Jouer Long-Wear Lip Crème Liquid Lipstick in Noisette

Staying on the topic of liquid lipsticks, today I am bringing your way a review of the Jouer Long-Wear Lip Crème Liquid Lipstick in Noisette. I heard mixed opinions about this product and decided to check it out for myself. The colour I picked would not come as a surprise, as it's my typical brownish nude. But let's get into the review, shall we.

Jouer Long-Wear Lip Crème Liquid Lipstick's Applicator

The product comes in a sleek rectangular packaging which I like. The wand is pretty standard, however the handle feels a bit toy-like. I'd guess because it's noticeably smaller compared to other liquid lipsticks in my collection. That being said it's nothing major that would stop me from using this product. The liquid lipstick has a distinguishable sweet scent and contains Vitamin E. It's paraben and cruelty-free and has a shelf life of 12 months after opening. 

In terms of formula, it's quite thin but opaque (Dose of Colors texture is more cushiony). It doesn't dry immediately which I appreciate, because it gives enough time to perfect the application. It feels extremely comfortable on the lips for a few hours but as with all liquid lipsticks it starts feeling drying eventually. When that happens, I just put a lip balm on top and continue with my day. It doesn't flake nor fade away in a weird or patchy manner.

Jouer Long-Wear Lip Crème Liquid Lipstick in Noisette

The colour Noisette I adore. I own a lot of browny nudes but this one stands out as it's more of a warmer brown. For comparison MAC Whirl is more rosey and Urban Decay 1993 is darker and cooler. 

Overall, I am very happy with this product. I am actually shocked by how much I ended up liking it. It must be the best liquid lipstick I have tried thus far, followed closely by the Dose of Colors Truffle. I can't say that all Jouer liquid lipsticks are created equal as I have tried only Noisette, but this one is a keeper! 

Let me know if you have tried any of the Jouer liquid lipsticks and what are your thoughts. I'd love to know!

Cheers,
Muffy

Paula's Choice Resist Hydrating Cleanser

Not all cleanser are created equal. Some would say it's just a cleanser so how fancy does it have to be. Well, here's the thing. If you have dry and sensitive skin it needs to be darn fancy. From my experience the majority of cleansers have a tendency to dry the skin out and leave it feeling like the Gobi desert. Therefore, anything that has hydrating in the name I am all up for. As such I decided to give the Paula's Choice Resist Optimal Results Hydrating Cleanser a go. Plus I heard only good things about it, so why the heck not. 

This is my first experience with Paul's Choice skincare. I got really intrigued by it, as it's cruelty-free, made in the USA, non-irritating and is liked by many around the world. I have to say that it can get a bit overwhelming trying to find the right product range for your skin, as there are so many to choose from. I decided to go for the Resist range which targets wrinkles and dry skin.

Paula's Choice Resist Optimal Results Hydrating Cleanser

Now the cleanser comes in a nice sleek bottle with a pump. Highly appreciate that. Plus you get a generous amount of product (190ml). It claims to be non-foaming with an exceptionally gentle formula that works quickly to remove makeup, while leaving your skin feeling fresh, soothed and soft with no greasy residue. It's suitable for all skin types. It's fragrance and colourant free. 

After using it for several months I would have to agree that it's non-foaming, doesn't irritate the skin and I just need a small amount (1 pump) to cleanse my whole face. However, I don't completely agree that it leaves the skin feeling soft, soothed and hydrated. After using it (I use it as a second cleanse as I always remove the majority of my makeup with an oil first) my skin and especially a few dry patches on my forehead felt totally stripped of any moisture. Every time I used it, sure my skin felt clean, but not comfortably clean if you know what I mean. I would say as the weather is getting warmer and my dry patches are not as prominent, it tends to work better. This leads me to believe that in winter when my skin is particularly dry it's just not potent enough.   

Overall, I would have to say it's an OK basic cleanser. I'd imagine if you have normal or oily skin you would enjoy it. However, if you have dry to extremely dry skin this is not going to do the trick. I will continue using it in Spring and Summer but for colder months I would need to bring out the big guns, for example my all time favourite Oskia Renaissance Cleansing Gel.

I hope you found this helpful and if you have tried any other products from the Paula's Choice line, please let me know what are your top picks!

Cheers,
Muffy 

YSL Eyeshadow #4 Facon and A Possible Dupe

I am a sucker for neutral matte eyeshadows. In my mind there is no such thing as too many neutral matte eyeshadows. Recently I was visiting my friend who kindly let me look through her makeup stash, since she is downsizing. I could not help but notice a YSL Couture Mono Eyeshadow in #4 Facon, which had to be mine based on the earlier statement. As soon as I got home I went through my collection and surprise surprise managed to find a dupe for it. To find out what it is, keep on reading!

YSL Couture Mono Eyeshadow in #4 Facon and Makeup Geek Eyeshadow in Barcelona Beach

Let's start with addressing the fact that the YSL single eyeshadow in #4 Facon featured here is a tester, just so you know. When you do buy this eyeshadow, it comes in a nice sleek golden packaging with a YSL logo. This particular colour can be found in the permanent YSL Couture Mono Eyeshadow line, so there is no need to rush out and buy it. The shade itself can appear boring to some people but to me this is perfection. It's that ideal medium sand shade with taupe undertones which is perfect for mimicking the natural shadow of your crease. Is it a unique colour? Anything new that we haven't seen before? Of course not. But it's sophisticated, timeless and versatile. Simply something you can't go wrong with. 

YSL Couture Mono Eyeshadow in #4 Facon

In terms of pigmentation it's alright. It's not the best I have tried compared to for example Urban Decay and Makeup Geek, but you can work with it. It's not patchy nor chalky, but needs building up. That could be a good thing especially for those that are intimidated by highly pigmented shadows or have a heavy hand. The texture I would describe as satin. It's not completely matte but not shimmery either and feels very smooth to the touch. Now, as with all YSL products you can expect this little guy to be pretty pricy. As such if you want a more budget alternative with an added bonus of being talc and cruelty free I suggest you take a closer look at Makeup Geek's Barcelona Beach single eyeshadow.

L-R: YSL #4 Facon and Makeup Geek Barcelona Beach

When compared side by side you can see that YSL single eyeshadow in Facon has a slight sheen, whereas Makeup Geek's Barcelona Beach is matte and a tad bit richer. However, when you put them on your eyes you can't tell the difference (but as said earlier you need to build up Facon to get the same colour payoff). 

I will continue using both eyeshadows. That being said if you are on a budget (or not) and looking for a great crease colour that has fantastic pigmentation and great ingredients I say look no further then Makeup Geek's Barcelona Beach. I think YSL makes some of the best nail polishes on the market but the single eyeshadows are yet to impress me. 

I hope you found this comparison helpful and if you have any suggestions for must-have matte crease shadows, let me know!

Until next time,
Muffy

P.S Did you know that Makeup Geek's Barcelona Beach can also double up as a contour shade for your cheeks.   

Urban Decay x Gwen Stefani Palette

Let's address the elephant in the room, I have been slacking out on content lately. Truth be told I haven't really been buying makeup. However, this was about to change when I heard that Urban Decay was collaborating with Gwen Stefani to create an eyeshadow palette! Yes, I was one of those people that were counting down the days until it would be available at the nearest Urban Decay counter. I snatched the palette as soon as it hit the counters in Finland. As such I had some time to play around with it. If you want to find out my thoughts and if it's worth picking up or not, then keep on reading!

Urban Decay x Gwen Stefani Eyeshadow Palette

Let's start from the beginning - the packaging. I am pretty sure most of you are familiar with how it looks like, so I won't be spending too much time on it here. The palette comes in a sleek cupboard packaging with a gold and white graphic print. In my opinion the outer packaging is very pleasing to the eye. I heard a lot of people complaining how they expected the actual palette to have the same pattern as the box it comes in. I personally really like the black "polkadot" design, it's sort of mod. The actual palette is pretty sturdy and magnetised.

Urban Decay x Gwen Stefani Eyeshadow Palette

Urban Decay x Gwen Stefani Eyeshadow Palette

Magic's In the Makeup 

It comes with 15 shadows and unlike other Urban Decay palettes (e.g Vice, Naked palettes etc) it doesn't include a brush. I don't really mind it since I have a whole arsenal of eye brushes, but wanted to point that out in case anyone is interested. I thought they did a pretty neat job incorporating a small text on the mirror at the bottom right corner which says Magic's In The Makeup. Together with the palette you also get 4 lipstick samples which I assume will be coming out later as part of the Urban Decay x Gwen Stefani collaboration. 

Now let's talk about the actual eyeshadows. There are 12 shadows that are exclusive to this palette and 3 shadows that are permanent to the Urban Decay line (Skimp, Stark and Blackout). I actually own Skimp and Stark as they come in the Naked Basics 2 palette, and funnily enough they are the two shades that I almost hit pan on. Below you can see the swatches of all the shades, but please excuse the horrible lighting (it doesn't do them justice). In Finland the sun refuses to come out during this time of the year, so I have to work with what I have.  

L-R: Blonde, Bathwater, Skimp, Steady, Punk

L-R: Baby, Anaheim, Stark, Zone, Serious

L-R: Pop, Harajuku, Danger, 1987, Blackout

When it comes to the selection of the shades, it's a pretty neutral palette. You get three pop's of colour but nothing too in your face. I know a lot of people have been saying that it's boring, it's not exciting but for me this is damn exciting! If you look at Gwen's makeup she doesn't wear dramatic, smokey eyes. She prefers to wear a statement lip. And I think this palette resembles her style and choices in makeup very well. At the end of the day she created a palette that she would use daily. This palette has a good mix of shimmers, mattes and even one glittery shade (Pop). I would say that some shimmery shades do look very similar (e.g Steady and Baby). In terms of quality they do not disappoint. These eyeshadows are creamy and blend effortlessly. Some shimmery shades do kick off a lot of powder but that happens with quite many of Urban Decay shadows.  

Are these shades unique? Something that hasn't been seen before? Something that can't be duped? No, it's not. However, if you have been thinking of getting Urban Decay Naked palettes but couldn't decide which one to get, I say get this one instead. It's not too warm or cool toned. It's a good middle ground. In terms of price, it's slightly pricier than the Naked palettes, however the packaging is much sturdier and you get 15 shades instead of 12. So, I think it's pretty good value for money.

Should you pick this up? Yes, if you are a lover of neutral shades, if you are a fan of Urban Decay or if you are starting out with makeup. And not to forget this palette would make a great gift for yourself or perhaps a makeup lover in your family.  

Hope this review was useful. Let me know what's your trusty all time favourite neutral palette!

Until next time,
Muffy

Budget Pick - Essence Lipliners

It has been a while since I posted on my blog and I decided to get back on track with a budget friendly product review. Today I will be talking about Essence Lipliners. I've had these in my collection for sometime now and they are among my top lipliners that I grab for especially if I fancy a darker lip. Let me walk you through the shades I have and why I love them so much.

Essence Lipliners

T-B: Wish Me A Rose, Satin Mauve and Soft Berry

In my current possession I have three shades: 12 Wish Me A Rose - rosy pink, 06 Satin Mauve - dark mauve nude and 05 Soft Berry -  purply mauve. My favourite out of the bunch has to be Satin Mauve just because I wear darker nudes and mauves on regular basis. It has that Kylie Jenner vibe to it, therefore if you want to be rocking the Kylie Jenner lip I suggest you pick this one up. Soft Berry is particularly great for this time of year. It goes so well with purple and berry hues. 

The formula of these lipliners is incredible. They are creamy, non-drying, easy to apply and are long-wearing. I mean what else would you want from a lipliner? I think these are hands down one of the best lip liner formulas at the drugstore (besides of course my all time favourite Rimmel Exaggerate Lipliner in Eastend Snob). My only complaint would be the colour selection. I think they should definitely extend their colour range and introduce more every day type of shades something along the lines of Mac Subculture & Mac Soar. For instance Wish Me A Rose is a tad too pink for my liking. I would have preferred it to be slightly more dusty and muted for everyday wear. Needless to say Essence is a cruelty-free brand in case, like me, you are looking for more ethical makeup alternatives. 

Wish Me A Rose, Satin Mauve and Soft Berry

L-R: Wish Me A Rose, Satin Mauve and Soft Berry

Overall I think you can't go wrong with these lipliners. If you have been unsure about lipliners and consider them as an unnecessary step in your makeup routine I say check these ones out. They will change your mind. They are creamy, glide on the lips like a dream and are extremely affordable. They will make your lip colour last for ages without making your lips feel uncomfortable. In Finland you can find Essence products including these lipliners at Tokmanni. 

Let me know if you have tried these lipliners and what is your favourite shade!

Cheers,

Muffy

The Best Cream-Coloured Eyeshadow

If you have been following my blog for some time you know it's not the first time I mention Wet n Wild single eyeshadow in Brulee. I decided why not make a separate post on it since it has a special place in my makeup collection. As a matter of fact it's the only single eyeshadow that I have used up completely and as soon as I did I had to get a new one. If you want to find out why this little guy is so special then keep on reading!

Shortly Wet n Wild is an affordable cruelty-free brand. In my opinion they make one of the best eyeshadow pallets on the market which can easily rival some of the higher-end ones. One of my all-time favourites is the Comfort Zone palette which I have raved about earlier. Recently I have tried their Megalast Liquid Lip Color but more on that in another post. From their single eyeshadows I have used obviously Brulee, but also Nutty. Both are fantastic, but Brulee is a definite winner. 

Wet n Wild Single Eyeshadow in Brulee

Wet n Wild single eyeshadows come in simple plastic packaging, nothing fancy. I personally don't mind the design and think it's quite sturdy for what it is and pretty compact for travelling. You get 1,7g of product which is a good amount for an individual shadow. For comparison Makeup Geek single eyeshadows contain 1,8g of product. Brulee to me is a perfect creamy-nude colour. It's not too warm and it's not too cool. For example Makeup Geek's eyeshadow in Baby Face is more cool toned while Peach Smoothie is warmer/peachier. The texture is buttery smooth and you need a tiny bit of product to get full opacity. It can be slightly powdery, but I don't see it as a problem with such a light colour. Plus you can always tap your brush to get the excess product off. Now that I think about it, in terms of consistency it reminds me of the Urban Decay eyeshadows. When you apply Brulee on the lids it doesn't feel or look chalky and it doesn't leave any streaks or gaps. I use this colour every time I do my makeup. It works great as a base to help other colours blend easier or you can wear it on its own with a darker colour in a crease.

Wet n Wild Single Eyeshadow in Brulee

The only downside I can think of is when you hit pan on it big time, it can crumble/fall apart easily. To be fair I witnessed it happen to other powder products such as powders and blushes. Just don't take it with you on the go when it's in that state. Besides great quality this eyeshadow comes at an extremely affordable price point. Of course that varies depending on the location but I got mine from Bulgaria and it was around 1,99€. For my Finnish readers out there you can get Wet n Wild products from Pretty.fi or BeautyJoint (ships internationally). 

If you are looking for a staple to be added to your makeup collection I suggest you check Wet n Wild's Brulee out. It's a perfect cream-colour eyeshadow that can be used in multiple ways. Once you try it I guarantee you will never want to use any other skin-toned, neutral, cream-colour shadow. At least I haven't found anything better and I have tried a ton!

Let me know if you know of any other hidden gems out there that I should try!

Cheers,

Muffy

Underrated Lip Liners

I don't hear anyone talk about the Kiko Automatic Precision Lip Liners. I have tried many lip pencils and I am always on a hunt to find something better and these are among my top lip liner formulas ever. Besides, the colour range is extremely vivid ranging from nudes to reds to pinks and to deeper tones. So far I have two shades 500 and 502 and believe me when I say, this is just the beginning!

Kiko Automatic Precision Lip Liners

Kiko is an affordable Italian makeup brand. I came across it for the fist time - surprise surprise - in Italy but you can also buy their products online. I have also tried their blushes, lipsticks, eye primer and nail polishes. Out of the entire selection these lip liners are surely the standout products for me. The 500 is a natural rose while the 502 is a deep pink. I use 502 more frequently just because it's closer to my natural lip colour. I get so many compliments when I wear this particular colour!

T-D: 500 Natural Rose and 502 Deep Pink

Let's talk about packaging. As the name implies they come in a retractable format, which I appreciate. On one end you have an actual pencil while on the other a silicone-tip applicator. I don't really use the applicator and honestly fail to understand its function. You can take the applicator out and there's a sharpener, which is quite handy. A similar concept with the NARS Velvet Lip Liners if you are familiar with those. I don't normally use the sharpener these products come with but in case you need to, there is that option. The formula is extremely pigmented and creamy. It doesn't tag or pull on your lips like for example MAC lip pencils tend to do. As such Kiko lip pencils do not emphasise the lines on your lips. The staying power is exceptional. It claims to be long-lasting and water-resistant which I completely agree with. These pencils do not budge. I think in my collection this is the longest-wearing lip liner formula hands down.

L-R: 500 Natural Rose and 502 Deep Pink

In my opinion when it comes to texture they are most comparable to the Rimmel Exaggerate Lip Liners, which I also adore. I have reviewed one, in Eastend Snob which happens to be my all-time favourite shade. If you want retractable lip liners that are cruelty-free and in the similar price range these are it. I can't really fault these products, maybe only for the fact that you can't go to the store and buy them as easily as Rimmel, Maybelline or L'Oreal. 

If you love lip pencils and haven't tried Kiko's Automatic Precision Lip Liners you have been missing out! Even if you are not into lip liners but want to give it a go, check these ones out. They are affordable, cruelty-free, long-wearing and have fantastic pigmentation as well as colour selection. You just can't go wrong! I will be surely picking up 501 Salmon Pink next time I am near a Kiko counter.

Let me know what's your go-to nude lip liner!

Cheers,

Muffy

Budget Pick - Essence Blushes

If you have been reading my blog for a while it's no secret that I have a special love for blush. I am convinced that you can't have too many blushes. They're something I like to collect and also something that actually gets used up. And let's be honest, who doesn't like a good deal. I asked a friend of mine to bring me a few blushes from Central Europe and I have put them to a test. These are Essence Silky Touch Blushes from a permanent line and the Nauti Girl Blush from a limited edition collection. To find out my thoughts, stay tuned!

Essence is an affordable cruelty-free makeup brand that has recently become available in Finland, yes! In Finland you can find it at the Tokmanni chain. I got mine from Austria but now I know if I want to repurchase I can get it locally. In the USA you can purchase Essence at Ulta. Besides blushes, I have also tried their lipliners, nail polishes and lipsticks. A separate review will be coming up on those, so keep your eyes peeled. Essence Silk Touch Blushes come in a round compact and you get 5g of product. I appreciate that the packaging is see-through. This means you can easily find the right colour amidst an overwhelming amount of blushes, if you are like me. It's plastic but doesn't feel flimsy. Sure it's nothing fancy but considering the price point it serves it's purpose well.

Essence Silky Touch Blush in 10 Adorable and 40 Natural Beauty

Now let's talk about the actual product. The shades I got are 40 Natural Beauty (brownish-nude) and 10 Adorable (rosy-pink). On the Essence website they have 6 shades altogether. In Finland I saw only 4 shades on display. I have to say that the colour range isn't too diverse. For example 10 Adorable and 20 Babydoll are very similar. The texture of these blushes is silky soft, hence the name. It doesn't kick off a lot of powder when you dip your brush, which was a positive surprise. In the pan they look pretty matte but when swatched or applied on the cheeks you can see a sheen. I don't mind a slight sheen as long as it's not chunky glitter. They are quite well pigmented. They are not as opaque as the Makeup Geek blushes but they are not bad at all. I would have expected no colour payoff whatsoever, but they swatch beautifully and you can build up the colour to your liking. When applied on the cheeks I haven't noticed any patchiness or streakiness. They also wear nicely throughout the day, I would say a good 5 hours. They have no scent to them, which is a plus. I don't know if you have tried the Lancome blushes, but the scent gets to me every time. In terms of ingredients Essence Silk Touch Blushes do contain talc and parabens. 

Essence Nauti Girl Blush in 01 Anchors Aweigh!

Next I have here the Nauti Girl Blush in 01 Anchors Aweigh! from the Essence Nauti Girl limited edition collection. As the name implies it has been inspired by sailing, marine style and the nautical colour scheme of red, blue and grey. This blush comes in a slightly different packaging. It's still see-through but a square shaped compact with a cute anchor imprint on the actual product. You get 8g of product and it's the only blush in the collection. I would describe the colour as a bright coral. The packaging doesn't feel flimsy but a tiny bit bulky for my liking. In terms of pigmentation I think it's quite sheer and not as impressive as the original Silky Touch Blushes. If you want the colour to translate exactly like you see it in the pan you need a lot of building up. That being said, it could be a good thing if you are starting up with makeup and afraid to overdo it in the blush department. The texture is not as silky smooth as with the Silky Touch Blushes but still decent and not powdery. I wore it the other day and it started to fade after about 5 hours. As with the other Essence blushes it contains talc. 

L-R: 01 Anchors Aweigh!, 10 Adorable and 40 Natural Beauty

Overall my thoughts are that these are good budget options. If you are looking for everyday neutral colours you can't go wrong with these. They are smooth, easy to blend and wear well throughout the day. Would I say these are better than Catrice blushes I reviewed recently? I don't think so. But if you can't get your hands on Catrice then these are really good alternatives. However, if you are sensitive to talc or parabens I would say skip these. Instead try the Makeup Geek blushes, they are paraben and talc free. Essence Silk Touch Blushes retail for under 3,00€ depending where you buy them, but nevertheless it's a bargain! These would be amazing for travel and even if they do get damaged you can easily replace them as they don't cost a fortune. I don't take my expensive powder products with me when I travel and I had to learn it the hard way.

Let me know what your all time favourite blush is, maybe I am missing out on something!

Cheers,
Muffy

Catrice Blushes Cheap and Cheerful

Catrice is a brand that I haven't heard much about or come across for that matter. However, a friend of mine visited Central Europe and brought me some makeup goodies. Among those were the Catrice Defining Blushes. I put them to the test with low expectations but boy was I wrong!

Catrice Defining Blushes in 020 Rose Royce, 030 Love & Peach,
 090 Mandy-rine

Catrice is an affordable makeup brand that is mostly sold in Central Europe. It is cruelty free and has a wide range of products to choose from. These blushes are dermatologically tested, oil free and infused with Vitamin E. They do contain talc, so be aware of that. Besides blushes I have tried their single eyeshadows and lipliners which are both really good. I have featured them in my recent posts, so if you're interested you can check it out here and here. In their blush assortment they have 6 colours plus 3 NEW shades, which is not bad for a drugstore brand. In my possession I have: 020 Rose Royce - dusty rose, 030 Love & Peach - coral and 090 Mandy-rine - peach.

Clockwise: 030 Love & Peach, 020 Rose Royce and 090 Mandy-rine

L-R: Rose Royce, Mandy-rine, Love & Peach

In the pan they look matte, however when applied to the cheeks they have a slight sheen to them. It is especially evident in the Rose Royce shade. I would say they have a satin finish. In terms of consistency they are not chalky nor powdery. They are well pigmented, some more than others. For instance Mandy-rine swatches beautifully, it's opaque in one swipe. Rose Royce on the other hand needs a little bit of building up. I actually don't mind that you can build up the intensity to your liking. Helps to avoid a clown look if you know what I mean. When it comes to longevity they perform relatively well. They are not as long-lasting as Makeup Geek blushes but they did stay on my cheeks for a good 5 hours. My friend wore Rose Royce in 30°C weather and it did not budge, so there is that.

Normally I am not a fan of drugstore packaging, because 9 out 10 times it looks and feels very cheap. With these I don't actually mind it. I think it looks sleek with no unnecessary bulkiness. It's surprisingly sturdy, so you don't have to worry about your blush crumbling all over your bag. You get 5g of product, which is a decent amount. The best part, these blushes retail only for 3,45€ (at least in drugstores in Austria, so there could be slight price variation based on the location). I say these are equivalent if not better then Rimmel, Maybelline and L'Oreal blushes. The only downside is the availability. We can't get Catrice products in Scandinavia. But I do have good news for my readers in USA, I heard that Ulta started carrying Catrice products! 

Overall my two cents on Catrice blushes are that they are worth checking out if you are on the hunt for reasonably priced, oil and cruelty free blushes. You can't go wrong with these. Next time you are heading to Central Europe I say stop by a Catrice counter and see for yourself!

Do you have any other recommendations for hidden gems in drugstores?

Cheers,
Muffy

Orange - Red Lips Yes Please!

I don't know about you but I have been loving orange-red lips. It is a good colour to rock if you want a statement lip with a retro vibe to it. Since I have warm undertones, I feel like red colours with a little bit of orange suit me best. Today I am sharing with you a set of three lipsticks that fall into that category and tell you my thoughts. 

Let's start with the least affordable from the bunch but the one that surely kicks a punch - Lancome L'Absolu Velours d´Orange #172. It is a creamy matte lip colour that applies fully opaque. It feels very comfortable on the lips and doesn't dry completely to a matte finish. Hence, it doesn't dry out your lips by no means. However if you prefer a matte look you can always dust a little bit of powder over it and it takes the sheen away. The lasting power is pretty good considering that it is a relatively creamy formula. It does stain your lips a little bit. I also like the applicator, it is shaped perfectly to fit the contours of your lips. The colour itself is a vidid orange-red and I like it a lot. Lancome falls under the L'Oreal umbrella which means that it's not necessarily cruelty free. You can purchase it at your closest Lancome counter or Feelunique.

The lipstick that has solidified my obsession with this colour is Rimmel's 660 In Love With Ginger. It is from their re-formulated Moisture Renew line. This colour is just perfection. It is one of my most worn bold lipsticks. It is a perfect mix of orange and red. It is not as bold as the Lancome's L'Absolu Velours but applies opaque in one coat. I can't fault the texture. It is creamy and feels good on the lips. It lasts a good few hours if you are not drinking or eating. If you are sensitive to scents it could be an issue with this one. All Rimmel lipsticks have a relatively strong artificial floral scent. Some people like it, some people hate it. I am not a fan but I can look past it since the colour is so gorgeous. Rimmel is an affordable brand but it's not cruelty free. Rimmel is readily available but I purchased mine from Feelunique. 

L-R: Kiko Cream Lipstick 508 Orange,  Rimmel In Love with Ginger,
Lancome L'Absolu Velours 172

L-R: Kiko Cream Lipstick 508 Orange, Rimmel In Love with Ginger,  
Lancome L'Absolu Velours 172

Last but not certainly least, is the Kiko's Luscious Cream Lipstick in 508 Orange. As the name suggests it has a creamy consistency which simply glides on the lips. It is more of a sheer formula compared to Rimmel but you can build it up. The colour is not as bright as the other two and it has more orange hues. In my opinion it is a wearable orange. You can decide how opaque you want the colour to be. It is the least long-wearing but the easiest to touch up. In terms of price it is extremely affordable. Kiko does not test on animals and this lipstick is hypoallergenic. I get Kiko products from their online shop.

To wrap up, it's a pretty good set of options. If you want to treat yourself and get a more higher end lipstick try Lancome's creamy matte lip colours. If you are looking for an all rounder Rimmel's In Love with Ginger fits right that bill. However, if you are not too familiar with orange-red lippies and looking for a cruelty free alternative, Kiko has a pretty good offering. 

Do you have any recommendations for lipsticks I should try that fall under the same colour scheme?

Until next time,
Muffy

Blushing with Makeup Geek

I have a confession to make: I love blush. It is one of my favourite parts in a makeup routine. A normal person doesn't need a blush of every single rainbow colour, unless you are obsessed with it like me. In order to satisfy my craving but not spend a fortune on it I looked to Makeup Geek. I say if you are a blush addict you need to stop whatever you are doing and check out Makeup Geek blushes now!

I have already reviewed Makeup Geek eyeshadows and pigments, so if you are interested you can give them a read here and here. All Makeup Geek products are talc free, paraben free, cruelty free and are made in the USA. I have a total of 6 blushes in my collection and I believe the range consists of 13 shades. These blushes come in pan format and as compacts. I prefer the pan simply because it is easier to store and I can have all my blushes in one place. I keep them usually in a Z palette, which you can purchase from Makeup Geek website or Beautybay. Now let's take a closer look at the blushes. I have the following shades:

Bliss - light peachy coral

Summer Fling - soft burnt orange

Infatuation - medium matte terracotta 

Secret Admirer - light orchid purple

Randezvous - rosey to medium pink with purple undertones

Love Affair - intense pink - coral

L-R: Bliss, Summer Fling, Infatuation

L-R: Bliss, Summer Fling, Infatuation

L-R: Secret Admirer, Randezvous, Love Affair

L-R: Secret Admirer, Randezvous, Love Affair

Makeup Geek blushes are a dream to work with. They are very smooth and highly pigmented. With shades like Love Affair it is enough to just dab your brush a little bit, otherwise you can overdo it. They blend seamlessly on your cheeks without leaving streaks. In terms of longevity they are the best blushes I have tried hands down. Usually when I put blush in the morning by lunch time it is almost gone. When I use these blushes they do not budge. That is the one quality I appreciate most about these blushes. The shade selection is also very good; you have warm and cool tones. However, I would have liked to see a natural rosy shade along the lines of Tarte Exposed, Mac Cubic, NARS Douceur and Urban Decay Video. 

In my opinion Makeup Geek blushes are comparable to Mac. I don't own any Mac blushes and the main reason is because I am very satisfied with these. Mac blushes are of the same size, can be bought in a pan or compact and have a wide range of colours. However, Mac blushes retail for 22,00$ per compact and 17,00$ per pan, while Makeup Geek for 12,99$ and 9,99$ respectively. Makeup Geek ships internationally.

If you are looking for new blushes that are cruelty, paraben and talc free, affordable, and have some fun colours, Makeup Geek is where it is at. You can't go wrong with Bliss or Infatuation: those are flattering on anyone if you ask me. If you fancy unique colours or a potential dupe for Mac's Full of Joy that was discontinued - Secret Admirer is worth checking out!

What is your all-time favourite blush? Let me know!

Cheers,

Muffy

LA Girl Cruelty Free BB Cream

As the weather gets warmer I like to go lighter on the base. I put aside heavier coverage products and pull out something that makes my skin look a little bit more even but still able to breath. I don't mind my imperfections peeking through. My all time favourite base that fits these criteria is the Armani Luminescence CC Bright Moisturiser SPF 35. However, I wanted to find a more reasonably priced alternative. That is when I bumped into LA Girl Pro BB Cream and I have been using it religiously ever since.

La Girl Pro BB Creams

La Girl is an affordable US based brand that offers a variety of makeup products. I have previously raved about their concealers. If you are curious you can give it a read here. These Pro BB Creams are cruelty free, paraben free and fragrance free. They come in a variety of shades ranging from fair to dark. I am sure you can find one suitable for yourself. I initially picked up the Natural one but it ended up being slightly too dark, so I placed another order for the Light version. Now that I have a little bit more colour I like to mix the two together. They have one variant in between Light and Natural which is the Light Medium and I am guessing that one is probably an ideal match for me. I am an NC25-30 in MAC for reference. 

L-R: La Girl Pro BB Cream in Light and Natural

The consistency of these BB Creams is very pleasant. It is not too thick nor runny. It blends in easily and you can apply it with your fingers or a buffing brush. If I am in a hurry I just slap it on with my fingers and I am out of the door. It offers a light coverage but it is buildable. It will not cover imperfections, scaring or discolouration. I would suggest using a concealer for those areas. This BB cream provides a satin finish. I like to set it with a powder in any case, just because I have combination skin.  It wears beautifully through the day and you don't feel like you have anything on your face. In about 5 hours I would need to touch up with powder or blotting papers since I do get oily, but that happens with any foundation, bb cream or cc cream. 

The best part about this product besides everything else I mentioned is that it's affordable. It retails for 5,50$ and you get 30ml of product. I purchased mine from BeautyJoint. The only downside and a big bummer is that it does not have an SPF factor. I always apply a separate SPF or a moisturiser with an SPF regardless, so it is not really a deal breaker for me. But I can understand how it can be for some people. Although, if you are going somewhere where you will be photographed it is a good choice. The flash will not reflect off you as bad and cause a stark white face, which usually happens when you wear a base with high SPF. 

Overall I think this is a great product. It is moisturising, evens out skin tone and is good for those days when you can't be arsed to do the whole makeup shebang. If it is crucial for your base to have an SPF protection, I would naturally suggest skipping this one. 

Do you have any suggestions for an affordable light weight BB or CC creams with SPF? I would love to know!

Cheers,
Muffy