NV Cosmetics - Fever Lipstick Review

With the Berry Lips trend still in full swing, it's always nice to try out new products and explore new brands. When NV Cosmetics got in touch with me and asked if I'd like to try out a few of their products, I chose the Fever* Lipstick to add to my collection.

Fever* is a gorgeous deep berry, or red wine shade and retails for the affordable price of £6.00. It's billed as being a super moisturizing, long lasting lipstick that 'glides' onto the lips... and glide is certainly does. I have to say that I wasn't expecting it to glide as quickly or easily as it does. It's quite a slippery product and therefore I'd highly recommend lining or reverse lining with a concealer pencil to avoid any bleeding.

In terms of colour, I think it's a beautiful on trend shade that's a welcome addition to my collection. Aside from slipperiness, I think the only other downside I can think of it that the packaging is bigger than that of a tradtional lipstick, so It doesn't fit into my lipstick holder which is slightly annoying... meaning that it might get used less in the future if it's not there in front of me.

I'd love to hear your thoughts on this shade. Have you tried anything by NV Cosmetics? Let me know in the comments.

Em xxx

FOTD: The 'Marmite' Orange Lip

When I posted my Make Up Revolution haul last week, quite a few messages came in about the shade Vice. I admit, it's an unusual choice and not necessarily an every day wear, but for £1, I couldn't resist picking it up.

This lipstick has divided my household, but surprisingly not in the way I expected. I'm not a fan of it at all. I don't think i've ever been so paranoid about the shade of my teeth before in my life until I wore this lipstick and can't for the life of me work out where I'd even wear a shade like this. 

On the other hand, my boyfriend M happens to think it looks okay and he actually quite liked it- like genuinely liked it and not in a 'it's on your face so I have to like it' sort of way.  Which I never saw coming at all as boy's aren't usually the most adventurous when it comes to liking make up looks... 

Here's the prouct list of everything I'm wearing.

Foundation: Nars Sheer Glow - Siberia

Concealer: Nars Radiant Creamy Concealer

Powder: Rimmel Stay Matte Powder

Eyeliner: MUA Cosmetics Liquid Eyeliner

Eyeshadow: Naked 2 Basics & Make Up Revolution Ionic 3 Palette

Mascara: Bourjois Volume 1 Seconde Mascara*

Contour: NYX Taupe Blusher

Highlight: Make Up Revolution Ultra Blush, Sugar & Spice Palette

Lipstick: Make Up Revolution Vice Lipstick

And finally, that leaves me with the question - What do you think? 

LOVE to hear your thoughts on this one!! Did you love it or hate it? Let me know in the comments.

Em xxx

Make Up Revolution Lipstick Haul

Considering about 2 years ago I only owned one lipstick, nowadays I keep hauling lipsticks like there's no tomorrow. I've been wanting to explore the Make Up Revolution range for quite a while, since I received two palettes in a swap bag at a blogger meet up this summer.

The Make Up Revolution brand is all so affordable with the priciest item clocking in at about £12.00 which is incredible. The lipsticks each retail for £1.00 each and I tried my best to resist temptation and purchase every single shade on the shelf. I settled for a respectable 7 shades, and at £7.00 for the lot - so far so good.

I chose some shades which are different to those I usually wear, as well as some more 'out there' shades which I thought would look oh so pretty for editorial style photos.

I'm looking forward to trying these out over the next few weeks and hopefully I'll be sharing some looks with you soon!

Which is your favourite shade? Let me know in the comments!

Em xxx

Barbara Daly Lip Product Haul

Barbara Daly is a new brand to me, and one that I'd never actually heard of until recently. During a quick trip to Tesco to pick up some groceries, I somehow found my way into the beauty aisle and came across the Barbara Daly stand. As a beauty blogger, finding a new brand and being able to test out products is one of my favourite things and I always love to dive straight in. I started with picking up a few lip products.

I have to say that I chose these shades mainly for their price, as these particular lipsticks were ticketed at £1.48 each, and the lip liner came in at £4.00 which I thought was an absolute bargain.

I picked up Begonia lipstick which is a deep raspberry red. Bouquet, which is a satin plum, In The Pink which is a warm coral and finally the Fig Lipliner which is a caramel colour.

On first swatch i'm probably the least convinced by The Fig Lipliner, followed by the Bouquet lipstick, but I was particularly impressed by how easy Begonia was to apply and how even the color looked, whilst In The Pink could be my last ditch attempt to hang on to summer 'lipstick'.

Barbara Daly is a confusing brand, there's no .com, and no .co.uk that I can see, plus they only seem to be sold at larger Tesco stores... but I now own a few lip products and I look forward to testing them out over the next few weeks.

Have you tried anything by Barbara Daly before?? I'd love to hear your thoughts,.. Let me know in the comments.

Em xxx

The Under £10 Hot Pink Matte Lip Edit

When I'm in the mood for a statement lip, there's only usually one colour I find myself reaching for - Hot Pink. I don't know if it's the barbie lover in me or the fact that I'm often a little afraid of wearing a traditional red lip, but there's something about pink that keeps me coming back.

I wanted to share with you 3 different products that all may be similar in colour but are all different in price and formula.

1. NYX Matte Lipstick - Sweet Pink £6.00

At £6.00,The NYX Matte Lipstick is the perfect hot pink traditional drugstore pick. It glides on easily and provides an even finish. Although this product doesn't dry out the lips, I would recommend exfoliating your lips before wearing matte shades as if you have any dry patches, you may find they show up more prominently as the day goes on.

2. MUA Luxe velvet Lip Lacquer - Criminal £3.00

At 3.00 the MUA Luxe Velvet Lip Lacquer is the cheapest of the bunch, and offers great value for money. It has a doe foot applicator, and applies like a gloss. The product feels velvety soft when applied, However, the downside is with this product, it takes quite a good few minutes to dry and become matte. If you're looking for a starter bright pink lipstick, then the drying time may be worth waiting for as at £3.00 this is a bargain and worth adding to your collection.

3. Bourjois Rouge Edition Velvet - Pink Pong £8.99

At £8.99 The Bourjois Rouge Edition Velvet Lipstick is remarkably the most expensive of the three. What I love about the rouge edition velvet line is how easy they are to apply, the fact that they are incredibly long lasting and how they fade evenly and naturally without leaving the dreaded dark line on the outside of the lips. Pink Pong is remarkably similar to the Criminal MUA Luxe Velvet Lip Laquer, but 3x the price. I find the Bourjois Pink Pong lipstick has a longer staying power and a slightly deeper colour.

3 matte lips, 3 different formulas and 3 different prices... which would you choose? Let me know in the comments...

Em xxx

Introducing The New Bourjois Rouge Edition 12 Heures Lipstick Range

If you're an avid reader of My Pale Skin, then you may know all about my love for Bourjois Lipsticks. I fell in love with the Bourjois Rouge Edition Velvet line and now I'm lucky enough to get my hands on 6 of the new Rouge Edition 12 Heures Lipstick Range* before they hit the shops on October 1st.

The Rouge Edition 12 Heures line has a semi matte finish and the lipsticks are billed as being long lasting and easy to wear. I found they swatched easily onto my arm and provided a smooth finish - so far so good!

The 12 Heures line features 6 new shades including a nude beige, dark plum, soft rose, raspberry red, pearly coral and a deep red. There really is a shade for everyone in this collection and on first swatch there are 3 stand out shades for me that I'm thinking could become every day wears - Beige Shooting, Rose Vanity and Pamplemousse. 

Pamplemousse is apparently the most requested lipstick by Bourjois of all time since It was discontinued in 2007. Now it's back by popular demand and this pearly coral is the shade which has inspired the entire range, so diehard fans need to splash out £100 on ebay to get their hands on it again. I've never tried this shade before, so I'm super excited to try it out!

I'm looking forward to getting to know this range a little better over the next few weeks and I'm hoping to create a look based around each shade, if you have any specific looks you'd like me to recreate using these shades, let me know!

The Rouge Edition 12 Heures Lipstick ranges hits the shops on October 1st, and I'd love to hear which shade is your favourite and also, which you're less keen on... Let me know in the comments.

Em xxx

Mac Velvet Teddy Review

The Mac Velvet Teddy Matte Lipstick, may just be 'the' lipstick of the moment. With the dark nude Kylie Jenner lips trend currently in full swing I dived straight in and made sure I picked up this shade on my recent trip to Mac.

The funny thing about Velvet Teddy is how different it appears depending on your skin tone On my pale skin it appeared as more of a warm brown nude, but on others it can appear more of a peachy nude shade.

The downside with matte lipstick's is that they can sometimes dry out your lips, be difficult to apply and fade unevenly if you haven't freshly exfoliated your lips. However Mac seem to have the matte formula nailed. I found that by pairing this shade with Mac Whirl lip liner it matched perfectly and gave me a perfect outline and base.

The colour pay off on Velvet Teddy is amazing, and I'd expect no less from Mac. Just one swipe of the product gives an even smooth finish and the lasting power of this product is great. I wore this shade to the Bloggers Love Pre Party and throughout the night (4 hours) even with drinks, the colour did not budge!

Velvet Teddy is possibly my new favourite mac lipstick and I've a few looks featuring it i'll be sharing with you soon! 

I'd love to hear your thoughts on this shade! Let me know in the comments.

Em xxx

Bourjois Shine Edition Lipstick Review!

 

 If you're looking for a 'My Lips But Better' lipstick then this may well be the post for you. I picked up the Bourjois Shine Edition Lipstick (shade 26) In the Bourjois Paris Goodie bag I was so generously given at Graduate Fashion Week last month.

As you guys know, I'm a massive fan of a natural nude and pink lip and when I had a little rummage through my Bourjois bag I didn't really think much of this lipstick, purely based on the packaging alone. I'd never heard of the Bourjois Shine Edition range, nor had I ever had an interest in shiny glossy lipsticks.

A few weeks after I received it, curiosity got the better of me. When I opened the tube and realised that the lipstick wasn't the horrendous warm brown shade that the bottom of the tube suggested, but was in fact a gorgeous natural pink I was pleasantly surprised.

I love how close to my natural lip colour this lipstick actually is and it's what I like to call a 'lazy girl lipstick' as the colour works well to enhance the natural shade, with minimal effort. It also fades throughout the day in a natural way, meaning I don't find myself with lipstick left on the outer edges of my lips and nothing in the middle, which is certainly never a good look when you're glued to your desk at work with no mirror in sight. I'd say you get around 4-5 hours with this one. it's not the most long lasting, but as it's such a natural shade, it's no fuss to reapply - when you eventually get around to it.

This Bourjois Shine edition lipstick has unexpectedly found it's way into my go to lip product pile and honestly, I only wish I'd started wearing it sooner.

I'd love to hear about your favourite 'My lips but better' lipsticks. Which brands should I try next? Let me know in the comments.

Em xxx

Learning to Love Colour!

When you have Pale Skin, one thing that can be scary is colour. I admit, I don't often wear the most exciting of make up looks as I generally stick with a nude eye and some form of nude lip on a daily basis. I guess the reason, or excuse on why I usually wear nude make up looks is partly because any type of colour I seem to wear just screams *STATEMENT* against my pale skin and blonde hair. I also get nervous when I can sense someone analyzing my face or studying my make up in general daily life. I've found that a nude look with a simple winged eye is enough to look smart and pulled together, whilst also mainly going unnoticed. 

A few months ago I joined Instagram, and I love looking through at some of the insanely talented make up artists on there, there's so much inspiration just a click and swipe away, and it got me thinking... I'd finished looking at some incredible make up looks and then took a look at my own profile, and noticed that 90% off my looks all fell into the same 'safety zone' look - A simple flick with a nude/pink lip, and you know what? I was bored. I bored myself by looking at the make up I wear and decided to do something about it.

I've recently collected 4 shades of the Bourjois Rouge Edition Velvet Lipstick* and decided that I wanted to experiment with them. I also managed to pick up the Urban Decay Electric Palette as well as a few new Kiko Eyeshadows and some other goodies, all in bright colours in the hopes of actively trying to introduce a bit of colour into my daily life.

The challenge I find myself facing with colour, is slowly introducing it without it suddenly beckoning second glances, so I don't find myself getting insanely self conscious... whilst also pushing my comfort levels and trying new things! It's a bit of a conundrum, and hopefully one I can try gradually. Although, you never know, in a few months there may be some insane crazy neon eyeshadow looks featured on here as my confidence grows!

I think it's always great to push yourself and challenge your own comfort levels. That's one of my personal targets for this year, and I'm hoping to share some of these looks with you, so starting with the Bourjois Rouge Edition Velvet Lipstick in Frambourjois*, from the comfort and safety of my bedroom, I'm making a start.

I'd love to hear what some of your favourite colours are to wear! Let me know in the comments!

Em xxx

A February Wedding Make up look!

Hey All, Just wanted to share with you my FOTD from Sunday, this is the make up look I wore to a friends wedding. It was a beautiful day, and such a lovely ceremony.

I wore a pink Forever 21 dress,with a light pink Forever 21 blazer  & accessorized with a statement Roberto Cavalli Gold necklace

Make up wise, I took my Pink Plaid lipstick and Hip 'n' happy liner combo on it's first day trip!

I feel like i have my brows under control now! Finally. Honestly they were so bad before! I fill them in using my Sleek Eyebrow palette (Light) and i picked up a clear mascara on the weekend (which I'll tell you all about soon!) to fix them. Cannot believe I haven't fixed them with clear mascara earlier.

WHAT A DIFFERENCE IT MAKES! OHMYGOSH!

I set my hair using my trusty sleep in rollers, and then brushed it out. The hair dropped by the time we'd rode the central line from getting on at Chancery Lane to the wedding in Epping and gave me the volume and shape I needed to last all day!

[Haul] Mini MAC Weekend Haul 15/02/14

This weekend I made a trip to Mac to pick up some concealer as I'd run out, which is never a good thing. Even more so when you have to go to a wedding the next day and want to look your best throughout it, without re-applying. The Studio Finish concealer is my HG concealer, and during the past two days without it I've noticed how much it actually covers under my eyes and any blemishes... I can't live without it!

I also had 4x empty Studio Fix Foundation bottles and 2x Studio Finish Concealer tubs to take back to the store for the Back 2 Mac program. I really like how Mac is encouraging people to recycle and bring your empties back and in exchange you receive a Lipstick of your choice for free!

 Here's what I picked up altogether... the grand total of this mini haul was £27.00 or $45.00!

The Products

MAC Matte Lipstick in Pink Plaid

Cost  - £0!! 

I had this lipstick for free as part of the Back 2 Mac program. I'd be after it for a while as I love this shade. When I tried picking it up from Mac in Spitalfields, they didn't have it in stock, so i'm pleased I managed to pick it up from the Covent Garden Store.

Mac Lip Pencil- Hip n Happy

Cost - £12.00

A new lipstick needs a new lip pencil! I got this one to go perfectly with my Pink Plaid.

Mac Studio Finish Concealer - NC15

Price - £15.00

My HG Concealer. I swear by this for under my eyes and blemish cover. Can't live without it.

  

Bonus Sample!

Mac Studio Moisture Tint - Light

So i've been thinking about getting a new base product to wear on weekends, or when I might not need such a full coverage. I like the idea of using a tinted moisturiser as a base and then covering up any blemishes I may have with my Studio Fix concealer. I'm looking forward to trying this out!

Bonus Sample!

 Mac Prep & Prime BB Beauty Balm - Extra Light

I've heard so many good things about BB creams! I am yet to try one, so thought i'd start off with one from Mac. I'll compare this in terms of coverage to the tinted moisturiser to really see the difference between the two products.

I'm really looking forward to testing these products and creating looks using them!

I'll be back with pics and swatches soon!

3 Lipsticks, 3 Attitudes, 3 Looks

I've been doing a lot of thinking recently about how make up makes me feel. I find when i have a good make up day I feel on top of the world. When I have a bad make up day, I feel like crap and it's the start of  bad day. 

I'm not the most confident of girls, and some of the looks i post i wouldn't have the confidence to wear out of the house. I'm a worrier, and I care more than i should about other people's opinions, even though I'm old enough to know better. 

 I wanted to create 3 different looks, using 3 different lipsticks as inspiration to 3 different attitudes. I 'd really love to hear your thoughts on this set of images.

Sophisticated

To me, sophisticated looks are classy, simple and sleek. I went based this look on the purple passion lipstick from the L.A. Colours line i'd previously reviewed, paired with a slicked black wing and rosy pink cheeks. I wanted to give this lipstick a second chance, and y'know i'm glad i did.

Naivety

Pink, Pink everywhere! I tried guys, I really tried to give this lipstick another shot, but it just doesn't work on me. My least favourite of the looks, I've called this one Naivety as it is just that to me.

Vamp

Oh my gosh this look made me feel like a freaking rockstar! I don't think i've worn make up like this since i was a teenager. It's funny how much different it makes you feel when you rock a dark lip and eyes together. I feel full of teenage angst all over again.

Product list -

Face:

Foundation: Mac Studio Fix Fluid NC15

Concealer: Illamasqua Concealer 115

Powder: B. Pressed Powder Light/Medium

Blusher: Bourjois Frosted Rose

Brows:

Sleek eyebrow kit - light

Nina ricci duo eyeshadow - brown.

Eyes:

Naked Basics

Mua trio pink sorbet

Maybeline 24 hour tattoo pink gold

b. cosmetics gel liner

Mua waterproof liquid liner black

bourjois paris volume clubing ultra black

Lips

VAMP: Collection 2000 Scorned

NAIVITY: L.A Colours Pink Parfait

SOPHISTICATED: L.A Colours Purple Passion

Thanks for checking this post out and i'll be back with more looks soon!