Now for some reason in my head I don't think I like lipstick all that much... so I don't really blog about them (well hardly ever). But reality tells me otherwise, as I wear lipstick almost daily and I own over 80 lip products?!
So I am thinking it is about time I admit that I have some kind of hidden interest in lipstick... I mean I strongly dislike toner so have only ever tried a few, I also don't like full coverage foundation so I don't own any... and then there in my huge collection of lipsticks. It doesn't make any sense really! For that reason I have decided I am going to start featuring more lip products on my blog with actual on the lip swatches because I think it's really important to actually see the shade on the lips to give an idea of the true shade and finish (though it is always going to vary from person to person).
The first lipstick that I wanted to start off with is one that I have been wearing a lot this winter as it's deep but not too deep (a light wine/ berry shade) and lovely and moisturising, which is something I 100% need when it's cold out!
Max Factor Colour Elixir Lipstick in Mulberry is priced slightly over what I would normally spend at £7.99 (Boots - here) but there really is nothing I can fault and was definitely worth the price for the wonderful quality. As you can see from the finish it is a hydrating lipstick so it does have a slight sheen/frost to it, which I personally like as wine matte shades can look a little flat sometimes and are of course more drying on the lips.
Something that really impressed me though was how long the shade lasts on the lips, as with it being quite hydrating I wasn't excepting a lot. But it literally lasts through eating and drinking which I was amazed at when I first tried it out.
Which does make me think I should buy Ruby Tuesday (a vivid red shade) as I am always so conscious of eating whilst wearing red lipstick as it does have a tendency to somehow transfer onto your face... which isn't the sexiest of looks. So as these last so well I think a blot after applying Ruby Tuesday would be all I would need for it to stay in place. I would also like maybe a nice pink nude shade for spring which I am sure they do with over 15 shades now in the Colour Elixir range.
I also really like to wear Mulberry with Guerlains Kiss Kiss Gloss Extreme Shine in Pomme Du Desir (£16.00 at Debenhams) which in the tube/packaging looks like such an odd glittery gloss, one I imagine quite few people buy due to the lime ting. But on the lips over different lipsticks it is so pretty. It just catches the light so beautifully and can transform any lipstick into something quite unique. The only downside is that it is quite gritty feeling, but that is by the by with such a pretty lip gloss that can be worn over so many different lipsticks.
So for my first ever lip post how did I do?
I can't say I have the terminology down... as I don't know all the different finishes of lipsticks but then again I am supposed to not be a lover of lipstick!
Hope you enjoyed the post.
Fee xo.
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Today I thought I would do a review of my three lovely Rose & Co salve/balms.
Of course if you aren't a lip balm addict like myself then you definitely don't need all three so I thought I would review them individually.
Though if you do want a nice little set of these you can buy them in a trio for £8.00 with free p&p (Amazon - here) which is quite a good deal as they are £5 each normally. So if you haven't got any of the balms then for an extra £3 you are getting two more effectively.
The Rose & Co salves are just lovely especially for carrying around in the handbag. For me they are like two steps up from a Vaseline tin.. the formula is better, the packaging is 100% prettier and they smell lovely! Plus in each tin you get 20g of product!
Rose & Co Rose Petal Salve
(£5.00/20g - here)
The Rose Petal Salve was the first ever product I had tried from Rose & Co which I actually received in the October Boudoir Prive box.
Now of course I was impressed enough to want to try more from the range however I am not at all keen on the scent. Well I say it's the scent but I don't actually mind the smell of it in the tin or on the lips but the taste is just horrible if you lick your lips, really perfumed and almost soap-like plus it is quite a strong taste. So for that reason I don't use it on my lips at all. But it works amazing well as a cuticle oil (the scent also seems more appropriate for that), on the elbows or any dry skin and I do actually brush a little of it through my eyebrows when I want them to stay looking preened all day.
Rose & Co Sweet Vanilla Salve
(£5.00/20g - here)
This out of the three has to be my clear favourite as I use it the most and it is always in my bag to use on my lips and cuticles.
The formula of course is the exact same but this just smells amazing! I am pretty rubbish at describing smells but sweet vanilla is exactly what it smells of - sweet but warm and just yummy! The scent however isn't as strong on the lips but is still very moreish and strangely great for when you are feeling hungry! So nice.
The formula of course is the exact same but this just smells amazing! I am pretty rubbish at describing smells but sweet vanilla is exactly what it smells of - sweet but warm and just yummy! The scent however isn't as strong on the lips but is still very moreish and strangely great for when you are feeling hungry! So nice.
This of course like the Rose Petal Salve is a salve but for some reason it only states 'to smooth and soften the lips' on the tin. But it does in fact work exactly the same (maybe slightly thicker) so you can use it on dry skin, the cuticles, as a lip balm, or the eyebrows etc.
Rose & Co Strawberry Crush Glossy Lip Balm
(£5.00/20g - here)
This is quite a recent addition to my little Rose & Co collection as my boyfriend bought me this as a little extra for Valentine's day.
Now this isn't a salve so you can't really use it on anything else but the lips as it is slightly more sticky than the others. But for the lips this is probably the nicest formula out of the three with the Sweet Vanilla salve coming close second. I can't say it looks any glossier than the other two though but it more balm like and does hydrate the lips pretty well.
Now this isn't a salve so you can't really use it on anything else but the lips as it is slightly more sticky than the others. But for the lips this is probably the nicest formula out of the three with the Sweet Vanilla salve coming close second. I can't say it looks any glossier than the other two though but it more balm like and does hydrate the lips pretty well.
As for the scent this is nice and I have to say I quite like it. But again, lick your lips and you still taste that slightly soapy synthetic taste which isn't amazing but nowhere near as bad as the Rose Petal Salve. If you are wanting just a nice lip balm in a pretty vintage tin then this is one for you! It is also worth noting that even though this looks quite tinted in the tin it actually applies as a clear balm as do all the Rose & Co salves/balms.
So without a doubt the Sweet Vanilla Salve is my favourite and it you like yummy scents you will hopefully love it too. It just smells so good and it is great that it can be used on other areas of the body! Though all the balm do make the lips lovely and soft in minutes and the packaging cannot be faulted.
The only one left that I haven't tried is the Cherry Kiss Lush & Lovely Lip Balm (£5/20g - here) which I am very tempted to get even though I don't need it at all! Mainly because I love anything cherry scented and the packaging is very cute.
But I am going to try and resist for now and hunt down the amazing Mrs Fields Chewy Fudge Lip balm again which is maybe my all time favourite lip balm!
Fee xo.
As promised here is a full review of the new Sleek Pout Paints that actually have been out in most larger Superdrug stores for a few days now! I have been thoroughly impressed with these hence the quick full review of them, however I will make sure to do an update in a few months to tell you how they have lasted etc.
Firstly lets get all the info out of the way as it is a new line after all - The Pout Paints are a range of 11 intensively pigments lip paints that are designed to be mixed together to create different shades. Though it is worth pointing out that you can still get a lot of use out of just a single Pout Paint. They are all priced at £4.99 and contain 8ml of product.
So here are the four shades I have (from left to right) - Cloud 9 (to make other pout paints lighter or more creamy), Peek-a-Bloo (to make of pout paints darker), Mauve Over (a purple fuchsia shade that looks more pink on me than other swatches I've seen) and Pin Up (a vivid red).
As you can see the pigmentation is pretty amazing and seriously a tiny amount goes a long way, I actually have difficulty getting a wash of colour with these! So I feel there is no need to even talk about the pigmentation of them but what is worth talking about which you can't necessarily see from the images is the consistency of the lip paints. The consistency is actually quite similar in fact to paint... think more acrylic paint than gloss paint here! They are smooth and mix together perfectly with either a spatula or a lip brush (I wouldn't suggest using your finger as it will most likely stain) and apply with ease to the lips.
Texture wise on the lips they feel smooth and non-sticky which is lovely to see as lip product can so easy be sticky and thick. The staying power is also great if you work the product into the lips with a lip brush (Sleek suggest you can use your fingers but again I wouldn't as they are too pigmented and for that reason require a neat finish) and for even more long lasting results blotting in between coats works amazing well.
Basically the consistency cannot be faulted!
Here are a few shades of pink I created with Cloud 9 (white), Peek-a-Bloo (blue) and Mauve Over.
Top Left - This shade was created using mainly Cloud 9 and a touch of Mauve Over to create a creamy light pink. You may also notice the finish isn't as glossy as the other lips as I blotted the lips with a sheet of tissue after application to give a softer look.
Top Right - This is mainly Mauve Over with a hint of Cloud 9 and when I say a hint I mean the smallest amount possible just to lighten it up slightly.
Bottom Left - This is Mauve Over again but mixed with a small amount of Peek-a-Bloo which makes it more of a violet shade.
Bottom Right - Mauve Over
So even with just the white or blue pigments and one other shade from the range a lot of shades can be created and of course lipstick can be applied the pout paints to give even more shades.
Here are the results when Mauve Over and Pin Up are mixed with the white and blue Pout Paints -
I really love how Pin Up (red) can look so different when mixed with Cloud 9 (white) and Peek-a-Bloo (blue) here. Just love the raspberry shade that the red and white can create but also love the deep wine shade that the red and blue can make. Both really lovely shades.
The above swatches really do show what kind of shades the white and blue pout paints can create - the white giving most shades a more creamy but sometimes slightly neon look and the blue giving more deep and sometimes alternative shades. However unless you like quite deep shades I would opt for Cloud 9 to mix with other paints.
But as these will last such a long time (I'm talking years if are stored correctly and don't separate) it is worth talk about what else you could use them for!
Other uses...
Lip Tint - Now you see that tiny dot of the Pout Paint on my finger that was enough to do my lips* (top image) and more! So you can imagine how little you need to just use it as a tint. Actually just touching the top of the applicator is enough to create a similar lip to the above swatch and then a touch of lip balm to keep it from drying out the lips..
*This was the neatest I could actually apply the Pin Up Pout Paint with a standard square lip brush so really applying some of the Pout Paints with your finger would be a total no-no. I'm now thinking I need a smaller lip brush for something this pigmented.
Cheek Stain - Again with this the smallest of amount is needed or Aunt Sally cheeks (example) will be upon you! So I'd suggest mixing the shade onto the back of your hand and then using your index finger just dot the smallest amount onto the cheek and then blend, blend, blend! Really pretty and it lasts.
I'm also thinking this could be mixed with a bit of melted Vaseline to create a kind of Sleek Pout Polish but I haven't tried it out yet so will make sure to write a post on how it goes and if it does actually work!
Definitely comparable to the OCC Lip Tars and just another sign of how great the high street can be!
Well done Sleek!
Desperate times call for drastic measures as the saying goes! And for one self confessed lip balm addict this is one drastic measure in the hope to find the answer to my dry lips.
It literally seems like I've had dry lips all my life but if I think about it all my problems started when I found flavoured lip balms back in 1999! I would say crazy hey... but I'm sure you all know about how lip balms can stop/block the signaling mechanism that tells the cells in the lips to produce more fresh skin. Basically the lip balm confuses the natural process and you are left with continuously dry lips... so you apply more lip balm which just carries on the cycle. So then like me you think well if I need them I may as well try all different types and slowly but surely you become hooked on lip balms. I tell you it's like a crack addiction... nah only joking! It's not THAT bad but I do need to break the cycle.
Hence the 7 Day Lip balm ban!
Like a true addict I know which 'last supper' lip balm I will chose - Let Them Eat Cake Bon Bon Lip Balm by Tokyo Milk which actually is like cake... just perfectly sugary. However it would of been Mrs Fields Chewy Fudge Lip Balm if it hadn't died a low death when I put my bag next to a radiator.
Joking aside, I actually don't know how the seven days will go... which in reality sounds crazy, even to me. But I do literally carry around at least 4 lip balms at all times and apply one every 2 hours or so! It's the first thing I do in the morning and the last thing I do at night. Though I'm hoping my nature reflex of reaching into my bag will stop after a few days and I'll see some difference in the dryness of my bottom lip.
It literally seems like I've had dry lips all my life but if I think about it all my problems started when I found flavoured lip balms back in 1999! I would say crazy hey... but I'm sure you all know about how lip balms can stop/block the signaling mechanism that tells the cells in the lips to produce more fresh skin. Basically the lip balm confuses the natural process and you are left with continuously dry lips... so you apply more lip balm which just carries on the cycle. So then like me you think well if I need them I may as well try all different types and slowly but surely you become hooked on lip balms. I tell you it's like a crack addiction... nah only joking! It's not THAT bad but I do need to break the cycle.
Hence the 7 Day Lip balm ban!
Like a true addict I know which 'last supper' lip balm I will chose - Let Them Eat Cake Bon Bon Lip Balm by Tokyo Milk which actually is like cake... just perfectly sugary. However it would of been Mrs Fields Chewy Fudge Lip Balm if it hadn't died a low death when I put my bag next to a radiator.
Joking aside, I actually don't know how the seven days will go... which in reality sounds crazy, even to me. But I do literally carry around at least 4 lip balms at all times and apply one every 2 hours or so! It's the first thing I do in the morning and the last thing I do at night. Though I'm hoping my nature reflex of reaching into my bag will stop after a few days and I'll see some difference in the dryness of my bottom lip.
...the ones I will miss the most!
But of course there are afew lip balms out of the 30 or so I own that I will really miss! Firstly there is the Neom Multi Balm (a lovely organic slightly zesty oil based balm) which sits next to my bed so I can apply it when I wake up and just before bed as I massage my cuticles.
Next is what I call my pre-makeup prep lip treatments - If my lips are feeling really dry or I want to wear a lip stain or even lipstick I apply the Blistex Relief Cream while I put on my primer and foundation then I take a cotton bud and twirl it along my lips to remove all the dead skin. But for normal days I opt for the Original Carmex which I just apply and leave on while applying my makeup.
As for the two that are with me at all times it has to be the Tokyo Milk balm just because it hydrates my lips without them feeling coated in product and it also stops them 4pm sugar cravings! The other lip balm is a tinted one by Hurraw in Black Cherry which is so easy to apply but is so needed on days that my lips are too dry for lipstick but I want some colour on them.
Just writing this has made me realize how hard it is actually going to be. But I've promised myself I'm going to stick to it and see if after 7 days it has made a difference.
Of course I will post about it next week to tell you all how I got on and show the results of going cold turkey!
Wish me luck?!
But of course there are afew lip balms out of the 30 or so I own that I will really miss! Firstly there is the Neom Multi Balm (a lovely organic slightly zesty oil based balm) which sits next to my bed so I can apply it when I wake up and just before bed as I massage my cuticles.
Next is what I call my pre-makeup prep lip treatments - If my lips are feeling really dry or I want to wear a lip stain or even lipstick I apply the Blistex Relief Cream while I put on my primer and foundation then I take a cotton bud and twirl it along my lips to remove all the dead skin. But for normal days I opt for the Original Carmex which I just apply and leave on while applying my makeup.
As for the two that are with me at all times it has to be the Tokyo Milk balm just because it hydrates my lips without them feeling coated in product and it also stops them 4pm sugar cravings! The other lip balm is a tinted one by Hurraw in Black Cherry which is so easy to apply but is so needed on days that my lips are too dry for lipstick but I want some colour on them.
Just writing this has made me realize how hard it is actually going to be. But I've promised myself I'm going to stick to it and see if after 7 days it has made a difference.
Of course I will post about it next week to tell you all how I got on and show the results of going cold turkey!
Wish me luck?!
I am so boring when it comes to lipstick and lipgloss, by default I always opt for neutral shades. However I feel that is what suits me best - so I won't be changing anytime soon!
So as long as we are clear on the fact that you will never hear me talking about any interesting or bright summery shades then I'm going to start talking about my love of plain shades abit more!
As I tend to have pale-ish skin most of the year I find even lighter shades can be abit too harsh looking against my skin and I normally go for a bronze/brown smokey eye, so quite a soft look. Which is why I always wear a combination of lipsticks and lipglosses and rarely just wear one shade on it's own. I've also got use to my lipstick having a creamy look too it - which looks even nicer with a tan.
 |
| Left - Lipsticks on there own. Right - Lipstick combinations |
So my two main shades that I've loving at the moment are Rouge G de Guerlain - 61 Gaela (£28.50). The swatch (far left) does look quite pink but it does have a hint of coral in there. This is definitely one of my favourites - the packaging with the flip open mirror lid is very luxe and the shade itself has great staying power without being at all drying. The other shade is Revlon Superlustrous Creme Lipstick - Almost Nude (£7.49). Which definitely doesn't look remotely nude on me, more of a beige shade but I still love it! It is just so pigmented, fragrance-free and non-drying.
For over Rouge G de Guerlain Gaela I apply a nice and cheap Natural Collection Juicy Lip Gloss in Fondant (£1.99) which really gives a milky/softer look to Gaela. Plus it has such a lovely toffee almost sugary flavour to it!
As for Revlon Almost Nude I've found Mac Lustre - Equality (£12.50 from the All Ages, All Races, All Sexes collection, Jan 010) really tones the brown down to give a really lovely smooth toffee shades lipstick. Really do love this combination as only a really moisturizing sheer nude could give this effect.
 |
| L-R; Natural Collection, Guerlain, Revlon, Mac. |
Another lipgloss that I love to apply over most of my neutral lipsticks is Barry M Toffee Lipgloss Wand (£4.49) as the scent is so good and the shade is sheer but warm if that makes sense.
Would love to hear what your own favourite neutral/nudes shades are and also if you use a combination of lip products on the lips!
I really hope no one have fallen asleep through this!
Images - Taken by myself(£8.00 - 12ml from LookFantastic.com)
In general before buying a product I will use Google images and find beauty blogs that have reviewed it. However nothing came up for this product just two reviews on a price comparison site, which said the lip balm was quite good. So probably the best thing would be to stay away from it as after all I didn't need it, but instead my brain read the words 'natural' and 'rose' and also noticed the pretty packaging so I popped it in my online basket.
Now don't expect this to be review on if it cures dry lips or not. As I really wouldn't know. The reason why I hear you ask...is because I really cannot stand to keep this product on my lips long enough to know if it works or not. I'm sorry, I really don't like calling products but this is like nothing I have experienced before.
My first gripe is the consistency...
(hmmm...)As you can see, it's umm rather runny. Now the tube does state it has essential oils in it.. but if you can imagine mixing a normal balm from a tube with some essential oils, you would get this strange oily,greasy, runny consistency. So when this is rubbed into the lips there is zero thickness, it's just like rubbing a body oil in. It also seems to soak in within seconds, literally as if you haven't applied it..leaving your lips as if you need to lick them, if that makes sense.
Which leads me onto the taste/smell of this product. The tube states the natural lip balm contains essential oils of linden blossom, rose geranium and ylang ylang. Which makes this lip balm heavily fragranced - for me the smell is comparable to a cheap strong smelling soap.
The taste and smell isn't pleasant and as it dries on your lips so fast you kind of breath in this strong essential oil fragrant.
Overall I have to sadly admit I cannot find anything to like about this product other than the nice illustration on the packaging.
To be honest I really didn't think it was possible to dislike a lip balm so much.
Sorry Cowshed - I like your Cow Pat Hand Cream though!
Which leads me onto the taste/smell of this product. The tube states the natural lip balm contains essential oils of linden blossom, rose geranium and ylang ylang. Which makes this lip balm heavily fragranced - for me the smell is comparable to a cheap strong smelling soap.
The taste and smell isn't pleasant and as it dries on your lips so fast you kind of breath in this strong essential oil fragrant.
Overall I have to sadly admit I cannot find anything to like about this product other than the nice illustration on the packaging.
To be honest I really didn't think it was possible to dislike a lip balm so much.
Sorry Cowshed - I like your Cow Pat Hand Cream though!
Since Tom Pecheux created the multi-coloured lip at the Emanuel Ungaro show last year, there has been many blog posts floating around about it and having read a lot of the comments, it seems people aren't impressed by this look. However I personally thought at the time a toned down version could look quite nice.
So I thought I'd try it out, and yes I wore my lips like this on two seperate days in broad day light!
(Top - Calvin Klien, VIP 206 Sheer Lipstick. Bottom - Maxfactor, Moccha Latte 696.)I decided to go for a darker shade on the bottom as it does create more of a fuller lip.
(Paris Fashion Week 2009)
(Please excuse the hair, it know its looking abit life-less) I peronally quite like it, its that little bit different.
So what do you think is it a Oui Oui ou Non?!
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