Review: Sleek | Matte Me Lip Cream | 'Brink Pink'

Sorry for the not so great picture-  best of a bad bunch!

Sleek - Matte Me Ultra Smooth Matte Lip Cream - 'Brink Pink' - £4.99

Sleek is a brand that I've wanted to delve into for a long time and everyone knows I have a penchant for lip products, so when the Matte Me lip creams were released it was the perfect time to pick up a few colours to test out (along with a few blushers which will be reviewed soon!)

Today I'll be talking about 'Brink Pink' - a bright magenta colour that is almost fluro in real life but difficult to capture completely on camera. Take my word for it though, its beaut! The formula is really smooth and easy to apply, especially due to the firm doe foot wand, and is really opaque which is a massive plus point. I've found the best way to use this product is to apply one thin layer, wait around 30 seconds for it to dry and then add another layer on top. If you try and add layers too quickly it just spreads the product around your lips. 

The formula dries down to a matte finish in less than a minute and has great sticking power. Tested during a normal day this stuff doesn't budge even when drinking. It even survived a three course meal really well with only slight wear at the very centre of my lips, which was rectified with a quick slick of lip balm to blend everything together again.

As you would imagine, due to the nature of the matte formulation you need to make sure you have exfoliated your lips well as it will cling to any dry patches. I always apply a lip balm before doing my make up so when I get to my lips they are nourished enough for the lip cream. I also find that after a while it can feel like there is a coating on your lips, so it isn't as comfortable as a normal lipstick but this has been true of all the lip creams I've tried, not just with Sleek's offering. Another plus point is when it has started to feel a bit dry I've been able to slick on some lip balm without disturbing the lip cream at all.

Overall, I've been really impressed with this product from Sleek. Everything from the colour to the formulation ticks all the right boxes and I can't wait to pick up some more colours!

What are your favourite lip creams? Have you tried anything from Sleek before? xxx

Review: Revlon | Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stain | 'Crush'

Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stain in 'Crush' // £7.99 //

My love for lip products is boundless, with three boxes full of the stuff and growing its surprising that I have done hardly any posts on them. So I'm going to try and rectify this and do a few more posts dedicated to the lipstick lovers out there. I thought I would kick off with a beaut colour suitable for Autumn/Winter, which is the shade 'Crush' by Revlon from their Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stain range. 

I actually bought this around a year ago now so that's why the packaging is looking a bit battered now! The JBKBS were the first 'dupe' high street range to rival Clinique's Chubby Sticks - I have a few of those too and will be popping up some comparisons soon :) A pinky burgundy with hints of glitter (which is a little darker than the swatches show), 'Crush' applies to a glossy finish which lasts well and is slightly tingly, and once worn away leaves a matte stain. Personally I like to build up a few layers of the colour to deepen it and make it more opaque. If you have chapped lips this colour will emphasis that so it would be wise to use a lip scrub prior. The stain lasts pretty well - during every day activity around 4 hours including drinking, however after a meal only a slight colour is left, giving a lip liner effect, which I don't think is too bad going. The best way to apply these to get a lasting stain is to apply a layer, blot and then apply again.

I'm not too fond of the smell which is kind of minty, but luckily this doesn't really translate to the lips. The application is lovely and smooth, although now the tip has become quite rounded it is a little bit more tricky to get precision. The formula is quite moisturising until the gloss has worn away and doesn't bleed at all, which is a big plus point. It is super handy to pop into your hand bag as if you need more product you simply twist the silver part at the bottom so no sharpener is required.

I'm a big fan of Revlon anyway, and these lip crayons are lovely. There are so many out on the market now but these ones are definitely one of my faves. I would love to try out Honey as my next shade. Have you tried these Balm Stains? What colour is your favourite? xxx

Review: Nuxe | Reve de Miel Lip Balm |

15g // £9.50

Like nearly every other girl I have a million and one various branded lip balms floating around various handbags/drawers/make up bags... so why did I feel the need to buy another? Well, this one is different and definitely the best I've ever tried.

Housed in a heavy glass pot, this lip balm automatically feels more luxurious than the others. It is quite thick and feels more nourishing and like a balm than any other stick or pot varieties that I've tried. While the formula may be thick it doesn't feel too heavy or cloying on the lips and sinks in really well to a matte finish. I've also found the texture results in it lasting a lot longer than the average balm does too. Lots of reviews recommend this only as a night time balm but on days when you need something extra this has been perfect for the day too. An amalgamation of honey, plant oils, shea butter and grapefruit enable this balm to repair as well as protect from the elements. One of my favourite things about this is the smell - not like honey at all (I would say the texture is more like thick pale honey), instead rather citrusy and sweet like Seville orange cake (specific as always!) I find this pairs really well with my Lush lip scrub too as a nice treatment to follow up with.

This product is a delight to use and it really works - an all round winner! xxx

Review: Barry M Lipstick in '101'

I've been meaning to put up a lipstick review for a while as I have quite a few to share. From now on I will accompany these posts with lip swatches, rather than just on my hand as I find the former the most useful. I've been putting it off though because although it seems silly I'm a bit scared to put up zoomed in pictures of my lips! The swatches below are my first attempt so please be kind :)!

Anyway, onto the review... I received this lipstick in my stocking at Christmas which was a nice surprise as it was something I had wanted to try for a while. I love Barry M nail varnishes, but was yet to delve into their make up range. The rubber packaging is rather basic but I don't think its anything to complain about as it is sleek and simple. The formula isn't too bad either for a budget lipstick, although I did have to apply a few coats to get an even colour. 

By itself, the colour of this lipstick is nothing like how it is in the bullet! I thought this would be a peachy nude, but it comes out as a really milky pink shade, which washes me out completely and looks like I've coated my lips in concealer! The swatch down below doesn't show how white this looks in person, but as I have to apply quite a few coats to make it opaque as I have naturally pigmented lips I end up looking a bit ridiculous. 

I've found the best way to wear this is with a light pink lip gloss over the top to brighten it up a bit (like this one), dabbed onto my lips as a colour corrector before a brighter lipstick or the way Lisa Eldridge showed in a recent video like I did in this post - dabbing a favourite bright as a stain onto your lips then applying this over the top to stop it looking so 'dead'. I  used the Kate Moss for Rimmel lipstick in 107 in the swatch below. 

Overall, the quality of this lipstick isn't bad but the colour is just awful for me! Luckily I've managed to find different ways to make it wearable - next time I will have to swatch them in store to make sure the colour matches up to that of the bullet!

Lipstick on its own.

Lipstick with pink gloss over the top

Lipstick over the top of Rimmel's shade 107

Have you tried anything from the Barry M make up range? Do you have any suggestions for a nice peachy nude? xxx

The Poorly Face

Recently I've been under the weather like most people around this time of year and so havn't been up to putting on a full face of make up. However, when illness strikes I like to use more subtle make up to make me look a little less sick, which in turn makes me feel a bit better.

To start off I apply Revolution Organics Freedom Glow Beauty Balm in 'bronzed' all over my face and blend in well with a stippling brush. This gives a healthy, natural glow which contains moisturising oils such as coconut and jojoba, and aloe vera to sooth and condition, perfect for dehydrated skin and dry areas such as round the nose. I then applied Benefit's Erase Paste in 1 and Lasting Perfection Concealer by Collection  in 1 to cover up any other redness and dark circles. To perk up  my complexion a little more, I blended some Hocus Focus by Soap and Glory onto my cheek bones and places that would naturally catch the light.

For my eyes I used a tiny bit of the new Rimmel Scandal Eyes waterproof kohl liner in 'Nude' on my water line to brighten them up and defined my brows with a little of a Rimmel eyebrow pencil in 'Hazel'. I didn't tend to wear mascara but on the days when I felt it was needed, a few coats of L'Oreal Million Lashes was suffice.  Lastly, I lightly lined my lips in the perfect shade for my natural lip colour - 'Eastend Snob', another Rimmel product, this time their Exaggerate Full Colour lip liner. I then blended this all over my lips to give them some natural definition.

What make up do you wear when feeling under the weather? xxx

Bits and Bobs from Burt's Bees

Lemon Butter Cuticle Cream - £5.99 for 15g // Nourishing Mango Lip Balm - £3.69 for 4.25g

The other month I did a big haul at the Bullring and bought 2 items from Burt's Bees: the Lemon Butter Cuticle Cream and Mango Nourishing Lip Balm. They are the first products I've tried from the range and I'm pleased to say I've enjoyed my first Burt's Bees experience! All products from the company are either 99% or 100% natural, which I'm not too fussy about but given the option I would rather choose to use natural products that will do what they say on the tin.

Around the blogging community I had heard a lot of great reviews on the Lemon Butter Cuticle Cream and so decided to try it myself as nourished cuticles = stronger, longer nails. I love the tin packaging and it is just the right size for your bedside/bag etc. It has a strong citrus scent which I love and sticks around for ages. A little really goes a long way with this product - I've been using it every night before bed and through out the day too when I remember and am yet to make a dent in the product, so although I thought it was a little pricey this will last me ages and think it is justified. By swirling your finger around the pot, the product melts into a rich oil which can then be massaged into your cuticles with lemon and sweet almond oil and cocoa butter nourishing and moisturising them and the skin around your nail bed. I would recommend this product as it is 100% natural, smells amazing and last forever - there is really nothing to dislike about this.

The Nourishing Lip Balm has a lovely strong scent and taste of mango that I personally enjoy and as the product is quite thick and moisturising, you only really need one swipe and lasts a long time. It is 100% natural and the oils in the product tend to sink into my lips so I can feel it nourishing them rather than just sitting there. This reminds me of the little pots of lip butter from the Body Shop although I think this is better for on the go as the twisty tube makes it hygienic and great for travel, plus the Burt's Bees is slightly cheaper. I would definitely repurchase this and would like to try some of the other flavours such as honey and pomegranate.

Since I loved these products so much, what else would you suggest for me to try? What are your opinions on the two products mentioned? xxx

Review: Revlon Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stain

RRP £7.99 at Boots

There have been a million and one reviews of this product but I'm going to jump on the bandwagon and do one myself as I've had this product for a while and have been meaning to do it for ages. There has been so much hype around Revlon recently, about both this product and the lip butters. My personal preference is definitely for the latter (see my review here). I can't compare these to the Clinique Chubby Sticks as I havn't tried them but it is common knowledge that these are considered a good dupe for them.

I really like the packaging of this product as it is sleek but sturdy, you can easily tell the colour of it in your make up drawer and to get more product you screw the bottom instead of having to look for a sharpener. Although the tube and tip are quite chunky, you can still get precision and it is easy to apply. The actual formula is pretty moisturising when first applied leaving a slight gloss to your lips but I think that fades quite quickly and can feel a little sticky. It also gives a tingle sensation that I really like and smells kind of minty/soily which I know some people hate but I don't mind as it wears off quite quickly.  I also think that although it is meant to be a stain it doesn't actually last as long as I would like.

As always, the colour selection is greater in America but I guess that is just something we have to get used to in the UK. I have the shade 'Cherish Devotion' and think it is an easy to wear soft pink that is great for the day, offering something a little different to the 'my lips but better' daytime pinks I already have. I would also wear this in the evening if I was wearing a heavier eye. Another aspect I like is that you can build up the opaqueness on your lips from a slight wash of colour to a bolder, brighter shade. Other shades that I have my eye on are 'Honey' as a lovely every day neutral and 'Lovesick' as we all know how much I love my bright pinks!

Although this product hasn't wowed me as much as the lip butters, I still enjoy using it as I love all in one products which are easy to pop in your handbag and use on the go with little fuss. It offers something different formula and packaging-wise to my many other lip products so I am pleased I bought it.

Have you tried this lip product from Revlon? What shades are your favourite? Do you know of any other Chubby Stick dupes? xxx

EDIT: I have also reviewed the shade 'Crush' here. (23/9/13)

Review: So Susan Lip Cushion

Before writing up posts I do some research on the product I've been trialing out and the company. When I tried to do that with this particular product and company however, I couldn't find any official website or any product information, which was pretty weird. Considering I'd never heard of this company before some of their products came in my August Jolie Box it was rather annoying. However, after some more investigation I found the same product selling on eBay and found out that it was actually by Jelly Pong Pong. The pictures on the official Jelly Pong Pong site showed the exact same box and product but with a different shaped tub that the lip product came in. I'm not sure if they have now rebranded to the name 'So Susan' or not but I'm guessing that is the case. All I know is that the original Jelly Pong Pong lip cushion was retailing on ASOS for £6.

Anyway... on to the product! First impressions of this were good - it was really nice to see a full size product in my box. I really like the packaging as I think it is a good size, it has a clear body which means you can see the product and the rose gold lid was very pretty. As it is a pot you do have to use your finger though and that is a feature I know some people aren't too keen on. The colour of the lip cushion I received was a frosted pink with lots of sparkle which definitely appealed to me! It also has a strong scent of artificial strawberries, which I don't mind but it probably won't appeal to some people.

When I tested this however, I was rather let down. I know it is meant to be a sheer gloss but there is virtually no colour pay off whatsoever and it is basically see through so no point in doing a swatch as you wouldn't see it. I'm not sure why they bother doing different colours of this because it wouldn't make a difference. They branded the product a lip cushion rather than just a gloss as it is meant to give a 'squishy, elastic texture' but I didn't notice anything special about it and it feels exactly like a pot of vaseline. It is also meant to be quite moisturising and I agree with this to an extent but if you have ultra dry lips this won't do a great deal for you. The lip cushion does include evening primrose oil, beeswax and aloe vera to 'heal lips and improve suppleness' so who knows, maybe after a good few weeks of using this I will see a difference. It is also animal cruelty free which is always a plus point for me.

Overall, I was let down by this product. It is pretty average and I won't be reaching for it every day but it would be a good one to keep in my handbag for when I'm on the go on top of a lipstick. Considering you can buy a much larger tub of Vaseline for less than £2 and does pretty much the same thing I wouldn't repurchase this and I think it is a bit of a rip off to be retailing at £6. Sorry for a rather negative review but I do review everything honestly so you don't end up wasting your money!

Have you tried this product before or heard of So Susan? xxx

Blog Sale Goodies

I have been sooo excited for this package to arrive since I bought some item's off Maisey's blog sale and luckily I didn't have to wait long to receive it :) It was my first ever purchase from a blog sale and most of the items I had bought were ones that I had been wanting to try for a while and others were just because they were a bargain! I think blog sales are such a good idea as they enable the seller to declutter their beauty/make up collection but instead of wasting the products they get given to buyers who really want the products and will get good use out of them for a fab price. I thought the way they were packaged in an old glossy box was a really nice surprise and made it feel like a lovely treat :)

I will give a quick run down of the products I bought but much like my other hauls I will give proper detailed reviews of these products once I've had a few weeks test run to give them a fair analysis.

17 BB Cream in Light: I already have a BB cream by Garnier which I really love, but I have wanted to trial a few others to determine a favourite. This one really appealed to me as it is relatively cheap, has SPF 25 in it and also claims to have oil control too. I'm really hoping I get on with this one as it sounds really good.

Soap and Glory Hand Food: This has been something I've been wanting to try as I love hand creams and I also love Soap and Glory products. So far I've used it once and it smells delicious, just like their Flake Away scrub which I love. So far, so good!

17 Miracle Matte Foundation in Fair: My go to foundation is Maybelline's Dream Matt Mousse as it is great for my combination/oily skin and has a light coverage, so to top that will be pretty hard! I have been using it for a while now though so thought I would give this a go as an alternative. I also really like that this product has an added SPF in it so it will be interesting to see how I get on with it. Normally during the day I  have been using a BB cream so will test this some time soon!

L-R: Cupcake & Raspberry Pie

Revlon Lip Butters in Cupcake and Raspberry Pie: These are one of the products I've been meaning to test out and both the colours are ones I have been interested in purchasing, along with Tutti Frutti. I love the packaging and the cute names of the colours and upon swatching I really like the pigmentation which is brighter than I thought it would be. I have tried on Cupcake and really like it but haven't been able to test out how long wearing they are yet. The only let down is that I thought they would be a little larger in size.

Rimmel Lasting Finish by Kate Lipstick in 03: For a while now I have been wanting to test out a nude coloured lipstick and this is my first purchase of one. I am a fan of Rimmel's lipsticks as I think they are a nice formula and have lovely pigmentation, so I am excited to test this out. It is a bit of a darker shade of nude than I would have normally bought but you never know I may love it!

Sephora Anti-Shine Primer: After already owning 2 other primers, this probably doesn't seem like a necessity but I have been looking for a primer that can help me keeping matte and I haven't fallen in love with the primers I already have so it will be exciting to test this one out. I really like Sephora products too, so I hope this won't let me down. 

Philip Kingsley Elasticizer: This is a product I'm glad I managed to buy in a small quantity as it will save me splashing out on a full size one and potentially not liking it. I have read mixed reviews on this and I know  it didn't do a thing for Miss Budget Beauty but for others it has worked really well, so I wanted to see if it would do anything for me.

Benefit Thrrrob Powder: I love Benefit powders simply because of the packaging, the smell and the fact they last forever! I have owned many different kinds over the years but I have never purchased Thrrrob and thought I would try it for a bargain price. It is a really pretty pink, a bit darker than Dandelion and as I like pink blushes this should suit me well.

So that's everything! Thanks again to Maisey for the super quick delivery and lovely presentation :) Have any of you tried these products and what are your thoughts on them? xxx