Mally 12 Piece Celebrate Your Beauty Collection

Currently available on QVC, this Mally collection is one of the best value Xmas gift ideas I have come across recently. 

QVC UK

Sold at £69, it contains 3 sets consisting of an eye shadow palette, an eyeliner, a liquid lipstick and a volumising mascara. All beautifully presented in individual colour coordinated gift boxes.

The collection comes in a stunning chocolate box type box in the signature Mally pink snake pattern and includes a lovely booklet with tips on various eye looks.

The 3 palettes are Radiant Taupes, Romantic Brown and Royal Plum and each one contains 3 x eye shadows and an eye primer. Each palette comes with a Espresso, Shimmering Black and Royal Plum eyeliner respectively. The liquid lipsticks included are Mally Melon, Mauvelous and Petal to the Metal respectively. All 3 mascaras are in black.

The 3 sets of palettes could make perfect Xmas gifts, or if you are greedy like me, simply keep all 3 of them for yourself.












I have been a huge Mally fan for many years and rate highly many of her products. She is an American make up artist who has worked with the likes of Beyonce, Jennifer Lopez, Angelina Jolie and Rihanna and her products are currently available on QVC UK. If you get a chance to see any of her live presentations, I can thoroughly recommend her, even only for the fact that she has an infectious enthusiasm, love for women and is very funny.

All products included in this particular collection are excellent. 
The eye primer and eye shadows deliver on all levels- they are universally flattering, versatile and sophisticated. 
Mally's eyeliners are soft, pigmented, and as she calls them, 'bullet proof', in that they stay put until you decide to take them off.
The liquid lipstick is glossy, moisturising and very flattering. Mally has an amazing eye for colour and her colour ranges manage to be both versatile and sophisticated. 
And lastly, I absolutely love Mally's volumising mascara featuring in the collection. It is everything a mascara should be- an intense black colour, lengthening and volumising. Although it is not marketed as a water resistant mascara, I find it to last incredibly well even through a sweaty exercise session.

Overall this is an incredible value for money set. Whether you decide to keep it for yourself or split it in presents it's up to you. Get it before it sells out.

Shades of Red

I am a self-confessed red addict. It is my favourite colour and I am always on the look out for the next amazing shade. The thing about red lips is that no matter what clothes I am wearing or how tired and fed up I might feel, putting on a red lipstick is an instant way of bringing in the sense of occasion in my life.

Red is also one of the most intimidating looks for many women. In my selection below, I have included several options for those of you who are afraid they won't be able to pull off the look. My tip is- try wearing red lipstick on a casual day, when you feel relaxed and most likely in your jeans and sweater. Take time to enjoy the way it makes you feel and build your confidence towards stronger looks. Nothing would make you feel more like a little girl experimenting with her mum's make up than attempting to wear red lipstick for the first time as a full on evening look.

MAC Ruby Woo- My all time favourite red lipstick. It looks scary, dry and intense on the bullet, but applies surprisingly well and feels weightless on the lips. The colour pay off is second to none and is very long lasting when applied with care.

Elizabeth Arden Ceramide Plump Perfect in Rouge- glamorous, full-on, hydrating and plumping lipstick that has old-school glamour written all over it. If you struggle with dry lips and want a lipstick which delivers comfort, while giving the sense of occasion, this is the lipstick to buy. It is a classic blue based red that suits most skin tones.

NARS Red Lizard- a rich red suitable for warmer and/ or dark skin tones, this lipstick is a distant relative of the MAC Ruby Woo, only this bit more intense and warm.

Revlon ColorStay Ultimate Suede Lipstick in Trendsetter and Finale- I love this particular line of Revlon lipsticks. Easy to apply and buildable, both shades are universally flattering. Trendsetter is your cherry red shade and Finale is a warmer tomato red. These are perfect if you are afraid of red as a lip colour and want to ease yourself into wearing it. For matte lipsticks, they are non-drying and weightless on the lips and by far the most long lasting ones I have come across. 

Clinique Chubby Stick Intense in Mightiest Maraschino- I much prefer the Intense range of the Chubby Sticks to the original ones. They offer a better colour pay-off, more hydration and better staying power. The Mightiest Maraschino is a blue based glossy red that feels a cross between a lipstick and a lip balm. Although the shade is incredibly glam, the bullet allows for easy application. I think of it as my 'jeans-and-sweather' red.

MAC Sheen Supreme Lipstick in New Temptation- moisturising, pigmented, glossy. There is something nostalgic about the shade of New Temptation. It's a slightly cooler red that makes my teeth look really white. 

L'Oreal GlamShine Stain Splash in  Juliet- if you are a red lipstick virgin, try this stain and you won't be disappointed. The GlamShine Stains are water-based and keep lips soft and hydrated, while providing a lovely buildable coverage. You can wear them as a bare hint of colour to a more intense shade of cherry red. Long lasting and glossy, they fade away to a beautiful stain on the lips and great for people who hate re-applyng their lipstick.

No7 Poppy King Lipstick in Power- another 'easy' red, presented in a super cute packaging. Easy to apply, not too intense and hydrating, this is a great every day lipstick that you can pop in your handbag and apply on the go.

Concealers

A good concealer will hide a multitude of sins- dark circles, blemished, redness, scars, you name it. The easiest way to cheat a good night's sleep and fresh face is to use a good quality foundation to even out your skin tone and then conceal the areas of your face which require better coverage. The best concealers are well pigmented and easy to apply and they will not crease in lines or or slide off your face halfway through the day.

Here are my top picks:

• Clarins Instant Light Brush Concealer- this is a light reflective concealer with enough coverage to tackle dark circles, redness and discolouration. You can use your fingers or a brush to pat it on where needed. As it's packed with hyaluronic acid, it helps smooth away fine lines and makes you look more rested and fresh.

• MAC Select Cover Up- my favourite ever concealer. It does everything from erasing dark circles to covering spots, redness and making skin look flawless. It has light watery texture, which combined with the incredible pigmentation, makes for an amazing coverage at the stroke of a brush. It comes in 11 shades and a tube of it lasts for ever as you only need a tiny bit at a time.

• NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer- this one is up there with Mac Select Cover Up in terms of quality. It is slightly thicker and has this bit more radiance. It is a great option for people with stronger dark circles or people who prefer fuller coverage. It provides long lasting coverage and hydration and comes in 10 different shades.

• MAC Studio Finish SPF35 Concealer- lightweight, highly pigmented, water resistant. This emollient concealer provides amazing opaque coverage both for under eye circles and blemishes. It is densely pigmented and best applied with a brush. The high SPF is an added bonus and a must for people who need coverage during the summer months.

• Bourjois Healthy Mix Concealer- this is a great all-arounder that does everything from covering dark circles to hiding blemished, discolouration and redness. It dispenses from a tube and a little bit goes a long way. Its only downside is the small colour range.

• Laura Mercier Secret Camouflage- this concealer has been around for a long time and for a good reason. It contains two tones of concealer which you could mix to customise according to your skin tone. It is provides up to full coverage for blemish, discolouration and imperfection coverage. Should you want to use it as an under eye concealer, mixing it with a bit of foundation would make it look seamless. 

Easy Glam Eyes

If you are intimidated by complicated eye make up or struggle for time to attempt such looks, look no further. In the recent years the cosmetic industry has come up with a variety of products that allow for effortless glam eyes that require minimal effort or skill. Eye crayons, sticks, paint pots tend to contain cream or gel based eye shadows that are both long lasting and very forgiving. These are also amazing when used as primers for heavier eye looks. They can serve the function of a great eye shadow primer, as well as give dept and definition. They come in matte, satin and shimmer finish and thus allow for customising to whatever look you are aiming for. As a rule of thumb, cream products containing some shimmer in them are easier to apply.

The good thing about cream/gel based eye shadow products is that overall it is very hard to find ones which disappoint. Irrelevant of the price point, these products tend to deliver really well. I can honestly say that the Collection 2000 eyeshadow pencil which is the cheapest of my chosen products, is just as good as the Mac Paint Pot ones which is times more expensive. An added advantage is that the vast majority of these products are waterproof.

The amazing variety of colours cream based eye/ gel based eye shadows come in provides an option for all tastes. I tend to pick more muted colours, such as taupes, greys, browns and purples as they provide versatility. However there re some amazing bright options for people who love the look.

Personally I love the practicality of the pencil type ones, as they are easy to carry in my bag and apply on the go. Also with them, you can use the pointed tip to create different effects with next to no effort or skill. I tend to use my fingers when applying cream eye shadows. Don't worry about creating precise looks when using them- smudging is what they are made for. If you really want to, using a blending brush such as Mac 217, to smooth out the edges is an option.

Here are my top picks:

• Collection 2000 Work the Colour Eyeshadow Pencil
• Rimmel London Scandaleyes Shadow Stick
• Maybelline EyeStudio Color Tattoo 24 hr Eyeshadow
• Mac Pro Longwear Paint Pot

Winter Lips

The cold winter months, combined with the dry air caused by the central heating at home, are the biggest challenge for my lips every year. I happen to have dry, sensitive lips that go into a state of peeling mess if I don't look after them and forget to protect them.

My winter lip savours are:

• Eucerin Aquaphor Soothing Skin Balm- technically a skin balm, this product is amazing at maintaining my lips in good condition and repairing them when then need extra care. I have a tube in my bag and another one at home and reapply 3-4 times during the day as well as last thing before I go to bed. I find it great for getting rid of old flaky skin too. Simply apply a thin layer for a few minutes and gently rub off by rolling a cotton bud, before applying lipstick. You can apply this product on any area of your body as it acts as a protective barrier and supports skin's own regeneration, as well as soothes dry and cracked skin.
  
  
• Clarins Light Natural Lip Perfector- A softly textured lip gel with a deliciously sweet scent. Lips are left looking soft, smooth, shiny and plump. Sheer, but has enough colour to wear alone or to complement your favourite lip shade. Contains Shea Butter, Vitamin A and E and. This comes in several lovely wearable shades which leave a sheer tint of colour on the lips. It dispenses from a felt tip applicator and super easy to apply in the go.
  
  
• Dr. Dan's CortiBalm- the only lip balm that contains 1% hydrocortisone, which people with sensitive and prone to allergic reaction lips will absolutely love. It provides anti inflammatory protection and helps stop itching and inflammatory due to dry skin, sunburn and cosmetics. I have used this balm for 2 years now and will not be without it. It is available on Amazon.
  
  
• Nivea Hydro Care Lip Protection With Pure Water & Aloe Vera- an classic lip product, this simply works and is kind enough to suit most lip types. I find it's emollient enough to offer hydration and protection at the same time during harsher weather conditions.

In terms of lip colours, I tend to avoid matte lipsticks during the winter as they are drying on the lips and highlight flaky skin, which is not a good look. Glossy lip products and lip glosses are an easier look to maintain and often have more skin beneficial ingredients to help protect the skin. If you find that lipstick is particularly drying on your lips, it helps to put on a thin layer of your favourite lip balm and pat it on the lips, before applying the lipstick. This will help your lipstick glide better and prevent it from drying your lips.