Makeup Revolution Lip Lavas - 'Forgiven' and 'Tremor'

As usual, Makeup Revolution have taken it upon themselves to make a more affordable dupe or a pricey product - this time, duping Too Faced's 'Melted Lipsticks' with their 'Lip Lavas'. Essentially, these are like your regular lippies...but liquid and in a squeeze tube. I wondered if liquid lippies had any real point (besides mixing) when regular bullet lippies have been ideal for about 90 years? And so, I purchased a couple to test out...

Lip Lavas come packaged like squeezy glosses, a tube with a felt applicator attached. The tubes are coloured to match(ish) the product itself, which is pretty handy if you buy a few of these! Simple, functional. I will say that when 'Forgiven' first arrived the applicator had become loose, however, I emailed and a new one quickly found its way to me with no fuss. Fast, no nonsense customer service!

Above, I am wearing 'Forgiven' - a nudey yellow toned peach shade. I wouldn't straight up call it a nude, as it's too peachy (in my opinion) to really classify as one. If you're after a nude of a more natural or brown toned hue, 'Forgiven' aint the one. It is, however, a great shade for Spring and I imagine it would suit a wide range of skintones.

This guy is 'Tremor', a bright, medium, slightly yellow toned pink which just about dips its toe ever so slightly into the coral side of the spectrum. When I swatched this I thought it would look awful on me, but I actually quite like it! It would definitely be a great Spring/ Summer shade and I can see many folk rockin' it with a tan.

The formula is an odd one to describe...imagine melting a well pigmented, creamy lippy and that is basically it! I find them a tiny bit oily (nowhere near like OCC lip tars, though, and nowhere near as thin), so they do settle into lip lines a little but you can control this by applying just a thin layer - which is enough for decent coverage. I think they would be best worn over lipliners for full on colour with no risk of settling, but they can hold their own, too.
Wear wise, I'm impressed! For me, these last longer than traditional lipsticks and seem to wear down in layers, leaving an even hint of colour behind as opposed to a ring of lippy (attractive!)
Overall, lip lavas are well pigmented, last well, great for mixing shades and fab cheap dupes for the Too Faced equivalent. 
PRICE: £2.99 AVAILABILITY - Online and Superdrug stores.
Have you got any lip lavas? Take your fancy? Let me know! Comments above! Bloglovin | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

The Affordable MAC 'Stone' Dupe

If you knock about Instagram, it's pretty damn hard not to notice growing makeup trends - and usually, it's all about the lips. One of the most popular products in the last month or so has been MAC 'Stone' lipliner, a grey-brown shade which it PERFECT for overlining and topping with a nude lippy for that cool toned '90s look. Liloo set me the task of finding a dupe for 'Stone', and that is precisely what I did...

Let me introduce NYX '1000 Years' - a medium, cool toned, grey-brown lipliner. It does actually have a slate tone to it at times (just like 'Stone') but it's hard to capture on camera! I don't have MAC 'Stone' to do a side by side comparison, but it's actually been a popular dupe for quite some time, so that must mean something! 

Truth be told, I wasn't sure such a shade would be my thing. Especially since anything grey toned with my yellow skin tends to be a HUGE no no - but actually...I like it! This is a shade I'd have otherwise passed on for sure, that's one of the things I love about Instagram - it opens you to colours and products you'd have never tried in...well..1000 years (oooh that was so bad it was good!)

'1000 Years' is brilliant for mixing up with other shades, one of my favourite combinations at the minute is this beaut' topped with Illamasqua 'Delerium' cream pigment (rosey taupe), though most seem to be favouring pairing it with warm nudes like MAC 'Honeylove'. It's more of a waxy type formula, which means it does drag a bit, however it also means it lasts longer than creamier alternatives which is fine by me!

I bought my '1000 Years' from Beautyjoint on ebay for about £4 with free postage - ordering from the USA was actually cheaper than ordering from NYX UK thanks to their £5 flat rate postage! That's a saving of £9.50 if we compare it to MAC 'Stone' - winner!
All in all a great dupe, an ace shade and a fab product.
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Get Your FREE Max Factor Lipstick!

Max Factor have decided to brighten the day of commuters tomorrow (Monday 26th) by giving out lipsticks in shade 'Ruby Tuesday' (a fresh pink toned red) and encouraging them to ditch the January blues by getting a little glam! After all, what makes you feel sassier than a decent red lippy?!

Pick up your own tube of  Max Factor 'Ruby Tuesday' at both Manchester Picadilly and  London Liverpool Street train stations, starting at 7.30am and ending whenever they're all out (don't worry, they're well stocked!) 

Join in by taking a selfie rockin' your classic glam look, like the face of the campaign, Queen of glamour Marilyn Monroe and using hashtag #glamJan - don't forget to mention Max Factor  (@MaxFactorUK) too!
Products received for PR purposes. I only support campaigns I like the sound of!
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Limnit Lipsticks - The Answer to Your Weird Lipstick Colour Prayers

Limnit Lipsticks are a relatively new kid on the indie make-up block, specialising in lipsticks in all manner of shades - varying from feminine pinks and classic reds to sludgy olive and modern greige. After spotting somebody sporting a bright sky blue from Limnit, naturally I had to check them out for myself!

The store is your regular Etsy affair, which makes browsing and buying super simple. You can opt for either 'mini lipstick jars' (which are actually pretty big) just to test a few out, or full size lipsticks if you're feeling a bit more adventurous.

Everything arrived well packaged and presented, including a postcard which included instructions on how best to apply your new Limnit shades, which I felt was a nice touch.

This here is 'Deepest Taupes and Dreams' (lovin' that name) which is a bit of a chameleon of a colour. Yeah, I know, it basically just looks like a dark coffee shade in the swatch but it's so much more. When applied it looks way darker and takes on a slight purpley tinge - sometimes it actually looks near black. I would post a picture of me wearing it but it genuinely looks shocking with my yellowy skin - not a good pairing! I'll be using this guy to mix with other shades.

This little beauty goes by the name of 'League of my Own' - although I never wear such shades I can't help but get suckered in by them every damn time! 'League of my Own' is a medium turquoise-teal with a classic lipstick finish (not too matte, not uber glossy.)

I know some of you would draw comparisons between 'League of my Own' and Illamasqua 'Apocalips', but as you can see, they're quite different. The main differences being that 'Apocalips' is 110% matte and leans more foresty green in hue.

[ Please excuse over exposed skin/ blurry picture - I'm not used to my new light! ]
These lipsticks require a bit of warming up with your lip brush before you can even think of applying them, else your brush simply wont pick any product up. I also noticed that both of these have little lumps and bumps in them (most likely from ingredients not being so well mixed) but they smooth out back into the formula during the 'warming up process' so it's nothing major - it just looks a bit unsightly!
Wear time is about average, though you'll need a few swipes plus maybe a quick swish of cleansing oil to thoroughly remove them. I find Limnit lippies to be very comfortable, pigmented, good value for money and I enjoy the shade range - next on my hit list is 'Goodness Greycious' for sure!
Price - £3.12 for a 2g jar, no full sizes currently on sale but keep an eye out! Availability - Limnit Lipsticks Etsy store.
Have you tried Limnit Lipsticks? Do you like strange lippy shades? Which are your faves? Let me know! Bloglovin | Facebook | Twitter

REVIEW: Essence Longlasting Lipsticks

There is no faster, easier way to change an entire make-up look than with a quick swipe of lipstick - wouldn't you agree? An otherwise neutral look can be pepped up with a soft pink, fired up with red or kept sophisticated with a glamorous nude. It is for this reason I love lipstick, it's a real game changer. It's also why I love cheap and cheerful lipsticks I can experiment with, like these long lasting shades by Essence...

Packaging is simple and to the point, sturdy black plastic with a ring of colour which perfectly matches the shade inside - lovely! You can just about see the stamped Essence logo on each bullet, a beautiful touch more reminiscent of pricier brands.

The formula for Essence's longlasting lipsticks is super smooth and glides on without drag, leaving behind fantastic colour with no streaks or unevenness. They actually remind me of MAC cremesheen lipsticks, just with less slip and a little closer to the matte side of the family. Wear time is about average, but the brighter shades do leave a bit of a stain behind.

Aren't these colours lovely?! 'Wear Berries' is my unexpected favourite, a beautiful pinky plum I imagine would suit most skintones. 'Blush My Lips' comes in close behind, it's such an electric shade! It's a touch more red than it photographs and you'll need to 'blank out' your lips to keep the pink tone strong. 'Love Me' is a completely 'not me' shade, salmon toned pink, yet I still really like it! It doesn't suit me very much, but I think it would look incredible on pale skin. 'Dare to Wear' is a classic blue toned red, a staple for any lip wardrobe.

For the life of me I can't recall how much these cost (I have since bought more!) but it is around £2 each - can't complain!

Available from selected Wilko stores and pop up counters - find your nearest one here.

These shades were received for PR purposes. All thoughts/ opinions 100% mine and 100% honest, as always!

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Makeup Revolution Velvet Matte Lip Lacquers

Not so long ago, Lime crime took the make-up world by storm with the unveiling of their extraordinarily long lasting liquid lipsticks - 'Velvetines'. Since then, a few brand have had a pop at duping them - MUA, Pretty Zombie, Sleek, Rimmel and now purse friendly budget brand, Makeup Revolution. Curious to see how they held up, I ordered two lip lacquers to try for myself.

[ 'I'm in a death metal band' font *swoon* ]

[ Rose gold outer sleeve, it's like they were designed with bloggers in mind...]

The tubes themselves are your typical gloss tubes, nothing fancy. These come with doe foot applicators which allow for more precise application than those silly whippy brushes you sometimes get with glosses. Look at the golden gothy font, too, oh how I'm a sucker for such things...

[ Makeup Revolution 'Velvet Depravity' matte lip lacquer swatch ]

For some reason, all of the names have 'Velvet' as a prefix - why, I do not know. Maybe in homage to 'Velvetines' it odd, don't you think? Bizarre naming aside, 'Velvet Depravity' is a bright, slightly blue toned creamy purple - eye catching and unique. I think 'Velvet Depravity' would suit pale folk best; it would also look amazing worked into a darker purple to create an ombre effect.

[ Makeup Revolution 'Velvet Vamp' matte lip lacquer swatch ]
'Velvet Vamp' is right up my street. Unapologetically deep, dark, gothic purple-red - it's actually so close to black I'm having trouble describing its colour in exact terms. All you need to know is that if you're after the statement lip for Autumn/ Winter - you've found it.

[Apply over a balm/ lipstick with a synthetic brush for maximum precision and comfort ]

Texture and application wise, they're identical. Fairly thick (thicker than MUA's and Sleek's equivalents), extremely well pigmented and veeery matte with a faint smell that could best be described as acrylic paint. Once dried, these STAY PUT. They will not budge unless you're eating greasy food, as it's only something oily which is capable of removing them.

Overall, I have mixed feelings about these lip lacquers. On the one hand, the pigmentation and colours are unbeatable, the longevity is ridicuously good and I do love a strong matte finish -however, the matte texture is very drying without a heavy dose of lip balm and the removal process can be a pain. Is it worth it, though? For me, yes, but only just...
Available - In store at Superdrug or online at Makeup Revolution
Price - £3 Selection - 11 shades
Have you tried Makeup Revolution lip lacquers? What about other brands equivalents? Tempted by these? Let me know!
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Makeup Revolution 'Atomic' Lipsticks

Budget brand 'Makeup Revolution' haven't half been doing the round on blogs, have they?! First the highlighter heart tins, then the palettes, now the 'Atomic' lipstick collection. I parted with a fiver and picked up the entire collection (how often can you say that?!) for your viewing pleasure...

The 'Atomic' lipstick collection comprises of five lippies, ranging from a cute as pie pin-up red to a shade Medusa would have in her 'Everyday Make-up' posts if mythical beings had blogs (how amazing would that be?!)

Packaging is basically the same as MUA's £1 lipsticks (which aint too surprising) - black casing with a small amount of the actual product in a clear cap in the lid.

'Atomic Ruby' is a true 50s cherry red, with a creamy satin type finish. 'Make Me Magnificent' is a frosty/ metallic pale purpley pink shade, I think only the pale could really pull this one off! 'Make it Right' is simply diviiine - glowing shimmery medium 'true' purple - gorgeous! 'Make Me Tonight' is a purple toned brown, an ace Autumn/ 90s shade. 'Atomic Serpent' is a medium forest green with slight shimmer.

Now, everyone keeps calling shades in this collection 'unwearable' - stop it! Lets clear this up - purple isn't that odd a colour choice these days since MAC made it popular in recent years, the brown is entirely 'wearable' especially for those with dark skintones and the green can be used to darken reds if nothing else. Even if shades are a bit out of your comfort zone, at £1 a pop you may as well give 'em a go!

The formula has a lot of slip, which means wear time isn't excellent but what do you expect at £1 really?! 'Atomic Ruby' has a creamier formula than the others, and wears much better. I'd recommend lipliner bases with the shimmer shades.

Overall, not a bad collection at all! Nice colours to experiment with, pigmentation is pretty good and you can't argue with the price. After trying these I may make a purchase for some more of their £1 shades as I actually really liked the formula for 'Atomic Ruby', which I think is the standard formula across their other shades.

Price - £1 each
Availability - Superdrug stores or online at Makeup Revolution

What do you think to these shades? What are your favourite Makeup Revolution products?

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REVIEW - Yves Rocher Grand Rouge Lipstick

Oh, how I love a good lipstick. Be they a £1 bargain buy or a £19.50 luxe buy, show me a pretty colour and I will make it mine. Show me pretty packing too and my money is gone, poof, done, I'm sold. This Yves Rocher offering is definitely more luxe than my usual purchases, and to be honest, I'm not too sure how I feel.

Just look at the tuuuube. That golden tube - isn't it beautiful? If you're prone to reapplying lipstick through the day, that is one flashy tube you definitely wouldn't be embarrassed to pull out of your bag in public. It's sturdy and the lid clicks into place, ideal for travel.

'Rose Equivoque' is a medium mauve toned berry with subtle gold and pink shimmer and an almost frosted  finish. Both the colour and finish (to me) are somewhat '90s, but in more of a classic beauty than outdated kind of way - if that makes sense?! I think it would look stunning on medium - dark skintones and quite striking with paler skintones. Unfortunately such shades don't work well with my very yellow skin, so this will be a welcome addition to my mum's make-up bag.

The formula itself is smooth and well pigmented, I found it a touch drying due to the finish, but it's nothing a slick of balm underneath can't fix. The 'Grand Rouge' formula also lasts quite well, but obviously wears off with chit chat and tea drinking.
Overall not a bad buy if you're after something a little fancy, enjoy that slightly '90s finish and natural type shades. I actually think it would be a brilliant shade for Autumn/ Winter!
Available for £19.50 usually, although Grand Rouge lipsticks are on sale at the minute for £9.75.
PR item. All opinions 100% my own and 100% honest, as always!
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Boots Camp Essentials

A while ago Boots were kind enough to send me what they called their 'Boots Camp' kit - a few bits and bobs perfect for the weather as it got a little hotter in olde Blighty. At the time I was going slightly mental finishing off uni so this post is overdue (sorry, Boots!) but better late than never, right?!

First up, the Nivea Q10 Anti Wrinkle Colour Correction Tinted Day Cream (long enough name there, eh, Nivea?) As it gets warmer, a lot of people prefer switching their usual heavy duty foundations for tinted moisturisers and all together lighter formulas. Nivea's CC cream is sheer and moisturising, complete with SPF 15. Due to my oily and very uneven complexion this one aint for me, but if you have drier, yet healthy looking skin it might be the one for you. RRP £10.99

Next we have the No.7 BB Lips Beauty Balm in 'Blink Pink', a lovely girly pink liquid balm which applies beautifully smooth and lightly tinted to give a 'my lips but better' look. Beauty Balm promises colour, nourishment and UV protection with its SPF 15. RRP £9

An essential for all seasons - mascara. Before anything, can we all just admire the glitzy red packaging?! Amazing! Overall the No. 7 ' Lash Impact' mascara is a decent every day mascara if you're after length and volume in equal amounts. My only qualm is that it can flake, though it does generally last quite well. RRP £13.50.

Last of all, a pretty Summery nail polish by Revlon - 260 'Girly', a sheer pink with dark purple, hot pink and baby pink glitter. I imagine it would look amazing over opaque pale pink or lavender polish! Unfortunately I can't test it out as I'm allergic to nail polish, however, I did find a couple of reviews here and here if the colour takes your fancy :) RRP £6.49 

All together some lovely picks from Boots and well worth a look if you're after something to treat yourself to! I especially like the balm, and I know I'd love the polish could I actually wear it.
What are your Boots Summer essentials?
 Items recieved for review purposes.All opinions 100% mine and 100% honest, as always!

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REVIEW: Sleek MakeUP 'Matte Me' and 'Gloss Me' Lip Colours

Whether you're a matte miss or a gloss girl, Sleek's new collection of lip colours has something just for you. Celebrating an array of shades from nude to neon, Sleek MakeUP is well and truly on the ball with these 'Matte Me' and 'Gloss Me' lip colours.

'Matte Me' shades are 'liquid lipsticks' - much like Sleek MakeUP's pout paints, but creamier, matter, longer lasting and with better packaging. I found that since these are so strongly pigmented, you have to be very careful applying directly from the tube to avoid wobbly lines and patchiness. They appear a bit glossy at first, but once they've dried down - super matte.

 [ Sleek 'Rioja Red' and 'Brink Pink' matte me lip colours ] 

When I say that 'Matte Me's are long lasting, I mean loooooong lasting. As an idea, I applied 'Rioja Red' as 4, stormed 20 minutes down the road in the boiling Sun eating a Magnum lolly, arrived home at 6, had a brew, then had to scrub if off with olive oil. My friends, that is one Hell of a long lasting lip colour.

The downside is that they're quite drying and prone to patchiness if you're not careful with your application.

'Gloss Me' glosses are super shiny and full of sparkle. They aren't sticky or gloopy and feel comfortable to wear. The shades I received are semi-sheer and look lovely over lipsticks to give a bit more dimension.

[ Sleek MakeUP 'Rosé' and 'Kiss and Tell' gloss me lip colours ]

'Gloss Me' glosses are fairly long lasting, but as with all glosses don't expect them to last through brews and butties.

'Kiss and Tell' - Blue toned red with baby pink and violet sparkle.

'Rosé' - Sugar pink with pale pink and silver sparkle.

'Rioja Red' - Blue toned, deep red.

'Brink Pink' - Neutral, eye seeringly neon pink.

Sleek MakeUP 'Matte Me' lip colours will be available in six shades and launch on August 28th in Superdrug stores, July 28th online. RRP £4.99.
Sleek MakeUP 'Gloss Me' lip colours will also be available in six colours, with an RRP of £4.99. Launch date July 31st - I'm assuming both online and in store.
Overall, great products very worthy of at least a little swatch session should you spot them in store. Are any of these shades taking your fancy?
Products received for review consideration. All opinions 100% mine and 100% honest - as always.
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