The Art of the Everyday Bold Lip

The Art of the Everyday Bold Lip

Wednesday, 30 January 2019

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Lipstick could be called the great love of my life, it’s right up there, second only to music, as one of my favouritest things and I wear it every single day. As a result I have very strong opinions on what makes a good lipstick - matte, long-lasting, pigmented, comfortable -  but more importantly in my 7-year lipstick wearing career I've learned a thing or two about how to get the best out of it. See below.

The 6 lipsticks that live in my handbag

The 6 lipsticks that live in my handbag

Tuesday, 7 February 2017

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l-r: Nyx Soft Matte Lip Cream in San Paulo, L'oreal Color Riche Lipstick in Julianne's Nude, Revlon Colorburst Balm Stain in Honey, Soap & Glory Sexy Mother Pucker Matte Lipstick in Pommie Girl, Nyx Matte Lipstick in Tea Rose & Collection Velvet Kiss Moisturising Lip Cream in Cotton Candy. 

I emptied my handbag for the first time in ages the other day and nestled amongst the empty chewing gum packets, Costa receipts and a quite frankly astounding number of pens I found not one or even two, but six lipsticks! How I managed to squeeze all that in my bag and still use it as a functional handbag I don't know, but I did it. Some of them have been in there so long I thought I'd lost them but I digress.

My High End Lipstick Collection

My High End Lipstick Collection

Saturday, 24 September 2016

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L-R: MAC Mehr, Estée Lauder Restless, MAC D for Danger, YSL Corail A Porter, MAC Girl About Town, Charlotte Tilbury Secret Salma, MAC Brave Red

Before we get into the nitty gritty of my high end lipstick collection I just wanted to quickly apologise for the lack of posts over the past week. Life's been really hectic, I feel like I haven't had the chance to stop and catch my breath lately, but I also can't tell you what I've achieved because it feels like nothing. I'm also really irritated that I've failed one of my September Goals. Grrrr! Anyway now that that's off my chest lets chat about some fancy pants lippie.

So my lipstick collection is spread out between two drawers and an empty Glossy Box - I wish I was joking - but most of them can be found in Boots and Superdrug for less than a tenner. In fact I only have 7 high end lipsticks, which yeah does sound like a lot, but not when you consider the sheer size of the rest of my lipstick collection. I haven't counted, I'm not up to the challenge. Anyway...

MAC Matte Lipstick in Mehr - £15.50 from MAC

AKA my favourite lipstick. As a life long bold, usually red, lipstick lover I'm as shocked as anyone that my actual favourite lipstick is this plummy nude. It's my go to everyday lipstick and I've worn it so much that there's really no competition. The formulation is incredible. It's long lasting, creamy, comfortable to wear and vanilla scented, which is pretty much everything I want in a matte lipstick. It isn't particularly drying, but can be if you haven't prepped properly. Lip balm, and lots of it, about 15 minutes before applying is key. Other than that it's amazing.

Estée Lauder Kendall J Pure Color Envy Matte Sculpting Lipstick in Restless - no longer available, Estée Lauder's Volatile is very similar and available here

This neon red orange hybrid is probably my least used lipstick ever. I've worn it once while I took photos for a blog post (read it here). It was an online exclusive so I couldn't swatch it to see whether it would suit me, I decided to risk it anyway and it didn't pay off. It doesn't suit me at all. Still, I can't bring myself to part with it because it was so expensive and it is gorgeous. Just not on me. Restless is very yellow toned whereas my complexion is cool toned, blue tones suit my skin type much better, yellow tones tend to make my skin look sallow and my teeth look yellow. That's really not a good look for anyone. It does have an incredible formulation, it's creamy and pigmented with really good wear time. It's also not drying and it smells incredible. It was a complete waste of money though, because I don't use it. At all.

MAC Matte Lipstick in D for Danger - £15.50 from MAC

D for Danger is one seriously beautiful berry lipstick, you guys know how much I love a berry lip! The formula for this is very similar to Mehr, but it's not quite as long lasting, as it's a little bit creamier, it also has the slightest tendency to bleed into the lip line. Nothing a bit of lip liner can't fix. It still lasts ages and smells incredible. But it's the colour that makes this really special. It's a deep, autumnal berry that looks stunning on, while being surprisingly wearable. It makes me feel like a total bad ass when I wear it. I love it.

YSL Rouge Volupté Shine in 41 Corail Á Porter - £26 from YSL

This is the prettiest lipstick in all the land. Let's all just take a moment to gaze lovingly at that dreamy gold and pink enamel packaging... okay I'm back. This is the most expensive lipstick I own, the price tag is eye watering! So much so that I closed my eyes when I bought it and then pretended it didn't happen. If we're talking about cost per wear then its been worth it because I've worn it a ton, but £26 for a lipstick is ridiculous. Are you listening YSL? Ridiculous! But it is beautiful! It's a shimmery, peach scented, pinky coral with a glossy finish. It has amazing pigmentation, the colour pay off is on point and it's very moisturising, with a texture closer to that of a lip balm than a lipstick. This does mean that it has a lot of slip to it, so it doesn't stick around when your eating/drinking, but it's lovely, especially in the summertime.

MAC Amplified Creme Lipstick in Girl About Town - £15.50 from MAC

Girl About Town holds a special place in my heart as it's the first MAC lipstick that made it's way into my heart and then my basket. A bright and bold raspberry pink, the colour is intense and ridiculously beautiful. It's an Amplified Creme finish, so isn't the most long lasting as it's really creamy, but it does have excellent wear time for a non-matte lipstick, it's incredibly pigmented and fades into an even stain. I really love this lipstick.

Charlotte Tilbury Hot Lips Matte Revolution Lipstick in Secret Salma - £23 from Charlotte Tilbury

I haven't really had time to form an opinion on the actual performance of this lipstick because I bought it on Wednesday. Me and my bestie were in Covent Garden and went into Charlotte Tilbury specifically so I could get Liv It Up. But after swatching Secret Salma I had a change of heart. Secret Salma is named for Salma Hayek as part of Tilbury's Hot Lips charity collection. Hot Lips is a range of 16 lipsticks: 4 best sellers and 12 brand new shades, named for the famous women who inspired them, with a percentage of the proceeds being donated to Women for Women. Secret Salma is one of the darker shades, a very autumn appropriate rosy plum. The colour is absolutely beautiful, and I can attest. from swatching, that the wear time is good. I swatched it on my arm two days ago and  it's still visible! And that rose gold packaging though! Droolworthy!

MAC Cremesheen Lipstick in Brave Red - £15.50 from MAC

No lip wardrobe is complete without a classic red, and that's exactly what MAC's Brave Red is. A bold pillar box red with a highly moisturising, cremesheen finish. The wear time on this isn't great, so lip liner is a must if you're wanting it to last, but it's so comfortable to wear and feels really nourishing. Brave Red is yellow toned but is surprisingly flattering against my skin type, *cough* unlike some other expensive lipsticks I could mention.

What are your favourite high end lippies? Any recommendations? Let me know by commenting below - I always reply so check back -, on twitter, or dropping me an email at lolarocknroses@gmail.com. Also check out my instagram, facebook, bloglovin', snapchat -search lolarocknroses - & pinterest for regular updates.

Love love love xxx

My Top 8 Lip Products from the High Street

My Top 8 Lip Products from the High Street

Sunday, 28 August 2016

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l - r: L'Oréal Privee Color Riche Lipstick in Julianne's Perfect Nude, Revlon Color Burst Balm Stain in Honey, Primark PS... Velvet Matte Lipstick Crayon in Nude, Soap & Glory Sexy Mother Pucker Lipstick in Pommie Girl, Bourjois Rouge Edition Velvet in Olé Flamingo and Hot Pepper, Maybelline Color Drama Intense Velvet Lip Pencil in Red Essential 

I love lipstick! So much so that I couldn't limit myself to just the 5, instead you're being treated to a Top 8 you lucky things! When it comes to lipstick I prefer my finishes matte, the formulas liquid and the pigmentation bold, on point and long lasting to boot. Every now and then, however, I like to shake things up a bit with more sheer formulas or pinky nude tones. So this is more of a comprehensive lip wardrobe from the high street, with everything from the sheerest nudes to the deepest berry shades. Enjoy!

L'Oréal Privee Color Riche Lipstick in Julianne's Perfect Nude - £6.99 from Superdrug

This isn't just Julianne's perfect nude, it's mine too! I'm not normally one for nude lipstick, bright matte bolds are way more my thing,  but this is dreamy!  It's not a nude nude, it's a really pretty, rosy pink with a moisturising formula and a sheer finish. It has decent colour pay off and it smells amazing, just like parma violets. It isn't the most long wearing of beasts, and it doesn't tend to stick around for long if food or drink is involved, but it is the most beautiful nude pink that I've come across. I'm on my third tube of the stuff and I completely love it.

Revlon ColorBurst Balm Stain in Honey - £7.99 from Boots

Revlon's ColorBurst Balm Stains are perfect for low maintenance glossy lips, as they're a hybrid between a lip gloss and a super moisturising lip balm. Personally I think they're the perfect lip crayon to chuck in your bag for easy on the go application. I have quite a few from the range but Honey is my absolute favourite for everyday. The colour is a lovely mauve toned dusky pink and it has nice pigmentation, so it can be worn really sheer for something quite subtle or can be built up for more of a medium coverage. It also smells like peppermint and feels really cooling on the lips. It's always in my handbag.

Primark PS... Velvet Matte Lipstick Crayon in Nude - £2.00 from Primark

At just £2.00, from good ol' Primark,  this lip crayon is the cheapest offering on the table. Normally I would find such a low price tag off putting but this is really good. Like really, really good. It's a  lovely peachy nude with a matte finish and a good formula. It's buttery, reasonably long lasting and applies like an absolute dream. Primark's make up line is a bit hit and a miss but there are definitely some gems hidden away in there, and this one of them.

Soap & Glory Sexy Mother Pucker Lipstick in Pommie Girl - £9.00 from Boots

One of my absolute favourite lipsticks is Soap & Glory's Super Colour Fabulipstick Matte Lipstick in Pom Pom which was, annoyingly, discontinued a while back... luckily S&G have since released Pommie Girl, which is identical. It's a deep pink with plummy undertones that looks absolutely stunning on. It's matte in finish,  and does tend towards the drier side of things, however I've found that applying lip balm about 15 minutes beforehand solves this problem. It lasts ages, it's beautiful and that dreamy packaging though! I'm so glad they didn't get rid of it completely. 

Bourjois Rouge Edition Velvet in Olé Flamingo! and Hot Pepper - £8.99 from Boots

I've sung the praises of the Bourjois Rouge Edition Velvets time and time again. They are the best liquid lipsticks on the high street, and my liquid lip of choice for a night on the town. They're pigmented, super comfortable to wear and last hours. They rarely need touching up and, though I've never tested it I definitely think they could last a full 24 hours, although I don't why you'd ever need them too. I love these lipsticks.

Maybelline Color Drama Intense Velvet Lip Pencil in Red Essential - £4.99 from Boots

Maybelline's Color Drama Intense Velvet Lip Pencils are right up there with some of my very favourite lipsticks. A pretty spot on dupe for Nars' Velvet Matte Lip Pencils, the formula is matte yet creamy and comfortable to wear and it is insanely long lasting. Red Essential is a classic blue toned red - every lip wardrobe needs one! - and it's beautiful.

Rimmel Kate Matte Lipstick in #107 - £5.49 from Boots

Rimmel's #107 is a high street classic! It looks intimidating in the bullet but it's actually a super wearable deep purple with just a hint of red in it. It has a matte finish and seriously incredible longevity. It lasts hours! It rarely needs touching up, only after eating and barely even then. When autumn, my favourite season, rolls around this is the only lipstick to grace my lips because it's the perfect autumnal berry shade and one of my absolute favourite lipsticks.

What's your favourite high street lipstick? Let me know by commenting below, on twitter, or dropping me an email at lolarocknroses@gmail.com. Also check out my instagram, facebook, bloglovin', snapchat -search lolarocknroses - & pinterest for regular updates.

Love love love xxx

Sleek Make Up Haul with Reviews & Swatches

Sleek Make Up Haul with Reviews & Swatches

Sunday, 31 July 2016

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l-r: Equinox, Subsolar, Hemisphere & Ecliptic

l-r: Purple Fandango, Bittersweet & Backstage

I don't think us UK based beauty lovers really appreciate how lucky we are to have easy access to Sleek Make Up. I certainly don't. In the beauty stakes I think us Brits do high street/drug store products better, and everywhere else has Sephora, so they definitely win in the high end stakes. Anyway my point was Sleek Make Up is awesome and we are really lucky to have easy access to it. So when I found myself in front of a beautiful Sleek display in Superdrug with some spare cash, purchases were inevitable. Let's take a look at what I bought.

Sleek Solstice Highlighting Palette - £9.99 from Superdrug

Okay let's all just take a moment to marvel in the absolute beauty of this palette. Give me a second I'm not done revelling..... and I'm back. I picked this up a few weeks ago after being mesmerised by it and I do not regret it. The palette is made up of four cool toned highlighter shades; a cream, two baked powders and a shimmer powder, for use on different areas of the face.  The shades are: Ecliptic - a cool rose gold-y champagne cream, Hemisphere - a frosty lilac shimmer powder, Subsolar - a light pale gold and Equinox - a shimmery peachy gold, that rumour has it is a pretty spot on dupe for Becca x Jaclyn Hill's Champagne Pop. The packaging suggests that you use Ecliptic to highlight the brow bone, Hemisphere on the cheekbones, Subsolar down the bridge of the nose and Equinox on the cupid's bow, however I've found myself dabbing Ecliptic on my cheek bones for a more radiant glow. I think the whole palette is pretty stunning but Ecliptic is my favourite, it's beautiful in every sense! Colour, texture and application. It's well pigmented and packs a real punch in the shimmer stakes without being over the top. Having said that the overall quality of the palette is amazing. And that packaging though! Housed in a warm, gold, plastic compact, with a good sized mirror, the packaging feels strong and secure and totally luxurious! It looks way more high end than high street. I love it, it's so beautiful.

Sleek Make Up Cream Contouring Kit in Light - £10.99 from Superdrug

A couple of months back I wrote a post about L'Oreal's Infallible Sculpt Contouring Palette where I lamented the lack of good quality cream contour products on the high street - although the L'Oreal one is amazing, just fyi - and then Sleek added their offering in to the mix...and it is so good. No scratch that it is so awesome. The Contouring Kit is available in three different tones: Light, Medium and Dark, so they do cater to a number of different skin tones, which will always get a huge thumbs up from me. I picked up the light palette as I have really pale skin, and the shades in the lighter palette are cooler and more ashy toned, making them ideal for us pasty skinned guys and girls. So let's talk about the formulation, which, by the way, is really good! It's light and creamy, applies really easily and blends beautifully. It also has decent wear time, which is great, because my contour is always the first thing to wear off. The palette is made up of six shades: two highlighters, a concealer and three contouring shades, and it comes in a sturdy, matte black compact, with a really good sized mirror. It also comes with a contouring guide, which outlines the best way to use the palette for more dramatic contouring. Personally I prefer something a little more subtle and have been using the first two shades on the bottom row to create definition under my non-existent cheek bones. It's a lovely palette and is so versatile. It has everything for super dramatic Kardashian-esque contouring to more subtle definition. I like it a lot.

Sleek Matte Me Lip Cream in Fandango Purple & Bittersweet - £4.99 from Superdrug

Matte liquid lipsticks are my jam! They're my favourite type of formulations and I'll take any excuse to play with lipstick, so when I saw these it was obvious that a couple would be coming home with me. After spending a really, really long time deliberating I chose Bittersweet: a rosy pink with a hint of brown and Fandango Purple: a vibrant, electric purple. I have to say I'm a bit mixed when it comes to these lip creams, so let's get the Negative Nancy bit out of the way first. The formula is not great, it's okay, there are definitely worse out there - I'm looking at you MUA Luxe Velvet Lip Lacquers -  but it does feel quite dry on the lips and isn't the most comfortable to wear. Having said that it's not a deal breaker, and nothing a slick of lip balm beforehand can't fix. Other than that they are creamy and smooth, have really nice colour pay off and apply nicely. They dry down almost instantly to an even matte stain and have some serious lasting. Bittersweet comes with a standard doe foot applicator but Purple Fandango has a longer, flatter applicator which makes for less precise and messy application. I'm not too sure why the applicators aren't standard across the whole range... weird. Other than that they are quite nice, BUT if you're looking for a matte liquid lipstick that is not drying, sticks around and has dreamy pigmentation than really look no further than Bourjois Rouge Edition Velvets, that stuff is incredible.

Sleek Lip V.I.P in Back Stage - £5.49 from Superdrug

Corals aren't usually my thing, when it comes to lipstick I like them either red or pink, usually long lasting and with a matte finish BUT after swatching this on the back of my hand I completely fell in love with it and I had to have it. The formula is stunning! Creamy, beautifully pigmented, soft and smooth to apply, with a semi-matte, velvety sheen finish that is just dreamy. I've worn it a few times and I love it. It lasts well, is so comfy to wear and the colour is stunning. I've got my eye on some of the others in the collection and will definitely be picking them up soon. Gorgeous!

Have you tried any Sleek Make Up? What did you think? Let me know by commenting below, on twitter, or dropping me an email at lolarocknroses@gmail.com. Also check out my instagram, facebook, bloglovin', snapchat -search lolarocknroses - & pinterest for regular updates.

Love love love xxx

Another Massive Avon Haul

Another Massive Avon Haul

Tuesday, 26 April 2016

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L-R: Fast Time Teal, Turquoise Pop, Sea Breeze, Parfait Pink, Roses are Red

L - R: Adoring Love, Splendidly Fuchsia & Ravishing Rose

To be honest with you I can see these posts becoming a regular thing, well I've already made another order so...  Stop spending! Bad Lauren! For me, in my limited experience, Avon has 3 stand out products: the Moroccan Argan Oil Leave-in Treatment, the Gel Finish Nail Enamels and the Perfectly Matte Lipsticks. So when the catalogue came through my door another order was inevitable. Although I must admit I did get a bit carried away, even by my spendy standards. Really the only good thing that comes out of it, apart from all the make up, is the haul post I get to share with you lovely people. So let's get to it.

Avon Moroccan Argan Oil Leave-in Treatment  £3.30 for 30ml

I have yelled my undying love for Avon's Argan Oil Leave-in Treatment from all the rooftops, because it's awesome. I use it for absolutely everything. I use it after just washing my hair as a leave in conditioner. I use it to tame my hair on particularly frizzy days. I use it as a hair mask the night before I wash my hair. Seriously it is bottled magic. It is so nourishing, giving my dry, bedraggled ends the moisture boost they desperately need and leaves my hair shiny, soft and frizz free (mostly). It's also impossible to use too much, it leaves no residue in the hair and never makes my hair look greasy or crispy as so many serums are won't to do. I. LOVE. IT!

Avon Gel Finish Nail Enamels £7.00

I am a BIG fan of these nail polishes, after my first order it was pretty much love at first paint and I've since added a ton more to my collection. The formula is so good. I mean seriously good. It lasts such a long time, is opaque within 1-2 coats and has a beautiful, shiny gel finish. I'm pretty much obsessed.

Avon Perfectly Matte Lipstick - £ 5.00 (on offer, usually £8.00)

With the rather bold claim that they are 'more Matte than Mac' I couldn't resist picking up Avon's Perfectly Matte Lipsticks. The formula is very matte - I haven't done a direct comparison with Mac yet but it's definitely in the pipeline - but also quite creamy, which means it does have quite a lot of slip to it and doesn't have the longevity that I would usually expect from a matte lipstick, it's also quite drying on the lips (nothing that a slick of lip balm before applying can't fix.) That being said they are really nice lipsticks and the colours I picked up are beautiful.

Like I said last time I've been really impressed by the things I've tried. To be honest I didn't really think Avon was even a contender in the beauty market anymore, I was definitely wrong. Anyway if you feel like shopping Avon the old school way and want to pick up a catalogue (and are in the Stevenage area) then definitely get in touch with  Carly, my avon lady, she is an angel!  You can find her on instagram &  facebook, her online store here, or give her a ring on 07584901032.

What are your favourite Avon products? Let me know by commenting below, on twitter, or dropping me an email at lolarocknroses@gmail.com. Also check out my instagram, facebook, bloglovin', snapchat -search lolarocknroses - & pinterest for regular updates.

A Massive Avon Haul

A Massive Avon Haul

Tuesday, 15 March 2016

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L-R: Avon Gel Shine in Moondust, Avon Gel Finish in Alaska, Avon Gel Shine in Lavendar Sky & Avon Nailwear Pro + in Lavished Blue

Swatches L-R: Raspberry Rush, Splendidly Fuchsia, Ravishing Rose, Adoring Love

If you're anything like me then you'll have a ton of misconceptions about Avon, and you won't be too good at keeping your balance either. I was kinda under the impression that Avon was a bit old and well... irrelevant. Now I don't need to tell you how stupid that was! For someone who loves make up as much as I do you'd think I would've learned to never judge a product by it's brand by now but apparently not. Anywho after having a flick through a catalogue I stumbled across at home I was suitably impressed, and then a haul happened. Because obviously, this is a haul post. So do you wanna see what I got? 

Avon Gel Finish & Nail Prowear + Nail Enamel - £7.00/£6.00 from Avon

I may have gone a little bit overboard on the nail polish, but in my defence they were on offer,  so they were ridiculously cheap and they're lovely. I picked up the shades Moondust -  a pale grey, Alaska - a muted mint green, Lavender Sky - a blue toned lilac and Lavished Blue - a metallic navy blue and they make me go all heart eyed. The formulation is really good: thick, creamy but easily workable, with a reasonable wear time and opaque in just one coat. I like them a lot.

Avon Ultra Colour Lip Crayon in Raspberry Rush & Avon Perfectly Matte Lipstick in Ravishing Rose, Adoring Love & Splendidly Fuchsia (sample size) - £5.75/£5.00 (on offer, full size) from Avon

The Lip Crayon is my absolute favourite purchase! Simply put it is gorgeous and was an absolute bargain. The colour is stunning - right in my berry pink loving wheelhouse - with a satin finish. It's nicely pigmented, lasts nicely and feels really nourishing on the lips, it even fades into a nice even stain. It's a great lipstick. The Avon Perfectly Matte Lipsticks are a new release so I picked up 3 of the sample sizes for £1, but I will definitely be getting the full size versions on my next order. The finish is super matte and really long lasting but they are so comfortable to wear and not at all drying. My favourite is Ravishing Rose which is somewhere between a fuchsia and a red but is completely gorgeous. But seriously I love them all. 

Advance Techniques 360 Morrocan Argan Oil Shampoo, Conditoner & Serum - £1.60 /£2.99 (on offer) from Avon

These are all repurchases as I've tried them before and I loved them. The serum is the best serum I've ever come across. It is amazing! It's a nourishing, conditioning, frizz taming wonder in a bottle. The shampoo and conditioner are also good. They leave my hair feeling really soft and smooth and give my dry, frazzled ends a much needed hydration boost. But like I said the serum is the real star.

Clearskin Range - from £2.10 (on offer) from Avon

Normally I avoid skincare specifically designed for blackhead prone skin, I know this doesn't make a lot of sense for someone who's main issue is blackheads, but the majority are designed for oily skin, which I don't have (... it's weird I know), and are really stripping on my skin, which tends towards the drier more sensitive side of things. But after a quick google search and a load of very positive reviews and testimonials I was convinced and decided to give most of the Clearskin line a go. I haven't given everything a proper test so I'll hold out on giving my opinion just yet. But so far so good.

Everything I've tried so far has really impressed me, so I really recommend having a flick through the next catalogue that comes through your door. If you're in the Stevenage area and fancy picking up a few bargains then Carly, my avon lady, - yeah we're on a first name basis! - is an absolute babe.  You can find her on instagram &  facebook, her online store here, or give her a ring on 07584901032.

What are your favourite Avon products? Let me know in the comments below, on twitter, or dropping me an email at lolarocknroses@gmail.com. Also check out my instagram, facebook, bloglovin', snapchat - search lolarocknroses - & pinterest for regular updates.

NYX Mini Lip Haul & Review

NYX Mini Lip Haul & Review

Tuesday, 2 February 2016

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A couple of weeks ago I was feeling really spendy - nothing new there - and found myself on the boots website, gazing lovingly at all the make up, when I stumbled across NYX. NYX is a brand I've heard a ton about but never tried, and as the reviews were universally positive, I figured it was definitely worth picking up a few bits. Before I knew it I was checking out with one of the Butter Lipsticks in the shade Moonlit Night and one of the Jumbo Lip Pencils in the shade Hera in my basket.

Moonlit Night is a deep, dark burgundy that looks way scarier in the bullet than it actually is. On the lips it's a vampy but wearable, red toned, berry shade. I'm totally in love with it. The formulation is lovely, very creamy and smooth, it applies well and the pigmentation is really good. The only downside is that I generally prefer my finishes matte because they last longer and this is a satin finish which means there is quite a bit of slip to it. It lasts reasonably well but doesn't really stick around for the long haul and it does need to be re-applied after eating or drinking. Another teeny tiny niggle I have is with the packaging, which I think is so cute BUT, and I don't know if this is just my one, but it's not very well made. When you twist the bullet up mine has the tendency to fall back down, which isn't great but not a deal breaker. Other than that I'm obsessed.

Hera is another kettle of fish entirely. A bright fuchsia with a blue toned shimmer running through it, it's way more sheer and doesn't apply as evenly as the lipstick. Even so it's really pretty and has a lovely smooth formula that makes application a breeze. On the upside I love the packaging, the design is really cute and great for just chucking in your bag. I like it a lot.

Apart from a few little bugbears I am super impressed, especially at such a low price point - the Butter Lipsticks retail at £5.50 & the Jumbo Lip Pencils at £5.00 - and I will definitely be picking up a few more come pay day.

Have you tried anything from NYX? What did you think? Any recommendations? Let me know by commenting below, on twitter, or dropping me an email at lolarocknroses@gmail.com. Also check out my instagram, facebook, bloglovin', snapchat - search lolarocknroses - & pinterest for regular updates.

Love love love xxx

Lipstick Queen Liquid Assets Vesuvian Collection: Review & Swatches

Lipstick Queen Liquid Assets Vesuvian Collection: Review & Swatches

Thursday, 29 October 2015

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Lipstick Queen's Liquid Assets Vesuvian Collection - available individually from £13.20 from feelunique.com or £12.99 for the set in store at T.K. Maxx, subject to availability. 

On one of, now weekly, excursions to the beauty aisles in T.K. Maxx I discovered Lipstick Queens Liquid Assests Vesuvius Collection. Having never tried Lipstick Queen before, and being a self proclaimed Lipstick Queen,  I was curious so into my basket it went. Containing three liquid lipsticks in three versatile shades: Vesuvian Blush - a peachy nude, Vesuvian Fuchsia - a sassy hot pink and Vesuvian Red - a rich and beautiful scarlet, the Vesuvius Collection is a complete lipstick wardrobe, catering for all occasions. Now when it comes to bold lips I like my finishes matte and my colours cool toned. So the red and fuchsia are right in my blue-toned lipstick loving wheelhouse - the nude wasn't really my thing so I ended up giving it to my mum - the high shine finish,  although not normally my cup of tea, did make a nice change. 

Whilst not the most long lasting  the formula is quite lovely; moisturising and comfortable to wear, with unbelievable pigmentation and a high shine but non-sticky finish PLUS it smells like peppermint, which is amazing. It claims that the formula 'protects and pampers the lips in a single moisturising, and stickiness free slick' and I have to agree . However the finish means that it does have a lot of slip and movement to it, occasionally bleeding into the lipline, and it doesn't stick around for long if food or drink is involved.I really liked the packaging as well, as it is sleek and slimline, with the product being twisted up and dispensed through a nylon brush, for an even and tidy application and a neater finish. 

Overall I really liked the lipsticks. No I probably won't be reaching for them on a daily basis, matte formulas being way more my thing, but I will definitely be using them on special occasions or a night out. 

Have you tried Lipstick Queen's Liquid Assets? Let me know on twitter, by commenting below or dropping me an email at lolarocknroses@gmail.com. Also check out my instagram, facebook, bloglovin', snapchat - search lolarocknroses - & pinterest for updates. 

Love love love xxx

Kendall Jenner for Esteé Lauder Pure Color Matte Sculpting Lipstick in Restless

Kendall Jenner for Esteé Lauder Pure Color Matte Sculpting Lipstick in Restless

Tuesday, 13 October 2015

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I've been holding onto this post for a quite a while now, just while I've been trying to organise my thoughts, which are very mixed by the way, about Kendall Jenner's much talked of Pure Color Matte Sculpting Lipstick in Restless.

First let's talk pros, because there are a few of them.  Everything about this product screams pure luxury, (including the price tag... at £25 it's not exactly cheap), from the dreamy formula to the sleek, weighted, magnetised and completely gorgeous navy and gold packaging. Just holding the lipstick feels like an act of pure indulgence. It is one seriously luxe item. Even my mum, who does not find make up impressive at all, found the magnetic closure incredibly satisfying. So let's come back to the formula, because it is truly a thing of wonder: matte, long lasting, vanilla scented - everything one could want when rocking a bold lip - but with a creamy, moisturising feel to it that means it doesn't dry the lips out at all. Nor does it cling to any dry patches, as so many matte lipsticks are wont to do, and with the right liner it sticks around for hours BUT there is a bit of transfer when eating, drinking, kissing etc so some reapplication might be needed. 

So let's talk about the colour because this is where my thoughts of admiration get all tangled. Let me just say it has photographed beautifully, honestly it looks stunning in the pictures. A gorgeous pillar box red that is right in my red lipstick loving wheelhouse. In reality it is way more orange. Esteé Lauder describes it as 'Part Poppy. Part Orange Crush.' Essentially a neon red-orange hybrid. Unfortunately I didn't know this when I bought it, being an online exclusive there was no opportunity for me to swatch it (BOO!). And whilst I have no problem rocking a red lip, my reds tend to be more blue toned as I find that they're best suited to my pale skin tone. Yellow and orange toned reds tend to make my pasty skin look sickly and my teeth look a bit yellow. And that's really not a good look for anyone. Having said that I definitely think part of me is resistant to it because it is so different from what I normally go for, and it does look really good in the pictures. So maybe it's time for me to shake things up a bit in the red lipstick department...

Have you tried Restless? Let me know on twitter, by commenting below or dropping me an email at lolarocknroses@gmail.com. Also check out my instagram, facebook, bloglovin', snapchat - search lolarocknroses - & pinterest for updates. 

Love love love xxx

The Weekly Round Up #3: Snog, Lipstick & Queen Helene

The Weekly Round Up #3: Snog, Lipstick & Queen Helene

Sunday, 23 August 2015

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Lancôme Gel Éclat Clarifying Cleanser Pearly Foam - £23.00 from Lancôme

I've been using this cleanser for the past week or so and I really like it. It has a really thick, serum like texture that foams when applied to the skin and gets rid of all traces of make up, leaving the skin feeling squeaky clean. I will say it can be quite drying on the skin however nothing that a good moisturiser can't fix.

Natural Collection Moisture Shine Lipstick in Raspberry - £1.99 from Boots

I picked this up in Boots for the ridiculously low price of £1.99 this week and have been wearing it ever since. It's a really pretty, natural looking raspberry pink which is lovely for everyday. It doesn't have the greatest of formulas, it's nicely moisturising but has a lot of slip to it and doesn't last particularly well but even so I like it a lot.

Queen Helene Mint Julep Masque - £4.69 for 235ml from Amazon

My skin has been really bad this week, there have been breakouts galore, so I've been using this mask to try and get my skin back to normal and it's worked wonders. I pop it on for 15 - 30 minutes, depending on how bad my skin is,  and let it work it's magic.  It gives the skin a really deep clean and
leaves my skin feeling soft and smooth and looking so much clearer. This is one of my absolute fave clay masks.

Snog Strawberry & Raspberry Frozen Yoghurt - 1.75 for 450 ml from Asda

We've had something of an unexpected heat wave in the UK this weekend, which has made up for the drizzly excuse for a summer we've had so far, normally to combat the heat I eat ice cream but as I'm watching what I eat I've been reaching for Fro-Yo instead. Snog, I hate the name, is the best one I've come across. It's so nice; really creamy but light at the same time and tastes just like ice cream but with no where near the calories of normal ice cream. I love it!

What have you been loving this week? Let me know on twitter, by commenting below or dropping me an email at lolarocknroses@gmail.com. Also follow me on instagram, facebook, bloglovin', snapchat - search lolarocknroses - & pinterest for regular updates.

Love love love xxx

Lola Loves... LIPSTICK

Lola Loves... LIPSTICK

Thursday, 30 July 2015

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As yesterday was National Lipstick Day I thought I'd share my top 5 favourite lipsticks with you lovely people in honour of that illustrious day! It's no secret that I LOVE lipstick! It's well documented. It's one of, if not my actual, favourite beauty product to use. I feel like with the right lipstick on I can take on the world! If my lippie is on point I am UNSTOPPABLE!  I think that's what I love about it, lipstick doesn't just transform a look, it can completely change your state of mind. I find that this is particularly true of bold shades. For me I am all about the bold lips, go bold or go home!, and there are 3 shades that I absolutely love and come back to time and time again. I'm talking Pinks, Reds, Berries... these are my go to shades. Before I get started I'm gonna give you fair warning all of these lipsticks have been ranted and raved about before so I do apologise if I'm repeating myself.

MAC Amplified Creme Lipstick in Girl About Town - £15.50 from Selfridges

I know you guys must be sick to death of me talking about this lipstick because I have talked about it so much BUT in my defence it is my absolute favourite. If I had to sacrifice all other lipsticks and only wear one for the rest of my life, this would be that one. That's how much I love it! I once described this lipstick as 'perfection in sleek MAC packaging' and I stand by that!The colour is stunning, honestly it is the most beautiful blue toned fuchsia. I just love it so much. 

Bourjois Rouge Edition Velvet in Olé Flamingo! - £8.99 from Boots
(Not pictured above)

I wasn't sure whether or not include this because it's a liquid lipstick, but then I thought Sod it! It's still lipstick! And it's one of my very favourites. This lipstick makes me feel completely fearless! And that's a great thing. Another gorgeous pink, this time a fiery hot shade, it has a bouncy, gel like formula that adds an intense pop of colour to the lips and lasts hours. This stuff does not budge. Once it's on IT IS ON! It ain't going no where for no one. Now confession time: I have actually lost this and I am gutted! BUT I will be repurchasing as soon as possible because I love it. The formula is incredible and the colour is sexy as hell! Overall the Bourgeois Rouge Edition Velvets are amazing, I also really love Hot Pepper and Pink Pong but Olé Flamingo! is, undoubtedly, my favourite. 

Rimmel Kate Moss Matte Lipstick in #107 - £5.49 from Superdrug

When Autumn rolls around this lipstick is my go to. It's a gorgeous deep berry red that is both really wearable and effortlessly glamorous. I always feel like a total vamp whenever I've got this slicked on my lips. Seriously I could be wearing sweatpants (and I frequently am!) and as long as I have this lipstick on I'll feel like Jessica Rabbit! It has a matte finish so it's really long lasting, is only the littlest bit drying on the lips and it has a fabulous price point. I seriously, seriously love this lipstick. I also love Rimmel Kate Moss Lasting Finish in #30 which is a really similar colour with a satiny finish. Both of them are super gorgeous!

L'Oreal Color Riche in Julianne's Nude - £6.99 from Boots

This is a new addition to my lipstick collection but already a firm favourite. It's the most beautiful nude that I have ever happened across. I don't do nude lips normally but I am prepared to make an exception for this babe of a lipstick. For me it's the perfect MLBB shade. A blue toned pale pinky nude it just looks absolutely gorgeous on. It has really good very moisturising formula, but it does have a quite a lot of slip to it so it's not the most long lasting of formulas, in fact the formula really doesn't last that long at all and it definitely needs to be reapplied after eating and drinking but the colour more than makes up for it. I love it.

Maybelline Color Drama Intense Velvet Lip Pencil in #520 Light It Up - £4.99 from Boots

Trust me when I say that the Maybelline Color Drama Intense Velvet Lip Pencils are among the best lip pencils out there. They are so incredible. I just love them. Light It Up is a super flattering, blue toned, cherry red that will suit most skin tones but is really flattering on us pale people. It is intensely pigmented and has a matte finish with a redonkulous formula; creamy and moisturising yet really long lasting. I mean really long lasting. Wild horses can't drag this bad boy away. Now one thing I have found with bold lips is that they can be a Bitch, with a capital B, to maintain, this isn't even an issue with these because the longevity is so awesome. I love them so much. #310 Berry Much is another favourite of mine because it is also beautiful. I love them so much. 

What are your favourite lipsticks? Are you a lover of bold lips or do you prefer a more neutral pout? Let me know on twitter, by commenting below or dropping me an email at lolarocknroses@gmail.com. Also follow me on instagram, facebook, bloglovin', snapchat - search lolarocknroses - & pinterest for regular updates. 

Love love love xxx

Lipgloss vs Lipstick

Lipgloss vs Lipstick

Sunday, 26 April 2015

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L-R:  L'Oreal Paris Color Riche Lipstick in Blake's Pure Red,  Seventeen Lip Lustre in Red,  Burt's Bees Lip Shine in Blush, Mac Amplified Creme Lipstick in Girl About Town, Soap & Glory  Super Colour Fabu- Lipstick in Pom Pom  & Clinique Chubby Stick in 06 Woppin' Watermelon.

L-R:  Mac Amplified Creme Lipstick in Girl About Town, Soap & Glory  Super Colour Fabu- Lipstick in Pom Pom, L'Oreal Paris Color Riche Lipstick in Blake's Pure Red,  Burt's Bees Lip Shine in Blush, Clinique Chubby Stick in 06 Woppin' Watermelon  & Seventeen Lip Lustre in Red.

Lately me and lipstick haven't been quite the besties we once were. More and more I've found myself avoiding my beloved matte, high coverage, long lasting formulas and my favourite bold lipsticks (I'm looking at you Soap & Glory's Pom-Pom, Mac's Girl About Town and L'Oreal's Blake's Pure Red) in favour of sheer washes of colour and glosses. Don't ask me why, initially I thought it was something to do with a loss of confidence but recently I've gotten my groove back and I'm starting to think  it's something to do with the maintenance. Love it or hate it lipstick wearing is one high maintenance business. 

Now as a self-confessed gloss-hater (hate is too strong a word, gloss-disliker) choosing gloss over lipstick just feels weird but I have to say I've enjoyed the change. Yes gloss doesn't last forever, tends to be on the stickier side of things and attracts hair like a magnet BUT it's lighter on the lips, rarely gets on teeth and/or down my chin, it's also way better for the warmer weather and you don't even need a mirror just slick and go my friends, slick and go. 

My current fav0urite lipglosses are Seventeen Lip Lustre in Red, Clinique Chubby Stick  in 06 Woppin' Watermelon and 07 Super Strawberry (not swatched), and Burt's Bees Lip Shine in Blush. All of them give a nice pop of colour to the lips and leave a nice glossy, but not too glossy, finish.  The Chubby Sticks are my favourites because they have the best formula and pigmentation. But for days when I'm feeling more neutral - they're rare but they do happen - I love the Burt's Bees which is a really beautiful caramel-y pink nude and the most long lasting of the bunch. 

I doubt this gloss loving thing will last forever I am first and foremost a lipstick lover but for now it's nice to shake things up a bit. 

Which do you prefer? Gloss or Lipstick? What are your favourites? Let me know on twitter, by commenting below or even dropping me an email at lolarocknroses@gmail.com. Also if you've got a minute check out my instagram, facebook, bloglovin & pinterest.

Have yourselves a lovely week and I'll be back on Tuesday. 

Until then...

Love love love xxx