My top 5 nude glosses

I am a bit of a hoarder when it comes to nude glosses because I always convince myself that they "go with everything" which they in fact do but why I have at least 10 is a mystery! Anyway, within this collection I have go to colours which never fail me when I need a hint of colour on the lips but nothing too strong or distracting if i'm wearing a smokey eye or casual outfit. I have chosen my top 5 lipglosses in no particular order based on how often I repurchase them, wear them and the versatility of them.

L-R/ bottom to top in all photos:

1. MAC Lustreglass "Love Nectar" is a shimmery peach gloss perfect on its own or as I tend to use it on top of lipsticks. It is the most sheer of my top picks therefore is ideal for giving a matte nude lipstick a gloss finish. The shimmer finish is subtle enough for daytime but I love pairing this with a dark smokey eye for nights out on top of one of my favourite MAC lipsticks "Shy girl"

2. MAC Pro Longwear "Persistant Peach" is a long wearing highly pigmented peach gloss. This colour has the strongest colour of the 5 but I still put it within the nude gloss family because the peach is punchy yet the non shimmer finish is subtle. I tend to wear this alone because it has enough depth to be worn onto the lip without lipstick underneath. The long wear formula is hard to find with glosses so this is a great one for evenings out without having to top up every 10 minutes!

3. Illamasqua "Intimacy" is a true nude with a slight hint of soft pinky peach. This gloss truly goes with any makeup and is perfect for pairing with a dark smokey eye. Again this colour is pigmented and contains no shimmer so can be worn alone without a liner or lipstick however for nights out I like to give it more depth by wearing MAC "Kinda Sexy" matte lipstick underneath for the ultimate true nude lip.

4. Tom Ford "Tawny Pink" is a dusky nude pink with a slight shimmer finish. This a great day time gloss because its so comfortable on the lips and is highly pigmented. The packaging is luxurious, the colour is unique and even as the most expensive of the 5 by far I would still repurchase.

5. MAC Cremesheen gloss "Double Happiness" is a pearl finish gloss which glides on smoothly and really saturates the lips. The cream formula means that the colour is pigmented whilst still being comfortable on drier lips. I use this one in the daytime mainly as the soft nude pink is a lovely addition to natural skin and a soft brown smokey eye.

Am I missing any of your favourites from my collection?

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Kit wish list!

As a makeup artist I love treating myself to the latest in makeup and skincare but I also have to treat my professional makeup kit to the best products to use on clients. I am always on the hunt for products which are space saving and high quality to use when freelancing and thought I would share my current kit wish list with you. The list of products are available from cocktail cosmetics or love makeup, two of my favourite make up artist brand sites both with fantastic service!

1. Z Palette Pro £19.95 www.cocktailcosmetics.co.uk

I have been looking into getting these for a while because any brand refills can be placed into them and this pro size is even deeper to fit brushes too! They would be a real space saver in my already too large kit and would allow me to mix and match shadow and blush refill brands. The fact that it is a magnetic palette assures me that my products would be safe whilst travelling or on set.

2. The Brush Guard £5 www.cocktailcosmetics.co.uk 

These brush protectors would be fantastic whilst travelling with my kit because no matter how much I wrap up my brushes in either a brush roll or brush belt there is always the risk of the hairs getting disturbed or bent. There are different packs available including a variety back for different brush sizes or foundation only to keep larger brushes safe and clean.

3.Yaby cosmetics blush pan refill £9.95 www.cocktailcosmetics.co.uk

Yaby cosmetics is a vegan friendly brand who do a wide range of eyeshadow, concealer, foundation and blush refills which would be ideal for slotting into the z palette. I have been particularly enticed by the blush colours which are a great price and include a fantastic variety of colours for the fairest to the deepest skin tones. The textures are buildable and non streaky.

4. Sigma 5 kabuki brush set £64.95 www.cocktailcosmetics.co.uk

I already own a small collection of Sigma brushes and the quality and price have always impressed me. I have had my current brushes for many years which assures me that they are worth having in my professional kit. These set of kabuki brushes would be great for working with different product textures (liquid, cream, powder) and the shapes and styles mean that a variety of effects can be produced. I find that different face shapes, skin types suit different brushes so these would be a useful addition to my brush collection. I may have to purchases for my personal collection too!

5. RCMA Colour process foundation palette £55.00 www.love-makeup.co.uk 

This palette has been highly acclaimed by makeup artists including Wayne Goss as a great texture and selection of tones. At £55 it is an investment but the variety of tones in one palette and the great size means that it would save a lot of space in my kit. I like the fact that creams can be used sheer with a damp sponge but can be built up to full coverage too. Liquid foundations are more often used and I tend to use them on myself but I am keen to try more cream products as they seem that bit more versatile!

6. Something Bright Yaby Preset Palette £82.00 www.love-makeup.co.uk

Another Yaby product I have had my eye on is the preset Something Bright palette. This palette not only includes vibrant colours but also some must have neutrals and I cannot see how I would need any other palette on a job! Such a wide selection of shades would be great on a photoshoot where many looks are being created during the day. The palette is refillable and magnetic, a dream for a makeup artist!

What are your kit must haves which I should add to my wish list?

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