Samantha's Secret | Revlon Just Bitten Balm Stains

I've been looking forward to trying these out ever since their release was announced. I have 2 shades to show: Devotion and Rendezvous.

They are infamously similar to the Clinique Chubby Sticks in packaging and concept. I haven't ever bought a chubby stick, but having swatched them extensively I have always come to the conclusion that they are horrifically expensive for what is essentially a glorified lip balm!

Cherish

Rendezvous

These, however, give a quick easy slick of moisturising colour and then stain the lips for hours afterwards. For me this is quite a big deal as I have fairly thin lips and no lipstick or stains ever really last very long, but these genuinely sit for hours. I love them!

Top: Cherish Bottom: Rendezvous

As you can see the balm stains are very pigmented, go on very glossy at first, and this gloss lasts an hour or so or until you first eat or drink. The stain will then stay on for another few hours. The only downside I find with these are the smell upon application - sort of mint choc chip-ish? Just ew. I would expect a fruity or vanilla scent, but I find the fake minty smell a bit gross. I do find though that on my lips the slight minty sting puffs my lips so slightly.

I can't recommend these stains enough - I'm going to get all the colours! I now just wish I was brave enough to show lip swatches!!

Samantha's Secret | Revlon Pink Pout

As my lipstick hoarde ever breeds, I wanted to share my first Revlon lipstick, and a Matte one at that which is an uncharacteristic choice for me but I loved the colour so ... hell!

Its a lovely mauve-pink, that looks great on a fair tone like mine but I'm sure would also suit darker skin tones alike! The consistency is creamy and smooth although being a matte formulation I definitely suggest this lippie for good lip days only or using a good balm before-hand! Unless you want dry liney granny lips, mmmm.

I've been loving this for everyday lips and as its a matte shade has great staying power.

You can get Pink Pout from Superdrug for £7.49 here.

I need more Revlon in my life!!

Samantha's Secret | Kate Moss Lipstick '16'

I've been looking out for the Kate Moss lipstick collection for Rimmel, but as usual with a local Boots, the stand is always raided, all the lipstick bullets have been mashed up (thanks 12-year old delinquents) and the shade selection is rubbish. This week though I managed to get to an out of town SUPER-Boots (yay) and found this beauty which has been added to the range for S/S12.

I love the simple black packaging with a cute Kate signature and the infamous Rimmel crown. I think it's fairly sleek for a drugstore lippie case! I LOVE this shade. When I have previously perused the collection it has mainly featured darks and nudes, but this new addition is going to be a firm favourite with a lot of us I feel!! Its a beauutiful coral pink, not dissimilar to Mac Costa Chic.

Rimmel Kate Moss 'Lasting Finish' in 16

It's sad that this shade is named '16' as it really doesn't do justice to the formula, colour and longevity of the formula. It's like its just been shelved with all the other '009' '12' etc dull crappy drugstore things that we have to wade through to find gems like this one!!

It claims to be a lasting finish and I have to agree, it goes on smoothly but has a semi-matte finish that lasts for so long. You definitely need to have moisturised / exfoliated, whatever you need to do as the matte-ness and opacity of this shade will show up chapped lips terribly.

All in all I'm sure you can tell that I love this and it will be a firm favourite for the summer! Now that I am pleased with the formula of this collection I would love to pick up a few more ... maybe a nude?

Samantha's Secret | Accessorize Highlighter

So as many of you will know, Accessorize have forayed into the make-up world and have produced a line of prettily-packaged, fairy-like cosmetics. This is my first try of the line, although their baked eyeshadows and powders look incredible, reminiscent of Mac MSF's. (Also loving the look of the infamous Lovely Day palette which is sold out EVERYWHERE... argh, I want!!

I was in London this week and managed to find an Accessorize stand in a large Superdrug, which had been totally raided as it had reductions, but managed to get this highlighter.

I love the packaging, its not exactly high-end, but its pretty and girly and I payed under £5 for this which I think is great for 50ml of product!!

The product itself comes out quite salmon-toned, it has a strange water-based consistency not really a cream and has a bit of a plasticky smell (not really a problem once its on your cheekbones though)

The result when blended is an iridescent mermaid-like glow that looks different in all lights and angles!
I can't wait to try out more Accessorize things as I'm so impressed by this at the price it was at, and it's one of those rare brands that you can get excited about as the packaging is so fun and exciting.

Have you anything to recommend next time I'm faced with a stand in Superdrug?!

Samantha's Secret | Natural Collection Lipsticks

Having a mooch around Boots this week I stopped at the Natural Collection counter and had a look - it's usually a make I would skip over in favour of more renowned brands or high-end makeup. But with the recent developments in makeup I am constantly surprised at the quality of drugstore make-up (Collection 2000 for instance - who would have bought cheapo concealer from them last year?!) and thought I would give some of their products a try.

I've heard good things about their lipsticks, and since they are ridiculously priced at £1.99 I picked up a couple.

L-R: Sheer Natural in Lotus, Moisture Shine in Pink Mallow

 I was so pleasantly surprised by these lipsticks. Firstly, although they are in two different formulations; Sheer Natural and Moisture Shine, they are both extremely soft, moisturising and don't feel cheap and nasty.
Lotus is a lovely sheer, slightly gold nude and amazingly, Pink Mallow is so similar to Mac Viva Glam Gaga - a teeny bit darker and obviously more sheer but so wearable and lovely.  The only thing I disliked about this lippie was that it gathered a little on the inside of my lip - that dreaded white line.

L-R: Lotus, Pink Mallow

I would definitely recommend checking out these lipsticks and finding a shade that you like - as the texture is great and they are easy, daily lippies that you can chuck in your handbag and not worry about the plastic mundane packaging.


I haven't tried the NC individual eyeshadows yet either - any to recommend girls? Helloooo to new followers - do introduce yourself in comments if your reading this would be nice to know you all!!
xx

MUA Lip Boom

Today I picked up two of MUA's latest product: The Lip BOOM, created with Alexandra Burke.

The idea is great: A lipstick with gloss all in one product. I was really excited to try these out and picked them up in the shades "Cheeky!" and "OK.Com" - a pink and a nude.

L-R: Ok.Com, Cheeky!

In one end there is a matte lipstick, the other a glittery gloss. The idea is that you can use the product in 4 ways: Lipstick alone for a matte look; Lipgloss alone for a sheer finish; Lipstick with gloss and Lipstick with the gloss as a highlighter to the centre of the lips to create volume. The shades I got are great; one a dusky matte pink and the other a nudey that would look great on darker skin. There were 2-3 other shades.

Cheeky!

OK.Com

This product really disappointed me. I've not yet had a negative review on my blog but sadly this is the first. The first lipstick snapped off when I attempted to swatch, not because it was hot or mushy or too far pushed up - the formula was dry, flaky and brittle. The glosses on both are sickly-sweet, smelling strongly of vanilla which I know a lot of people will hate, and the glitter is chunky and gritty. I ended up wiping the lot off after 5 minutes of wear as the texture and smell were making me queasy. As for the greasy pot of product at the end of the lipstick, I've no idea what it is or it's purpose as there is no mention of it on the packaging!

I don't know if I am being too harsh - MUA is a cheap make-up brand. These cost only £3, some of their products are really surprising in terms of quality but this was a total let down. I feel like I have wasted my money as the broken one I have chucked and the other will get no use. But if you go to pick this up even just look at the ingredients list first - Yuk!!

I got these as there were a few good mentions on renowned blogs, but I guess if I had been invited to an event with Alexandra Burke and given free products to sample, I might have had nicer things to say. I guess you can only really trust your own opinion!! Has anyone else tryed these and care to make me feel less mean?! xx

Reel Sexy

For me Mac collections are not usually the most scintillating of things; I get the emails but don't rush on over to the nearest counter to check it all out. Reel Sexy however, was a chance for me to get my hands on a lipstick that has topped my wishlist for a couple of months!! I was gutted when I missed getting Watch Me Simmer from the Shop Cook collection, as it sold out pretty swiftly. But, we know Mac and it was back with this new collection - along with another pretty that caught my eye.

'Crew' High-Light Powder, 'Watch Me Simmer' Amplified Lipstick

Watch Me Simmer

Oh My God it's the most beautiful lipstick I own (I'm sure of it!!) Its an amazing bright pink orange, that looks corally when applied. I've never bought an amplified finish before and it really is bright, wow, incredibly pigmented and really long-wearing.

I also ordered a High-Light Powder in 'Crew'.

This high-lighter is in the Hey, Sailor! collection hence the stripes. Its beautiful and the colours in it are lovely, just .... dare I say it I just don't know how to use it??! It's not shimmery or highlighting like a highlighter should be, its not pigmented enough to be a blusher - I'm baffled? I ended up using it to set my foundation but did not find it particularly illuminating or anything. I wonder if anyone can shed any light on what they use it for. I'm hoping once it is worn down a little that the highlight powder will come out more.

Another pleasurable Mac haul!! Please follow if you enjoy reading and let me know about your beauty blogs also!! xx

Dating Coral

YESSSSSS!!!!! I have finally got a Loreal Rouge Caresse in Dating Coral!
A little bit over-excitable, I know, but I have been to countless Boots stores where the Loreal stand has just been completely annihilated and all the grubby teenagers have squished All the available lippies in their excitement, haha.

But one is now mine, here's the bad boy...

This shade is gorgeous, its a soft pinky coral, its so wearable and for a 'balmy' lipstick or a 'lip butter' equivalent, has amazing pigmentation. It is so much more moisturising than the Revlon lip butters, that upon application appear to be nourishing but after a few minutes of wear go quite dry.  This colour is really juicy on the lips, shiny without being glossy and gives the appearance of full lips.
As you can tell I'm a bit of a fan! I now much prefer these Loreal Rouge Caresse Lipsticks over the Revlon Lip Butters, I think the shade range is better (mostly pinks) and the formulation more moisturising. Sooo glad I managed to get one!!

Whats everyone's favourite shade in this range? I have Lovely Rose also and am considering picking up more. xx

(2 more subscribers before a giveaway!! Let me know about your beauty blogs also as I love to read them.)

Revlon Lip Butters

These babys have been out a while now and everyone and their granny will have bought at least 1 of the shades, but since I have a few I thought it would be a shame not to get them up on the blog and also so I could compare the new Loreal Caresse Lipsticks. I won't do a full on review since there are so many more reputable and followed bloggers that have already been through it all in full and I'm sure we're all tired of hearing about them :)

I have 4 colours : Creme Brulee, Cupcake, Strawberry Shortcake, Sweet Tart and Tutti Frutti.

L-R - Creme Brulee, Cupcake, Strawberry Shortcake, Sweet Tart.

The packaging is cute with colour co-ordinated chanel-esque quilted shells. Sadly I can't find Tutti Frutti anywhere to photograph, I think I've left it at Uni!

L-R - Creme Brulee, Cupcake, Strawberry Shortcake, Sweet Tart.

L-R - Creme Brulee, Cupcake, Strawberry Shortcake, Sweet Tart

Creme Brulee is a brownish nude, really sheer and wearable

Cupcake is a really cool toned pink - I can only apply a really thin coat or it is so impractical to wear! Cue teenage bubblegum lips. Its not for everyone!

Strawberry Shortcake - Blue-toned pink, really wearable, girly and just a throw-on lipstick that would look great on any one. A sheer, more wearable comparison to MAC Viva Glam Gaga. (Love!!)

Sweet Tart -A real fusshia purple-ish pink. Hard to wear and not for everyone - so pigmented !!

Tutti Frutti (not shown) is by far my favourite, a sheer orange that is surprisingly wearable and really summery.

I love these lipsticks, and thats what I would say they are rather than 'lip butters'. They are lovely and sheer, but some with more pigmentation than you would expect from a butter, especially Lollipop and Sweet Tart.  The Lip Butters are meant to be moisturising, and I would say on that note they are slightly disappointing, some in fact feel quite drying and do not last that long, which you would probably expect from a sheer lipstick. But they do glide on nicely and at £7.99 and in Boots 3 for 2 they are a great everyday lipstick.

I want to get some shades of Loreal's answer to the lip butter - Caresse - I've swatched them instore and they seem so much more moisturising and in more attractive bullets. What shades do you suggest?!