The Essence Long Lasting Lipsticks

On the Catwalk | Dare to wear | Colour Crush | Cotton Candy

Lipstick is one of my favorite beauty products, they can so easily transform a face or a look. And budget brands are great for trying new things, I have often sung the praises of the German brand Catrice, but Essence has never really drifted to the surface of the budget pond. Until now. Included in their new range are the long wearing lipsticks.

I picked four of the ten available shades and took them home with me. To be honest I wasn't expecting much, but I was happily surprised. The lipsticks are extremely pigmented, and they do last a good amount of time on the lips. Although they are no match for a MAC matte lipstick. The formula is creamy and transfers easily on to the lips. There is a certain scent that you need to like. For me it's a little too much. It's sort of floral and sweet, but you can tell that it's added, it's chemical.

I love the packaging, the matte black plastic looks pretty luxurious, and I love the colored bit of plastic that shows which shade is inside the tube. If I wear to see someone taking this out in public and coloring her lips I wouldn't think they cost under €2,50.


On the catwalk is a raspberry red lipstick that isn't quite red, but not yet a pink. Now I have a Britney Spears song stuck in my head.


Dare to wear is a cherry red that although it is named for a daring colour, it's actually quite an easy everyday red colour. This will look great with most makeup and on tons of skin tones.


You'll have a nice bright, sweet pink in this lipstick aptly called Colour Crush. It's such a nice pink colour, Barbie would approve.


A light pink colour called Cotton Candy. It's a little too pale for me, but it would look great on blondies.

The Review: L'Oreal Infallible Lipsticks

I don't think I show my glasses on here too often.

With my makeup routine constantly changing and evolving I never cease to love a good bold lip. But I've never enjoyed the constant pressure of making sure your lipstick still looks perfect and if touch ups are needed. That's where the joyous long wearing lipstick come in. L'Oreal have come out with a new range of long lasting lipsticks in fourteen trendy colors. I picked up the color 'Flawless Fuchsia', because let's be honest, who doesn't love a good pink?

The infallible formula comes in a double ended rendition that we have seen before. One side quick drying intense lip lacquer, one side balm to take away the dry feeling once the lipstick has set. My one and only gripe with this new lipstick is that second step. The balm has a specific mother of pearl type of shine. Something I don't like, at all. I prefer my lipstick matte or just with a little bit of shine. Think MAC satin. 

The lacquer itself is fantastic. Intensely pigmented and super easy to apply with the doe foot applicator. It sets quickly, so no waiting forever until you can apply the balm to get out the door. Because I don't appreciate the balm that comes with the lipstick I just use another balm I have laying around, and that works just fine. 

I'm pretty sure that I won't be purchasing other colors from this range. While the formula and the color is nice, it isn't a revolutionary new product. And I feel like there are other brands that have a nicer color selection. 

My MAC lipstick collection

I'm back! My darling boyfriend worked hard on getting my computer fixed and he managed. Windows was reinstalled and everything was wiped from it in the process. I have to start over completely and I am installing my video editor while typing this post. While my computer was out I snapped plenty of pictures and shot a couple videos so that I had an abundance of content to flood you with when my computer was back.

I saw Alix from icovetthee doing a video feauturing her mac lipsticks and noticed that her collection was quite similiar to mine. Not too big, a perfect color in each family. A red, a coral, a pink and a nude. What more could a girl want? There aren't any MAC lipsticks I am coveting at the moment, for I am very pleased with the collection I have right now.

First up is this iconic shade. Lady Danger is a gorgeous toned red. It works perfectly with my pale skin and combined with a subtle peachy blush it's the perfect colorful face. I often wear it to parties and dinners because it's a great conversation starter. Whenever I wear it people ask me what is on my lips. The finish is matte, my favorite in MAC lipsticks. It slides onto the lips easily and lasts a really long time. However, moisturizing beforehand is a must.

The Viva Glam Nicki lipstick is my second ever limited edition lipstick from MAC. I bought one in Berlin ages ago but have managed to lose it.. twice! Viva Glam Nicki is an in your face yellow toned pinky coral. It's a tricky color to combine and I have to admit that I haven't worn it that much since I own it. It probably looks a little better on darker skintones, so let's hope I can pull it off this summer.

Pink Nouveau was my first bright pink lipstick. It has a blue undertone and it looks amazing in so many ways. You can even pull this off with a darker eye makeup. It's a satin finish. Almost matte with the tiniest hint of sheen. It glides onto the lips and lasts a good time. This is the only lipstick I wear a lipliner underneath, otherwise it seeps into the lines outside your lips. Also, a moisturizer is needed, like with most lipsticks.

This is my latest and most favorite lipstick that I own from MAC. To me this is the perfect pinkyL nude. And it's matte too! Like I have mentioned on here numerous times. Glossy lips aren't exactly my favorite. I wear this color so often. Either with my very simple daily face, or with an elaborate smokey eye for a night out with the girls.

My MAC lipstick collection is small and edited. But it has everything that I need. This brand's lipsticks are amazing quality, but they're expensive. I see them as an investment, I don't purchase them on a whim. They are carefully debated choices and they really need to enrich my collection.

Do you own any MAC lipsticks? If so, which do you love most?

Catrice new additions: Matte Lipsticks

My favorite finish in lipstick is probably satin. Matte and smooth in color with the tiniest hint of a sheen to it. Second favorite is matte. Full on matte. I have plenty of matte lipsticks lying around in my lipstick drawer, but a few new additions are never unwelcome to my stack.

With Catrice's new additions to their permanent line they also included two matte lipsticks, in great wearable classic colors. The pinky coral called 'Matt about Pink' and the classic red 'It's a matt world'. At €3,99 each I usually don't expect a lot from a lipstick. But Catrice knows how to make a good product.

The application of these puppies is surprisingly easy. I know plenty of matte finishes that are a pain to get on to the lips. *cough*macrimmel*cough*. They glide on super easy, and then settle on the lip in a gorgeous matte finish. They aren't fully matte, in my opinion. Because of their softness they don't cause your lips to feel dry and uncomfortable at all.

The creaminess does make them last a bit shorter than other matte lipsticks. But they still last a decent amount of time. They would survive a cup of tea, maybe even two. But don't go out and think this will survive a full on night on the town.

Catrice lipsticks are available in thousands of drugstores across the continent

€3,99 each

Lipstick by H&M review: Worth a try?

When large clothing companies suddenly branch out to cosmetics it is usually safe to hold your hand on your wallet for a little while. The chalky pigmentless eyeshadows from H&M have been around for some time already, and they certainly are not worth your money. The other day I was in H&M with my mother, shopping the sales when I stumbled upon a new swanky rack filled with lipsticks in a bunch of colors under the rainbow. They sparked my curiosity and I cheekily opened one of the plastic packages, the color looked just like the little plastic bit at the bottom. I looked around if I could spot any employees and when I ruled the coast clear I swatched one of the colors on the back of my hand. I know, terrible and unhygienic, but I'd like to know what I am spending €4,95 on. I decided to take home two of these lipsticks because I still had a five euro off voucher that I had received when purchasing Christmas presents a couple of weeks before.

The lipsticks come in a sleek packaging that doesn't feel cheap or plastic-y to me. I love the colored bit at the bottom, it makes it very easy to tell what color it is when stored away. Allowing you to easily grab the shade you were looking for instead of having to decap each lipstick. They each have their own name, which I think is always such a nice detail.

 

Names like darling pink, wild thing, fiji fling and up all night are just that much more entertaining than a simple red, pink or beige. 

Now let's talk formulation. The H&M lipsticks are all a creamy formula, they easily glide onto the lips and I don't feel like they settle into lines or cracks that much. As with all lipsticks, it's best to apply onto moisturized lips that are free of flaky bits. The formula is soft and doesn't feel drying. The color does need a couple swipes to fully shine. But once done, the colors are amazing. 

Fiji fling is an orange tinted red, it looks much more orange in the tube than it does on the lips. So if you're looking for a good orange lipstick you are better of with MAC's Morange or Lady Danger.  It has a nice creamy shine to it, but if you want you can always add lipgloss to make it really pop. 

Pink Fool is an amazing almost neon fuchsia, this one is incredibly gorgeous. It feels luscious on my lips. I feel like it really pops if you add some pink blush onto your cheeks. For example ELF's Pink Passion powder blush.

These lipsticks are wonderful and priced at only €4,95 they are certainly worth your attention. They are going to be worn often by me, and I might be dropping into H&M soon to check out some of the other colors available.

Available at H&M for €4,95

Yves Saint Laurent Rouge Volupté in Peach Passion

Mom and dad returned from Egypt this morning and brought me, along with some other goodies, this darling lipstick from Yves Saint Laurent.

I've always wanted to own a YSL lipstick. Their packaging is so gorgeous and luxurious, it's a treat too look at!

The lipstick in particular that they got me is called Rouge Volupté in Peach Passion. It's a gorgeous color and I own nothing like it.

The formula is super duper creamy ad just slides onto your lips. I'm in love.

(This was written on my iPhone because my laptop isn't fixed yet. Sl forgive me if the sizing and layout is off. I just really wanted to publish something.)

L'Oreal Rouge Caresse

I never thought I would fall for this product the way I have. You probably know I am a lover of bold statement lips. So a product marketed as soft balm which provides subtle, sensual color shouldn't be something that floats my boat, right? Boy, was I wrong. 

This summer I want to make my makeup look less done. If that makes sense. I want a more natural, fresh faced appearance when I am out and about in the hot summer air. Not that that is anywhere near happening here in this terrible country. But a girl can dream, right? Anyway, I caved and bought the Rouge Caresse lipstick/balm from L'Oreal. I got the color 07 Cheeky Magenta. 

It's a lovely formula, melts onto your lips and leave them covered in a nice subtle color that looks natural enough to look fresh and done enough to look like you just came out of fervent kissing session with your partner. The formula is super soft and moisturizing and it leaves your lips feeling lovely. 

swatched lightly // swatched heavily

The rouge caresse line comes in twelve luminous shades that each provide a nice pop of color to the lips, while being super lightweight and moisturizing. This really is a fantastic product. The only downside, I wish it lasted a little longer. It doesn't linger quite long on the lips. 

Image shows the twelve shades available in the Rouge Caresse line of lipsticks

Pupa New Chic 10th anniversary lipstick review

I was overjoyed when I found this baby in my very first Beautybox. Beautybox is a Dutch sample subscription service much like Birchbox, Glossybox and Joliebox. The box was filled with amazing things that I have been using and enjoying for the past week or so. But I didn't get to using this lipstick. Up until now.

The Pupa New Chic lipstick has been the brand's bestselling lipstick for 10 whole years. And to celebrate this Pupa created 10 limited edition shades and I received one of them in my Beautybox. This is the shade nr. 57.

The packaging is lovely. It's a sleek red sleeve which you slide the lipstick out of, inside the sleeve is a nifty little mirror for on the go application.

The color of the lipstick itself is a gorgeous deep berry red color with a gorgeous sheen. It has a hint of plum. The sheen is pretty but not overpowering, and that's a lot considering I normally don't like shiny finishes on lipstick.

Application of this is like a dream. It's so soft and smooth it just melts onto your lips. It feels really moisturizing and it's opaque in just two swipes.

Lasting power is quite good. Because it's so soft it tends to fade a little quicker than matte lipstick, but it still lasts a good few hours unless you drink or eat.

Isn't it pretty? The Pupa New Chic 10th Anniversary limited edition lipsticks retail for €18,50 a piece. I really want to check out some of the other colors.

double sided love

Bold lipsticks. Matte bold colored lipsticks. My love for them is large. I can hardly ever decide what color I am going to sport for the day. So why not wear two? Makeup is so much fun, don't be afraid to experiment and think out of the box.

products used

Rimmel Wake Me Up Foundation | Catrice Papagena LE stick blush | ARTDeco soft brown e/s | INGLOT slightly darker soft brown e/s | Urban Decay Toasted e/s | Bourjois Volumizer mascara | NYX Shocking Pink Matte Lipstick | MAC Matte lipstick Lady Danger

Lady Danger MAC Lipstick Review

Made another MAC purchase yesterday! I love MAC and their lipsticks, they have the widest range of shades and finishes. It is impossible not to succeed when looking for a fun new color in there.

I asked the wonderfully nice makeup artist there what color she would recommend, and she immediately grabbed a number of red shades, I liked her already! She swatched a number of lipsticks and at the very last... she swatched this baby. The brightness and the orange immediately caught my eye.

This is Lady Danger, a matte finish lipstick in a gorgeous vivid bright coral red, as MAC describes. I love love love it.

When she told me the name of this lipstick, I immediately thought of Heis from the amazing blog Mw. Ekster. She once told me that I should try out this lipstick, and I did put it on my list but I kind of forgot about it afterwards. But I'm so glad I got it now!

The color is nice and unique. I don't have anything like it in my collection. Plus I love the fact that it is a matte finish. In my opinion matte and satin finishes look the best on lips. I don't like looking like someone piled a pot of glitter on my lips.

And this is how it looks on me! I so strongly dislike taking full face pictures, but it looks best like this. The lipstick has pretty good wear, after my dinner it was still mostly there. Be sure to cary a lipbalm with you at all times, because boy, this things dries your pucker out like crazy. That's the downside of matte finishes...

My week in photographs: lipsticks, dresses and tattoos

1. My favorite sight in the world!

2. I drew a heart tattoo on my finger. I might even get it tattooed, I really like it.

3. New purchase! You'll see what I bought in the next post.

4. Mom and I went shopping for a new ride, we have yet to decide on a color

5. Swatched some of the new L'Oreal Rouge Caresse lipsticks. I like the way they glide on, but I prefer much more opaque lipsticks.

6. Unhealthy eatin', because I can

7. Helped out my best friend getting his new apartment together.

8. Started reading this book! It's so difficult, one of the few times I remember that English isn't my first language.

9. Tried on a peplum dress at H&M. I'm not sure if it works on me, with my hips being all wide and such.

10. I sprained my ankle, at the beginning of this week. It's pretty much healed now, a bit of a sore spot. Walking was a bit difficult for a few days...