likes to keep things authentic.

3. Records to play on the record player! - A lot of the bands I listen to produce their albums on vinyl as well as cds etc., so I think I may need some of them, as well as some old school op-shop finds too!

4. Bobbi Brown Art Stick. -  I saw Zoella wearing one of these in a vlog months ago, and since then I've been dreaming about them! As a lipstick addict, I feel that one of these would be a lovely addition to my collection.

5. Nars Audacious Lipstick in Grace, Greta or Natalie or Charlotte... or most of them. - These have been talked about a lot in the beauty community lately, and with the amount of shades in the range, there is definitely one, or many for every person! 

6. Some yoga/sport pants that aren't see-through. - I have a constant struggle when shopping for exercise clothing... It's got to be comfortable and practical, but also not super expensive, because I don't exercise THAT much. 

So I think that is enough wanting for one post. I hope it might give you some inspiration.
What's on your Christmas list this year?

Beth. x 

Rimmel Provocalips

Now I am a girl who loves a long staying lip product. I hate reapplying, and dislike having to worry if I have lipstick all over my face. Enter Rimmel Provocalips, the more long lasting cousin to the Apocalips.

Firstly, I have to admit I wasn't that big a fan of the Apocalips. For me, the colour didn't last long enough, they tended to bleed, and somehow they always seemed to end up on my teeth.

The Provocalips on the other hand, last through eating, drinking, (and yes they even live up to their 'kiss proof' claim).  With these ones you apply the colour, let it dry, then apply a clear gloss that locks in the colour and adds shine. I don't really like having to faff around with multiple steps, but the fact that this extra step allows the product to last for hours more, is enough for me to let it slide.

I have a few problems though... As a matte lip lover, the glossiness of these (especially with the bright colour -Little Minx - that I chose) was slightly off putting. Also the gloss layer is also quite sticky throughout the day. And as other bloggers have mentioned, these are hard to get off your lips at the end of the day, (but I guess that's what you expect with a supposed 16 hour formula).

The shade range of these is quite good, with a few nudes, a few pinks, and a few reds. I'd definitely be interested to try more, because even though there are a few small problems, the lasting power has definitely won me over.

Have you tried these? Which shade should I try next?

Beth. x

The Topshop Concealer Palette

I ordered the Topshop Concealer Palette on a whim, as a way of avoiding the ridiculous shipping costs on the website... I was glad I made this decision, because I have been quite impressed with it!

I hadn't really tried any Topshop cosmetics until this palette, but I've heard so many good things, and I was not disappointed.

The palette comes in compact, silver mirror-like packaging, which looks pretty to begin with... But does get fingerprints and scratches on it easily.  However the product inside the packaging is really good. There are four sections in the palette, (which come with handy instructions of how to use them).

The first section is a colour correcting concealer, which you layer under the other two concealers, depending on what tones you wish to conceal. As a colour correcter it works really well, however it's not as creamy as I would like.

The second section is an under eye concealer. It's slightly lighter than the other highlighter, to allow for highlighting.  It's quite creamy, and conceals under the eye quite well without the colour correcter. I found that if I layered the colour correcter and the concealer, things got a bit cakey, and creased very easily, but that could just be my sleep-deprived skin. It works to conceal and correct colour just by itself; it does crease a bit, but again, I think I have more bags/creases under my eye than the normal person.

The third section is a blemish concealer.  It's slightly darker than the under eye concealer, but just as creamy.  It covers blemishes really well, and if your foundation rubs off during the day, it doesn't look too bad blended out to fix patchy bits either!

The fourth section is a setting powder, which is a handy addition to have when you're on the go.

The sponge applicator that comes with the palette I found wasn't useful for application of any of the products in the compact. I found it much easier to apply and blend the concealers with my finger and use a small fluffy brush to apply the setting powder.

Overall, a really good concealer palette, that is perfect and compact to take on the go. At about $22 Australian, it's fairly reasonably priced, so definitely worth a look!

Have you tried and Topshop make-up? What should I try next?

Beth. x

Zoella Beauty

Zoella is one of the biggest YouTube commodities around at the moment, with more than 5 million subscribers, this fun-loving, girl-next-door reaches people from all over the world. Like many other vloggers, Zoe has ventured into the land of merchandising, releasing her own range of bath and body products, (aptly named Zoella Beauty), and it has been going from strength to strength, which isn't surprising with her millions of fans (including myself) wanting to get their hands on these beautiful products.

Now to the products... The Zoella Beauty range is available in Superdrug in the UK, and FeelUnique (for us overseas beauty lovers). The packaging of all of the products is beautiful, (and very much fitting with the Zoella brand), and very affordable too! (All of the products are less than $18 AUD).

I picked up the Zoella Beauty Eyes Beauty Bag, the Fizz Bar, the Soak Opera Bath Soak and Shower Cream and the Creamy Madly Dreamy Body Lotion. I also desperately wanted to try the body mist, but sadly it can't be shipped overseas.

My favourite product out of the lot is the Creamy Madly Dreamy Body Lotion. First of all, the name is incredibly cute, but the product itself is really good too! The smell is to die for, and it sinks into the skin really quickly, moisturises well, and doesn't leave any stickiness at all.

The beauty bag has just enough space for all the beauty/skin products you'll need for a night away, and can fit make-up brushes too, (if you don't have too much other stuff in there).

The fizz bar, does what is says on the package and fizzes away. It leaves the water in your bath nice and silky, but doesn't add any colour or bubbles... It does smell glorious though! (Just like the body lotion and the bath cream).

I always use the fizz bar with the bath soak, as the bath soak adds bubbles into the mix. Again, this product smells glorious, in a subtle, girly way, that doesn't overpower you.  The only problem is that the bubbles don't last that long, (but if you're just having a relatively quick bath, then you won't have a problem).

Overall, I really enjoy the range, and I'm looking forward to new additions in the future! It's well worth a look, if you want to pamper yourself.

Have you tried any of these products? What did you think?

Beth. x

Lush festive loving.

Normally I'm not that big a Lush fan... I have super, super sensitive skin, so a lot of the products don't agree with me.  However, at Christmas time I can't resist popping into a Lush store to pick up a few (or many) of the festive bath bombs! Bath bombs don't seem to upset my skin (yay!), and the Christmassy scents make me incredibly happy.

This year I picked up four different types of bath bombs to try out.

First of all I got "Cinders." This one is my all time favourite Lush bath bomb, and I bought three of these, so it will hopefully last me a while! This bath bomb smells like cinnamon, and has popping candy in it, to make your bath fizz.

Next I picked up the "Luxury Lush Pud" bath bomb. This one looks amazing both on your shelf and in your bath. It smells like lavender and ylang ylang, and is supposed to be super calming.

Another one from the festive range, "Dashing Santa" made it into my basket.  This one is the cutest of the bunch, and smells like citrus.

And finally I picked up the "Honey Bee" bath bomb. This one has a yellow and grey stripe, (hence the name), and smells like honey or caramel. It also contains Moroccan rhassoul mud to deep cleanse and soften your skin, so you get a spa-like treatment for a fraction of the cost! 

Have you tried any of Lush's festive range? What is your favourite?

Beth. x

Can we talk about Red Ink for a sec?

Red Ink, the indie pop/rock four piece from Melbourne, released their debut self-titled album in February this year. I have been listening to that album since then, but uni, work, and pretty much everything else has gotten in the way of me writing this post.  However, this album has been the soundtrack to my long commute to uni, more times than I can count!  I wanted to wait until I had time to do this properly, because these boys deserve it, and this album is really good.

This album, to me, is the best of both worlds from their previous releases. Combining the synthy, more laid back vibes of 'The Colour Age - EP' and the 'Audrey - EP,' with the more punchy, in your face rock of the 'Catching a Killer - EP' and the 'What My Friends Say' single, in the best way possible.

The album starts with the crackle of speakers, then kicks into the pulsing drums of 'Hourglass,' a perfect start to the album. The chorus is one that you will instantly find yourself singing along to, 'I Live In a Garden' is good in this respect too, it also has that pulsing drum, that gets you tapping straight away. 'Adolescent Minds' gets extra points for it's jackhammer use in the instrumental part, and for John's evil laugh. And while John's vocals are flawless throughout, 'Tunnel Vision' takes it to a new level. 'Ballerina' along with 'Going Insane' tick all the boxes for radio-worthiness, and 'Puzzle' has deceptively deep lyrical content.

My favourite tracks on the album would have to be 'Going Insane' and 'Fireworks,' (although all of the songs are brilliant for their own reasons). 'Going Insane' is incredibly catchy and upbeat, lyrically it is brilliant. For example, "You move like you broke an ankle, you smile like a stuttering lamb, you dance like an open bar, and you dance away." And honestly, you can't help but dance like that, the song is just infectious. 'Fireworks' has so many layers that keep building as the song progresses, and the subtle harmonies in the chorus really sold me on this one, (there's also a sneaky little extra track tacked onto the end of this song, which is a nice surprise).

If you know me, you know I love a good harmony, and this album is full of subtle, yet effective harmonies, that I have tried far too many times to master during my car sing-a-longs.

The only problem I have with the whole album is with the song 'Hard To Leave.' While the instrumentation is lovely, and the chorus is really catchy, the vocals in the verses are really hard to make out, because they get drowned out.

But all-in-all this album is hard to fault. The vibe of the album is kind of lo-fi, but done in a really nice way. The lyrical content is lovely, thought provoking, (and interestingly inspired by books John found whilst strolling Berlin). The actual instrumentation is innovative and interesting, and makes you want more and more, like a book you can't put down. And for those of us who were lucky enough to support it through the crowd funding  campaign, we got some pretty cool extra stuff too! (Like the lovely handwritten lyrics you see on this page).

So if you want to check out Red Ink (and their album), you can do so from the links below.

https://www.facebook.com/redinkmusic?ref=ts&fref=ts

https://www.youtube.com/user/REDINKMUSICGROUP

https://itunes.apple.com/au/album/red-ink/id815413887?uo=4&at=11lEW&ct=smartTab%7C10344500988%7C2014-10-31

Beth. x

Icehouse and Michael Paynter = Stellar.

You're probably already sick of me telling you that I love music... It's true... But here is some more music love for you.

I was lucky enough to go and see Icehouse and Michael Paynter perform recently, and it was amazing.

Icehouse

If you're not Australian, then you might not have heard of Icehouse, but they are a band that were dominating the radio waves in the 80's. Michael Paynter, on the other hand is a Melbourne singer-songwriter-multi-instrumentalist-allroundniceguy, who was born in the 80's.

Michael Paynter doing his thing.

Michael Paynter is a favourite of mine (as you can see here), and when I heard that he was coming to my town playing in Icehouse, as well as being the support act, I was incredibly excited. This was my fourth time seeing Michael perform live, and I was back at the venue where I had first witnessed his amazing talent. He did not disappoint.  Armed with just an acoustic guitar and his stellar voice, he managed to keep the excited crowd quiet. He started his set with a stripped back version of 'Another You,' from his album 'Weary Stars,' and filled the rest of his set with new takes on songs from the album, ('Love The Fall,' 'Weary Stars' and 'Let Go,') as well as some back catalog stuff ('Freedom's Not For Me' and 'Closer'). A cover of Elvis' 'My Babe' also made it into the mix.  All songs performed to perfection, with Michael's trademark range and vibrato. And not to forget the between-song banter that Michael does so well, making fun of himself for audience amusement.

(A tiny snippet of Michael Paynter playing 'Let Go.')

Next up were Icehouse, who after 20+ years of playing and touring have got it down to a fine art. Watching these guys was like watching them jam in the studio, nice, relaxed and fun.  Iva Davies' voice is as good as it is recorded, and he commands an audience when he sings. And you can tell the band has been playing together for a while, purely by the way they interact on stage.

The man himself, Iva Davies.

They played all of their hits ('Electric Blue,' 'Crazy,' 'Hey Little Girl,' 'Great Southern Land,' 'We Can Get Together,') and so many more. Each band member had their time to shine, with sax solos, guitar solos, drum solos and keys solos left right and centre. Michael Paynter even got his time in the spotlight, taking the lead on 'Touch The Fire.' The only disappointment of the night, was the fact that 'Man of Colour' didn't make it into the set.  I've seen many a video of Iva and Michael performing it together, and it's a shame I couldn't witness it in person.

Michael and Iva performing 'Touch The Fire.'

All in all, a brilliant night of music, and despite ending up with seats in the nosebleed section, it was still phenomenal.

Have you seen any good gigs lately? I'd love to know.

Beth. x

Rimmel Lasting Finish by Kate Moss Lipsticks.

Hi, I'm Beth, and I am a lipstick addict. I have way more than is humanly necessary... Many of these lipsticks are the Rimmel Lasting Finish Lipsticks by Kate Moss.

And let me just say, I love them. I love everything about them.
The formula of these is lovely. They're creamy, pigmented, they smell nice, and there's a great shade range, (even though I stick mainly to reds).  The ones in the red packaging dry matte, and last and last. I used to wear these with lip liner and lip cote (see my post here), but I realised, for these ones you don't need to bother faffing around, they just last. The ones in the black are slightly more glossy, and don't tend to last quite as long.

As a poor university student, these also aren't too bad on the bank balance! They retail for about $12, but are often on offer, which makes it far too easy to pick up multiple shades at once.

L-R: 103, 107, 111, 10, 09.

I currently own (in the red packaging) 103, 107, 111, (in the black packaging) 09 and 10.
103 is a muted pink, with a hint if brown, that is great to throw on for everyday wear. 107 is a dark wine/red colour, that you'll often see Zoella sporting, (and not going to lie, that is where my love for these started). 111 is a bright red, but it doesn't have an orange tone to it. 09 is very, very similar to 107 and 10 is very similar to 111, but you've got to have one in each formula!

Have you tried any of these? What other shades do I need?

Beth. x

The $3 life saver.

There's a time in every person's life when they find that product that saves them. That product that is multipurpose, budget-friendly, and that has 'can't-live-without-it' status. What is this holy grail you ask? Paw Paw ointment.

I've had a tube of Paw Paw ointment sitting at the bottom of my handbag for years, and it was only just recently that I delved into the depths of my bag to use it again, (after becoming increasingly irritated with how much lip balm I was having to use to make my lips semi-ok).

How I lived without using this for so long, I have no idea, but I'm very happy to have it in my life again!

Brand-wise, paw paw ointment is pretty much the same across the board, (and many many brands have their version of it). I've tried the Lucas' one (which is about $5 and a cult favourite) and the Beauty Care Co. one ($3 at Kmart). Price-wise they're pretty similar, and if we're really splitting hairs, the Kmart one smells slightly nicer because it has aloe vera and shea butter in it.

And don't let the word 'ointment' put you off.  This stuff is balmy, but not overly sticky, and not coloured either.

When it comes to the uses of this product, it's really up to you.  I personally mainly use it a lip balm, but you can also use it on dry skin, cuts, chafing, rashes, insect bites... Anywhere really!

So if you're looking for that product that could change your life (or make your lips slightly nicer at least!), paw paw ointment may be up your street.

Beth. x

Clinique Chubby Stick Intense Review

I'd heard a lot of buzz surrounding the Clinique Chubby Stick Intense Moisturising Lip Colour Balms, and as an avid lip product lover I thought I'd give them a go.

First of all, price-wise, these are not exactly cheap at $35 each, (but that didn't stop me picking up two... I have an addiction).  And if it weren't for the price, I think I'd be a lot happier with the product.

Don't get me wrong, I like these a lot.  And yes, the packaging does look relatively expensive. They're  also in crayon/stick form, so they apply really easily and are perfect for on the go. The colours themselves are really pigmented, and there's a good range of colours (that seems to be expanding quite regularly).   And as an added bonus, they're actually quite moisturising, which is nice to find. (I normally wear matte, so it was nice to have some moisture).

However, I've noticed that they do tend to bleed a bit. They also wear off around the middle of the mouth relatively easily, which I could understand if you're eating or drinking a lot, but they wear off with just general wear, which irks me a bit, because I'm lazy when it comes to reapplying. This may not be the case with the lighter colours in the range though, as I only picked up 03- Mightiest Maraschino and 08-Grandest Grape.

Top: Mightiest Maraschino, Bottom: Grandest Grape.

(On a sidenote, 06-Plum Russian in the Bourjois Colourboost lip crayon range is a very good dupe for Grandest Grape! It's not quite as pigmented, but otherwise it's almost the same).

I quite like the colours I picked up, (although there was many more that I wanted to choose!) Mightiest Maraschino is a bright red, that when it wears off, looks slightly on the pink side. Grandest Grape, as the name suggests, is a more purple/wine coloured red.

Overall, I think if these were less expensive, I would be much happier with them.  They are a lovely product, and have some great colours, but I probably won't be picking up any more at this point.

What do you guys think? Have you tried any of these, or do you have any lip product recommendations?

Beth. x

Shuffle to the shuffle: My music, mixed up.

I love music. There's no ifs or buts about it. I'm a fan of lots of unsigned or not well known Australian bands, and I love discovering new music (or old music). I also love checking out what other people are listening to. So I thought I'd put my ipod on shuffle, and show you guys the first twelve songs that come up.  This could end badly... But we'll see how we go.

(You can click on the link after each song to listen to the song - if they're online, and I'll put each band's social media link as well... All for ease of music stalking!)

1.     The Fallout - Woodlock

These boys from Melbourne have really hit their straps with their recent EP release. Their style is       folky with a bit of a rock/alternative edge to it, and very easy to listen to. (I reviewed the EP here).

     
https://www.facebook.com/WoodlockMusic?fref=ts

2.     Right Through You - Alanis Morissette (video)

A hit from Morissette's Jagged Little Pill album of the late 90's, this song is angsty rock, that is so easy to belt out when you're feeling angry.

     
https://www.facebook.com/alanismorissette?fref=ts

3.     Inside Our World - Bleached Academy

This band sadly is no more, but they had some brilliant pop/punk tracks, with the very talented Hayley Warner as the energetic vocallist.

https://www.triplejunearthed.com/artist/bleached-academy

4.     Trailed - Gossling (audio)

Helen Croome a.k.a Gossling's unique voice is hauntingly beautiful... Enough said.

https://www.facebook.com/gosslingmusic?fref=ts

5.     We Won't Run - Sarah Blasko (video)

Another Australian songstress with a beautiful voice, Sarah Blasko is a pop musician with a quirky twist.  

https://www.facebook.com/sarahblaskomusic?fref=ts

6.     Different Worlds - Jes Hudak & George Krikes (video)

This song was used to advertise a talent show in Australia, which catapulted it to the top of the charts.  It's such a beautiful song, with a continuous simple piano melody throughout.

https://www.facebook.com/jeshudakmusic?fref=ts

7.     City & Colour - Thirst (video)

This song by music legend Dallas Green (a.k.a City and Colour), is a catchy pop/alternative track, that will have you tapping your foot in no time.

https://www.facebook.com/cityandcolour?fref=ts

8.     The Sun Won't Sleep - New Empire (video)     

Probably the hardest working boys in Australian music, New Empire's new album In A Breath features this upbeat, catchy pop track, with lovely lyrical content.

https://www.facebook.com/newempireband?fref=ts

9.     Carry On - Motor Ace (video)

A song from my favourite band of all time.  This classic Australian alternative/rock song was popular in the early 2000's... It also happens to appear on an album which is very hard to come by nowadays, (I explain why here).

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Motor-Ace/21078711025?fref=ts

10.     Empty Town - Red Ink (video)

This four-piece from Melbourne spent a long time crafting the ideal debut album, and it was worth the wait.  This track is the perfect mix of dreamy, synthy pop, and edgier rock.

https://www.facebook.com/redinkmusic?fref=ts

11.    Siamese - Motor Ace (video)

Another Motor Ace song on the list... Surprise, surprise!  This is my current favourite song.  Again, it's an alternative/rock track.  The lyrics in this are brilliant too.

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Motor-Ace/21078711025?fref=ts

12.      Sweet Disposition - The Temper Trap (video)

Another Australian band who have taken Europe by storm, The Temper Trap are known for their pop/rock sound, with soaring vocals and killer chorus'.

https://www.facebook.com/tempertrap?fref=ts

So there you go, a taste of what I'm listening to, (I'm surprised there's no Michael Paynter on there though!)  Almost 80% Australian music, (my true love).

What do you think?  Leave any music recommendations below, they'd be much appreciated!

Beth. x

Getting deep up in here #2... Social phobia.

I think I have a mild social anxiety disorder/phobia.

And before you say "everyone gets nervous in social situations sometimes", let me explain.

Social phobias can be generalised into a fear of either performance situations (eg. giving a speech, or being watched whilst performing a task), or (in my case) situations involving social interaction (eg. making small talk, meeting new people). It can also be specific, ie. fearing a specific social situation(s).

Now I have no problem with performance situations. Put me in front of an audience with a microphone in hand, and I will enjoy every second, but when it comes to more interpersonal situations, that's where the stress kicks in.

In general, I am a worrier. I'm a person who thinks too much about things, and tends to dwell on certain situations.

In social environments, such as parties or out clubbing, I get even more stressed. I generally feel really uncomfortable and conspicuous. I spend a lot of time mulling over how uncool I am in comparison to the other people there, or thinking of how I have nothing interesting to say. Sometimes, I can't even muster the confidence to talk to people that I do know. When I do manage to talk to someone I either struggle to find a topic of conversation, or end up having word vomit and saying things that just make me sound strange.

I then come home... Usually after I've bailed early, and then I stay up far too late thinking about all the things I should've done or said... Like I am currently doing now, after bailing early from an 18th, where I spent most of the time talking to my parents and my parents friends (which I didn't mind too much, apart from the various instances of word vomit when they asked me about certain things) instead of people my own age.

It's not just at the social occasion, but afterwards too. I normally find myself sitting in my car, trying to not cry or hyperventilate or both. Which is probably why I try and avoid parties or clubbing, being incredibly glad when I have a legitimate excuse not to attend. And avoidance, I know, is as a result of the snowballing worries and obsessive thinking which characterise this phobia.

And don't get me wrong, I love hanging out with my friends, and doing fun stuff, but the minute it involves people outside my ring of friends, the worry sets in.

Even at uni I sometimes find myself overly conscious of what others are thinking about me. Making phone calls is another thing I struggle with sometimes, and I often put it off to the very last minute.

I am currently studying psychology, so I guess a good place to start was to psychoanalyse my own behaviour.

Writing this, I know it probably sounds worse than it is, but if you can relate in any way, let me know.

Beth. x

(***** I want to stress that I haven't been officially diagnosed, and I'm not a fully qualified psychologist yet, so I can't say my own self diagnosis is correct. However, judging from the VERY mild symptoms I have noticed, this is what I have come up with. I am aware that Social Anxiety Disorder can be debilitating to those experiencing it, and if you think you are, please talk to someone you trust, or seek information from places such as:

http://www.beyondblue.org.au/

http://www.headspace.org.au/

http://www.anxietyaustralia.com.au/ )

The Lazy Girl's Guide to... Wearing red lipstick.

I am a lover of wearing bright red lipstick, and I have far too many shades red for one person.  I am not a lover of worn off lipstick though… You know the look, just an outline of red around the edges and no colour left in the centre… Definitely not ideal.

To combat this, I’ve compiled a lit of techniques, that just might save you from the awkward half on/half off bright lip.

• Prime your lips. – Get rid of all those dead skin cells by using a lib scrub like the Lush Popcorn scrub. It’ll help make your lips smooth and ready to adhere to your lipstick.

• Line your lips. – Using a lip liner helps keep your favourite shade on for hours and hours.  I use  Rimmel 1000 Kisses Stay On Lip Liner in 063 Black Tulip for a more berry red and a Mac LipPencil in Cherry for a brighter red, but if you want an all rounder, invisible lip liners such as the Innoxa Invisible Lip Shaper and the Lipstick Queen Invisible Lip Liner are quite popular.

• Apply, blot, apply, blot. – I’ve found the best way to elongate your favourite red’s staying power is to apply it (over your liner), blot it with a tissue, apply it again, and blot it again.  This helps get rid of excess, which will easily transfer when eating etc.

• Seal. – Not the animal… A product like Lipcote, when applied (and let to dry) will seal your lipstick, which helps it stay on.  (Lipcote is apparently “kiss-proof” … I wouldn’t go as far to say that, but it definitely lasts through eating and drinking.)

• Drink using a straw. – This makes me feel like a complete twat when I’m drinking a bottle of water through a straw, but it works!  Why waste you Mac red on a bottle of water?

Top to bottom: Nars Velvet Matte lip pencil in Cruella, in Damned, Mac matte lipstick in Ruby Woo.

• Matte all the way! – Matte lipsticks, I’ve found, last longer just in themselves. Because they’re not as glossy and shiny, they’re more likely to adhere to your lips. (My favourites are the Nars Velvet Matte Lip Pencils – available from Mecca Cosmetica is Australia, and Mac in Ruby Woo).

So these are some of the tricks I’ve come across along the way.  I hope they’re in some way helpful.

Let me know if you have any more! I’d do anything to not have to reapply.

Beth. x