Molton Brown 'The Art of Fragrance' Box

The Molton Brown limited edition “The Fine Art of Fragrance Box” via The Perfume Society landed on my doorstep this week and I have absolutely loved it. This edition features eight of Molton Browns best selling eau de toilettes and it comes beautifully packaged ready to enjoy.

Inside the Box those eight scents are:

• Fiery Pink Pepper - belongs in the Woody Family. Described as being a fresh and voluptuous scent it uses the spiciness of ginger and Nutmeg for the heart notes with pink pepper, tangerine, elemi oil as tops notes and together with patchouli, cedarwood oil for the base notes, this is a scent which is guarenteed to wake you up. 
• Mesmerising Oudh Accord & Gold belongs with the woody family and this is a scent for every man, it is mouth wateringly divine. With Cinnamon leaf oil and nutmeg make a very lively and awakening first spritz with heat notes of elemi oil, myrrh oil, black tea accord and base notes of oudh accord, vetiver, honey and tobacco accord it is aromatic, spicy and fruity all rolled into one. 
• Ylang-Ylang belongs with the Floriential family and is stunning. With top notes of tangerine, cardamom, ginger, ylang ylang, jasmine, rose absolute and base notes of vanilla, cedarwood, musk it is a scent which clears the air, is fresh and is spring in a bottle. 
• Re-charge Black Pepper is again a member of the Woody family and is said to be one of the most celebrated scents in the whole of the Molton Brown repertoire. The use of black pepper, lemon, ginger as top notes deliver that powerful burst to wake you up after just one spritz with heart notes of herbaceous notes of coriander and basil and base notes of vetiver, oak moss, ambergris give this scent a deep woody scent which smells divine on the mister. 
• Heavenly Gingerlily - belongs with the floriental scents and it uses Cardamom, ginger, clove as top notes which, on the initial spritz the spiciness is just heavenly and then mixed with the heart notes of tuberose, tagetes, lily and jasmine with a softly musky base anchored with the smoothest accord of cedar and sandalwood. The scent is just divine and one of my favourites from the box. 
• Blossoming Honeysuckle & White Tea is found with the floral family and it is both fruity and floral. Using top notes of bergamot and mandarin mixed with the heart notes of honeysuckle, white tea, jasmine, for me it is the Jasmine which makes this scent what it is. The base notes of sandalwood, heliotrope and vanilla make for a scent which simply beautiful. 
• Orange & Bergamot belongs with the citrus family and if you are a fan of zesty scents, then this is one for you because it is zesty with a little bit more zest on top. Using orange oil, bergamot, lemon, mandarin as top notes gives that initial burst of fruitiness. Next come the middle notes of Pettigrain, cardamom and galbanum and base notes of neroli, ylang ylang, musk makes for an incredible scent which again is long lasting, fresh and perfect for spring. 
• Bushukan belongs with the citrus family and is again one for those of you who like a fragrance which is sharp from the on-set. Using lemon oil, bergamot and basil as top notes, thyme oil and cedarwood as heart notes with cistus labdanum oil, vetiver and tolu absolute as base notes it is a warm scent which is a perfect spring and summer scent for its freshness, ripeness and is suitable for both men and women.

If that isn't enough, also inside the box is a £10 voucher that you can redeem against a full size of your favourite fragrance from this box plus everyone who buys a Molton Brown Discovery Box between 17th February and 31st March will be entered into a prize draw to win the entire collection of eight full-size fragrances!

If you have never tried a Molton Brown fragrance before, then this is such a great introduction to them, the vials contain more than enough of each scent for you to try before you buy.   There are a quite a few fragrances within this box which I hadn't expected to like at all, but actually I did once I tried them.

The Molton Brown Fine Art of Fragrance Box is available to VIP Subscribers at the special price of £10.00 (£12.50 to non-susbcribers) .

Mothers Day with Partylite

With Mothers Day fast approaching, I have a series of posts aimed at spoiling your Mum, Mother-in-law, Grandma and any other female who you want to spoil.  

PartyLite are an online store which specialises in home fragrance and decor and they have a really large selection of products to choose from and I was kindly sent a package containing products which would make a lovely mothers day gift.

The first things which stood out to me once I opened the boxes was the two butterfly porcelain tealight holders which are just so pretty. 

The pots are painted on the inside to reflect the light of a tealight when it is inside and together as a pair they are just absolutely pretty and something my mum would just love.

To go with the porcelain pots, these wild lemongrass scented tealight candles are perfect. 

As soon as the box is opened, the scent of the lemongrass is more than noticeable and as a scent it is quite strong and potent, even coming from something as small as a tealight, but it is a scent I like and one, which when lit, fills the house quite quickly.

The White Flower Holder, which is not for holding a flower, but is instead used for holding SmartScents by PartyLite™ Decorative Fragrance Sticks and as something decrative to have on a shelf, I think the flower holder is quite lovely and a nice change to a tealight holder. 

The SmartScents by PartyLite™ Decorative Fragrance Sticks I have in Peony scent and they too pack a powerful punch when on display. I have them in my hallway on top of a cabinet and I can catch a whiff of the scent in my lounge or in the bedroom. With these fragrance sticks there is no liquid oil and obviously no flame, instead what you have are five rolled paper fragrance sticks which are designed to deliver the scent of Peony for up to 30 days.

The final item is the Glolite Party Candle which has the moniker "The World's Brightest Candle' emblazoned on the front of the box and this is because once it is alight, the textured wax is said to radiate a soft, all-over glow. I have scent Berry Blossom which is said to be the juicy, mouthwatering scent of sweet, sun-ripened berries touched with a trace of jasmine and when it is out of the box, it smells just heavenly and it has an impressive burn time of 50-60 hours.  

Partylite is really good value for money and a brand worth looking into to find that lovely Mothers Day Gift.

Erborian Ginseng Royale Collection

Skincare brand Erborian has announced the launch of its new Ginseng Royale Collection, available from February. The range harnesses the power of red ginseng, which helps to fight against the visible signs of ageing to moisturise the skin and improve its elasticity.  Ginseng takes 4-6 years to reach its full maturity before it can be harvested. Red Ginseng, which is used within this range is used for its moisturising and smoothing properties.

Products from this range include Eau De Ginseng, Ginseng Cleansing Milk and Elixir Au Ginseng.  I have been using two of these products and I have to admit, I am smitten with both.

Eau Ginseng (£32), a concentrated lotion to provide instant moisture to hydrate the skin and help skin look more radiant, noticeably smoother and softer; and Elixir Au Ginseng (£80), a youth micellar emulsion essence that mixes powerful ingredients to prevent the breakdown of collagen to delay to wrinkle formulation process, reduces skin redness and helps active collagen synthesis, while maintaining the structure of the dermis. I absolutely love Eau De Ginseng, it is one of those products which instantly hydrates the skin and in this weather is something we all need.  I use this after completing my cleanse both morning and evening and again apply using my fingertips but instead of massaging, I use a patting motion as suggested.

Elixir Au Ginseng (£80) - A Youth Micellar Emulsion Essence which is described as bring a youth Micellar Emulsion Essence, it has a really creamy but light texture which rapidly absorbs itself into the skin. The powerful ingredients help to prevent the breakdown of collagen, reduce redness and helps active collagen synthesis.  Again, another amazing product from the Ginseng range which is just absolutely divine to use, the pipette applicator is really helpful to dispense two drops onto your fingertips which you then massage into dry, clean skin.  It is ideal for being used both morning and evening into your face and neck.

Erborian is one of those brands that I just love.  Everything I have used has been just incredible and if you haven't yet discovered anything from the range, then it is one I really recommend trying.

L’Occitane Ultra Soft Balm for International Women’s Day 2016

Every year to mark International Women's Day, L'Occitane launches an exclusive solidarity product to support women in developing countries. This year, International Women's Day falls on March 8th. This year, L'Occitane has chosen to focus on women in Burkina Faso, a relationship which has been developing for the last 30 years. Fast forward to today and a partnership which started with just 12 local women has now developed into an enterprise of over 17,000 women which is truly astonishing, and it is those women produce the Shea Butter, an ingredient which features in so many of L'Occitane's award winning collections and an ingredient that my skin absolutely loves.

L'Occitane has its own global programme Women for Burkina which has three main objectives: to assist in literacy, to provide access to micro-loans and to promote entrepreneurial actions. Only ONE our of five women in Burkino Faso today knows how to read and write. Since 2010, 900 women have gained access to literacy programmes sponsored by the L'Occitane Foundation and more than 6,000 women have gained access to the micro-loans. These micro-loans help women to develop an activity that generates money for their households.

How can you help?  As I mentioned, each year, L'Occitane launches an exclusive solidarity product to support women in developing countries and this year it is the Ultra-soft Balm, 100%* of the profits will go to fund these special projects.  This Shea Butter Balm is a rose scented multi-purpose moisturiser and it can be used on your lips, your body especially cuticles, elbows and knees and it can also be used on your hair.  It smells just absolutely divine and comes presented inside this beautifully decorated motif tin which is said to have been designed symbolise the wax-print fabrics worn by Burkinabe women and is a symbol of festivity and tradition which is deep-rooted in African Cultural Heritage.

The tin is a perfect size for chucking in your handbag and it costs just £4 right here.  I am sure that on Women's Day there will be snippets of information about famous women who have all done their bit, but what I love about this project, is the idea of being able to champion women who have quite possibly changed more lives than we will ever appreciate by working hard to do so.

Will you be buying a tin?

*Sales price in store minus taxes, transport and production costs.

Patisserie de Bain Handcream Collection

Looking after my hands is as important to me as looking after any other part of my body. Your hands play such an important and vital role in life, that sometimes they need a little bit of love and attention. Whether you are using them to gesticulate, write, type, washing up, clean or even make food, your hands are hard at work for hours and hours everyday.

Patisserie de Bain offers a cute little hand cream collection of mouth-watering sounding creams which sound as though you want to eat them.  Each hand cream contains Shea Butter and Glycerine to help moisturise and soothe those poor hard working hands. I am one of those people who loves hand cream and goes through tubes of it every year. On my desk at work there is no less than 4 tubes at any one time, each promising to do something different. I am also quite partial to a hand scrub and I shared a new one from Lush just a few days ago here on my blog.

Those three scents are:

• Sweet as Cherry Pie is just stunning. It smell reminds me of fresh ripe cherries that have just been cooked in a pie as it happens and in the background is a slight sprinkling of vanilla to add to the sweetness.
• Cranberries and Cream is quite a sweet scent, much sweeter than I had anticipated and the fruity scent you associate with Cranberries is most definitely present with the cream part being much more dominant than in Sweet as Cherry Pie
• Sugar Rose is perhaps my favourite of the three, it combines rosehip, grapes and sugar cane which is just heavenly and for me the right sweetness to not be too vanilla based or too perfumed.

Priced at just £9.99 for this little set, it is a lovely treat for your hands or indeed someone elses.  Each tube is 50ml and can be purchased separately for just £3.99.

Makeup Revolution V Real Techniques - Brush Cleaning Tools

Brush cleaning day, usually Sunday, is one of those chores that I huff and puff about having to do. It is one that only I have created and therefore only right I clean the brushes. Having read some horror stories in the media about infections from dirty brushes, I have embraced this chore much more regularly than I used to, but I still dislike doing it intensely and as soon as someone invents a self-cleaning brush, the happier I will be. In the meantime, anything that I can use to make this chore a bit more exciting will capture my attention and currently there are two items that have done just that. The Real Techniques Brush Cleansing Palette and the Makeup Revolution Pro Cleanse Brush Tool. 

The Real Techniques Brush Cleansing Palette, which you can find in Superdrug for £12.99, look a bit like a soap dish, maybe that was the intention, who knows but it is beautifully bright pink so you can’t miss it and it makes the task of cleaning brushes so quick and easy it is much less of a chore. Using it is really simple, you just need to wet your brush, add some brush shampoo, whichever one you use and then rub the brush along and around the little knobbly bits a few times and you are done. Inside the dish there are some different sized knobbly bits (I am sure they have a proper name) and they are for different sized brushes, so no brush is left unclean. 

Makeup Revolution, not one to be without something funky have their Pro Cleanse Brush Tool, which again you can buy online or via Superdrug for just £4.99 and this little gadget works similarly to the Real Techniques dish. Bright purple in colour this time, it is designed to fit over your fingers this time and instead of having knobbly bits, it has groves and they work in the same way and are different sizes are different brushes. Again you need to wet your brush, apply your brush shampoo and swipe the brush backwards and forwards along the grooves, as you do so, you can see all the makeup ‘stuff’ that has been lingering on there run off into the sink and within seconds your brush is clean and ready to be left to dry.

So there you have two tools to help you clean your brushes and they both have plus points and both have minus points.  The dish for Real Techniques is pink so that is always going to be a hit, but... tend to find myself cleaning the dish as much as the brushes, given the amount of dirt and grime and stuff that comes off the brushes, I don't want it lurking in the dish when I grab my next brush, so I wipe the dish clean with an anti-bac wipe after cleaning each brush and start again. The Makeup Revolution Tool fits over your fingers and doesn't get the chance to grab onto any gubbings off the brushes, it has long since run off into the sink.  The knobbly bits for Real Techniques are brilliant and do help with the cleaning of brushes and it does speed up the job, the same for Makeup Revolution, but with Makeup Revolution, i'd have liked a few more smaller grooves for my smaller brushes please.

All in all, both tools help make the job of cleaning brushes quicker, easier, less of a chore and worthy of owning and whilst I am a fan of both, Makeup Revolution is a third of the price and is worthy of purchasing for a hassle free, faff free brush cleaning tool.

You Beauty Box - February 2016

So last month I mentioned that You Beauty Discovery Box was undergoing a makeover and I was a little apprehensive to see the outcome as it is a subscription box that I absolutely love getting.  Well, I shouldn't have worried because it is still brilliant. It still costs just £6.95 per month and is amazing value for money.

This month we have three extra treats and they are quite possibly the best treats I have ever had from this box. Starting with a 40ml tube of the cult classic Elasticizer from Philip Kingsley in Geranium and Neroli.  A sachet of Real Techniques Deep Cleansing Brush Gel, of which I am a huge fan and a 10ml tube of Vita Liberata Self Tanning Moisture Mask.  Plus because the box has been relaunched, also included within the box is an exclusive travel-sized Mascara from Eyeko, which as a mascara fiend, I am excited to try.

The product choices for this month gave a choice of items for Bath & Body, Make-up, Haircare or skincare and I chose from Bath & Body and Skincare as my choices.

Anyone who reads my blog will know that I like to champion bath salts, so I was delighted to see some Mauli Himalayan Healing Salts. Do you ever have those days where you are left feeling fatigued, irritable, off balance and as though nothing you try and do goes right? Well the vital synergy of Mauli's multi-layered healing Himalayan pink salts, infused with 13 exquisite therapeutic oils and laced with soothing powdered rose quartz combine to help powerful nutrients and depleted minerals better absorb into the skin to release toxins, soothe aching bones and offer a sense of greater wellbeing.

The second product is Dr. Organic Dead Sea Mineral Bio-Plasma Mud Mask. I am a huge fan of Dr. Organic and this is a product I have never tried. It is described as being an oil regulating, detoxifying and anti-aging bio-plasma face treatment. On the surface it is an organic pore cleansing facemask, deep down it is a bioactive deeply replenishing face-lift. Organic Dead Sea Mineral salt and Dead Sea Mud have a long history of skin purifying and health promoting properties. In combination with our proprietary blend of bioactive, natural and organic extracts, including clinically tested bio-plasma (arginine ferulate) this cell detoxifying and anti-aging face mask penetrates deep into the pores of the epidermis, effectively removing excess oil and impurities whilst stimulating new cell regeneration.

This box has a retail value of over £25 which is three times what I paid for it and I think it is just amazing value for money and I still love the fact I can choose which products I want to try, epecially when more often than not, the product is a full sized version rather than a travel or sample size.

What do you think to this months box? 

Are you a subscriber to You Beauty?

Lush Mechanic Soap

Soap is never the most exciting product to talk about, until it comes to Lush of course. The Mechanic Soap has been something of a saviour of late and has really helped my poor over-worked hands.

Bright purple in colour and decorated with a silver spanner, there is no missing this soap in any Lush store. It also smells just amazing, not at all manly and can be used by either sex. Using pumice powder for exfoliating, this soap, when used in warm water, creates a lather of bubbles and when you rub your hands together, you can feel the pumice working its magic. Add to the pumice is Rosemary which works as both and antiseptic and anti-inflammatory. There is also fragrant Orris Root, Bergamot Oil, Ylang Ylang Oil and Fair Trade Vanilla Absolute to create the amazing scent and Fair Trade Olive Oil to hydrate and soothe your hands leaving them feeling soft, smooth and moisturised.

Unlike other bars of soap that I use, this one is exfoliating, making it perfect for dry hands that need a bit of help removing dead skin or for just giving them a good deep cleanse to remove any ingrained dirt, or in my case printer ink which has got into the grooves of my skin. This has to be one of the longest lasting soaps that I have ever had, ive been using it for months now and it never seems to get smaller.

This soap is perfect for exfoliating and cleansing your hands and it is still available at Lush for £4.95.

A Burts Bee's Giveaway

Don't you think it is amazing when you read about companies who do something more than their brief? Companies who go that extra mile to make those less fortunate than ourselves better off? 

Send a Cow are a UK based charity, help thousands of families in Africa. By helping those families to grow enough food to eat, sell what they grow and develop a small business that lasts.  Farming is no longer enough for a family to just 'get by' if we want to offer hope for generations to come and that means by having their own small business, their income begins to grow and with that increased income are opportunities.  Those opportunities give families a chance to invest no only in farm improvements, new livestock and equipment, but also in their children's education, something many of us are lucky to have but perhaps take for granted.  

Finally, we have the brilliant site known as Bath and Unwind which is one of my favourite websites for browsing when I need inspiration for gifts because they have an amazing selection of products to choose, from an amazing range of brands.  As a beehive has been donated to Africa in my name via Send a Cow and the lovely people over at Bath and Unwind have very kindly gifted a Burt's Bees Naturally Bee-utiful Collection Gift set in keeping with the Bee theme, for one of my readers to win, all you need to do is complete the Rafflecopter widget below. 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

What You Need to Know about Periodontal Disease*

Anyone who knows me will know I am proud of the fact I have all my own teeth, have never had a filling or a tooth removed.  I have a huge phobia of false teeth (think Grandma having them in a glass on the bedside table) and this article is one of my biggest fears and one of the reasons I look after my teeth.

What is periodontal disease?

Periodontal disease is one of the two forms of gum disease – the other one being gingivitis. These two diseases affect the tissues supporting the teeth, and cause swelling, soreness and pain, and infection.

Gingivitis is the first stage of periodontal disease. The gums immediately around the teeth become swollen and red and may bleed easily when the teeth are cleaned.

If gingivitis is left untreated for a long time, it turns into periodontal disease, spreading beyond the gums into the bone anchoring the tooth, as well as the tough ligaments holding it in place. Teeth become loose as bone is lost and may fall out eventually.

Image Source Credit

Who suffers from periodontal disease? Most adults have some gum disease, which is a major cause of tooth loss. Thankfully the disease progresses very slowly and with good treatment and hygiene, people can retain most of their teeth for life.

What’s the basic cause of periodontal disease?

In a word, plaque. Plaque is the almost invisible film of bacteria that forms on the teeth each day. Most of these bacteria are harmless, but some contribute directly to gum disease. To prevent gum disease you need to brush the teeth at least twice a day to remove the plaque. Cleaning between the teeth is also vital.

Does smoking make it worse?

Yes. Smokers produce more bacterial plaque and smoking also leads to a drop in oxygen levels in the bloodstream, making it harder for gums to heal. Additionally, smoking can affect bone health, so it’s essential to stop smoking to avoid and treat gum disease.

What happens if periodontal disease isn’t treated?

Gum disease causes hardly any pain, so people might not notice anything wrong until they see blood when brushing. Occasionally infected gums may ooze pus and – rarely – abscesses might develop. Bone density in the gum is lost, loosening teeth, which eventually will be lost.

How can I tell if I have it?

The first signs are blood when brushing, or bleeding when eating. You may also develop bad breath. 

What do I do if I think I have it?

You need to see your dentist for an assessment, which will involve measuring the gum around each tooth for signs of disease. You may also have an x-ray to see if any bone density has been lost. This assessment is vital as there are different periodontal disease treatments and you need to make sure you get the right ones.

If disease is found, your dentist will remove plaque and tartar, as well as show you how to maintain high levels of hygiene at home – a vital part of treatment. 

If periodontal disease has spread to your tooth roots, you’ll need to have plaque scraped from them, under a local anaesthetic. You can expect some pain for a day or two afterwards.

Will I be cured after these treatments
There is no cure for periodontal disease, but you can slow it down or stop it progressing if you remove plaque every day and have regular check-ups.

THE MELVITA FOUNDATION: ARGAN BEES PROJECT

Did you know that in Morocco over 3 million people make a living from the argan tree and at Melvita, it is the only source for the best-selling Argan Oil, in which over 400 argan kernals are used.  From the tree to the bottle, Argan Oil is created by local Berber women.  Their tradition and culture oversee its production and over 200 Berber Women farm and source these kernals.  With that in mind, Melvita is committed to the Argan Fair Trade in Morocco and has recently announced  its latest sponsorship initiative for the working women of the Argan Oil industry - The Argan Bees Project.

I am a huge supporter of Bee's and like to think I do my bit to encourage them by planting bee friendly flowers. Having seen a decline in argan bees, the Argan Bees project aims to reignite the beekeeping trade by offering women the chance to boost family income and here is how - for every Melvita Argan product purchased €1 will be donated to the initiative which will be investing in bee keeping training and raising awareness of the skill. It is hoped by doing this and planting Melliferious plants (those which produce honey) will help to increase and encourage the bee population and help poorer communities to flourish by giving them a a steady income.

There are four amazing products currently within the Melvita Argan Range and I have been using the Repairing Oil which works to repair, protects and strengthen skin, hair and nails.

The nuts from Argan trees yield the Argan oil which is exceptionally rich in essential fatty acids and sterols. For centuries, it has been renowned for its repairing properties, ideal for dry and fragile skin, and for its softening and protective benefits and is also traditionally used to massage joints and to care for the nails and hair.  My hands have been really dry lately, possibly due to the lack of glove wearing in the cold weather, using chemicals to clean without gloves and at work, I have been doing a lot of paper work and printing many letters, all of which do nothing for my hands and you would have assumed I would have, by now, learnt my lesson.   Anyway, I have been using this oil on my hands and on my feet after having a bath or shower and the effects are amazing, it is not only soothing buy incredibly moisturising.  

The bottle has been designed with a pump dispenser which means only a small amount is dispensed at any one time.  One pump is enough for both hands or feet and once massaged into the skin, it sinks in leaving little trace it was ever there.

How To Choose The Right Lipstick Colour

The perfect lipstick colour has the ability to pull together the whole makeup. Choosing the wrong shade, on the other hand, could make even the most perfect look seem awkward. If you find yourself spending hours at the store choosing the right color, or if you just can't seem to work out a foolproof system when it comes to buying lipstick, this article will help to take some of the frustration out of choosing a shade and will bring some of the fun back into your makeup shopping! 

Keep in mind that lipsticks come in a vast variety of shades as well as price ranges. Whether you choose to splurge on products from high-end brands or find the perfect color from a trusted drugstore brand, you can save yourself a lot of time and effort with the help of the suggestions below. You can also save big by staying on the lookout for the latest coupons or discount vouchers that can make even the most high-end cosmetics so much more affordable. Just go to Discountrue.com and browse the offer of such stores as Sephora or Neiman Marcus, and you'll be sure to find something good for yourself! 

Understanding Your Skin Tone 

Does your skin have a warm or cool undertone? The answer to this question generally determines what shades will look best with your complexion. If you're unsure about your skin's undertone, there are two easy ways to figure this out: 1) determine the color of the veins on the inside of your wrist; if they appear blue or purple, you have a cool undertone, and if they appear green, you have a warm undertone; 2) perform the gold-silver test; if gold jewelry looks better on your skin than silver then you probably have a warm undertone, and vice versa. As a rule, warm colors (soft neutrals, warm reds, etc.) look best on warm skin tones, and cooler colors (shades with purple or blue tones) tend to flatter cool skin tones. 

Choosing The Perfect “Everyday” Colour 

It's important to understand that there isn't just one everyday colour that works perfectly for everyone. One of the biggest mistakes you can make when choosing a lipstick shade is picking one that you thought looked great on someone else. An everyday color is typically subtle, so a good rule to follow is to choose one that is just a few shades deeper than the natural shade of your lips. Remember, darker lipsticks will make your lips look smaller, while lighter ones can have a plumping effect, so choose accordingly! 

Pulling Together A Look 

When getting ready to go out, don't feel tempted to match your lipstick too closely to your outfit – this rarely turns out to be a flattering look! Instead choose a complimentary color a few shades lighter or darker than the main one in the color-scheme. As far as the rest of your make-up goes, it's generally a good idea to either go with dramatic lips or dramatic eyes – going for both usually results in an exaggerated look. 

Perfecting The Art Of Lipstick Shopping 

Most stores will let you try on a lipstick before making a purchase, so don't be too shy to try out one and, when possible, take advantage of the chance to get professional advice from sales associates – they're likely to give you an honest opinion about what shade would suit you best. 

The next time you're shopping for the perfect lipstick colour, don't forget about our suggestions. The more you put the above tips to practice, the more confidence you'll have in your own ability to choose the best shade!

*Guestpost

How do I make my eye makeup last longer!

Hi there I am Andrew James and I post about hair, makeup and skincare over at beautyandtheboy.com. I am guest posting today for Beauty Queen UK. I thought it would be a good idea to post about one of the questions I get asked a lot social media, "How do I make my eye makeup last longer?" Personally I would say by using primers or bases. Eye Primers work as a magnet for eye shadow, some will even out the surface and colour of the lid some extend the wear of eye shadows and some just make the eye shadows more vibrant. I’ve chosen a few products I think you will like. The products range from drug store all the way up to luxury, including different textures for all skin types so there is a good mix for everyone.

Firstly, we have an old makeup trick that has been used by makeup artists for years. The “secret" is to just use some plain old pressed powder after you've applied your foundation. Applying powder to the eye will give it a good base to start working on that way your eye shadows will go on smoothly and blend evenly. As you can see above, I picked Collection Cosmetics Lasting Perfection Powder as it’s a long lasting, finely milled powder, a great pick from the drug store

Here we have some products that will either give you a smooth base or make your eye makeup last much longer, I put these products together because you don't want a coloured base so these are all either clear or nude this way you won't see them when you apply eye shadow on top. On the far left is the Illamasqua Sealing Gel which on its own doesn't do much, although when mixed that's when the magic happens sometimes I find myself mixing this with eyeliners, eyeshadows etc. This will make sure your eye makeup won't crease and will be particularly good for those of you with oily lids. Next we have the NARS Pro Prime and Laura Mercier Eye Canvas which both contain starch to help control oiliness on the lids which causes the creasing of your eye makeup. NYX Jumbo pencil works better for those with normal/dry skin as it tends to crease a bit on oily lids. I find the NYX Jumbo Pencils work best when set with eye shadow.

The above products are for those of you who want a bit of colour on your lid but want the eye shadow to last. I often find myself using coloured bases a lot, I’ll usually put down one of these then use a powder to blend over the top and work from there. I would say the key to good long lasting makeup is using what works for your skin type and layering products on top of each other that way they don’t wear away as easily.

My favourite coloured bases have to be the OCC Cream Colour Concentrate which is basically a cream eye shadow that sets down and dries which is a god send for oily lids. These blend really well too if you just want to use this on the lid as an eye shadow without powder. A more affordable version of the Cream Colour Concentrate is the Maybelline Colour Tattoo which works in the same way although it’s a bit drier. The last 2 products are more for your normal/combo eyelids as the Chanel Illusion D'ombre. These set and it looks absolutely beautiful although I’ve found they don’t tend last as long with oily lids. CKone Eyeshadow Bases are great for a wash of colour before doing a smokey eye they work the same as the others but this one has a more grungy tone that then others

I hope this post have helped out you somewhat, if there are any other questions you have or anything you want to ask tweet me @beautyandtheboy on twitter or instagram

You can also follow me on Bloglovin: http://www.bloglovin.com/en/blog/4747223

Thanks for Reading!