My MAC lipstick collection.

When I find a brand I like, I like to get stuck in. That isn't to say that I will swear off all other lipstick brands, but I will generally check Mac to see if they have a version of what I'm looking for first. Why fix what isn't broken and that.

Anyway, meet my babies.

From left to right, we have:

Diva (matte)

Russian Red (matte)

Ruby Woo (matte)

Lady Danger (matte)

Mehr (matte)

Faux (satin)

Myth (satin)

It's a pretty small collection compared to most, but I'm a believer in only buying lipsticks that I'll love. There are a lot more that are on the wish list at the moment. Current funds aren't really permitting a lipstick binge (you can's build a house out of lipstick. I know; I've tried) so they'll be staying on the list and in my heart, as opposed to on my lips for a while longer.

I know it's a terrible picture, and there are no swatches to accompany it, but that's purely because I haven't had time! I'll take swatchy kiss face pictures and either add them on and update this post, or post another.

Are there any MAC lipsticks or other lipstick brands you would recommend? 

Sad Buys.

Also to be referred to as products I regret buying. I've seen most of these work for a lot of people so it's probably something I'm doing wrong, or just my skin, but don't let my misery deter you if you want them...
On with the show.


Up first, skincare:

Boots Traditional Glycerin and Rosewater Toner

What boots say:

"A cooling, refreshing beautifier that softens and moisturises the skin. This toner and moisturiser is lanolin-free and works well as a toner before using a skin cream."

What I say:

I was using this as a standard toner. I tried using it in the morning and it was far too rich (an odd way to describe a toner, no?) to wear under my day cream so I started using it at night, underneath my night cream. I applied with a cotton pad and waited for it to sink in... And waited. And waited. And waited. and eventually ended up rubbing it in myself. It just sat there on top of the skin, being damp. I found that I woke up with my skin feeling really oily in the morning too but that could be because of my night cream (I'm using steam cream at the moment).

I may persevere and try using it without a cream over the top as a light summer moisturiser... But I am concerned that it's making me break out so we'll have to see!

Soap And Glory - Wish Upon A Jar

What Soap and Glory say:

"Our unique formula contains a potent mix of shea butter, tetrapeptides, antioxidants and oxygen boosters to help boost moisture levels, smooth fine lines and wrinkles, brighten tired skin and hide flaws."

What I say:

I'm just going to leave a link here of my Wish Upon A Breakout Review which pretty much says it all.

What I will add is that I emailed Soap And Glory to let them know about what was happening with my skin and they emailed me back saying it takes 6 weeks for your skin to get used to a product.... Which seems pretty irrelevant to a product marketed as a "21 day collagen overhaul cream". It even makes a point of saying not to use it for any longer than that time. What's a girl to do?

Next we have make up:

MAC Matte Lipstick in Ruby Woo

What MAC Say:

 There isn't a specific description for this lipstick but the description of their lipsticks on the whole is: "Colour plus texture for the lips. Stands out on the runway. Simmers on the street! What made M·A·C famous."

What I say:

First: application. As you can see from the second texture, the bullet has already been defaced, after only one application! I applied it directly, without using a brush and it dragged across my lips, and when I tried to fill in caps it stuck to itself. My lips were in top condition, no dry patches anywhere, and well moisturised. But... it was like using a crayon! I'll try it will a brush and hope for better results. It looked pretty good when it was on though (rubbish phone picture alert).

Secondly: Staying power. It was fine and stayed on all day... Until I ate something. My lunch got stuck to the lipstick, and when I wiped it off, the lipstick came with it, how confusing. 

Thirdly: Removal. When I took it off, three sections of my lips came with it and left my lips exceedingly dry which I'm now trying to rectify. I actually started bleeding!

Benefit They're Real Mascara

What Benefit Say:

"They're real! is the UK's No.1 best-selling mascara!*They're real! lengthens, curls, volumizes, lifts & separates. Our jet black, long-wearing formula won’t smudge or dry out. A specially designed brush reveals lashes you never knew you had."

What I say:

It's mascara. That's really all I found it to be. It just coats my eyelashes but doesn't really do anything else to them. I'm big into volume and separation but unfortunately this just doesn't match up to my darling Maxfactor False Lash Effect mascara. It could be lengthening but for me that's not enough to justify paying nearly 20,000 pennies for. Now obligitory pictures:

If anyone has any recommendations that would make me love these products, please let me know! I still have them all in my collection, just in case!

Is this the ultimate MLBB lipstick? I think it might just be.

OH GLORY. I feel my search has come to an end. Every girl has an obsession that borders on sickness. (One of) mine was hunting down the perfect "My Lips But Better" lip shade.

I wanted a lipSTICK. Not gloss. Not balm. Not butter. Not stain. Not even balmstain would do. I wanted a reliable lipstick that I knew I could always fall back on. My security-stick if you will.

...Take a seat. I don't think you're ready for just how perfect this is.

Now, I hate visiting the Mac counter. And the Mac shop for that matter. But this was so worth it! I love a matte lip colour and as much as I don't rate Mac cosmetics I do think they do Matte Lipsticks better than any other. The shade is Mehr... I don't really know how to pronounce it so I've been referring to it IRL as "MRRRGH". They'll know what you mean.

So how does it look on? Well the lighting isn't great but...

I literally couldn't love it any more. It's not possible. My heart has been replaced by this lipstick.


Do you have a favourite MLBB shade or do you favour a brighter lip?

MWAH! x

Get your (Lip)Cote; you've pulled.

I love lipstick. I LOVE lipstick. If I could marry lipstick, and change my name to Charlotte Aimee Thomas-Stick I so would.
But there's something I love more: Lipcote.

I discovered Lipcote when I was in School, about 8 years ago, when it still said "fell the tingle that lets you know it's working" on the back of the bottle. Back in the day when I didn't entirely understand that make-up was supposed to stay in place all day... As long as it looks okay before you leave the house then everything was grand was pretty much my philosophy.

I very rarely take any of my make-up outside the house, I don't want to spend the day touching up - unless I'm somewhere like a wedding where photo opportunities are going to be rife. So this is my trick for my lipstick.

First, after I've gone through the whole routine of cleansing, toning, serum-ing, witch hazel-ing, anti-wrinkle treatment-ing, and moisturising, I apply a generous coat of lip balm. This is the balm of the moment - it's very old. I don't even think Benefit make it anymore! I found it a couple of weeks ago in my collection completely unopened and OH boy is it wonderful!

Nice boring picture of my wonky lips there. [Lots of these pictures are blurry, I used the front facing camera on my phone because my camera was out of battery, and didn't realise how blurry they were until afterward - Sorry!] Disclaimer: My lips are not THAT wonky, I have a chunk of Nicotine gum rammed in there somewhere.

Back on track. I do the rest of my face before my lipstick so that's a good 15-20 mins (HA, try 40), in which I leave it sink in, then when it comes to it, I blot any excess off with a tissue before going ahead with step 2: Lipliner.

[Excuse my skin - I'm suffering a monster breakout at the moment so I'm only wearing a boatload of moisturiser and not wearing any other make up so as not to aggravate it further.]

Presenting an oldie but a goodie - Maxfactor lipliner. I've sharpened it down so much I don't even know what shade it is, it applies like a dream though - stays on the lips but is easily wiped off the skin with a cotton bud in case of any shaky hand applications. First I run around the lip line from the INSIDE, not the outside, Running around the outside can look a bit 90's drag queen (which is fine for an evening look if you dig that kinda thing). Next - fill in the lips with the pencil. Just go wild. Doodle away. Sometimes I leave it at that, but it can be quite drying.

Next is lipstick. Today I've opted for my most worn lipstick ever - Mac Russian Red. It just seems to be the perfect red for me. I've officially given up looking for a red more suited to my ginger skin.

As long as I'm not pushed for time I'd always prefer to apply with a lip brush. At the moment I use a Revlon one and it's lovely. I follow the same structure as lip liner - run a line around the edge with a lip brush and then fill in the middle.

Then grab a tissue and blot blot blot! I always pat it directly on top of my lipstick and fold it and pat it on the inside too. That along with the finger trick (think Dirty Den's lewd gesture) of popping your finger in your mouth, closing your lips around it and then slowly pulling it out helps keep any lipstick off your teeth. Granny chic is cool, but that's one statement look we can leave with them!

Just in case you aren't aware of what a tissue is.

I normally blot and reapply (It's the blog name!) twice or three times. A final blot and it's Lipcote time.

This is a picture of a new one I've yet to open, the one I'm on at the moment has turned the same colour as the lipstick and is overrun with lipstick sediment and as a result has morphed it into more of a syrup. Still works though. Again, I run around the outside of the lip first (I do edge onto the skin slightly, as I find it stops the lipstick smudging outwards) and then fill in the middle. It has a lovely tingle to it, some may find it quite harsh but I enjoy it. I leave that to try for about 30 seconds which means no chomping or guzzling or putting your lips together in that time! If it still feels tacky I'll leave it for about a minute in total.

And we are done!

It leaves the lips withe a slight shine, but it's a flattering shine. Just to prove a point, look at how much comes off on my fingers:

TA-DAH!

Just as long as I'm not munching down on overly oily/greasy foods then I get full wear out of my lipstick for 6, 8, even 10 hours. Lipcote is definitely a Holy Grail product for me.

Have you tried Lipcote? Do you love it?