MAC Hey Sailor! - Sail La Vie Lipstick Swatches

Sail La Vie is a lovely reddish orange in a satin formula. It was quite hard to photograph, it is actually more orange and doesn't appear glossy like in the lip swatch. It is similar in tone to Scarlet Ibis from the Iris Apfel but they are not dupes. It is very comfortable on my lips and glides on effortlessly. It would work on a large range of skintones and would look fantastic as a statement bold lip. It is also perfect for the Summer.

L-R: Shore Leave Lip Pencil, Sail La Vie Lipstick

What do you think of this colour?

Jennifer xx

MAC Hey Sailor - To Catch A Sailor Lipstick Swatches

Sail La Vie is a golden tan lipstick with a frost finish. It is not a colour I would normally go for but there is something about it that drew me in. I'm still not entirely sure about it, I might just use it for layering over corals and orangey lipsticks for a different look. I think it might look better on me if I have a tan or with some bronzer although it could be that I just need to get used to wearing such a different colour. I've seen it on fair skinned girls and it looks lovely and I bet it would be amazing on dark skintones too. You could also layer it over nude shades.

So what do you think of this colour? Is it something that you would wear? What do you think I should wear it with?

Jennifer xx

MAC Reel Sexy Lipstick Review and Swatches

I love this colour! Coral is my favourite lip colour to wear. Reel Sexy is such a beautiful lipstick, it is creamy and pigmented and applies so easily. It doesn't dry my lips and looks pretty close to one of my favourite lipsticks, MAC Jazzed which came out nearly two Summers ago. It is not quite the same as Jazzed, Reel Sexy is more pigmented and more opaque and it is an Amplified finished apposed to Jazzed which is a Cremesheen. It appears brighter on lips so it needs blotting down or dabbing on to make it look closer to Jazzed. I bought two tubes because it is a colour I wear so often and I'm happy with it. I find light coral to be a colour which looks both bright but natural, strange really.

Jennifer xx

MAC Shop Cook Lip Colours

This is just a quick post to show you a few of the lip colours from MAC's Shop Cook collection.

Lipsticks:
I picked up one shade from this collection - Watch Me Simmer. I also already had Innocence Beware and Runway Red from previous collections.

Runway Red swatches and a review can be found here.

Watch Me Simmer - such a gorgeously pigmented and smooth creamy lipstick. It is one of the must haves from the collection. It will be repromoted in a later collection this year.

Sorry about the appalling application, I did these swatches in a hurry.

Innocence Beware - a nice light pink nude which is quite flattering but can also be dabbed on if it looks too stark or to take the tone of your natural lip colour down a bit.

Kissable Lip Colours. I was really glad these came back, I was able to get the colours I wanted which I didn't get last time they were out. They are such a nice product, they apply really easily. You can read my review of when they came out last time here. It also includes the other colours which came out before.

Top: So Vain, Bottom: Woo Me

So Vain

Woo Me

Did you buy any lip products from the collection?

Jennifer x

MAC Naturally Swatches & Review

MAC's latest collection to hit UK and European shores is Naturally. It consists of well... natural shades really. Nude lipsticks, golden and beige tones with some browns and pinks thrown in. It is a lovely collection and is great to pick up some basic tones but still be interesting for makeup fanatics as they are all still interesting.

I'll start with the mineralize eye shadows that I got:

L-R: Summer Haze, In The Sun, Twilight Falls

Summer Haze L-R: dry, over UDPP, wet, over Fyrinnae Pixie Epoxy

Summer Haze is a gorgeous light gold and I can also get a peachy beige out of my pan too. It is super smooth and gorgeously pigmented. It makes a lovely lid brightening shade and the lighter shade in the pan is good for a highlight. It looks really metallic when used wet or patted over Pixie Epoxy which is very good for helping it stick all day long.

In The Sun L-R: dry, over UDPP, wet, over Fyrinnae Pixie Epoxy

In the Sun is a hot burnt copper. The veining in my pan isn't as nice as other pans I have seen where there is more fuchsia to pick from. If you pick a pan with more fuchsia, the colour variant would be a bit different as mine mainly has deep gold in it. There is some shimmer in this shade which can fall out so a sticky base such as Pixie Epoxy is best, plus it helps to give it even more intense colour payoff. The sparkle looks really pretty on the lid when the light catches it and the particles aren't too chunky.

Twilight Falls L-R: dry, over UDPP, wet, over Fyrinnae Pixie Epoxy

Twilight Falls is a beautiful shade of mauvey brown. I really love this one. It works fantastically with the other two shades I got and is a very good yet interesting every day brown. You may see in the image there is a blueish sheen, this makes it more than the average brown eye shadow. It is so smooth and buttery. The pigmentation even when dry is very good and would be great as a quick wash or to smudge along the lash lines for a smokey look. I wear browns and golds a lot so this is going to get a good amount of love from me.


There were three shades of mineralize blush in this collection but only this one stood out to me. It is Subtle Breeze. I also wanted to stay on the safer side because I'd never tried the mineralize blushes before so didn't entirely know what to expect and wanted something more wearable to me.

Subtle Breeze mineralize blush

Subtle Breeze is amazing, it really is. It is soooo pigmented, I swirled my brush into it as normal and ended up with way too much product on my face. A couple of taps into the pan is all that is needed to a lovely pink flush. The finish is beautiful, it has a slight sheen so isn't completely matte but has no shimmer in it either. I really like it, it gives such a pretty glow. I find that it lasts really nicely on me too although I do have dry skin so not sure how oily skin would fare but it is worth a try.

There are two mineralize skinfinishes in this collections, these are some of my favourite products from MAC so I was pleased to see these. They are both repromotes from the  Blonde, Brunette, Redhead collection.

L-R: Redhead, Blonde

Redhead Mineralize Skinfinish - first four as the different shades,
last two are mixed, swatched heavily and then blended.

Redhead is the warmer shade of the two. It is more golden toned. It is very smooth, so much smoother than I expected it to be and than of any other of my MSFs. I think it would be flattering on a wide variety of skin tones. It gives a lovely golden sheen to the skin but like all MSFs it is quite shimmery so may emphasise pores. 

Blonde Mineralize Skinfinish - first four as the different shades,
last two are mixed, swatched heavily and then blended.

Blonde is a cooler shade, more pink based. It is still a flattering shade and works nicely over the top of Subtle Breeze blush. This is just as smooth as Redhead and also shimmery.

Perfect Day lipstick

Perfect Day lipstick



This is the only lipstick which appealed to me, it is a lovely pinky nude which I find far more wearable than most nudes. It doesn't look stark against my skin tone and would work on a lot of different skin tones. It is an amplified finish so applies a good amount of colour in one swipe. It lasts pretty nicely for a nude shade, probably due to the finish which seems to stick to lips better than a lustre or cremesheen lipstick does. I haven't got a lip swatch because my lips are far too dry for photographing at the moment... I hate what this cold weather does to my skin!

So that is what I picked up from Naturally, all very nice wearable colours which can be paired with lots of different shades to make really nice looks from neutrals to brighter. Anyone else pick anything up? What did you think of the collection?

Jennifer x

MAC - Iris Apfel Lipstick Swatches & Review

MAC's collaboration with Iris Apfel is a lovely collection, the lipsticks for me are the stars. They are all beautiful colours with fantastic quality. There are 5 shades, Flamingo, Party Parrot, Pink Pigeon, Scarlet Ibis and Morange. Morange is permanent. I purchased all of the other 4 shades.

L-R: Flamingo, Party Parrot, Pink Pigeon, Scarlet Ibis

L-R: Flamingo, Party Parrot, Pink Pigeon, Scarlet Ibis

Continue reading for review and more photos

MAC Glitter & Ice Lipstick Review



Top - Bottom: Whirls & Twirls, Soft Sable

There were six lipsticks in MAC's Glitter & Ice collection, I picked up two of them. I wouldn't have normally bought these as I thought they would be really frosty but they aren't due to their glaze finishes.

L-R: Whirls & Twirls

Whirls & Twirls
In the tube it looks like it is going to be such a frosty light pink, I thought that it was going to look really old fashioned and unflattering, especially on my warm skin tone - not something I want to wear. Due to it being a glaze finish, it doesn't go on really opaque, it is more of a sheen on the lips. I really like lipsticks like this, I have bought a few like it in the past where they lighten my lips a little with a pretty sheen, such as Marquise'd from Wonder Woman and Secret Lover from MAC Me Over. It is really easy to wear for such a light colour. It would work really well with dark or smokey eye makeup because it lightens without going really really nude and it still lets the natural lip colour come through.



Soft Sable
This is quite a unique shade, I've not seen a lipstick like this before. I think the closest I have seen is Bobbi Brown's Vintage Rose but it is much more metallic and pinker. Soft Sable appears more pewter in the tube but once on the lips, my natural lip colour comes through, making it more wearable. I think this shade is more suited to warm skin tones. It works really nicely with brown and khaki shades of eyeshadow.

Both lipsticks applied really nicely and smooth. For these pictures, I quickly applied them so they don't look as nice as they should here and my lips are a bit red around the edges from doing a lot of lip swatches so sorry about that!

Jennifer x

MAC Posh Paradise Swatches

I totally forgot to review these products so I thought I would just post the swatches in case anyone still wanted to have a look. Some are still available in MAC's Goodbyes section and probably available on Debenhams/Selfridges/House of Fraser. I bought all of the Paint Pots from this collection and 4 of the Mattenes (I forgot to take swatches of the fourth, Rare Exotic). I simply love Paint Pots so that is why I got them all and I really enjoyed the Mattene formula but only some of the colours caught my eye.

Paint Pots



L-R: Pure Creation, Genuine Treasure, Idyllic, Imaginary, Nubile, Hyperviolet, Half-Wild, Treasure Hunt

  Mattenes

Deliciously Forbidden, Naked Bliss, Delectable



Rare Exotic


My favourites: Deliciously Forbidden, Rare Exotic, Idyllic and Treasure Hunt.

Jennifer xx

MAC Fall Colour Lipsticks

These are lipsticks which I already had in my collection but have been released with the MAC Fall Colour collection. The shades featured here are all PRO colours so are available all year round at PRO stores and via phoning mail order. The shades I have are Violetta, Show Orchid and Neon Orange.

L-R: Violetta, Show Orchid, Neon Orange

Violetta is a fuchsia based purple lipstick. Whilst purple lipstick may seem strange, it is very wearable for a lot of skin tones. On some people it may appear more pink than on others. On me it is quite close to the bullet colour. It is an Amplified finish which is one of my favourites as they are well pigmented and last on the lips well. It works particularly well will green eyes as it compliments them, making them appear brighter and greener. This colour looks nice when patted on to be sheerer and also topped with a fuchsia pink gloss.

Show Orchid is an amazing bright fuchsia pink with a purply fuchsia irridencence. It looks almost like a duochrome on the lips. Even though it is bright, it is still very flattering when paired with simple neutral eye makeup. It is an Amplified finish and almost completely opaque. This colour could be patted on for more of a stain or sheerer finish.

Neon Orange is not what I would call neon (think highligher pens) but it is still very bright. It is the sort of colour which colour easily be shyed away from, however it still looks very nice on the lips when paired with neutral eyes. You could even add a little pop of colour such as a tiny bit of cyan liner smudged into the lower lashes or by using burnt oranges/coppers and browns on the eyes too to create a monochromatic look. It is an amplified finish and is very creamy and opaque.

I think all three of these colours make nice additions to my makeup collection. The colours are fun and can be used in many looks. I also love to do neutral eyes and bright lipstick.

Jennifer

MAC Surf Baby Lipstick and Lipglass Review

In the Surf Baby collection, MAC have released four shades - Bust Out! (dirty violet - lustre), Hibiscus (orange coral - cremesheen), Mocha (peachy brown - satin, Permanent) and Naturally Eccentric (creamy white nude - lustre). I purchased Bust Out! and Hibiscus - I actually bought two of Hibiscus because I loved the colour so much, I am waiting for the second one to be delivered.



L-R: Bust Out!, Hibiscus


Bust Out! is nice and creamy and can be applied semi sheer to semi opaque by building the colour up with a second swipe. It isn't a bright purple on my lips as shown in the tube but it is more blue based than recent purple lipsticks released such as Style Curve and Playtime, comparison swatches are at the end. Being a lustre it gives a glossy look to lips.

Hibiscus is a beautiful shade of orange coral, very very creamy and easy to apply evenly. It is verging on opaque in one swipe. It is a great colour for Summer without being too bright such as a true orange so if you are afraid to wear orange really bright, you could consider this instead. It is quite warm toned but I think it could still work on cooler skintones and I think it would look really nice on fair skin with the contrast. I have seen cool toned fair skinned women wearing oranges and they still look great so if you like the colour, go test it out to see.

Continue reading for lipglass review and comparison swatches!

Bobbi Brown Rich Colour Lipstick Review

When these were announced I was quite excited to try them so when I had a chance a little while ago, I went down to Selfridges to take a look. I ended up coming home with two shades, Bikini Pink (soft white pink) and Mod Pink (bright pink). I didn't have anything like Bikini Pink so I was drawn to that shade and was pleasantly surprised at how it looked on. Mod pink was just a really pretty colour so I got that too. In fact, all of the colours in the line are lovely wearable shades so there should be something to most, if not everybody's taste.

Here is what it says on the Bobbi Brown website about these lipsticks:

"Bright, get-noticed colour. Introducing Rich Lip Color SPF12. Lightweight, yet intense, Bobbi's latest formula combines pigments with a clear base to deliver pure, crisp colour with just one swipe. Plus, it's creamy and moisturising, so lips feel as good as they look."

I couldn't agree more with this, they are so pigmented, you really do get the colour that is in the tube on your lips. They are really comfortable to wear and last a really long time. Darker shades, as always will last longer than lighter shades but I was impressed at how long Bikini Pink lasts on my lips and gradually fades before I need to reapply. I didn't see any bleeding or feathering during wear, they really did stay put.

They have a semi matte finish which helps to keep the lipstick on but they are not drying at all. I found that they can sometimes apply a little dry looking but a few seconds later the lipstick warms up and becomes lovely and smooth and creamy feeling without actually being a creamy lipstick which doesn't last very long. You only need one swipe to get true colour so they will last ages and being so pigmented and firm in the tube, it is easier to get a neat line around your lips (not demonstrated in the photos as I just quickly put them on). It is also nice that they have SPF 12 in them, great for this time of year so you can protect your lips well and not need an SPF balm or sunscreen underneath.

They are scent and taste free so should appeal to everyone. The packaging is typical Bobbi Brown, matte black plastic tubes with the usual Bobbi Brown typography running along it. They twist up smoothly and feel sturdy and well made. The packaging isn't luxurious but I like that because Bobbi Brown is a makeup artist and other artistry brands such as MAC and NARS both have that sleek plain black packaging which doesn't need all of the bells and whistles, the products inside do the talking and there is really no need for expensive packaging. I also like that they are rectangular so that they don't roll off of tables!

I'd like to get a couple of other colour from this line in the future, Guava looks really nice, as does Heather Pink

Swatches after the break...

April Favourites!

I am soooo soo soooooo sorry for not posting in so long, I just haven't been in the mood for blogging (in other words, just plain lazy) and I had a cold so didn't want to post pictures of my awful blotchy face and crusty nose haha. Anyway, I'm back now and I have attempted to organise myself a bit better, I had a tonne of photos in my Photobucket account and I was getting confused as to where to start with them so I cleared it all up so it makes more sense to me so hopefully I will be able to get through them and finally post them here. So today I have a belated April favourites and later on I will be posting a review of some Bobbi Brown lipsticks. Tomorrow I have the latest OPI Today's Special Value from QVC that I recieved today. I will also post a review of the Illamasqua Toxic Nature nail polishes (old news now but they are permanent) and next week I will post a review of the cream pigments. Also the new MAC collection - Surf Baby which I had planned to do this weekend but it hasn't arrived yet. Let's get started!

This month I have been using all sorts of things, just playing around and trying to use some of my older products which have been neglected a bit. Therefore, there hasn't been much makeup that I have repeatedly used. These are the things I have really enjoyed using.

Firstly, Philosophy's Hope in a Jar moisturiser. I got this in a Philosophy gift set for Christmas and have been using it quite often along with a couple of other moisturisers. This month I have really noticed how nice my skin has been since I started using it both day and night every day. It is such a gorgeous product and I have hardly used any. It sinks into my skin really well, no oily residue at all. I don't get flaky skin like I used to and my skin tone has been getting more and more even where I barely use any foundation now. It also leaves my skin feeling soooo soft and plump and dewy and smooth... ahhh I love this stuff. I have a small size but the full size is £34 for 56.7g which I am willing to pay because it works so well for me.

Next is my MAC MSF in Stereo Rose which I have featured before. I really love this and it works so nicely in the summer, the perfect corally golden sheen to my cheeks.

Miss Dior Cherie EDP. This is my favourite perfume, I love it and wear it most days. It is so sophisticated and girly and feminine at the same time. The bottle is so pretty too. It just makes me feel pretty wearing it. I will do a full review on this soon.

Chanel Imitable Intense Mascara. This is a new product for me and quite frankly, the best mascara I have ever used. I had these awkward lashes that just would not curl up even using eyelash curlers but this has made them right. It doesn't flake or smudge and the brush is fab. It makes my eyelashes really defined and voluminous, a definite repurchase for me.

Lastly, another Chanel product. Rouge Coco Shine in Romance. This has become one of my favourite lipsticks and I really want to get a couple more colours from the range. They are so moisturising on my dry lips and they look so sophisticated. I like that they are sheer and glossy. The colour range is great too, something for every skintone. Expensive, yes, but I think they are worth it because I really enjoy wearing this.

- Jennifer