A LIPSTICK FOR CAT LOVERS?

I admit, you've had to wait a while to hear from me but I think it's been worth the wait.  Every time a Beauty Bay email pings into my inbox I can't help but have a browse.  However, being on a student budget and all that, I rarely buy anything.  However once I saw a tiny cat face peeking out of a MLBB lipstick shade, it took me less than 30 to place an order.

Introducing the Paul & Joe Autumn 2015 lipstick in 'Cafe Espresso 095'.

I have to confess, I hadn't heard anything about Paul & Joe before and didn't bother to research it before I placed my order, how unlike me!  Yes it's a risk (especially for someone who hates wasting money!) but it's a lipstick, with a cat in it.  What was I meant to do?

After a little bit of reading, I found that it's actually created using a Japanese candy making technique called 'Kinatro - ame'.  This is when layers of candy (or makeup in this case) are rolled together meaning that the cat face shape runs through the whole bullet of lipstick.

I've spent too long for my own good staring at this lipstick - the gorgeous case and tiny detailed cat face! And yes I was scared to ruin it and actually use the lipstick but when I did I was actually very impressed!
The lipstick has a sheer and creamy formula, it contains cocoa seed butter, jojoba seed oil, lavender oil, orange flower water and white lily extract which makes the lipstick very nourishing and moisterising.  However, this also means they do also have a limited wear time and need re-applying after 2-3 hours but the neutral shade and sheer formula make this very easy to do without a mirror.
This was definitely my favourite shade, it's the neutral pick of the Autumn 2015 collection and is a great everyday shade.  A little more brown toned but very similar to MAC Patisserie which is my current favourite lipstick.  If I had the money I'm sure I would try to get my hands on the red shade which also looks gorgeous!

Paul & Joe Autumn 2015 lipstick in 'Cafe Espresso 095' - £14

Paul & Joe Autumn 2015 lipstick case - £7

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YSL ROUGE VOLUPTE SHINE

Let me introduce you to my favourite summer lipstick; YSL Rouge Volupte Shine - Shade 15, Coral Intuitive.

I was gifted this gorgeous lipstick at Christmas and was so thrilled with it, but now its summer and this lipstick has really come into its own.  Firstly, how beautiful is this packaging?  This is my first and only YSL product and lets just say I love carrying this around in my bag (as you can see from all the scratches) and staring at it because its just that gorgeous!  But anyway, aside from the shiny luxurious packaging, the product inside is just as stunning.  The range of Rouge Volupte Shine lipsticks are the sheerer of YSL's lipsticks, they are designed to give a dazzling colour whilst also offering a luminous shine and comfort, and they don't disappoint.  This lipstick applies so smoothly and easily straight from the bullet and gives a wash of peachy pink/coral colour to the lips.  I'm obsessed with these sorts of colours, they look so natural but add a pop of pretty colour.  I'm also aware that these could be seen as just a glorified tinted lip balm, but what really separates them is the more pigmented formula and silky smooth texture as well as being very moisterising and comfortable.  However, you can expect with such a sheer, glossy formula that the lasting power of these isn't all that great and it has no chance of looking perfect after a burger!  But the amazing quality and sheerer finish means that this is no trouble to apply on the go and even without a mirror.
Yep, its fair to say I'm well and truly obsessed.  And rightly so!  If you've tried this or want to try it, feel free to leave me a comment, it would be nice to know I'm not the only one falling in love with a lipstick!

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BRAVE

Well, doesn't this lipstick seem to be having a bit of a moment?

Recently I have seen a fair few bloggers picking up the MAC lipstick in Brave.  Believe it or not, this was my very first MAC purchase featured in my Italy haul back in February!

Brave is a satin finish lipstick in a cool toned, pinkish-beige shade rumoured to be one of Kylie Jenner's favourites!  Need I say more?

In case you do want to know more, Brave is a perfect autumn-winter everyday shade because it's slightly deeper than your average MLBB lipstick but its still natural and it lasts incredibly well.  I would opt for a warmer blush with this one though otherwise you could end up looking a bit washed out and dull.  The formula of MAC lipsticks is a winner as always, a little bit of lip balm will help to combat any dryness if needed.

I've also found that Rimmell's exaggerate lip liner in Eastend Snob is a great match for this and just adds to the 'Kylie Jenner effect' and is a combination I have been wearing a lot over the past few weeks.

What's your current favourite lipstick?

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APOCOLIPS

Big shout out to my laptop which has once again decided to crash, hence the lack of posts around these parts! 

Rimmel released the apocolips lip lacquers over a year ago but I never picked any up because I hated the idea of shiny, sticky lips. A year on and I have moved on from my beloved matte finishes and I'm opting for something a little more glossy. Lip lacquers are highly pigmented lipglosses which last well on the lips and I'm loving them!

I picked up two shades, the first is celestial, a peachy-pink nude shade. This one is fairly natural and is a lovely everyday shade that's easy to wear. The second is galaxy, a slightly deeper plum toned shade with some shimmer. I have been wearing celestial on an almost daily basis recently and have had a few compliments when wearing it, galaxy is lovely when I want something a bit more bold but without the hassle of a red lip.

Aside from the lovely shades, the formula of these is a winner! They are so comfortable to wear and after half an hour or so they dry down from their shiny finish to something more satin and natural which lasts pretty well. I also love the doe-foot applicator which holds a little 'pool' of product and makes outlining your lips so damn easy!  I've found that if you apply a very thin layer using the back of the applicator, the finish is immediately less glossy and it lasts far longer.  Last but not least, the packaging of these is just lovely and for your money's worth, you can't really go wrong. I can now see what all the hype was about! I'm so impressed with these, need I say more?

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THE SHEER LIP EDIT

Come Autumn and Winter I will be well and truly back to my all time favourite long lasting matte formulas, but when the sun shows it's face, the glossier and brighter, the better.

Revlon Lip Butter - Tutti Frutti - Sorbet

Anyone remember last year when I first bought these and wrote this post?  Yep, it's fair to say I was head over heels about these baby's.  The lip butters have buildable colour in a lovely glossy and sheer formula that moisturises.  Although the shine wears off after an hour or two, the pigment stains your lips leaving a subtle colour.  Orange lips are coming back again this summer so Tutti Frutti is going to become a handbag staple for me.

Bourjois Colour Boost Lip Crayon - Peach on the Beach

This is a recent purchase but I already love it, as the name would suggest, it is a lovely peach/coral colour that just screams summer!  It's glossy, balmy, sheer and colour all packed into a crayon.  However, I do find that the formula tends to cling to dry patches on my lips so I often need to use a separate lip balm before application.
(P.S. these are currently on offer at Supedrug)

The Body Shop Born Lippy - Satsuma Shimmer

Who remembers these?  Loved but not forgotten, these are probably the most sheer and least pigmented of the bunch.  But they smell the best, by a long way.  I can't even explain how great this smells, it's like the smell of the whole Body Shop mixed into an orange pot with a bit of shimmer.  If a pot is your sort of thing and your not too worried about pigmentation or shine, opt for this one!

What are your favourite lip colours for summer?

Today, I am off on holiday for a fortnight so although I will try my very hardest to upload a new post while I am away, the chances are slim *insert crying emoji*

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New Release: Bourjois rouge edition velvet

For me, Spring always comes along with bright colours and pastels.  So it's bye bye to the deep red and berry lips and hello to brighter shades; enter Bourjois rouge edition velvet in Hot Pepper.

These liquid lipsticks have got the whole gloss to matte formula down to a tee.  They apply smoothly with an easy doe foot applicator, are very pigmented and set in a minute to a matte finish that DOES NOT BUDGE!  I wore this for a whole day, through a few meals and by the time I got home it was still noticeably there, inside my lipline and not on my teeth.  Yes, it may have faded a little bit but nicely so, it was still evenly pigmented and just looked a little sheerer.

The texture of this is not what I am used to, it feels almost balmy when applied and then drys so that it feels as if you are wearing nothing at all which I really love.

Hot pepper is a bright orange toned red, a shade I have been wanting for a while now.  But if you don't fancy that there is a more neutral red, a bright pink and a few almost-nude shades which are a bit more 'meh' in my opinion,  I would defiantly opt for the brighter ones.

At £8.99 each they are hardly the most expensive product out there but maybe not best for those on a tight budget.

I highly recommend these to anyone looking for a bright, matte lip that stays all day!

spring clean: the favourites

Here in England, the sun has started to shine and spring is here at last!  I have been doing a bit of a makeup spring clean and have found all of those lovely bright colours that have been stowed away during winter, they are making a comeback!

mad for matte.

Recently quite a few matte products seem to have been jumping into my collection and I can't help but say, I'm loving it!