M.A.C Starring You Holiday Collection

Stars will be born this party season thanks to the absolutely stunning M.A.C Holiday Collection.

Starring You is a comprehensive and jaw droppingly beautiful collection of products to dazzle and delight with an array of captivating and eye catching shades.

Inspired by the celebratory season and holding the twinkling star as key, this glittering line up of beauties offers out of this world, unparalleled glamour, glitz and sparkly to ensure all eyes will be on you wherever you go.

Making YOU the Star of the show the spellbinding collection features an array of items from soft, subtle, shimmery hues to bold, bright and vivid products with intense, multidimensional colour pay off.

The collection is united by its exquisite packaging design which runs through the line.

Featuring a chic, shiny black packaging with a gradient of eye catching, twinkling multi-coloured glitter the products are reminiscent of a clear, dark night sky filled with enchanting, sparkling stars.

The M∙A∙C logo has been transformed into an ever so on-trend, rose gold which looks both modern and beautifully feminine set against the back drop of the enchanting glitter and dark blackness.

Each and every item within this collection is a star in its own right.

Im not a girly, pink girl, but there’s just something that I find irresistible about the Lipglass Starring you in the wonderfully girly pink shade, Starring You (£16).

One of five holiday-exclusive shades, this gorgeous lipgloss features glass like shine without the heavy, sticky feeling of many glosses.

Enriched with jojoba oil to help soften and condition your lips, it imparts the most delicate pop of colour with a fabulous sparkle.

Perfect for wearing alone or over your favourite lip colour for extra sheen, this pretty pink gloss effortlessly smooths and nourishes lips and its buildable formula allows you to go from a sheer, subtle look to a more vibrant pink depending on your mood or occasion.

Soft, lightweight and comfortable to wear it is probably one of the only glosses id happily choose to wear thanks to its sleek, feather light formula that doesn’t feel gloopy or sticky.

Ensure that you’re the belle of every ball with the incredibly beautiful Spellbinder Shadow in shade Stairs to the Stars (£19).

This velvety rich, enchanting eyeshadow will guarantee that all eyes are on you this Christmas.

The incredibly pigmented powder features black ionised pigments that are magnetically charged. This fuses the loose powder particles together so it magically maintains its compact form.

The pay-off is a multi-dimensional, rich and captivating metallic finish.

Velvety soft yet creamy in texture, this decadent shadow is a fabulous deep brown, almost burgundy shade.

It is hyper pigmented so you’ll find that a little goes a long way, making it incredibly season to create an intense and magical look.

Available in four exclusive shades, its non creasing, non flaking or fading formula will ensure that you’ll want to collect them all!

For a complexion that radiates health with an ethereal glow, you’re going want to get your hands on the Opalescent Powder in Rising Star (£26.50).

This gorgeous star embossed pressed powder offers the most beautiful, high impact pearlised, warm gold glow to your skin.

Cheat your way to luminous skin with this gorgeous, soft powder which is perfect for using as a bronzer which imparts a delicate shimmer to your complexion.

Rich, creamy and highly pigmented it applies like a dream, blending effortlessly to leave skin that radiates health.

I love the tiny, iridescent pigments which offer a subtle yet perceptible shimmer to your skin, allowing you to go as light or bold as you like with your desired look.

For me, the star of the entire Starring You collection simply has to be the Kiss of Stars Lipstick in Star Struck (£19).

I mean, come on. Just look at it.

One of six sparkling and pearlised shades with and intense colour pay off, this luxurious, deliciously creamy lipstick is simply stunning.

The bullet has been embossed with an array of twinkling stars and is covered in fine, cosmic glitter stardust. 

I just cannot stop looking at it- it is without a doubt, one of those products that as beautiful as it is, you just don’t want to use for fear of ruining it!

But wear it you must.

Its silky smooth, rich and creamy texture glides across your lips effortlessly, while the pointed tip of the bullet allows for precision application.

Its high shimmer formula is special as unlike many contemporaries, this lipstick is completely smooth in texture.

You won’t experience any gritty sensations which are often apparent in glimmer lip shades, instead your lips are treated to a decadent, soft and intensely pigmented experience.

I’m sure you’ll agree that M.A.C. have totally aced it this year with this celestial collection.

M.A.C’s Starring You Holiday Collection is available now from their website.

Sunday Riley Luna

Its very true that you should never judge a book by its cover or choose an item of skincare based on its appearance, however I’m happy to admit that when I first saw Sunday Riley’s Luna Sleeping Oil (£85) I was found myself intrigued by its enchanting name and the bewitching blue hue of the oil itself.

Marketed as a ‘next-generation retinoid oil’ that reduces the appearance of pores and wrinkles while fighting the signs of premature ageing and redness, I was sold.

I didn’t know an awful lot about retinoids so decided to do a bit of research before I started using the oil.

Retinoid products are chemically related to Vitamin A and help with acne, anti-aging, and hyper-pigmentation.

They work by aiding in the normalization of hyperkeratinization, which means they help your skin to get rid of dead skin cells at a more normal rate so that the cells don't bind together and clog your pores.

Aside from helping your skin shed more normally, retinoids also have some anti-inflammatory effects, reducing redness and helping to calm signs of stressed skin.

Luna is a retinol rich night-time treatment which helps to combat the signs of ageing while you sleep, if you hadn’t guessed by its etherial name.

Marrying traditional skin care ingredients with hi-tech processes is what Sunday Riley does best and the combination of powerful ingredients within Luna combine to promote skins strength, resilience, health and radiance.

The key hero elements within Luna are retinol (obvs!) and something called Blue Tansy.

A Trans-retinol ester helps to fight the appearance of wrinkles, fine lines, and loss of skin elasticity while correcting the damage caused by external aggressors such as sun damage, pollution and stress.

Blue Tansy is the ingredient which gives this oil its eye catching hue. This deep-blue green oil is high in azulene and helps to heal damaged skin thanks to its strong anti-inflammatory properties. Its particularly helpful with the treatment of eczema and dermatitis, something that I personally suffer from.

German Chamomile, and Cape Chamomile (also high in azulene) work to treat inflamed, irritated skin and helps to lower any potential irritation associated with retinol use resulting in calm, soothed skin.

Cold pressed avocado seed oil, chia, and concord grape seed oils  rich in Vitamins A, B,C,D, and Omega 3 offer further anti-inflammatory properties and help top plump the skin, reducing the appearance of fine lines.

The oil itself is wonderfully rich and a decadent, midnight blue hue.

Delicately fragranced, you require only a few drops of this magic oil at night time.

Applied to clean, dry skin, the blueish tinge of the oil becomes clear as you gently massage it into your face.

Quickly absorbed despite its high oil content, it instantly leaves your skin feeling soft and incredibly hydrated.

Come the morning my skin still feels fresh and firm, moisturised and healthy, ready for the day ahead.

I’ve been using Luna nightly for several weeks and while I haven’t noticed a massive difference to the appearance of fine lines, I will say that my pores appear to have reduced in size and my complexion has become more even toned and healthy looking.

Dry, red patches have all but disappeared and I’m left with a far more radiant looking complexion, even on the nights where I don’t get a full 8 hours sleep.

Pores have reduced in appearance to the extent that I often don’t feel the need to wear primer, so that’s a pretty good indication that something has changed!

I will say that because of the high retinol content, if you suffer with particularly sensitive skin it might be worth trying a patch test with the product first to ensure that your skin can cope.

Also, apologies to any mums-to-be but Luna isn’t suitable for use during pregnancy.

Sunday Riley Luna is available now from Cult Beauty and costs £85 for 35ml or £45 for 14ml.