Creating a Colourful Smoky Eye with Ruby Recommends

Over the last few months, I've really started to play with colourful make-up. Over the festive period (why oh why does it feel like aeons ago?) I was fortunate to be gifted with a few bits and pieces which have given me the opportunity to have a little bit of fun.

Today I wanted to show you how I created this colourful blue smoky look utilising an eyeshadow palette by international make-up artist Ruby Hammer under her Ruby Recommends capsule line of essentials.

It's a luscious selection of 16 shadows ranging from everyday essential shades to bold bright pops of colour. The set even includes some tools to help get you started thus making it an ideal gift for any budding make-up aficionados if you spot any lying around.

To achieve my look you'll need two blue shadows, one darker than the other, a light champagne shade to use as a highlight, a blending brush, a liner brush, some mascara and some eyeliner to pull everything together.

To start, I used the lighter shade (which is actually more of a turquoise) which is in the top left corner of the palette. I applied this to my lid using a blending brush and just kept blending back and forth over the lid until I had the desired level of colour. As you're applying using a blending brush, this naturally means that the inner corners of the eye will be lighter in shade whilst the outer corners will have more colour saturation.

Then, using the electric blue, second from the top left, and using my liner brush, applied this to the lower lash line, again, going back over the area until I was happy with the colour. I then took the champagne shade which is on the far right of the second row, and patted this into the inner corner to brighten things up a little.

To finish I lined both my waterline and my tight line with a brown eye liner and finished off with lashings of mascara. Oh, and some Bareminerals Moxie Lipstick in Be Brilliant for a real shimmer punch.

I'd never tried anything from this brand before, but I've got to say, the pigmentation and longevity really do pack a punch. They're also remarkably blendable which means it's highly unlikely that you'll be able to make a mistake and not blend it out. This is a great way to play with colour and have a little bit of fun with your make-up.

Whilst it may still be winter outside, my make-up is wishing spring would hurry up already!

Have you tried anything from Ruby Recommends? Have you experimented with colourful make-up lately?

Make-up Look - Glamorous Bronze Smoky Eye

I'm not usually one to slap on the make-up but when I'm off out for a night on the town, I like to make a little more of an effort. Lucky for me, Ad bought me Easy on the Eyes by the gorgeous Benebabe that is Lisa Potter-Dixon a book chock full of make-up looks that can be done in 5, 15 or 30 minutes.

For this look, I picked the Bronze Smoky Eye in 15 minutes which requires three bronze shadows, mascara, a brown eyeliner and plenty of blending brushes. As such, I decided to utilise my Too Faced Chocolate Box palette below, I used Creme Brulee, Haute Chocolate and Black Forest truffle but you can use any bronzy shades you have. 

To achieve this look, I used Creme Brulee (the gold shade) all over the lid ensuring that I didn't go any higher than the socket. Then I used Haute Chocolate (a medium bronze) and blended this right into the socket using a fluffy blending brush. To finish the lids, I used Black Forest (the darker bronze) on the outer corner of my lid and then blended this to achieve a nice even finish. Blending really is key to this look! Smoke a little of Black Forest under the lash line as well for a deeper look.

Then, I took the gold shadow and applied a touch more to the centre of the lid before adding lashings of mascara and lining my waterline with a brown kohl liner. I used my Tarte Coloured Clay Eyeliner in Chocolate for this as it's soft and super blendable. 

Then it was time to polish off the look with a vibrant red lip, my choice here was the Illamasqua Glamore Lipstick in Virgin, a classic red which oozes glamour and sophistication. Naturally a red lip does require some re-application but when it's this luscious it's totally worth it.

I kept the rest of my look paired back opting for the Estee Lauder Double Wear Light foundation, my Hourglass Dim Infusion Blush, and curled my hair using the trustee Babyliss for long-lasting and flexible waves. 

What do you think of this look? Is it something you'd try? If you're keen to get more adventurous with your eye make-up, this book might be handy to add to your collection!

Thumbs Up Nail Wraps - A Review

Glamour Magazine recently purchased their annual Christmas gift guide. Being a total beauty magpie I was drawn to the festive themed nail wraps which they'd featured from a brand called Thumbs Up. Naturally this saw me hunting them down online and being thrilled to discover they're a London based design company.

As I've never tried nail wraps before, I ordered a few different styles and designs to try out. Namely, the Awe Wraps, the Rosa Wraps and two festive styles in the form of the Jolly Jumper and Ginger Bread wraps.

The designs on the festive themed wraps are uber cute and at £5.99 for the Ginger Bread Wraps and £6.99 for the Jolly Jumper Wraps they'd make great stocking fillers or secret santa gifts for those of us on a tight festive budget. 

Up close, you can see that the level of detail, even on the festive wraps is amazing, From the little reindeer to the snowflakes, these give a tasteful nod to the Nordic inspired Christmas jumper trend which rears each head each year. 

As well as novelty nail wraps, Thumbs Up also have a wide range of fashion forward designs with inspirations ranging from rock and roll to vintage and art deco to geometric. This time I went for the Rosa floral wraps and the Awe wraps.

Again, the level of detail in the design is fabulous and certainly not something I'd be able to achieve myself without some serious help. 

Each packet of nail wraps come sealed in a packet of anywhere from 16-20 individual nail wraps in varying sizes. There are clear instructions on the back of each packet as to how they should be applied and I was surprised at how easy it was.

As the packet says, it's a case of the following:

1. Clean and buff your nails

2. Peel off the cover and select the nail wrap best fits your cuticle size, if you can't quite find the right size, then use a pair of nail clippers to trim the closest size down a wee bit

3. Gently lift the nail wrap by the silver tab

4. First apply at the cuticle side

5. Smooth the wrap towards the nail edge until wrinkle free

6. Lift the wrap gently to re-apply where necessary, they are surprisingly stretchy so don't be scared of tugging it around a little

7. File off the excess wrap in a straight down motion using a nail file

My first time applying I didn't get them quite as smooth as a like so I think it does take a little bit of practice, perhaps if my nails were a little longer it might have been easier. The application process was fairly easy and it was quick to remove the excess with a general run of the mill nail file.

Overall I have to say they look fabulous! They're said to last between 3-10 days depending on your lifestyle and I'm currently on day three. I've done a 60 minute Les Mills workout, attended the fireworks, scoffed street food, dusted, hoovered and had several showers and we're still going strong.

When I've had enough, it's just a case of removing using nail varnish remover. I have to say I'm super impressed with these and reckon they'd be ideal for holidays instead of packing a ton of nail varnish bottles.

I can't wait to try more styles, so, Thumbs Up, if you're ready then I am! If you've been tempted to try Nail Wraps, I can't recommend these guys enough, they're such an affordable way to dabble with a trend.

Have you used Nail Wraps before? Any other brands you reckon I should take a look at? Would you give these as a cute stocking filler?

Urban Decay Revolution Lipstick in Catfight - A Review

I've got a bit of a lipstick problem at the moment. It's taken me many many years to realise that instead of upping up my entire make-up game in an attempt to look polished, all I need to do is add a bright pop of lipstick and voilà, instant glam.

I have only just discovered Urban Decay lipsticks, in part because my local House of Fraser has only just installed one of their concessions. Perhaps this new arrival is the start of a very slippery slope because no sooner had I purchased one lipstick, only in September I might add, I now have four of these bad boys...Ooops!

Can we just take a second to appreciate the packaging before we talk about the luscious colour? A gunmetal faceted tube with the signature Urban Decay purple inside? Completely and utterly gorgeous, who wouldn't want to be caught pulling this little beauty out of their make-up bag?

Anyway, back to the post, the lipstick which started this slippery slippery slope is the Urban Decay Revolution in Lipstick in Catfight which I reckon is a bit of steal at only £15.50. The Revolution Lipsticks are incredibly pigmented and deliver serious colour pay off with just one swipe. 

Catfight, which I've been pairing with a Barry M Lipliner in 12, is a gorgeous pink fuchsia shade which I am totally obsessed with. It's super creamy, doesn't drag when applying, doesn't apply patchy, and even without a lipliner, the colour actually lasts an incredibly long time.

It's not a matt shade and, as you can see from the swatch does have a little shine to it but I love this. It feels hydrating on the lips thanks to the inclusion of jojoba oil, cocoa butter, shea butter and avocado oil which also keep things feeling cushiony and soft.

Here it is on, I've been loving wearing this lipstick and it's fast becoming a Laura based staple. It means I can keep the rest of my make-up super simple and paired back but still look as though I've made a fair old bit of effort. It is seriously gorgeous, I can't waffle on about it enough!

Like I say, I was so impressed with both the longevity, price and depth of colour, I now have three other new shades in my collection, namely F-bomb, Shame and Jilted. 

Let me know if you'd like to see some other swatches and/or posts on the other shades. I hope to have some pictures of me in the lipsticks so you can add to your own collections! Are there any other shades you recommend I try out?

Nip + Fab Glycolic Fix Exfoliating Pads - A Review

During my recent online grocery shop, I became suckered in during the checkout process and may have popped a couple of bits and pieces from Nip + Fab into my basket. They were 50% off so it kinda seemed rude not to!

Today, I just want to to talk about the Glycolic Fix Daily Cleansing Pads which come in a pack of 60 for £12.95 if you're purchasing full price. As an aside, I would say it's definitely worth looking around before purchasing anything as Superdrug were also doing a deal of 1/3 off selected Nip + Fab when I purchased these bits.

If you're trying to figure out where you might have heard the name, Nip + Fab have become quite popular in recent days with Kylie Jenner being a notable fan claiming that this particular product leaves her skin super clean. This left me keen to see what all the fuss was about, especially given the affordable price point!

As you can see, the product does make certain claims as to its skincare benefits whilst also helpfully confirming some of the ingredients.

As you can see it contains the following:

• Glycolic Acid to retexturise and resurface skin
• Hyaluronic Acid to moisturise, refresh and hydrate skin
• Blue Daisy to sooth and calm

These particular pads only contain 2.8% glycolic acid, but if you want something with more punch, then there is a night time version available which are more potent at 5% glycolic acid.

The pads come pre-soaked and are ready to use straight from the container. It's simply a case of taking a pad and wiping it across the face and neck before popping into the bin and continuing with your usual skincare routine.

I've not been using these daily but have enjoyed using them twice a week or so as an acid tone type step when my skin needed a bit more exfoliation. I was a little surprised as I had expected some sort of tingling sensation when using but I didn't get this at all. They were really pleasant to use, didn't strip my skin and actually left my face feeling really refreshed and moisturised.

When using these I will generally cleanse, use one of the pads, tone, eye cream, serum and moisturise as per usual.

Overall I think these are really good value for money and if you're looking for an easy step to add into your current routine then this is certainly it! I am tempted to try out more of the range to see if it really is worth all the fuss.

Have you tried Nip + Fab products? Is there something you'd recommend I try? Have you used the Night Time version of the Exfoliating Pads?

My Current Everyday Make-Up Routine

Today I'm sharing my everyday make-up routine, and of course, by everyday, I mean, this is what I wear to work.

In all honesty, it's nothing particularly special and, as you can see it's fairly basic given that at 6:20am I cannot be bothered with a full on face of make-up. I want something which will even out my skin tone whilst at the same time, perking up my face making it seem like I've had 12 hours of sleep. We can all dream right?

I'll start with the bareMinerals Complexion Rescue in shade 01 Opal which I've raved about on the blog before. It's packed full of skincare benefits and is the best of a BB, CC and a tinted moisturiser. This basically means it evens out my skin with just the right amount of coverage and leaves my skin looking super natural. I tend to buff this into my skin with the Bobbi Brown full coverage face brush for a flawless finish or use my fingers if I'm in a wicked rush.

If there are any pesky patches, I'll use the Estee Lauder Double Wear Brush-On Glow BB Highlighter in 2W Light Medium. This is a lightweight concealer which, as the name suggests brightens skin whilst minimising the look of imperfections. I tend to use this around my nose, under my eyes and over any blemishes. It's super easy to blend and I find it to be really long lasting as well which is ideal as I hate lugging my make-up around with me.

Next, I use the Hourglass Ambient Lighting Blush in Dim Infusion on my cheeks to give a natural flush. This powder is gorgeous and the swirl of colour and highlight gives me a hint of radiance as well which is ideal if my skin is looking a little sallow.

On my eyes, it's a quick sweep of  No.7 Stay Perfect Eyeshadow in Wheatsheaf which I've been using as a base colour since I was 16. It's got a subtle shimmer to it which helps to brighten up the eyes and is a great everyday basic taupe shade. 

Before heading out the door I use the Max Factor Masterpiece Mascara in the waterproof formula as it gets kinda rainy in the UK and I don't want to risk things running down my face. Apart from the £9.99 price tag, I also love the fact that the brush isn't a bristle brush so there's no chance of me poking myself in the eye first thing in the morning! I find this mascara gives great definition and a good amount of volume without having to apply lashings of the stuff making it ideal for early morning rushes.

What make-up do you wear everyday? Do you have different for looks for the office and weekends at home?  

My Haircare Essentials

Over the years, I've tried numerous hair care products in a bid to keep my hair healthy, shiny, nourished and strong. Whilst there are some products I'll quite happily rotate, there are others which have earned themselves numerous repurchases. Today, I thought I'd share some of the bits and pieces I use on my barnet.

First of all, shampoo and this Pure Hydrate Shampoo from Pureology is something which I cannot do without. Having tried numerous shampoos over the years, my hair is never healthier than when I'm using this. At £25 for a full litre of shampoo, this lasts for well over 3 months with both Ad and I using it on a daily basis.

The whole range is gentle on coloured hair (vital given I colour my hair several times a year), smells delicious, lathers up an absolute dream and is free from sulfates. As an added bonus, everything is suitable for vegans.

Once a week however, I do like to use a detoxing shampoo to get rid of any product build-up and to clarify my hair. At the moment, I'm using the Purify Shampoo, again from Pureology which was about £11 for a 250ml bottle. It has a lovely menthol smell, no doubt thanks to the tea-tree and witch hazel which makes it really refreshing to use. A little goes a long way so I can see this lasting me for several months.

Again, once a week, I've been using this Hair Growth Treatment by Lee Stafford which you massage into your hair and scalp post-shampoo and leave on for around 5 minutes. It contains some sort of protein complex which is supposed to help your hair grow faster whilst strengthening your follicles. I loose a lot of hair over the summer months (literally feels like I'm malting!) and this seems to reduce the amount of hair which is falling out which can only be a good thing when it's so fine.

Then we get onto conditioner and I've really been loving the John Frieda Beach Blonde Detangling Conditioner. Now, don't let the name fool you, this isn't just for blondes! I find this to be great for smoothing and calming my hair without being overly weighty. As my hair gets longer, it has a tendency to get pretty knotty and this helps to prevent that. It's super minty smell is also divine.

If my hair needs a little more nourishment, then I'll reach for the Charles Worthington Moisture Seal Hair Rescue Mask which I've purchased on several occasions. To use, it's a case of scooping out whatever you need and massaging into your hair and scalp, leaving in for a minute and then rinsing out. It's enriched with Argan Oil and Mineral Proteins which leave my hair feeling super soft, nourished and uber shiny.

After I'm done in the shower, I tend to blast my hair dry with some sea salt spray (most brands have a version which does the trick) or leave it to air dry as I'm trying to reduce the amount of heat damage I subject my hair to! If I feel my hair needs it, I'll run a couple of drops of hair oil through the ends to keep them from splitting.

What are your hair care essentials? Are there any products which you repurchase?

My Current Evening Skincare Routine

During the week, my evening routine usually starts with me coming home from work in the city before bashing out a 30 minute workout at home. After which, I finally get to relax with a nice toasty shower whereon my evening skincare routine starts.

I get an awful lot of joy from my evening routine and take my time completing each step. First of all, I'll start with a cleansing oil such as the Clean Energy Cleansing Oil from Origins which is a great first cleanse. I massage this into dry skin for a good minute whereon the sunflower oil, sesame oil and safflower oil really go to work at removing the days make-up and grime from my daily commute. I'll then dampen my hands and massage again which causes the oil to turn into a milk before rinsing my skin clean.

Then it's time for my second cleanse, and depending on how my skin is looking and feeling I'll either go in with a super gentle face wash such as the Yes to Cucumbers Daily Gel Cleanser which always helps to sooth and calm an angry complexion. If my skin is starting to look red and angry, this always helps to keep make my skin happy again.

If my skin needs a bit of an extra oompfh then this 3 in 1 face wash from Soap & Glory is packed full of all sorts of fancy technology and vitamin c which help to smooth, purify, energise and brighten my skin. It foams up nicely without being stripping the skin and the vitamin c does seem to give my skin a bit of a boost. 

After double cleansing, it's time to move onto the good stuff, namely eye cream, serum and then either a night mask or moisturiser.

First up, on the eyes I've been using the Snail Repair Eye Cream from Mizon. Don't be put off by the word Snail, it doesn't smell of anything and the texture isn't offensive either. The mucin actually has a powerful regenerative effective which stimulates cell renewal and stimulates collagen which all helps to tighten and brighten the skin around the eyes. Try it for yourself and let me know how you get on, at only £18 a tub it won't break the bank.

Then we're on to serum and I've been using the Midnight Recovery Concentrate from Kiehl's for well over a year, the bottle just keeps on giving!  It's packed full of powerhouse ingredients which help to rehydrate my skin, plump it out and generally make it look more radiant the following morning. It's just a miracle in a bottle and my skin looks noticeably different when I don't use this in the evenings. My favourite way to use this is to mix 2-3 drops with my moisturiser before massaging it into my skin.  

My final step is either a moisturiser or night mask as I've said above. Most evenings I've been using the Day and Night Cream from Flora Mare which again, seems to last forever and is only £26 for a 100ml tub. It's packed full of avocado, olives, argan and even almonds to make for a luscious, rich and super hydrating face cream. This is far too rich for me to use during the day, but it's ideal for the evenings when I like to use much more nourishing products. It leave my skin feeling soft and supple the next morning so it's obviously doing something right.

On the night mask front, I'm trying out this Good Night White Sleeping Mask from Mizon. It's packed full of hyaluronic acid, glycerin and niacinamide which hydrate my skin, condition my skin and as the name would suggest, help to brighten my skin and even out skin tone. It melts into the skin nicely and does seem to be doing a good job. I've only used this three times so it's still early days but I can see this becoming a winter skincare staple in the near future.

So there you have it, my 5 step routine to keep my skin looking lovely. Once a week I also use a face mask which will vary almost every week but that's another post altogether!

What products are in your evening skincare routine? Do you have any Holy Grail products which you ALWAYS use? Would you use a snail cream?

Origins Original Skin Serum - A Review

I've been on the hunt for a new daytime serum for a little while now, but it's been tough to narrow down exactly what I'm after. As I suffer from hormonal acne, I'm always seeking something to calm stressed out skin, but, at the same time, I want something that will help my skin glow and, if possible help fade old acne scars.

I'd been trialling several new serums, each for a few weeks at a time having blagged myself some samples from various counters at Space NK, Boots and House of Fraser before finally settling on the new Origins Original Skin Serum.

I'd only been trialling this for a week before I purchased it, granted this isn't that long in the skincare world but hear me out! Given I'd had four ladies compliment me on my glowing complexion in the last week I naturally took this as a sign that something must be right in my routine. The only item which I'd been changing up during my hunt for a new serum was the serum itself, my moisturiser, eye cream and cleansers had stayed the same.

As a cheeky little bonus, Origins were doing a free gift of three free deluxe samples along with a recycled cotton pouch which will no doubt come in handy during the course of my travels. I choose the Checks and Balances cleanser, the Drink Up Intensive Mask (which by the way smells incredible) and the GinZing eye cream.

Back to the serum however. and it promises to give your skin a noticeable glow by de-stressing the skin with Persian Silk Tree, smoothing roughness and refining skin texture with Chestnut Seed Extract as well as helping minimise flaws and dullness with Willowherb.

I'd never herd of Willowherb before, however, the lovely ladies on the Origins concession advised me that Willowherb is found in Canada and is known to withstand very extreme environments. Its inclusion in the serum apparently helps to inhibit a protein change that can lead to dullness and discolouration. The Chestnut Seed Extract helps to rid the skin of dead surface cells thus revealing smooth and soft skin.

I'm currently polishing off the last of my sample pot before cracking open the full size but given the noticeable results are already kicking in I have no doubt that the results will only get better over time. The serum sinks in quickly, works well under my make-up and has a lovely citrus like smell which makes it a pleasure to use in the mornings.

My skin is certainly more glowing, my scarring is continuing to fade and the texture of my skin is certainly more uniform. I can't wait to see how my skin looks a month down the line. Thus far, I can only sing its praises.

Have you tried the Origins Original Skin Serum? What do you reckon?

Clinique Chubby Lash Fattening Mascara - A Review

When I found myself in need of a new mascara, my interest was peaked by the latest Clinique launch. A range of coloured mascaras including Portly Plum and Two Ton Teal as well as your general fail safe Jumbo Jet (black if you weren't sure).

The shade I had my eye on however, was Black Honey which, despite my best efforts, I could not find in store. I tried several Boots, John Lewis and even my local House of Fraser. As such, I resorted to purchasing online directly from Clinique. The plus side being, I got a whole load of freebies!

Now, what you need to know about the Chubby Lash Fattening Mascara is that its a volumising mascara that promises serious oommff with a gorgeous hit of colour.

It comes in a whopping great tube which is colour coded to match the product inside, As you can see, the colour I was so desperate to get my mitts on was Black Honey, a gorgeous burgundy shade.

The brush is one of those plastic ones as opposed to a bristle brush but this does ensure that the product applies evenly to the lash without the need to apply numerous coats.

As you can see, it's the tiny bristles which grip the lashes giving them awesome volume, and I mean awesome! What I loved about this product is that there wasn't too much product leftover on the brush once you pulled it out of the tube as demonstrated above.

Above are my before and after photos. I'll leave you to deduce which one is which, what I will say however, is that I'm wearing no other make up apart from the Chubby Lash Fattening Mascara and only two swift coats at that.

Here it is as part of a totally put together face. The colour itself isn't that noticeable on the lashes, I think you can see there is something a little different but you can't quite place your finger on what. In terms of longevity, I've had absolutely no issues with flaking or crumbling and I've actually found I need to use a good quality bio-phase make-up remover to get this off!

If you're interesting in trying the new Chubby Lash Fattening Mascara for yourself, it's £17.50 and can be picked up from Boots, House of Fraser, John Lewis etc. If however, you'd like to try the Black Honey shade, I'd recommend ordering online as I've not found it in store.

Have you tried the new Clinique mascara? Are you a bristle brush or plastic brush girl? Are you keen to try out any coloured mascaras?

Gerda Spillman Hydro Pearls - Review

Now as I'm sure you have gathered, I'm a Birchbox fan.  Incidentally, this product was in my first ever Birchbox and I was so impressed with it, I decided to take the plunge and invest.

I'll be honest, I'd never heard of Gerda Spillman prior to this point but since then I've done my research (as you'd expect from me!).  In America, she is best known for her Bio-Fond Foundation which helps to improve problem skin as well as protecting you from the sun.  Any make-up which helps to improve temperamental skin in the long run is a winner in my books.

Part of the appeal of Madame Spillman's products is that they are almost all hydrophillic, meaning that you can combine them with water and they'll still be effective.  In essence, they help to nourish your skin and in turn, the effects of the products which you use on your skin last longer.  The Hydro Pearls make-up primer is just one of many products in her range which falls into the above category.

Whilst it's primary function is as a primer it's also a light moisturising fluid, thus making this yet another multi-tasking wonder in my arsenal!  As a moisturiser, it helps to protect your skin from environmental pollutants, and as it's water based, it keeps your skin feeling hydrated for longer.

I think the moisturising aspect of the product makes it ideal for the colder months as it'll provide an extra layer of hydration for my skin.

As a primer, in all honesty, I would say this is in league with my Laura Mercier Primers (*shock horror*), if not, dare I say it, better?  It reduced the appearance of my pores and left my skin with a silky flawless finish. On a good skin day, I'd be quite content to wear this with just a little blush and a slick of mascara before dashing out of the house.

The pump dispenser does come in quite handy in terms of ensuring you only use what you need. In addition, as the product is water based, it doesn't need much encouragement to break down and sink into your skin (for lack of a better explanation it is quite watery). 

As a heads up, if you've got more of an oily skin type, then I would say to apply this instead of your usual moisturiser as it may be a little bit much if you're looking to layer this on top of your usual skin care routine.  

I have normal/combination skin and I use this on top of whichever moisturiser I'm using that day and I find it's perfect for me, but I have heard on the grapevine that those with oily skin should exercise a little more caution in this respect.

I bought this directly from the Birchbox store for £30 for 100ml which is incredible value for money: as a cheeky bonus I actually had enough Reward Points to get £10 off my purchase.  One pump is enough for the entire face so whilst it might cost a wee bit initially, my mini Birchbox sample almost lasted a month with everyday use so I know this will be around for a fair old while.

Have you discovered a new primer recently? 

Revlon Ultra HD Lipstick - Rose 830 - A Review

I'm going through a lipstick phase, clearly as I've done a fair few posts since the new year, but I think I've been good in that the shades which I'm picking up have been fairly varied. Today, in the interests of giving some more budget friendly high street options a try I'm reviewing one of the newest launches from Revlon.

I'm talking of course about the Revlon Ultra HD Lipsticks which you can pick up for around £7.99. They come in a variety shades with 14 strong shade selection going from vivacious reds and vivid pinks, to more muted nudes such as the shade above. 

As I was in the market for a 'my lips but better' shade I opted to go for the shade Rose, which is a gorgeous nudish pink shade, and, as it turns out, exactly what I was looking for.

Formula wise, these are all wax free and instead use gel technology to provide a pure hit of colour in just one swipe. It's this gel technology which means the lipstick itself applies like an absolute dream, almost like applying a lip balm. This is because the gel texture ensures there's no dragging and also means the colour application is much more even than with a traditional wax based lipstick. The swatch above was with just one swipe of the bullet and you can see there is some serious pigment being deposited.

They do have quite a strong scent vanilla to them, so, if you can get past that, then you're in for a treat. This lipstick delivers a good pop of buildable colour which is smooth, weightless and surprisingly, non-drying.

The above photo shows the lipstick in two different lights. You can see the pigment is pretty intense despite being a nude shade.

All in all, these were great value, longevity wise, I would say a couple of hours before reapplication was required, but for £7.99 (these were actually two for £10 so a bargain) I won't be complaining any time soon.

Have you tried the new Revlon Ultra HD Lipsticks? What are you favourite shades?