The Review: Tarte Blushes

Let's take a moment to admire the pretties shall we? Ahhhhh...

Tarte is a relatively new brand to me, it's not readily available in the UK (unless you're willing to pay nearly double US prices to get it off QVC, which I am not) so my first forray into the brand came when my lovely Canadian friends Vanessa and Alexandra sent me some products! I've not tried much, but I've fallen head over heels for the 12 Hour Amazonian Clay Blushes. 

The lovely Alexandra sent me Captivating after I won her giveaway (woohoo!), a beautiful matte peach which really sculpts the cheeks and make me look like a better version of myself. I then bought Fearless in the states, a really beautiful bold pink, which gives me a really natural looking flush.

What really impresses me about these blushes is the wear time, when they say 12 hour, that's not an exaggeration. Even if my foundation doesn't hold out, these do! 

Have you tried anything from Tarte?

The Review: Kat Von D Tattoo Liner in Trooper

The Kat Von D Tattoo Liner in Trooper has received a fair amount of love in the blogging community recently, so naturally, when browsing the aisles of Sephora, I had to have a look. I was skeptical about picking this up, since I was quite happy with my Soap and Glory Supercat Liner, which is slightly cheaper, and much more readily available in the UK. Curiosity, however, got the better of me, and this made the transatlantic trip home with me, to be put to the test at my dressing table.

I should take a moment here to explain that I am something of an eyeliner noob. I can't do gel liner, or liquid liner in a brush and pen form for the life of me, and even pencil liner is iffy. The Supercat Liner works for me because I can basically angle it from the corner of my eye, pointing up the edge of my brow, and press it down, which gives me the perfect base for a winged liner. 

The main difference between Supercat and the Tattoo Liner is that Supercat has a foam tip, not unlike that of a felt tip pen, whereas this one is a very fine bristled brush. Because it's so fine I can basically lay this right in the base of my lashes, and create a really really fine line which I love! Because the bristles aren't as firm as the nib of Supercat, it is a little trickier to create a wing, but after three or four uses I got the hang of it. This has a more precise end, which makes creating a precise wing a lot easier. I've had trouble with the end of the Supercat Liner misshaping before too, which I would assume won't happen with bristles!

As far as formula goes, This is a little wetter than Supercat, which I like, it's more like a true liquid liner, and you never have to build it up. The liner itself is jet black, and once it's down, it's going nowhere, I've got perfect wings til bedtime. 

I was skeptical, but I think I'm a Trooper convert! There will definitely be a sneaky Sephora order when I run out!

What's your favourite liner?

The Review: Illamasqua Blush Duo

I've been on a bit of a blush love train recently (I blame Vanessa), and one of my current loves is the Illamasqua Blush Duo in Lover and Hussy. I picked this up at a bargain price in a blog sale, and it had only been swatched once. I had actually wanted this last summer but never got around to picking it up, so I was so pleased to come across this!

For starters, the packaging is definitely on the bulky side but I have actually found myself reaching for it because of the mirror inside, for everything from plucking my brows to doing my eye makeup. I don't know what's special about it but the mirror is really nice! 

So onto the product itself, I wasn't sure whether I would love the shade Lover, a bright matte apricot shade, just because it is pretty bright, but it looks really lovely on the cheeks. Hussy is a gorgeous bright matte candy pink, just perfect for summer, it really perks up the complexion. The powders are really soft and pigmented, so you only need a tiny bit, I can't see me hitting pan on these any time soon. The wear of these is excellent too, they will still be intact on the cheeks by bedtime, even after a hot sweaty day in London, no mean feat I assure you.

This is my first forray into the world of Illamasqua blushes, but it certainly won't be my last!

Have you tried any products from Illamasqua?

The Review: Nanshy Eye Brush Set

A few months back I was lucky enough to win the Nanshy Eye Brush Set in a giveaway run by the amazing Danniella, an awesome bloggy friend of mine (go follow her). I'd been looking for some new eye brushes for a while, relying on a MAC 217 and a couple of fluffy & Other Stories Brushes, so it couldn't have come at a better time!

This set retails for £29.95 and contains seven brushes, that basically get every eye related job done. They're all brilliant quality, I haven't had any shedding issues with them, and they wash really well. They're all synthetic fibre brushes, and they're vegan, & cruelty free. (P.S. Sorry that they're dirty, I kept forgetting to photograph them after I'd cleaned them!)

First up we've got the Large Shader brush, a big flat brush with a slight dome, perfect for really packing colour onto the lid. The Blending Eyeshadow brush which, you guessed it, is great for blending shadows in. It's got really soft, long bristles, and it's domed, so it fits perfectly in the crease and gently blends out the shadows. The Tapered Crease brush is a double purpose one. It's great for it's intended purpose, pushing shadow right into the crease, but it's also great for blending shadow around the lashline. The Flat Definer is great for using eyeshadow as liner, since it's easy to sit it flush to the lashes. The Eye Crease brush is my favourite for building shadow into the crease, and at a push it can blend too, a good one to chuck in for travel. The Angled Detailer has become my go to for brows, especially with the Anastasia DipBrow Pomade, and the Precise Bent Eyeliner Brush is the perfect brush for gel liner, the fact that it's bent means it's so easy to get it flat against the lash line. 

Overall? There's not one single brush in this set I haven't or wouldn't use. They're all fantastic quality and great shapes and sizes. I'm so impressed, and it works out at under £4.30 per brush, bargain!

Have you tried any Nanshy brushes?

The Review: Max Factor Face Finity Primer

As you guys know, the Max Factor Face Finity Foundation is one of my absolute favourites, so when they released a primer under the same name I couldn't wait to get my makeup maven mitts on it. 

I've been using this primer for around six weeks now, so it's fair to say I've given it a bit of a run for it's money. Also I should point out, I've barely made a dent in it. Impressive.

This primer is housed in the same packaging as the foundation of the same name, which, if I'm being honest, I don't like. It's big and clunky and kinda old lady looking. The glass is unnecessarily thick and the lid is huge, it's definitely not travel appropriate, which is a shame. It does however hold a whopping 30ml of product, which is more than any other primer currently in my stash. I generally find that one pump will do my whole face too, so no wastage issues, even though I generally prefer my primers to be in some kinda squeezy tube. 

The primer itself is white, although it is completely clear on the skin. It blends in well and a little goes a long way. I love that with this you can apply your foundation immediately after, I don't have time to wait around for primers to set. It leaves your skin feeling smooth but almost slightly tacky, so when you apply your foundation it pretty much adheres directly to the primer. This is what makes it such a fantastic primer, it just really holds onto your foundation throughout the day so it doesn't budge at all. I don't find that it effects the look of your foundation either, unlike some others I've tried, you wouldn't know you applied it. 

For me, this primer is up there with the Hourglass Mineral Veil Primer, which I have waxed lyrical on previously, in terms of staying power this is by far the best drugstore option I have tried (and I've tried a lot).

Definitely worth picking this one up! 

What is your favourite budget primer?

The Rosy Glow

*insert heart eyed emoji here*

Have you ever seen anything so beautiful? I could just stare at these all day. I really could. 

I actually own very little from Dior, I'm not really sure why, it's just not a brand I've ever really gravitate towards. However, these two items are exceptions. When I want a blush and lip colour that look natural and glowy, this is what I go for. 

The Dior Rosy Glow Blush reacts to the moisture in your skin to give a super pretty glow. It starts off pretty light but it gets darker, so a light handed application is definitely necessary. This on me just gives a gorgeous subtle glow to the cheeks, I've never worn a blush that looks so natural before. I love the packaging of this, the gorgeous mirrored lid and the embossing in the powder, it all looks and feels really luxurious.

The blush goes hand in hand with the Dior Addict Lip Glow Balm, a super moisturising lip balm which reacts with the chemistry of your lips to change colour and add a glossy effect. On me this is just ever so slightly darker than my natural lip colour, it just adds a bit of colour and shine. This is infused with mango which makes it really moisturising too. 

I feel like these two products just gently enhance the look of my skin, and make me look naturally glowy! I absolutely love them and they have definitely become makeup bag staples!

What are your favourite products from Dior?

The Review: Maybelline Colour Sensational Shine Gloss in Cashmere Rose

The latest stop on my lipgloss loving journey is the Maybelline Colour Sensational Shine Gloss in Cashmere Rose. I picked this up during that damn Boots 3 for 2 a.k.a., the most dangerous time of the year to go shopping. This had been on my radar for a while anyway, so I don't feel too bad about succumbing!

Now, I'm not sure what you guys thing, but I personally thought the other colours in the line were just a bit off, I'm pretty sure out of all of them this is the only one I'd wear! It's a shame because the formula of these is totally delicious, a sheer hint of colour with an almost-undetectable hint of shimmer to it, that isn't sticky at all but gives a gorgeous glossy effect to the lips. Could you ask for anything else? The one gripe I would have is that if your lips are dry or cracked, this does tend to cling to them! A good lip scrub and balm first will sort you out though.

I love this shade, in the tube it looks pretty bold, but on the lips it's just a sheer nudey peach. It looks great on it's own for a super minimal look, or layered over lipstick!

If you want to see a swatch click here, I tried to photograph it on me for this post but it just wasn't working! 

What are your favourite drugstore lipglosses?

The Review: Essie Splash of Grenadine

I have been reunited with my favourite polish. I bought Essie Splash of Grenadine a while back, used it once and fell in love. Unfortunately, it took an ill fated turn off the balcony (long story) and met it's end on the pavement. It's taken me so long to track it down since it was always out of stock, but now it's back in my possession and I love it. 

I should point out this photo was taken four days after I first applied it, and there's only one chip. One. After four days.

This stuff applies like a dream, it's  thick enough that one coat is opaque, and it's glossy enough that you don't need to apply a topcoat (although I usually do). 

The colour looks different depending on the light, it's basically a lilac with a shot of blue toned fuchsia running through it. It's a colour that I would hate on anything else but I just LOVE as a nail polish!

I love the polishes in the Essie diffusion line, they aren't too pricey and the brush is just the best!

What's your favourite polish right now?

The Review: Josie Maran Argan Infinity Creamy Lip and Cheek Oil

Cast your minds back to my beauty haul just over a week ago, where I mentioned the Josie Maran Argan Infinity Creamy Lip and Cheek Oil from Sephora. Today, we are talking about that.

Aside from having the longest name ever, this is one of the easiest, handy products I've found! It comes in a plastic tube and it kinda looks like a hand cream but it's pretty sturdy which is surprising. It comes out of the tube quite thick, but it's definitely liquid, and once you touch it it turns into a liquid/oil hybrid that is super easy to blend.

I've tried applying this a few ways but by far the best is to just apply and blend with your fingers. Because of the texture of it I find that brushes just eat it up, so I just take a tiny amount on my fingers and tap it into the skin. In terms of wear, this isn't the longest wearing cream blush I have, but it's not half bad either, with a good primer underneath it'll last a good 10 hours! 

You can also use it on the lips, which just gives a super natural tint, I think because this shade is pretty similar to my natural lip colour it doesn't make a massive difference, but that might differ shade to shade!

I went for the shade Limitless Pink which is your standard rosy pink, it kinda just goes with everything and looks incredibly natural on the skin.

I really wish I'd ordered more than one of these, I'm so impressed with it! Definitely going to be great for summer, and a nice option for travel too!

If you want to see what it looks like on, I'm wearing it on my cheeks in This Video, I couldn't get a good photo! 

Have you tried anything from Josie Maran?

The Review: Bourjois Happy Light Matte Primer

Over the last couple of months I've gotten my makeup-stained mitts on a few drugstore primers and have been testing them out for you. One of the first I picked up was the Bourjois Happy Light Matte Primer, a relatively recent launch from Bourjois. I wasn't impressed at all with the foundation from this range, but other than that I've never tried a product from Bourjois I haven't liked, so I had high hopes. 

This primer is available in a matte formula or a 'luminous' version (the lovely Danniella has recently posted a review on the Luminous formula, you can read that here), and I went for the matte one since there don't seem to be as many matte primers available on the drugstore market.

The packaging is nice for this, it's nothing special but it's not bad. It's got a pump which distributes a near perfect amount for one application, so no complaints there. Also, there's quite a lot of product in there! 

As far as the formula goes, there's no funky smell which is a plus for me, and it feels really smooth on the skin. This definitely mattifies the skin and keeps it that way throughout the day, without making your skin feel at all dry, or highlight any dry patches. 

However, as a primer? I don't think this performs. I've been testing this for three or four weeks now and I haven't felt it's extended the wear of my foundation at all, which is a shame. I still like this for when I want a more matte look, but I feel like this isn't one for long days! 

The verdict? If you're after a mattifying product this is great, but for a primer? Look elsewhere!

What are your favourite primers?

The Review: Blank Canvas Brushes

The majority of my makeup brushes come from Real Techniques, with a couple MAC, a bit of Space NK, a few Topshop and one or two Eco Tools in the mix too, all stuff that is really readily available, but not very exciting. I've been umming and ahhing over ordering some Zoeva or Nanshy brushes, mostly because I wanted to try out some new eye brushes, especially since my MAC 217 bit the dust.

Whilst trying to settle the Zoeva/Nanshy battle, Daphne pointed me in the direction of Blank Canvas Cosmetics, and after showing me her MAC 217 and the Blank Canvas alternative (there is no difference!) I decided to place an order.

So first into the basket went the Blank Canvas Cosmetics E26 brush the aforementioned MAC 217 dupe. The only difference I can find between the two is that the E26 has a longer handle, which is actually quite handy (gettit?). It's got fairly long natural hairs, that are slightly flattened, making it easy to use for packing shadow on the lid, but since it's super fluffy it's great for blending too. A good multitasking eye brush. 

I also got the E10 brush* a small crease brush. This one is very small and slightly tapered, making it perfect for blending colours into the crease. It's got synthetic hairs so it's equally as great with cream products as powders, and I'm seriously impressed with this brush. It makes blending so easy! 

And lastly, I picked up the F22 brush, a domed synthetic fibre face brush. The bristles are densely packed but incredibly soft, making it perfect for achieving a full coverage look without being harsh on the skin. I've been using this brush every day for applying my base and I'm obsessed with it, it's perfect!

What are your favourite makeup brushes?

The Review: Bare Mineral Ready Eyeshadow 8.0 The Power Neutrals

 And the award for longest product name definitely goes to the Bare Minerals Ready Eyeshadow 8.0 The Power Neutrals. What a mouthful. You may have seen me mention the Bare Minerals Ready Eyeshadow 2.0 The Epiphany a few weeks back, my first foray into the Bare Minerals world, a very impressive eyeshadow duo. So when I found this eight shadow palette in the ASOS sale, I whipped out my £20 voucher courtesy of Amelia and picked up this palette for a bargain £4.

What really attracted me to this palette is that despite being a neutral palette the shades are a little different. There's a khaki kind of shade, a couple of taupes, it's just a little different to your usual brown neutral palettes. That being said, all the shades on the eyes are SO wearable, even more so than they look in the palette.

As far as formula goes, I genuinely think Bare Minerals eyeshadows are the best I've ever tried (and that's saying something) they're so so soft and incredibly pigmented, I haven't found any other shadows that come close.They wear amazingly well throughout the day, and they are just so damn reliable. 

I'm not sure if this palette is still widely available, or if it was on sale because it's been discontinued but I would wholeheartedly recommend all Bare Minerals Eyeshadows!

Have you tried anything by Bare Minerals?

The Review: Urban Decay Naked Lipgloss in Streak

If you've been reading my blog for the last couple of months you'll know I became slightly addicted to the Urban Decay Revolution Lipstick in Streak, a beautiful coral that's not too pink and not too orange. So when the Naked lipglosses were announced I was really keen to get my mitts on the gloss of the same name.

First off, can we talk about the packaging? I love it. Even my boyfriend commented on it when it arrived, I love the tube it's so sleek and pretty, definitely one to be displayed.

The tube has a doe foot applicator that has a bit of movement in it, meaning it's super easy to apply. They've got a bit of a funky minty smell which isn't my favourite but I'm happy to overlook it.

The shade Streak looks like a bright peach orange in the tube but it actually applies as a sheer coral, perfect for topping off the lipstick, or on it's own as a nudey-peach gloss. It's definitely not as pigmented as it looks, but I'm glad or there is no way it would suit me. This is actually a really flattering gloss shade.

As for the formula, it's not in the slightest bit sticky, it's really smooth and it almost just feels like a balm on the lips. It's got good lasting power too, staying put for around the four hour mark, the best of any lipgloss I've ever tried.

This is a total winner in my books, and I really want to try some more shades! Have you tried any of the Naked Lipglosses?

The Review: Topshop Beatnik Lipstick

I've mentioned previously on this blog that I'm not a massive fan of Topshop makeup. I find that whilst their products are nice, there's always something not quite right, the shades, the formulas, the lasting power. As a result, I don't own much, it tends to get passed on to less-fussy friends, or my little sister. Recently though, in my latest haul post, I showed the three products I picked up in Topshop in an effort to love the makeup a little more. 

The real standout product for me of the three I picked up was the lipstick. Beatnik is a lot more subtle than Topshop's usual lipstick fare, which normally look okay on the little sticker at the bottom of the tube, but when swatched are pretty garish and bright. It's a muted berry shade with a hint of rosiness to it. It's pretty subtle, the cliché 'my lips but better' springs to mind here, since it is very similar to my natural lip colour, just with a little something more. 

This lipstick has ended up my handbag lippie of choice this month, because it's so similar to my natural lip colour it goes with literally every makeup look I wear, and when I haven't know which lipstick to wear, this is what I've gone with. 

The formula is the one thing that lets this product down in my opinion. It's got a really creamy formula, so it applies really nicely, but unfortunately the wear time is really short, I have yet to see this last longer than two hours, which is pretty pathetic in my opinion. This will also disappear at the first sign of food drink or kissing too, which is pretty rubbish since I'm a serial water drinker. If I had known how rubbish the wear time was I don't think I'd have purchased this, since I feel like I'm getting through it pretty fast having to reapply five or six times a day. If I use Lipcote it does last a little longer, but the formula is so creamy even that doesn't help that much. 

It's a shame because I love the colour of this lipstick, but I think I'll end up trailing the aisles of Boots with it looking for a similar colour from elsewhere. 

Do you like Topshop makeup?

The Review: Rimmel Stay Matte Foundation

I love me a good medium coverage foundation, so when this one was released a few months back I was super excited. However, at the time I had what could loosely be called a tan, and none of the shades matched up to me, they were either too orange or made me look dead. Fast forward to the darkest depths of winter, and I am back to a pale shade of Morticia Adams, and Ivory is a good match.

This foundation reminds me of my younger self. The first foundation, hell, the first beauty product I ever fell for was Maybellines's Dream Matte Mousse. This is kind of similar, but better. The reason I loved Dream Matte Mousse was the coverage it gave my acne-prone skin, and the finish. This has the same great coverage, and flawless matte finish, but it's lighter, not as drying.

It's not an easy foundation to figure out how to apply, it's thick and because of that it's easy to apply to much. I've taken to using half the amount I think I'll need, really warming the product up in between my fingers to soften it a bit, and then using my fingers to massage it into my skin, really working it and spreading it out. Brushes just don't work with this product, but I do occasionally use a buffing brush once it's applied to blend it out at the edges. 

The best thing about this foundation though, is it's staying power. You can honestly put this on first thing in the morning, go to work or school, go out in the evening, and come back even in the early hours to find this still perfectly intact. It's incredible. 

All in all, I really like this product. I wouldn't recommend it if you have really dry skin, but for normal or oily I'd go right ahead. If you're after a good coverage foundation that lasts all day, this is your guy!

Have you tried this foundation?

The Review: Urban Decay Naked 3

 So a few weeks back, before Christmas, I did a first impressions review of the Naked 3 Palette. One of the most highly anticipated releases of 2013, even if it did sneak up on us. I've had over a month now to play with it, and I've worn it everyday,

Strange: a soft, buttery matte cream shade, perfect as a base colour, or to highlight the browbone. Highly pigmented and quite lovely.

Dust: the only shade in this palette that's been a bit of a let down for me. A really heavy glitter shade, that looks like a pretty pale pink, but it's such a heavy glitter that when you put it on it looks like it's just silver glitter.

Burnout: this shade makes up for dust, it's a very similar shade, a touch darker, but with a finer vein of shimmer, meaning it looks lovely. This is the colour I've been applying all over the lid most, as a base colour.

Limit: a matte dusky pale pink shade. Incredible pigmentation, I've been reaching for this when I'm after an easy eye look, just blending this into the crease with Burnout on the lid, to add a little depth.

Buzz: similar shade to Burnout, just slightly darker. Same light vein of shimmer, but a bit pinker. Nice all over the lid. 

Trick: a nice shade but I can't see me using this, it just doesn't flatter my skin tone at all. It's a gold shade with a hint of rosiness to it, and a slight shimmer, very pretty but just doesn't look right on me at all.

Nooner: a darker version of Limit. Also great for the crease, but I reach for this when I'm using darker shades on the lid. 

Liar: a light bronzy shade with a hint of pink. My go to colour for across the lid, this has a slight shimmer but looks gorgeous. 

Factory: a deeper bronze without a rosy hint! Slight shimmer, kind of reminds me of a darker On and On Bronze. Probably my favourite shade in the whole palette.

Mugshot: a silvery bronze shade, reminiscent of MAC's Satin Taupe.

Darkside: a subtley shimmery dark grey. Looks beautiful in the outer corner paired with Mugshot.

Blackheart: side note; if I bought out a clothing line, I'd call it Blackheart. This is a really deep slate grey with gold and red shimmer, gorgeous as a liner. 

In terms of the packaging, it's much the same as the Naked 2, I like the big mirror and the brush that comes with it too. The brush is double ended, one flat end that's great for packing on colour to the lid, and a fluffier brush that fits perfectly in the crease of the eye. If only it came with a blending brush!

Overall, I think I'll get a lot more use from the darker shades in this palette than I will the lighter shades. I don't think this is a palette you need, but it is a nice addition to the makeup ranks. 

The Review: Chanel Rouge Coco Shine in Boy

 I love a Chanel lippie, I mean who doesn't, so unwrapping one of these as an early Christmas Present was quite the treat. Boy is a shimmery nude shade that's been on my wishlist for quite some time.

As always with Chanel lipsticks, the packaging feels weighty and luxurious. The formula too is fantastic, the lipstick is sheer and creamy, but the colour lasts well, which is unusual for such a formula.

The colour is a very sheer nude, with the tiniest hint of shimmer, it looks slightly iridescent on the lips. It's the sort of lipstick that goes with everything, and flatter pale skin wonderfully. It's easy to look washed out wearing nude lipstick, but you definitely don't get that with this! I've been carrying this around in my handbag all month, I love it!

Have you got any Chanel lipsticks? What's your favourite nude lipstick?

The Review: Benefit Rockateur Boxed Blush

I put off picking up the Benefit Rockateur blusher for a long time, because, well my god isn't the packaging tacky? It totally put me off. However, a lovely friend picked this up for me as a Christmas gift, and I've fallen in love with it. 

Packaging gripes aside, this is a dusty pink blush with a slight vein of shimmer. The top is coated in a film of full on shimmer, but once you've used it once, that disappears and you're left with a fine shimmer. This blush is the perfect partner to the Naked 3 palette, so if you've got that, you need this.

I love Benefit blushes, the formulations are great, they last really well, and you only need a tiny bit of product, plus they smell amazing!

Have you tried this blush?

The Review: Benefit Hydra Smooth Lip Colours

Benefit relaunched a ton of their makeup this year, and whilst at the time, I wasn't all that bothered, I appear to have fallen for their lipsticks.

The Hydra Smooth Lipsticks have a strange feel on the lips, they aren't glossy or matte, but they are very very smooth. The formula contains Shea Butter, Vitamin E and Mango Butter, making them smooth and hydrating too. They glide really easily onto the lips. They have a slightly strange slanted tip, which Benefit says is to aid application and make it more precise, which I'm not sure I agree with, I think they're probably just as precise as your average shaped lipstick.

The packaging of these is seriously love it or hate it. The boxes they come in are super cute, but I can't really think of a secondary way to use them, so I ended up chucking them, which is a shame. The lipstick bullet itself is pretty strange, they kinda remind me of big greek pillars, which is cute, but not necessarily how I want my lipsticks to look. The lids are kind of clumsy, and 9 times out of 10 I end up mushing the end of the lipstick putting the lid back on. They're kind of big and clumsy, and not particularly luxurious. I think I prefer something a little sleeker (Urban Decay Revolution Lipsticks, ahem). I feel this way about a lot of Benefit packaging though, I don't think it's nice enough considering the price, some of it I think is cute, but other things, this and Fine One One in particularly seems quite cheap in real life. In terms of lasting power, these are some of the longest lasting lippies I've tried.

I have two colours, Talk Flirty, a bright, Orchid-esque pink, and Fling Thing, which is a medium toned berry shade. Both are very easy to wear with any eye look!

These retail for £15, but I've been picking these up on Debenhams 10% off days! I think £15 is pretty good though, it's the same as MAC and Urban Decay, and much cheaper than other high end brands.

Have you tried these lipsticks? What are your favourite Benefit products?

The Latest From The Highstreet

Boots and Superdrug have both had 3 for 2 recently, which obviously spelt disaster. I took advantage of it to stock up on autumn lip products and one powder. I noticed a serious plum lip gap in my collection and went a little overboard filling it.

I picked up the L'Oreal Nude BB Powder, since I LOVE the foundation from the same line. This is a very light, finely milled powder, not much coverage but good as a setting powder. I personally think it's a little pricey, it's marketed as a BB Powder but it doesn't offer enough coverage for that. I probably wouldn't buy it again, despite the fact it's good, just because you can get the same thing cheaper (ahem, Rimmel Stay Matte).

Side note: I have no idea why my eyes are closed in all these photos. Sorry about that. Weird.

I loved the original Rimmel Moisture Renew Lipsticks, so when they repackaged and reformulated them, I new I needed to pick a couple up. I went for Let's Get Naked, a coral peach toned nude, and Glam Plum Fullham. I thought I was going to prefer Glam Plum Fullham, but it turns out my favourite is Let's Get Naked. I don't own anything else like Let's Get Naked, but I've had so many compliments on this colour, a woman even stopped me in Starbucks to ask me what lip colour I was wearing. Glam Plum Fullham is nice but much pinker than I expected, but the creamy formula means it gets everywhere. I do quite like it as a stain though.

With all they hype when the Apocalips were first released, I was really surprised that a whole new set of colours filtered into the drugstores without much notice from anyone. I have a kinda love hate relationship with these things, but I loved one of the new shades, Eclipse, so I thought I'd try it. It wears a lot darker, and a lot redder than the packaging would lead you to believe, but I actually love this colour. It's very much a statement lip colour, but it doesn't look like too much, it's really wearable. 

I also picked up Nude Eclipse from the original colours, since everyone and their mothers loves it, but I'm not a fan. It looks so weird on me, like milky, and it just sits on my lips and doesn't really set like the others. It washes me out too, no matter how much bronzer I pile on.

I'm not a massive gloss girl, but I do like Revlon Glosses, because they aren't sticky at all. This colour 056 Embellished is from their new winter collection. In the tube it looks like a deep purple gloss with a lot of shimmer, but on the lips it's more of a dark red colour, with only a slight hint of shimmer. Very pretty, and much more wearable than a lipstick of the same colour for the day.

Again, nobody seemed to really mention the new shade additions to the Bourjois Colour Boost line. This is Plum Russian which I just love. You can build it up to a dark plum colour, or wear it like this for a more subtle look. This ones been in my handbag since I got it.

Have you tried any of these? What have you bought at the drugstore recently?