REVIEW: Urban Decay Revolution Lipstick in "F-Bomb"

I am a self confessed lipstick junkie so it may come as no surprise that today I have yet another review on one for you! Today, we're looking an Urban Decay Revolution Lipstick in the shade F-Bomb.

Price: £15.50

Where to Buy it From: UrbanDecay.com

I've reviewed this range of lipsticks before from Urban Decay - the lipsticks in it are specifically formulated to give you intense colour payoff but with a creamy and shiny finish. They claim to be made for extensive wear as well to contain ingredients that help to nourish the lips and make them seem plumper and fuller!

Packaging:

As with most Urban Decay packaging, this lipstick oozes that feeling of sophistication and high end quality that you'd expect for the price your paying. I love the gunmetal grey of the lipstick tube and the way "Urban Decay" is embossed on it - the packaging really does feel and look like a high end product which is exactly what I would want it to.

Colour and Pigmentation:

The shade that I got this lipstick in was "F-Bomb" - great name, huh? It's described as the "classic red" and I'd say that's pretty spot on to be honest. 

F-Bomb is warm/neutral medium red that when swatched and in the tube looks more cool-toned. On the lips and depending on your skin colour, it can however appear a little warmer. For me, it's pretty much that classic, Hollywood red with a slight cool undertone and I love it!

This lipstick is insanely pigmented, one swipe and you have intense colour payoff - this is the same with the other Revolution lipsticks that I own. The colour spreads evenly on the lips and you aren't going to need more than one coat to get a perfect coverage, 

Formula and Application / Wear:

In terms of formula, this lipstick feels creamy and smooth on the lips. It spreads easily and feels pretty light on. It has a shiny finish (not lip gloss shiny, just a nice creamy shine) and it's comfortable to wear throughout the day.

Now, in terms of wear time, this lipstick really lasts all day - as it's so richly pigmented it does leave a slight stain to the lips as well - so when it does eventually wear, you aren't going to notice it too much. For me, it can last a good 8 hours and even then, you probably won't need to re-apply if you didn't want to. This for me is one of the most impressive things about this lipstick - most of the time you'll have to wear a matte lipstick to get that kind of wear time but this is far from a matte finish and it lasts for ages.

Overall, I'm really impressed with the lipstick which doesn't surprise me as I'm a huge fan of the Revolution range from Urban Decay. This lipstick is luxurious in both its feel and appearance and this shade in particular is that perfect, Hollywood red that'll make you feel like a star. 

I'd definitely recommend this collection and this particular lipstick - you won't regret it. The price range of this lipstick is similar to one from MAC and so though it's still definitely higher end, it's still on the lower end of the overall price scale for this kind of brand. If you fancy treating yourself to a higher end lipstick, this is one I'd totally look into!

REVIEW: LA Splash Lip Couture Liquid Lipsticks!

Hey! Today I have a review for you as promised on the LA Splash Lip Couture liquid lipsticks. I picked these up just over a week or two ago now and I thought I'd share my thoughts and feelings on them. LA Splash (from what I can gather) is an American brand that has recently hit the UK. Though I believe they make multiple products as a company, it is mainly their lip products that are taking the makeup community by storm and I have 3 of them to show you in this post. 

Packaging:

I like the packaging of these lipsticks quite a lot - firstly, the fact that it's see-through makes it a lot easier to know what shade I'm going for without having to read it's name. It's also handy for knowing how much of them I actually have left which is always nice! The design is simple and sophisticated - something I always appreciate in packaging.

Colour and Pigmentation:

The pigmentation of these lipsticks is AMAZING - that's something I have to put straight out there. In one to two applications, you have completely opaque coverage which I find really impressive. The colour payoff is also very intense - these are truly pigmented lipsticks. This brand makes a lot of really unique, beautiful shades that you're not going to find in the drugstore - from true blue-toned purples to blues and blacks, there's a great selection of alternative colours as well as more wearable, everyday ones too. There's something for everyone in the colour variation of this product.

The colours that I currently own are Vindictive - a kind of blue-grey shade - something I've never really seen before in a lipstick and one I was particularly excited to own, Criminal - a very bright, pink/red-toned purple & Poison Apple - a beautiful cherry red.

Application and Wear:

As stated before, these are really pigmented lip products and all the shades I own are opaque in around 2 applications. Vindictive however could probably be opaque in one application and is definitely the thicker in formula of the three. On the lips, they glide on smoothly and feel comfortable to wear. Like most liquid lipsticks, these do dry matte but these however retain that creamy look to them which I like. Being a matte lipstick, they will accentuate the lines on your lips but in all honestly, that doesn't really bother me because well, that's natural!

In terms of wear time, these lipsticks are very long lasting. They last for a good 6-8 hours at least but will start to wear slightly in the inner portion of the mouth - particularly if you're eating or drinking. Even then though, it's barely noticeable and they do leave that kind of 'stain' effect on the lips and so it's not going to look very obvious that it's wearing. These lipsticks don't 'crumble' like some liquid formulas can but if you really pile on the lipstick, they possibly could. It's easy enough to re-apply in the areas you need it and it still feels comfortable on the lips when you do. 

A lot of people comment on the staying power of these liquids - specifically when showing you how difficult it is to actually remove them when trying to wash if off the lips. As impressive as that definitely is, it may be worrying to you that it will be impossible to get this product off.

Don't worry though, with a cream or oil based cleanser, these come off easily enough without leaving your lips sore or irritated. Their staying power is more so applicable to contact with water which won't be enough to remove them!

Overall, I am really, really impressed with these lipsticks and I can definitely say I'm excited about this brand. I'll definitely be getting some more of these - when they're in stock that is as after hitting the UK, a lot of them are out of stock now! I love the colour selection and performance of these lipsticks and I'd recommend them completely. I picked up these lipsticks from the website Love-Makeup but you can also get them in the UK from Cocktail Cosmetics, too!

REVIEW: Milani Baked Blush in Dolce Pink

Hey everyone! I hope you're all having a good weekend so far. Today, I'm going to be reviewing a Milani blush for you all which is in the shade 'Dolce Pink'. Milani is an American brand and so is not readily available in the UK, I've found it a couple of times in pound shops such as Poundland but predominantly, I get Milani from Amazon. I love their lipsticks and this particular blush is my second one in their baked blush range.

Packaging:

I really like the packaging of Milani's products from their lipsticks to these blushes. I love the rose gold and I feel that it gives their products that higher end feel. It's always nice to have makeup that looks good too and it's nice to know this is something they have considered in their design.

This blush also comes with a mirror and a handy brush in it's third layer which makes it great for travel and on the go touch ups!

Colour and Pigmentation:

As I mentioned earlier, the shade of this blush is called 'Dolce Pink' and it is a beautiful, medium pink shade with gold shimmer running through it.

 It is a very shimmery blush so for some, this may be off putting - however, on the skin I feel it gives a sheen rather than making you look like a glitter ball and so I think this makes it a great Summer shade for that glowy look. 

This blush has great colour payoff and as I said gives a really nice sheen to the skin - perfect for Summer and is comparable to a MAC Mineralize blush or even Skin Finish. I also think it's a pretty good dupe for NARS' infamous Orgasm blush, too. Dolce Pink is nicely pigmented and gives a good colour payoff.

Application and Wear:

I find this blush applies smoothly which is something I have found more often with baked formulas. I also found that it blends nicely on the skin too and it feels soft and smooth. In terms of wear, this lasts a good few hours (5-6) before any noticeable fading which I think is pretty good for a blush. Though I have not tried them myself, I can tell you that from my research many have said these are comparable in the look and feel of the MAC Mineralize range so if they are a little too pricey for you, Milani baked blushes may be a good alternative!

Overall, I really like this blush and I feel like it's a perfect shade for Summer. On my paler skin, I find it to be really flattering and it gives a lovely glow. I feel as if this shade is very versatile too and will go with a whole host of different looks. I'd definitely recommend it and as a drugstore brand in America, Milani blushes are also very reasonable in price too so you can't really go wrong.

I got this blush from Amazon for £4.49 and you can find it on sale here. 

REVIEW: MAC Powder Blush in "Dollymix"

Hey everyone! Today I'm bringing you a review on a MAC Blusher. 

I've never tried any MAC blushes before but I always hear a lot about them. I was in the MAC store in Selfridges a few weeks ago and spotted this particular shade and really liked it so I picked it up! This is MAC's standard original powder blush and I the one I chose was in the shade 'Dollymix'.

Packaging:

The packaging of this product is just the classic MAC packaging design you see in their regular products. It's a nice and sleek matte black design which I think is simple yet sophisticated looking. It doesn't look cheap and the product feels solid and sturdy which I think is always something to expect with a more expensive item.

Colour and Application:

This blush is described as being part of MAC's 'Sheertone Shimmer' collection. Whilst it does contain shimmer, it is very fine and just gives a nice glow to your cheeks. I however, would not describe this blush as sheer at all and I instead think it's actually very pigmented. Dollymix is a beautiful deep pink shade and I think it will really compliment an abundance of different makeup looks. Being so pigmented, you really only need a light hand and can easily build up the colour if you so wish. It's soft and easy to blend on the skin leaving you with a lovely, pink flush of colour. I like to apply this brush with my Sigma F15 Duo Fibre blush brush as I think it picks up just the right amount of colour and blends it evenly!

Wear and Price:

This blush wears really well and I find it to last all day. It's easy to apply as I've said and to me, looks really natural and flattering on my skin tone as I'm sure it would on others too! In the UK, this blush retails for £18.00 on the MAC website. Whilst this is of course quite a lot of money for just a blush, I think due to it's high pigmentation and the fact that you only need a lot of product to get a nice coverage, you can definitely justify it! Also, for me, this is a colour I know I'll get a lot of use of.

Overall, I'm really impressed with the quality of this blush - particularly in it's pigmentation. It's creamy and easy to blend into the skin whilst still staying all day and looking natural. If you're thinking of trying a MAC blush or are looking for a new shade, I'd definitely recommend Dollymix.

REVIEW: Anastasia Beverly Hills Dip Brow and Powder Duo

Hi guys! In this post, I bring you a review on two products from Anastasia Beverley Hills. This brand has seemed to blow up in the beauty community recently - with pretty much everyone talking about their brow products in particular. Talking of their brow products, these are what I will be reviewing in this post!

Anastasia Beverley Hills Brow Powder Duo - £17.00
&
Dipbrow Pomade - £15.00

About the Products:

So, firstly I'll be starting with the DipBrow Pomade, this product is basically described as a waterproof brow colour that helps to sculpt and define your brows. It's said to be smudge proof and perfect for oily skin and humid weather. It can also be used as an eyeliner and comes in a whole variety of shades and undertones so you can find the perfect shade for you.

Next, we have the Brow Powder Duo which is of course a powder formula as the name suggests. It's described as lightweight in formula and as with the DipBrow, this product is meant to help define your brows but provide you with more of a natural look. Again, this product is available in a whole range of colours to suit you and is enriched with Vitamin C and E to also nourish your brows.

Appearance and Colour:

Both product have really nice, rose gold and black packaging. The combination of the two makes for a really sophisticated, more higher feel in my opinion. The packaging feels sturdy and like high quality as well, which is always a nice thing considering the price you're paying for them.

For the DipBrow, I chose the colour 'Chocolate' which for me looked like the best shade for my hair colour and skin tone. I had previously looked at swatches on the internet and found that 'Chocolate' had the right amount of warmth to it for my liking. 

The Brow Powder duo has slightly different shades compared to the Dipbrow from what I can see and so I once again used the internet to help me out a little bit. In the end, I picked up the shade 'Medium Brown'. 

Formula and Finish:

The formulas of both eyebrow products are of course quite different. Starting with the Dipbrow, I think it's probably best compared to that of a gel liner. When I first got mine, the formula and consistency of it was very creamy but as time has gone by, it has become a lot drier in consistency which for me makes it easier to use. In terms of finish, it's definitely creamy but isn't in any way shiny  - it's also waterproof so there's no need to worry about smudging. As a product, it is highly pigmented which made it particularly difficult to use when I first got it because of how creamy it was. Of course though, once you get the hang of it, the pigmentation of Dipbrow is one of the things that makes it such an effective product.

The Brow Powder Duo on the other hand, is obviously a powder formula. However, the powder isn't chalky and is soft upon application. The pigmentation in this product is not intense - but then again it isn't meant to be. The product provides you with a natural looking sheer to medium coverage and this is why it's great for a simply, stripped back brow look without too much intensity.

Application and Wear:

Both products require use with a brush - with both, I like to use a thin, angled liner brush. For the Dipbrow however, it is definitely best used with a synthetic brush just because of how creamy the product is and the fact that synthetic brushes with this kind of formula definitely makes it easier. Any angled brush is fine for use with the powder  - although I find a fluffier, slightly less dense brush gives a nicer application.

The Dipbrow and Powder Duo are really easy to manipulate and they both blend well. You do however need to work a little faster with the Dipbrow before it sets. Due to it's higher pigmentation, the Dipbrow is great for creating definition in the brow - particularly at the tail. I like to then use the Powder Duo in the front of my brow as that's wear I like the least product and strong definition to be. For me, these products work really well together and make a for a defined yet still natural brow look. I also think the Powder Duo sets the Dipbrow nicely to make sure everything stays where it needs to be. 

Overall, I really do like these brow product - especially the DipBrow. In terms of value for money, though I like the Powder Duo I am not sure if it's as good a deal as I think the Dipbrow is. You really need a tiny amount of product from the Dipbrow to fill in the whole brow - less is definitely more here. It glides on the brow beautifully and in my opinion looks natural yet can be manipulated to look more intense and defined as you wish. You get so much product in the pot and I can't see myself finishing it anytime soon - (I bought this back in July and still have loads left).

To conclude. the Dipbrow for me is definitely worth the money and I would 100% recommend it whereas you can probably skip the Powder Duo and go for a less expensive product. However, Anastasia Beverly Hills is a great brand for those of us who stubble finding the right shades in our brow products so this may actually be an ideal solution to that problem. 

You can purchase these products in the UK from BeautyBay!

Have you tried any of these products? What are your favourite brow products?