Wednesday 30 January 2013

OBSESSIVE COMPULSIVE COSMETICS: METALLIC LIP TAR (SUPER NSFW) (£9.99/10ml)

It's pretty rare that I fall in love with a product as soon as I test it. It's even rarer for me to completely fall head over heels for a lip product.
However, OCC's Metallic Lip Tar in Super NSFW (that's Not Safe For Work, kids) is the best lip product I've ever tried. Hands down.

Now, I've been hearing a lot about OCC, specifically their Lip Tars for a long time and I'd be surprised if you haven't. So when I saw their metallic range (you know I'm like a magpie with shiny things, we've been over this) I had to give it a try.


The packaging reminded me a bit of a tube of paint, but that's not necessarily a bad thing; it feels strong and not as if you're going to crack it and spill it if it's dropped. You also get this cute little brush to apply it with:


This seems to be mainly because this stuff stains your skin slightly. I found this out the hard way when swatching it on the back of my hand (2 makeup wipes and it's still there) so using your fingers to apply it obviously isn't advised. The brush works really well anyway.


The formula is like nothing I've ever tried before. It's thin while still being incredibly pigmented; it's not sticky at all, goes on like a dream and smells/tastes minty so there's no weird smell (like with Rimmel's Lip Laqcuers). It also lasts forever (as you can probably tell by the fact it's stained the back of my hand).


The colour itself, Super NSFW, is so beautiful. It's has a gold shimmer to it, which is what makes it metallic and the red itself seems to have blue undertones, rather than orange. It's extremely flattering on my pale skin, something I often have trouble with when trying bright, red lip products.

It's a few more quid than a lot of lip products I could mention (coughcough), but it is 110% worth it. I'll have more in the way of OCC Lip Tars (including their metallic range) coming very soon and I cannot wait.

Tuesday 29 January 2013

MAKEUP TUTORIAL: PEACOCK

Okay, guys, I'm going to level with you here. Today was meant to be video  tutorial day (I also realise I was supposed to write a blog yesterday) but I'm a complete hot mess right now. It's a long story, but my right eye has swollen up and although it's not half as bad as it was yesterday, it's still pretty nasty-looking.
I didn't just want to leave you guys with nothing, so did a quick picture tutorial using my good eye instead. It's not great, could have been better. It started off as kind of a green smoky eye and morphed into peacock... I don't know... but it's something, so I hope you enjoy it nonetheless.


Right. Prime your eye because this has loads of colour in it and you need the pigment to show through.
Add a black shadow all over and underneath the lid. I used matte (Blackout by Urban Decay) but I'm sure shimmer would work just as well.


Add a dark, shimmery green over the top. Blend it upwards into the crease and underneath the eye as well. Junkie by Urban Decay is perfect.


Wack some dark blue above and into the crease, as well as below the eye.


Blend some bronze above the blue.


Smear some sort of gold below to eye.


Line your waterline.


Line the crap out of your top lid, winging it and joining it to the bottom line.


Use the same black and green you used earlier to mix and fill in your eyebrows, just to be crazy.


Apply some mascara and false eyelashes. The bigger and more feathery, the better.






Friday 25 January 2013

Rimmel: Apocalips Lip Lacquers (£5.99)


The Apocalips is indeed here. These eagerly anticipated, groundbreaking new lip lacquers have just been released by Rimmel and they don't disappoint. For only £5.99, you get a thin, non-sticky, highly pigmented product. You apply said product with a unique applicator which has a small well in the middle, collecting product and allowing you to completely coat your lips with one application. The colour range is varied and pleasing, however, a few more colourful additions would have been appreciated (I could only imagine how awesome a black would look).

Nude Eclipse



The lightest of 2 nudes from this range, I wasn't too fond of this one; it reminded me a bit too much of foundation. I think this is due to naturally having quite pink lips and therefore this acting more as a concealer than a nude.

Luna



Luna was the second of the two nudes and again, not to my taste. It was kind of a pastel orange or pale coral and not for me. However, I might change my mind in summer.

Nova



At first, I found this loud pink a little bit garish and wasn't a fan. However, it very quickly grew on me; if you want a bright, girly lip but an alternative to red, this could be for you.

Galaxy



Galaxy was one of the favourites; a mature pinky-purple. Really pretty.

Apocaliptic



This hot, hot pink isn't my cup of tea.

Stellar



Stellar is a bright pink-coral and would look awesome in summer.

Big Bang



Big Bang seems to generally be the run away winner of the whole range and I have to agree. This pillar box red is a bit of a show stopper and really gorgeous.

Overall the formula is impressive and very unique. It actually dries pretty matte, which is a plus for me. It does have a bit of an odd taste and smell, kind of like paint? It's a bit strange and definitely off-putting, but it doesn't hang around for long.

Wednesday 23 January 2013

FAVOURITE WINTER BEAUTY PRODUCTS

With all this snow we're having over here in the U.K., I thought I'd just go with it and list my favourite winter beauty products.


My first eye product has to be white shimmery eyeshadow, specifically Zephyr by Urban Decay. It's not only great to use as a highlighter, but fantastic all over the lid; it really brightens the eye and catches the light. It gives a gorgeous, frosty effect, which reminds me of snow.


My next eye product is Rimmel's Scandaleyes Waterproof Kohl Liner in Silver. This is a great dupe for Urban Decay's 24/7 Glide-On Pencils and about a third of the price. The silver in particular was really shimmery; I loved wearing it in my waterline to add a bright, icy quality to my eyes.


My third winter-y eye product is Barry M's Metallic Liquid Eyeliner, also in silver. This cheap product creates an impressive effect; its applicator making it very simple to apply and get imaginative with.


My final eye product is Stargazer's Glitter Mascara, which I used in my Snow Princess makeup tutorial. It's cheap but can look really pretty if applied properly; I'd advise applying your usual mascara first and then, once that's dried, applying this, using the very end of the wand, to coat the tips of your eyelashes. Applying it this way makes sure the light catches it and it really sparkles. In my tutorial, I made sure to apply several coats, letting it dry in between so that it gave the effect of ice crystals frozen to my lashes.


Moving onto my favourite winter face products. Highlighter. Highlighter. Highlighter. I love highlighter; I just think it creates such an ethereal look when applied properly and I adore it. In winter, especially, apply on the tops of your cheekbones, just where the light hits them naturally, it's amazing and I've been wearing it all the time.


It's no secret that I've been obsessing recently over this blush by Soap & Glory and it's nothing short of perfect for all this snowy weather. It's shimmery and icy without being too pigmented that it looks odd with all the white/silver makeup you'll (apparently) be wearing on your face.


I had a love/hate relationship with Rimmel's Metal Rush nail polishes, but with Pearly Queen, it was definitely love. It was one of the prettiest varnishes I've ever encountered; shimmery, icy and iridescent, it's perfect for this cold weather.


Sidecar by Urban Decay, found in their Naked Nails Nail Set, was a pleasant surprise for me. In the bottle, it looked as if it was just a glittery nude, nothing special or particularly appealing for me. Upon the first coat I was slightly more impressed but still wouldn't be rushing out to tell people about it. However, after the second coat, I was in love. A pinkish nude with silver glitter, it reminded me of winter mornings when the frost is glistening on the roof tops, grass and fences. Magical.


Creep, also from the Naked nail palette, is perhaps an unusual choice for my winter favourites. However, the dark grey varnish with loads of silver glitter reminds me of a clear, winter night's sky.


Pink Champagne by Barry M is an incredibly subtle, but shimmery, lipstick. It adds a pretty shine without that concealed lip look, which I'm not a fan of.


This was one of my favourite lipsticks of last year. Barry M's Cranberry Red is a gorgeous, rich, sexy colour. I chose this because I love the look of just mascara on the eyes and a bright lip, especially when it's icy or snowing. Some times, a matte lip is exactly what you need to contrast all the glistening snow.



My final favourite winter product has to be... wait for it... CHAPSTICK. It may not me glamourous, it may not plump your lips up or make them look sexy, but it stops them from getting dry and icky in this cold, winter weather. Let's have a round of applause for Chapstick, shall we?

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Tuesday 22 January 2013

MAKEUP TUTORIAL: PINK AND GREY (VIDEO)


Here's me doing this makeup:



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Thanks for watching.

Monday 21 January 2013

Ciaté - Sand Dune (£8 - £9/13.5ml)

Ciaté is a prime example of how a product's packaging can sell it. I've been meaning to buy one of their nail varnishes for ages; the adorable little bow and unique, curved shape makes them incredibly intriguing.


Sand Dune was an irresistible colour for me; gold and iridescent  there was no way I couldn't get it. 


The formula is quite thin, so I had to apply four coats to get a strong colour. However, it dried quite quickly, so this wasn't too much of a hardship considering how gorgeous the colour is. It's an extremely pretty shiny, champagne colour - almost ivory - and has already wormed its wiley way onto my favourites list.

It also costs around the same as OPI, and from what I can tell is around the same quality. I've been looking for an alternative since doing some research and finding out they're owned by Coty, a company which claims to not test on animals except when required to by law, which is essentially 'yes'. 

I'll be making a more detailed post on my stance on animal testing in the near future.

Friday 18 January 2013

Rimmel London: Moisture Renew Lipstick: Vintage Pink, Diva Red and Rose Passion (£6.29 each)


Recently I tested Barry M's Moisturising Lip Paint in Pink Champagne and Cranberry Red and was really pleased with the results, so when I saw Rimmel had a similar product out, I had to give it a go.

Firstly, the packaging is amazing. It was what originally caught my eye since I'm like a magpie when it comes to shiny things. It manages to be bright whilst being sophisticated and mature. The problem with some bright packaging, especially pinks and purples, is that it can come across as childish and will discourage most people. When you're over the age of ten, the last thing you want to be reminded of is those fake, plastic lipsticks that smelled like cherry, that you used to get with your dolls. This product, however, is not like that at all.


Vintage Pink is a very wearable, pretty pink. It's sort of a dull pink with hint of purple. It's incredibly feminine and a nice change to a nude or icy, pale pink. The formula is seriously soft and moisturising; it almost feels like a lip balm, which is perfect for all this cold weather.
It also lasts a long time, I wore it out while it was snowing today and it hardly faded. I was very impressed.


Diva Red caught my eye because I was on the look out for a new red lipstick. It's a deep, sexy crimson and goes on a lot smoother than most red lipsticks I've tried. The colour's really even for such a pigmented product, which was remarkable.


Rose Passion is like Diva Red's younger sister. It's pinker, lighter and brighter but looks really similar on the lip. Again, I was pleased with the even coverage, as well as the lipstick's moisturising qualities.

£6.29 for each lipstick is an absolute bargain. The colour selection for these lipsticks is extraordinary, with 16 different shades/colours that I could find, and I'm really keen to try some of their other colours. They go on smoothly and softly, their pigmentation is fantastic and they last for ages. 

Rimmel's lip products are bang on at the moment; cheap but not lacking in quality, I'd definitely recommend taking a look at their range. And with their Apocalips collection shortly arriving, it looks like 2013 will be a good year for Rimmel London.