Top 5 Red Lipsticks for Christmas Time

Hey ladies,

At this time of year its all parties and festivities and we are all on the lookout for the perfect products to give us a party ready pout. Here are my top 5 Christmas lipsticks.



Rimmel Kate Lipstick in Shade 1

This is a gorgeous matte deep red that is perfect for parties. This is a very deep shade which might be a little intimidating if you haven't worn red shades before but trust me, you will look fabulous in this.






ELF Lipstick in Fearless

This was the first red lipstick I ever bought, its a medium red satin shine finish and it is ideal if you are looking to try out a red lipstick for the first time as for £1.50 you don't loose much if you decide it isn't the right shade. Start with this then think about if you would like it to be lighter / darker / more matte and work from there to find the perfect red for you.



Sally Hansen Colorfast Reddy for Anything

This is probably my most worn red lipstick, because it is just SO easy to wear. The pigmentation level is good enough to give a true colour, but not too bold for a daytime trip to the supermarket. It is across between a balm and a lipstick and I love it, super hydrating, glides on and looks glossy!







Essence Lipstick in Rockin' Red

This is a deep blue toned red but with gold flecks of glitter! It is THE perfect lipstick for Christmas parties, its like a festive explosion on your lips! Every time I wear this lipstick I get compliments on it, because it is very unusual to find such a lovely glittery shade of red. This has a smooth formula and the tiny glitter flecks do not scratch or irritate. Lovely hydrating formula doesn't dry or stain the lips.





Sleek Makeup lipstick in Stiletto

I don't own this lipstick but it is next on my wish list because I have swatched it, and it is STUNNING! So I thought I would include it :)

High End Makeup That IS Worth The Money!

As beauty bloggers and makeup lovers we all ponder the eternal question: 

IS HIGH END MAKEUP REALLY ANY BETTER THAN HIGH STREET?

ARE these cosmetics even WORTH the high price tag? Or are we just paying for fancy packaging and branding?

In my 30 years on this planet I have tried out every drugstore makeup brand available in the UK and now I'm working my way through the USA ones too! I've also tried out a large number of high end brands, So i'd say i'm qualified to comment on subjects like the one I'm now raising. 

I love drugstore makeup, I have quite an extensive collection (you can view it on my youtube channel) 

I would say that 95% of my collection is drugstore, with a few high end bits thrown in for good measure. 

I am an average working person who cannot justify paying silly amounts of money for high end makeup that I can get a dupe of for a fraction of the price in the drug store. So out of the high end things I've road tested, here are the ones that I think ARE worth the money! (Now you can buy them guilt free!)

MAC Pro Longwear PaintPots £15.00 

Mac PaintPots were a 'change your life' product for me, I use mac paintpots as eyeshadow bases, beforehand i was using various drugstore eyeshadow primers which were ok but never really amazed me. These little paintpots did amaze me! My personal favourite is Vintage Selection and i promise you that if you buy one of these you will never go back to a primer, and your eye shadow will not move! Maybelline do a dupe of these called 'Color Tattoo' which are good but nowhere near as good! The amount of product you get in these is plenty to last you 6 months with daily use! A little goes a really long way! 

Benefit Hoola Bronzer £23.50 

This is the UK's best selling bronzer, and there IS a reason for that! Given its steep price tag it is certainly a considered purchase, but one I do not regret! The colour is THE perfect brown. Not too light, not too dark, not too orange, no shimmer (perfect for contouring) and best of all not ashy. 

MAC Mineralize Skin Finish Soft & Gentle

Honestly the best highlighter money can buy. It goes on, it stays on, it highlights to perfection! The nicest shade you can buy in any highlighter and I cannot find a drugstore one that can match it on shade or shimmer. 

MAC lipsticks £15.00 (Angel)

MAC are known for there awesome lipsticks, My personal favourites are Angel & Viva Glam V. Angel because it is the perfect nude pink and Viva Glam V because it is the perfect pinky beige. Mac's lipsticks are a lovely thick formula that glides on and colours in 1 swipe. No rubbing again and again to build colour. They have a really distinctive scent / taste too! Kind of like vanilla frosting! Yum!

Mac Fix+ £14.00

The controversial product that divided the beauty blogging world. MAC fix plus. Some loved it, some hated it, but everyone HAD to try it! I think a lot of the controversy that surrounded this product was that people mistakenly expected this was a 'Setting Spray' and would elongate the wear time of makeup. The truth is MAC do not claim this is a setting spray. They say it is a 'finishing mist' and before you ask - YES there IS a difference. A finishing mist simply stops makeup looking cakey and powdery and returns the face to a more natural skin like look. For this reason I LOVE Fix+ and will repurchase it again and again! It contains toners, caffeine and moisture locking ingredients too, so it can be used on bare skin as a revitalizing spray to really prep ths skin ready for makeup! Oh and it smells amazing too!

Benefit Coralista Blush £23.50

Benefit Coralista is a multidimensional peachy pink blush with an almost highlighting shimmer. It has to be swatched because it is VERY hard to describe. I think this is the most girly, pretty day to day blush the world has to offer and I can't get enough of its scent either! There are similar blushes out there but none quite manage to dupe its shimmery peach perfection, so for that reason, despite its high price tag, it makes my list.

I hope this blog helps you when deciding whether to spend or save on certain items!

Much love, 

Helen 

Face Primer Wars - High Street & High End

I'm somebody that rarely commits to one product or brand, I like to play the field when it comes to cosmetics and try out anything and everything until I find the holy grail. For me its a hobby, its fun and its rewarding. So here are the primers I have road tested, and what i thought of each.

For high street to high end (Price lowest to highest)


1. NYC Smooth Skin Perfecting Primer - Superdrug £3.49

CLAIMS: to extend the wear of foundation, minimize imperfections and to smooth and moisturise the skin

MY REVIEW: This primer is actually very decent for the price, it is a white cream, it does leave skin feeling smoother and softer and does illuminate the skin due to its slightly shimmery appearance. It has no scent, dries quickly and makes foundation application smoother and easier. For a basic drugstore product I think it is well worth the money. Would I repurchase? Yes. In a heartbeat. 

2.Rimmel Fix and Perfect Pro Primer Superdrug £6.99

CLAIMS: 5 in 1. Smooths, Perfects, protects,brightens, mattifies and resurfaces

MY REVIEW: This product is another white cream, it claims big things, and for the most part it delivers. The skin feels amazing after use, it does minimize pores and imperfections, it is slightly illuminating and shimmery so it does brighten and obviously any layer of cream on the skin will protect it to an extent - the resurfacing claim is a little far fetched but it does give you a nicer smoother base to work with, so I'll overlook the big claim. My only issue with this product was that I was allergic to it. That's not the products fault - its just unfortunate. The product itself worked in perfect harmony with my skin - my problem was the scent. It makes my eyes run, makes me sneeze and just generally caused a 'heyfever' type reaction. Would I repurchase it: NO  - but if they released a fragrance free version - then YES. 


3. Salma Hayek Smooth Start Smooth Skin Primer $10 CVS (USA only)

CLAIMS: To diminish the appearance of pores and fine lines and enhance makeup wear

MY REVIEW: WOW! this is a wonder product, I cannot honestly recommend it highly enough! unlike the previous 2 primers I have mentioned, this is a gel like formula, It is almost like vaseline but less greasy. It is a light beige colour. It glides on, feels super soft and hides a multitude of sins. Would I repurchase? YES! by the bucket!


4. MAC Prep + Prime Skin £20.50 MAC Cosmetics website

CLAIMS: To calm and soothe the skin, blot excess oil and even out skintone. Improve application of foundations.

MY REVIEW: Like the cheaper dugstore primers this is a white cream with a fair amount of shimmer which illuminates the skin. It is very light and non greasy, almost a little too 'watery' for my liking. super soft to touch and definitely good at its blotting claim, so if you have oily skin I would highly recommend this primer. It provides a perfect base to apply foundation on top of.  Exactly what I would expect from MAC. Would I repurchase? NO because I don't have oily skin so its not ideal for me. I would try a different MAC primer more suited to my skin type though.



5. Estee Lauder Matte Perfecting Primer £22.50 Estee Lauder website

Claims: To mattify skin, control oils and shine, even out skintone, minimise pores, calm and smooth

MY REVIEW: Given that MAC & Estee Lauder and one in the same it doesn't surprise me that this primer is similar to the MAC one, only this feels slightly thicker and less watery - therefore BETTER. No noticeable scent, definitely does mattify the skin and smooths to incredible levels, evens out the surface and generally delivers what it claims. Would I repurchase? Maybe, but its a little bit pricey!


6. Benefit The Porefessional £24.50 Benefit website

Claims: Minimize appearance of pores and fine lines, smooth and even out skin, Improve application of foundation.

MY REVIEW: For me, this is the best of the best. I do not think there is a better primer out there, I do not have problem pores or any issues with fine lines yet i LOVE this as a primer. It is somewhere between a gel and a cream and nude beige in colour (VERY similar to Nuance by Salma Hayek) Probably best described as a "balm." It really does smooth, mattify and even out the skin. It has to be felt to be believed. My skin feels like velvet after application. Would I repurchase? Despite its high price tag - YES, A little goes a really long way. 


In summary, I'd  move heaven and earth to get your hands on the NUANCE primer by Salma Hayek because for me it is the closest dupe to the best, which is Benefit's Porefessional :) There really isn't much in these two despite Benefit being $20 (£15) more expensive!

I really hope you found this review useful and I look forward to reading your comments and opinions.

Helen xx

Bella Capelli Salon Review

My Afternoon at Bella Capelli

Today I visited Bella Capelli Salon in St Helens for the first time.  There has been a Salon on this site for some time but it has recently come under new management and been refurbished, so in true beauty blogger style - i HAD to go and check it out. 

Firstly, I LOVE the name Bella Capelli which translates to Beautiful Hair! Genius. It just rolls off the tongue and is representative of what we go into a salon for! This salon offers much more than just a good hair cut though!

Upon entering the salon I arrived at a reception desk where I was greeted warmly by Stephanie, The salon owner. The first thing that struck me was the crisp clean modern decor and furniture which are both exquisite, and the art on the feature wall of a pair of beautifully made up eyes which i think is perfect for a beauty salon. 

I was taken over to the nail station where Suz, a nail technician spent some time going through my nail options with me. I was spoilt for choice there were so many beautiful colours and styles but I eventually settled on a beautiful red shellac. Then I was asked glitter or no glitter - I chose glitter obviously, who wouldn't right? 

Suz was very skilled at applying my Shellac with military precision whilst also chatting and having a good giggle. I felt very at ease and pampered. The end result was honestly the nicest my tatty talons have ever looked - I've had many manicures in my 30 years on this planet but none as good as this! Suz really did have her work cut out for her, my nails were a disgrace after months of DIY manicures (also known as neglect) and I was slightly ashamed to remove my nail polish and let her see them, but it was no sweat for her expertise and she had them looking ship shape in no time at all. 

Stephanie, the Salon owner is both a hairdresser and a nail technician and upon me asking about what else the salon had to offer she offered to show me around and show me some of her work so of course I accepted! Along the left wall there are hairdressing stations which are again modern and elegant, Stephanie offers all kinds of services for hair, from cuts and colours to the latest in hair extensions, trendy up doo's, bridal hair and treatments. Seeing her work proved to me she is the best in town and I know where I will be heading for my hair needs in future. 

Stephanie then offered to show me the beauty therapy room where they offer all other beauty treatments including waxing, facials, massage, makeup, lashes.... The room was beautifully decorated in bang on trend colours, relaxing lighting with candles and fluffy towels and blankets. Heaven on earth! I will be booking an appointment for some treatments and I can't wait!

I am really pleased that I went to Bella Capelli today, because not only did I get my nails done perfectly, but I also found a new salon which offers everything I need under one roof, but doesnt compromise on quality of service and lets face it - in this day and age who has time to be going to one place for hair, another for nails and another for waxing and facials? 

So from now on - I'm a Bella Capelli girl - and I hope you will be too!

For appointments contact:

Stephanie Meredith

Bella Capelli Salon 

44 Vincent Street

St Helens 

WA10 1LE

01744 322812

I Got Nail'd By Suz - Nails Review

I Got Nailed by Suz!



I went to get my nails done today by "Get Nail'd By Suz"  (Suzana Salvador) at Bella Capelli Salon in St Helens, Merseyside.  

This was my first appointment with Suz who is a nail technician, She has recently moved to Merseyside from Chelsea in London and I thoroughly enjoyed having my nails done by her and the warm friendly conversation that made me feel very welcome and at ease in the salon. She has a beautiful workstation within the salon where I felt comfortable and pampered.

She did my nails with Shellac in a gorgeous London Bus Red with Silver Glitter. Suz uses all of the best products and polishes and made my tatty talons look red carpet ready!

They look absolutely amazing, bang on trend for the festive season and I will certainly be going back again and again for my nails done. 

Suz also showed me a collection of samples of nail art she can do, anything from novelty festive nails for Christmas (which were too adorable for words! to stunning cutting edge high fashion designs) it didn't surprise me to learn that Suz has actually studied Fine Art at University, her talent is wonderful. 

If you live in the Merseyside area and are looking for a good nail technician who you can have a nice chat with whilst she works her magic then look no further! Go and get yourself Nail'd By Suz! 

Contact Suz for an appointment:

Suzana Salvador
Bella Capelli Salon
44 Vincent Street,
St Helens,
Merseyside
WA10 1 LE

Tel: 01744 322812
Mobile: 07817438030

Bourjois Healthy Mix Foundation

Here's a link to my latest video blog, a review and demo of bourjois healthy mix foundation. I absolutely LOVE it!! check it out here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fAHhTq7rIaM

Eyeshadow bases - Tried & tested

I have been obsessed with eyeshadow bases recently so here are review of the ones I have tried with swatches of them alone and with an eyeshadow on top.

I tried 

Max factor masterpiece in icicle blue and icicle rose £6.99 each at boots

Wet n wild usa cream eyeshadow in pink 99p ebay.com

Dainty doll by Nicola Roberts eyeshadow base in shade 001 £1 poundland

MAC pro longwear paint pot in shade vintage selection £14.50 mac.com 

From wrist: max factor, wet n wild, mac, max factor, dainty doll

 Verdict

The max factor and wet n wild and elf have a similar formula and are very moist, the mac is very creamy and the dainty doll is only very slightly moist, it has an almost clay like texture that dries instantly.

The mac can be applied with fingers or a brush but I prefer fingers as you loose product by using a brush, and its expensive. 

The max factor and elf have inbuilt applicators which are similar to a concealer wand. 

My least favourite is the dainty doll. I find it dry and difficult to blend. The colour payoff is good but that's really the only positive I can find. 

The wet n wild is highly pigmented, cheap and a nice shade, on the downside the formula is a little bit too runny and takes a while to dry. It hasn't got the best staying power but its decent for a cheap option and gives the eyeshadow you choose to apply over it good colour payoff.

The elf is completely sheer so it was pointless swatching it but I've used it a lot and it does help eyeshadows to stay on longer, and the formula is nice. It helps with eyeshadow colour payoff. Cheap and cheerful and does a decent job.

The MAC paintpot offers multi dimensional colour and can be worn alone not just as a base, it goes on as a cream and gives you time to apply eyeshadows on top but once it dries it does not budge. At all. It's so longlasting that I fell asleep in my makeup after a party and when I got up the next morning it was still perfect! The only downside to this product is price because it costs a lot of money but in this case I do think its worth it and I will be buying it in more shades.

The max factor masterpiece really shocked me, it's level pegging with the mac in terms of it could be worn alone the pigmentation is so strong. It has lovely shimmery undertones. It's reasonably priced, very hard wearing and  makes your eyeshadows look 100% brighter. 

Based on this the max factor masterpiece is the eyeshadow base I would recommend. They are available in a range of shades in boots for £6.99 so snap some up! 

Here are the bases with similar coloured eyeshadows layered on top 

How beautiful is the blue? 

The eyeshadow palette I used was the MUA Dusk til Dawn and I used shade 6 for icicle rose max factor, wet n wild and mac, shade 10 for icicle blue max factor and shade 4 for dainty doll.

I hope you found my review helpful 

Take care, love Helen

Www.youtube.com/beautyandhelen 

Makeup Swaps - My Experience

Its become a trend in recent years for Bloggers and YouTubers to do 'makeup swaps' with each other.

The idea behind it is to both agree a price and send each other a package filled with makeup / beauty products you have chosen for that person. I suppose a lot of us already do this every month in a fashion because of our beauty box subscriptions like Birchbox and Glossybox where we pay money to a company to send us 'surprise' beauty products but by doing it with an actual person online rather than a company you are slightly more vulnerable as you don't get the protection that buying from an established company offers.

I have been wanting to do a swap for a while so I agreed to do one with my Youtube friend Elle. She is also British and we have very similar tastes in makeup but I thought maybe we could send each other products that might push us out of our own comfort zones. There's nothing worse than getting stuck in a beauty rut. Right? Plus she might see something i've never seen before and vice versa.

I was very excited not only to receive my package from her but to shop for hers too.We agreed a budget of £20, and to buy each other budget brands.

I have gotten to know Elle over the past couple of months through Youtube so I trusted her that she wouldn't scam me, and she didn't. I received my package on Friday and the products in there really exceeded my expectations.

First of all it was packaged beautifully, all the items individually wrapped in beautiful butterfly wrapping paper. There was a tonne of stuff in the box she sent. She must have gone well over our budget (but so did I) I just couldn't help myself.

I received hair products, skincare, nail polishes and makeup products and I filmed my unboxing on my youtube channel. *You can watch it here: www.youtube.com/beautyandhelen

My first swap experience was wonderful and I have arranged to do an international swap with my American YouTube friend Kathryn this week. I'm super excited to do this as I can send British products to Kathryn that she doesn't have access to in America and she can send me american products that i don't have access to in England.

There are horror stories all over the internet about people getting scammed, sending packages off and not receiving anything in return, or receiving product that aren't equal to the value that was agreed, but I think most people have no issues at all.

 Here are a few tips to help you organise your first swap and minimise the risk of being scammed.

• Find a person you want to swap with, read their blog, watch their videos to see if you have things in common. 
• Email, facebook or twitter with them and build a friendship - someone who's going to scam you will be obvious when they make no effort getting to know you. 
• Agree a price and date.
• Try a small swap first, maybe £5-10 so you're not risking a massive amount of money and you can build trust this way.
• Ask what they like and don't be shy to say i like this but not this.... You don't want to receive stuff you'll never use, if you don't like red lipsticks, say so!
• Get a receipt when you post your package so you've got proof of postage should your swap partner not receive their package. 
• Finally be aware that you will have to give this person your home address in order for them to send you a package so if you are under 16 you WILL need your parents consent. Be smart. 

I'm looking forward to receiving my package from America and I'll be sure to upload a video and blog about it! I'd also love to do a swap with someone in Asia, maybe Japan or Korea in the future. Their beauty products look amazing. 

Take care and I'll speak to you soon,

Love Helen xx

Everyday summer makeup tutorial

The Makeup Factor. Why do Women wear makeup?

Women differ greatly in their opinions on makeup. Some love it, some hate it, some like just a little, some like a lot. What is it that influences our decision to wear makeup? 

I'm a total beauty addict. If I see a product on sale that I think could make me look better, I'm going to buy it. I don't go out without makeup on, whether that's a little bit for day to day chores or a whole lot for a night out, my makeup is always done and I wouldn't have it any other way but that doesn't stop people asking me WHY. I'm always a bit stuck for an answer, especially when my husband says I look fine without it, and he see's me without it every single night when I remove it. So here I explore exactly WHY do we wear makeup?

Factors of 'influence'

The MUM factor

My mum was and still isn't a wearer of makeup. She wears none at all on a day to day basis, but if she's going out somewhere for a meal or drinks she might pop on a bit, but just a bit.

I remember my nanna - my mum's mum; she would never go anywhere without her lipstick on, she'd even put it on to just sit and watch TV in the house so my mum didn't take after her mum, and i didn't take after mine, clearly it isn't that you take after your mum!

The MAN factor

I've pinned down some men for THEIR opinions and guess what? they also have varied opinions on whether girls should or shouldn't wear makeup and whether girls look prettier with or without it. Some like super high maintenance perfection whilst some prefer to see the natural beauty, some like a nice balance.
One thing is for certain, I have yet to meet a man who enjoys waiting 2 hours for his girlfriend to glam herself up before they go out! So I don't see how men can be blamed for US choosing to put makeup on OUR faces.

The MEDIA factor

Every time we open a magazine or turn on the TV we see beautiful women wearing beautiful makeup. Adverts tell us a product can make US look better, feel better, get the guy, rule the world.... But us women aren't stupid and we know that we will never really achieve the PERFECT hair / nails / lips like on THAT advert.  

I did some research among some of my friends and here is what they said:

Reasons why women DON'T wear makeup

• "I don't know HOW to apply it properly so I don't bother"
• "I don't have time to mess about with makeup in a morning" 
• "It doesn't suit me"
• "I can't be bothered"
• "It ruins your skin"
• "Its fake"
• Who am I trying to impress? My boyfriend see's me without makeup every morning
• I'm not vein

Reasons why women DO wear makeup 

• I feel naked without it
• It makes me look better
• I'm ugly without it
• It makes me more confident
• I enjoy applying it
• I feel prettier
• It enhances my natural features 
• It disguises my flaws / covers imperfections 
• I FEEL good about myself when i wear it

In summary all I can assume is that women wear makeup for THEMSELVES, to make themselves FEEL good. Wheres the crime in that? 

It is no coincidence that sales of lipsticks actually go UP during a recession. People have less money but choose to spend the money they do have on a lipstick because it makes them FEEL better. 

Its no coincidence either that *Boots' tagline is "feel better" damn them marketing people - always one step ahead! 

(*boots is Britain's biggest high-street makeup retailer)

I look forward to hearing your opinions,

Helen xx

Pretty in Pink Makeup. High-Street Edition

Pretty in Pink

The summer is finally here!! Ditch the dull nudes and browns and lighten up your makeup look. Go on....

I adore pinks, especially with having green eyes because pink really makes my eyes pop, but pink can work for any eye or hair colour, you just have to chose the right shade of pink for you!

I opt for soft subtle cool toned pinks because I have green eyes and red hair (not naturally red, but still red nonetheless)

Brunettes with brown eyes look stunning with a warm toned 'barbie' pink. 

Blondes with blue eyes suit candy pinks. 

Here's the most recent pink makeup  products I've bought for summer 2013.

• MUA blush in Bubblegum
• Wet n wild 'megaglo' illuminator in Catwalk Pink
• Sleek 'lashout' mascara in Black
• NYC lipstick in 'Modern Love'
• ELF cream eyeliner in Black
• MUA 'Undressed' eye shadow palette 

And here's how I wear this look....

I hope this inspires you to ditch the dull browns and nudes and try something summery whilst you have the chance, afterall - pink really does make the boys wink ;)

Take care and see you in my next blog, love & hugsHelen xx