Urban Decay 1993 vs Mac Whirl

I don't know about you, but when doing my research on Mac Whirl and Urban Decay 1993 lipstick I couldn't find many comparison swatches of both colours side by side (besides of course Temptalia).  As such I figured why don't I get Mac Whirl and see how do they actually compare, and perhaps make the purchasing decision somewhat easier for some of you.

Mac Whirl and UD Matte Revolution Lipstick in 1993

In terms of texture they are pretty similar, with Urban Decay 1993 being a little bit more creamier. But for a matte formula Mac Whirl is surprisingly creamy and glides effortlessly on the lips. I have a few other Mac lipsticks from the matte range, but they are slightly drier in texture. Mac Whirl has been added to the permanent line quite recently, so I assume they might have improved the formula. When it comes to pigmentation both lipsticks are extremely pigmented and don't need building up. When it comes to the shape of a lipstick bullet I actually prefer Mac's since I find it more user friendly in terms of application. Urban Decay lipsticks can be a bit tricky when you want a precise application especially with deeper colours. I use Urban Decay 24/7 Glide On Lip Pencil in 1993 with both lipsticks and it works great.

Mac Whirl and UD Matte Revolution Lipstick in 1993

Now, when looking at the colour they both fall under that brown-mauve lipstick category which is extremely on trend nowadays. At first glance I thought they were identical, but after swatching a few times and applying on my lips (1993 on the top lip and Whirl on the bottom lip) the difference was quite evident. Mac Whirl is more mauve and lighter, while Urban Decay 1993 is more brown and darker. Despite being brown I feel like 1993 translates a tad bit cooler on me (this will however depend a lot on your skin colour and undertone, I have more of a neutral/warm undertone).

Top :Urban Decay 1993, Bottom: Mac Whirl

T-B: Mac Whirl and UD 1993

Having worn both lipsticks I feel like Mac Whirl is more wearable just because it has more of that mauve, dusty rose undertone to it, so more people can get away with it. For me it's difficult to chose favourites since I am all about this type of shades and I can justify having both of them. However, if you want to get just one 90's grunge lipstick it all boils down to your ethical values and preferences. As said earlier a more flattering colour in my opinion would be Mac Whirl especially if you are of lighter complexion, however if you want to support a cruelty-free company Urban Decay 1993 would be your best pick. In terms of price they are very similar and equally hard to get, since they are sold-out all the time.

I hope this was helpful to some of you and you have a better idea of which one to get if either.

Until next time,
Muffy

P.S For those living in Helsinki, Finland and wanting to get their hands on Mac Whirl as it has been sold-out for forever at the Mac's counter in Stockmann, I got you covered. A friend of mine picked one for me at the Helsinki-Vantaa airport and I hear that there are still plenty left and let's not forget you save a few pennies as well ;). 

Oskia Renaissance Cleansing Gel - Magic in a Bottle

As promised here is a review on one of the best discoveries I made during 2015 - Oskia Renaissance Cleansing Gel. This is by no means a cleanser I use to take off my makeup, that would be such a disgrace since this thing is darn expensive. I use it as my 2nd cleanse. But let's start from the beginning, shall we. 

Oskia Renaissance Cleansing Gel, Illuminating Vitamin Melting Cleanser

Oskia is a British skincare brand whose products are formulated by a team of nutritionists, cosmetics scientists and skincare specialists. It combines the best of both worlds, science and nature.  Renaissance Cleansing Gel comes in a 100ml bottle, which in my opinion is a descent amount. I love that it has a pump, so you don't have to bother with the squeeze tube. However, I don't like that I can't see how much product is left, which means I would be one unhappy person when it runs out without me anticipating it. Anyhow, it's packed full of wonderful ingredients and is suitable for the most sensitive of skins. I can totally vouch for that since I have extremely sensitive, atopic and eczema prone skin and this cleanser doesn't irritate it. It's also paraben free and suitable for use during pregnancy.

Oskia Renaissance Cleansing Gel Comes With a Pump

In terms of ingredients it contains vitamins A, C and E, Omega 6, Pumpkin Enzyme, Chamomile and Rose. Omega 6 is especially important for those people suffering from dry itchy skin, eczema or psoriasis. The consistency of this cleanser as the name suggests is of a gel. It has a pinky colour and a lovely rose scent. It's not an artificial rose, it's that of a real rose bush that blooms in summer. I adore the scent! How this product works; you simply rub it onto dry clean skin and it turns into an oil. I usually take a good amount of time to work it into the skin and wash it off. The skin is left feeling nourished and smooth without over drying it. I have been on a hunt for a cleanser that would not dry my skin out and offer actual skincare benefits. I have to say this ticks all the boxes for me. I don't think I will be trying a new cleanser anytime soon. 

Oskia Renaissance Cleansing Gel Contains

Compared to other higher-end cleansers of a similar kind this one actually doesn't seem too bad price wise. For instance Tata Harper, Black Chicken Remedies, Sarah Chapman and Dr. Alkaitis come at a much heftier price tag. 

If you have been looking for a really good cleanser to pamper your skin and if everything else is simply too drying , give this one a go. Plus, Beautybay (that's where I got mine) occasionally runs some nice discounts site wide, so you can get it slightly cheaper.

Let me know what is your current favourite cleanser and if you can recommend one for extremely dry and sensitive skin. I would love to know!

Cheers,
Muffy

Best Beauty Discoveries of 2015

I am very excited to finally share with you my Top Beauty Discoveries of 2015. Let me tell you, it was not easy to narrow it down, but I had to be pretty ruthless and think which products actually stood out to me. I am very content with the selection and I stand by every single product mentioned here. If I have a separate review on any of these products I will link it below. So, shall we dive right in?

Gwen Stefani x Urban Decay Eyeshadow Palette

First up and probably something that doesn't come as a surprise, is the Urban Decay Gwen Stefani eyeshadow palette. This palette is a neutral girl's dream. Since I got it, I haven't touched any of my other eyeshadows. I love everything about it, packaging, shades, longevity and blendability. If you are lacking on the neutral shadows department, pick this one up!

Urban Decay Matte Revolution Lipstick in 1993 and Urban Decay Revolution Lipstick in Rapture

Keeping it within the Urban Decay theme its Matte Revolution and Revolution lipsticks are one of the best lipstick formulas out there. Revolution lipsticks have been around for a while, but I have tried them for the first time only in 2015. In my opinion the Matte Revolution lipsticks are comparable to NARS Audacious lipsticks, but come with a more affordable price tag. 

Urban Decay After Glow 8-hour Blushes in Video and Fetish

Moving along, Urban Decay Afterglow 8-hour Blushes were pretty much all I wore for the past 6 months. These are extremely pigmented, long-lasting and talc-free (in case you are allergic like me). Can't fault these blushes, amazing stuff. I am not sponsored by Urban Decay - in fact, they have no idea who I am. I just genuinely like their products which are cruelty-free. 

La Girl Pro Concealer in Natural

I always had difficulty finding a concealer that provides a decent amount of coverage and does not emphasise fine lines. La Girl Pro Concealer does exactly that, and what's more it's cruelty-free and will not break the bank. I honestly have no idea how it can be this good and cheap. 

T-B: Sephora Cream Lip Stain in Marvelous Mauve, Milani Amore Matte Lip Creme in Lust,
Rimmel Exaggerate Lipliner in Eastend Snob

2015 was the year of liquid lipsticks and lipliners. People went bananas over a matte 90s lip, yours truly included. The two liquid lipstick that I used on a daily basis were: Sephora Cream Lip Stain in Marvelous Mauve and Milani Amore Matte Lip Creme in Lust. In terms of lipliners there was just the one and only Rimmel Exaggerate Lipliner in Eastend Snob. This is hands down my favourite lipliner of all time. The only downside is that it's not cruelty-free. A good alternative would be Catrice's Long Lasting Lip Pencil in 080 That's What Rose Wood Do!

Lastly a few skincare bits and a perfume that I discovered during 2015. Oskia Renaissance Cleansing Gel is by far my favourite product discovery of 2015. This cleanser is amazeballs. I have been using it for a couple of months now and my skin loves it. I have extremely sensitive, eczema and acne prone skin. This cleanser never leaves my skin feeling irritated or dehydrated. Instead it leaves it feeling smooth and nourished. I won't go into much details here, as I will be having a separate review on it soon, so keep your eyes out for that. Another skincare item that impressed me was the Sephora Mud Mask Purifying and Mattifying. It's great for clarifying the skin, especially if you have breakouts or congested skin. It's non-drying and you can actually see how it pulls all the nasty stuff out of your skin. Perfume wise the honours go to Jo Malone Mimosa and Cardamom. I don't have anything like it in my collection. It's floral, powdery but warm at the same time. Lovely scent and unlike other Jo Malone fragrances that tend to wear off on my skin pretty quickly this one stays put for a really long time.  

These are my tried and true beauty products which I will continue using in 2016. I would love to hear if you are loving any of these or what are your best beauty discoveries of 2015!

Until next time,
Muffy

Urban Decay Matte Revolution Lipstick in 1993 is a Beaut!

First things first, Happy New Year people of the internet! 2015 has been one of the hardest years for me, so I am very happy to see it go and extremely excited to welcome 2016. Let's see what this year brings. But staying on the topic of this post, let's talk a little bit about lips. Recently I picked up the Urban Decay Matte Revolution Lipstick in 1993, which has been sold out for months! And I have to say this lipstick was worth the wait! To find out why just keep on reading.

Urban Decay Matte Revolution Lipstick in 1993

If you have been following my blog for a while, I have previously raved about the Urban Decay Revolution lipsticks. Since then, I have added a few more shades to my collection, so the obsession is real. That being said, I think that Urban Decay Matte Revolution lipstick formula is even better, at least in my humble opinion. It's highly pigmented, glides on the lips extremely easy and lasts for a really long time. It's not a traditional matte formula that dries your lips out. It keeps them feeling velvety. Now in terms of colour selection, there is room for improvement. The range is quite limited and contains mostly bold shades. I wish they would expand it and bring out more nudes and mauves that can be worn daily. The colour that caught my eye is 1993.

Urban Decay Matte Revolution Lipstick in 1993

This shade is extremely unique. It's not your usual brown. Call me crazy but I see slight rosy undertones and depending on your skin tone it can pull either warm or cool toned. If you like darker nudes and browns or if you want to rock a deeper lip but are afraid of reds and berries, this would be your best friend. I would also recommend not to skip on a blush if you are opting for this shade, especially if you are of fairer complexion, otherwise it can make you look slightly ghostly. As with all Urban Decay products these lipsticks are cruelty-free. You can pick these up on Feelunique (1993 is currently out of stock) and get 10% off. 

I have been wearing this lipstick non-stop since I got it. I would love to get my hands on the Backtalk shade which is exclusive to Urban Decay's website (sadly for those of us living outside USA it's impossible). Urban Decay please please make this shade permanent, so all of us beauty junkies can enjoy it!

Let me know if you have tried Matte Revolution lipstick and what are your thoughts!

Until next time,
Muffy