Review: Clarins | Instant Light Natural Lip Perfector |

Clarins // Instant Light Natural Lip Perfector // £17 // 12ml

When it comes to the Clarins Instant Light Natural Lip Perfector range everyone and their mum seems to rave about them, most notably the lovely Vivianna. A hybrid between a gloss, tint and balm, this moisturising gel is a perfect choice for fuss free make up days when you don't want to wear a full lip. Not only does the nourishing formula smell and taste amazingly sweet, the inclusion of shea butter and wild mango help to repair and soften while vitamins A and E help to protect. The packaging is also simple but feels luxurious, with a squeezy colour coded tube and soft doe foot applicator for easy application. I own pink shade '01 Rose Shimmer' and peachy '02 apricot shimmer' with the latter being my favourite by just a little. I love how glossy the product is without feeling heavy or sticky and that the repairing and protecting claims are true.

Wear time is quite good for a gloss, but only if you are not drinking or eating, but that was to be expected. I've also found the colour pay off to be quite weak - on the lips you can barely tell a difference between these two shades, and the little bit of difference didn't pick up on camera and that is why lip swatches seemed redundant in this post. For someone who loves a bright bold lip I was underwhelmed with the lack of colour, but I suppose it sticks with the natural theme and although it is only a slight tint, I must admit it does help to perfect your lips. Clarins have recently added 3 new shades to the line up which seem to be darker and have more colour pay off so I would be interested in checking them out and seeing how they compare to their lighter counterparts.

I really love Clarins and think these products fit in well with the theme of the brand. I think the Lip Perfectors would make a lovely gift or as a treat to yourself if you have the money. At £17 a pop (Clarins seem to be hiking up the price) I wish they had a bit more colour payoff but I definitely think they are more than just a glorified lip gloss. If 'no make up' make up is your thing then these would be a perfect addition to your collection.

What are your opinion on the Natural Lip Perfector range? xxx

Review: Rimmel Vinyl Max Lipgloss

Top: Addictive, Bottom: Dazzle // £5.49 each at Boots

On a recent shopping trip I picked these up on a whim from Superdrug. I'm running out of my current light pink gloss from Avon and was looking for a replacement when I saw these. I ended up buying a hot pink too because the colour was gorgeous and if I bought a second I got a free eyeliner (I love a deal!)

I really like the packaging although it might not be to everyone's taste. It is a chunky tube with a huge doe foot applicator which I think is meant to represent the 'max' aspect of the product and was quite a surprise when I pulled it out the tube! The brush is meant to enable you to apply the product in one quick swipe, although I think it takes a bit more precision than that with such a large applicator. The actual formula is very pigmented, glossy and sparkly which is a big plus point and is very long wearing on the lips - this is probably due to the very sticky and thick nature of the gloss which I know a lot of people probably wouldn't be a fan of. I'm not the biggest fan of the stickiness but for some reason it still hasn't put me off the product. I've used them alone and on top of lipsticks and like the finish both times. A little product goes a long way and due to the size of the tubes I reckon these will last me quite a long time, making them good value for money.

Although it has aspects which might not be to everyone's taste, I've actually really enjoyed using these glosses and think they are great for the day or a night out, providing intense gloss, pigment and longevity.

Have you tried these before? xxx