Birthday Lips

Last weekend I celebrated my birthday with friends, music and vast quantities of Disaronno. Of course with it being my birthday it was an excuse to buy yet another red lip product. I had wanted to try something from NYX cosmetics for a long time - well since I discovered NEXT stocked them - so I popped down after work on friday for a post work/pre birthday treat. Unusually for me, I decided to go down the gloss route and picked up one of their Xtreme Lip Creams in the shade 'spicy' which is a dark cherry red.

My first impressions were great to say the least, it applied really easily with no mess and didn't leave my lips feeling sticky at all. I immediately fell in love with the colour and it smells pretty damn good too. These little glosses are great to throw in your clutch on a night out and keep that bold lip bold!

Now I was lucky enough to receive another NYX lip product for my birthday a day later, coincidence eh!? This time it was a Matte Lipstick in the shade 'indie flick', a bright orange/red colour. Orange toned reds are my all time favorite shade to wear - it makes me feel very 1940's.

The formula is relatively smooth, it is a little drying - but aren't they all! The colour pay off is brilliant and it lasted the whole of the night, even after countless purple rain cocktails and classic singalongs.

I think we can safely say that my first encounter with NYX costmetics was far from disappointing. I am keen to try out more of their products, I mean their Love In Paris palette has been on my wishlist for some weeks now...

THE Revlon Colorburst Matte Balm

One hot topic of January has to be the release of Revlon's newest lip product - the matte balm. A moisturizing yet matte balm that gives lip nourishment with a pop of colour. I recently picked up the colour elusive as I lack true pinks in my collection. Elusive is a muted rose shade, perfect for the transition from winter to spring!

The product itself is very creamy and silky on the lips, the bullet makes it super easy to apply and the colour glides on with one simple swipe. Elusive is quite pigmented and before you know it your donning a show stopping bold lip - I have however heard that some of the other shades are more sheer. On the shade front... Revlon have pulled out all the stops here with an amazing array of matte lip colours (quite literally something for everyone)!

The only gripe I have with this product is the obvious - dry lips never fall short of a matte lip product, but nothing a little lip therapy can't sort out.

Now, when's the next 3 for 2 eh...

Lip Lowdown #01 - REDS

Welcome to my little but large collection of red lipsticks. A small, but diverse array of shades that I like to smother (worst lippie applier award goes to...) my lips with from time to time.

from left to right

Natural Collection in 'Crimson' - This classic red is such a staple in anyone collection, this £1.99 bargain is a great party piece for the festive season. 

Rimmel Kate Moss in '107' - Yes, THE Rimmel lipstick everyone and their dog owns. But that is precisely the point, this deep matte red can be worn day and night and works fab on pretty much everyone! go on, join the clan...

17 Lasting Fix Lipstick in 'Hot Chilli' - This is actually one of my favourite lipsticks to wear, a garish orange toned red but surprisingly easy to wear! A great summer colour, but also a awesome duo with gold Christmassy eyes.

Jemma Kidd Lip Duo in 'Boudicea' - Another T K Maxx find here, very similar to 107 but slightly deeper and less purple. With a balm on the opposite end, what more could you ask for in winter? Plus I would highly recommend this lipstick purely on its unbelievably  smooth texture!

Sleek Matte Me  in 'Rioja Red' - The matte lip everyone lusting over.... (full review here)

Bright or deep, what's your call?

Bad Orchid

The world has gone matte crazy, buffing away that shine is definitely the big thing of AW'13 (not to mention the leather mania we are currently experiencing).

When it comes to this polish, I have been spying it up for months, holding back because do I really need another burgundy/purple polish?

Topshop Nails in 'Bad Orchid'  £6

...Most probably not but when I noticed Topshop were now leaning towards the pastel mattes, leaving only one (lonely!) bottle of this colour on the shelves, I just knew I needed to take it home - if not for my sake, for the lonesome bad orchid's!

Of course it's the perfect Autumn/Christmas colour, you can't go wrong with purple in autumn - as you can tell from this post. Two coats are needed for a good solid opaque nail, but Topshop have come up trumps again with their polish quality. I can see myself adding some gold glitter for a be-dazzling effect... but that's for another day.

Sleek Matte Me

Once upon a time, I almost fell into the devilish trap that goes by the name of Hourglass Opaque Rouge Liquid Lipstick swooooooon.

In hindsight, I'm glad I didn't as shortly following, these little gems hit the high street.

Sleep Matte Me Lip Stain in 'Rioja Red' - £4.99

Sleeks lip stains are the perfect dupe, for a smidgen of the hourglass price! At £4.99 I am inclined to class this purchase as a 'steal'. The pigmentation is to die for, and as for the colour - 'Rioja Red' is a classic red needed in everyone's make up collection. 

Matte Me dries super quick and super matte with only one coat needed. The formula is a little drying so I tend to balm it up before a-go-go. It comes in 6 colours, including 'fandango Purple' a gorgeous berry fushia that I may NEED in my life.