The Mid Toned Pink;

For the past year I have been a woman on a mission, a mission to find the perfect mid-toned pink lip. I've tried and tested a lot and today I thought I'd show you the best of the bunch.

I have to start with my baby, Mac's Pink Plaid. This is my only Mac lipstick to date and out of all the lipsticks they had to offer, this was the shade I chose. This is a blue-toned medium, matte pink with greyish undertones, that sounds really strange but if you want an everyday pink with a twist this is gorgeous. This is the one that started this lip colour love affair for me as the mid-pink really suits my pale complexion.

Another matte option is the Revlon Matte Balm in Elusive. This is a more warm-toned middle of the range pink, with a slight peachy undertone, which makes this a gorgeous everyday colour. The formula of the Matte Balms are also amazing as they're comfortable on the lips and last a long time, though I would still recommend putting a lip balm on first. If the blue undertones of Pink Plaid aren't for you this is a great alternative!

I also have one of the original Revlon Balm Stains in Honey Douce. Honey Douce is completely different to the rest, the shade is a little darker and slightly brown toned. On me this is a real 'your lips but better shade' as its pretty similar to my lips, but perks them up if they're looking dull and adds a sheen. This is as the Revlon Balm Stains are a glossy, sheer wash of colour that stains your lips all day. I had to include this as its my handbag shade, I always keep this on me incase I forget my daily shade as its a fail safe colour that goes with any makeup look.

The next medium pink is actually a liner from Essence in the shade Wish Me a Rose. This is pretty much everything I wanted in a pink, just in pencil form: it's not too peachy or warm toned, but neither is it blue toned. It's just an everyday pink. This looks great under all of the other colours to make them last all day. Or it can be worn alone for a matte finish or under a gloss. These also don't bleed at all, and it's only £1!

A newer option to my extensive pink lip collection is the Makeup Revolution Lip Hug in Good Fun. The shade of is slightly lighter than the rest, and although I love it on myself I'd be wary if you have a darker skintone. This is a great, glossy pink that feels really moisturising on the lips.

One before last is from Collection's Deluxe Lipstick line and is in the shade Talulah. This is a slightly peachy medium pink which can be great for warmer skin tones. This feels quite moisturising when applied. It's not matte but also contains no shimmer. This is the first lipstick I ever bought from Collection and I really quite like it.

I thought I'd leave the the best until last the lippie that is 'the one' to satisfy my mid-tone pink needs is Pink Mallow by Natural Collection. This is quite simply your lips, but better and rosier. It's not cool toned but doesn't have any peach undertones either. Although this keeps your lips feeling soft it lasts for quite while. Not as long as a matte lipstick, but for £1.99 its impressive. This is actually the cheapest of all of the lipsticks, which goes to show you shouldn't overlook budget brands. If you want to end your search for the perfect medium pink, the one I recommend over the rest is this.

Just a little note to say, sorry I didn't post at the beginning of the week, sometimes real life overtakes blog life. But thank you for being patient (and for reading this) and I'm trying to get things up and running again. I also started up a Twitter for my blog so follow me over there @GirlAboutVill
Big hugs x

My Current Fashion Favourites;

When I started this blog I intended for it to be about fashion as well as beauty. I have since discovered that taking OOTDs alone is rather a feat, so while I work on that I thought I'd share my super summery current fashion faves. Beware there are some really awkward poses throughout.

I thought I'd start on top. Crop tops are must have at this time of year, this one is from Topshop. I love the high 90's-esque neckline, the stripes and monochrome make it really easy to style especially with block coloured bright pieces. Another shirt style that I love is off the shoulder, I'm so glad to see these everywhere. I think they're a great way of baring some flesh without being too risqué. This one is from Primark, the pattern is amazing! A trend I've loved this year is the 70's. And I found this shirt which I think is prefect from New Look. The sleeves and bottom are lovely and flowy but with a little bit of off the shoulder action. This is pretty just-ish and perfect for festival wear.

Up next of course is the playsuit, a complete summer staple. My newest addition is this long sleeved number from Boohoo. I love the flowy-ness and tribal (is this tribal) print and the colour. Play suits are the perfect no effort outfits! Something else I love is flowy, non form-fitting little summer dresses like this floral one from H&M. They keep you lovely and cool and look really girly. They're also great to chuck on over a bikini on a beach day.

I thought I'd also pick out a couple of oldies but goodies that I always reach for at this time of year. As for summer coverups the denim jacket is always my go-to when it's warm. Because I'm not wearing jeans I like to wear denim on top. They're keep your warm during cooler nights but not to warm. This is an old favourite from New Look that has lasted me about two years.  I have to say that when I first saw stores selling dungarees again I literally ran to them. I have a few pairs but I thought I'd show you these slightly quirkier ones. These are from Primark and are pretty much styled on the deck chair, but I think they're cute. Dungarees may be my favourite clothing item ever. They're great for summer layering and look great with crop tops or oversized t-shirts. And the nostalgia factor is the icing on the cherry bake well.

My Holy Grail Mascara;

For the past year I've only bought one mascara, it's also a mascara I don't hear a lot about. This is the Avon Mega Effects Mascara.

As you can see this doesn't really look as it doesn't come in a tube and I wouldn't call the brush a mascara wand either. However don't let that fool you into thinking this is a gimmick. This is my go-to mascara for long black lashes without clumps.

The brush is the first thing I want to mention, this has plastic 'brissles' which are always my favourite. Some are quite long while others are just little spikes, this ensures that every one of your lashes (no matter how small) are coated, top and bottom and lengthened. The longer brissles also help to reach the very roots of your lashes, helping to make them long and thick right the way through. The brush looks like it could be difficult to hold, but you get used to it. And I think it makes a lot difference, I find having the brush tipped on its head helps to create even lashes. I never have any problem with having 'one good eye' in terms of lashes with this. The brush can also be tilted to your preference, I keep mine bent completely upright when I use this. Keeping the brush bending upwards helps to create, and hold, a curl in your lashes without the need for an eyelash curler.

As for the formula this is pretty wet and jet black. This is literally as black as it comes which some people can find a little harsh but I find it makes your lashes look thicker and longer. As for the wetness, when I first got this it was a bit too wet for my liking and it can cause the mascara to smudge. But persevere and let this dry a little and it's perfect. What I did was just dab the excess product onto a tissue before applying. I still do this from time to time when I want a less full lash look. The formula doesn't tend to clump but makes your eyelashes separated and thick. However this mascara is not good for those of you that like to layer multiple mascaras. Once this is dry it's pretty much solid and adding anymore product is the only time this causes clumps. But it's great if your like me that like full lashes in one layer before you run out of the door.

5 Looks 1 Palette;

I find writing eyeshadow palette reviews to be a little samey, and pictures of swatches do a lot more than the words but the real proof in the pudding is how it looks on the eyes. So I decided to do just that by creating 5 looks from 1 palette.

 The palette I'm using is the Makeup Geek  palette from Makeup Revolution. This is the perfect palette to create 5 looks from as it contains every colour under the rainbow and I've been trying to wear some brighter colours on my eyes while the weather is bright. The palette is full of mattes and shimmery shades, and the four matte neutral shades are perfect transition shadows to blend with the brights for a not too in your face look. The shades are as pigmented and buttery as every other MUR, even the brighter matte shades. The palette contains 36 shadows and for shadows it is only £7.99! But I managed to snap this up completely free with an offer.

Look number one incorporates some peachy orange tones, as they're perfect for summer and just dipping my toe into the colours as its not too far from neutral. I started by using the light peachy-pink across my lid, then I used the bright shimmery orange through the crease and blended up. I then took the matte orange to blend the other shades together. Lastly I took the dark, shimmery brown and blended it beneath my lower lashline. I then finished the look by blending some brown liner through my upper lashes. 

My second look is more neutral with a shot of colour along the bottom. I began this look with the medium, matte brown shade, blended all over my lid. Next I took the shimmery champagne colour on my inner corners and through the inside of my lids. I then took the darker brown and blended it into my outer V. I decided to add a bit of pazazz, by blending this bright blue shade into my lashes. I think this is a great way of adding colour to your look, and awesome for a festival. This blue shade is one of my favourites from the palette as its so bright and pigmented.

My third look is a smokey eye injected with green. I have to admit I was a bit dubious about using a bright green, but I totally love it I think the green blends really well with the brown through the crease. For the base of this look I used my Mac Paintpot in Groundwork (which I reviewed here) for a darker look and to blend the browns. I then went straight into the crease with the matte brown, I then took the dark khaki colour in my inner and outer third. I then took the matte green over the entire lid to blend the colours. I then pressed the shimmery green into the middle of my lid. Can we take a second to talk about that green? I imagine if Elphaba from WICKED were to wear eyeshadow (and wanted it to compliment her skintone) this would be it, its a bright medium green with green and gold glitter (but in a good way) that really gives the shadow so much depth. This is pretty much Elphaba in a shadow. I then took a brown liner to liner my waterline and across my lashline to darken the look and I didn't want a liquid liner to take away from the look.

 My next eye look is the most 'out-there'. This is a very summer gold and pink combo. The first shadow I took for this was the deeper gold, I concentrated this on my inner lid and then blended out, I then took it through the outer half of my lower lash line. Next I took the matte pink into my crease to map where I wanted the glittery pink and to intensify the colour. I then went in with the glittery pink and added that to the crease and my outer V. Lastly, I took the yellow gold shade and pressed it into my inner lid. I blended everything together so soften the look with a clean fluffy brush. I added some white liner to my waterline and popped on a thin layer of mascara. I kept the rest of my makeup pretty neutral to make my eyes stand out further..

For my last eye look I decided to test out some of the purple shadows. My idea was to create a very light look with purple  tones. I began this by using the shimmery lilac shade from the palette, this shade is so pigmented one swipe onto your brush will cover your whole lid. So I took this over my whole lid and blended out, then took the matte light brown very lightly through my crease to add a little definition. I then used the matte purple on the outer third of my lid and blended inwards, I also took this shade along my lower lash line. I finished off my last look by applying white liner in my waterline and mascara to only my upper lashes to keep the look light.

Thank you very much for reading, this blog post has taken me the most time and effort out of any I've posted so far, so I'd very much appreciate your feedback. If you're wondering about any other makeup I'm wearing leave me a comment and I'll be sure to get back to you. And if you'd like to see this kind of post again please make sure to let me know!

A 'No Clothes' Primark Haul;

The thing that has blown me away about Primark in the last 2 years is how much their homewares and beauty has improved. So I headed to my local the other day "just for some hair clips" and was not disappointed.

The first thing I picked up was this threaded, patterned makeup bag. The lilac and pink colour with tribal print makes this perfect for summer and festival season, I even think you get away with using this a clutch. It also has a tassel accent along the zip. This thing is huge, and padded on the inside to keep all of your makeup protected. I also think this will make a lovely prop for blog photos.

Next I had a look at the nail section, Primark's falseys are my favourite. They're just the right length so they don't get in your way, and the glue that comes with them is pretty good, Primark nails last the longest of any false nails on me. This set is pink to purple ombré with a black palm trees and covered in glitter. The only thing that would make these better is if they were wrapped around a cocktail in the sun and these are just £1. I also picked up a bottle of their Fast Dry Nail Spray, I've tried a few fast-drying products and I have to admit none of them have been perfect. But I'm always up for something that reduces drying time and this was 80p. I will get back to you on how well this works.

I've heard great things about Primark's perfumes so I decided to pick up the rollerball called Midnight Kiss. I'd desribe the smell as a grown up floral scent with a hint of musk to it, it smells pretty similar to Katy Perry's 'Purr'. I'm tempted to go back for the spray version as its only £6. I also picked up a new hand sanitizer, as these just £1. These are so handy to keep in your bag. This is in the scent Sparkling Fruits which I thought was a nice summer shake up.

The next thing I picked up was this intagram-worthy cup/bottle. I'm a kitsch cup fanatic I own far too many, but I couldn't pass this up. It looks like a bottle but has a straw and yet still fits my reusable icecubes (also from Primark). And this is huge! I had to then pick myself up a new candle, these aren't the strongest smelling but for the price they're pretty darn good. This is pineapple and ginger, it smells fruity but with a tang and it's perfect for this time of year. It's only £2 and look at the size of it.

The last thing I picked up was this 'chill' cushion, its huge and I love slogans. I like the mint writing as it goes well in my bedroom. The whole bedding section in Primark has improved so much and I definitely want to pick up a bedspread in the future.

 I did also manage to grab my hair clips and I bumbled to the check out!

My Top 5 Beauty Tips;

Hello readers, today I thought I'd present you with some of my favourite beauty tips. I've tried to include to stray from the usual 'don't sleep in your makeup and drink plenty of water' so I hope you enjoy! Now of course I am no expert in skincare or makeup, this is just what works for me.

1. Keep it Simple

I think when it comes to skincare far too many people over-complicate their routines, but I find it best to keep to a few products. My skin stays pretty clear and I pretty much just wash, cleanse and moisturise. I find that when I introduce a lot of skincare items my skin tends to react as its sensitive, and I'd probably forget to use half of them. Let's be honest most of just don't have all the time in the world to apply lotions and potions. But I also think you shouldn't use over complicate your ingredients, don't get bogged down by items that seem to be skin loving. Especially when you can brew natural skin remedies at home. A lot of items in your kitchen can make great face masks and witchhazel sticks are great for break outs!

2. Clean Your Brushes

I can't say enough how important I think it is to clean your brushes, I'm probably an over cleaner of my brushes if I'm honest. Most often if you find your application is a little crappy it's just because your brushes aren't clean. And it saves you money as you're not just replacing your brushes, most of mine I've had for over a year and they're still in pretty good nick (and a lot of them came from eBay). Cleaning your brushes can have so many benefits, you're not reapplying yesterday's face germs (from breakouts etc.), you don't transfer yesterday's colours (especially if you don't stick to the same shadows/blushes daily) and it can improve application by so much. Of course your foundation brush will never be bright white again, but it will feel a million times better. Plus there are so many great products to clean your brushes that are easily accessible for a great price! I love the ones from ELF and Makeup Revolution and you can use baby shampoo for the same effect. I also love using MUR's spot cleaner too! It doesn't clean your brushes as deeply but it stops transfer of makeup, disinfects the brushes (the thought of rubbing yesterday's spots on my face really makes me cringe!) and it takes all of ten minutes.

3. Use a Primer and a Setting Spray

I will always say that a good primer and setting spray is worth a lot more than a good foundation. I truly believe that finding a setting spray and a primer that work well with your skin can save you money on your foundation and improves your wear time massively. I use the Bodyshop Instablur as it smooths over any pores and leaves you with a smooth base to apply your makeup as well as helping to keep oil at bay. It improves the wear time of any base, keeping it from from sliding around especially in hotter weather. As for setting spray, it's a miracle worker I swear. In the winter I use it instead of powder as it doesn't cake your makeup, let's your skin breathe and some sprays help keep oil away too! In the summer it keeps your makeup from running away from you in the heat. Plus it prolongs your makeup, and I find that it keeps that freshly applied look for longer. The setting spray I use is from Makeup Revolution and only costs £5!

4. Try New Things

One of the things I love most about makeup is experimenting, it's good to step out of your comfort zone every now and again. I'm trying to wear coloured eyeshadows at the minute to shake things up. Quite a lot of products can be used in multiple ways and it feels great to find a new use for your not so new makeup. I also find some of my favourite products becoming 'not so holy grail' over time so I think it's good to switch them out for something new, even if just for a little while. At least this is what I tell myself when I'm shopping...

5. Read Reviews

I think my all-time, top beauty tip is read reviews before you buy. Although we all want to be the Blogger that finds a revolutionary product, I don't see the point in not doing your research beforehand. If a product is rubbish, there's no point two people wasting their money. I usually try to read atleast two reviews for most things I buy, and there are so many beauty blogs out there to utilise and you can usually find someone with similar colouring or skin type to you, use it to your advantage! Plus it's a great way to find diamonds in the rough of brands you wouldn't usually buy from, not to mention the best way to find dupes. It can save you a lot of money and time wasted picking up makeup or skincare that doesn't work for you. Plus some Bloggers are lucky enough to receive PR Samples and get paid to blog and I trust their opinions a whole lot more that TV Ads. 

Do you have any tips to add?

June Favourites;

It's that time again! I have been loving quite a few things this month but only a few of them are beauty related. I thought I'd include a few lifestyle-y faves for those of you that are as nosey as I am.

I'll start with those few beauty bits, I've been using this Mango & Papaya Body Lotion from Natural Collection at Boots. My skin has really been through the wars this month as its burnt and is still peeling now, but this has really helped! Its slightly thicker than your average moisturiser, but doesn't take long to sink in to the skin. There is no residue, it just leaves your skin smelling lovely and feeling moisturised all day long. This came in a Christmas gift set and I'm actually pretty impressed.

I really can't believe I haven't spoken about this Maybelline Color Drama in Keep it Classy, I picked this up when there was a big hype surrounding it and I didn't want to write 'just another review'. But these are great, they are dubbed as a Nars Velvet Matte Lip Pencil dupe. Its basically a matte lip colour, that feels creamy and doesn't dry out the lips, and lasts for a really long time. All this is pencil form too, which is my favourite for application. Keep it Classy is a berry-pink shade, but I actually prefer it when its faded a little on the lips as a more natural stain. I still love this as much as when I bought it and these are so worth the hype.

My favourite new lip products are the I Heart Makeup Lip Lavas. These have the pigmentation of a lipstick, at first are glossy but fade to a matte colour that lasts so long! These do everything they say on the tube, and everything that everyone says they do, and you can get the whole collection of 5 for the price of 4 on the Makeup Revolution website.

This month I have only used one thing on my brows this month the Brow Define Tinted Brow Mascara in Dark from MUA. This does a pretty good job at keeping my brows in place and adds a little bit of colour. Luckily I have some pretty beastly eyebrows so I don't really need to fill them in when I use this which skips an entire step, but I can't imagine its for everyone.

First up in the non-beauty category are these sunnies, they're blue and green and I love the blue tinge to the lenses. They also little penguins, I am obsessed with these and they were only £3! I bought these when I took part in Slide The City which I blogged about here. So they're also a wicked reminder of an awesome day!

Next up is my FitBit Charge, this little guy has slotted right into my life. This is a Bluetooth pedometer and sleep tracker. It tracks steps, flights of stairs as well as calories burned. It's so interesting to see how many steps I walk when I totter around at work, and it gives me the oomf to get off my arse and move from in front of the TV on days off. I'm not sure if pay the full price for this, but I managed to get this for free when my boyfriend bought the Samsung Curve.

Speaking of days in front of the TV I need to tell somebody about the shows I've been watching! Pretty Little Liars has been my favourite show, I bulk-watched the first 5 series in a couple of months but they have really upped the amp in season 6. I'm obsessed with the liars, as well as they're outfits, boyfriends and the mystery of the show. I've spent hours browsing the #PLLTheories tag on Tumblr, but I'm still not entirely sure who A is. I have been suspicious of Aria for quite some time (even though she's my favourite Liar), but I don't think the writers are that cruel. I kind of hope its Wren, but mostly so I can see Julian Morris back on the show.

I've also been loving Once Upon A Time. I love myself a fairytale and this is all about fairytale characters in the real world (minus their memories). I love watching each of the backstories and they're full of twists, you'll never guess who the pied piper really is! I'm currently on season 3, but its such an easy show to binge watch, and Julian Morris stars again.

My Mad Fat Diary has just returned for its 3rd series and the second episode came out this week. This show is just as great as ever, the 90's setting makes everyone a little nostalgic some of those clothes were a little cringe but thank god for dungarees! It deals with teenage issues such as insecurities and 'the University debate', as well bringing mental health to the light. And it still manages to be funny, you need to watch this!

What have you been loving this month?