Spring Lip Edit

Spring is finally here! It's time to say goodbye to those dark winter shades and embrace lighter, warmer shades to match the slightly warmer weather we're getting. Normally I struggle with this edit as I've never really had a lot of spring shades but this year I was overwhelmed and struggled to confine it to just five select lipsticks.

Maybelline Color Sensational Creamy Matte Lipstick in Brown Sugar
I never thought I could get away with wearing a brown lipstick but when Maybelline release their shade Brown Sugar that all changed. It's just a straight up brown shade that doesn't have any undertones running through it but looks stunning on a variety of skintones. This creamy matte formula means that it just glides onto the lips and whilst it doesn't completely dry down it doesn't transfer or dry lips out. I'd advise using a lip liner with this because it's creamy formula means it can feather and smudge if touched.

Rosie For Autograph Lipstick in Silk Cami 
The Rosie For Autograph range has such a stunning collection of lipsticks and I could easily fill all five places on this edit with them but I've been restrained and got it down to two, this first of which is the shade Silk Cami. It's not a brown nude but it's not a peach shade either. It's a hybrid of the two but can look either way depending on how the rest of your make up look. I love pairing this with the Rosie For Autograph Lip Definer in Silk to give it more a brown look. These have a satin finish to them that don't budge or become uncomfortable to wear throughout the day and reapplication is easy and fault free as well.

Rosie For Autograph Lipstick in Rosie Lips
A lipstick I didn't think would suit me but has become one of my favourite Spring Lips is the new Rosie For Autograph shade Rosie Lips. It's a deep pink that doesn't look like it will suit paler skintones but in fact does and looks stunning with flawless skin and big fluttery lashes. These lipsticks are a sheen finish but once they're on the lips they don't budge, bleed or slide everywhere. I'll definitely be getting a lot of wear out of this during the Spring and Summer Months.

Stila Stay All Day Liquid Lipstick in Patina
A liquid lipstick I find myself reaching for a lot now the warmer weather has decided to grace us with it's presence comes from Stila. It's their bestselling shade Patina, a muted mauve pink shade. Because it is a liquid lipstick it can be drying on the lips but with a bit of lip balm underneath it can feel more comfortable on the lips. The doe foot applicator makes application easy and one thin coat leaves lips with a highly pigmented, opaque finish. I always use a lip liner with this just to make everything look a bit more precise.

NYX Matte Lipstick in Whipped Caviar 
When I was choosing lipsticks for this edit I very nearly went with the Rosie For Autograph Lady Rose but then discovered this hidden in my collection. This is the NYX Matte Lipstick in Whipped Caviar, it's a brilliant dupe for Lady Rose and a fraction of the cost. If you haven't seen Lady Rose, it's a dusky pink shade with hints of mauve running through it. And Whipped Caviar is the exact same shade. It's a comfortable long wearing matte lipstick that doesn't transfer, ball up or bleed along the lip line. And if this shade isn't for you then there are another 40 shades in the range which you'll surely find one that you like.

Spring Lip Edit

That time of the year has come. It's time to say goodbye to the dark berry toned lipsticks I've worn since September and time to say hello to those lighter more Spring-esque lip colours that you're seeing everywhere at the moment.

My first lipstick of choice is one that hasn't left my lips since I brought it. It's the Rosie For Autograph Lipstick in the shade Lady Rose. It's a stunning mauvey nude shade that doesn't have too much brown in it or too much pink either. If you're of a fairer complexion like me and have shyed away from nudes because they wash you out, go and give this a swatch. This shade actually adds a warmth to the skin that some nudes don't. It is a sheen finish lipstick but I've found that it dries down to almost a semi matte finish that is comfortable on the lips and long wearing. It's very creamy to apply and is opaque in one coat but you can always layer it up if you really want to make your lips a statement. Whilst it does transfer when you eat and drink, you're not left with that odd looking line around your lips and touching it up is simple and easy. Definitely one I'm going to be getting a lot of wear out of this spring.

The next lipstick of choice is an old favourite of mine and surprisngly it's still going strong. It's the Revlon Colorburst Stain in the shade Honey. This is a perfect level if you're just starting off with lipsticks. It's a very light yet wearable pink shade that goes with most looks and adds just a touch of colour if you don't want a bold lip. It comes in a chubby balm like packaging which makes it easy to travel with and for touch ups. It can taking some building up to get the colour pay off you want but as it's a stain once that initial shines gone you are left with a stain of colour on your lips which stays put for quite a while. Plus it smells like mint and is refreshing on the lips when they're not feeling their best.

Onto the third lipstick and technically it's not a lipstick but a lip liner. But as I wear it like I would lipstick I thought it'd be okay to mention. This is the Rimmel Exaggerate Lip Liner in Eastend Snob. It's another of those mauvey pink shades that doesn't completely wash out the complexion. Creamy texture this applies nicely to the lips and doesn't budge off the lips. However it can be very drying on the lips and can show all the imperfections on your lips. As it's a mechanical pencil it can be harder to apply than the other lipsticks/lip liners and is very easy to break as you apply it.

Number four is another lipstick from Rimmel. It's the Kate Moss Nude Lipstick in 45. When I first saw this lipstick I considered it to have a mauve undertone but comparing it to my Rosie For Autograph lipstick it looks like it has more of a grey undertone. It may just be me but they certainly don't look similar. However it's still a lovely sheen finish lipstick that doesn't go over the top with the colour but still gives a nice finish to a look. It can be slightly drying on the lips but you can easily pop a bit of lip balm over the colour to make sure lips stay hydrated for longer.

The last lipstick of choice is the only matte lipstick to feature in this edit. It's the Maybelline Color Drama Velvet Lip Pencil in the shade Keep It Classy. This is a slightly brighter pink than the others but is still neutral enough to wear everyday. It comes in a pencil form similar to the NARS Velvet Lip Pencils which makes application quick and easy. Initially there is a sheen to the finish but it does dry down to a matte finish that lasts all day and isn't ridiculously drying on the lips. I love these pencils as they easy to use, small enough to throw in your handbag and quick for touch ups.

So that's it for my Spring Lip Edit. What are your top 5 lipsticks this spring? Do you have any recommendations for me to try out. Let me know in the comments.

Make Up Haul

Over the last couple of weeks I've picked up a few make up bits, some I've had my eye on for a while and some new releases that caught my eye. So I thought I'd share them with you as quick post between my normal weekly scheldule.

I picked up these two new colour releases from the Barry M Quick Dry Polish collection. There new releases are very summer based, all very bright and some even sparkly. There was only two colours that stood out to me, Need For Speed and Get Set Go. Need For Speed is a bright lavender toned purple and Get Set Go is a bright corally pink shade. Both polishes are opaque in one coat and leave a glossy shine to the nails. These will look amazing with a tan in the summer but for now I'm wearing Get Set Go on my tootsies to brighten them up a bit.

The next product I picked up was another Barry M polish and another new release. From their Gelly Hi Shine range I picked up Sugar Plum this beautiful pink almost raspberry shade. When it comes to these polishes I always make sure I pick up the latest shades when they come out. Thick formula, opaque in one coat and a high gloss finish, these are a must have in my collection. This shade will be beautiful in the summer but can also be used as a transition shade as we come into autumn.

I will admit I picked this up purely for the packaging. However after some reading up on it, I am excited to try this out. With a formula containing vitamins and cucumber, this product is supposed to wake eyes up and nourish lashes. I'm intrigued by this and from the look of the brush it's going to be right up my street. Also it smells of cucumber which is supposed to soothe tired eyes and help them look more awake and refreshed. I will be doing a review on this soon when I've given it a go.

This purchase has been months in the coming. After seeing everyone talking about this I thought it was about time I tried out the Rimmel Exaggerate Lip Liner in EastEnd Snob. And I can see why everyone raves about it. I've worn this a couple of times and while I love the colour and the finish, I find the application can be tricky. I've only had it a couple of weeks and have already snapped some of it off. That aside I really like this lip liner and if you're looking for a pinky nude lip then this is definitely what to go for.

This is a new release from Loreal and to begin with I wasn't very interested. I thought that these new Infallible Glosses were exactly that, glosses. However I was pleasently surprised to find that they did matter shades as well. So obviously I had to pick one up. I got the shade Smoke Me Up which a brilliant raspberry pink shade, perfect all year round in my opinion. The applicator reminds of one I've seen from YSL recently and I'm intrigued to see how it applies. As with the mascara I will be doing a full review once I've worn it.

I'm not exactly thrilled by this product but I'm working on ways to make it work. This is the Kate Moss for Rimmel in 101. I've been on a nudey pink lip binge lately and when I swatched this I thought it would be perfect but it doesn't come across like that on the lips. It still looks quite shiny for a matte finish and the shade is one that doesn't quite suit my skintone. However I'm going to try and pair it over EastEnd Snob to see if it neutralises any of the baby pink tones in it.

The last product I picked up is probably a boring purchase to some but I think no one can ever have to many grey/grey toned nail polishes. I love the Colour Show nail polishes from Maybelline and this one is no different. Called Sidewalk Strut this is a part of a new range of nail varnishes releases to celebrate 100 years of Maybelline. Opaque in one coat but absolutley stunning with two coats, this is a beautiful colour that I'm going to wear all year round.

Have any of you tried any of these? Do you have any recommendations?

Spring Lip Edit

When it comes to lipsticks I'm the kinda girl that sticks to the shades she knows. However reds and dark berry tones aren't suitable all year round. So a few weeks ago I started to buy and test some new pinky/peachy toned lipsticks for spring. And now the weather is becoming more spring like I thought it was time to share my Top 5 Spring Lipsticks with you.

Revlon Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stain in Honey 
This is probably my favourite of all 5. It's easy to wear and suits a multitude of skin tones. It's a beautiful easy to wear pink that is ultra-moisturising on the lips. It looks darker in the tube but when applied to the lips is actually a brighter rosy toned pink. It leaves a nice gloss like sheen to the lips but after a few hours of wear the gloss wears away leaving a stain making this a brilliant product to wear on days you know you won't be able to touch it up. This balm stain can be worn over the top of lip balm so lips don't dry out or look flaky but can also be used over the top of another colour that may be too bright for spring.

Kate Moss For Rimmel In Shade 33
This is one lipstick that may require slight work on certain skin types. More of a peachy/coral toned pink this lipstick can be tricky for extremely fair skin tones to wear. However there is a way around this. It can be worn several ways, either a sheer layer applied, patted into the lips to leave a stain or the full opaque finish most people want.  This is another product that can be worn over lip balm but if you don't like the feeling then it has a non drying formula which will leave lips looking good all day. It's a sheen finish which means it a bit more work than other types but because it can be worn several ways it's a easy product to use to change a look.

Bourjois Rogue Edition Velvet in So Hap'pink 
This is the first of only two matte products in this edit, I couldn't even fathom writing this post without giving them a mention. It's non transferable formula is one of the best I've ever tried and you can eat and drink without worrying about having to touch up. At first glance this looks like a slightly darker pink but actually goes onto the lips as a peachy pink and on some skin tones will look even like a coral colour. With a doe foot applicator this is one liquid lipstick that applies opaque in one coat. It can be quite tacky when first applied but once it's dried it's not going to budge until you remove it.

Collection Cream Puff Lip Cream in Cotton Candy 
This is the other matte product in my edit. Along the same lines as the Bourjois one this is a slightly darker toned pink which looks stunning on fairer toned skins. Less of a liquid lipstick this product is good to go and opaque in one swipe but can built upon to give more of a pop of colour. This product can be quite tricky to wear, if it doesn't dry properly then it can transfer even though it's a matte formula. However if it does dry properly this product won't transfer but can be quite drying on the lips and I highly recommend that you keep a lip scrub handy for either before or after you wear it.

Revlon Ultra HD Lipstick in Peony 
This lipstick is probably the most wearable out of the five. A new release down the beauty aisles, this lipstick is one I find myself grabbing for more often than not when the balm stain is not within reach. Another coral toned pink this lipstick is ultra moisturising on the lips and looks gorgeous on just about everyone. With a sheen finish, this can be thrown over a lip balm for a sheer finish or can be built up to a bright opaque pop of colour. It has a slightly different shape to most lipsticks which makes it easy to apply as it distributes colour evenly on the lips. And if this colour isn't working with  particular look you're going for then it can be mixed with the other pinky toned shades from the range. I actually reviewed the range last week on my blog which you can find here if you want to know more.

So that was my Sping Lip Edit. Did any of them catch your eye? Or did you have your only spring lip recommendations?

Revlon Ultra HD Lipsticks

When it comes to lip products, Revlon has been one brand that has never let me down. Their Super Lustrous Lipsticks, Colourburst Balms and their Matte counterparts are amazing and it looks like Revlon's latest offering is going to be just as good maybe even better. 

The Revlon Ultra HD Lipsticks is a stunning collection of sheen finish lipsticks with a wide shade range and sleek packaging. Each lipstick is named after a variety of flower, ranging from pale pinks and nudes to breathtaking reds and darker shades. All lipsticks are packaged in sleek silver mirrored packaging with a locking system when you wind the lipstick up or down. 

The three colours I picked up were Sweet Pea a soft pink shade perfect for spring, Peony a coral toned pink and Poinsettia a classic blue toned red. The first thing that struck me when applying these was that they have a strong floral scent which isn't horrible but definitely something you're aware of when wearing them. The two paler shades are less opaque when applied, taking a couple of coats to recreate the colour in the bullet. The red however applys opaque in one coat, sliding nicely across the lips to give even coverage. 

Once on the lips they feel balmy and moisturising with a slight sheen to the finish. As expected from a non matte lipstick they don't last all day on the lips. Sweet Pea and Peony wear of the lips quicker than Poinsettia which had a longer staying power but did wear off the lips after eating and drinking. 

If you're looking for a new spring lipstick I highly recommend you check these out. All three shades look beautiful on the lips but personally for me I'd prefer a more matte formula. Brilliant spring shades, stunning packaging and easy to throw in your handbag I can guarantee that the Revlon Ultra HD Lipsticks will be a definite spring essential for me. 

Available from Superdrug and Boots