Laura Mercier Lip Glace Collection

Laura Mercier is a brand that's always tickled my fancy - I've heard so many amazing things and as a result, I have a fair few of her products on my never-ending blogger wish list.  Before Christmas, I was lucky enough to recieve one of the Laura Mercier Mini Lip Glace Collection* sets containing 5 travel sized versions of the popular Lip Glace glosses.  Ranging from a milky, pale nude all the way to a bright pink-red, this particular set really does have a good variety of shades to try.   As someone who experiments a great deal with lip colour, a set like this was the perfect addition to my collection and I've really enjoyed using it over the festive season and well into the new year.  Although it's difficult to get your hands on these sets now that Christmas is well and truly over, I thought I'd go into a bit of detail about each shade and the overall appearance and performance.  If you're a lipstick-aholic like myself, I reckon you might be tempted to get your mitts on one of these...

Angelic is exactly the sort of shade you'd expect it to be from the name.  This is the palest colour from the 5 and I'd describe it as being a very milky pale pink-nude.  It transfers onto the lips quite sheerly so it makes for a nice layering gloss for use over lipsticks.  It is slightly too pale for me to wear on it's own but it's actually quite a nice one to dab onto the lips for a little bit of dimension if you're wearing a pale shade to begin with.  

Bare Pink is a little more 'me'.  It's still very pale but the slight coral hint to the pink compliments my skin-tone a little more and for this reason it's much easier to wear.  Again, it is slightly more sheer but this really does work in its favour as it's a good one to layer over lipsticks, making it much more versatile.  It works well over Mac's 'Shy Girl' lipstick or any similar shade.

Pink Pop is a mid-pink shade with a hint of brightness to it. Although it's a slightly more vibrant shade it's not over the top and it still looks really sophisticated and pretty.  It brings a lot of focus to the lip area and adds a touch of brightness to the complexion. Very flattering and one of the favourites from the set.

Tulip is a slightly more toned-down, cooler version of 'Pink Pop'.  With a slight lilac/purple hint, it's one of the more pigmented shades of the set and looks beautiful worn on its own.

Wildflower is the favourite of the bunch for me! It's almost in-between a lipgloss and a lip laquer - it's the most pigmented of the bunch and has a slightly more opaque finish.  Again, like the rest of the set, it's perfect for layering over lipsticks but this one in particular works amazingly well on its own.  Its a gorgeous vibrant berry red shade with a slight hint of raspberry pink - very brightening on the complexion.

Swatches & Order of Photographs:  Angelic // Bare Pink // Pink Pop // Tulip // Wildflower

Each gloss has a beautiful, vanilla-like scent which only adds to their appeal for me - I do love a yummy fragrance and it makes them all the more luxurious and pleasant to apply. Consistency wise, they are slightly sticky but definitely not gloopy or thick - just the right sort of texture for a nice, longer wearing lip gloss.  You can feel them on your lips but they aren't unbearable - I just apply a thin layer as I'm quite fussy when it comes to glosses! They're very easy to apply thanks to the doe-foot applicator and smooth texture - making them the perfect product to throw into your handbag for on-the-go application.

Overall, a lovely little set from Laura Mercier.  Like I said, I'm not entirely sure you can get your mitts on these collection sets now the Christmas is over, but if you're a lip product fan and fancy treating yourself, I really recommend taking a look at these glosses.  If you're fussy about consistency, they might not be for you, but if you're after a good quality, longer wearing lip gloss with a luxurious edge then these are the perfect treat (I've had a little mooch around at other reviews on various websites and they do seem to receive quite a bit of praise!)  Priced at £19.50* each, they certainly aren't cheap, but well worth a swatch if you're a gloss fan! You can find a good variety of shades on the Urban Retreat website here (i really like the look of 'Daiquiri' and 'Garnet'!)

Have you ever tried these lip glosses? What would you recommend from Laura Mercier?

Benefit 'Hoola' Gloss

Benefit 'Hoola' Ultra Plus Lipgloss |  £14.50* | Link

It's not often that a lipgloss makes it to 'handbag' status in my books.  I'm really not a lipgloss girl - I'm the type to kill two birds with one stone and opt for a glossy lipstick instead.  I don't know why, but I just cannot stand the feeling of it on my lips and I usually wipe it straight off as soon as I can lay my hands on a Kleenex.  However, after trying out Benefit's 'Hoola' lipgloss I've managed to find a new favourite -  finally a lipgloss I can actually wear on a daily basis without having to suffer for the sake of a bit of sheen! The gloss glides on so smoothly and it doesn't have a hint of stickyness whatsoever.  In fact, I'd liken the consistency to a glossy lip balm or lip laquer - very comfortable to wear and not at all heavy.  Thumbs up so far - so why else do i love it?

The perfect companion to Benefit's ever-famous 'Hoola' bronzer (you can read my review of that here), the shade leans towards a brown/golden tone with a hint of shimmer - perfect for summer tans!  The colour really is right up my street - I've become quite partial to a browny-nude lipstick just recently (my little nod to the 90s) and the warm brown/orangey hue to this really does compliment my lipstick choices - the teeny-tiny shimmers in there set off the colour perfectly and add dimension. Fear not though - even though it's shimmery, there's no grittyness to it whatsoever and it glides on with ease. You don't need much at all either, just a quick squeeze of the tube and you're good to go - I really like the packaging as there's no mess or fuss and the tip is angled perfectly for application.  Personally, Hoola is the perfect shade for me as I'm a big fan of nude colours and light corals (i find the gold tone works very well with shades like these). In the photo above, I'm wearing it with Mac's 'Spice' lip pencil - as you can see, it adds a teeny hint of orange/golden shimmer without completely masking the colour underneath - a perfect complimentary hue and one that will work very well with a wide variety of skin tones.  Wear time is also quite impressive to say how light and smooth the texture is and I don't find myself having to reapply every single minute of the day.

Overall, I've been loving this lipgloss. If you're like me and usually hate the feel of gloss on your lips but crave that perfectly polished finish - I urge you to give these a go. It's worth mentioning that I've tried 'Coralista' in the past and I found that to be very similar (maybe slightly thicker in consistency but nothing I couldn't handle) - so it seems as if the texture will be pretty spot-on across the rest of the range.  I'm actually thinking of doing a post on lipglosses soon for those of you who struggle with consistency like me - I've tried my fair share of them in the past and only a select few manage to find a permanent space in my makeup drawer! Hoola, however, has gone one step further and has shuffled it's way into the little pouch in the side of my handbag... (a space I often only reserve for essentials like car keys and the odd lip balm) - yep - that's how much I've been loving it. If you fancy having a browse through the shade range or finding out more about Benefit's lipglosses, head on over here.  I've also discovered they've launched a few more shades I wasn't aware of here - (I'm definitely tempted by 'Poutrageous')...

Have you tried Benefit's lipglosses? What did you reckon?

Glossy Vampy Lips | Revlon Evening Opulence Lipgloss in 'Embellished'

So I happened to be strolling on by the Revlon stand the other week.  I'm never normally one for buying lip glosses - lipsticks tend to tickle my impulse-buying fancy much more - but I took one look at this beauty from Revlon's new range and knew it had to make its way in to my collection! Revlon have bought out a new trio of glosses as part of the 'Evening Opulence' collection and the shade 'Embellished' really did catch my eye.  I've been quite partial to a 'vampy' lip of late - I'm drawn to deep berry shades and dark, wine coloured reds and this gloss seemed like the perfect counterpart to my new lip colour preference! 

The colour is simply stunning.  It looks somewhat different when swatched as it does in the tube - as you can clearly see from the photographs above.  In the tube, it appears much more purple toned, but when swatched on the hands and lips appears much more of a wine tinted burgundy red. Right up my street. The flecks of purple and red glitter make it just that little bit special and add to it's festive appeal (yep - now it's November I can officially throw Christmas out there!)   It's slightly sheer, so it will look different depending on what lipstick you decide to pop on underneath (if any at all) - I find it darkens any plum colours slightly and adds extra depth and dimension to a berry lip.  It's ever so slightly 'vampy' whilst still being completely wearable.  As for consistency,  I do find it ever so slightly sticky, but then again, I find most glosses annoying to wear and I wouldn't say it's overly thick or gloopy.  I also don't find the glittery flecks gritty in any way.  I also have to admit that I'm a sucker for Revlon's packaging - their quilted lids really do appeal to my packaging preferences (such a marketer's dream aren't I?) and the long, doe foot applicator makes for a swift, easy application.

I've recently invested in Mac's 'Dark Side' and have been wearing Collection's Deluxe Lipstick in 'Prohibition' (post on that here) almost constantly the past few weeks, and a slick of this on top adds the perfect finishing touch.  The lip swatches above show what the gloss looks like layered on top of 'Prohibiton' (this is also the lip look I'm wearing in my current Twitter pic, if you're interested) and completely on it's own.  Some might prefer wearing it on it's own - it's much more toned down without a lipstick underneath yet still makes a bit of a statement - although I much prefer it layered over my trusty lippies!  Even if you don't want to go for a full on glossy look, it looks lovely when simply dabbed on and creates a much more natural finish and 'just bitten' kind of look to the lips.  Overall, I'm glad I bought this little beauty. The flecks of glitter simply make it for me and I really love the effect it gives. I reckon it will be creeping into my handbag for nights out over the festive season! You can have a nosey at the 'Evening Opulence' collection here, and the glosses retail for £7.99 - not bad for a good quality, nicely pigmented gloss!

Have you tried Revlon's lipglosses? Are you loving dark reds as much as me?!

Deborah Milano | Shine Creator Lipstick

Deborah Milano | Shine Creator Lipstick in Shade 7 'Shiny Cyclamen' | £8.50* (link)

I love a good lipstick me.  I think every beauty obsessed female has a 'thing' for a certain type of product, don't they? I'll often throw a lippie into my basket on a stroll through Boots and if I'm ever going to splash the cash on anything cosmetic then it's usually in the form of a lip colour. It's a sure fire way of changing your entire look in a flash - or swipe of a lipstick tube! Deborah Milano is a brand I'd never heard of before I had the chance to try it - but BOY am I glad I have now! Before I even got to try the lipstick I was really impressed with their website and the array of products on offer - I certainly have my eye on a few other products in the range...

I was sent their Shine Creator lipstick in the shade 'Shiny Cyclamen' - a beautiful raspberry pink shade. I'm usually one for reds and corals, so it was a refreshing change for me to receive something different to what I'd have probably picked myself. I found I actually quite like the raspberry tone - I must admit it suits me better now that I have a tan (and I was also pretty chuffed to find it matches one of my blazers...you've got to love matching outfit/lipstick combos!)  What I love though, is the texture and the finish.  Now, I'm a big fan of the Revlon Lip Butters (Lollipop and Creme Brulee being firm favourites of mine - if you're interested ;)!) so I was enticed very much by the 'Shine Creator' lipstick.  It feels very smooth and buttery to apply - slightly thicker in consistency to Revlon's offering. I have to say I was impressed by the staying power. Anything with 'shine' in the name often suggests a limited wear time - but the Shine Creator actually stays put pretty well.  It doesn't smudge too easily and has a non-slip formula - it's very much a buttery, glossy lipstick. After a while, it wears off to a subtle stain - the photograph above shows the gloss finish when first applied, and then the stain after a short while of pottering around the house (excuse cruddy bathroom photograph - it often gets the best light - needs must!). Even though the gloss wears off after a while, the lipstick still has a slight sheen and isn't at all drying. The colour pay-off is quite subtle but noticeable and true to the colour seen in the tube - you can layer it up for a more intense finish or slick one layer on for a more subtle, soft effect. It's worth mentioning that the lipstick also contains SPF15 which is a lovely little addition for this sunny weather we are having recently, as well as being hypoallergenic. Bonus!

Overall, I really like the Shine Creator lipstick and am intrigued to try out a coral shade... (me and my corals - obsessed much?)  It's a really good 'everyday' kind of lipstick to have in your collection. I wore this shade to an interview the other day and it looked like a nice pop of colour without being overdone. I currently have my eyes on their 'Milano Red Lipsticks' (link) which are a more pigmented option from the range of lip products on offer - definitely will be treating myself to one of those soon!  You can find the range on the Deborah Milano website here - see what you think girls! Definitely have a nosey if you're a fellow lipstick magpie like myself...

Have you tried anything from Deborah Milano? What shade tickles your fancy?

Benefit 'Go Tropicoral' | Thoughts & Swatches

Benefit | Go Tropicoral | £24.50

A few weeks back now, I left my job of 4 years and decided it was time to move on to pastures new.  My wonderful fellow colleagues decided to suprise me on my last day with some lovely beauty goodies, Benefit's 'Go Tropicoral' being one of them, and needless to say I felt rather spoilt and very, very teary to say the least! As you can imagine, since then, I've been having a great deal of fun trying out the 4 products in the set - none of which i've tried before - a beauty blogger's dream I'm sure you'll all agree! Anyway.. I thought it was about time I took some photographs, and told you all what I think. It would be silly not to!

Go Tropicoral is a wonderfully packaged little set of 4 Benefit products all of which compliment one another, giving you a travel-sized set of all the must-have items for a 'coralista' themed look. The items are all 'miniture' sized, but you still get lots of product to use, and it makes for a perfect gift! Benefit also do the similar sets in different shades and tones - offering up 'Feeling Dandy' (based around their 'Dandelion' blush) and 'Surgarlicous' (including the 'Sugarbomb' blush) - so if coral doesn't float your boat, fear not...

High Beam | 'Luminescent Complexion Enhancer' | This is perfect for highlighting areas of the face, and I use this dotted along my cheek bones and on my brow bone. It brings a certain 'light' to the face that is both subtle, yet very flattering and natural - and it blends effortlessly well into the skin. The pink-y undertones work very well with my wintery complexion, and help to brighten any dull areas. I've also used this mixed in with my daily moisturiser for all over brightening goodness! I used their 'Sun Beam' highlighter throughout summer last year, so this has been a lovely little addition to my collection that is just a really nice all-rounder and one that will compliment most make-up looks and skin tones.

Cha Cha Tint | Mango Tinted Lip & Cheek Stain |  Cha Cha Tint is such a lovely strong peach shade that has a similar texture to that of High Beam. The only thing I'm not keen on with this is the fact that you have to work very quickly with it in order to get an even finish. I think I prefer it as a lip stain - it looks lovely on the cheeks too but I much prefer a cream or powder blush as opposed to a stain on my cheeks. I might change my mind in summer once my skin feels a bit more moisturised and smooth though, and I'm still very pleased to have it in my collection. Definitely will be saving this little beauty for summer..

Coralista Powder Blush | Oh my goodness. I'm so chuffed to bits that I've discovered this blush and it has to be my favourite of the bunch. I adore it. I've been wearing it almost every day and it provides such a lovely flush of colour to the cheeks. The texture and finish reminds me very much of Nars' 'Orgasm' blush - as it is fairly sheer and has a slight shimmer to it.  It's just beautiful.  When swatched, you don't get the full force of it - but it applies amazingly well with a fluffy blush brush - and sweeps on to the cheeks with ease, creating amazing definition and a beautiful coral flush to the cheeks that instantly brightens your skin. When this runs out, I think I'll be buying the full version. It really is a must-have in my collection as I'm a massive fan of coral/peach shades, and I really think this will look amazing on tanned skin in summer (all we need is a big fat dose of sun now please!)

Coralista Ultra Plush Lip Gloss | Lip gloss, I'll admit, is usually a dodgy area with me. It's very rare I find one that I can happily keep on my lips for longer than 5 minutes. This one, I can bare. Obviously, it still feels like you have gloss on your lips but it doesn't feel sticky or uncomfortable at all and it provides a lovely sheer wash of glossy coral colour.  I suspect this will look amazing paired with Cha Cha Tint in Summer once I manage to work up a bit of a tan. That said, it looks lovely worn on it's own even now, and I've taken to wearing it over Mac's Lady Danger for an extra bit of 'oomph'. A really versatile little lip gloss and one that's just my kind of colour! It also smells really fruity and yummy... 


Overall, I'm as happy as larry to have this little box set in my cosmetics collection! It really brightens up these long winter days and adds a little bit of fruity punch to my everyday makeup - what more could a girl ask for?! I love how it comes with a little 'Tips & Tricks' booklet, showing you how to use the products in different ways - it adds a nice little finishing touch to the set - it opens up to reveal a pretty decent sized mirror too. I really cannot wait to get some use out of this in the summer months, and I'll definitely be taking it away on holiday with me, that's for sure!

Have you tried any of these products? What's your favourite Benefit product right now?
♥

January Favourites

Swatches | L - R | Chanel Tan De Soleil - Bronze Universal / Mac 'Blushbaby' / Revlon 'Red Lacquer' / Mac 'Lady Danger' / Rimmel Apocalips in 'Galaxy, Luna & Big Bang

January is a strange month, isn't it? All the excitement of Christmas is over, the Quality Street tins that once adorned our coffee tables are replaced with credit card bills , and the bank balance looks a little sorry for itself to say the least. It's safe to say I'm ready for Summer to come around the corner now!  Here's this months picks of my favourite and most used beauty items of January...

The Body Shop | Indian Night Jasmine Fragrance Mist | £7.50 - This scent is the most glorious aroma to ever pass my nostrils, let me tell you! It's one of those fragrances that you find yourself walking past on your dressing table and spritzing the air around you just for the sake of it! Now, I'm not a massive fan of floral scents, so don't let the name put you off - it has a certain spice to it that hints towards more oriental notes. It is both refreshing and light, and smells just as 'expensive' as any perfume would, just with a little less staying power! The next time you pass The Body Shop, give this a spray - I bet you'll be as addicted as me!

Soap & Glory | Girligo - Spray On Body Moisturising Mist | £6.50 - I have a review coming up on this little beauty, so I won't say too much about it.  It's fabulous for lazy days when you step out the shower and just want to get ready and go! It saves the need for body butters and also acts as a regular body spray with moisturising benefits - and it smells amazing.

Soap & Glory | Clean on Me Shower Gel (mini) | £2.50 - How did I ever live without this little bottle of yummy-ness sitting on my shower shelf?!  Definitely going to purchase the full size once I've used up the rest of my stash.  Lathers like a dream, smells good enough to eat and is really creamy and luxurious. Perfection.

Liz Earle | Cleanse & Polish | Hot Cloth Cleanser (Starter Kit) | £14.25 - I have a review of this little beauty here. It's been a little skincare saviour for me and it's such a good little cleanser. I really recommend it.  I have sensitive skin and I've had no problems whatsoever - in fact, I'm yet to read a negative review!

Nivea Essentials | Rich Regenerating Night Cream | £4.07 - My skin has been really, really dry just recently. My usual nighttime moisturiser just wasn't cutting the mustard to be honest, so I bought this on a whim.  It's quite heavy, so I don't use a lot of it - just where I feel I need it.  When I wake up in the morning my skin feels really soft.  It's not for everyone - if you struggle with shine I'd stay away from this - but I've got on with it very well and it's solved my temporary skin woes!

Chanel | Tan De Soleil Bronze Universal | £30 - I love this so much I actually cannot explain in words... I'm thinking of doing an in-depth review on it soon.  I use it for contouring every day and I just can't imagine my life without it now! I've used it every day since Christmas and I've barely touched the surface.. suits my winter skin perfectly and looks natural and light.

Mac | Sheertone blush in 'Blushbaby' | £17.50 - This blush is excellent for those days when you aren't sure what to wear as it's a fairly understated colour. It's fabulous for effortless contouring, as using this alone defines the cheekbone area and makes your face appear more structured.  

Rimmel | Apocalips | £5.99 each - Ohhhh how I love these little beauties! The perfect mix of a lipstick, lip gloss and a lip stain.  I cannot wait to pick up some more shades - I'm addicted. You can read my full review and see swatches of them on the lips here.

Mac | Lipstick in 'Lady Danger' | £14.00 - This lipstick is perfect for nights out when you really want to make a statement with your lips.  I've had a couple of nights out just recently and have worn this countless times - even in the day! It's the most perfect coral red, is beautifully bright and just oozes sex appeal! Oof ;)

Revlon | Super Lustrous Lipstick in 'Red Lacquer' | £7.49 - I wore this on Christmas day (you can see my FOTD here) and it's just the perfect understated red for when you want a pop of colour without going 'OTT'. Perfect for day wear, moisturising and has impressive staying power. It has the same sort of undertones as Mac's Lady Danger but is slightly more sheer in finish - if you're not a fan of matte, opaque reds, then this is a good one to opt for.

Have you tried any of these products? What have been your favourites this month?

 ♥ 

Barry M Lipgloss Collection

Barry M Lipglosses | £3.99-£4.49 each 

L - R / 9 - Cherry Glitter / 5 - Bubblegum Pink / Limited Edition - Strawberry /  2 - Toffee / 3 - Strawberries & Cream / Glossy Tube - Iridescent Violet Glitter /

Admittedly, I'm the fussiest little madam you will ever meet when it comes to lip gloss.  I am a huge collector of lipstick and if i ever treat myself to something then rest assured it will be a lip product, but one thing I really struggle with is glosses. I've tried all kinds - stains, long-wear, cheap as chips, high-end.. the lot. And so far none of them I've found have come close to my trusty Barry M's.  I hate feeling like I've dunked my lips in PVA glue or chip fat.. (hmm lovely thought for you all there..) but Barry M have ticked the box for a fuss-free lipgloss for me.

Barry M glosses are available in an array of shades (although i do wish they had a few more red/brighter options) - and so far I have 6 in my collection. Each one smells like the name of the colour (toffee is by far the yummiest in my opinion) and are decently pigmented to provide colour pay-off even without lipstick underneath.  They aren't the most long lasting but they don't feel sticky at all which is what matter the most to me with a gloss.. they just smooth on really easily and I don't feel the need to wipe it straight off again! I slightly prefer the gloss wands over the glossy tubes - just because I much prefer a doe-foot applicator as there is more control over how you apply them to the lips. Those who find glitter lip products might find the glitter glosses slightly irritating but the texture and consistency overrides this for me and I just find them very comfortable to wear on a daily basis. Overall they're just really good little lipglosses to have in your collection - and if like me, you can't stand lipglosses, then give these a go - they're currently the only ones I can wear with ease and I will without a doubt be completing my collection for the full set (next in line is the coral shade!) You can view the collection here.

What is your favourite lipgloss? I'd love to discover some more fabulous ones!

♥