Showing posts with label lips. Show all posts
Showing posts with label lips. Show all posts

Wednesday, 30 March 2016

The Clinique Pop Lip Lineup: Pop Lip, Pop Glaze & Pop Lacquer

Left to right:  Pop Lip in Berry Pop, Pop Glaze in Liquorice Pop, Pop Lacquer in Sweet Pop
Pop Lip in Berry Pop, Pop Glaze in Liquorice Pop, Pop Lacquer in Sugar Pop
Pop Lip in Berry Pop
Pop Glaze in Liquorice Pop
Pop Lacquer in Sugar Pop
Clinique are all about the micro-brands right now: after a million variations on the eternally popular Chubby Stick, we're getting a large number of Pop products, following the success of the original Cheek Pop blushes and Pop Lip lipsticks.  The two newest lip products are Pop Glaze and Pop Lacquer: Pop Glaze, £16, gives you a soft, sheer look, and Pop Lacquer, £16, takes on the liquid lipstick trend with a high pigment, high shine finish.

Pop Glaze is really just a watered down version of Pop Lip, and I don't mean that as an insult - it's simply a sheer version of the original, with translucent packaging, the same buttery texture, and soft, subtle tint of colour which is more than a Chubby Stick and less than a Pop Lip.  Pop Liquorice is a glorious colour, all squashed berries with a purplish tint, made very wearable thanks to the sheer finish.

I was a little disappointed when I saw I'd been sent a neutral Pop Lacquer - high pigment and high shine just screams for classic red, bold lips to me - but actually, I've ended up using Pop Lacquer in Sugar Pop much more than I thought I would.  The cool, creamy pink is just the right tone to cancel out the bluish tinge in my lips, and makes for an oh-so-pretty neutral spring lip.  The texture is a little on the thick side, as you'd expect for high pigment, but it's also rather squishy and slippy, which makes wearing it more pleasant - wear time, unsurprisingly, is a little shorter as a result, clocking in three hours before I need a touch up.

So there you have it: two new lip products to go along with the existing Pop Lip.  I've been trying to decide which I prefer, but actually, they're both pretty good - Pop Glaze probably pips Pop Lacquer to the post, though, mostly because it lasts a little longer and is lower maintenance, which is very important to me because I'm lazy.  Tried either of these?  Let me know what you think!

Disclosure:  PR samples

This post originated at www.londonbeautyreview.com. If you're reading it elsewhere, it's been stolen, violating my copyright.

Friday, 4 March 2016

BUY THIS NOW: GOSH Lip Oil in Rose and Sea Buckthorn



Rose, Sea Buckthorn

Rose
Sea Buckthorn
If you tried Clarins' Lip Oils last year and found them to be more like thick glosses than oils, then you should go try these lovely, actually-oily lip oils from GOSH ASAP.  Like the Clarins oils, there's a golden one and a rose one (and also a clear one and a raspberry one), and like the Clarins oils, you can't really see the colour when they're on the lips.  Unlike the Clarins ones, the GOSH oils are silky, squishy, and well, oily.  They feel like you're wearing oil on your lips.  

My only criticism is that the moisture they provide is somewhat fleeting - I've worn the pink shade all day a couple of times, and whilst my lips feel comfortable and moist when I'm wearing them, I still need the usual amount of lip balm in the morning as I do if I've been wearing a matte lipstick the day before.  So be aware that you'll get temporary moisture whilst you wear these oils, but they won't really improve the condition of your lips.

That said, if you If you love a glossy, natural finish, which feels lovely on the lips, then you'll probably love these.  And at £7.50, they're a very reasonably priced alternative to the more expensive lip oils on the market. Find them at Superdrug.

Disclosure;  PR sample

This post originated at www.londonbeautyreview.com. If you're reading it elsewhere, it's been stolen, violating my copyright.

Tuesday, 23 February 2016

Urban Decay x Gwen Stefani Lipsticks & Lipliners: Wonderland, Rock Steady, Ex-Girlfriend, Firebird




Rock Steady, Ex-Girlfriend, Firebird
Wonderland, Rock Steady, Ex-Girlfriend, Firebird
Wonderland
Rock Steady
Ex-Girlfriend
Firebird
Wearing Rock Steady lipliner + lipstick
Now, THIS is what I imagined when I first heard Gwen Stefani was collaborating with Urban Decay.  LIPSTICK, people, LIPSTICK.

There are six shades available, and I've got four to show you - Wonderland, a clean bright red; Rock Steady, a deeper ruby red; Ex-Girlfriend, a pinky beige nude; and Firebird, a hot blue based fuchsia.  Gorgeous, aren't they?  Firebird, granted, isn't quite my cup of tea, and Ex-Girlfriend is a nice if dupable medium pigment nude, but really, when I think about Gwen Stefani and lipstick, I immediately think RED, so do excuse me if I mostly talk about Wonderland and Rock Steady.

I was immediately drawn to Rock Steady, and I found it to be insanely pigmented, so much so that applying just the lipstick straight from the bullet generally results in a wavy lipline - you need a liner or a lip brush with this shade, it's just so intense every little wobble will show otherwise.  The matching 24/7 lipliner is a great match (obviously), and the combination of the liner and the lipstick makes for an intense statement lip which lasts well.  Not as well, though, as Wonderland - which doesn't quite need the same precision on the lipline, and easily lasts the whole day if you're content to end the day with a soft stain.

Overall, then, these lipsticks are much what you'd expect - bright, pigmented, creamy colours with great wear, and a statement finish.  Only Rock Steady really needs the matching lipliner, but if you want a really precise finish, it's worth having both.  At £16, the lipsticks are a veritable bargain if you want a long lasting red; the lip liners cost £14.

Disclosure:  PR samples

This post originated at www.londonbeautyreview.com. If you're reading it elsewhere, it's been stolen, violating my copyright.

Thursday, 28 January 2016

Clarins Instant Radiance Spring 2016: Instant Light Natural Lip Perfector in Plum Shimmer & Rouge Eclat Lipstick in Pink Cherry



Instant Light Natural Lip Perfector in Plum Shimmer 
Rouge Eclat Lipstick in Pink Cherry

I love a new collection from Clarins, usually because there are guaranteed to be a couple of really cracking lip products.  Spring 2016 is no disappointment:  no completely new products, but new shades in two of my favourite Clarins lip products - Rouge Eclat lipstick, and Instant Light Natural Lip Perfector.

Rouge Eclat lipstick in Pink Cherry, £19.50, is a gloriously buttery hit of colour - Clarins claim that it's an age-defying lipstick, which I don't really get.  I do get the plush, hydrating texture, the medium pigmentation, and the pretty-good-for-a-buttery-lipstick 3 hour wear time.

Instant Light Natural Lip Perfector in Plum Shimmer, £18, is a sheer, berry tint which looks like a gloss, but is actually a very hydrating balm.  I absolutely love these things:  I've managed even to finish one or two, an amazing feat when your lip product collection is the size of mine.  Plum Shimmer, like its predecessors, is easy to wear, easy to apply, and keeps lips soft and plump.

So there you have it.  Two new shades of two lovely existing products for spring.  Find the collection now at Clarins counters nationwide, and stay tuned for a a few more pieces from the collection soon!

Disclosure:  PR samples

This post originated at www.londonbeautyreview.com. If you're reading it elsewhere, it's been stolen, violating my copyright.

Sunday, 24 January 2016

Delightful: Lush Popcorn Lip Scrub



I remember the days when Sara Happ brought out the first commercial lip scrub, a bargain at around £20 per tiny pot.  Since then, everyone's had a go, and my absolute favourite lip scrubs are made by Lush.  This Popcorn scrub uses a combination of sugar, oil and salt to exfoliate and moisturise the lips.

And damn, it's a good exfoliator - my lips are incredibly smooth after use, in perfect condition for the most matte of lipsticks.  Let's be honest, most of the feeling of moisturisation comes as a side effect from scrubbing off the dead skin, and a little bit from the included oils - super dry lips will still need a good slick of balm afterwards.

The buttery, caramel-y taste is glorious, and if you're a bit greedy like me, you might let a little more scrub pass through your lips than is strictly necessary.  No harm, though, as the ingredients are all edible - there's even a bit of popping candy in there.  And at £5.50, it's a fair bit cheaper than the still iconic Sara Happ.

Disclosure:  Bought by me.

This post originated at www.londonbeautyreview.com. If you're reading it elsewhere, it's been stolen, violating my copyright.

Sunday, 27 September 2015

Introducing Bagsy: Wow Lips in Cocktail Hour and Lip Velvet in Spinning Plates


Bagsy is a new British makeup brand that focuses on making handbag essentials - products which are easy to use and small enough to be slipped into your handbag every day.  The range itself feels a little confused - there are three lip products, a bronzer, a concealer/highlighter stick, a blush, a kabuki brush, an eyeshadow stick, a hand cream and a dry shampoo.  This feels like a bit of an eclectic mix - not quite enough makeup to run the full face regime (although that in itself isn't bad) with a few bits thrown in for good measure.  Add to that packaging which is pretty enough but varies significantly across the range and you have a brand that seems like it's a little way off making sense as a whole.

Anyway, enough on the whole range - today we'll be examining two of the lip products from the range - Wow Lips Full Colour Chubby Stick and Lip Velvet Soft Matte Lip Colour, both £12.




Wow Lips Full Colour Chubby Stick does pretty much what it says on the prettily packaged tube - it's a high pigment, glossy finish stick lip colour.  Yes, it's pretty much a Clinique Chubby Stick Intense copy, but Chubby Stick has become as generic as Hoover nowadays.

The texture is creamy, the colour glides off the stick onto the lip, and lasting power is reasonable at around 4 hours before it fades completely.  This shade, Cocktail Hour, is a slightly coral toned red which isn't too POW IN YOUR FACE but still packs plenty of punch.

At £12, though, I can't help but feel that the product itself within the tube looks a little cheap.  The original Chubby Sticks cost £17 each, just £5 more, and feel a whole lot more luxurious.





However, I can't make the same complaint about Lip Velvet Soft Matte Lip Colour - the packaging is very similar to Hourglass Cosmetics' much more spendy Opaque Rouge liquid lipstick, which costs £23.  The differences end at the packaging though; where Opaque Rouge is intensely pigmented, Lip Velvet is much more of a sheer tint.  This shade, Spinning Plates, is a lovely cool toned mauve rose, which gives a very pretty my-lips-but-better effect on me.  Lasting power certainly doesn't compare to Opaque Rouge - Lip Velvet lasts a couple of hours tops before needing a top up.

Overall, then, I have mixed feelings about Bagsy and their lip products.  I'm disappointed in the luxe factor of Wow Lips, but impressed with Lip Velvet.  I'm a bit confused by how the range hangs together, including as it does a somewhat random smattering of beauty essentials.  Still, I'm always keen to see home grown, niche brands thrive in a sea of internationally-owned conglomerate brands, so here's hoping Bagsy brings us more products like Lip Velvet from here.

Disclosure:  PR samples

This post originated at www.londonbeautyreview.com. If you're reading it elsewhere, it's been stolen, violating my copyright.

Thursday, 9 July 2015

Burberry Lip & Cheek Bloom in Peony, Orange Blossom


Peony, Orange Blossom

Orange Blossom
Peony
Burberry's latest colour product is Lip & Cheek Bloom, a soft, mousse-y colour with a sheer-to-medium finish and powdered, soft focus finish.  It's a dual use product, designed to be used on both lips and cheeks alike, and I've been trying Orange Blossom, a soft coral shade, and Peony, a soft rosy pink.

I can't help but use the word soft a lot in this review, and if I had to choose one word to summarise the product, it'd definitely be soft.  The texture in the pot is soft, velvety and slightly bouncy, and it blends beautifully into the skin.  The finish is very soft focus, and the velvety texture ensures you get well blended, subtle results every time.  You can layer it up for more colour, but it's designed to be (you guessed it) a soft effect - the slightly powdery matte finish starts looking a little over-powdered-grandma if you layer it too much - particularly unsexy on the lip.

Anyway - for me, the standout shade of the two is Peony, which gives a very pretty pink flush, and looks soft (!) and pretty on the lip.  Orange Blossom doesn't suit my skintone quite as well - I suspect those leaning more towards warn tones will like it better.

Having used Peony for a few weeks, I'm definitely classing Lip & Cheek Bloom as soft (!!!) velvety blushers rather than true dual-purpose lip products, simply because they don't actually work very well on the lips.  The texture feels absolutely lovely, and the effect is pretty and very English Rose, but the silkiness of the formula means that it doesn't adhere particularly well for the lips, and slips off pretty quickly.

At £24, Lip & Cheek Bloom is expensive - not too wildly expensive if it were truly a multi-purpose product, but pretty expensive for a blush.  The blendable texture, matte finish and very spring-like shades make it perfectly lovely, though, if you're a fan of Burberry, or are looking for an indulgent cheeky (see what I did there?) treat.  Word of caution, though - make sure you have a brush for application (preferably dual-fibre, preferably small headed).  The neck of the pot may be a little small for fingers if you have long nails.

Disclosure: PR sample

This post originated at www.londonbeautyreview.com. If you're reading it elsewhere, it's been stolen, violating my copyright.

Wednesday, 6 May 2015

BUY THIS NOW: Pur Minerals Pout Pen in Fuzzy Navel & Cosmo




Fuzzy Navel

Cosmo
I remember when Cover Girl launched their Outlast Lipstains - chunky markers full of lip stain, sadly not available in the UK, but brought back from the States by many a beauty addict for friends and family alike.  They were pretty popular for a while, until we realised that they were actually pretty drying, and kinda hard to apply, and went back to traditional lipsticks and glosses.

Pur Minerals are bringing back that trend with their Pout Pens, £14 - they feature a lipstain saturated marker (albeit with a much finer tip) at one end, and a chunk of slightly tinted balm at the other.  The premise is that you colour in your lips with the stain, and then apply the balm on top to keep the lips moist.  Nothing particularly new, but it is nice to have both products in the same packaging, and the addition of a slightly tinted balm means you can use it alone too.

The major appeal here is the lasting power - and wow, does this stuff last.  I've been wearing Cosmo a fair bit recently (I'll never turn down a good red), and so long as I apply the initial stain evenly and precisely, I can get through the entire day with perfect red lips which don't fade or smear or budge or anything.  And then when I get home, I have to fight to remove the stuff, ending up with lips which are still stained a subtle red.

THAT'S lasting power, people.  If you have to fight your makeup to get it off, it's a good 'un.

There are exceptions, of course - if you eat a super oily meal, it'll loosen a bit, although you'll still end up with a stained pout, if not a full intensity pout.  And if you try to layer it up too much, it'll be both incredibly uncomfortable and look a bit patchy.  But still, get the application right and you're set for the whole day.  If you love a good strong lip, you're lazy about reapplying, but can be bothered to smush on a bit of lip balm, this stuff is definitely worth a try.

Disclosure:  PR sample

This post originated at www.londonbeautyreview.com. If you're reading it elsewhere, it's been stolen, violating my copyright.

Monday, 4 May 2015

New Shades! Bourjois Color Boost Lip Crayons in Proudly Naked, Sweet Macchiato, Pinking Of It



Proudly Naked, Sweet Macchiato, Pinking Of It

Bourjois' biggest, shiniest release for spring/summer may have been the Aqua Laque lipglosses, but there were also a few new shades in one of Bourjois' often underlooked Color Boost Lip Crayons. These crayons are pretty much a dead dupe for Clinique's groundbreaking Chubby Sticks, although they typically offer a touch more colour.

Anyway, the three shades are Proudly Naked, a slightly beige toned pink which is a glorious my-lips-but-better shade on me; Sweet Macchiato, a rich brown based red which is surprisingly subtle despite being such a strong colour; and Pinking Of It, a fuschia toned pink which just screams summer.

At just £7.99 each, these little crayons are a bargain - they're pretty long lasting, keep lips hydrated, and offer a great balance between pigment and juiciness in the finish.  Find them now at Boots.

Disclosure:  PR samples

This post originated at www.londonbeautyreview.com. If you're reading it elsewhere, it's been stolen, violating my copyright.

Monday, 13 April 2015

Surprisingly Wearable: OCC Metallic Lip Tar in Role Play



I've long been a fan of OCC's Lip Tars for their high pigmentation and long lasting powers.  The new metallic versions... well, I've been a bit scared to try them, fearing that OCC's penchant for intensity would make for an extremely metallic finish, more robot lip than I was prepared to wear.

They're actually much more subtle than that - the metallic finish is a richer, deeper tone-on-tone metallic effect than the usual silver or gold foil-y overlay.  I'm wearing Role Play, a metallic red which catches the light prettily and gives a really nice alternative to the usual matte cream reds I usually wear.

As you can see, this formula is still very susceptible to feathering - I'm not wearing lip liner in the above photo, and I really should have done.  Feathering aside, the colour lasts well just as the original Lip Tars do.  As always, the pigmentation means that you need the tiniest dot for full, opaque colour, meaning that one £13 tube of Lip Tar should last you a very, very long time.  Find it now at Cocktail Cosmetics.

Disclosure:  Bought by me at Sephora in Palo Alto.


This post originated at www.londonbeautyreview.com. If you're reading it elsewhere, it's been stolen, violating my copyright.

Friday, 27 March 2015

Bourjois Rouge Edition Velvet - New Spring Shades Beau Brun, Don't Pink Of It,So and So Hap'pink


Left to right:  Beau Brun, Don't Pink Of It, So Hap'pink

Beau Brun

Don't Pink Of It

So Hap'pink

Bourjois have added three new shades to their already comprehensive Rouge Edition Velvet lineup for spring.  Beau Brun is a surprisingly deep brown shade with red tones (which handily prevent it from being too 1990s), Don't Pink Of It is a soft, pale, neutral pink which I imagine will be paired with smoky eyes up and down the land, and So Hap'pink is a bright, neutral toned pink shade with a slightly beige undertone, putting it firmly halfway between a bright lip and a my-lips-but-better shade.

So Hap'pink is my favourite of the three - it's a bright, fresh pop of colour which isn't too bright, and it works brilliantly with the matte finish.  Don't Pink Of It, conversely, looks a little bit chalky with that matte finish, and is my least favourite.

As always, Rouge Edition Velvet costs a reasonable £8.99 from Boots and all the regular high street stockists.

Disclosure: PR samples


This post originated at www.londonbeautyreview.com. If you're reading it elsewhere, it's been stolen, violating my copyright.
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