MAC Matte Lipstick Swatches!

Okay, I have to confess. These are the first MAC lipsticks I've ever bought (The standard line anyway, I bought a cremesheen once!) It just so happens that they are all matte, which I didn't realise until I recieved them. I have a lipstick collection of a relatively decent size but I would genuinely replace everything in there for MAC lipsticks. Yes indeedy. Scroll down for lip swatches!

On the left we have Kinda Sexy and my favourite of the bunch. It's described by MAC as a "Neutral Pinky-Rose" and is matte in texture, but exceptionally creamy as anyone who owns MAC lipsticks will know! The wear time is amazing, I put it on at 7:30 this morning and checked again at around 1pm and it barely needed touched up at all. Truly amazing quality. I wore a Maybelline lipliner on my lips with this in the colour Sweet Pink which is pretty much the same colour!

In the middle is Honey Love, a shade I've wanted for ages but for some reason never bought until now. Described by MAC as "light beige toned with rose", this colour is lovely and looks quite 90s to me. I would say that the beige tone in this lipstick tends to drain my face of colour a little so I would prefer a pinker tone, or a pink blusher paired with it. Either way, the longevity is equally as amazing. Did I mention how good the MAC lipsticks smell too?!

Finally we have Russian Red, a cult favourite I'm sure. Described as "intense bluish-red" this colour was darker than I originally thought but is beautiful all the same. I actually realised that my Revlon lipstick in True Red is very similar to the colour of this lipstick so there might be a possible dupe there. I haven't had a chance to wear this properly yet but I'll pair it with my MAC Redd lipliner which I'm sure will compliment each other perfectly. Next stop for me will be Lady Danger as I want a more warm-toned red in my collection too!

REVIEW: Simple Micellar Cleansing Water

I bought the Simple Micellar Cleansing Water this week after overhearing some hype about it recently (particularly Sharon Farrell's demo on YouTube which really impressed me!) I've momentarily ditched my coconut oil cleansing routine because I was getting worried about it potentially clogging my pores, and I have some of the most determined blackheads you'll ever come across!

The cleansing water is to be applied generously to a cotton pad and then gently rubbed all around the face. For eye makeup you can place the cotton buds over both eyes and leave for about 30 seconds to dislodge stubborn mascara and eyeliner, and then gently rub away.

The great thing about the Simple skincare range is that they cater for the most problematic and sensitive skins out there. I have dry skin but was attracted by how pure and natural the cleanser looked, and I love how my skin doesn't feel tight after cleansing with this when it usually does with other cleansers. It actually felt very soft and lightly moisturised. The scent is understated and noninvasive which is great for those who hate the smell of perfumes in skincare products.

The cleanser worked great on base makeup and quite well with eye makeup, though it did require going in one or two times more to completely cleanse the eyes of product. Overall, this cleanser is super easy to use, creates minimal mess, has a moisturising effect, and the best thing of all is that you can buy it from Superdrug for just £2.23 in the sale now!

Dry Skin Saviours!

In this post I wanted to address the problem of living with dry, flaky skin. Sometimes I think to myself that I'm lucky not to be dealing with oiliness or spots but on the other hand dry skin can be a bitch to deal with in its own right. Foundation clinging to dry patches? Check. Cakey looking powder? Check. Feeling like you could literally peel off a whole lip layer? Check.

So I want to talk about some products that have definitely helped me tackle the problem of dry skin on the face and the rest of the body. I am by no means a skincare expert but I know what works on my dry skin so hopefully one of these products works for you too :)

1. The Body Shop Vitamin C Microdermabrasion
This is what you would call a super-scrub. Really. The Vitamin C range in The Body Shop is great for dry skin and this scrub contains crushed garnet stones that really get to work in scrubbing off dead skin cells and flakiness. I would only suggest you use this once a week at most as it truly is one of the stronger face scrubs on the market and as such is branded as a "weekly home-spa exfoliation" so treat it like a spa treatment. This is a product for those times when the skin is truly in need of a deep cleanse.

2. The Body Shop Vitamin C Daily Moisturiser SPF 30
This moisturiser is super rich and contains a high SPF of 30 which is very good for a budget brand. It comes out as a thick, white cream and leaves the skin feeling hydrated and brings it back to life. You might need to wait a tad longer for this one to sink in as it's quite rich but I promise you the wait is worth it. This is my daily moisturiser as it has excellent sun protection and the last thing we with dry skin need is sun damage and/or wrinkles.

3. Organic Virgin Coconut Oil

This product isn't brand specific and any organic, virgin and UNREFINED coconut oil will usually do. Well, if I were to talk about all the benefits of coconut oil I could fill a book really. I use it to remove my makeup at night by warming some between my fingers and lathering all over my face (including eyes) to melt all traces of makeup away. I then rinse with warm water and I'm done. It's as simple as that. The great thing about coconut oil is it leaves your face feeling moisturised, plumped and sometimes makes me forget I have dry skin at all. If you have really dry, tight skin then I would moisturise after rinsing. If you have only slightly dry skin then you could totally get away with cleansing with the coconut oil, removing with cotton pads and leaving it at that, as your face remains hydrated afterwards. If you don't want to use coconut oil on your face then try it on any dry areas of your body and see the difference!

4. Lanolips Lemonaid Lip Aid
There are other scents like banana and strawberry but I love this lemonade-scented lip balm. Now, as someone with chronically dry lips I've tried tons of lip balms and treatments, but this one comes out on top. It has citric acid in it which acts as a natural exfoliator so you can slap it on and when it dries in the lip balm has literally done all of the hard work for you. It's truly genius, and I can apply lipstick right on top without having to prep my lips in any way. The key ingredient of course is lanolin, an intensely hydrating ingredient derived from sheeps wool. Bliss.

5. Elizabeth Arden 8 Hour Cream Skin Protectant
If you love a good cult beauty favourite then you probably have this in your collection already. 8 Hour Cream is a fantastic multi-purpose cream that can literally be used ANYWHERE on your body. It's very thick, insanely soft and lasts such a long time. I like to apply it on my lips while I do the rest of my makeup to prep them. You can even leave this cream on the lips overnight for a more intense treatment.

6. Elizabeth Arden 8 Hour Cream Intensive Moisturising Hand Treatment

Moving on to other parts of the body now, this hand cream came in a duo set with the original 8 hour cream. It really is something if I rave about a hand cream because I barely ever moisturise my hands and I've been reaching for this quite regularly. It sinks in quite quickly, feels lovely and rich and the best part about it is how baby soft it leaves the hands feeling afterwards. Mmmm! Sure to soothe any dryness or flakiness.

I hope this little round up of dry skin saviours has helped you in some way, and I am only writing about them as I truly recommend them for you if you suffer from dry skin like I do. I hope this helps!

Recent Hair & Makeup Favourites!

1. Rimmel Lasting Finish foundation in Light Porcelain

If you're in the skin tone category of milk bottle white and you struggle to find a reasonably priced foundation that suits you, let me introduce you to this Rimmel foundation in Light Porcelain. This can be applied evenly with fingers or a brush and is a medium buildable coverage to suit whatever level of coverage you desire. The most impressive thing about this foundation is that it doesn't emphasise any dry patches on my skin which is usually something I have a major problem with when using foundations. The colour truly is porcelain, not just a very pale orange passed off as porcelain like so many other brands seem to make. It doesn't seem to become darker or oxidised either when on the skin.

2. Puretopia Moisture Repair Nourishing & Strengthening Shampoo and Conditioner

I picked these up on a whim in TK Maxx whilst looking for a new shampoo and conditioner combo that was sulfate and paraben free. This basically means that they are free from detergents that strip the natural oils from your hair and cause it to become greasier quicker. I am quite impressed with this pairing as they do exactly what I wanted out of my hair care range and my hair lasts a day or two longer without getting greasy. This is perfect for the lazy girl in me as I only wash my hair twice a week (Yes, really!) The scent is very interesting and if I had to describe it I would say it smells earthy with a hint of herbs and an all-round clean fragrance.

For anyone wondering what sulfate free shampoos and conditioners feel like, I should say they don't 'lather' like your typical shampoo. This shampoo can feel quite tricky to manage at first but you get the hang of it after a while. My method is to rub a small amount between my hands and work it into my scalp. When I've worked up a small lather I then gather the lengths and ends and work it down my hair without scrubbing. The lengths and ends don't need to be scrubbed harshly and it can lead to split ends and brittle hair. The conditioner is very atypical too. It has more of a cream consistency and the instructions say to leave it on the hair for several minutes or up to 15 minutes for a deep condition. After using my hair feels thicker, more texturised and full of body.

3. Benefit Gimme Brow in Medium/Dark

An amazing fool-proof tinted brow gel that truly does keep every hair in its rightful place. A detailed review of this product can be found in a previous blog post!

4. Benefit Benetint Lip and Cheek Stain
A product I've had for quite a long time but have only just now fallen in love with! Benetint is a liquid lip or cheek stain with incredible staying powder. I find cream and liquid blushes to be the most long lasting, with liquids taking the top spot. I put three strokes across the apples of my cheek using the brush that closely resembles a nail varnish brush. I then find it easiest to work with when I blend it using the end of my Real Techniques contour brush for easier control. This stuff stays ALL day, let me tell you! It's a gorgeous natural rosy red that is guaranteed to brighten up any complexion! As a lip stain I have a bit of trouble and find that it applies unevenly and I usually end up with a red ring around my lips and none of the stain inside. As a blusher though, it's really great!

5. The Body Shop Instablur - Universal Shade

I'm not usually one for a primer but this has totally changed the way I feel about them. Apparently a dupe for Benefit's Porefessional? Though don't quote me on that! Instablur really does do what it says on the bottle. I can see my skin blurring as soon as it's applied and everything just looks a lot more even with less uneven skin tone, less visible pores and not forgetting the most amazing soft velvet touch it leaves on the skin. The consistency is a strange one... A clear gel that almost disappears into nothing when it touches the skin, so blend quickly! I find rubbing lightly over the face with the hands is the best method. My foundation has an even canvas after using this and everything just seems to better fit into place!

REVIEW: Benefit Gimme Brow (Medium/Dark)

I kinda bought this product on a whim really. Eyebrow products are fast becoming my favourite makeup item to buy, only slightly behind lipsticks (obviously!)

So lets cut to the chase. I really do love this product. I bought the medium/dark colour which coats every eyebrow hair generously meanwhile the super tiny brush doesn't allow for any clumping of product, which is fantastic. I've heard from other reviewers that there are tiny little fibres in this eyebrow gel, sort of like fibre mascara, which helps to make eyebrows look fuller. The colour is perfect for me on top of my Anastasia Brow Wiz however I took the comparison photos without any other eyebrow product to show you what it looks like on its own.

My bare brows

My brows with Benefit Gimme Brow in Medium/Dark
 

'Scuse the eyelashes! And the eyebrows too, I'm growing them out over the Easter holidays so they're all over the place. You don't realise just how full your eyebrows can be until you start leaving them alone for a while. I love a fresh start. :)

From the comparison you can see that my eyebrows look well-groomed and more shapely after using this product. They're also darker and just generally more appealing. I can tell you now that as far as longevity goes, this product keeps my eyebrows in place for longer than anything I've tried before. I have a problem with eyebrow hairs falling downwards because mine are quite thin and long and therefore gravity naturally wants them to face the floor. Nope. This really does keep them upright without feeling heavy or cakey. I'm not sure how it does it!

If you want to get your hands on it (which I would totally recommend by the way!) you can get it from the website here for £18.50

My Matte Lipstick 'Collection'

I, like countless other makeup obsessives, adore matte lips. There's just something so satisfying about a lip colour that's transfer-proof, long-lasting and super flat and bold. Matte lipsticks don't make your lips look any fuller like a glossy lipstick or one with a sheen, but they do offer unbeatable pigmentation (most of the time) and are lower maintenance than a lipstick that slides around.

So I'm going to go through all the matte lipsticks I own which might hopefully inspire your next purchase or, alternatively, advise you on which ones to avoid!

1 & 2. MUA £1 Matte Lipsticks in Scarlet Siren and Pouty Pink.

Sigh. Sorry to begin on a bum note. I've had these lipsticks for quite some time now and I have never had one successful application the whole time. I literally had to rub them super hard on my arm to get any sort of bold colour. At £1 each I can't complain though! The formula is incredibly dry, especially with Pouty Pink, it applies patchy and just generally looks pretty bad on the lips. Especially since you've already chapped them trying to get any colour pay off! NEXT!

3. MUA Luxe Velvet Lip Lacquer in Halcyon
Proof that MUA really do make good matte lipsticks! This one is a liquid and applies evenly and with intense pigmentation. This colour is a dark rose-tinted nude and I had no problem applying it without a lip liner. It feels quite drying, but that's a matte lipstick for you. The staying power is quite good and, as with many liquid matte lipsticks, the formula tends to flake off before it fades because of the dryness. This one gets a thumbs up from me as it's a lovely colour.

4. Sleek Matte Me Lip Lacquer in Brink Pink
Get ready for the brightest matte pink for this price! I usually do need to apply this with a lip liner but it's so worth it! The colour is a bright, neon pink and you're guaranteed to turn heads whenever you wear it. It wore quite well but tends to get patchy in some areas. As with all liquid lipsticks, watch out for the dreaded ring of lipstick around your lips that often appears as they tend to wear away!

5. Revlon Colorburst Matte Balm in Striking
I love love love the Revlon Matte Balms. They are everything a matte lipstick should be and just a little bit more. For an in-depth review on this lipstick (and the range in general) head over to my current favourites post from January!

6. Rimmel Apocalips Lip Velvet in Atomic Rose
I also really like the formula of these lipsticks. I only realised yesterday while trying on my MUA Luxe Velvet Lip Lacquer in Halcyon that it reminded me of this. On closer inspection, and with the swatches side by side, this colour is lighter and even more rose-toned than the MUA one. The longevity is good, the colour is flattering and it's easy to apply! Great stuff.