Priya Talks Lipstick

Review: Makeup Revolution Liquid Highlighters

I love highlighters but don't own as many as I would like to as I am so fussy about the colour, finish and texture of them. I opt for warm tones as these best complement my skin tone. I'm not a fan of chunky glitter in highlighters and prefer them to be finely milled and to look as natural(!) as possible. I love highlighters that merge with my skin and complement my blusher. Sometimes this isn't an easy feat with powder highlighters and so I've recently started venturing in to liquid highlighters to get a smooth glow.

I was excited to try out these new liquid highlighters from Makeup Revolution as they are a great dupe for some of the high-end liquid highlighters but at a fifth of the price! These retail at £6 which is an absolute bargain as you get 18ml of product and a little goes a long way! I bought mine online from Superdrug as I couldn't find them in my local Superdrug store.

The packaging looks really high end and I love how the colour of the bottle is the same colour as the highlighter so you can easily find the right colour.

The highlighter is housed in a glass bottle with a dropper/pipette which not only looks pretty on your vanity but also means you can control how much product you dispense.

There are 7 shades in total - Starlight (silver), Champagne, Luminous Gold (a bright gold), Lustre Gold (coppery gold), Rose Gold, Bronze Gold and Unicorn Elixir (cool toned blue/purple).

I opted for the shades Champagne and Rose Gold as I thought these would be super-wearable and suit my skin tone.

The highlighter is a thicker consistency than I expected which isn't a bad thing as this makes it easier to work with.

The colours are beautiful and once blended look so pretty on the skin. I hadn't realised Champagne was slightly more cool-toned than I would like - it reminds me of MAC Mineralize Skin Finish in Soft & Gentle.

Rose Gold is stunning and I know it will look great with most of my blushes as they are all warm tones of pink, peach and coral. I will definitely be packing this for my holiday!

The best way to apply these is to pat them in to the skin with the fingers. The warmth of the fingers will mean these will melt in nicely with your base make up for the most natural glow.

I used the Rose Gold shade the other day but completely forgot to take a photo! This is definitely my favourite of the two.

These can be set with a powder highlighter for a more intense look but look equally as pretty on their own.

You could definitely mix a couple of drops of these in with your foundation for a glowing complexion - I would definitely try this out with the Champagne shade. These could also be used on the eyelid instead of a cream eyeshadow.

I think these are fab for the price and since you only need to use a few drops, would last for ages. These are definitely on par with some of the high end liquid highlighters.

If you're a fan of highlighters - you need to try these beauties!

P x

YSL Le Teint Touche Eclat Foundation in B50

My holy grail foundation. I bought the original Le Teint Touche Eclat foundation back in 2012 for my wedding events as I loved the finish so much. Glowy and still looks like skin with light to medium coverage. YSL reformulated this last year to provide more coverage. I must say, I loved the original more but the new formula means I just use a little less. The shades seem to have changed so whilst I was B50 in the original formula, the new formula B50 is perhaps a shade or half a shade darker than my skin tone but works for me in the summer months when I'm slightly more tanned. I will always keep purchasing this! On a side note - it smells like watermelon!

Bourjois Healthy Mix Serum Foundation in 53 - Light Beige

I have been using this foundation for years on a daily basis because it looks so natural on the skin and is a PERFECT match for my skin tone. It feels so light on the skin and you really cannot even tell I'm wearing foundation when I am wearing this. It's a satin finish so my skin looks glowy and luminous. I love the scent of berries, too!

MAC Studio Face and Body Foundation in C3

I never understood the hype around this foundation until I tried it. It has such a strange, almost watery consistency but stays put all day. It is a satin finish which is great for the dewy look but perhaps not great in the summer months as it can make my skin look oily. I set this with my favourite MAC Mineralize Skin Finish in Medium Plus and my skin looks flawless. I love that this foundation can be layered for a more full coverage look too. I find using my BeautyBlender to apply this means a lot of the product is soaked up by the sponge therefore I prefer using a dense buffing brush for the best finish.

Too Faced Born This Way Foundation in Golden Beige

Initially I wasn't interested in purchasing this foundation as I felt it was too gimmicky, however, I visited the Too Faced stand in Debenhams and had a little play around with some of the make up and loved the finish of this. I don't own any full coverage foundations apart from MAC's Studio Fix foundation which I find is too heavy for my skin, however, was blown away by how natural this looked on the skin despite being medium to full coverage. It really is almost undetectable. One pump is more than enough for brilliant, medium coverage which looks amazing in photographs and really does blur any imperfections. A new firm favourite!

Nars Sheer Glow Foundation in Sante Fe

I had a love hate relationship with this foundation at first. Mainly because I felt it clinged to dry patches on my face and I couldn't get the finish I wanted. However, using a moisturising primer underneath along with applying this with a damp BeautyBlender means this goes on like a dream. It's amazing how lightweight it feels but the coverage is completely buildable. I would say it is an almost matte finish but somehow makes the skin look radiant, hence the "sheer glow." I use the shade Sante Fe which is a little too light for me in the summer months but nothing that a bit of bronzer cannot sort. I find it slightly annoying that I had to purchase a pump separately for this foundation but it does not take away from the fact that this looks amazing on the skin!

Spot any of your favourites?

P x

Back in June, Urban Decay had an early pre-sale for the palette before the general release towards the end of July. I was lucky enough to grab one of the 5,000 palettes available in the pre-sale and was so excited try out the colours in this palette since none of the palettes in my collection have the warm, red tones found in the Naked Heat Palette.

The packaging is one of my favourites from the Naked palettes I own. The palette comes housed in a matchstick-style box where the bottom can be slid out. Once the palette is removed from the box, there are 12 matchsticks symbolising the colours getting warmer/hotter from left to right in the palette. I love this little detail!

The palette itself is made from a sturdy plastic and has a magnetic closure which makes opening and closing the palette easier. The warm colours of the packaging complement the tones found in the palette.

Like all the Naked palettes, the palette features 12 colours and features a double-ended eyeshadow brush. The colours range from a pale, highlighter pink called Ounce to a dark, plummy bronze colour called Ember. The colours are stunning and so different compared to the other Naked palettes. I love the terracotta hues and the selection of warm browns and deep plum colours to use as transition colours and to darken the outer eye area.

Ounce is a great eyebrow and inner corner highlighter with a satin finish. Lumbre, Dirty Talk, Scorched and Ember are shimmer shades to be used all over the lid. The shimmer shades are all creamy and apply well over a primed eyelid. I found the matte shades to be slightly powdery (as often is the case with matte shadows) but blend together really well and complement each other when building depth in the crease and outer eye area.

L-R: Ounce, Chaser, Sauced, Low Blow, Lumbre, He Devil

Chaser is a great nude, matte pink that looks really natural on the eyelid as an all-over wash of colour. This can be used along with warm browns such as Sauced and Low Blow for a natural, daytime look.

Lumbre is a gorgeous rose gold shimmer shade that looks amazing either on its own or with the deeper matte colours to create a soft, smokey eye.

L-R: Dirty Talk, Scorched, Cayenne, En Fuego, Ashes, Ember

I found Dirty Talk and Scorched to be very similar, with the only noticeable difference for me being that Dirty Talk leans slightly warmer than Scorched. I love Cayenne and En Fuego to smoke out the outer edge of the eye.

My favourite colours overall from this palette are Lumbre, Cayenne, En Fuego and Ember.

I'm looking forward to using Dirty Talk and Scorched as these are definitely out of my comfort zone but are so pretty.

This palette will be great for the autumn months paired with a mauve or nude lip. The colours in the palette have been compared to those in the Anastasia Beverly Hills Modern Renaissance palette, however, I feel the colours in the ABH palette are not as warm and lean more pink whereas the colours in the Naked Heat palette definitely lean more red.

I do wish there was a gold/bronze colour included in this palette as that would make it a little more versatile, however, I guess this just makes the palette a little more unique.

Overall, I love this palette and cannot wait to create more looks with it. I will be uploading a MOTD using this palette soon. 😇

Will you be buying this?

P x

Last month, Charlotte Tilbury launched her new line of liquid lipsticks. There are 10 shades of the Hollywood Lips liquid lipsticks and from the swatches I had seen online, I wanted them all!

The line consists mainly of nude shades. The shades range from Charlotte Darling, Charlotte's signature nude to Screen Siren a bright, bold red.

Charlotte describes the lipsticks as weightless and long wearing, as well as boasting anti-ageing properties and making the lips look fuller and plumper.

I love the formula of Charlotte Tilbury's Matte Revolution lipsticks which are so comfortable to wear and never feel dry as well as having amazing pigmentation. I was excited to try her new line of liquid lipsticks to see if they too had the same moisturising properties as her lipsticks, along with opaque coverage and the same luxurious packaging.

Charlotte Tilbury Hollywood Lips Matte Contour Liquid Lipstick in Too Bad I'm Bad

After seeing swatches online, I opted for the shade Too Bad I'm Bad. Charlotte describes this as a "warm rosy pink" which "glides on seamlessly like a gloss yet feels completely weightless – like lingerie for your lips!"

These lipsticks are not cheap and retail at £24 in the UK, the same price as the normal Charlotte Tilbury lipsticks. A little steep but just look at the gorgeous colour and packaging! 😍 I purchased mine from feelunique.com.

The lipstick comes in Charlotte's signature burgundy packaging with rose gold embossed wording. The lipstick comes in a sleek rose gold tube which would look amazing on any vanity and has a window showing the colour of the lipstick which I personally love as it makes finding colours in my collection easier.

The doe foot applicator has a crescent-like shape which is supposed to help sculpt and contour the lips. I found there was no need to dip the applicator in to the tube again, one applicator full of product is more than enough product for the whole lip.

Upon application, the formula feels quite thick and creamy. Once applied evenly all over the lips, the lipstick looks smooth and my lips definitely looked fuller. The pigmentation is amazing and one swipe delivers opaque coverage. The lipstick dries down to a matte finish but isn't completely transfer-proof which is a little disappointing as being a new mummy, I'm always wanting to kiss and cuddle my baby without getting lipstick all over his cheeks/face!

The colour complements my skin tone and is a perfect everyday pink for me (for reference, I am an NC25-30 in MAC). Warm undertones mean it will work with orange and pink blushers which I love in a lipstick.

The colour and pigmentation of this lipstick really stand out for me. I love that it doesn't make my lips look or feel dry and have that "cracked" look. The formula is a little disappointing in that the lipstick isn't completely transfer-proof but that is the only downside to this lipstick. There is a barely there sweet, vanilla scent to this but nothing overpowering and this fades once applied to the lips.

Overall, I love this lipstick and formula and it definitely feels moisturising on the lips which is what I love in a liquid lipstick.

Will you be buying these?

P x

My Current Favourite Drugstore/High Street Make Up

It's been a busy few weeks and therefore I've seriously slacked on the blogging front but I'm back and wanted to share my current drugstore/high street make up favourites!

I tend to invest mostly in high end make up and even that is after extensive research online and reading review upon review (I'm only human though so I'm obviously guilty of an odd impulse purchase here or there!) until I pluck up the courage to splash my cash. However, with make up brands bringing out new releases every week, it's often tempting to pick up a few bits when I pop in to Boots or Superdrug.

It's not so much that I'm a make up snob (who doesn't like a bit of luxury?) but sometimes I feel disappointed with drugstore/high street make up when the colour pay off, longevity etc. doesn't live up to my expectations. These products, however, are currently floating my boat...

Kiko Water Eyeshadow in 208

Ok, so technically this is an eyeshadow that can be used wet or dry, however, this has been raved about online as making a fabulous highlighter. I was dubious until I went in to my local Kiko and had a swatch. It is a beautiful gold highlighter (think TheBalm Mary-Lou Manizer but more gold). It's pretty pigmented so I'm light handed with it but it's definitely one of the best highlighters I've ever used and at a reasonable price!

NYX Born to Glow Liquid Illuminator in Gleam

I originally had my heart set on the Nars Orgasm Illuminator, however, after researching online, found this was supposed to be a good dupe. I wasn't disappointed. Having swatched both - they are pretty much identical and at a fraction of the price, you cannot go wrong. I dab this with my fingers above my cheekbones for a fresh look. If I really want to amp it up, I go over it with powder highlight. FYI - I love pairing it with Becca Shimmering Skin Perfector Pressed in Champagne Pop.

Sleek Matte Me Lip Cream in Bittersweet

Sleek is one of my favourite drugstore/high street make up brands. The colour payoff, pigmentation and longevity of their products never fails to amaze me and at super affordable prices. The formula of these liquid lipsticks is reminiscent of Kat Von D Everlasting Liquid Lipsticks. No dryness and opaque coverage. I would say in terms of longevity, perhaps not the longest lasting liquid lipstick but the pigmentation and formula outweigh this! A subtle rose pink that would look good with almost any make up look and suit all complexions. For a darker complexion, this could be a fabulous nude!

L'Oreal Infallible Waterproof Gel Crayon Eyeliner in Back to Black

I picked this up initially as it had the word "waterproof" on it. None of my current eyeliners are waterproof and I wanted to see how this held up through the sweaty summer days. It is an intense black with a matte finish. I love using this on my upper and lower waterline (these days there is often no time for a winged eyeliner) and also looks great on my upper lash line smudged in for a smokey look. In terms of longevity, perhaps not as great as some of my high end eyeliners but still a great eyeliner to add to any make up collection.

Soap and Glory Archery Brow Pencil in Dark Chocolate

I've actually used this eyebrow pencil in Hot Chocolate for years as it is a great dupe for one of my favourites - Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Wiz in Dark Brown. However, Soap and Glory have recently changed the formula on these and the names so I picked up Dark Chocolate on my latest Boots run. They were on 3 for 2 so I made sure to stock up. At £8, it's probably not the cheapest brow pencil on the high street but it looks amazingly natural and I love that the formula isn't crazy pigmented so there is no chance of over-filling my brows. I love that there is a spoolie on the other end to brush my brows in to place.

I'm always on the look out for recommendations - which drugstore/high street make up products do you swear by?

P x

With the rising popularity of liquid lipsticks, it is easy to forget these trusty black bullets. MAC lipsticks will always remain a firm favourite of mine. The quality and finish of these are, in my opinion, the best on the market. At £16.50, they are definitely not cheap but worth every penny.

MAC lipsticks come in a variety of shades and finishes. The 7 finishes are Frost, Matte, Retro Matte, Satin, Glaze, Lustre, Amplified and Cremesheen. My favourite finishes are Matte (long-wearing, matte finish), Retro Matte (super-pigmented, super-matte finish) and Cremesheen (medium sheer coverage with a glossier finish).

It was really difficult for me to pick 10 out of my collection because I love them all but here are my top 10:

1. Relentlessly Red (Retro Matte)

My favourite bold summer lip colour. Although named red, this is a bright pink with red undertones. This suits my complexion so well and looks amazing with a simple winged eyeliner. This is always in my make up bag in the summer months.

2. Pink Pigeon (Matte)

A bright "Barbie" pink with cool undertones that would suit most skin tones. I also have the shade Candy Yum-Yum which is similar but a few shades lighter. I would say Candy Yum-Yum best suits fair/medium complexions whilst Pink Pigeon is more universally flattering. A staple pink lipstick that looks great with my Indian outfits!

3. Ruby Woo (Retro Matte)

A cult favourite - the perfect bold red lip. Suits pretty much all complexions. A true red that will never go out of fashion. I do find Ruby Woo to be quite dry (like most of the Retro Matte finish lipsticks) but with plenty of lip balm underneath can be more comfortable to wear.

4. Runway Hit (Retro Matte)

One of my favourite nude shades. A coral/orange nude that would suit fair/medium complexions. I like to mix this one with MAC Taupe lipstick for an everyday autumn/winter lipstick. My only qualm with this lipstick is that it goes on slightly patchy due to the Retro Matte finish and so tends to drag when applying. I use a thick balm underneath (Nuxe Rêve de Miel ❤️) which helps.

5. Please Me (Matte)

A rosy pink colour that would suit fair to medium complexions. This is a great everyday lip colour if, like me, you love your pink lipsticks. For medium to dark skin tones, I would suggest MAC Mehr which I also love and is a few shades darker than Please Me and more universally flattering. I like to pair Please Me with MAC's In Anticipation lip pencil.

6. Kinda Sexy (Matte)

I'm not really a nude lipstick kinda gal but this is my favourite nude shade. I love this colour as it leans more orange/peach which I love in a nude lipstick. I love that I can wear this lipstick with any eye look and it looks amazing. I pair this with MAC Boldly Bare lip pencil.

7. Crosswires (Cremesheen)

A pinky coral with warm undertones. A staple in my summer make up bag. I love the subtle shine of this lipstick which is perfect for that summer, glowy make up look. Although a Cremesheen finish, this stays put even after eating and drinking.

8. Flat Out Fabulous (Retro Matte)

This looks like a scary purple in the bullet but once on the lips, it is an amazing magenta shade that really pops. MAC have a similar shade to this in their Retro Matte Liquid Lipcolour called Tailored To Tease which I also love. Because this is a Retro Matte finish, the staying power is brilliant.

9. Ravishing (Cremesheen)

A stunning, subtle pale orange colour with a slight shimmer. I love pairing this with gold/bronze eye make up to complement the slight shimmer. Another summer favourite.

10. Costa Chic (Frost)

This is my only Frost finish lipstick from MAC and I love it. It's a shimmery pink with warm undertones. This is another summer favourite that looks great with a tan. I love pairing this lipstick with Nars Orgasm blush for a super glowy look.

MAC lipsticks are so addictive and 30 bullets later, I still want more! I'm hoping MAC will bring some more shades out soon - preferably some more everyday pink/peachy "my lips but better" colours (like I don't have enough of those!)

Spot any of your favourites!?

P x

I was so happy to hear that Too Faced were not only bringing the Sweet Peach Palette back but also making it part of their permanent collection. I had to have it when Debenhams had 10% off across all make up! The palette retails at £39.00 in Debenhams.

The palette consists of 18 eyeshadows, which, considering the price, is great value for money. The packaging is stunning and like the Chocolate Bar palettes, is made of sturdy metal and has a magnetic closure. I love the pink and peach tones of the packaging. Similar to the chocolate smell of the Chocolate Bar palettes, this palette smells of peaches. The smell wears away once applied but can be a little overpowering when using the palette. I don't mind the smell too much.

I love the colours in this palette. First impressions were that it was more of a summer palette but there is a good selection of gold/bronze colours which would work all year round.

As with most palettes, I found the lighter matte shades to be powdery and more prone to fallout. The darker matte colours are less powdery and definitely apply better.

I swatched the colours on my arm to show the colour payoff. The lighter matte shades such as White Peach, Peaches 'N Cream and Georgia had to be heavily swatched due to the fact they were more powdery/less pigmented.

Top to bottom: White Peach, Nectar, Peaches 'N Cream, Luscious, Cobbler, Georgia, Just Peachy, Candied Peach, Caramelized, Bless Her Heart, Bellini, Puree

Top to bottom: Tempting, Peach Pit, Summer Yum, Charmed, I'm Sure, Delectable, Talk Derby To Me

I love that there is a good selection of matte and shimmery shades. My favourite shades are Luscious, Just Peachy, Candied Peach, Bellini and Summer Yum.

The shimmer shades are super pigmented and buttery. I love the selection of matte shades as these work great as transition colours. Of all the shades, I'm not keen on the shade Talk Derby To Me as it is quite chalky and the glitter is too sparse.

Overall, I do wish there were more peachy shades within the palette but I think the colour selection means that this palette works all year round. I personally will be packing this for my holiday this year as it holds all the colours I would need to create so many different looks.

Too Faced - you did good! 💕

My Top 5 Concealers

I never used to wear concealer until circa 2010. I used to wear just foundation until I realised how different my make up looked after applying a yellow-based concealer.

I'm not a huge fan of colour correcting (mostly because I can't be bothered) but have noticed a huge difference to my make up just by using a lighter shade of yellow-based concealer. It really brightens and lifts my face.

I have a warm skin tone (MAC NC30 for reference) and find yellow-based concealers really brighten my under eye area. I have some darkness under my eyes (more so after becoming a mummy) but it's not really a problem area for me. I tend to use medium coverage concealers on a day-to-day basis and fuller coverage for say a night out, wedding etc. I almost always set my concealer to ensure it stays put all day and doesn't crease. My favourite setting powder to set my concealer is the Soap & Glory Kick Ass Powder - a super affordable, finely milled yellow-toned powder that provides a filter-like effect under the eyes and looks great in photographs.

So here are my top 5 favourite concealers...

MAC Pro Longwear Concealer - NC20

MAC Pro Longwear Concealer in NC20

My favourite full coverage concealer. Doesn't feel cakey and sets to a semi-matte finish. You have to work quickly though as it does dry within a few seconds. It literally lasts all day and photographs well too. I opt for this for nights out, weddings etc. The pump dispenser is the only downside to this concealer as one pump is waaay too much product. You only need half a pump for both eyes - I seem to have mastered getting a tiny bit out after many frustrating attempts! 🙄 I apply this with a damp BeautyBlender for the best finish.

Maybelline Instant Anti-Age The Eraser Eye Concealer - Light

Maybelline Eraser Eye Concealer in Light

My go-to everyday concealer. Perfect colour for my complexion, medium, buildable coverage and affordable. I'm not keen on the sponge applicator as it looks messy. I find it is a tad dry for my skin, however, once applied with a damp BeautyBlender applies well and looks flawless. I initially didn't like this concealer as it wouldn't blend out well with a brush but I then figured out a damp BeautyBlender works wonders!

Maybelline Fit Me Concealer - 10

Maybelline Fit Me Concealer in 10

I bought this after reading rave reviews comparing it to Nars Radiant Creamy Concealer. This is a great concealer for the price and works well at brightening and covering darkness under the eyes. This has a lovely yellow tone to it which looks great on olive/medium skin tones. I would say this is slightly less thicker than the Nars Radiant Creamy Concealer but a brilliant dupe and at a fraction of the price!

Nars Radiant Creamy Concealer - Custard

Nars Radiant Creamy Concealer in Custard

I caved and bought this since I wanted to see what all the fuss was about. As the name suggests, a creamy concealer with great medium coverage. Feels light on the skin and adequately covers dark circles. I like the finish of this concealer as it isn't overly matte and therefore looks quite natural on the skin. Price wise a little steep for an everyday concealer but looks flawless on.

Collection Lasting Perfection Concealer - 3 Medium Warm

Collection Lasting Perfection Concealer in 3 Medium Warm

One of my first ever concealers and I still love it. Stays put almost all day and has a great warm undertone that really suits my skin tone. This is probably one of the cheapest concealers on the market and I prefer it to some of my high-end ones. I always make sure I have a stock of this concealer as when all else fails, I know this one will always look great. FACT - I wore this concealer on my wedding day!

I seem to love a lot of the high street concealers and in my opinion, Maybelline do some of the best ones. What are your favourite concealers? I always love recommendations as I don't always venture out of my comfort zone when it comes to concealers.