From then on, I've been a little more brave in testing out lighter toned nudes. While they still very much lean on a pink side, I'm impressed with my willingness to try some new shades. So, here are my four top nude lipsticks for newbies! :)

This is one of the newest to my collection and also the first Kat Von D Everlasting Liquid Lipstick I've tried. There's a reason why I wear this in almost every Instagram post, I love this shade. It's quite dark but still brown that it gives a really nice edge to your outfit, especially when you aren't wearing heavy eye makeup. The only downside to this product is that it is very drying, therefore, it isn't one I would recommend wearing every day of the week. 

Well there you have it! The beginnings of my nudes lipstick collection. While I know it is very on trend right now, I think they will shades I keep in my makeup bag for a long time. What are some shades you'd recommend I try out next?

Have a gorgeous week!<3

Emilia

xx

I've added to my makeup collection these last few weeks, so I thought I would share with you what I've bought<3 

Sometimes, you just have those days when you're feeling inspired to pick up a few new pieces and in the past few weeks, I've really been gravitating towards somber colours and as you'll probably notice, the darker nudes. 

NYX Eyeshadow in "Sin": My eye immediately went to this shadow when I was at the NYX stand. I though it was such a pretty colour but still so wearable. I've used it a few times since buying it and honestly, the colour looks gorgeous on its own. I do, however, recommend a primer underneath because it won't last on your eyelid without it.

L'Oreal Nail Polish in "Pass the Vino": I've recently gotten back into painting my nails. For a few months, I just really couldn't be bothered with doing anything with them. But I really love this colour, I think it's great as a transitional shade between darker winter colours and spring pastels.

NYX HD Concealer: I've wanted to try a new under eye concealer for a while now, and since I've been really impressed with NYX products lately, I didn't hesitate. It's creamy and applies well under my eye (although you do need to set it with a powder). I did unfortunately get it one shade too light but it still works fine for me (I'd recommend going 1-2 shades lighter then your actual skin tone).   

Kat Von D Liquid Lipstick in "Lolita": I. Love. This. Shade. I really wanted to finally try one of these because they are raved about everywhere. So, when I went into Sephora, I wanted to choose a colour I could wear everyday. This was the first shade I saw and it does not disappoint. Yes it's a little bit drying (it is matte after all) but the colour stays on forever and it's a perfect shade of nude without being too light and making me look dead. 

NYX Micro Brow Pencil in "Taupe": I needed a new eyebrow pencil but didn't want to splurge on my Anastasia one so I thought I'd give this a try. I've used it a few times and to be honest, I like it just as much. Honestly, if you have access to NYX then I'd recommend trying it out if you don't want to dish out the $30 for another pencil. 

The Body Shop "Insta Blur" Eye Primer: I decided to pick this up at the same time as the primer and I'm really happy I did. This works very nicely and it doesn't have a greasy effect on my eyelid like some other primers do. And of course, it keeps my eye makeup on my eyelids, which to be honest is the most important thing ;)

The Body Shop "Insta Blur" Primer: I'd always heard good things about this one but had never really tried it. While its been working for me, I'm not 100% sure it holds up to my all-time favourite. I think I still need to use it a few times to really figure it out. 

Yves Rocher Hydra Vegetal Moisture Serum: I haven't been using a serum these past few months and I think that has really affected my skin, especially with this dry weather. While I don't have any negative thoughts about this right now, I've only been using it for a week. I'll give it a few more weeks before I really comment on it. 

Well I hope you enjoyed reading! I don't always accumulate this many new products in the same time frame, so I thought I'd take advantage and write up a little post about them.

Have a lovely day!

Emilia

xx

Last week, M.A.C put out a new limited edition set, which was a collaboration with Zac Posen. As soon as I saw the emails, I knew I had to get my hands on some of the pieces; it's entire line is full of purple tones and classic, everyday shades.  

The shades are not the most pigmented, so if that's your thing, you may be disappointed. Nonetheless, I think they work perfectly for a minimal look. I love how there are both cream and grey tones because they combine beautifully together.  

I've had the weekend to play around with it and so far, my favourite shades have been the deep burgundy (bottom, far right), the silver-grey (top, far right) and the old rose (bottom, middle).

As I mentioned earlier, the shades are perfect for a minimal look but if you use both darker tones, you can definitely achieve a nice smokey eye. As well, the burgundy shade is gorgeous as definition on the lash line. 

I'm definitely happy with my purchase and it's a product I see myself carrying in my everyday makeup bag. I don't think I'd categorize it as a "must-have", but if you do love makeup, I think it would be a lovely addition to your collection. 

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. 

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. 

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. 

I think it's safe to say that I love the glowy finish to my makeup. Even when I want to stay basic, I like to use a highlight. I definitely find it makes me look and feel more awake. Just a little bit of glow makes an entire makeup look feel refreshed and vibrant. 

So after saying all this, it's only natural that I discuss some some of my favourite highlight and contour palettes.

This palette is what got me hooked on highlighters. The middle shade is absolutely beautiful and when you combine all three, you end up getting the most beautiful bronzed glow. As is clearly evident, I've used this palette to bits. So while it's been a little more then a year since I've had it, I don't see it leaving me anytime soon. 

This is the newest member of my collection and while it is only a sample, I'm tempted to go out and purchase the full sized version. This gives a beautiful finish without seeming too much. I like to use this one when I'm going for the "no makeup" makeup look. It gives a very natural finish that defines the cheekbones but doesn't overpower them.

This product needs no explanation. I have yet to find someone that doesn't like it... This palette is what got me really intrigued by Charlotte Tilbury (her products aren't easily accessible here in Canada). This duo was definitely used A LOT this summer and, these days, I tend to reach for it on nights out. It's one of the most pigmented palettes I own so it works really well when I want to go for a more defined look. 

The BeccaXJaclyn Hill highlight is perfect because it has a gorgeous rose gold undertone. This one, as well, is extremely pigmented, so it isn't one that I'll grab for everyday but it definitely fits the bill when I want to have a little more fun with my makeup.  

I think I've learnt the most about contour and highlight from this palette. I know that's probably silly to say but there is a reason why Kevyn Aucoin is the master of the contour. My favourite shades have been "Brighten" (top left), and "Sculpt (bottom right). The "Celestial Powder" is also gorgeous but it is very similar to the middle shade of the Hourglass palette. 

The final highlight I've really enjoyed using is "Meringue" from my Laura Mercier palette. I didn't think much of it when purchasing the palette- thought I'd just use the eyeshadows. However, I have realized that the highlight shade is amazing. Whenever I use the palette for my eyes, I end up sticking with the highlight because it just works really well. I like that it has some pink undertones, which means I can get away with not using a blush. It's not a heavy shade but if you're just going with a simple look that day, I think its a perfect addition. 

Well there you have it! My favourite highlight shades in my collection <3 If you've stuck until the very end, thank you.. I appreciate it :) 

I hope you have a gorgeous week!

Emilia

xx