Models Own Orangeade Hyperbrite Lipstick Swatch & Review

Models Own Hyperbrite lipstick in Orangeade is a neon orange, it's fairly neutral in tone and doesn't pull too red or pink. This one is sheerer than the other one's I've reviewed so far but does still hold a lot of color. These are meant to be matte but I find they are much more of a semi-matte as they do have a slight sheen. I think these lipsticks are really fun pops of color and for a pretty good price point.

The texture is quite waxy so they do tend to last a good while, about 5 hours on me before looking a bit faded. They also have quite a strong sweet fruity scent but it doesn't last long after application. Given that they are matte they don't provide much hydration but at the same time they're not as drying as some other mattes. For reference Bobbi Brown's Atomic Orange and Mac Morange are much more pigmented and opaque in coverage. 

Swatches...

Models Own Orangeade (daylight)

Models Own Orangeade (flash)

Mac Extra Dimension Eye Shadow in Havana Swatch & Review

Havana eye shadow is from Mac's Extra Dimension collection, it's a warm medium brown with golden shimmer. It has great payoff and is very smooth and buttery, I think you can get away with using these wet or dry. This color slightly reminded me of what Tempting would look like with out the chunkiness.

You get quite a lot of product in these ones (same sized pot as the Mega Metal but less quantity). This colour in particular I think really lends itself to a bronzy smoky eye. I used this over a Benefit Creaseless Cream Eyeshadow and it lasted all day with no creasing or fading. I'm pretty sure these are limited edition so it's best to check these out before it's too late!

Swatches...

Mac Havana (daylight)

Mac Havana (flash)

Guerlain Meteorites Pucci Perles D'Azur Swatch & Review

This year's Guerlain Summer collection comes courtesy of Pucci. Some of the products come housed in  a beautiful aqua print which really makes me think of the Italian Riviera. The meteorites in particular come in this dinky little blue metal tin (thank goodness no more horrible cardboard) with a Pucci print lid. The balls are a mixture of cream, peach, turquoise, pink and beige.

I would very much classify this as a luxury product, not only because of the high price point but more for the fact that they don't do a whole lot. On the skin they give a very light dusting of powder and a few small sparkles. Now I'm more of a shimmer/sheen type girl as I think it's a bit more flattering and natural so maybe it's a bit wasted on me, I do however still love this product and think there is a time and a place for sparkle. These mini baubles have the classic Guerlain violet scent which is quite strong but doesn't really last.

I'm sure this will sell out like hotcakes so I would snap one up if you think you'll want it ASAP. I think these are out in the US already. In the UK I've asked at Selfridges and John Lewis and they've both advised me that they expect these from the end of May or the end of June, nobody seems to have a definite answer! I happened to find mine already on sale at the airport so keep your eyes peeled!

Swatch... (yes I promise I did swatch this- you have to look very closely for the teeny sparkles :-) )

Guerlain Meteorites Perles D'Azur (daylight)

Mac Superb Extra Dimension Skinfinish Swatch & Review

This Mac skinfinish came out with it's Extra Dimension earlier this month (although we didn't get it in Spain for some reason- but Hey Sailor is already out here so expect reviews next week!). Superb is a rosy beige with high shimmer, I've heard it's virtually identical to Estee Lauder's Gelee powders but unfortunately I don't have any to compare to. This is a very soft and highly pigmented powder and almost cream hybrid, it's best to use it on the high planes of the face and avoid any large pores.

I get a good full days wear out of this before it wears off. This sort of shade I think would suit both warm and cool skintones as it doesn't pull too pink. I know it's been one of the more popular shades in the collection but I've still seen a few of these around in London so if you think you might be interested it would be worth checking it out sooner rather than later!

Swatches...

Mac Superb (daylight)

Mac Superb (flash)

By Terry Aqualip Jelly Tint 101 Dancefloor Flirt Review & Swatch

On a recent trip to SpaceNK I came across this little gem from By Terry, it's a beautiful sheer fluro hot pink lip stain. This  has a lovely water-gel texture that feels lightweight yet hydrating so to me it definitely feels like the next generation lip stain. It's not at all sticky or tacky and literally feels like water on the lips.

It claims to have a "tattoo-print color" and it really does last- even through a decent meal and several drinks it still looked great. The packaging is relatively plain but functional, I should note that it looks neon orange in it's little tube but when you swatch it or wear it on the lips it's most definitely pink!

Even though this product is sheer it's still very intense colour and gives a nice tint to the lips. I get about 5-6 hours wear from this one before it starts to fade away. It really is a great product and I really hope Terry will come out with more of these in future!

Swatches...

By Terry Aqualip In Dancefloor Flirt (daylight)

By Terry Aqualip In Dancefloor Flirt (flash)

Coming soon...

Just a quick iPhone snap of some of my beauty purchases while I was in London this week. I'll try and get through as many as I can, but if you have any special requests let me know! The ones I'm most excited about are the Pucci for Guerlain bronzer/meteorites and the ByTerry Aqualip!

Bobbi Brown Nectar Shimmerbrick Swatch & Review

 Bobbi Brown Shimmerbrick in Nectar is a mix of pink, beige and lots of pinky corals. Overall it's a pretty peach tone depending how heavy you are with the brush at the top or bottom. This is probably my favourite out of all the Shimmerbricks and gives a pretty glow to all skintones. You have to be aware that these are some of the frostiest highlighters out there so it's essential you apply with a light hand to avoid really artificial looking glimmer. I think these work best at the top of the cheekbones (before you put on any blusher/bronzer) but not on any large pores or marks as it can emphasize imperfections.

The packaging is standard Bobbi, it comes in a largish square black plastic box with a mirror under the lid, nice but functional.

Swatches...

Bobbi Brown Nectar (daylight)

Bobbi Brown Nectar (flash)

Liz Earle Cleanse & Polish Hot Cloth Cleanser Review

I've always been curious about this cleanser from Liz Earle and whether it really lives up to all the hype that surrounds it. The main reason it's taken me this long to take the plunge is that I'm very much in the camp of "the gentler, the better" when it comes to skincare, especially if you have sensitive skin and I really think that scrubbing your skin can damage or cause broken capillaries. So I've never been one to advise the use of Clarisonics, rough cloths or even exfoliators with beads in them (I much prefer cream exfoliators that use ingredients like lactic acid).

I bought the 100ml bottle which comes with a little pump that gives about the right dose in 1-2 doses. It's a thick white paste that smells quite strongly of eucalyptus, after gently rubbing into your face you take the muslin cloth soaked in warm water and wipe away. You are supposed to be able to take of mascara with this but I prefer to remove it with a cotton pad soaked in Bioderma Crealine first to minimise any rubbing around the eye area.

I haven't experienced any irritation or spots with this so far but I do find the muslin cloth a bit too rough to use twice a day so instead I've been using this in the morning without the cloth and then in the evening with it. Overall I would say this is a nice cleanser and at a good price point, it hasn't dried out my skin, made it feel tight, uncomfortable and always makes it feel clean and doesn't leave a residue behind.

Models Own Ibiza Mix Hed Kandi Nail Polish Review & Swatch

Fresh back from my trip to the UK and the first of my many beauty purchases I've got to review is this- the Models Own Ibiza Mix nail polish from their Hed Kandi Collaboration. It's a really pretty one made up of bigger turquoise, lilac, gold and copper glitter pieces and gold, pinkish and bright blue smaller glitter bits in a clear base. This is one of those polishes that you need to dab on to get an even placement of glitter and you do need to wait until each coat is dry before attempting the next, otherwise you can accidentally move them around.

I used 3 coats here and I have pretty good coverage, but I think this was mainly designed for layering over other colours. As with most glitters this dries very quickly, I haven't used a top coat here but I think adding one would give it a nice glossy shine. I get about 5 days wear out of these, the glitter seems to hang on to my nails like glue so removal is a bit of an effort (I think the key is to soak a cotton pad in remover and press against each nail for a good 45 seconds then wipe off). The only thing I'm not so keen on is the smell, don't get me wrong- nail polish never smells good but this one seems particularly noxious! For those who are curious, this is nothing like Deborah Lippmann's Happy Birthday or one of the many imitations as it doesn't have the rainbow of glitters.

Deborah Lippmann Glamorous Life Swatch & Review

This is Glamourous Life by Deborah Lippmann. It's a metallic rose gold shade that is incredibly hard to photograph accurately, it's much prettier in real life! If you take a bit more care than I did here you could minimise the amount of brushstroke lines. This is with 2 coats but another coat would be desirable to get rid of any VNL.

I get about 3-4 days wear out of this before I get any tip wear which is about average for me. Over in the UK and Europe these are pretty expensive (about 20 euros) so I like having something that is more unusual in colour to justify the price. Overall it is a lovely nail polish and I'm sure I would repurchase.

Guerlain Blondie B01 Rouge G Le Brillant Swatch & Review

Guerlain Rouge G Le Brillant in B01 Blondie is a pinky beige colour with subtle shimmer. This is a really lovely lipstick for those days when you want something a bit more neutral. As it's part of the Rouge G Le Brillant range it's slightly less pigmented than the normal Rouge G's but this one still gives a decent tint to the lips. I find the Rouge G's very moisturising as lipsticks go, they are much more expensive but you are partly paying for the beautiful packaging. It comes in a very heavy metal case with a clever flip up lid as you pull the top away. One annoyance is that the metal does hold a lot of fingerprints.

These are slightly scented- sort of a sweet floral but doesn't linger too long on the lips. The Rouge G's are quite creamy and have a nice balm texture but in general I get about 4 hours wear from this shade before it fades away.

Swatches...

Guerlain Blondie (daylight)

Guerlain Blondie (flash)

Essie Brazilliant Swatch & Review

Essie's Brazilliant nail polish is a bright tangerine orange with beautiful hot pink shimmer. This colour really varies depending on what light you happen to be in. I think it's very pretty and summery, perfect with a tan! The formula is on the thick side but is quite pigmented and goes on opaque in just 2 coats. I get around 3 days before I experience any tip wear which is about standard for me.

Essie Brazilliant (daylight)

Essie Brazilliant (indoors)

Chanel Rouge Allure Velvet La Distinguee 33 Swatch & Review

 Chanel launched it's Rouge Allure Velvet line last year, they have a lovely texture for a matte lipstick, sort of creamy and balm like. La Distinguee is a medium peach with a tawny undertone. Even though these are labeled as matte finishes I would say they are semi matte as they do carry a slight sheen which stops your lips from looking too lifeless. This is very much a MLBB shade and looks great on its own or paired with a smoky eye.

The Rouge Allure Velvets are very pigmented, I get full coverage in a couple of swipes. This shade lasts about 5 hours before it gradually fades away. The packaging is the same as standard Rouge Allures, it's quite a hefty click up case which feels very luxurious.

Swatches...

Chanel La Distinguee (daylight)

Chanel La Distinguee (flash)

Kiko Water Eyeshadow in Grey Wood 11, Swatch & Review

 Kiko Water Eyeshadow in 11 Grey Wood is a beautiful complex shade of taupe with a grey-lilac undertone, I can also see elements of brown and blue once it has been blended out. I haven't heard much talk in the beauty world about Kiko, but I'm pretty sure they're widely available throughout Europe at least. These eyeshadows are what first caught my eye, the texture is very smooth, it's highly pigmented and you can use them both wet or dry, if you use it wet it really brings out the pearl and helps it adhere better. I do find them to be pretty long lasting even when I don't use a primer underneath.

 The packaging is simple but practical, it comes in a little fabric pouch, the plastic square pot also has a mirror underneath the lid. I love the 3D design on the actual eyeshadow! This performs like a much more expensive eyeshadow so it really took me by surprise how much I liked it. If you happen to have a Kiko store near you I highly recommend checking this one out!

Swatches...

Kiko Grey Wood (daylight)

Kiko Grey Wood (sunlight)

Kiko Grey Wood (flash)

Nars Bolero Velvet Matte Lip Pencil Swatch & Review

Nars Velvet Matte Lip Pencil in Bolero is a very pigmented, creamy pale peach. It has a lot of white pigment in it which makes it stand away from the face, it's quite similar to Illamasqua's Obey lipstick which I reviewed earlier, I would say this was slightly less forgiving if you have dry or cracked lips. As it's a matte finish and a slightly chalky texture, I highly recommend exfoliating and moisturising your lips before applying this as it can settle into lip lines.

However, I do think if this is applied correctly it can be a stunning lip colour- perfect with a flicked out liner and soft peach cheeks. I get about 3-4 hours wear from this although I find my lips are a bit parched at the end of that period of time. Bolero comes in a jumbo pencil packaging which is very easy to apply (you will need a extra large pencil sharpener) but you do get slightly less product for your money.

Swatches...

Nars Bolero (daylight)

Nars Bolero (flash)