Review: Rimmel Lasting Finish Matte Lipstick

photo courtesy of becomegorgeous.com 

Hi beauty lovers,

Here's part 3 in my recent lipstick haul review. I unintentionally bought this lipstick being instantly attracted to the vampy plum colour from Rimmel's new Kate Moss collection without realising I had something very similar at home already (which also cost a lot more!), so I've found myself a great dupe!

Read on for more details...

Also a quick note just to let you guys know that our "real lives" are catching up with us a bit, what with assessments and job applications etc so the posts may be a little light but we'll try our best to keep up with at least one new post a week. Apologies for the apparent slackness! I hope you'll all be understanding (or alternatively not care/notice at all!).

If I could only have... Lipstick?

If I could only have one piece of makeup... it might possibly be lipstick! I absolutely love my bright red lipsticks - it gives the impression that my whole face is more polished with a quick, easy swipe - see below:

Bright lipstick isn't for everyone but with my newishly blonde hair, red lippy really balances out my face - without, I kinda look like a floating pair of eyes (which, I suppose, is not entirely bad). I ran out of time this morning to try adding lipstick to cheeks, but I'm sure it would have looked good.

Want to know which lipstick I am wearing? Follow me after the jump!

Secret Kisses Lipstick - Haul, Swatches, Review!

I have been obsessed with searching around for good places to get alternative-coloured lipsticks for an AGE and never made the jump to buy any until a recent purchase from Secret Kisses, which has a dizzying array of colours from all over the rainbow. Want green or yellow lipstick? They have it. I've had my eye on blue and purple for a while.

The Choices

Lime Crime has a fantastic range but there has been drama with the company in terms of repackaging, online harrassment of competitors to name a few of many horrors I've read about them. Also, the lipsticks look like they require frequent reapplication and stain/bleed the lips. 

I wanted a creamy, opaque blue / purple lipstick and narrowed the search down to two: Ka'oir Cosmetics and Secret Kisses. However, I found out that allegedly, Keyshia Dior was a rep for Secret Kisses but then left the company to start her own, virtually identical line using the same manufacturer, and was subsequently being sued by Secret Kisses. So this left me with one choice: Secret Kisses Lipsticks! (Both Lime Crime and Ka'oir lipsticks are more expensive than Secret Kisses too!)

What I bought

Secret Kisses had a christmas sale selling lipsticks for $10.99 USD with free shipping if you bought more than five, so I snapped up a bunch of them (and got two for Suz/Donttheyknowwhoiam as well). I may have gone slightly overboard - blame exam time binge-spending.

The chip in Lavish was my fault - it was perfect in the packaging!

Follow me after the jump to see the review & swatches!

Universal lip color - L'oreal Paris Studio Secrets Professional

On my flight back from China, I saw a pack of 3 lipsticks for a very reasonable price - L'oreal Paris Studio Secrets Professional - Universal Lip Glow! I talked my little sister and mum into going in for a packet with me and we got one :D It's supposed to change to a colour depending on the pH of your lips, and although mine wasn't a dramatic change (I suspect few of them are very dramatic) it's a nice subtle upgrade to my lips and evens out the colour a little. Subtle also means wearable, so it should get a lot of use.

Follow me after the jump to see more!

FOTD Geisha Goddess

Following up on Sabrina's Face of the Day here is my attempt at a bold lip (if you've read our "About Us" section then you'll be well aware of my fear of red lipstick).

Still on holidays so relying on minimal supplies I was desperate to try my new red hot lipstick so this is what I came up with for a night time dinner/event (because I would not have the balls to wear this during the day). I'd probably recommend this to someone with lighter hair than mine because as you can see, with black hair it ends up looking a bit geisha-esque!

Products Used
- Foundation: MAC Studio Fix Fluid in NW30
- Concealer: Bobbie Brown Face Touch Up Stick in 4.25 Natural Tan
- Blush: Nars in Orgasm
- Eyeliner: MAC Powerpoint Eye Pencil in Industry (Black)
- Covergirl Colorstay Lipstick in Hot Passion 305 (Red)

If you I were at home with my full collection I would have preferred to use a smooth liquid eyeliner, filled in my eyebrows a bit and a bronzer (possibly a different coloured blush) but it's a nice simple look that'll make an impression!

Give it a try and I'd love to see the results on other people!

x Sparkle

Revlon Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stains

2 for 1 sale on Revlon at Priceline (I KNOW, i have a problem!) meant that I just had to try the new Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stains. I love the idea of a drug store version of the Clinique Chubby Sticks and there's such a novelty about a lip product that looks like a fat crayola pencil!

I bought the colours Smitten (dark pink) and Precious (neutral honey colour). Here are the swatches compared to my current go-to Revlon Lip Butter in Berry Smoothie.

L: Revlon Lip Butter in Berry Smoothie
Center: Revlon Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stain in Precious
R: Revlon Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stain in Smitten