Sleek Matte Me in Old Hollywood

Hey All

Lately I've been very spendy so expect a few hauls coming up!! I was meeting some friends in town the other day and have 30 minutes before they arrived and accidently ended up in boots and superdrug and before I knew it I'd bought 2 lipsticks, a lipstick palette, an eyeshadow palette, a contour palette and a nail varnish. Clearly a lack of self control that day ha!

I tend to go to Superdrug more these days as they have a great selection of cruelty free brands (NYX keeps me going to boots though!). With the weather getting colder I'm getting drawn back into the darker shades and can't seem to resist the liquid lipsticks everyone is loving at the moment. As soon as I swatched old hollywood on my hand I knew I was going to buy it. It's such a deep red colour and perfect for the colder weather.

It comes in the traditional lip gloss packaging with the doe foot applicator you would expect for a liquid lipstick, It's really easy to apply direct from the applicator and get that straight line to the lips. It dries really quickly. I love the colour and love how easy it is to apply but it's not my favourite formula. For me it's too drying and does the flaking off the lips from the middle and leaves staining around the lip line. I prefer more mouse like formulas like the NYX lip lingeries and the liquid satins. 

Even though I'm not sold on the formula the colour is so amazing I will definitely keep wearing it. It just needs reapplying throughout the day to keep the colour looking it's best.

Have you tried the Sleek Matte Me lip products? Any tips on stopping it being so drying?

Love M

xxx

Nars Velvet Matte Lip Pencil in Cruella

Happy Friday lovely people!

I've got a lovely quiet(ish) weekend lined up where I'm meeting some old friends for lunch and aside from that it's going to be relaxation and bliss on the cards.....and a whole lot of catching up on tv! This new job has taken up a lot of my time doing extra reading and trying to keep up with my gym and classes so I'm looking forward to catching up with everything else.

A few weeks ago both myself and M nabbed ourselves one of the Space NK Gift With Purchase bundles that I haven't even begun to get through; free stuff is so much fun. But obviously we had to spend £150 to get said gifts and this became my opportunity to snap up some much raved about Nars products. I'd never used any whatsoever before this so had quite a wishlist and proceeded to cross some of them off; I've previously posted about the infamous Orgasm blush - post here - and now you can read my review of the nearly as famous Lip Pencils.

It didn't take much convincing for me to add this to my basket, Anna from VDM who I'm sure you all MUST be aware of always looks gorgeous wearing hers so as we are the same colouring it was a no brainer.

Cruella, as if I could leave it after seeing that name! Brings back all the memories of the oh so glamorous Ms Deville and the colour is perfectly fitting.

It's a matte lip pencil, there is also a satin and a velvet gloss lip pencil range (come back for a future review of a satin pencil also!) and so I snapped up one from each range for comparison purposes....obviously.

The pencils themselves are typical in NARS design with monochrome packaging but have the added advantage of having a coloured base; this would be great when choosing between nude, red, pink etc but may be problematic with differentiating between reds...however I don't own enough of them at this point to worry about that!

The Lip Pencils are super easy to use, I have used liner with this one as I have a similar colour to match it but they haven't bled a single time i've used them so are good enough to use without one. The colour is so pigmented and although the matte did feel quite dry on application compared to other lip products, it didn't actually dry my lips out any further.

Clearly they are easy to use, you just need a larger sharpener to get the pencil in (rumour has it UD's Grindhouse is the best - added to wishlist!) and it's so easy to apply the colour that you could even slick on a layer whilst on the bus - though you'll definitely need to check you are in the lines for a colour this bold!

So how does it look on?

These photos were taken with minimal make up apart from the lip pencil and I love the slightly vampy look!

I love the colour, it's a perfect red and I can see me wearing this a lot in future. Even though these photos were taken in natural day light the colour in reality did seem to be darker than the photos show but nevertheless you can see the finish.

I was really impressed by the wear time of these lip pencils too. I'm sure I went a good 6 hours without the need to reapply and that was through multiple meals/snacking/drinks and I think i reapplied purely for the feeling of knowing there was something on my lips!

I would fully recommend the matte range and am tempted to look at the other colours but must resist for the next month or so.....

The Matte Lip Pencils come in at £18 for 2.4g of product and are available in 21 colours.

Have you tried one of the matte lip pencils? What's your favourite colour? Any recommendations for future NARS purchases??

L xxx

Sense Cosmetics Lip Sense Blu-Red *

Hey All

Feels like it's been ages since I wrote a post. Where is this year going, I can't believe it's almost August. Last week saw me give up alcohol for four weeks. It's one of the things on my 101 things and I figured now was the time to give it up pre tough mudder.

So now it's time to get used to nights out spent on water. I'm already missing the social aspects of it but have been out twice and not drink.

On Sunday I met up with Jenny to go to a Lower than Atlantis gig in Clwb ifor Bach. I've not heard much of LTA but love a gig so jumped at the chance to go.

I decided to go for classic make up so my current favourite red for a night out came. It's the lipsense lip colour in blu - red. These are absolutely amazing for staying all night and this is the perfect classic pillar box red.

I love a red lip but do hate the maintenance of it and seeing it transferred on glasses and things.  I have tried other lipstains that claim to last 24 hours but found they wore really badly to the lip liner effect which is never a good look.

It's a great colour for making the teeth look pearly white!

The lipstains are a little sticky when first applied but when topped with the lipgloss have a long lastig non sticky finish. Once the lipgloss wears off the lipstain stays unfaded and non sticky and doesn't dry out or flake on the lips. They come with a classic doe foot applicator which is the perfect size for precise application. The lip colour itself feels light and liquid on the lips. The dude approves though as it saves me covering him in lippie!

The lipstain has been on for over 5 hours here and still looks perfect!

These seriously have amazing lasting power and I always reach for them on a night out. The only place they seem to fade is the corner of the lips. The downside of these. Getting them off!! They usually need a good oil cleanser or lip scrub to budge them properly but they do sell a special remover I think I need to try. You can get a set of the colour, gloss and remover for £45 or the colours themselves are £22. Though they seem expensive they do last all night so you don't need to worry about touch ups and won't use as much product.

have you found any long lasting lip products. I can't wait to try more colours!

Love M

xxx

Illamasqua Lipstick - Maneater

Goooooooooooooood morning!

I've got a review for you today on an amazing lipstick. I have been lusting after it for a considerable amount of time. The only person who knew this? M. What did she buy me for my birthday? THIS! < 3 

Illamasqua are a brand that I really like. I don't own many of their products but I do have a very big wishlist of their products and have heard great things. A colleague has recently been on the week long make up course that they offer and got a whole load of products that look amazing!
I've had my eye on their primers and foundations for a while but let's not forget the super amazing eye colours they offer as well as the infamous eye liners. I'll surely be buying more from them soon!

This particular lipstick is called Maneater.

Not only is it quite an eye catching name but its an absolutely stunning colour. It's from their original lipstick range and is a crazy intense, long lasting creamy lipstick with a matte finish.

I love the black packaging, its sleek and simple yet perfectly individual to the brand. I love the stamp at the top with their symbol, its so cute and instantly recognisable.

The photo below shows the lipstick colour without a flash, and below that with a flash:

Illamasqua call the lipstick a 'classic cherry red with a matte finish'. It's the perfect classic red, its creamy, doesn't feather out of lip lines and more importantly; doesn't dry my lips out.

Just look at how beautiful and flattering this red colour is:

Excuse my lip pictures, they're definitely not my best feature!

Here's the lip colour on, in all its creamy cherry red glory:

Admittedly it needs lip liner for a better and cleaner line, but it so pretty!

I haven't tested the longevity of the lipstick yet as i haven't been anywhere special to wear such a gorgeous colour but i will be wearing it out at my first opportunity.

Have you tried a lipstick from Illamasqua? Do you love a classic cherry red?

What products do you want from Illamasqua?

L xxx

Thomas Sabo Lip Gloss Balm

I've never been much of a lip gloss person. It also annoyed me when my hair would blow and get stuck in my lips and the sticky feeling was something that would drive me crazy. 

Lately I've been finding myself enjoying the glossy lip look more. When digging in my collection recently I found this one. I was lucky enough to get this when I went to a Cardiff Bloggers Meet a while back.

Thomas Sabo is somewhere I would never think to go for make up but I am huge fan of their jewellery. I have 4 of the beaded charm carriers and one charm bracelet. I love how you can change the charms to match outfits and most of mine have a story behind them.

The Thomas Sabo lip gloss only comes in one shade. They also sell a lipstick version which I'm going to have to try next time I go in store. The lip gloss in a red shade but isn't really pigmented and is more of a shiny over lipstick gloss.

I really like the black and white striped lid. This matches the perfume bottle. Black and white is always a great classic combination.

It really does feel super soft on the lips and my lips don't feel like they are sticking together (that's the worst thing about the Soap and Glory Sexy Motherpucker Gloss).

It gives such a pretty glossy colour to bare lips and is great for everyday. It's a great colour to pair over most lipsticks to make them glossy.

It is priced at £10.75 which for me seems a lot for a gloss. I always think of lip glosses being cheaper than lipsticks. Maybe I'm just tight!

Have you tried this?

Love M

xxx

Lipstick Monday's Maybelline Super Stay 24 Colour 510 Red Passion

From the last few weeks you'll all know by now my recent love for Maybelline lip products. Today's lip on is a little hit and miss with me. Sometimes I love it and it's amazing sometimes it bugs me.

Apologies for some photo's being sideways, having some issues with my camera at the moment and can't edit them properly. Prepare for lots of mouth photos ;)

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I have this in two shades. I haven't really used the other one much yet. It's 195 if you were wondering. First things first. I hate the balm that comes with this. As a balm it's nice but it seems like they just thought this can be drying stick a balm on the end and didn't test it. When applied over the lip tint the product seems to crumble off straight away and look awful. What's the point in the balm if it makes the '24' hour product come off. 

When the lip tint is applied it's a gorgeous bright cherry red (my boyfriend who lately hates my lipstick range,  I like bright and dark colours said how nice this looked on me over dinner) I applied this at 9.30am. 

You have to apply this very carefully or you can end up with odd shaped lips. As I did wearing this today. This is an odd product. Not a lip tint like the felt pens, more a gloss texture and is applied with a lip gloss type brush. Importantly I find is to apply it and let it dry before rubbing lips together. I then apply a second coat and let that dry. This is a dry feeling on your lips and takes some getting used to. But for lasting power I accept a bit of a dry feeling.

After two hours and a few cups of tea.

After 6 hours wear, as you can see it wears off from the centre of the lips after eating and drinking but still a lot on the lips.

 I did find today that applying my Maybelline colour sensation pop stick blended the colour back and gave me another 2 hours wear. It was still on my lips at 6.45 when my boyfriend complemented me on my lipstick colour so that's an impressive 10 hours wear. After dinner it had gone to more like a subtle lip tint. I then used baby oil to remove it from the corners of my lips as it can leave a lip liner effect and oil based make up remover is best for removing this product.

I love this product for it's very impressive wear time. But the fact the balm doesn't work with the product and the drying it feels on the lips it's hard to really love it. It costs 8.99 but can usually be bought on 3 for 2. It's available in a wide range of colours in Boots and Superdrug beware the swatched online don't really match what the colours look like. Would I repurchase?? I think to be honest I'd rather find a lipstick this shade and have to reapply it, but I will continue to use up this product and it's great for nights out with a slick of lipgloss.

Have you tried this product?? What do you think of it?? This is definitely a love hate one for me.

Love M

xxxx

Review: Giles Deacon for New Look Lipgloss

 When I heard Giles Deacon was doing a make up range for New Look, I was more than a little underwhelmed.

I love New Look, it's perfect for buying every day clothes, party dresses and it's most definitely shoes and accessories galore!

But I wasn't sure that the make up range would be of any good quality so I didn't give it a second thought if I'm honest.

However, after seeing a few pictures I decided to go and take a look in store and I was more than impressed!

The prices are ridiculously cheap, the packaging simple but still pretty and the products themselves a beautiful range of colours that anyone would be happy with.

I picked up this lipgloss, called Stop! and also the Bobbi Brown esque blusher palette in the brown colours.

(Review coming up shortly!)

I couldn't believe how pigmented the colour of this lipgloss was, so much colour!

It has the normal sponge applicator to apply the gloss which isn't rocket science but I felt it did the job pretty well. You could always apply it using one of your own brushes instead!

On the left below I've shown a picture of the colour as it comes off the sponge, and on the right it's more blended in (sort of!) to show you how much the colour shows up even if you don't use much.

I think this colour would suit most people, it's a very pinky red that you can load up or just dab a bit on however you please.

And also....it was only £2.99! Amazing!

Have you bought any of the Giles Deacon for New Look products? 

Is there any in particular you wanted to try out?

(If you come back tomorrow there will be lovely surprise for you if you do.... ;)

L xxx

Lush A Million Kisses

At the till the other day I couldn't resit picking this up. I'd seen a blog post on it and thought it was a gorgeous colour. When I tried it out I wasn't disappointed either.