Lipstick -Illamasqua - Test
swimmingpretty 4/24/2013 7:28:00 PM
MLBB right here, I tend to wear this with a medium brown lip liner or on the inner part of my lips and its perfect. Lip balm is a must with illamasqua lipsticks because this is a flat matte - on me this makes it look even more natural. I honestly can't think of any cons with this one, I know some of the lipsticks break but so far I have been lucky. This can also be worn under bright lipsticks to tone them down and because its matte it helps the other lipstick stay around.
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Lipstick -Illamasqua - Growl
swimmingpretty 4/24/2013 7:06:00 PM
I love this colour, it comes out a deep burgundy on me and is what I think MAC's Diva should have been. Cosign on how amazing this looks with a gloss over it, I love putting my YSL glossy stain in #1 over the top as it brings out some of the purple and makes the color last longer. However there are some downsides: this colour is particularly fragile, I have six illamasqua lippies and this is the only one that tilts. Its not unusable but it is annoying. This colour is patchy, it takes two swipes to get full cover my other illamasqua lippies only take one - using lip liner helps. So basically the pros are the amazing color. For women of colour this can be your everyday fall shade for work when worn lightly, then put on another layer and gloss for going out. The con is the prep, lip balm (matte drying formula) lip liner and gloss, for me it is worth it, but if you just want to swipe and go this may not be for you.
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Lip Gloss -C.O. Bigelow - Mentha Supreme 2x
swimmingpretty 4/7/2013 1:06:00 PM
I stumbled across this line in Liberty and I wasn't going to get this but then I smelled it and fell in love with the spearmint flavour. Its got a really green uplifting scent, there is parsley in this which I would never think to put with spearmint. I like the texture which is thick and smooth on application. I also like how long its glossiness lasts - about an hour which is pretty long for what is essentially a lip balm. This has been perfect for what has been a very long winter in the UK, it keeps the cold wind from chapping my lips perfectly. The only downside is the price £8 (it really should be £6 with the exchange rate) but then again if you want to treat your self a little then this is a nice way to do it.
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Lip Gloss -L'Oreal - Colour Caresse Shine Stain / Shine Caresse
swimmingpretty 3/23/2013 8:09:00 PM
I like these, they are not the YSL glossy stains as they differ in texture (thinner, less shiny) and opacity but they aren't bad at all for the price. I got two colours, Bonnie and Milady in the UK they are named after ladies rather than references to staying power; Bonnie is comparable to Eternally Nude and Milady is Berry Persistent. Overall these stick around for a while and I love putting these on over lipsticks to change the colour and help it stay in place. I tend to put lip balm on over the stain if I'm feeling lazy and don't want to reapply. The packaging is weird though, it took me a while to catch on that the top is the flat part.
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Lipstick -Lipstick Queen - Lipstick
swimmingpretty 3/13/2013 9:21:00 AM
I have used three of these lipsticks now two sinners (berry and natural) and medieval. So here is a summary of each: Natural You can see my other review of this but over time I have found that this colour does not cooperate well with other makeup - the pigment is so strong it swallows lip liner whole, it becomes gloopy with any gloss over it and generally when worn with a full face of makeup (tinted moisturizer, mascara, liquid liner and brows) it made me look like a mannequin. Despite these issues I continued to wear it with little to no make up and eventually passed it on to a friend, who loves it. Final assessment: Lovely colour but beware of the high amount of pigment, perhaps wear a full face of makeup when testing these colours. Berry I love this colour and literally scraped out the bottom and made a balm to finish it. This is a bit of a 90's colour, but in a good way. Remember that brown Naomi Campbell used to wear on the cover of every magazine in the early 90's, for me this is that brown! Its warm, has a hint of red but completely brightens my face. It can be worn everyday and looks amazing with cream tops. Out of the three this is the one I would consider buying again Final assessment: Take a look at this colour if you love the classy type of 90's looks. Medieval I have only a couple of millimeters of this left. I really like this but I got it on ebay and would be annoyed if I had paid full price for this as it is essentially a red tinted lip balm that leaves a slight stain. I purchased this for £11 back when it was selling for £16...it costs £20 now! Granted I am always surprised at how deep the stain is, how long it lasts and how moisturizing it is but then again I'm pretty sure that Dr Pepper lip smacker could do the same thing for a fraction of the price. Final assessment: Lovely...but a rip off UPDATE: Rust (sinner) This makes my lips look... sensuous and pouty for such a pigmented colour it looks quite soft. Like Berry it completely brightens up my face. I have no point of reference for this colour; the MA said it looked a bit coral on me, but it looks burnt red when I wipe it off so I'll say that this is a browny burnt red shade. I love this for everyday, no need for lipliner just a bit of balm underneath. Final assessment: The name is unappealing but don't sleep on Rust Sinner
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Lipstick -Revlon - Pink in the Afternoon
swimmingpretty 2/5/2013 6:44:00 PM
Had a make up obsession for yellow based pinks to go with my warm skin tone (NC45) a couple of months ago as an alternative to the brown pinks I wear everyday or the hot pinks I wear when going out. I had nearly called off the search until I looked at this... God I love Revlon lip products...I have four of these super lustrous lippies and they are all awesome but pink in the afternoon is an everyday salmon pink pick me up... I almost didn't buy it cos it looked so pale but don't be scared, it looks pale but it can be worn sheer. For everyday wear I don't put this all over the lips like regular lipstick but only on the inner part of my lip then rub my lips together for a really natural look. If I want to step it up it doesn't overwhelm any lipliner I put with it and it is awesome with gloss. Just don't be scared and try it!
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Lipstick -MAC - Matte - Diva
swimmingpretty 1/1/2013 7:20:00 PM
This 3.5 lippies for me, when I tried it on in the store I only wore the colour lightly and it looked awesome, and that is how I have been wearing it since I bought it - as a stain with matte lip balm underneath. Its perfect as a berry stain. I assumed that this would look even better when worn as a full colour but for some reason I can't get used to wearing this one full on...On my lips this comes out as a deep cranberry and it looks fine, but not as good when worn as a stain. Will have to experiment some more with lip liners as Diva may still wow me yet. Generally though not sure I would repurchase this, as when I buy a lipstick I like to use it as a lipstick, not a stain!
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Lipstick -MAC - Matte - Taupe
swimmingpretty 12/18/2012 8:29:00 AM
I have been looking for this colour. I melted some of my old neutral colour lipsticks into something resembling this colour but hated using it because it was in a jar and came out slightly lighter than I was used to. But this is the right peachy brown neutral colour for my warm skin, it brightens up my face and is everyday classic - perfect for no-makeup makeup. It is best worn with lip balm underneath and has more slip than the other MAC Mattes that I've tried whilst still being highly pigmented and easy to wear.
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Lipstick -Illamasqua - Disciple
swimmingpretty 10/5/2012 1:14:00 PM
I tried this on at the Illamasqua store on Beak Street, and once I did I couldn't stop looking at myself - I was sooo surprised by how good this looked. I dared myself to walk out of the store wearing it and guess what...nothing .....no comments,no funny looks only one or two double takes...but then again this is central London. I bought this for my birthday (birthday discount woot!) along with a sheer lipgloss in Provoke and when worn together even my mother approved! Do give this lipstick a try, I gave this four lippies because it is difficult to get an even application and it is quite drying but really comes alive with gloss over it.
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Blush -Sleek - Blush by 3 in Pumpkin
swimmingpretty 9/5/2012 12:06:00 PM
These are awesome so pigmented and pretty. I have two other Sleek blushes in Pomegranate and Honor (LE) and I love them as well. Its amazing that these great blushes are so cheap. I have always wanted an orange blush and in this set I have two, they have been perfect through summer and winter. Shimmering deep orange (lantern) looks quite natural on my skin and doesn't scream glitter. The matte pink and orange are perfect to perk any look and they never ever look chalky. I simply can't recommend them enough so just get them!
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Blush -Illamasqua - Cream in Betray
swimmingpretty 7/1/2012 6:12:00 PM
This blush is full of surprises: I agree with all the other reviewers this is so natural looking...which is surprising because I'm NC45 with quite yellow toned skin. I was surprised when the MA gave this to me (it looked far too pink) and warned me about how pigmented it was. I was even more surprised when she put it on and it looked so natural. dark skinned ladies there is a strong brown lean in this and it will not look ashy it has a dewy finish that blends into the skin and is very forgiving - this is literally the same kind of flush I get when I've drunk too much wine. Furthermore this is a great lip colour - not drying and surprise! its similar to Benefit's la la land.
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Lip Gloss -Illamasqua - Intense in Hermetic
swimmingpretty 6/29/2012 7:36:00 PM
I love these lip glosses. Hermetic comes out as a shimmering reddish brown on my skin and is going to be all I wear over the autumn and winter. This formula is very thick though, more so than the other intense glosses that I have. If applied dry and I purse my lips together there will be a line, also applying this dry results in full on vampy colour - Illamasqua do mean "intense"! Applying a lip balm with some slip underneath seems to remedy this and sheers out the colour making it more suitable for work/daytime. These glosses last for ages because you only need a small amount.
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Blush -Sleek - blush - Rose Gold
swimmingpretty 6/28/2012 4:14:00 PM
This was simply too gold on my yellow toned skin. None of the pink came through and it left my face looking "grainy" in texture and like I'd gone nuts with the shimmer. A shame I had high hopes... On the bright side I crushed it together with a browny pink bare minerals blush I had and some blue loose eyeshadow (waste not want not) ...and it worked I have a plummy blush that is perfect!
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Lips -Yves Saint Laurent - Rouge Pur Couture Glossy Stain (All Shades)
swimmingpretty 6/9/2012 7:08:00 PM
I've have never bought a product this expensive before (£22.50! ouch), but I had just got paid and wanted to splurge a little and I heard a lot about them and quite frankly...I love it! I bought #12 Corail Favue as a safe option under boots fluorescent lighting the colour looked naturally peachy for my NC45 skin but not too glossy so I put another coat on and WOW - this is the day-to-night-in-one-product lipcolour That said there are things to be aware of before buying this product that will save everyone alot of hassle: 1. Try these on, the colour changes dramatically on the skin and they are surprisingly pigmented. #12 looks pink but is in fact truly deep coral 2, The texture changes: Once on the lips the texture thickens from slightly watery to a gummy (non-sticky) cooling cushion then finally to a texture resembling a nourishing lip balm - it feels strange but not unpleasant, it doesn't last long but you have to get used to it. You will want to press your lips together - go ahead the colour will sort itself out. 3. The claims -does it really last 6 hours?? Well yes and no - the glossy part lasts remarkably long (3-4hrs)...until you eat, then you will have a stain left and that can last for awhile until of course you eat again. Drinking does not greatly affect this product so its great for a night out! Thankfully you don't need a lot to cover your lips and if you put it on starting from your inner part of lip outwards it seems to wear off from the outside-in creating a very natural looking stain. 4. The smell...its floral it gradually fades. Cloyingly sweet smells irritate me so this was not a problem but if you are sensitive to smell don't bother cos you will find yourself wondering "whose perfume is that?" 15 minutes after putting it on. 5. The packaging, some like it some don't - I like it. Its massively impractical but I like the heft and the black and gold and if you are short of a mirror you can use the lid to check that the gloss is in place. UPDATE: Just bought #1 Violet Edition - I am in love!
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Mascara -The Body Shop - Big and Curvy Mascara
swimmingpretty 6/2/2012 7:29:00 PM
Got this free in a magazine was looking forward to using it cos I really like TBS products - but unfortunately this sucks! Cons - There doesn't seem to be an excess remover which means you waste product wiping off the wand - The bristles are simply too short to do anything, a shame I thought the thin brush would let me get in and do the small lashes - The formula is really "wet" (I know some don't mind this - but this was big no no for me) - Anything more than a light coat = serious wet clumps, if you have lashes that curl prepare to look like a contract - there will be a dotted line on your eyelids. - Generally messy to remove. Pros - It doesn't flake once it dries - Ok for bottom lashes - Thankfully only paid £3.70 for it would have been pissed if I had paid a tenner
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