viva glam gaga lipstick.

When my sister asked me what i wanted for Christmas (within reason of course), i didn't really know what to say.  At the time, i decided that i wanted to start building up my MAC collection so i finally just said "anything from MAC".  She knows i love Lady Gaga & that she had a lipstick out at MAC, so i suppose she landed on this for my gift!  I know i'm a bit late to the whole Viva Glam Gaga collaboration, but better late than never i suppose?

If you didn't know, Viva Glam is a program MAC started to "support men, women, and children living with and affected by HIV/AIDS globally.." (taken off the MAC website).  100% of the proceeds goes to these people - to help give them food, afford doctor's visits, provide them with tools to prevent the spread of HIV/AIDS, among many other things.  To learn more about that, you can click here.  I think this is such a great cause & no matter what one may think about the lipstick itself (although they do have gorgeous shades & formulations), this is such an easy and beautiful way to help those in need.

Last year, Cyndi Lauper and Lady Gaga collaborated with MAC & came out with their own lipstick and lipglass shades under the Viva Glam range.  Cyndi Lauper's shade was a gorgeous red color, while Lady Gaga's was more of a baby/bubblegum pink color.  As i said before, i got Viva Glam Gaga :)

This is the second MAC lipstick i've ever tried, but the first lustre finish i've ever used.  The lipstick goes on really smooth, but it's not too long wearing.  I find that after a little while, the product actually settles in the crevices of my lips - not a good look!  The color itself is really nice, but i don't think it would suit a lot of skintones unfortunately as it is such light, but bright shade.

To be honest, i don't find myself reaching for this too often.  But even if i bought it with my own money & if it wasn't a gift, i wouldn't have regretted purchasing it as the money goes to such a great cause.

On my lips (i swear it looks less scary IRL!) & swatched on my hand - with no editing
You may also notice i've dyed my hair...

Above i have swatched it on my lips & on my hand - it looks kind of scary on me in that photo for some reason!  My lips are pale, so the lipstick comes out quite true-to-color on my lips.

I've just checked the MAC website and unfortunately both the Cyndi & Gaga lipsticks are sold out, but the lipglasses are still available.  I'd maybe stop by your MAC counter/store & see if they have any left in stock!

I've heard that Lady Gaga (maybe Cyndi Lauper too, i'm not sure!) is collaborating with MAC again this year for another Viva Glam lipstick, i'm excited to see what the new shade is going to be!

♥

My Current Go-To Lipstick!

Hello my lovelies :)

I'm genuinely sorry i haven't posted for a couple days, but i've just been feeling uninspired & just kfdjasoigje lately.  Also, if you follow me on Twitter, you might know that i have been spending the majority of my time watching Skins (i actually stopped watching it to write up this post :D - i'm now onto the second season, the 2nd episode, the one where is Sketchy is stalking Maxxie D: - so please, nooo spoilers!) - & omg, i'm officially an addict!

Anyone else love Skins as much as i do? ♥

(Chris is my fave, nom nom nom ;)

And i digress......LIPSTICK!  As you may already know, i'm a lippy addict and i'm always on the hunt for some new formulas and shades to add to my collection.  Maybelline's Color Sensational Lipstick in "Pink Please" has been my go-to lipstick for months now, but i've finally found my new love - Revlon's Matte Lipstick in 002 Pink Pout.

I'm a complete sucker for pink lipstick to begin with, i just think it looks so pretty and feminine, and can really brighten up someone's face & make her look made-up without a whole lot of effort.

I'd heard many good things about this lippy shade, but whenever i went to go to Walmart to pick a tube up, they were always out of stock.  I went a couple weeks ago & there was one tube left, so of course i had to buy it! :)

I'm so, soo happy i did (despite my buyer's remorse immediately after my purchase ;).

The shade itself is a very wearable pink, but still quite noticeable.  I've swatched Pink Pout next to MAC's Snob, and although they look a bit different when you swatch it, they look quite similar on the lips - but not an exact dupe i'd say.  Snob is more cool-toned, with blue undertones, whereas Pink Pout is more warm, but Snob & Pink Pout are definately around the same shade.

To be honest, i quite prefer my Pink Pout to Snob, and find myself reaching for it a whole lot more.

The formula is quite long-lasting, only requiring a touch-up in the middle of the day.  The only negatives i find really is that it isn't very moisturizing, but since Revlon doesn't advertise it as such, i don't really mind - a simple application of lip balm before applying this does the trick though!

The other negative about this range in particular is the packaging - when you're in the store searching for a shade, you don't truly know what color you're getting because the tube is sealed with plastic, so you have to rely on the little see-through whole on top, the name, & the little color sticker on the bottom - not very helpful to be honest!  I know it's for the safety of the consumer, but it can be quite annoying when you're not certain that you'll like the color you'll be spending your money on to get :)

Ew, my lips - i know D:

I just wanted to show you girlies how it looks on!

The Revlon Matte Lipsticks are affordable and very nice quality, and Pink Pout is an amazing & flattering shade, making it my go-to lipstick! :)

What's your go-to lipstick?

♥

Review: Revlon Colorburst Lipstick. ♥

There has been a lot of buzz about the Revlon Colorburst Lipsticks recently, especially in this shade, 070 Soft Nude.  I actually purchased Soft Nude after i heard all the hype about it saying that it's "the perfect nude" - i just heard that this range of lipsticks were really nice & saw the pretty packaging and i was sold!  After hearing all those positive reviews on the shade, i'm so happy i bought it!

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Texture
This lippie is super creamy & smooth and is really a breeze to put on, without having to put much thought into it.  I've heard girls compare this texture to MAC's Cremesheen lipsticks, especially Creme d'Nude.  I've personally never tried a Cremesheen texture lipstick so i couldn't really comment on that, but i imagine they would be fairly similar :)

Taste/Scent
There is virtually no scent or taste to this lippie, which is both good & bad i suppose.  Without there being a scent, less people would be annoyed with it since not everyone could like the smell of a lipstick - but if you kind of enjoy a lipstick with a bit of a scent, then you might be a little disappointed.  Although i sometimes do like a bit of a scent to my lipsticks, i was kind of pleasantly surprised when this didn't have one!

Drying?
I really had no issues with this drying out my lips, most of the time i put a lip balm under my lipsticks anyway, but even if i forget, i don't have much of a problem!  The formulation of this lipstick is really nice and is really easy to pull off :)

Durability
I would say this lippie lasts about the same amount of time as an average lipstick.  I still have to reapply at least once more in a 8 hour day, but i do with any lippie!

Pigmentation
The pigmentation on this lipstick is really quite nice, and you can also build up to what opaqueness you'd prefer!

Here are some swatches for you all.  As you can see it's a peachy-nude color :)

Packaging
The packaging can be quite a controversial topic, since it is so similar to a Chanel lipstick, - Chanel engraves their name into the stick of their lipsticks.  I also noticed that the outside packaging has sort of a quilted design, which reminds me of the very famous Chanel bags.  Despite all this, i really love the packaging!  I think it's really elegant & pretty, and it's also very sturdy.

The only thing i don't like about Revlon lipsticks in general is that you really can't tell what shade of lipstick you're buying until you purchase it & open it (there's a plastic bit around it so you can't open it in store to swatch) - i know this is for the consumers protection & maybe for a shop-lifting prevention, but i still find it annoying.  You have to rely on the top cover of the lipstick & the name to guess at what shade you're actually buying, which can end in disappointment.

Price
I believe i payed around $8.00 for this lippie, which is a bit more expensive than the average drugstore lipstick, but i believe there are sale deals at places like CVS & Walgreens, as well as printable coupons online.  I also think that for the quality of the lipstick, the price is worth it - and trust me, i'm just about as skint as anybody!

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Overall thoughts
Overall, i really like this Revlon Colorburst Lipstick.  This is the only shade i have from this range, so i can't really comment on or recommend any of the other shades, but i'm really interested to try them!  This lipstick in particular is very easy to wear and is probably the perfect nude for people with a bit of a darker skintone, but it still looks really nice on people with fair skin, like moi!
These lipsticks can be purchased in any drugstore that carries Revlon in the US, i think it's coming out in the UK soon!  These lippies can also be purchased online on Revlon's website here :)

4.5/5


♥

Review: Rimmel Moisture Renew Lipstick ♥

Rimmel Moisture Renew Lipstick in 220 Pink Chic

I've been hearing a bit of buzz around the Rimmel Moisture Renew Lipsticks lately and thought i'd try them out for myself!  I was strolling through a cosmetic aisle at Walmart and spotted the shiny, purple packaging i'd recognized from videos and blogposts and trotted over to check them out :)

I landed on the shade, 220 Pink Chic, because it looked like a lighter, baby pink when i swatched it on the back of my hand, and thought it would look really nice on the lips!  It's not a Snob type of light pink, but more of a medium, bright pink - which is still very wearable and i still adore.

One thing that i absolutely love about this lipstick is that it has an SPF of 18, which makes this lippie really great for summer!

Rimmel Moisture Renew Lipstick in 220 Pink Chic: left, without flash - right, with flash

Texture: The texture is really nice!  The lipstick applies very smoothly & is more of a glossy-feeling lipstick than a thick, creamy one - it is still a bit creamy though, it's what i imagine the texture of a MAC Glaze lippie would be like.

Taste/Scent: It doesn't really have a taste, but i absolutely looooove the smell!  I don't really know how to describe it, it doesn't smell like a MAC or Clinique lippie, but it definately does still smell like lipstick.  Mmmm, i just adore it!

Drying?: These lipsticks are made to be moisturizing, and i found this lipstick pretty non-drying, even without a lip balm underneath, but i wouldn't say it adds a ton of moisture to your lips.  After wearing this out for a couple hours though, i notice the product settles into the rougher part of my lips - not that it's too noticeable (mainly because of the color) - but close up, it's not too attractive.  Reapplying the product solves that issue though :)

Durability: In my opinion, the amount of time this lippie last on your lips is just a little less than average, for me it requires about two reapplications through a 10-hour day - which isn't horrible, but i've experienced a bit better on this front.

 Pigmentation: The pigmentation on the shade i have is really nice, i haven't tried any other shade in this range, but out of the two other ones i swatched & this one that i've used, they have really nice pigmentation.  You can wear this as more of a sheer, subtle, but glossier color, or you can really build it up for it to stand out a bit more.

Packaging: I'm a sucker for flashy, kind of tacky packaging, so i enjoy this packaging :)  I adore the crown logo on the top of the cap, and the purple outside.  Of course it's nothing too luxurious or gorgeous, but i still like it!

Price: I got this a while ago, so i'm not certain how much it costs, but i know it's around $6.00 at Walmart, which is around the average price for a drugstore lipstick.  The price really isn't too bad, especially for the quality of the product you're getting.

Overall thoughts

I really recommend this to anyone looking for a really nice, quality lipstick, but doesn't want to scoop out a lot of money for it.  I also recommend this to anyone who has problems with lipstick drying out their lips, but still wants a bit of color!  I'm really curious to try out other shades in this range, and i'll probably be taking a trip to the drugstore soon to check 'em out :)

link to Rimmel Moisture Renew

♥

My Dry & Chapped Lip Musts!

I got a question about what i use to heal dry & chapped lips on one of my previous posts and i thought it was a fantastic idea for a post!

I would say i'm lucky to not have extremely dry & flaky lips, but Winter weather and cosmetic products on them can really do some damage.  When i was little i used to have extremely chapped lips but now that i take care of them more, i don't have so much of a problem *knock on wood* :)

One of the most essential things of course is a lip balm or chapstick:

Carmex

Carmex is a pretty popular brand here in the US (i'm not sure about other countries.  I use this product at night after i'm done with my routine - washing my face, brushing & flossing my teeth, and putting my retainer in & such (haha..retainer :).  It's really thick & goes on very smoothly, but i find that it takes a looong time to sink in - which is why i only use it at night.  Sometimes i'll even wake with it still on the surface of my lips, which kinda grosses me out a bit..not sure why!

I would also say it's not amazingly moisturizing, but it does a adequate job :)

Burt's Bees

Burt's Bees is another really common brand in the US, with good reason!  Burt's Bees chapstick is really moisturizing, goes on smoothly, absorbs fairly quickly, & if you get the original flavor, it makes your lips feel really refreshed (it contains menthol).  The flavor i have contains pomegranate oil & has a bit of a tint to it (which is pretty sheer), hence different color cap.  I have to say i prefer the original kind to the one pictured just because of the scent/flavor, i don't like the scent of the pomegranate one at all & it's not as refreshing.

I carry my Burt's Bees in my bag (note the beat-up label :) and apply it before i apply lipstick in the morning & throughout the day as i feel necessary.

Along with moisturizing lip balms & chapsticks, an lip exfoliator is an essential.  Just like you exfoliate the skin on your face or body, it's important exfoliate your lips.  I saw that Lush came out with lip scrubs, but i'm really disappointed that they aren't sold in the US :/

I didn't want to spend money on an exfoliator, so i do as anyone would do..i Googled it!  I ended up finding an amazing DIY recipe for a sugar lip scrub by Elle, Allthatglitters on YouTube, (link to that video HERE).  The only two ingredients are olive oil & sugar, which everyone has in their kitchen!  It really works, it's inexpensive, & i love it :)

I do this once or twice a week.  It's especially great if you wear lipstick because exfoliating will get rid of all the flaky skin, letting the product apply smoothly & look better.

Extra tips

♥ drink plenty of water - you've most likely heard 100s of times how important to drink water & stay hydrated it is, but it truly is & water really does wonders for the skin

♥ keep a chapstick or lip balm handy!  i feel completely lost without one in my bag :)

♥ during the Summer, find a lip balm with an SPF in it, the sun can burn lips too!

♥ don't lick your lips!  it may feel moisturizing, but it actually drys them!

♥

Maybelline Color Sensational Lipstick Review

My sister got me these 2 lipsticks - i picked them out of course :). The red one is Very Cherry and the pink is Pink Please. I picked these two out because
1) they aren't overly shimmery,
2) i heard very good reviews of Pink Please,
& 3) i wanted a red lipstick
There was another red that, to be honest - i kind of liked better, but the store had just run out =/ So i settled for these two!  Oh, i'm wearing Very Cherry in my most recent post by the way :)

Texture: The texture is sooo nice! It's creamy and feels really moisturizing, which is my personal favorite <3

Taste: It doesn't really have one, it does have a scent that some people may not be able to stand, but you can't smell or taste it once it's on your lips

Drying?: If you put on a bit of chapstick before you apply the lipstick, you shouldn't have too much of a problem. I first tried this without the chapstick and it was a little drying, so i tried applying the chapstick then the Color Sensational & didn't have as big a problem anymore :)

Durability: It stays on for a long time - i'm honestly surprised! I don't know why, but i would always feel like it had gotten messed up or faded a lot, so i checked in the mirror and found that it was still all there :). Of course I touched up a little because i had been drinking and eating and talking, but it wasn't really obvious

Pigmentation: The lipsticks are super pigmented. The slogan for this product is "fall in love with color, all over again" & i have to agree <3.

Packaging: I really like the packaging, of course it's not super duper gorgeous, but i still like it. I like the size and the cap stays on really well, so you don't have to worry to much about it coming off in your bag

Price: They're sold by me for about $6 & i think it's worth it, but this is the first drugstore lipstick i have tried so i really have nothing to compare it to in this price range.

Overall thoughts

If I'm being honest, i used to be afraid of wearing any color on my lips at all because i always thought it would get messed up and whatever, but this product made me love and enjoy wearing bright lipstick. I would definately repurchase this product! I think that anyone that wants to start wearing non-neutral lipstick (or even neutral-ish with a slight tint for that matter) should really pick one (or a few ;) of these up because they are great for hesitant people - like me!

♥