EmiliaStyle: Beauty Review

My Ultimate Nude Lipsticks | Beauty

Oh yes, I am fully committed to those nudes.
I used to stay away from them with a 10 foot pole. They were all too light and beige for me and I would end up looking sick, or just plain weird... like I was trying to hard. And yet, when they started getting really popular, I really wanted to fit in with the rest of the beauty community... social pressures amirite?
So this time last year, I started experimenting with different shades and realized that there was more to the trend then just a washed out, pale lip. I found my niche in the brown-mauve colours that were classic nudes but darker. That's when I realized not only could I finally join the trend, but I also found a new shade of lipstick that could join my ever growing collection. Not only are there some mauvy-pinks, berry shades but now I welcome nudes with open arms.

Today, I thought I'd showcase my top 5 shades that I wear on an everyday basis. I've also tried to get different types of formulations so that I cover all the bases. In my stash, I have a mix of mattes, liquid lipsticks, sheers and creams. Hopefully these help you discover a new formula/shade or give you the confidence to try something completely different and experiment with your lipstick colours.

L-R: Estée Lauder // Burberry // M.A.C // NYX // Kat Von D |

Estée Lauder Pure Envy Sculpting Lipstick in "Irrisistible": I've spoken about this shade before but I'll mention it again simply because it's one of my most worn lipsticks. This nude is on the more pinky side but still has quite a few brown tones in the mix. I also love the finish, the colour is strong but it's not a matte so it's not drying. The formulation is comfortable on the lips and I can reapply without worrying about needing a mirror. A definite win right here.
Burberry Kisses Sheer in "221- Light Brown": I ordered this at the beginning of the year and wasn't sure if it was going to suit me. But on the contrary, I reach for it all the time. Again one of those shades that I can just throw on without a mirror and I know I'm good to go. It's a lighter brown then I'm use to but because of the sheer quality it gives a beautiful sheen. The formula of the Burberry lipsticks is one of the best, simply because of how comfortable they are and they don't dry out patchy throughout the day. This range also has a beautiful range of colours and it's definitely tempting to pick up a few more shades
M.A.C Matte Lipstick in "Velvet Teddy": My ride or die lipstick, I don't know what I did without this colour in my collection. *I swear I'm not always this dramatic ;) This is a perfect blend of pink and nude but with also has some beige undertones. During these winter months, when I feel like my skin is a little too dull and pale for a true nude, I love reaching for this because it brings a natural makeup look to life. While it is a matte finish, it wears really well throughout the day and my lips don't feel uncomfortable or damaged at the end of a long day. One little note is that I would recommend exfoliating your lips every few days.

NYX Soft Matte Cream in "04-London": Out of all the NYX liquid lipstick formulations, these are by far my favourite. They aren't super drying, nor do they seep into the lines of your lips. I also love that the creams have a matte finish but the pigment isn't very intense so the colour sits quite naturally on the lips. The shade "London" won out but "Stockholm" came in a close second. The colour is slightly darker which means I can grab it much more frequently throughout the seasons, while "Stockholm" has some orange/coral tones in it- perfect for warmer, sunnier days.
Kat Von D Everlasting Liquid Lipstick in "Bow N Arrow": Out of all my liquid lipsticks, this is my most used. Throughout the summer, I worn this religiously and while I don't grab for it everyday at the moment, it's still my favourite liquid formulation. Yes, the finish it matte, so it is drying but out of all the ones I've tried, Kat Von D are my favourite. I think this colour is great for nights out because it gives such a bold statement. A true nude colour, it's the perfect shade of brown for lighter skin tones.

There you have it, my winning nude lipsticks. Let me know which are your favourites and how many times you had to remind yourself that we were talking about makeup products and not inappropriate pictures ;) *None? Just me? Ok I'll get my mind out of the gutter* xx

-Emilia

07:35
0 Comments

Sunday Loves: Face Masks | Beauty

Beauty Blogger

I don't think I'm alone when I say that I love me a good face mask. There's something so calming about applying one after a long day out and about. As it's a Sunday, the International Day of Relaxation/Rejuvenation, what better topic then that of skincare and face masks. Swoon.

For a while, I wasn't very consistent about applying them and I truly wondered just how useful/beneficial they were. Fortunately, I was quickly converted once I starting applying them on a regular basis and invested in getting the Right Ones. Finding the right masks for your skin can get a little overwhelming but fear not, I'm here to let you know about my top 5 favourites.

Firstly, I should point out that I've got combination/oily skin, that's quite acne prone and I deal with redness. So, after saying that, these products are going to focus on those issues. That means if you've got super dry skin with issues or blackheads and irritation, I can't guarantee they'll work the same.

The Body Shop are a great first stop if you're new to the whole face mask world. They've got a great selection for varying skin types and the prices are super reasonable. My favourites from them are the Tea Tree Skin Skin Clearing Clay Mask and Drops of Youth Bouncy Sleeping Mask. Tea Tree is fantastic for when my skin is really breaking out. I find it calms it down and while it doesn't clear right away, it soothes the irritated areas. I notice my blemishes don't seem so inflamed and it does prevent further breakouts.

I love using the Drops of Youth mask when it gets really cold in the city and my skin is looking dull and tired. I apply this one overnight and I automatically see a difference the following morning. I tend to use this one a little less regularly, but when it get really cold I'll whack it on every few days.

I try to exfoliate once a week. However, dealing with redness and sensitive skin, I'm always a little apprehensive when it comes to exfoliating scrubs. That is until I found this one from L'Oreal. The L'Oreal Skin Experts Treatment Mask Exfoliate and Refine Pores (that's a mouthful) is great because it isn't too harsh and I don't notice it irritating my skin. I apply this with a brush and focus on my T-zone area, that way I can control how much goes on my skin and can avoid all sensitive areas (i.e under eye).

This Origins Out of Trouble 10 Minute Mask is probably my most used. It's a clay mask that targets irritation but also doesn't dry out my skin. As well, because you only need to leave it on for 10 minutes, it's such an easy thing to add to your evening routine. I like to use this during that special time of the month ;) when my skin and I just aren't cooperating. This really is my trusted sidekick that I can always reach for and know exactly how it'll work on me.

I would say that my newest edition is this Boscia Luminizing Black Mask. I like to use this to target the excess oil (that's a gorgeous picture isn't it?) because it just clears up any dullness. The only thing I'll mention about this is you need to be precise with this mask because it is a peel-off so getting any product stuck in your eyebrows... not all that fun.

I really do believe that adding a face mask to my routine is part of how I've got my skin to stabilize a little bit. Coming from a background that was always about hiding my face with layers of makeup, masks have been able to sooth my skin and in a way, helped me turn towards lighter foundations and even a few tinted moisturizers. xx

- Emilia

09:37
0 Comments

Winter 2017 Evening Skincare Routine | Beauty

Beauty Review

If you're like me, your evenings can be just as busy as the rest of your day. Whether it's doing more work for class, household chores or simply taking care of the kids, your evenings and days blend into one hectic mess.
However, if there's one thing I've learned in my many years on this earth (23 year old Grandma right here) is that taking 15-20 minutes to myself at the end of the night will save me millions on stress.
While I've always understood the importance of taking care of my skin, Thanks Mom!, it's taken me a fair few to connect that it's also a contributing factor to helping with elevated stress and anxiety.
Forcing myself to take 15-20 minutes to take my make-up off, wash and hydrate my skin allows me to take a breather and do something purely for myself. It also helps with my stress because I know I'm actively doing something to prevent breakouts and other skin problems.
My history with skin issues is quite long and yet super simple. I was that classic teen that dealt with acne from a young age and while it's gotten a lot better, I'm not at the state where I'll leave the house completely makeup free.
The biggest thing I've learnt is that simplifying my routine is key and avoid "overapplying", because it just suffocates my face.

When it comes to taking my makeup off, there really isn't much that's revolutionary, I use a combination of wipes and micellar water. On good days, I'll stick with the water (with some cotton pads) because it removes my makeup really well, without rubbing and irritating my skin. I love this Garnier one, but you can also never go wrong with Bioderma and Reversa. When it comes to makeup wipes, I'm not exactly a loyal customer. I just picked up these Simple Kind to Skin ones because you can't hear a bad review about them but Marcelle, Uriage and Bioderma (again) are just as good.

When it comes to actually cleansing my skin, I've fallen in love with the Vichy Normaderm Deep Cleansing Gel. It doesn't irritate my skin and has the right ingredients to control and prevent breakouts. On days when I don't feel like my skin is too dry and the redness on my cheeks isn't too irritated, I'll use a toner. I've noticed such a difference since adding this step and it's all thanks to the Clinique Clarifying Lotion. I tend to avoid using multiple products that specifically target acne prone skin because it can cause a lot of irritation and so this step works really well with the cleanser.

Finally to finish things off, I've really been enjoying the Vichy Idéalia moisturizer. I don't like using night creams because I find them too heavy and they easily clog up my pores, but this still gives me a good amount of hydration throughout the night.

Eye creams are the one thing that I'm a little fickle with and I think it's because I have yet to find the right one. Nevertheless, the Yves Rocher Hydra Vegetal Fresh Gel Undereye is the one I'm currently using. I have noticed that If I skip this step for a few days, the area can begin to dry up so clearly there is a need for an eye cream but I'm open to suggestions for a new one.

When it comes to lips, again anything that hydrates works for me. You can never go wrong with the Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour Cream Skin Protectant and I've also been really been enjoying the Blistex Deep Renewal.

Light a few candles, put on your favourite music and take some time to just unwind. While makeup removal may seem like an annoying chore, it is a necessary part of your evening... unless you want your pillowcase to look like a Picasso piece. So instead of dreading it, find a way of making it useful to better yourself. xx

- Emilia

10:03
0 Comments

Hi My Name is Emilia | Life

Beauty Blogger

Hi! Welcome! Bonjour! This is quite the surprise. Here I am in front of my laptop wanting to creating something purely for myself rather then for school or work. If it's your first time visiting, Hi! My name is Emilia. If you're a old reader, who randomly saw an update that I've published something new, Welcome Back!
I've been a little MIA these past few months and I can't really say I had a legitimate excuse. It can be quite daunting to want to create a blog so unique, that it stands out among the millions of other beauty/fashion/lifestyle blogs out there. I think I may have let it get to my head. Nevertheless, I'm back. With no expectations. I'll be posting about the things I want to read/write about it. Forget the "rules", lets just see where it takes me. :)
Now that my little word vomit, schpeel is over, let's talk about fun things... Beauty!

Over these past few months, I've done a few purges of my makeup collection. You can quickly realize that having too much isn't exactly all that fun. It can take up a lot of space and you forget about 70% of the products you actually own. So whenever I want to buy something new, I've been going through my things to see if I really need it and to see if I already have a similar item. Now yes, I still own wayy to many lipsticks and I am still a sucker for a good highlighting palette but I'm quite proud with the progress I've made.
Recently, I did one these cleanups and I thought I'd share a few of the key pieces I rediscovered. It's also a great way of pairing some older products with newer ones.
Guerlain La Petite Robe Noir Lipstick: I got this last summer and it slowly fell into the never ending pile of pink lipsticks I own. However, finding it again, I've realized that its a beautiful colour that works for all seasons. Not too pink, it's quite sheer and applies beautifully with a simple "everyday look". It's one of those lipsticks that you can apply without a mirror and not worry about how it looks... Basically my favourite kind.

Hourglass Ambient Lighting Blush: I tend to steer clear of blush because I already deal with redness on my cheeks. However, I've been loving this because the pink isn't too pigmented and the highlight gives a gorgeous glow without being overpowering.

Burberry Fresh Glow Luminous Fluid Base: I've fallen back in love with this primer. It feels so luxurious on my skin and gives a gorgeous glow. I also don't feel my makeup sliding off of my face at the end of a long day, which let's be honest, none of us are really keen on.

A classic staple that has paired really well with these rediscoveries is my Charlotte Tilbury Lip Cheat Lip liner in "Pillowtalk". It pairs so well with a lot of my nude-pink lipsticks that it's my no brainer top liner. I've also got to give a shoutout to my newest fragrance the Giorgio Armani Si Eau de Parfum. I picked it up in a rollerball to make sure that it was a scent that I would love and want the full size but after wearing it for two weeks straight, it's safe to say that I'm in love and yes, that full size is coming home soon.
I hope you've enjoyed this little "welcome back" post. Hopefully you have and you're looking forward to a few more. I'm not going to limit myself to the type of content I'll be publishing, basically, anything that I find interesting or that inspires me. I look forward to seeing you again and until then, have a gorgeous day! xx

-Emilia

16:00
0 Comments

Favourite Single Eyeshadows| Beauty

Beauty

It comes as no surprise that I'm a sucker for eyeshadow palettes. So while I tend to invest in those, I do have a few single shades that I can't see myself parting with. I don't always like when my eyeshadows are individually potted because then I can't quite visualized how to pair them with other shades. However, most of these are perfect on their own...which is fantastic when I'm running late and need to leave ASAP.

First and foremost, we have this stunning iridescent gold shade. I think this is a stunning colour because it can pair nicely with a smokey bronze look but it also looks amazing on its own. I'll put this all over my lid and it gives a pretty finish with an even sparkle. Perfect for the days you don't want to go heavy but you still want a little shimmer.

| Burberry Wet & Dry Glow Shade- Gold Pearl|

This next shade is perfect on night out. Again it's got plenty of sparkle and suits well with a smokey eye. I've also found myself using this on top of my winged liner to enhance the look even more. I love how pigmented it is, so it works nicely on top of so many different darker shades.

| L'Oreal Ultra Concentrated Eyeshadow Colour- Flashback Silver |

The Make Up Forever eyeshadow creams are one of my favourites. First of all they aren't drying at all and secondly, they last all. day. long. The longevity of these is pretty unbelievable. This is a gorgeous rose gold shade that works really nicely with a winged liner. If you want to wear it on a more casual day, it also pairs nicely with a brown one. The only side note I'd add is that it sets with a "wet" finish, so if you aren't a fan of that look then it may not be the best for you.

| Make Up Forever Aqua Cream- 13 |

This is a very similar shade to the other eyeshadow base but slightly darker and a bit more bronze. I like pairing this one on its own with a lengthening mascara and it gives a very simple and pretty look. It also works really well with purple eyeshadows if you want to smoke it out. Finally, it also works great with an aubergine liner, it gives great depth near the eyelashes.

| Make Up Forever Aqua Cream- 16 |

Now I know I'm cheating with this duo, but I just couldn't get myself to take it out of my pile. These colours are so pretty paired together and you can wear them very casually or for a lot of definition. I love that the shades have some orange, gold and bronze pigments to them- they aren't typical brown tones. I've used this with a very light hand to create some natural depth to my eyelid. However, you can also use these with a heavier hand and really work at blending them properly to create a great smokey eye.

| Nars Duo Eyeshadow- Isolde |

Thanks for reading! What are some of your favourite single eyeshadows? And are there any brands I should try, that I haven't quite mentioned?

Let me know in the comments!< <3

Emilia

15:24
0 Comments

Pages

My Ultimate Nude Lipsticks | Beauty

Sunday Loves: Face Masks | Beauty

Winter 2017 Evening Skincare Routine | Beauty

Hi My Name is Emilia | Life

Favourite Single Eyeshadows| Beauty

Follow Me

Popular Posts

Blog Archive

Emilia'sStyle Instagram