My Lip Products Collection!

I was inspired to write this post after seeing Sandra Beauty Balm's post about her collection.  I have to say that lip products are my 'thing' and I find it very hard to resist purchasing them on a regular basis!

These are the majority of my collection, although there are bound to be some hiding in the bottom of bags that I haven't photographed.  I've linked to reviews where possible.  Sorry that this will be a photo-heavy post!

I keep all my lip products in these stackable draws from Muji.  I think they were around £9-£10 for the set of two draws but I'm sure you can get cheaper ones elsewhere.  I'm almost at capacity with these so I will need to invest in a couple more draws to stack on top of them soon.

In the top draw, I have all my glosses. 

And in the bottom draw, my lipsticks.  Note that the lipsticks are much tidier!

 Here are my Mac lippies, from left to right:

I Like It Like That (Limited Edition), Cremesheen

Radicho (Limited Edition) Lustre

Chatterbox, Amplified (review here)

Laugh a Lot (Limited Edition), Lustre

Ravishing, Cremesheen (review here)

See Sheer, Cremesheen (review here)

Crosswires, Cremesheen (review here)

Viva Glam Cyndi (Limited Edition), Lustre (review here)

Cockney, Lustre (review here)

My small Chanel and Dior collection

• Rouge Dior 35, Elegant Pink (review here)
• Chanel Rouge Allure Velvet La Distinguee (review here)
• Chanel Rouge Coco Mademoiselle (review here)

Some random high end lippies

• Dr Hauschka Violet Marble 15 (review here)
• YSL Rouge Volupte 9 Pink Caresee (review here)
• YSL Rouge Volupte 27 Rose Paris (review here)
• Estee Lauder Pure Colour Crystal Baby (review here)

And more randoms, including Revlon Lip Butters

• New CID iPout Nude
• Max Factor Ruby Tuesday (review here)
• Revlon Lip Butter Lollipop (review here)
• Revlon Lip Butter Tutti Fruitti (review here)
• Revlon Lip Butter Creme Brule (review here)

Some Bobbi Brown

• Bobbi Brown Lip Shine in Naked Pink
• Avon Metallic Pink
• Jane Iredale Lip & Cheek Stain in Forever Pink
• Bobbi Brown 20th Anniversary Lip Palette

Phew, and onto the glosses:

Benefit, Paul & Joe and Laura Mercier

• Mini Benefit glosses from Christmas Gift Set (review here)

Frisk Me

Kiss You

Foxy Lady

Spiked Punch

Life on the A List

Nudie-Tude

• Paul & Joe Brilliant A Levres Gloss in 15 (review here)
• Laura Mercier Mystic Mauve

 Mac, Clinique, Becca and Carmex

• MUA Gloss in Candy Pink (review here)
• Becca in Grenadine (review here)
• Clinique Chubby Stick in Chunky Cherry (review here)
• Bobbi Brown Brilliant a Levres in Petal
• Mac Lipglass in Viva Glam VI (review here)
• Mac Lipglass in Mad Cap (review here)
• Pout Plump - had this for ever but seems to still be ok!
• Carmex Moisture Plus in Sheer Berry (review here)
• Carmex Moisutre Plus in Sheer Pink (review here)

And finally, the randoms

• Clear gloss from M&S which has now turned a little pink as I use it over my YSL Rouge Volupte all the time
• M&S Colour Intense Lip Lacquer, Orange Fizz
• I Love... Juicy Watermelon Shimmer and Shine lip gloss
• Clinique Superbalm Moisturising Gloss in Apriocot - this was a sample with a Clinique bonus time, a nice neutral colour.
• L'Oreal Glam Shine in Aqua Watermelon (review here)- very disappointed with this, no colour, very sheer and wears off almost instantly
• Miss Sporty - no idea of shade name as it has worn off but its a nice peachy shade.
• NYC Liquid Lipshine in Brighton Beach Peach (review here) - another peachy pink staple!
• Rimmel Stay Glossy - again no shade name but a lovely peachy pink with micro silver shimmer
• Bourjois Effect 3D Max in Rose gold - a pink with gold shimmer

 

Have you tried any of these lip products?  

What do you think of them?

Review: Mac Cockney Lipstick

I don't know what it is about getting older but recently I have been veering towards brighter lippies, in particular red ones, whereas previously I would never have gone near anything remotely verging on red.  I just used to feel so self conscious with bright lips!  These days, I enjoy rocking a red lip, although in general, I tend to go for more wearable, sheerer reds.

Mac Cockney is one such wearable red from the permanent collection and one I haven't really heard much about.  It is a lustre formula which is one of my favourites as I find they impart a good amount of pigment on the lips, whilst still making it very wearable and glossy.

In the tube, the colour looks very vivid and rather dark for a red with tiny flecks of golden shimmer running through it.  I've heard others say it reminds them of China Glaze's Ruby Pumps and I have to say I agree.  It also looks rather Christmassy (dare I utter the word in June!!).  When swatched however, it looks altogether lighter, sheerer and warmer.

With flash

On the lips, it is semi opaque with the light sheen that Mac's lustre formula is known for.  Thankfully the sparkles do not show up on the lips and instead, you are left with a flattering, glistening red which is much more subtle than you would think.  It reminds me in texture and versatility to Viva Glam Cindi, although it is quite a bit brighter.

Natural light

I find this lippie to last for around four hours before I need to reapply which is quite good going really, considering I am a habitual tea drinker!  It was super comfortable to wear and I was pleased to see that when it wore off, it faded evenly, without leaving any annoying lines around the outside of the lip.

Verdict

I am gradually building up my red lipstick collection and this is a welcome addition.  It can be built up gradually for a more intense look or used sparingly for a subtle stain, and as a result, I think this would suit many people from fair to medium skintones.  If you are a fan of red lips or even a red lip novice like me, Mac Cockney is certainly worth a look.

4/5

Price - £13.50

Where to Buy - Mac, Debenhams, Selfridges, House of Fraser

Mac Fleur Power Blush

I have an unhealthy obsession with peach blushes and whenever I see one, I am instantly drawn to it!  Mac's Fleur Power initially looked like just another peach blush, and nothing that couldn't be duped by something already in my collection.  However, there are many subtle differences that now make it one of my go-to blushers for day-to-day use. 

In the pan, the overwhelming colour is peach and it looks almost matte to the naked eye.  It is however, one of Mac's satin formulations, one of my favourite of their blush formula, as I find them almost foolproof to apply and blend.

When swatched, the colour transforms, and much more pink is apparent. I wouldn't say this is coral, more a pink / peachy hybrid which gives a gorgeous natural flush on the cheeks.  

It blends like a dream, and although it looks a little powdery in the swatch below, it is very finely milled, which makes application extremely easy to control.  I was impressed with the pigmentation too, and found that the satin finish of the blush meant that it didn't accentuate any of my pores - instead it gave a healthy, natural looking flush to my cheeks, which is buildable if you want to create a look that really 'pops'.

Lasting time for Fleur Power was similar to other Mac powder blushes, and I tend to get about six hours wear on my oily cheeks before it starts to fade a little.  Due to its peachy pink leanings, this would be a great blush for those who usually wear pink blush but would like to try something a little different.  It would also be perfect for those who like the look of Nars Orgasm, but are searching for something with less shimmer and sparkle.

I could see this  blush suiting most skintones, although it does lean a little to the warmer side.  I've been wearing it with a fairly neutral look of a coral gloss and lashings of mascara, and have been reaching for it a lot as it seems to go with more looks than I initially thought.

Verdict

I tend to be fairly impressed with Mac's powder blushes from their permanent line and Fleur Power is no exception.  As a shade which is much more complex than it initially seems, this is great for a natural pop of everyday colour, or it can be built up to be more intense, flamboyant look.

4/5

Price - £17.50

Where to Buy -  Mac, Debenhams, Selfridges, House of Fraser

Mac Stay In Touch

Another week, and I have another of Mac's permanent lippies to show you.

Brown, rust-coloured lipsticks are not normally shades I am drawn to, however Mac's Stay in Touch is a warm rust with peachy leanings, which makes it perfect for easing your way into browner shades.

It comes in the cremesheen formula which is by far my favourite of Mac's lipstick formulations.  Creamy, opaque and long lasting, it provides a good dose of colour which has decent lasting power. 

The swatch above looks quite dark and almost orange-toned and I found Stay in Touch to certainly look quite rusty in both the bullet and in the swatch.  On the lips, more of the peach tones are evident and it comes across as very wearable.

I get about three hours wear with cremesheens and Stay in Touch is no exception.  I was pleasantly surprised with how it looked when worn, although I think it will probably suit those with warm complexions more than cool toned beauties.  I have been wearing it a lot with a peachy blush and a light wash of gold / bronze on the lids.  It think it would look especially stunning on those with darker skintones. 

Verdict

On first appearances, this is not a colour I would normally choose, however I found it surprisingly flattering and wearable and it would look amazing on mid to dark skintones.  Those with cool skintones should not be afraid of trying it as the peachy tones within it make it eminently more wearable.

4/5

Price - £13.50

Where to buy - Mac, Debenhams, Selfridges, House of Fraser

Review: Mac Viva Glam VI

You know how I moaned about Mac's lipglasses previously, complaining that they were all sparkle and no pigment? Well I'm willing to take that back now I've tried Viva Glam VI!

Viva Glam VI is one of a series of Viva Glam shades which Mac launches annually, the proceeds of which go towards HIV/AIDS programs worldwide.

The colour in the tube is of a vibrant, pink- red, with the signature lipglass sparkles shimmering throughout. This certainly isn't a gloss for glitterphobes!

When swatched, it maintains it's deep pink-red look, and on the lips it is semi opaque, and much more pigmented than any of the other lipglasses I have tried previously.

In common with prior lipglass experience however, it is very sticky so not the gloss to choose on a windy day!  Wear time is impressive for a gloss- at least three hours, mostly due to the stickiness. I did find though that, as the pigment wore off, I was left with a coating of glitter on my lips which was not awfully attractive!

Verdict

A pleasant surprise after my previous lipglass experience, Viva Glam VI offers a combination of decent pigmentation and shimmer with  good lasting power. My only negative would be the fact that as it wears off, you are left with glittery lips!

4/5

Price - £13

Where to buy - Mac, Debenhams, Selfridges, House of Fraser 

Mac Melba is Just Peachy!

I've never been a big experimenter with blusher, instead preferring to go with tried and tested options that I know suit me, and often veering towards peachy shades.

Mac's Melba is a gorgeous peachy shade which is just perfect for Spring!  I am usually more of a fan of blushes with a slight shimmer, but during a recent trip to the Mac counter, the MUA tried this on me and I was smitten! 

 

A matte formulation, the shade looks to be a straight-forward peach shade, and this translates very well to the skin when swatched.  As with other Mac matte blushes, it does look a little dusty when swatched, however it blends out well and can be buffed into the skin to give a gorgeous, natural flush.  It really perks up the skin and I can see it looking fab on both lighter and darker skintones as it can be built up easily.  

I get a good six hours of wear before it starts to fade, which is common for me with Mac's matte blushes.  I tend to find the matte blushes last longer on my oily skin than the ones which contain shimmer.  

Verdict

For peach blusher lovers like me (!), this is a great staple to have in your make-up collection.  Some may find it a little dry or dusty, but it is easy to use and well-pigmented.  It is very easy to build up, if required, and gives a gorgeous, natural everyday look.  I will be wearing this a lot during the Summer!

4/5

 

Price - £17.50

Where to Buy -  Mac, Debenhams, Selfridges, House of Fraser

Review: Max Factor Ruby Tuesday

Max Factor's Ruby Tuesday is a shade I wouldn't have bought of my own volition, but as I won it from a  pack of Special K cereal bars (!) I thought it was worth trying out - after all, it was a free lipstick!

I don't own many Max Factor lippies and I'm not sure why really as I was quite impressed by this one.  The packaging is fairly robust for a drugstore brand and I liked the added touch of making the bottom of the tube the same colour as the lippy within it - this makes it far easier when it comes to finding the one you are after in a  morning!

The colour in the tube is a fairly neutral red, which perhaps leans a little blue-toned.  It reminds me a little of Mac's Russian Red.   When swatched, it looks slightly pink in tone and I could see this suiting a wide range of skintones from fair to dark.  

It glides onto my lips easily and is opaque with one swipe and it felt very smooth and silky, not at all drying and had a slight sheen finish.  I didn't experience any bleeding when wearing this and found it to wear for around four hours before the fading became noticeable.

Verdict

I was previously unfamiliar with Max Factor's lipsticks and this one impressed me greatly.  If I didn't know, I would think it was from a higher end brand due to its opaque, long-lasting colour.  I will certainly be taking a closer look at the Max Factor lipsticks from now on!

4/5 

 

Price - £7.99

Where to Buy - Boots, Superdrug, large supermarkets

Review: Mac Chili

In an effort to try something different, I’ve been experimenting with some different lip colours lately. 

When I was visiting my parents recently, I unearthed a little known lipstick from Mac’s permanent range within my mums collection – Chili. When looking around the net for swatches of this, they are few and far between which I find somewhat surprising.

It is an intense deep brick red, with obvious brown and orange undertones, which I would imagine would be perfect for you if you wanted to try red lips but preferred a more muted colour. However, whilst the colour isn’t in your face bright, like Russian Red, it is opaque in one swipe and I actually found it quite difficult to apply accurately from the tube (as you can probably see!). For such a vibrant colour, I would certainly recommend using a lip blush to apply for perfect application and a lipliner would also help to define the edges more clearly.

For a matte lippy, I found it very comfortable to wear and it wasn’t drying in the slightest. I actually find some of the cremesheen formulas more drying! It lasted well, for over four hours before I reapplied, but this was after several nibbles throughout the morning! 

I could see this lipstick going well with simple eyes for daytime, or you could wear it with smoky eyes for a sultry evening look. I think warmer skintones would suit this colour more, due to the brown undertones present, but if you are cool-toned and fancy trying it, it would certainly be worth a look. 

Verdict  

An interesting brown-toned red, which is muted in colour but still packs a hefty punch! For me, I think it was a little too far out of my comfort zone as I felt rather self conscious wearing it. However if you like Mac's reds and fancy trying something a little different from the tried and tested Russian Red and Ruby Woo, this is a great buy that would certainly enhance your collection.

3.5

Price –£13.50

Where to Buy -Mac, Debenhams, Selfridges, House of Fraser

Review: Mac Interior Life Eyeshadow Quad

The Mac Daphne Guinness collection was launched in stores a couple of months ago and I picked up this quad, Interior Life after being drawn to its subtle grey and purple shades, in the hope of creating a neutral, soft smokey look.

It is well-known that Mac’s limited-edition quads have been lacking in pigmentation lately, but these shades looked so pretty in the pan, I couldn’t resist!  The shades included are:

• Stratus – a very pale pink which was very difficult to swatch.  I have been using this mostly as a highlight shade or as a base for other colours.
• Bruised Sky – a mauve / purple tone that I have been using as a subtle wash of colour on my lids for an almost neutral look.
• Interior Life – a medium grey.  This was my favourite of the four shadows as it was very easy to apply and blend.  I have been using it a lot with my Chanel Illusion d’Ombre in Illusionoire, and blending it out a little.  It also works well in the crease with Bruised Sky.
• Heather Belles – a charcoal black which you will probably have similar versions of in your collection.  I use this either to line the eyes or blended in the outer v for a smokier eye. 

L to R: Stratus, Bruised Sky, Interior Life, Heather Belles

The shadows all appear to be of a matte consistency when swatched and applied to the lids, (so there’s nothing here for shimmer addicts!) although only Stratus is actually named as a matte. Bruised Sky and Heather Belles are named as satins, and Interior Life is a veluxe.  They do take a little more effort to use as they are on the whole, very sheer, but when layered and combined, they work well for an understated, polished look.  As with other Mac eyeshadows, these have an excellent wear time and last throughout a full working day for me, without creasing or fading, when used in conjunction with a primer. 

Verdict

For those of you who prefer more pigmented shadows with a good colour payoff, this quad probably will not be suited to you.  However, if you want a subdued look which would go perfectly with a light rose lip, this quad could work well.  It will especially suit those with fairer or cooler skintones and I always find Mac’s quads useful for helping to formulate a complete look for your eyes.  It would also be very useful if you want to branch out into matte shadows as these are all neutral colours which can be adapted for a variety of looks.

3.5/5

Price – £35

Where to Buy – This is now sold out online but I found it at House of Fraser last week so there is definitely still stock available. 

February Favourites

My monthly favourites are a little boring this month as I haven't really been using any different product.

YSL Rouge Volupte in Rose (reviewed here) - A gorgeous, creamy shade which lasts and lasts.  It is very bright so not for any shirking violets, but I have been wearing it blotted down a little and it really cheers me up on dreary Monday mornings.

OPI Excuse Moi, Muppets Collection (reviewed here) - I've been wearing this super sparkly, pink glitter a lot recently as I've had quite a few events and evening outings where I needed to get glammed up.  I love the fun and frivolity of this polish and I find it pretty hard-wearing too, lasting for several days without chipping which is a rarity for me!

Batiste Dry Shampoo in Wild (reviewed here) - As I've been out quite a bit over the past month, I have often been using this Batiste to revive my hair when I haven't got time to wash it or when I am heading out straight after work.  It gives the much needed volume required to revive my barnett, and although I prefer the Tropical scent to this one, they all work in exactly the same way and the scent doesn't hang around too long unless someone is sticking their nose in your hair!

Mac Blushbaby (reviewed here) - a matte blush from Mac's permanent collection, this is a fairly neutral colour which would work on most skintones.  I use it when I am after a natural, quick look as it is lightly pigmented, but buildable, and very difficult to overdo.

L'Occitane Hibiscus Flower Hand Cream - I think this was a sample from a magazine some time ago, but I have only just got around to using it and I wish I had tried it earlier!  It absorbs effortlessly, leaving no greasy residue and smells amazing, leaving my hands beautifully soft.  This was my first experience of L'Occitane hand creams and I am definitely going to purchase more!

Do you have any favourite products from February?

Review: Mac Mad Cap Lipglass

Mac Mad Cap Lipglass is another of the brands sparkly lip products, which are designed to provide a high gloss, shimmery finish to the lips.  It came out as one of Mac's many limited edition products a short while ago, however I have found it currently available on Cheap Smells, and Mac often re-issues their limited edition products.

The first thing that struck me was that the lipglass seems to be tiny! I really don’t think the tube will last long at all, as you only get 4.8g of product and to apply, I found myself having to dip the applicator into the tube several times in order to cover the lips fully. 

 

In the tube, the product looks to be a shimmery, pale golden nude, which I hoped would give a give a subtle, glimmering warm sheen to the lips.  The gloss is on the fairly sticky side, as I believe is common with all other lipglasses, and when applied, it gave hardly any colour to the lips at all, looking almost like a clear gloss.  There was also very little evidence of shimmer on the lips, which is good news for those who have an aversion to glitter in their makeup!

As this gloss appears almost clear when applied, it would probably be best used over the top of a nude lipstick or used on its own when you are after a basic no-makeup look.  Lasting time is around 2 hours for me which is fairly standard with lipglosses and Mac's Lipglass formula and thankfully, due to the absence of visible glitter, the product wears off evenly, with no discernible shimmer left on the lips.  

Verdict

I haven't previously been particularly excited by Mac's lipglass offerings and Mad Cap has not changed my opinion.  This is essentially a clear lipgloss which imparts only the most subtle of pigment on the lips.  If you like the lipglass formula and are after a clear gloss, this would be a viable option, however if you are seeking a nude gloss with some pigment, this is not the product for you.

2/5

Price - usual price £13, however £9.95 on Cheap Smells

Where to Buy - Cheap Smells

Review: Mac Chatterbox

I picked up Mac Chatterbox from a blog sale, as I’d heard a few people mention it and thought it looked like a useful, wearable pink which filled a gap in my collection.  

The lipstick is an amplified formula, which is meant to be more pigmented and provide a more opaque colour.  This was my first experience with Mac’s amplified formula and I have to say that I found it incredibly drying and you certainly need to slather on some balm before and / or after applying.

The colour itself is a warm-toned pink which I could see being easy to wear for most skintones.  I tried in all kinds of light to capture the colour in the tube accurately but this is the best I could manage.  The actual colour is much pinker in real life although the swatch is accurate. It does go on rather opaque, but you can blot it to make it a little more wearable or within your comfort zone if you prefer.  One thing I noticed with this lippy is that it didn’t seem to glide on as smoothly as other Mac lipsticks which again, may be due to the drying formula.  You really need to have well-conditioned lips to wear this well. 

Lasting time was around 3-4 hours, although I did pop some more balm on after a couple of hours.  I can see this colour being very versatile and being used in a variety of looks, especially as it can be built up or blotted down, depending on the level of intensity you require, or how bold you are feeling. 

Verdict

I liked the colour of this lippy as it was bright but not un-wearably so, and it was well within my comfort zone.  However the drying nature of the formula made this very uncomfortable to wear for more than a couple of hours and I think this will unfortunately restrict how often I wear it. If you are prepared to slather on the balm and already have baby-soft lips, this may be a good choice for you as it will suit most skintones and go with a variety of looks.

3/5

Price – £13.50

Where to Buy – Mac, House of Fraser, Debenhams, Selfridges