Bronze Make Up Tutorial

I decided to do a bronzed make up tutorial for you because this has been my go-to look for summer so far.  It's soft and gentle and gives you a radiant glow that I think is so perfect for the summer but can also be worn year round.

Spring Make Up Favourites

To fuel all our make up obsessions, today I thought I'd share my favourite MAC Cosmetics favourites for spring as today is officially the first day of Spring!  Yippeee!!!  I hope you find something you'd like to try from my Spring Favourites list and I'd love to know what yours are too so that I can try them out.  Let's begin:

Mineralize Skin Finish in Soft and Gentle:  This adds the perfect amount of shimmer and glow to every single spring look. This would be my number one recommendation for spring just for that reason.  It brings out your cheeks and your eyes and gives you such a feminine look.  I've been using this product for years and this spring will be no different.

Blush in Dame:  This is such a pretty pink.  I'm very sad to have hit pan on this gorgeous colour.  Melba and Peaches are also great colours for spring so you'll find me wearing those too.

Eye shadows in:

• Orb: Everyone needs a good nude colour, especially in spring and summer.  This one is great for a fresh look and it's beautiful blended with a bronzer in the crease to bring out your eye colour while not looking like you're wearing too many products.
• Honey Lust: To add sparkle to my eyes I love this coppery, bronze sparkle.  Orb, a little bronzer blended together and some Honey Lust on your lid will give you the most beautiful eye colour that will have you looking absolutely radiant and glowing from within.
• Mystery: I use this colour to fill in my brows on a daily basis.  Of all the brow products I've tried, this shadow is actually my favourite so I'd recommend it for brows for sure!  I'll definitely continue to use this through the spring.

Lipsticks in:

• Snob: This is another favourite that I've been using for years.  This pink is gorgeous for any girl wanting to look spring-ready.
• Pretty Please: Such a pretty shimmery pale pink.  If you're looking for something light to look gorgeous by the pool or at a music festival without looking overly done, a little bit of this lipstick tapped on your lips is exactly what you're looking for.  I also love it over a bolder colour to add some shimmer.
• Saint Germain: This colour brings out my inner girly girl.  It is just so much fun!!!  Perhaps it's similar to a colour Barbie wore back in the day or something but I am just madly in love with it.  It is probably the best choice for a spring look because it is so feminine and beautiful but also fresh and young.  It has such a wonderful creamy texture that it's going to keep your lips feeling soft and smooth all day long.  Perfection!

Lipgloss in Underage: This is my favourite lipgloss for spring because it's great on its own or on top of any of the lipsticks I've already mentioned.  It's the most gorgeous light pink lipgloss I could recommend for spring and it lasts for hours which is always a bonus for me.

With these products in your make up drawer, I can guarantee that you will be looking radiant and glowing from within this spring.  I hope you found this list helpful!  If you're planning a trip to a MAC counter, perhaps save these names on your phone or print out a copy of this post so that you don't feel too overwhelmed when you get there.  That way you can also let me know which ones you like and let me know any that I may have missed.

To have a look at some of my other MAC favourites you can click here, here, here, here and here. 

Thanks so much for reading! x

Luscious Lips

It might sound crazy but my favourite moments in a day often involve applying a bold lipstick.  There's something in the process of taking that moment to apply my lipstick that makes me feel confident and inspired to keep going and keep developing myself.  It's a personal treat for me, something I do for myself.  When I come across someone else wearing a beautiful bold lip, I see that they feel it too.  Maybe there is magic in our lipsticks.  Any way, here's a post dedicated to my favourite magic wands.  Let's begin by keeping our lips luscious.

1.  Moisturise

I don't know about you but this winter has completely dried out my skin.  I'm constantly applying moisturising balms to my lips.  There is no ways I would even dare wear a bold lipstick if my lips were all dry and flaky because that would just leave my lips looking pasty and one hot mess.  Not cute.

One of my favourite moisturisers this winter have been Elizabeth Arden's 8 Hour Cream.  I take this with me wherever I go.  I recommend it to everyone who has never tried it.  For anyone who is taking Roaccutane, I assure you this will become your best friend.  It is so thick and luxurious that it stays on your lips for ages and it moisturises your lips beautifully.  If you apply it before going to bed, guaranteed, you will wake up with it still on your lips in the morning.  Ah-ma-zing!  

Another favourite this winter has been Maybelline's Baby Lips.  For starters, how cute is this packaging?!  Each time I pull it out of my bag, everyone always has the same reaction: "Oooh what's that".  I have only just started using these (thank you Leigh) and I'm really so impressed.  Leigh sent me the Baby Lips in Peach Kiss which has a subtle nude tint (seen above).  I loved it so much that I rushed out and bought the Mint Fresh one too.

Once you have gorgeous, soft lips, you are ready to break out the colour.

2.  Colour Crazed

I've been using this Bobbi Brown Art Stick in Bright Raspberry as of late.  I can't help but feel the excitement I had as a child when picking up a bright pink crayon and scribbling all over my canvas.  Nothing has changed other than the crayon has become a lipstick and the canvas has become my face.  I have been wearing this colour non-stop.  It's the most perfect raspberry shade that I have come across.  It also has staying power and wont disappear unless you want it to.

If I want to gloss it up a bit, Revlon's Super Lustrous lip gloss in Fuchsia Finery is my favourite shade to compliment it (see full review here).  The two are a match made in heaven.

My final lip favourite today is another Bobbi Brown winner.  This one is a Rich Lip Color in Miami Pink.  It is a beautiful combination of pink and peach.  It is a shade that really brightens your face and brings out your eyes which is what I love most about this colour.  It has quite a creamy texture so it doesn't leave my lips feeling dry at all but rather keeps them feeling smooth all day.  

What are your favourite lipsticks and shades at the moment?  I'd love to try out your recommendations so please leave them in the comment section.  Thanks so much for reading!

Sigma Beauty F80 Foundation Brush

I generally alternate between applying my foundation with my fingers, brush or a damp foundation sponge and I'm really happy with those results but I've been hearing so much about this Sigma Beauty Flat Kabuki F80 foundation brush that it piqued my curiosity.  Always keen to try something new, I've been trying it out and, as always, I've been so excited to share my thoughts with you.

The brush is really dense, unlike any other foundation brush I've ever used.  As a result of this, it provides such a smooth finish to your foundation.  It picks up any excess product to prevent your foundation from looking "cakey" on your face.  The handle of the brush is quite thick so this also makes it easier to apply your foundation and you apply it all over your face quicker than you would with a sponge or your fingers.  My final verdict?  It's such a fantastic brush and I think everyone needs it in their make up arsenal.

US readers can order this brush from Sigma Beauty online.  SA readers, you can avoid import duties and a long wait for you package by ordering you brush from Turquoise Studio.  The Sigma Beauty F80 brush can be found directly at this link.  Turquoise Studio have many Sigma Beauty brushes and make up so if you're looking for something special this is definitely the place you want to look.  An added bonus?  They offer free shipping any where in South Africa.

Three lucky Arum Lilea readers will be winning discount codes for their purchase of the Sigma F80 from Turquoise Studio.  To enter, simply comment below letting me know how you follow Arum Lilea and leave your email address.

*Open to SA readers only.

5 Minute Make Up

We all have those days where we choose sleeping in over perfect make up.  While it might be wonderful to have had that extra beauty sleep, especially now in winter, I still want to look want smart enough for work.  After wolfing down breakfast, getting dressed and fixing my hair, this generally leaves me with just a few minutes for make up.  This is no cause for alarm because with a few key make up items, I can pull this off. 

To start with I'll apply my foundation and blend it with my fingers rather than a sponge or foundation brush to save time.  I'll dab on a little Elizabeth Arden 8 Hour Cream to moisturise my lips.  Next I use this amazing Elizabeth Arden eye shadow duo and apply the light gold shade in the inner corner of my eyelid and the brown shade on the outer corner.  These are such beautiful neutral shades and couldn't be more perfect for moments when time is of the essence. I'll line my top lid with liquid liner then apply my favourite mascara, the Maybelline Great Lash mascara to open up my sleepy eyes.  I use Elizabeth Arden's Beautiful Color Radiance Blush on my cheeks to add some colour.  Finally I use MAC Snob for a lovely soft pink lip.

Voilà!  No need to panic.  With these few products I know I'll be out the door in no time and look perfectly acceptable to face a busy day.

Make Up storage {27 Pinkx}

Hi ladies!

Today I thought I'd share the way I store my make up.  Recently I started using this 27 Pinkx mini organiser (found here) which I think is the perfect way to store your make up.  I've always been that girl with three make up bags and always rummaging through them to find my favourite eyeshadow or make up brush.  I was so happy to pack my make up into this organiser because now I can easily see everything I need and quickly grab whatever it is I may need.  This perspex organiser looks gorgeous on any dressing table and I can't help feeling so impressed with how it has organised my morning make up routine.

How do you store your make up?

Feeling [cobalt] Blue

Mr Price hat and leggings | old top | Linx heels via Zando | Forever New clutch and bracelet | Michael Kors watch | MAC lipstick in Saint Germain 

Hi everyone!

Yesterday wore almost all blue and I was absolutely loving it.  It was a bit cold so these thick leggings were the perfect addition to my outfit while still maintaining the in-between seasons kind of look.  I  have a thing for felt hats this season and I bought this one in addition to my black one (see here) to vary it up a bit.   To add another bit of colour I used MAC's Saint Germain lipstick which, as you will know if you follow me on Twitter and Instagram, I've become a little bit obsessed with! 

April Make Up Favourites

I've got a couple new favourite items that I've added to my daily routine and I think they're so good that they need to be shared.  I find all these products really effective and worth every cent.  If you've used any of these products, I'd love to know your thoughts on them in the comment section down below.  Right!  Let's get started!

Concealer

1.  MAC Pro Longwear Concealer:  I'm currently loving this concealer because it really is long lasting.  It's a lot lighter than MAC's concealer that comes in a pot but it still has full coverage so even if you have a foundation that doesn't provide full coverage, this will pull your make up all together and add a dimension of light to your look.  A little of this concealer really goes a long way so I'm convinced my bottle is going to last a long time!

2.  Elizabeth Arden Flawless Finish Correcting and Highlighting Perfector: this product comes as a pen with a brush on the end and a pump on the top to release the concealer on to the brush bottom.  My pump delays the release of the product to the brush which is an unfortunate manufacturing fault.  In any event, I really do love this product.  It glides on smoothly and it's very light so I don't feel like I'm sitting with a face full of make up.  It adds a beautiful effect to the overall look of your make up.

Foundation

3.  Charlie Longwear foundation: This foundation I bought for my trip to Zanzibar because I didn't want to use my (expensive) Estee Lauder foundation when I'd be spending all day swimming in the sea.  I was actually so impressed with it that I've since bought another bottle.  It has a dewy finish which is great for a healthy summer glow but it can also be set with powder to give a matte finish.  It really does have staying power, provides good coverage and at less than a quarter of the price of the Estee Lauder, it's an affordable gem for everyone's make up bag.

4.  Estee Lauder Double Wear foundation: I have spoken about my love for this foundation on the blog before.  It will always be one of my favourite make up products.  It gives great coverage and once it's been applied, it sets with a matte finish.  No powder needed.  This is great for combination or oily skin because it sets without powder but  I sometimes find that if my skin is dry in winter, this is going to dry me out a little more.  If you have a dry skin type, you'd probably prefer the Charlie foundation.

Make up remover

4.  Dermalogica precleanse wipes: I'm generally not a fan of make up wipes because they dry out so quickly that by the time you're half way though the packet, it feels as though you're using tissue paper to try and remove your make up.  These, however, are fantastic.  They're quite oily so this makes the process a whole lot easier as your make up slides off rather than needing you to scrub with force to get it off.  They're perfect for late nights when a long skin routine seems as daunting as climbing Mount Everest.  These smell also delightful which is also a win!

5.  Rimmel Gentle Eye make up remover:  This is my go-to make up remover.  It isn't very oily so it doesn't leave residue on your skin but rather leaves it feeling refreshed and cleansed (even though it isn't a cleanser).  My bottle has lasted four months too which is always a win!

Weekend Shenanigans

Hi Everyone!

I thought I'd share a weekend round up with you today.  To start any weekend (or any day actually) on the right note, I need a cup of tea in my hands.  This is a ritual that cannot be broken.  The day cannot start without tea.  A friend bought me a manicure voucher for my birthday and I finally got round to using it bright and early Saturday morning.  Don't you just love a soft pink mani?  Along with my cup of tea I did my make up and got ready for a bloggers' meet-up. 

On Saturday I was lucky enough to attend Mercedes-Benz fashion week with Irina.  The shows were so inspiring and there were a couple things I would have loved to add to my closet.  We were also able to go backstage and see how things were going behind the scenes.  MAC was responsible for the models' make up and it was as though I'd entered a dream world because there were MAC products everywhere and the best of MAC's make up artists everywhere.  I was pretty convinced I'd found my happy place.

This picture was taken at the Bobbi Brown Pretty Powerful initiative last week.  I loved having my make up done for a special cause.  Any purchase of Bobbi Brown Pretty Powerful mascara goes towards funding young girls' educations which is a charity drive that I think is so important and I'm so grateful I could be a part of.

So I think it's safe to say I'm make up crazed but gosh I love it.  What's your favourite brand?

Current Favourites

Today I thought I'd share with you some of my daily favourites.

1.  MAC  Burmese Beauty eye shadow palette.  This has all my favourite colours in it: Prized, Burmese Beauty, Skintone2 and Showstopper.

2.  Maybelline Great Lash mascara. I've been using this mascara since I was in school and I'm crazy about it.  No other mascara lives up to it.  If you want long, beautiful, clump-free lashes, this one is in it for the win!

3.  Sinful Colors nail polish in 24/7 and Essence quick dry top coat are the perfect combination for bright, fun nails.  24/7 has a matte finish and I'm not a huge fan of a matte finish so I make sure I get the shiny effect with the top coat and then it lasts longer too.

What are your favourite items at the moment? 

Revlon Giveaway

As you know, I've just celebrated my blog's second birthday and what's a birthday without a gift?  So today I'm giving a way this Revlon hamper to one lucky reader.  To enter all you need to do is let me know how you follow my blog.  If you follow in more than one way you will qualify for more than one entry and increase your chances of winning!  The winner will be drawn on 26 February 2014.

To secure your entry, leave a comment below telling me exactly how you follow:

1.  Follow on GFC or Bloglovin'

2.  Follow on Twitter @arumlilea

3.  Follow on Instagram @arumlilea

4.  Follow on Facebook here.

5.  Follow by email.

Good luck!

Elizabeth Arden lipstick

I've been having so much fun trying out Elizabeth Arden's new Beautiful Color Moisturizing Lipstick in the shades Red Door Red and Neoclassic Coral.  It goes without saying that Elizabeth Arden is a high quality brand but I have been blown away by how long these colours have been lasting throughout the day.  I love brightly coloured lipsticks but generally I find that I need to reapply almost hourly.  Not with these though!  I've found that a single application lasts up to 8 hours, time which includes lunch, teas and lots of chatting.  They're are also rich in shea butter and vitamins A, C and E.  Another thing that I love about these colours is that they don't bleed and smudge and because of this I haven't had to worry about those awkward moments when you realise you have lipstick on your teeth (and believe me I've checked a million times).  I am honestly so impressed with these lipsticks that it will take me a lot to persuade me back to the many that I have used before.

You can find these along with the rest of the 2014 colours at any Elizabeth Arden counter as from tomorrow, 14 January 2014 at the cost of R210 each.  I may just be adding a few more colours to my collection.

Make Up essentials

Today’s post comes to you at the expense of my sister’s dressing table chair.  Yes, that’s right.  This is extreme blogging.  I tried to stand on it for optimal photo quality and I came crashing down, breaking the chair (I’m so sorry Jas) and I’m still limping.

Anyway here are some of my make up favourites.  With these items in your make up bag I can pretty much guarantee you will be make-up ready for any occasion.  Let’s begin:

1)     Estee Lauder Double Wear foundation.  I love this foundation.  I’ve tried a few but this one is my favourite.  It gives great coverage and the bottle lasts for so long.

2)     Maybelline Great Lash mascara in Blackest Black.  I’ve been using this specific mascara for years.  I don’t think I’ll ever change.  It’s just amazing.

3)     Essence Liquid Liner.

4)     MAC blush in Dame.

5)     MAC lipstick in Snob.

6)     MAC Mineralize in Soft and Gentle.  I love to use this on my eyes, under my eyebrows and also on my cheeks after I’ve used blush.

7)     MAC eyeshadow compact: Burmese Beauty.

8)     MAC eyeshadow in Honey Lust.

9)     Bobbi Brown bronzer No.7 Bahama.

While the quality of the make up you use is important, I think the brushes make or break your final look.  Here are my favourite:

1)     Clicks foundation brush (although lately I’ve just been using my fingers)

2)     Estee Lauder blush brush

3)     Clicks bronzing brush

4)     Estee Lauder eyeshadow blending brushes

5)     Body Shop angle and round eyeshadow brushes.  Absolutely love the angle brush.  I also use it to define my eyebrows.

So that’s my everyday line up for you.  If there’s a special occasion I might vary these but generally I don’t venture far off my basics.  Would you like a make up tutorial?  Anything in particular?

Xxx

Follow Arum Lilea on Twitter, Facebook, Bloglovin’ & Instagram

Look me in the Eye

A friend of mine, Morgan, can do exceptional make up.  This is what she did for her 22nd birthday party.  She used a combination of browns, purple, orange and gold eyeshadow, rimmed with black eye liner.  There's no mascara here because she ran out to MAC to have false lashes glued on.  It looks gorgeous without mascara though!  I love this look!

Images for Arum Lilea.