Collection Volume Sensation Lipstick in Satin Bow | Review + Swatches.

Another review on a Collection product today! This one is a lipstick in the shade Satin Bow (£2.99). In my review of their felt tip liner I mentioned that I picked up a few other items by Collection, this is one of them. I'm very glad I bought this lipstick, it's lovely.

As the name Volume Sensation suggests it's one of those lip products that tingles slightly when you first put it on, I thought this would put me off but it's not too bad at all. I rather enjoy it actually! I can't say that it gives my lips any extra volume.

I would describe this shade as a very pretty soft pink colour, but it's not too nude. This is prefect for my skin tone, I find it hard to find a light pink colour that doesn't wash me out. In the photos it comes across as slightly brown in tone but it's more pink in person. It's glossy and feels a little moisturising as well as tingly. I'd say this lasts about 3 hours max on me, that's without eating or drinking.
To see me wearing this look here.

FOTD | Benefit, Collection + Accessorize.

Here's something I've not done in a while, a face of the day! This was from yesterday. I wasn't up to much, just hanging around the house during the day and I went out later at night with the same make up on. I only had to touch up my blusher and lipstick.

I used quite a variety of products and brands for this look. I do love to mix things up a bit. I think the coppery/brown/pink eyeshadows go nicely with the teal eyeliner and I wanted to keep the rest of my face pretty neutral so my eyes would be the main focus.

100 Followers Giveaway | Sleek, BarryM, Dainty Doll and Collection.

Finally I managed to get my act together and collect everything I needed for my 100 follower giveaway! I really appreciate every one of my followers, I'm so happy that anyone actually reads my blog. So thank you all very much. This is just a little giveaway seeing as it's my first one, but I hope people will like it.

The winner will get a Sleek blusher from the Aqua Collection in the shade Mirrored Pink (so wanted to keep this for myself!), a BarryM textured nail polish in Atlantic Road, one of the Dainty Doll lipsticks in the shade Saucy Sailor (I love this colour!) and a black felt tip eyeliner by Collection.

Info.

This competition is open from now until Saturday 4th of May - so that gives you two weeks.
All you need to do it follow me on GFC and there are other optional ways of gaining entries too if you like!
The competition is open internationally - however I will not be held responsible for any customs charges or taxes that may incur.
All the items will be packed in a box with sufficient protective packaging so as to avoid breakages - however I cannot guarantee this and once again will not be held responsible for any broken items. Sorry!

Thanks again to all my wonderful followers!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Dainty Doll Haul Number 2 | Swatches + First Impressions.

As you may have noticed there have been many, many posts about the hugely discounted Dainty Doll products on Fragrance Direct and Amazon. I was very excited when I first heard and headed straight over to Amazon. You can see what I got the first time by clicking here.
A couple of weeks later I checked again and prices were reduced even further, I couldn't believe it!

This is what I got the second time round.

Revlon Super Lustrous Lipstick Black Cherry | Review + Swatch.

This lipstick was something I had my eye on for months but was always sold out! Until one day it was finally in stock and Boots just so happened to be doing a 3 for 2 promotion with Revlon products (£7.49). Good timing or what?! So it was featured in a little Revlon haul post a while back. You can read it here.
I decided this lipstick needed it's very own post though. It's love.

Revlon Matte Lipstick in Mauve It Over | Review + Swatch.

Revlon is a brand that I absolutely love! I've got a variety of their products and I've never been let down by any of them. Especially not their lipsticks, can you see what kind of review this is going to be? Ha.

Mauve It Over was a shade I was unsure of at first, it's not my usual colour but I eventually decided I needed it. Don't you love it what that happens? This lipstick is matte, although it's not completely matte and retails at £7.49. You can pick it up in Boots and Superdrug and there tend to be 3for2 offers on or similar promotions.

First off I really like the packaging, it's lovely and it's matte too, so it fits with the finish of the lipstick. Such a nice touch! The texture is great, it doesn't tug as much as some matte lipsticks - probably because it's not as matte as some others. I find the staying power is pretty good too, as with most mattes; around 5 hours without eating (who goes 5 hours without eating though!?)
I wore this to a job interview I had, I found it was the perfect nude type of shade without being too nude, it still has a nice hint of pink to it. Should I just say it's mauve, or is that admitting defeat? Wow, I'm awful at explaining colours! Let's just see the swatches shall we...

 

Dainty Doll Haul | Foundation, Lipstick + Blusher.

Even though Amazon have kind of been avoiding their taxes, tax evasion hasn't stopped me from wanting to shop on their site. Just like it hasn't stopped me laughing at Jimmy Carrs jokes. Or watching Nicholas Cage films (ok, maybe some of the newer ones!).
I had seen a couple of bloggers getting brilliant deals on Dainty Doll products, so naturally I was intrigued and headed straight over to Amazon. They had huge discounts on a lot of the range including the liquid foundations. I really wanted to try the light shade, but it was sold out so I went for medium with the hope that it would match. Thankfully it does - but more on that later. The other two items I bought were a lipstick in Saucy Sailor and a blusher in Lilac.
There are still a few items on sale, and some reduced even further! All of the lipsticks are under £2! Just search for Dainty Doll on the Amazon website and it'll all come up.

Some of the lighting is a bit off in the later photos as the sun was setting. 

The outer packaging is lovely, I really enjoy getting things in little boxes! The design is very pretty and I like the illustration. The actual packaging of the make up is even nicer. Sleek black metal mostly, it feels really high end and sturdy. Always great if you're on the move and need to travel a lot.

B. Lipstick + Eyeshadow | Review + Swatches.

At the end of January I was perusing the aisles of Superdrug and I noticed there was a new addition to the make up aisle. It had just launched that very day and the brand is called B. No doubt you'll have seen the range by now.
I had a field day, I was swatching away for a good 10 minutes. It was fantastic because all the testers were brand new, how exciting! I was the first person to swatch most of the lipsticks and eyeshadows. There was an introductory offer on where there was £2 off all the products. I decided to pick up two products, I must say I was very tempted by many more things, I refrained!

The first item I bought was a Rich Intense Colour lipstick (of course) in the colour Eton Mess - £7.99 (I bought it for £5.99) It took me a really long time to decide which one I like most, they are all lovely! Out of the whole range I was most impressed by their lipsticks.
I think it was the name that made my mind up, Eton Mess is one of my favourite desserts.

FOTD | Famous Palette, Rimmel + B.

You know when you think you're trying something new and it ends up being exactly the way you normally do it? Maybe it's just me, but I thought I was trying something a little different with my eye make up here but it just looks like everything else I've ever posted! So I've promised myself, and now you, that I'll be going out of my comfort zone and pushing for something a bit different this week! I must be stuck in a rut, I've got the hang of this kind of eye, but I must move on! 

Please excuse the slightly dopey expressions as per usual.

FOTD | Red Lips.

Another quick FOTD for you today. This is quite a simple look, bold lips and winged liner. I'd say it's my go-to make up really as it's simple, easy and classic!

Although saying that it takes me a while to get it just right, and a lot of products evidently!

2012 | Beauty Favourites.

Here are my favourite products of 2012. I've been getting into make up and beauty a lot more this year, eventually! I've never really been one of those girls that takes ages to get ready, or to spend money on beauty products, but I'd really like to take more pride in my appearance for many reasons. Mainly because it makes me feel more confident and lifts my mood!

I've split everything into categories, each category has winner (or two, I'm so fickle!)

Foundation.
Rimmel Match Perfection - Shade 010.

I just love this foundation, it's everything I've been looking for; a decent price, nice packaging, medium coverage, a shade that actually matches my skin, a nice smell, and is readily available!
Full review here.

Lipstick.
Kate Moss for Rimmel Matte Collection - Shade 111.

I'm in love with matte lipstick, especially red matte lipstick and this one is gorgeous! I think this whole collection is perfection and I hope that they bring out more colours this year!
Review here.

Mini Revlon Haul.

Something I really love about Christmas time is the special offers certain shops have on! Boots and Superdrug tend to have them all year round, but they have more around this time of year. 

I popped into Boots a couple of weeks ago and I noticed that it was 3 for 2 on all Revlon cosmetics, this caught my eye straight away as there are a few things I've been looking to buy from them for ages. Here's what I got.

Christmas Treat - Chanel Lipstick.

Every Christmas I like to buy myself a wee present, last year it was a pair of Jeffrey Campbell Litas (not such a wee present, I know) and this year it is a Chanel lipstick. I've been eyeing it up for a good few weeks. With a price tag of £25 I feel that I could only justify buying it as a gift to myself at this time of year. I also got 10% off in Debenhams, so it was £22.50.

I absolutely love the colour, and it's matte! It's from the Eclats Du Soir collection, and it's called Rouge Allure Velvet Lipstick in L'Impatient. The colour is a deep berry shade, which does look a bit daunting in the bullet but it's gorgeous on. I would say it's the perfect colour for winter! If you're unsure about the colour it's best to swatch it first. I was surprised when I swatched it, but I still loved it!

You can wear it on it's own or with a lip liner, I prefer to use a lip liner and fill in my lips first. This helps show off the colour as I feel that it's not as pigmented as it should be. You will see in the photographs and swatches what I mean. If you don't want an opaque lip it works well just patted on lightly as well.  Like I said it is pretty versatile and you can wear it a few different ways.

Mini Primark Haul.

More lip products to talk about today! This time they are from Primark, as the title would suggest. I was pretty intrigued when they started doing beauty products a year or so ago. I use their sensitive 4in1 wipes, they claim to cleanse, tone, moisturise and remove make-up all at once. They do the job, and have never irritated my skin so I can't complain. A while back I bought one of their lip stains and a lip stick. I wanted to try out a different colour from what I was used to, they were both a bubblegum pink shade. The lip stain was much better quality than the lipstick which wasn't very pigmented.

This time I bought two lipsticks and another lip stain in a raspberry pink colour. They have changed their packaging slightly. I must say I'm not really a fan of leopard print so I don't like their lipstick packaging all that much. Who can complain for £1 each!?

The lipsticks aren't very pigmented, as I kind of expected, but they are nice for when I just want a hint of colour. They are very smooth and are easy to apply. So if you like a sheer lip these are for you.

Kate Moss for Rimmel Lipstick Reviews.

I'm very excited to say that I've bought another two lipsticks from the Kate Moss Rimmel matte collection! The first one I bought is mentioned in my Favourite Matte Lipsticks post (shade 111). I originally wanted shade 107 when I was looking at them the first time but it was sold out. I then found out my mum had it and she let me try it out. I fell even deeper in love with it. When I noticed Superdrug had restocked it I couldn't help myself. I also wanted to try a pinky/nude shade so I also picked up 101. Such a bargain at £5.49 each!

MAC Russian Red Lipstick

I absolutely love red lips! I can't seem to make myself buy anything else recently, it's red or nothing. My collection has been building up pretty quickly. Recently I have been looking for matte lipsticks more than anything (see my post on mattes here). Also, I'm really loving the Kate Moss matte collection at the moment!

I am always looking for reviews on lipsticks and I love looking through blogs and reading about what people are buying. I always love the colours that Eating Lipstick has, I wish Black Cherry by Revlon would be in stock in just one of the shops I've been looking in!
Beauty and Baggage suggested that I try Russian Red by MAC. I like to see things in person before I buy them, so when we were in Glasgow I had a look at it, as well as Ruby Woo. At that time I couldn't decide so I left it for a while as I knew that I would be going to Edinburgh this week so I could visit the counter there. After swatching them again and getting my mums opinion I decided on Russian Red.
It really is a true red, a lot of people would describe it as a universal red as it suits most skin tones. I'm very pale and it suits me nicely. I've worn it a couple of times since buying it, and I must say I do like it a lot. Perhaps not as much as Really Red from Revlon though, I find it lasts better.

Favourite Matte Lipsticks.

As you may have noticed by now I absolutely love matte lipsticks. I don't think that I suit shimmery lips, a bit of sheen at night is enough for me.

These are some of my favourite matte lip colours (minus MACs Russian Red, which will have it's own post soon).

Please excuse the grody state of the packaging!

First one is by e.l.f, it was mentioned it in my haul a couple of weeks ago. It's a lip pencil in the colour Tea Rose and it cost £3.75. It's a lovely cool pink colour, something that is a little odd for me, but this is pretty much the only thing I wear other than red. I do find it to be a little more drying than the other two I'll be writing about, but it is beautifully opaque.

The next one is from the Kate Moss for Rimmel matte collection. It is in shade 111 - Kiss of Life. I was actually looking for shade 107 when I was looking at them as I wanted to try something a little darker for Autumn, but it was sold out. So I went for yet another red! I'm very glad I did, it's a beautiful colour which I have worn several times. It's a slightly deeper red than a classic red, so it's different from anything I already have. Bonus points for it being matte! This is a long lasting colour and it's not too drying on my already dry lips.
I will be keeping an eye out for 107 though as my mum has it and she loves it! These cost only £5.49.

Lastly, this is my absolute favourite, it's Really Red by Revlon. Revlon is a brand that I had never really paid much attention to before this year. The first thing I bought was their Lip Butter in Raspberry Pie, I was looking to try something a little different and I was pleasantly surprised. From then on I kept an eye on the stand and tried a few different things out. I also saw many blog posts and review raving about their lipsticks so I thought it was time to try one. I bought this about a month ago from eBay, for £5.99.

L-R: Tea Rose, Really Red and Kiss of Life (111).

Do you like matte lipsticks? Any suggestions?

X

I heart Autumn

SO, I love watching various tags on YouTube, and the one that has been going around lately is the I heart Fall/ Autumn tag. I really want to do it, so instead of video form I thought I'd do it in the form of a blog post!
I've not actually been tagged, but hey...

1. Favourite Fall lip product?

I love dark colours for Autumn - I also love to state the obvious. Had you noticed? My favourite dark lipstick is probably Hang-Up by MAC. Shoddy photo time!

Hang-up (creamsheen) by MAC.


2. Favourite Fall Nail Polish?



Because I work with food I'm not allowed to wear nail polish at work, so I hardly get the chance to wear it. Which is sad. I would probably go for a classic black or burgundy though. My favourite black is by Barry M. Which reminds me, I used to use my mums one, so I'll need to get my own!

3. Favourite Starbucks Fall Drink?



 I don't really drink Starbucks, if I'm going for coffee or hot chocolate (which is very rarely) I prefer Costa. I would like to try out this Pumpkin Spiced Latte everyone is going on about though.

4. Favorite Fall Candle?
 

Well, I very rarely buy scented candles, so I'll have to pass on this question. I hate cinnamon or spice flavoured/scented things. Cloves, EW. Those seem to be the usual candle scents for this time of year.

5. Favourite Fall Scarf or accessory?



 I need to get myself a snood or a circle scarf. Might get my mum to make me one! I love them though. Fingerless gloves too, those ones with the little mitten flap things.

6. Haunted house, haunted hay ride, or haunted corn maze?


None really, only ever been on the haunted house ride things in the fairground. They're not all that scary, but I reckon the other two would be horrible!

7. Favourite Halloween movie?

Hmm, Hocus Pocus probably, predictable answer, I know. It's one of my favourite films ever though, not just at Halloween. I even went to Salem and Marblehead last year and saw some of the filming locations. Dream come true! I also love Beetlejuice and The Shining. 




8. Favourite candy to eat on Halloween?



 My mum had these hard candy things with little pumpkins on the wrapper a couple of years ago. They were orange and had orange sherbet in them. Other than that I don't know, Scream Eggs? 

9. What are you dressing up as for Halloween?!


 I hinted in my last post what I will be dressing up as. So you can guess from that, and there's another hint in this post too! I don't want to give it away just yet...

10. What is your Favorite thing about Fall?

Well, I just love the feel of it, it's very hard to describe. It's cooler and I can start layering and wearing black without people thinking I'm odd. I wear black all the time regardless. I love the smell in the air, I think it's the cold air and crunchy leaves or something. That's another thing, crunchy leaves, it's so satisfying to stand on a nice, big, crunchy leaf. Also, Halloween, my birthday, and the day after that Guy Fawkes night. FIREWORKS!!!

I tag everyone!

That's pretty much it. Keep an eye out for a Halloween post tomorrow. I hope my costume is successful! Have fun :) 

I'll leave you with a painting from one of my favourite artists, Gil Elvgren. It's very appropriate. 

Gil Elvgren

For more Halloween/random photos go to my personal Tumblr page.

X

Elf Haul

Hello! 

Last week I received an e-mail saying that elf were having a Spooktacular Halloween sale (which, unfortunately, is over now). It's always exciting when they have a sale because they are so affordable in the first place that it just makes it even more of a bargain. 

I've bought a few elf products in the past, such as their matte lip colour, eyebrow kit, concealer and highlighter, and a lipstick. I was pleasantly surprised by everything, except from the eyebrow kit which didn't really work for me. Anyway, on to this haul. The list of everything I bought is at the end (I took a screen shot when I was checking out), it includes the name of the products, the discounted prices and the shades where applicable. 

 

Revlon Really Red Matte Lipstick

Ello!

For the past couple of years I've been in love with red lipstick, and recently I've been trying to spend a little more on them. Trying to look at them as an investment as red lips are a classic look. As I've mentioned in past posts I don't spend that much on beauty products, mainly because I spend a lot of money on clothes and food! So it's about time I start looking for some (slightly) more expensive products.

I'm not saying that cheaper brands aren't good, I have had some pleasant surprises with MUA and elf lipsticks. Namely, Posh by elf and one of MUAs deeper reds (which has no name...). I also like some of Bodycares' own range, Poison is a fantastic deep berry colour, I'm sure they have a bright red as well. I will do a lipstick collection post in the future I'm sure.

So, on to the main point of this post. I ordered a Revlon matte lipstick last week from ebay. I was initially looking at the Smashbox Be Legendary range - Infrared Matte in particular after seeing it in the October Issue of Look magazine. But it costs £15.50. So I started looking for other matte lipsticks and I came across the Revlon one, so I went to ebay and managed to find it for £5 so I jumped on it. The lipstick arrived just in time for our flat-warming, so I wore it that night. I was eating and drinking all night, and it lasted! I would say I got around 6 hours wear out of it before it faded in the centre of my lips.