Showing posts with label Lipstick. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Lipstick. Show all posts

Thursday, 25 December 2014

My favourite beauty products in 2014: Bourjois, Paco Rabanne, Estee Lauder



L-R Peach Club, Nude-ist, Happy Nude Year

Hello! I hope you all had a lovely Christmas? I certainly did. I decided to pick out three of my favourite beauty products from this year. In terms of beauty, the past 12 months have been good to me. I've experimented, invested and discovered lots of brands (my favourite being KIKO). The biggest 'thing' for me has to be my skin care routine. I'm comfortable with it and it's doing me a lot of good. I'll be uploading a post on that soon. But for now, enjoy! 

No matter how many foundations I try I always end up going back to this one. It provides buildable medium to full coverage, lasts all day, balances the skin nicely and applies evenly. It's very dreamy and I doubt I'll move on to another foundation any time soon.

My sister bought me this perfume for my graduation and I'm very thankful. It's without a doubt my favourite scent but because it's pricey it's something I've never purchased myself. Now I don't think I'll be able to be without it. Paco Rabanne knows how to do fragrance - they're all delicious. 

These lipsticks have changed the game. I've always found lipsticks tricky because they tend to cling to dry patches and be high maintenance, but these ones are a dream. They're pigmented, long lasting, creamy and the most beautiful finish. I have four in my collection (I didn't photograph the red one, but you can see a swatch here) and I know I'll soon own the entire range.

What products have you loved this year?
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Saturday, 28 June 2014

MAKE UP | KIKO Unlimited Stylo Lipstick



L-R 04 and 06
I used to be someone who hated lipsticks. I'd buy them, and love the colours and pretty packaging, but never actually wear them. I used to find the formulas awful; they'd accentuate any dry patches, and I really just couldn't be bothered with reapplying them constantly. But recently, I've fallen in love with lipsticks. There are lots of hydrating, easy to wear lipsticks on the market and one brand that you all know I'm obsessed with is KIKO. The KIKO Unlimited Stylos* are fabulous. You can tell how glossy, pigmented and stunning they are from the swatches above. 

KIKO claim that these lipsticks last up to eight hours and although I don't quite agree with the eight hour claim, they're quite long lasting for such moisturising lipsticks. The texture is what I'm besotted with though; creamy and soft. They're a dream to apply and comfortable to wear. These lipsticks are available in 14 shades, ranging from natural nudes to full bodied shades. And at £6.90 each, they're an absolute bargain. I just need to get myself down to a KIKO store...

What are your favourite lipsticks? Have you tried these ones from KIKO?
*PR Sample
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Saturday, 3 May 2014

LIPS | Too Faced Melted Liquified Long Wear Lipstick




L-R Peony and Coral
Have you seen the weather today? Isn't it beautiful? Opening the blind today I was greeted to the sun and you know what that means, don't you? Summer is well and truly on its way... and so are the bright lipsticks. Over the past few years, lipstick formulas have been re-formulated and the beauty industry have left us with some truly stunning gems. The latest hybrid to hit the market are the Too Faced Melted Liquified Long Wear Lipsticks*. 

With the staying power of a stain, the intense colour of a lipstick and the shine of a gloss, these lipsticks are something else. The high pigment instantly perfects the lips and leaves behind a vibrant, stunning colour. There are six shades in the collection ranging from a classic nude to a shocking purple and as far as these lipsticks are concerned, I'd say go bright or go home. My favourite of the two I have is definitely Coral. The shade is unlike anything else out there and is without a doubt going to be the summer shade.

Another point worth mentioning is how easy these are to apply. The precision tip doe-foot application ensures a clean and effortless application that looks perfect and stays perfect throughout the entire day. The Too Faced Melted lipsticks are available at Debenhams where they sadly retail for a pricey £19 each.

What's your favourite summer lipstick? Have you tried the Melted lipsticks?
*PR Sample

Friday, 11 April 2014

MAKE UP | Cargo Cosmetics Essential Lip Color


L-R Las Vegas, Bombay

The Cargo Cosmetics Essential Lip Colors* are truly beautiful. Smooth and creamy yet lightweight and highly pigmented, they leave the lips feeling hydrated and looking glossy and full. The two I've been sporting the most recently? Las Vegas and Bombay. In terms of colour, they're on completely different ends of the spectrum. Las Vegas is a true nude, swaying just on the good side of "concealer lips" whilst Bombay is a nude pink. In terms of formula, the Lip Colors are second to none and beat the likes of MAC any day, but sadly, there are only 12 shades in the collection. Yes, there's a broad range; Barbie pinks, deep purples, classic reds, true nudes, but if you want variants, there isn't much choice. If there was, at just £13 each, these lipsticks would without a doubt become my "go-to high end" lippies. But for now, I'll make do with a couple in my collection and hope they expand the range further.

Have you tried these lipsticks before?
*PR Sample
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Tuesday, 1 April 2014

MAKE UP | glo minerals Pretty in Pink





I am quite the fan of glo minerals as a brand, their lipsticks in particular. I have a few in my collection and they're the ones I tend to reach for. Sadly, I don't tend to read much about them on blogs, which is a shame because in terms of quality, their make up is second to none. The name says it all; they're a mineral make up brand meaning that their products are pretty much good for your skin. Their make up has been created by dermatologists too so you know you're getting added benefits. And when you've suffered with bad skin your entire life, this is a miracle. 

The brand set me a challenge to create a "pretty in pink" make up look using the products shown above. If you like my look, then please feel free to vote for it on their Facebook page. If not, it's worth going to check out the other blogger's fabulous looks anyway. Oh and a little incentive, if I win, I'll be given three glo mineral goody bags worth £100 to give away to you guys - not bad. (Just letting you know that the Facebook competition isn't live yet. When it is, I will be tweeting about it).

Anyway, onto how I created the look. When I first saw the Eyeshadow Trio in Ballerina* - £22, I was a bit nervous. You see, it's quite colourful and with my array of nude palettes you can tell that I'm not a "colour-on-eyes" person at all. But alas, I proceeded and I'm extremely happy with how the look turned out. I used the darker pink shade all over the eyes, the green in the crease and the lighter pink under my brow bone and my inner tear duct. It created the most beautiful smoky eye I think I've ever seen and the trio itself was a wonderful way for me to dabble into colour, without going too OTT.

Next up I used the Shimmer Brick in Gleam* - £27.50 which I instantly fell in love with. I'm a big blush fan and considering I use a lot of mattifying products on my base, I need blush and highlight to inject life and a glow back into my skin. This Shimmer Brick does exactly that. It comes with four colours - a champagne highlight, a beautiful Barbie pink blush, a deep rose-toned blush and a gold highlight. Oh it's perfection in every way. Easy to blend, last all day and nicely pigmented and glowing, you can create a multitude of looks with this one palette. It's one I'm most definitely taking on holiday with me. For this look I used the Barbie pink blush and the deep rose-toned blush on my cheeks and the champagne highlight on the tops of my cheekbones.

Finally, I finished the look off with the brand's Lipstick in Blush* - £15.00. As I said earlier, I really do love glo mineral's lipsticks. Despite being nicely pigmented and long lasting, they're instantly nourishing and hydrating and this beautiful nude finished the look off perfectly. It brought the make up together and complemented the smoky eyes nicely. Also for reference... my foundation is MaxFactor's FaceFinity, my powder is Rimmel's Stay Matte, my eyeliner is NYX The Curve*, my mascara is Green People's Volumising Mascara* and for my eyebrows I used Urban Decay's eyeshadow in Naked 2.


What's your favourite way to experiment with colour? Have you tried anything from glo minerals before?
*PR Sample

Thursday, 27 February 2014

LIPS | Collection Deluxe Lipstick in Speakeasy


I love a good bargain, me. And when I saw this lipstick popping up almost everywhere, I instantly knew I had to get my paws on it. I bought the Collection Deluxe Lipstick in Speakeasy when it was on offer for a mere £2.99, but it's full RRP is still just £3.99 - and it rivals some of the more expensive lipsticks I own. The formula is creamy and the colour glides onto the lips adding a hint of hydration and a full on pigment of colour. Speaking of colour, isn't it beautiful?! A stunning muted down pink-nude shade that will suit almost every complexion out there. The collection itself includes five colours ranging from tempting nudes to perfect reds - a collection that I will most definitely be delving further into (and one that Collection should consider expanding further). Currently on Boots' fabulous 3 for 2 mix and match offer, you can buy this entire collection of lipsticks for just £15.96 (and get another make up item absolutely free if under £3.99); that just 96p more than one MAC Lipstick and personally, I think the formula is much better. You can buy this lipstick here.

Have you tried any lipsticks from this range before?

Friday, 21 February 2014

MAKE UP | NYX Xtreme Lip Cream




L-R: Absolute Red, Pinky Nude, Nude Peach Fuzz (I do apologise about my skin. I took these after a long day and I didn't realise how awful my make up looked)

Previously, you could've branded me as a lip product hater. Most were sticky and heavy, and I never seemed to get on with them. But these past couple of years, lip products have triumphed and my collection has quickly become over-saturated with them (if that's possible). Aside from lip crayons, my favourites are without a doubt NYX's Xtreme Lip Creams.

I currently only have three in my possession - Pinky Nude*, Absolute Red* and Nude Peach Fuzz* - and I will most definitely be expanding this when my next loan instalment is due (April seriously can't come quick enough; Candy Land needs to be mine). My favourite colour is Pinky Nude which isn't very nude at all; it's a vibrant Barbie-pink that despite it's brightness, is very wearable. 

What really sells it for me though is the formula. Described as being an "all-in-one lip perfector," this hybrid of a lipgloss and lipstick provides extreme pigmentation with a glossy finish that isn't sticky. Leaving your lips moisturised all day, these Creams hydrate and last a good few hours on the lips without bleeding. They're everything I wanted the Rimmel Apocolips to be.

These Lip Creams are available to buy here where they retail for £7 each or of course, in selected Next stores nationwide.

Have you tried the NYX Xtreme Lip Creams?
*PR Sample

Monday, 9 December 2013

CHRISTMAS | KIKO Ultra Glossy Stylo Lipstick Set



KIKO are without a doubt my favourite brand of 2013. They came out of nowhere and have produced some of my most used products this year. Following their wonderful Satin Nail Lacquer Set, I have another Christmas gift to show you all. The Ultra Glossy Stylo Lipstick Set* comes with 5 lip stylos in limited edition colours. 

The lipsticks themselves are very glossy and semi-transparent so they actually end up looking like a pretty pigmented lipgloss but with the benefits and comfort of a lipstick. They glide onto the lips beautifully and leave a sheer wash of colour meaning that you can dare to go bold. They're moisturising and last a few hours before disappearing. 

There's a true nude, a red, a bright pink, a coral and a neutral pink meaning that there's guaranteed to be a shade for everyone. My favourite shade is without a doubt the bright pink - it scared me to death in the bullet but once it's applied on the lips, it leaves you looking just the right amount of Barbie. 

What's even better is that this gift set is a bargain at £16.90 - meaning that each lipstick is just £3.38 each. You can buy this gift set here for £16.90 and browse the entire Christmas collection here.

What do you think about the KIKO Christmas range? Do you like the look of this gift set?
*PR sample
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Tuesday, 3 December 2013

MAKE UP | L'Oreal Paris Color Riche Collection Privée in Eva's Nude



It was love at first swatch with this lipstick. I've been trying to find the "perfect nude" ever since the blogosphere was obsessed with GOSH's Darling way back in 2010. For reference, that lipstick in particular made me look like a 12 year old chav who'd painted over her lips with concealer. Or a corpse. Whichever analogy takes your fancy.

The L'Oreal Collection Privee range includes six custom made nudes that have been chosen by different spokespersons of the brand: Doutzen Kroes, Eva Longoria, Cheryl, Julianne Moore, Freida Pinto and Liya Kebede. Originally, I thought that Doutzen's nude would be perfect for me - a barely there pink that's wonderful for pale ladies - but after swatching it, I was disheartened and decided to swatch the rest of the collection. I then came across Eva's nude, "Barely Golden." Despite the fact that my skin tone resembles Eva's in no way shape or form, this nude is perfect for my complexion. 

The lipstick applies nice and smoothly and despite not trying much from L'Oreal in the past, this lipstick has made me want to dive further into the brand. The lipstick doesn't stay on the lips for long but that's probably because it's very moisturising which I do prefer. It leaves a glossy sheen on the lips and a lot of pigmentation. It also has a beautiful subtle scent of parma violets, so I can't knock it for that. The packaging, as you can probably tell from the images, is also understated, beautiful and looks expensive.

This lipstick is available to buy here where it retails for £8.19. 

Have you tried a lipstick from this collection? What's your favourite nude lipstick?
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Wednesday, 9 October 2013

MAKE UP | glo-minerals Lipstick in Coral


Over the past three weeks, if you've seen me out and about during the daytime then you'll have seen me sporting the glo-minerals lipstick in Coral.* Established in 2002, glo-minerals is a brand that use only pure pharmaceutical grade minerals and anti-oxidants chosen by dermatologists, making the brand paraben, dye and perfume free. The lipstick combines great colour with a wonderful formula that nourishes and protects the lips. Vitamins A, C and E ensure that the lips stay moisturised throughout the day and the added UV protection means that you can wear the lipstick with confidence knowing that you're protected against the sun.

The colour wasn't what I was expecting at all. It's a muted down nude-coral with lots of shimmer that luckily, isn't too overpowering. I expected a vibrant coral which is something that I struggle to pull off, however this one is beautiful. It's perfect for the daytime or paired with a smokey eye and really pulls the entire look together. Despite the lipstick itself being moisturising, it stays on the lips for a good couple of hours before wearing away. I do find that the lipstick is quite hard to apply - possibly because of the shimmer - but the extra few minutes of effort pay off as the colour is stunning and very wearable.

You can buy this lipstick (and many other shades) here for £15.00. If pigmentation isn't your thing then glo-minerals also have a Sheer Lipstick on offer which you can view here.

Have you tried anything from glo-minerals before?
*PR Sample
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Wednesday, 2 October 2013

MAKE UP | Eyes Lips Face











ELF is a brand that I've delved into before. In the past, I've been impressed by their mineral blushers, a couple of their lipsticks and a few eyeliners. However, it's a brand that I've neglected a lot over the past few years. You see, I'm someone who likes to physically buy things - I still regularly go into HMV and buy a CD for example - and it's no different when it comes to make up. I like to see the product in front of me, give it a little test out and with ELF, that's something that isn't possible in the UK. After receiving a couple of products from the brand, I've become a tiny bit annoyed at myself as the quality - and price - is outstanding.

Studio Matte Lip Colour in Rich Red* - £3.75
As someone who is a big fan of lip crayons, I had high expectations for this. The colour itself is stunning and it's a true red with a hint of pink. The lip crayon glides onto the lips, making it easy to apply and the lightweight formula means that it feels comfortable to wear. I get around 4 hours wear on the lips with regular eating and drinking which isn't half bad at all. The lip crayon is enriched with Vitamin A, C and E to moisturise the lips and I haven't had a problem with this drying my lips out. However, I definitely recommend using a lip scrub and balm beforehand to ensure they stay hydrated. I've ended up being a big fan and despite the vibrant colour that scares me off sometimes, it's a lip colour I'm sporting often. I also have my eye on Coral and Tea Rose - they look more wearable and more "me."

I could literally rave about this palette all day long. As someone who is new to highlighting the skin, I was extremely excited when the postman graced my morning (or afternoon considering he doesn't usually arrive until 1pm) with this little beauty. The packaging is once again lovely and has an expensive, luxe feel to it. It includes a mirror and a brush - and the brush is quite decent. The shimmers themselves are stunning, which I'm sure you can see from the swatches above. They're nicely pigmented, creamy and really complete a make up look. I use these in my tear duct to brighten my eyes up, on my cheekbones and on my cupids bow and they give my skin a healthy and natural glow. What's even better is the fact that these last and last. I applied the champagne pink before a night out at 8pm and when I arrived home at 3am, the shimmer was still there. Intact and looking as vibrant as ever.

Have you tried anything from ELF before? What products would you recommend?
*PR Sample
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Thursday, 26 September 2013

MAKE UP | Per-fekt Lip Perfection Gel in Melrose


Today, I have a story that I'd like to tell you. Sit back, relax and I hope that you enjoy the latest "product discovery" to grace my collection.

Once upon a time there was a young girl called Jemma who had a lipstick obsession. This lipstick obsession would've been all well and good if it wasn't for Jemma's awful lips. They were thin, unshapely and lip products tended to stick and highlight any dry patches. One day, there was a knock at the door. Jemma ran out of bed and twirled her way down the stairs and opened the door to see the Postman standing there in front of her. In his hands were a few parcels. Jemma twirled back upstairs and quickly tore them all open. In one of the parcels was a lip product. Jemma tossed it aside thinking to herself that'd be another beautiful lip product that she wouldn't be able to don due to her terrible lips. Fast forward a few days and Jemma was scouring her drawers when she saw the Per-fekt Lip Perfection Gel in Melrose* staring sadly back at her. After a bit of research, Jemma decided to give the product a go. The gel glided onto her lips, revealing the most perfect "my-lips-but-better" shade and instantly plumped her lips up and perfected them. It was love at first application and now, Jemma has found her "go-to" lip product for everyday wear.

The Per-fekt Lip Perfection Gel perfects and enhances the appearance of the lips as it works as a lipstick, lipgloss and lip treatment in one. It effortlessly glides onto the lips and improves the appearance of dry, chapped and thin lips while offering a hint of colour. It uses many different ingredients (such as hyaluronic microspheres, peptides, jojoba, vitamin A and C, spearmint and many more) which combine together to moisturise, reduce the appearance of fine lines, stimulate the production of collagen and taste great. The applicator, in my opinion, works as a lip scrub as it exfoliates the lips and buffs away any chapped skin leaving behind beautiful looking lips with a touch of colour. For a product that I originally showed no interest in, this lip gel has quickly become an everyday love of mine that I couldn't live without.

You can buy the Lip Perfection Gel here where it retails for £16.20.

Have you tried any products by Per-fekt? What are your favourite lip products?
*PR Sample

Tuesday, 3 September 2013

MAKE UP | KIKO Dark Heroine Limited Edition Collection

Clockwise L-R Loud Night Bronzer in Supple Satin Honey, Latex Like Lipstick in Plastic Red, Colour Impact Eyeshadow Palette in Lounge Warm Tones, Twinkle Eye Pencil in Matita Occhi

Clockwise L-R Loud Night Bronzer in Supple Satin Honey, Latex Like Lipstick in Plastic Red, Colour Impact Eyeshadow Palette in Lounge Warm Tones, Twinkle Eye Pencil in Matita Occhi

Loud Night Bronzer in Supple Satin Honey

Colour Impact Eyeshadow Palette in Lounge Warm Tones

Latex Like Lipstick in Plastic Red

Twinkle Eye Pencil in Matita Occhi




Using the Colour Impact Eyeshadow Palette in Lounge Warm Tones and the Twinkle Eye Pencil in Matita Occhi 

Latex Like Lipstick in Plastic Red
Smoky eyes, red lips, contoured skin - Autumn make up really makes me happy and the new limited edition collection from KIKO is no exception. If you haven't realised it yet, I'm a massive fan of the brand. The affordable yet high quality products that rival more expensive brands makes it impossible not to fall in love with KIKO. And if you haven't managed to get your mitts on any of the other products that the brand offer, I highly recommend having a look at this collection which is a great introduction to the wonderful world of KIKO.

Loud Night Bronzer in Supple Satin Honey* - £14.90
This bronzer is everything that a bronzer should be. Housed in beautiful packaging with a huge mirror, it was love at first sight. I struggle with bronzer - I tend to end up looking more Oompa Loompa than Kim Kardashian when I apply it but this honey toned, natural looking bronzer is everything that I've been looking for. Nicely pigmented it blends into the skin like a dream and leaves it looking glowing and sunkissed. As it's semi-matte (it has a tiny bit of shimmer in the pink and cream raised areas) it can be used to contour the skin to give it a more defined look - lovely for evenings. The colour is perfect, the formula is perfect, the packaging is perfect and it's allowed me to fall in love with bronzing. The only problem is, it's limited edition. Gah. 

Colour Impact Eyeshadow Palette in Lounge Warm Tones* - £16.90
I love myself a good eyeshadow palette. It's rare that I find one that I love as much as my Urban Decay ones but this one definitely comes close. Cased in further beautiful packaging with a big mirror is three matte shades and three shimmery shades. The shimmery shades are stunning, easily blendable and pigmented but sadly, I do experience a lot of fall out when applying them. However due to the fact that they're gorgeous, I can live with that. The matte shades are the winners in the palette. Buttery soft to the touch these aren't like your typical matte shades as they're not chalky in the slightest. The colours in the palette are stunning and allow you to create the perfect smoky eye in numerous different ways. If you wet your brush before using these shadows, you get a more intense pigment too. The swatches above show the shadows when they're used dry.

Latex Like Lipstick in Plastic Red* - £7.50
If you read my blog often then you'll know that when it comes to lipstick, I'm a bit iffy. Recently, I've been embracing the lip crayon trend. Those nicely pigmented, smooth and gliding sticks of joy are without a doubt my faves and the majority of my lipsticks have been thrown aside. Except for this one. I'm a sucker for a red lip and as you can tell from the swatch, this isn't half a red lipstick! The swatch above shows the pigment in just one swipe - it's glossy, beautiful and doesn't bleed which is a big must when it comes to red lippy. This is divine and a pleasure to use. I'll be donning it tomorrow for my sister's graduation - eek! However after looking back at my shoddy application, I'll most definitely be using a lip brush. Damn my shaky hands!

I've always been a black eyeliner addict. Ever since I can remember I've been smudging and drawing black lines around my eyes so much that I quickly dismissed this pencil. On first look, I saw that it was a browny, purpley, taupey colour and it wasn't something that I was interested in. But as soon as I applied this to my waterline I was converted. It's less harsh than black liner and looks gorgeous during the day. It defines the eyes nicely but in a subtle and beautiful way. The liner is the perfect mix of soft and hard and lasts a good five or six hours on the waterline before it starts to wear off. In the look above, I used this to add a bit of definition to my upper lash line and because the formula is so incredible, it looks lovely when I do that too. A good versatile pencil that's a stunning colour and a great price.

As you can probably tell by this post, I love this collection a lot. It's what I would call a perfect Autumn make up collection and if you're new or loyal to the brand, it's one I suggest you take a look at. You can view the rest of the collection here which includes eyeshadow pencils, a serum, highlighters and stick blushers. I reviewed the Laser Nail Lacquer from the collection here and next week, I'll be featuring the incredible Dark Heroine Face Brush from the collection which you may have seen me raving about on Twitter.

Have you tried anything from KIKO before? What do you think of this collection?
*PR Sample