BEST OF | Pink Makeup

Valentine’s Day may be long gone, but there’s no reason to put down our pink-hued makeup just yet. For me, pink screams Spring. There’s something about the colour that adds a freshness, a youthfulness and a brightness to any makeup look. Whether it is a bright pop of fuchsia you’re craving, or the more toned-down rose option, this post will include something for you…























I’ll begin with perhaps the most unapproachable area of makeup when it comes to all things pink – the eyes. I can’t say that I’m a lover of neon fuchsia eyeshadow (although I was known to rock that look many, many years ago) but here I bring you subtle rose-tinted shades that while they add a hint of colour, won’t stretch you too far from the neutral spectrum. The most obvious option is the well-loved Urban Decay Naked 3 Palette, which is a stunning rose-hued neutral palette. I have posted three looks with this palette which you can check out here. If this palette is slightly out of your budget, or if you’re still on the fence about these pink hues, a great affordable alternative comes in the form of the L’Oreal La Paris Nude Palette which delivers many similar shades (full review here). The final stunning pink option (in the top image) is the Mac Pigment in Rose. This is a really interesting mixture of gold and rose, and it is intensely shimmery and metallic. If you’re a neutral lover and you want to add colour to your arsenal, this comes highly recommended.























From the hardest feature to the easiest to incorporate pink is the cheeks. A pink blush is the nearest to a natural flush without using a full-on red shade. Finding the right shade of pink can add a gorgeous youthful glow to the skin. The first blush I bring you is from my favourite formula, and it is the Tarte Amazonian Clay Blush in Dollface. These are the most long-lasting and smooth blushes I have ever tried and (apologies to all my non-American readers) you need to try one out ASAP. Ordering from Sephora is achievable these days so it is a little easier to get hold off. This shade is a pop of light pink that isn’t too warm or too cool so it would suit a huge range of skintones. On the more budget-friendly side is the Gosh Blush in Flower Power. This is slightly easier to wear that the bubblegum hues and works great on those with more yellow undertones in the skin. Having said that, I also feel this is a universal shade, and the slight shimmer adds a really pretty, but subtle, sheen to the cheeks.























My favourite way to incorporate pink, and my favourite makeup category in general, is definitely lipstick. If you’re like me and love to experiment with your lip colour and wear bold, bright shades, then Mac Lipstick in Impassioned is one of my all-time favourite shades. This colour is probably the shade that suits me the most out of anything I’ve tried, but I can see this working on so many people, fair to dark skin. It is a yellow-toned pink that leans slightly towards red. Stunning. For a slightly more blue hued fuchsia shade, I can’t recommend the Maybelline Color Drama Lip Pencil in Fuschia Desire enough (check out my full review of these here). Moving on to the more parred-down options, for those who love nude-pink shades, Mac Lipstick in Creme Cup will definitely become an instant favourite. The formula is gorgeously creamy and the shade is very flattering. Finally, a favourite everyday shade of mine would have to be Revlon Super Lustrous Lipstick in Pink in the Afternoon. This is a stunning warm-toned mid pink. It adds colour to your lips but it isn’t so much of a statement. This is definitely the one I’d recommend for those who are new to or slightly wary of pink on the lips.























And finally, we finish on nails. For the bright, in-your-face option, this Nails Inc Gel Effect Polish in Covent Garden Place is a fun and intense fuchsia, which i think looks amazing on the toes especially. This Barry M Nail Paint in Strawberry Ice Cream is definitely more everyday appropriate, but still adds enough pink to make it fresh and fun.

So that rounds up my pink-themed makeup picks. It’s funny because I wouldn’t really associate myself as a pink gal, but there’s something about pink makeup that is just really incredible, and it is a universally flattering shade. What are your favourite pink picks?

RachelElizabeth

Manicure Monday #19 | Nails Inc Gel Effect Polish in Porchester Square

If you read my last Manicure Monday you would have know that I recently picked up the Nails Inc Holiday Wardrobe. As I mentioned in that post, this set has been impossible to track down online, but I’ve seen it pop up in most of the bigger Boots that I have been in recently. This week we are focusing on the shade Porchester Square, that thanks to the amazing Anna from Vivianna Does Makeup (who loves the shade) I had very high hopes for…

Porchester Square is the classic ‘greige’ shade. It’s a beige that leans slightly to the cooler grey side with a slight lilac tinge. The colour is an absolutely winner for me – it’s a great alternative to a nude mannequin nail as it doesn’t completely blend in with your skin tone, but still looks sophisticated and polished. However, I’m still a little on the fence about the formula. Because it claims to be ‘Gel Effect’ I expected it to last considerably longer than other polishes I own, but that just wasn’t the case. It wasn’t the worst in terms of wear, but it sits somewhere in the middle of the polishes I’ve tried in terms of longevity. The Kensington Caviar Top Coat that came in the set also did nothing to help the wear of this polish, but I did find it to be much better when using Seche Vite or Sally Hansen Mega Shine. 



Don’t get me wrong, it looks stunning on the nails. They look glossy and plump, almost as if you had had a gel manicure, but the wear time really let this formulation down. I’ve heard great things about this formula so I’m wondering whether this is just a personal issue I’ve come across. They are available individually for £14 here. Have you tried the Gel Effect polishes?

RachelElizabeth


Manicure Monday #18 | Nails Inc Holiday Wardrobe

Nails Inc are a brand I’m really starting to fall in love with. Some of my favourite nail polishes are from them – check out previous Manicure Mondays on Baker Street and Queen Victoria Street. Surprisingly enough I have never tried the Gel Effect formula, and when I saw this gift set, I knew I had to pick it up.

The set includes three Gel Effect polishes: Porchester Square (a grey-toned beige), Regents Place (a light powdery blue) and Covent Garden Place (a bright warm-toned pink). It also contains the Kensington Caviar top coat. The set is worth £54 but retails at £25 making it an absolute steal! The only problem is that I cannot find this anywhere online, but I got it very recently from my local boots. If you’re interested in trying these shades, it is worthing trying to hunt down this set. You can buy the polishes individually here


I am yet to try these yet, but make sure you check back every monday where I will be reviewing each of these shades in a Manicure Monday post! 

RachelElizabeth

Manicure Monday #11 | Nails Inc Baker Street

Cue an ode to one of my favourite nail polishes ever… Since I first laid eyes on this colour I was instantly smitten. I’m not the biggest lover of blue nails in general, but cobalt is a colour that instantly makes me happy. This is the kind of colour that livens up any outfit and really pops on the nails. 

As you may have noticed I like nails inc polishes (check out Manicure Monday #3). Baker Street is no exception to this love. The formulation is impeccable – its smooth, opaque and easy to apply, and is incredibly long lasting. I particularly love the brushes on nails inc polishes – I am one of the only thin-brush devoted fan, I find them much easier and less messy to apply. The only downside to these is the price point. They aren’t cheap, but I really feel the price reflects the quality of the polishes. They have great on trend shades, and are always ahead of the game when it comes to new colours and finishes.
























I am really loving extra bright nails at the moment. The sun has briefly been showing its face here in the UK, and it has got me in the mood for spring and summer. Although this will probably be short lived, watch out this week on the blog for some more spring and summer inspired posts.

-RachelElizabeth

Manicure Monday #3 | Nails Inc Queen Victoria Street

Nails Inc Queen Victoria Street (£9.79 here)

Nails Inc are an extremely innovative nail brand, and their new launches are often really exciting. When I first spotted Queen Victoria Street in stores, I was mesmerised by the unique bright green shade but thought it was a little too garish and expensive to pick up. However, every time I would see it whilst I was shopping I would pick it up, adore it and then still refrain from buying it. I am glad that it is now in my collection, and if you’re one for bright and daring nail colours, this is definitely for you.

The shade didn’t photograph well – it is slightly deeper and more yellow toned in person, but it picks up the brightness. The Nails Inc formula is great and is one of the best for me in terms of chipping and longevity. The one con is the price; Beauty Bay are always discounted but they are still not cheap. For the uniqueness of the shade and the quality of the formula I would personally say it is worth the extra cost.

There goes another Manicure Monday… Keep your eyes peeled for next week for a very christmassy edition – expect lots of glitter!

RachelElizabeth