Red Lips.

Hi peeps! It's really nice to log back on and see some new followers. Thankyou and hello! Going to chat about a trend I have noticed the last few weeks, I cannot escape it, it's on all the pages of my magazines! Red lipstick...

It could be argued that red lips are a classic, timeless trend. But flicking through my Elle Collections A/W '13 magazine I couldn't help but notice the abundance of red lipstick used on the catwalk models on this seasons runway.

Red lips were sported on models walking for Lanvin, Armani, Meadham Kirchoff, Prada and Louis Vuitton to name a few, however the red in question was worn all different ways. 
The majority wore it glossy or with a balm finish, mattes weren't as popular this year.

Louis Vuitton and Prada sported red in a more smudged or 'just bitten' way whereas the Meadham Kirchoff and Armani models were much more polished with clean lip lines and an orange infused finish. Armani kept models super pale, with no sign of blush or even contouring which lead to a very striking 2D look, in comparison to the softer complexions on display at the other shows.

It's interesting to note that on the other end of the spectrum, the totally nude lip also cropped up an awful lot. There was a serious lack of any other colour other than red or barely-there, no signs of plums or purples so commonly seen on an Autumn/Winter catwalk. So whether you're prone to a bright pop of red, or a little shy and more comfortable with lip balm, either way you'll certainly be on trend this winter! Whichever you choose, wear it with soft eye makeup (if any at all), and refrain from pairing it with heavy eyeliner or brows, if you want to be a totally fashion-forward gal.

Thanks for reading,

E.

So fresh and so clean.

Untouched lipsticks make me happy. These two have been sitting in my drawer since December but have remained untouched until this week. Partly because the packaging fills me with a content, warm feeling every time I open my storage and see it shining back at me, but partly because I felt the shades weren't right for the season until now. 

I picked up Tom Ford 'Wild Ginger' on a staff order last year, back when I was able to receive a rather generous discount on TF products. I had been eyeing up this shade for an awful long time, I am a sucker for an orange red. This is my second TF lipstick and as usual I have been very impressed by the quality- heavy, click shut packaging paired with a smooth formula that is high in pigmentation and comfortable to wear. This colour is most striking worn with fresh, flawless foundation base and barely there eye makeup or a small and tasteful eyeliner flick.

Ben bought YSL Rouge Pur Couture in no.52 as a christmas present for me. He knows how much I love YSL but I would rarely treat myself to a lipstick from there. This is a bright coral pink, a little reminiscent of a couple of limited edition MAC lipsticks I have,  which were favourites of mine last summer. Similarly to my weakness for orange reds, I do love me a coral. And you all know I love me a bright lip, so this was always going to be love.

A little bit of luxury does everybody good, I am not sure I could ever justify a Tom Ford lipstick full price and I am kicking myself for not picking up more when I had the chance. The traceless foundation stick in Alabaster is also calling to me. Are you girls loving these shades as much as I am, or are they a bit daring for you?

Thanks for reading,

E.

How will I be wearing red lips this summer?

Long gone are the days where I would wear Russian Red day and night all year round. As much as I do still love to rock the bold red lip, I've found the perfect way to wear red that isn't so drastic or takes as much work to perfect (great for those on- the- go) or for those of you who don't feel comfortable with such a bold look.

Let me introduce to you MyFace lipstick in '155 Strawberry Fields'

This stunning lipstick was donated to me by Makeda but is available from many Boots stores or on their website and retails for £9.99.

MyFace Cosmetics are great for makeup beginners because product shades are divided into three groups according to your skintone; Fair, Medium and Dark. This lipstick comes under the Fair category so is perfect for me! If you're stuck with what lip colours, or blusher colours to use for example, pop onto the website and it'll tell you which of their products are formulated for you.

The packaging is modern and clean because it is white with transparent elements. The twist mechanism to raise the bullet is very smooth and it's helpful to see through the lid to the colour if you happened to have a selection of their shades.

I'm so impressed by this lipstick and have been reaching for it over all of my others recently. It has a sheen finish which makes it wearable for day or night and is a beautiful cherry red colour that has pink elements to it, which I think contribute to it being more wearable for the red-shy of you out there. It's a colour and a finish that I think would suit all ages, too. It can also be seen here in my Ombre Lips post. 

It's got the soft, moisturising qualities of Revlon Lip Butters but for two pounds more come in better shades that are tailor made to suit your complexion. I will wear this colour and reapply throughout the day and my lips don't feel like they're suffering by the end of the day, it really is a joy to use and I'm pleased I've been properly introduced to the brand because I think I'll buy from them again.

What do you think of this colour? Do you own anything from MyFace Cosmetics?

I'm underwhelmed by the Revlon Lip Butters...am I alone?

Revlon Lip Butter in 'Candy Apple', £7.99.

I've waited for the 'hype' to die down a bit before posting this, but as a beauty blogger I feel it would be wrong of me not to contribute my two cents about the overall product range and a more indepth review of 'Candy Apple'.

I should have taken it as a sign not to buy after I'd been in to swatch these at least four times before I finally caved and purchased (on the Boots 3 for 2 so it's not that bad). The bright colours all seemed very average in my opinion there was nothing exciting or forward- thinking about the available shades, considering I'm normally pulled into to the brights first I soon surpassed these to take a look at the nudes, more tuned- down shades that I've been trying more of this spring. However the brown- toned glazed finishes on the majority of them, or chunky glitter running through them, or the light pink shades being very 'ala Nivea Lip Care' and realistically, just too pale to ever be wearable, put me off a purchase. None of the shades seem quite right and very old fashioned.

They looked fairly appealing on blog posts I've read but never seemed to live up to it in real life, drawn onto my hand. I really wanted to like them, a soft balmy formula in a lipstick form, the term 'lip butter' instantly sounds appealing!

I'm underwhelmed if I am honest. I cannot speak for all of the shades but my 'Candy Apple' is the worst kind of red (in my opinion), a tomato red that first applies far too muted to produce an odd, muted colour. I find the level of shine in the formula mixed with a red just doesn't sit well with me generally, and really has to be worked to reach it's full bright pigment. 

It wears fairly well, longer than a gloss,similar to any standard thick lip balm or chapstick.

I do like the balm- like qualities of them however, they are comfortable to wear and do feel like their acting as a 'shield' between your lips and the outside world. They are so smooth and thick, and those factors are two I really like and are definite pros!

When a product has so much hype and anticipation for release, I really think it's important to take a step back and formulate an opinion for yourself, and whether or not the product really is for you. Perhaps I'm still stuck in my ways, aways flocking to pigmented, bold & exciting colours. However lately I am so aware that I've been steering past matte formulas (previously my chosen finish) and have moved in favour for gloss finishes...so I half expected these to be right up my alley. FYI I have drifted past the L'Oreal counter to take a look at the new 'Caresse' range, and I am slightly wary of purchasing these, maybe this 'type' of lip product just isn't for me! There, I've said it!

What has been your experience of Revlon Lip Butters so far? Are you disappointed by the shades as much as me?

Those seeking RED #Illamasqua #Sleek #17 #M.A.C.

My Favourite Red Lipsticks

I thought I'd do a post on my top 4 red lipsticks, they're all different brands & different prices to suit all budgets and tastes They're my favourite ones I own, the ones I'm most impressed with and the ones I wear the most. I'm hoping there'll be a red for everyone in the selection, let me know which one you would choose or already own!

 

Left to right; Illamasqua 'Drench', Sleek 'Vixon', 17 'Hot Chilli' and M.A.C. 'Russian Red'.

 

Illamasqua Matte Lipstick 'Drench' £15.50 for 4g

The newest red to make it into my collection is Drench. A flattering raspberry pink matte red that has cool undertones. It's ever so slightly softer than an intense red like Russian Red (review below). It takes a couple of coats to achieve an even, opaque finish but this formula lasts a good amount of time! I'd recommend this to people who like/always wear pink lipsticks, as it still has that pink 'element' to it.

Sleek True Colour Lipstick 'Vixon' £3.99 for 3.5g

This is a beautiful true red that can lean a little orange depending on the light. Vixon is the perfect red for those who haven't ever worn a red and don't want to break the bank doing so. It's the best option for girls who shy away from mattes as this one is shiny- almost glossy in finish. Considering it's cheap and has a shine, the lasting power of this is great. It contains Vitamin E which is an added bonus for nourished lips! I think it's a flaterring, vibrant colour.

17 Lasting Fix Lipstick 'Hot Chilli' £4.29.

I always get lots of compliments when I wear this. It's a neon- esque orange pigmented red lipstick, something I would call, a 'bright orange red' and is a shade somewhere between M.A.C's 'So Chaud' and 'Morange'. It's completely different to anything else I own and I love it, the pictures below don't do it justice! Formula wise, it is smooth and non drying providing a near matte finish.

To some it may be more of a spring/ summer colour but it has brightened up my winter face! I'd recommend it to girls who want a variation of a red, want to stand out or want to look like they're wearing a M.A.C. lipstick, haha!

M.A.C Matte Lipstick in 'Russian Red', £13.50 for 3g.

My oldest M.A.C Lipstick will always remain my favourite and most cherished, and this is the one. It's a matte finish blood red with blue undertones and is not for the faint hearted! It is a statement red, perfect for a retro or pin up look and is flattering as it is quite deep in tone. It's extremely long lasting and applies like a dream. I'd recommend Russian Red for those who know that they like red lips, that don't mind deeper- toned colour on their lips and want a long lasting finish. 

I'd always recommend applying a red lip liner before using red lipstick. I find it is sometimes the hardest colour to apply because it makes such a bold statement that the lines have to be perfect to avoid looking like a dogs dinner! Wear with simple flushed cheeks, and a fresh but flawless face. Blue toned lipsticks will be more flattering to the teeth, but at the end of the day it's about what red you feel most comfortable in, and what finish you prefer to wear.