MAC Frankly Scarlet blush

MAC Frankly Scarlet Matte powder blush £18
available online

After watching numerous tutorial videos from Tanya Burr where she repeatedly whipped out this little beauty, it was only a matter of time until the taunts led to a purchase and I added it to my own blush collection. Frankly Scarlet is one of those shades that I would never have voluntarily picked up when perusing the shelves of MAC - unless it is pink, coral or peachy-toned, it will rarely get a cursory glance. However, having seen Tanya use this blusher and convince me that it is much scarier in the pan than it is on the skin, I decided to give it a whirl.

Frankly Scarlet is a bright rose-red matte blusher. It has a slight raspberry undertone to it and when applied very lightly on the cheeks, gives you a natural rosy flush with a subtle satin finish. Softly softly does it though with this blush as there is a fine line between rosy cheeks and clown cheeks - and the first time I used this blush, I fell victim to the latter! But with a light swirl, tap and sweep of this powder, it is a lovely bright colour for your cheeks and a refreshing change from all my corals and pinks!

Have you tried Frankly Scarlet blusher?

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The Cute Fit Knit

Embellished jumper* | Dorothy Perkins

Skirt | H&M 

Boots | H&M

It is always around this time of year when I turn my attention to updating my wardrobe, casting aside the linens and maxi dresses and adding in some Winter essentials to see me through the chillier months. Everyone needs those key pieces that can pull an outfit together and swiftly update your season's wardrobe without breaking the bank - and this is where Dorothy Perkins' Style Essentials come in. The brand has launched a new range of on-trend pieces starting at just £14 that will seamlessly fill those gaps in your wardrobe and give your Autumn Winter look a head start - think biker jackets, pencil skirts and cute fitted knits. Snuggly jumpers are a must for me when winter kicks in so this embellished knit couldn't have arrived at a better time as the weather got decidedly colder this week. Tucked into flared skirts, layered over a collared blouse or simply slung on with skinny jeans and boots, their range of knits are so versatile and easy to wear, day or night.

Oh, and if your winter wardrobe is in dire need of a makeover like mine then you can enter Dorothy Perkins Style Essentials competition to win £500 to spend on this season's key pieces along with a fancy hotel stay and a posh dinner out. Definitely worth an enter!

What are your favourite pieces?

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MAC Candy Yum Yum lipstick

M.A.C Candy Yum Yum lipstick £15
available online and in stores

This is one of those crazy, dare-to-wear lipsticks that has been topping my wishlist for a while now so when I was at the MAC Pro Store opening party in Covent Garden last month, I finally took the plunge and bagged this little beauty. In a nutshell, this lipstick is bright pink with a matte finish. Despite the matte finish, the consistency is smooth to apply and doesn't feel at all drying on the lips. It is definitely a show-stopper shade and one that warrants a steady hand and preferably a lip brush to apply but with a simple cat eye flick and lightly bronzed skin, it is definitely one of the most fun colours in my collection.

Have you tried Candy Yum Yum? What is your favourite bright lipstick?

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Bourjois Blush Exclusif cream blusher

Bourjois Blush Exclusif self-adjusting cream blusher* £7.99
available from Boots and Superdrug

I must confess, I was a little bit sceptical when I first saw this new self-adjusting, made-to-measure cream blusher from Bourjois, creating a personalised pink shade on your skin as you apply. Was it just a gimmick? Well naturally I got my fingers stuck straight in to see whether it was a hit or a miss, and I have to say that I was pleasantly surprised. The cream-to-powder formula contains pH-reactive pigments that create a bespoke pink flush on your cheeks in reaction to your own skin's pH. The lovely thing about this product is that everyone's shade will be slightly different and it is quite exciting to see what customised colour the blush will create on you.

I don't think I could have created a more 'me' shade if I tried. It gave my cheeks a sweet, baby pink flush with a slightly dewy, radiant finish. Whereas I usually favour my fingers when applying cream blushers, I discovered that this product was much easier to use with a stippling brush such as the MAC duo fibre 188 brush. The texture is initially quite firm but after a few swirls of your brush or finger it softens up and applies smoothly onto your skin. A great little product for a quick and unique flush of pink!

Are you excited to try this bespoke blush?

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NARS Orgasm blush

NARS Orgasm Blush £21.50
available online

NARS Orgasm blush is one of those iconic beauty product I've been coveting for years (literally) and even more so after falling in love with the The Multiple cream stick version and its beautiful peachy-pink shade. Needless to say, this blusher is absolutely gorgeous and was definitely worth the wait. The powder is finely milled and so smooth to apply, giving your cheeks a subtle flush of pink laced with golden shimmer. The warm sheen makes this blusher the perfect two-in-one product to add colour and a beautiful glow in a quick sweep of your brush. I like the fact that the powder isn't too intensely pigmented so you have the option to keep it quite sheer and pretty, or layer it for a more dramatic look. I know there are various dupes out on the market for this desirable blush but sometimes you just can't beat the original and I can definitely see myself reaching for this shade time and time again!

Have you tried this blusher from NARS?

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La Roche-Posay skincare

The La Roche-Posay is a French brand that has been getting beauty bloggers and skincare enthusiasts buzzing for a while now so it was only a matter of time before I stepped up, slathered on and put my two cents in. La Roche-Posay is a dermatologically advanced skincare brand that cater for all skin types but particularly target its products for those who suffer from sensitive skin. Available online and in Boots, they boast a scarily extensive range of products for the face and body, and every ailment possible, so there is bound to be an eye cream or moisturiser for you!

La Roche-Posay Effaclar Duo* (£13) is one of those products that has been getting praise left, right and centre recently so I was very keen to trial it myself and see if I concur with the blanket adoration. And I do! The main role of this serum-like cream is to correct skin imperfections and unclog blocked pores to prevent or control spot breakouts. It really is an amazing little product and the few breakouts that I did use to suffer from have been dramatically reduced and any current spots have literally been banished away. I am currently using this most days and my skin feels purified, smooth and wonderfully clear.

La Roche-Posay Hyraphase Intense Masque* (£15.50) is a soothing rehydration masque, ideally used once a week, to keep skin's water levels topped up and give your complexion a boost of moisture. The hyaluronic acid fragments within this lightweight gel-like cream infuse and retain water in the skin for optimal hydration and the La Roche-Posay Thermal Spring water works at soothing and calming the skin. Even after just ten minutes I really feel the positive effects of this masque and my skin feels plump, hydrated and soft. It is a great masque to use when you just need to give your skin a touch of TLC.

La Roche-Posay Hydraphase Intense Eyes* (£15) has all the similar hydrating loveliness as the masque but this little beauty is designed specifically for the delicate and sensitive eye area. It has a gorgeously silky, soothing formula that gives puffy eyelids a dose of energising caffeine and the clever Thermal Spring water helps combat dark circles and dehydration lines. Used after my Effaclar Duo, this completes my perfect skin-loving combination and has left my eyes feeling revived and cared for.

Are you a fan of La Roche-Posay skincare? Which products do you recommend?

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Illamasqua The Sacred Hour collection

wearing the Reflection Palette, Skin Base Lift and Sleek blusher with Aurora cream highlighter

The Sacred Hour collection from Illamasqua
available online, in stores and Selfridges

As we sink further into The Fall season and everything begins to dim, a new Autumn Winter collection dawns on us and this time it is from the ever-expressive brand - Illamasqua. The Sacred Hour is an exciting new collection inspired by the punctuations of the day - the new beginnings of daybreak and the fiery ends of sunset. We are invited to release our inner warrior and find our courage within as we enhance our features with a moody-toned lipstick and mystical quad of eyeshadow shades.

The New Reflection Palette is a truly beautiful palette inspired by nature's pure tones to really complement and enhance your makeup. The texture of these shadows is silky smooth and easy to blend, making them perfect to wear alone or all together for a completely enchanting look. The New Velvet Blusher in Sleek offers an unexpected consistency as the cream formula blends into a powder finish upon contact with the skin giving you a long-wearing, matte finish with a natural radiance. Sleek is a gorgeous dusky coral blusher that is a little darker and more 'earthy' than your generic coral blusher which makes it a perfect option for Autumn-inspired makeup looks.

One of my favourite products, (quelle surprise!) is the new lipstick in Shard, a stunning darkened red-violet stain that is smooth to apply and packs a real punch of colour. Plum lips are big news again for AW so am looking forward to wearing this shade with a simple cat eye flick and bronzer-free, natural skin. Along with this new Fall collection sees the launch of Illamasqua's Skin Base Lift (my shade: Light 1) - an illuminating and brightening concealer infused with peach tones to flatter all skin tones and cancel out dark circles and uneven pigmentation. It is lightweight, blends in easily and really lifts the under-eye area to give you wide awake eyes in a flash - well in three dots and a light dab with your fingertip! But if you aren't sold on the makeup from this new collection then the dramatic lashes and the iridescent nail polish in Hemlock are definitely worth checking out too.

What pieces have caught your eye from The Sacred Hour collection?

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