Style Stalker: Kaley Cuoco

I adore Kaley Cuoco's style, both on and off the red carpet. She is the master of laid back casual, but she always manages to shine at red carpet events.

Outfit #1:

Kaley looks absolutely stunning in this gorgeous and intricately detailed blazer. Paired with a simple white top, wet look black leggings, black heels and a clutch, this blazer is the perfect choice for a glamorous evening event - Kaley looks gorgeous and sophisticated, without appearing overdone. Her hair is casually styled, adding to the understated glamour of her outfit.

 Outfit #2:

Kaley looks utterly adorable in this cutesy pink and white patterned dress. The sleeve length is very flattering and her slim waist is accentuated by the cut of the skirt. This dress would be perfect for a summer party or a racing event. The heart shaped sunglasses add a touch of individuality, and offset the whimsicalness of the dress perfectly.

Outfit #3:

This outfit is Kaley to a tee - understated and casual. I absolutely adore loose, patterned trousers. They are perfect for the summer months, paired with a tank top or t-shirt and sandals. Also, I'm loving this Romeo & Juliet t-shirt - "I left my heart in fair Verona" ❤ 

Are you a fan of Kaley's style?

My Top Five - Lipsticks

I am a massive lipstick fan/addict and I love nothing more than picking up a new shade. However, I always find myself reaching for these beautiful lippies time and time again...

Shy Girl by MAC

Shocking Pink by Barry M (I think)

Rio Rio by Topshop

Lovelorn by MAC

#110 by Kate Moss for Rimmel

L-R: Shy Girl, Shocking Pink, Rio Rio, Lovelorn, #110

Shy Girl by MAC

Shy Girl is my go-to daytime shade - wit is a gorgeous, subtle coral-nude colour and adds understated glamour to your look. The cremesheen finish is moisturising, and it applies very smoothly.

 

Shocking Pink by Barry M

I absolutely adore this ultra-vibrant hot pink lippie by Barry M - I believe it's Shocking Pink, but unfortunately the number has worn off so I'm not absolutely certain. The shade is incredibly vivid, and applies beautifully, but does leave behind a little residual colour/staining when removed.

Rio Rio by Topshop

I have reviewed this lipstick before (see here) and explained that it is a gorgeous shade of red, with subtle orange undertones, perfect for a night out and potentially my favourite ever lipstick. I adore it.

Lovelorn by MAC

 Lovelorn is a gorgeous hot pink, with slightly blueish undertones. The finish has a beautiful shine, so there is no need for lipgloss. This is the perfect girly pink.

#110 by Kate Moss for Rimmel

I have acquired a few Kate Moss lippies over the years, and #110 is my outright favourite. The colour is a gorgeous matte coral, and lasts for hours without the need to reapply. I have noticed that this shade is regularly sold out, so if you're lucky enough to spot it, pick it up!

What are your favourite lipsticks?

How I Clean my Makeup Brushes

It is incredibly important to regularly clean your makeup brushes, as oils and germs can transfer easily from your face to your brush, and then every time you use them, you spread those germs around... and this can result in nasty breakouts. Also, a lot of makeup brushes are quite expensive and you'll want to protect your investment and make sure they stay in tip top condition.

Best practice is to lightly clean your brushes every couple of uses, and deep clean them once week. 

Light Cleaning

Every two (sometimes three) days, I clean my most frequently used brushes (generally, just my foundation, powder and blush brushes) lightly with a makeup wipe to get rid of any left over makeup. 

Deep Cleaning

Once a week, I deep clean any brushes that I have used over the past seven days. I lightly dampen the brush by running it under the lukewarm water, with the brush hairs pointing down and being careful not to get any water under the handle (this can cause the glue to disintegrate resulting in hair loss - not a good thing).

Next, I squeeze a decent sized blob (see below for reference - about the size of a grape) into the palm of my hand. There are a lot of brands with dedicated brush cleaner (including Mac) but I tend to use Johnson's baby shampoo. It works just as well (I think it actually leaves the brush hairs softer) and is significantly cheaper.

I gently swirl the damp brush into the shampoo in the palm of my hand, working up a lather. My inner Monica really likes this part as you can really see the makeup washing out.

Next, I rinse the brush under lukewarm water (again, ensuring that the brush is pointing downwards to avoid getting water under the handle). It is important to ensure that all the shampoo is washed out or the residue might damage the brush hairs - if it feels slippery, keep rinsing!

The final step is to squeeze out any excess water, lightly rub the brushes back and forth on a clean, dry towel and leave them to dry overnight - I tend to roll up a towel so that the brushes are pointing slightly downwards (again, so that the water doesn't get under the handle).

And voilà, perfectly clean good-as-new brushes. Do you have any tips for cleaning brushes that I missed?

Review: Topshop Lipstick in Rio Rio and Tease

I love lipstick... maybe a little too much... I'm probably addicted... ok, I'm definitely addicted and it's a problem. 

There, I said it.

I recently purchased two new lipsticks, to satiate my addiction. Having never tried Topshop lipsticks before, I was eager to try them out. With the greatest of restraint, I selected (aka: limited myself to) two gorgeous colours - Rio Rio, a beautiful orangey-red and Tease, a vibrant hot pink. These lipsticks were about €12, from what I remember, or £8 and can be ordered online here:

Rio Rio
Tease

As these were my first Topshop lipstick purchases, I'm not sure if this is applicable to all lipsticks, but these two shades are wonderfully moisturising with fantastic colour pay-off. Overall, I find that they are very comparable to MAC lipsticks but for a much more reasonable price.

Rio Rio

Rio Rio is a beautiful red lipstick, with subtle orange undertones.

I know red lipstick can often be overwhelming, and a lot of people avoid it as a result. However, I think Rio Rio would make a perfect lipstick for those ladies looking for a starter red, as it isn't overly dramatic. 

Personally, I love red lipstick and find it great for a night out to dress up an otherwise casual outfit. However, Rio Rio is a lot more versatile than other reds, and is very wearable during the day. The shade is very flattering, and the finish is a gorgeous satin matte but the lipstick is very moisturising. I also find that the colour tends to last for hours, even on a night out with eating, drinking and dancing.

In summary, this lipstick is definitely in my top five favourite lipsticks of all time.

Tease

Tease is a gorgeous, vibrant, Barbie-esque pink lipstick.

I absolutely adore bright pink lipsticks, but I often find them difficult to wear, give the usual blue undertones and my (relatively) pale complexion. However, during the summer, when I get a bit of colour, I find myself gravitating towards them... it might have something to do with the sunshine too.

As with Rio, I find this lipstick really moisturising, the pigmentation is phenomenal, and the colour lasts for hours. It is perfect for a night out as it really dresses up an outfit, and pairs beautifully with somewhat understated eye makeup (usually, I just go with a splash of Rubenesque by MAC, some winged black eyeliner and lashings of mascara).

Unfortunately, Tease is probably going to be resigned to sitting in my makeup drawer for the next few months once my "tan" fades (damn you, Winter) but I will undoubtedly by whipping it out next summer.

Have you ever tried any Topshop lipsticks? Are there any holy grail colours that I should invest in?