A Pink Themed June Favourites!

Another month comes to an end and this June I have been settling back into life in the North of England for summer and we have had a good couple weeks of sunshine so I updated my make up routine and wardrobe with some summer picks. I decided to try out some more lightweight make up for June as the air is warmer and I hate my skin feeling clogged up with heavy make up. I like to change up my make up for more skincare products in summer to clear my skin and let the sun give me some much needed Vitamin D so that will definitely be happening in July.

I can't bare using foundation in the warmer months so I picked up the Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturiser Oil Free from Space NK I decided on oil-free as I naturally have an oily T-Zone so adding more oil based products would cause breakouts. I have been using this for about two weeks now but I just had to put it into my June faves as I love it so much it has made a drastic improvement to my make up routine. The moisturiser has a dewy effect which I prefer but you could tone it down with powder, it has SPF 20 which is great for summer and it's so lightweight on my skin it doesn't even feel as though I have anything on but still gives a good coverage.

I went for the shade 'Porcelain' as I'm really fair-skined but they have lots of shades and when blended it completely blends into your skin I use the Real Techniques Miracle Complexion Sponge to apply.

I decided to try a brightening concealer as I have been loving bringing lots of light to my face this month instead of contouring to make my skin look more youthful so when I was in Boots I picked up this Loreal Lumi Magique Concealer. This is known as the drugstore dupe for the YSL Touche Eclat there isn't lots of coverage so I use some of my Collection Lasting Perfection Concealer to hide my dark circles. This is a really lightweight concealer and is really brightening also the packaging is gorgeous I think it looks quite expensive for a drugstore buy!

For peachy cheeks I've been enjoying using Natural Collection 'Peach Melba' Blush which is a similar colour to MAC's 'Melba' Blush I find it gives a natural pink/peach glow to the cheeks although the formula is quite talc-textured for £1.99 you can't really complain. I find that this blush works best for light-medium skin tones.

I've mainly been using lip balm this month but when I wanted a touch of colour on my lips I always had my Revlon Lip Butter in 'Peach Parfait' in my bag, it provides a lovely shimmer rosy pink with a moisturising formula that lasts for hours. 

I love the Revlon Parfumerie Nail Polishes and this past month I've mainly just had 'Lavender Soap' on even my mum put it on her toes! It is a beautiful pearlised lilac colour that does slightly smell of lavender soap when dried on nails, these polishes last for ages and a bonus is that they are scented with cute packaging!

I've definitely went for the pinks this month I just wanted to go for a simple feminine look that was easy to apply so my go-to-kit has been Benefit's 'Feelin' Dandy' beauty box which features their Posie Tint, High Beam, Dandelion blush and gloss.

High Beam is my favourite highlighter of all-time I've been using it for 4 years and I can't find any one that I like better, the pink compliments my skin tone it lasts for ages and really adds a glow to your features that looks amazing when the light hits. I always apply it in three swipes on the top of my cheekbones, cupid's bow, down the bridge of my nose, under and above my brow bone then blend quickly with my ring finger. This is one of those products that you'll notice a difference when you have on but other's think that you're just blessed with bright skin and excellent lighting. 

I've also loved the Dandelion blush to add a natural pink glow to my cheeks this blush is another one of my favourites from Benefit I've used it for so long and is the perfect blush for fair skin.

My fashion favourite this month has been my white crochet kimono that I got from New Look this was the last one so I just got a size bigger because I knew that I would want to wear it constantly and I was right! I've been just wearing different combination of all-white outfits this past month as that what most of my wardrobe for summer consists of and this kimono just goes so well and especially when you need to take a light cover up for chilly days and nights. 

I love the delicate crochet on the sleeve hems and down the front and the material is so light and flows really softly on the body normally I don't see anything in New Look but this is such a good quality that could be easily sold in Topshop for double the price it's so perfect for summer!

I have been absolutely in love with my Birks this month they are so comfy and as I said before with just wearing white outfits they complete the look I recommend getting a size smaller as they are quite big fitting even my dad got some 'Milano' birks in brown (trendy dad).

The two albums I've been listening to non-stop are Lana Del Rey's 'Ultraviolence' my favourite song is 'Money Power Glory' the whole album is great easy listening I just love Lana's voice.

I've also been listening to Ed Sheeran's new album 'X' I love so many songs on this album it's hard to pick one but 'Don't', 'Photograph' and 'The Man' are some of my favourites this album is amazing and I'm so excited to see him at T in the Park!

That's all for June favourites let me know your favourites of the month by Twitter @stephgreenwoodx and follow me on Instagram @stephgreenwoodx

Lana Del Rey 'West Coast' Hair, Outfit and Make Up Tutorial!

Lana not only enchants me with her voice but her effortless Cali style and make up after watching and re-watching her music video for her song West Coast which you can see here I decided to do a hair, make up tutorial and outfit inspired by the video. 

First up is the make up!

To begin with prime your face I'm using the Smashbox Photo Finish Primer this will make your foundation apply better and help your make up last longer.

For foundation I'm using the YSL Touche Eclat Foundation as it's a light base for summer blend your foundation in from the centre of your face working outwards in circles I'm using the Real Techniques Expert Face Brush.

For concealer I'm using the Loreal Lumi Magique as it's weightless and smooth on the skin also it's light reflecting which can give you a lovely summer glow. 

Blend this in using the previous brush or a new one if you like remember to leave the under eyes as I always conceal my under eyes after all my eye make up is done to give a brighter look.

Lana has dark brown brows so I'm going to fill my brows in using a dark matte brown eyeshadow called 'Mystery' by MAC.

Lana has thick, long brows so use the image above as a guideline as to what your brow shape should be.

Set your brows using a brow gel I'm using Benefit's Gimme Brow.

I always prime my eyelids so that my eyeshadow will apply better and stay for longer, I'm using the Nars Eyeshadow Primer.

Select a neutral eyeshadow colour to use as a base and neutralise the eyes, I'm using MAC's 'Blanc Type'.

Sweep this all over your lid and on the brow bone with an eyeshadow brush.

Lana has a brown tinted smokey eye in this video so start off with a dark brown the same that you used for the brows would be fine.

Blend this in using a shadow blending brush (I recommend MAC's 217 it's a wonder brush and definitely worth the investment) create a rounded smoked eye, blend the outer shadow out for a gradient effect. Bring the shadow down under your lower lash line the trick for this is to blend thoroughly with a clean blending brush so all the shadow colours seamlessly smoke onto the eyes.

Now build on this with a grey eyeshadow I'm using a colour called 'Darkside' from Urban Decay's Naked 3 palette. Blend this colour onto the crease, going right into the inner crease of the eyes as Lana has big eyes that want to be accented, keep bringing the shadow round and under the bottom lashes. 

Now blend a darker grey/almost black eyeshadow I'm using 'Blackheart' from the Naked 3 palette focus on blending this on the rounded edge and under the lower lashes.

Lana has heavily accented her lower lash line so take a sharp angle brush and using a black eyeshadow line the top lash line and bottom lash line, line the bottom lashes a lot more heavier than the top. Blend this in using a clean blending brush to give a smokey effect on the eyes.

To darken the eyes further I'd recommend using a black eyeliner to line the top waterline I'm using the Estee Lauder Pure Color Kajal Eyeliner as it's sensitive on the eyes and gives a dark kohl black colour payoff.

To make the eyes appear larger use a soft pink or white eyeliner on the bottom lash line this will give you Lana's wide eyes, I'm using Benefit's Eye Bright.

You can see that this helps define the eyes now curl your lashes in preparation for mascara, this will help your lashes hold a curl better.

For mascara I'm using the Kate Moss for Rimmel in 'Jet Black'.

In this look Lana has more focus on the smokey eye than the lashes so give a couple of flicks of mascara to your top and bottom lashes just to darken the eyes but not overpowering the smokey eye.

Now clean under your eyes as there may be some shadow that has fallen under your eyes and apply concealer then blend in I'm using Benefit's Erase Paste as that concealer will hide anything!

Set your make up with a setting powder I'm using MAC's Mineralize Skin Finish Natural as it gives good coverage and a healthy glow which is the make up look that Lana has in this video.

Nars Laguna Bronzer

Lana isn't wearing any blusher in this video just bronzer so dust some bronzer on your cheekbones, tip of your chin, both sides of your forehead and down each side of your nose to slim it as Lana has a slim nose.

Lana has a nude lip in this video so I picked my Kate Moss for Rimmel Lipstick in Shade '03' as it makes the lips look more voluptuous. 

  

For the hair I loosely curled my hair using my GHD's but curlers would do then separated it with my fingers, sprayed some Toni and Guy Sea Salt Spray and scrunched it in my hair this will give you Lana's effortless beach waves, add hairspray for a lasting finish.

Leather Jacket - Kate Moss for Topshop

T-shirt - Cheap Monday

Skirt - H&M

Heels - Topshop

Trying to get that casual west coast style can actually mean a lot of effort but all you need to do is add a leather jacket over one of your most loved tees then pair it with denim shorts or mini skirt add heels for night or go barefoot to the beach. Your beach waves and smokey eyes will do all the talking just give your best Lana smouldering look.

I have such a good time creating this look I'd love to see your Lana looks tag me on Instagram @stephgreenwoodx and if there's anyone you'd like me to recreate tweet me @stephgreenwoodx