Maybelline Superstay Matte Ink Range💕*

If I'm using a lip product, I want it to last a long time on my lips. I want to be able to go out, eat, drink or whatever without it smudging or fading. The last thing I'm wanting to do is reapply my makeup because honestly, I never reapply my makeup once I leave the house. 

Liquid lipsticks have received their fair share of love, and guess what? I'm late to the bandwagon, once again. I just didn't know which brand to opt for and I did think they seemed a tad persnickety. Then one day a few months back, the postman almost broke our letter box (again) as he squeezed through a parcel for me; containing a beautiful package from Maybelline with four of their Superstay Matte Ink Liquid Lipsticks*.

As you can see, the colours are rather vibrant and out there; I won't lie, they have been rather daunting to use and have intimidated my pale skin, hence why I haven't gotten round to reviewing them for ages. I was afraid that they would wash me out something silly. Once I finally overcame my fear, I gave them a bash, and ensured to use them whilst eating and drinking to put them to the test. One of the main reasons I eventually bit the bullet to try them is because I sell them at my work, and any time I stock up the makeup, the shelf where they are kept is quite empty, making me think they are a good seller.

45 Escapist* || I cannot pinpoint why, but something about this shade instantly attracted me to it. It's dark and mysterious, and rather vampy too. Being as white as snow, I knew it would wash me out but would look quite contrasting too. As it's so dark, you need to be really precise when applying - one wrong move and boom. It's an extremely dark purple, almost black, which is sure to reveal anyone's secret gothic side. It's really quite opaque but I still built it up because I was afraid that it would look streaky. One thing for sure is that it's a bold, daring shade which definitely makes a statement. This was the first shade I tried out, and although the shade is really lovely, I was kind of annoyed that it came off when I was eating; it began to flake away at the centre of my lips, but the rest remained in tack. Removing it was a whole different story - it just wouldn't come off. I must've scrubbed at my lips for a good few minutes, so there's no denying that it has a pretty good lasting power.

30 Romantic* || When I saw this one, I thought great, a shade which I may be able to wear on a daily basis without being too "in your face". I did bother me that it applies a bit brighter than the tube - I love the colour of the packaging so I was really hoping it would match but unfortunately, no. I finally got over this, and accepted it. It's quite a bright, neon pink shade which is out there. It's almost like taking an ordinary pink shade and turning the saturation all the way up, that's the easiest way to describe it. It's one to be worn with subtle makeup as opposed to bold, because it'd clash too much.

25 Heroine* || Typically, orange is a no go for me, it just doesn't suit me whatsoever. I'd say this lipstick is more on the coral side rather than orange. It's quite warm toned and in all honesty, I think it'd be much better to wear in S/S because bright, colourful lips are always on trend then. It's a wacky shade which to me, just screams confidence. I cannot decide if I like it or not, I think I need to experiment with it more in terms of makeup pairing etc.

 35 Creator* || Another purple, this time on the complete opposite side of the spectrum. This one is much lighter yet bright too; kind of resembling a dark lavendar/lilac. I quite like it because it's different to anything else I own, and it's a colour I could see myself trying out more. It's probably the most feminine and girly shade out of the four I have. I could see it being paired with thick winged liner and screaming girl power. I think though that after it dries on the lips, it does appear slightly darker compared to when it's first applied.

I like the formula of these lipsticks. They're creamy and thick, but not so thick that you cannot apply them. They do require a lot of patience however; because they're so vibrant, application needs to be perfect. Credit where credit is due, they are pigmented to the max. They are scented, I'm not sure what of, but it's sweet and I quite like it.

Apart from the fact I don't think I'll get loads of use out of them because of the bright colours, I do like these. They may patch slightly on the centre of my lip whilst eating, and are stubborn as hell to remove, they are quite decent lip products. Their range is vast and there's absolutely a shade available for everyone's skintone. I am aware that they do sell nude/light pink shades, so I might need to give them a whirl to see how they compare.

xx

*PR Samples

Wonderland Makeup💕*

Pretty makeup products will always be the reason I buy them. When Wonderland Makeup contacted me, I looked into them firstly, then had to say yes, because of a) their cute company day and b) the vast range of products available. 

Studio Finish Primer* - If a primer helps my foundation stay on my face, then I'll give it a bash. My current favourite is a primer water, so I was intrigued to using an actual primer again. I must admit, the texture is thinner than I had expected, and has got to be silicone based because it has a slight "greasy" finish to it, which means that a small amount definitely goes a long way. I particularly apply a lot more around my t-zone because it's this area I have most trouble with in terms of my foundation lasting. I love how smooth my skin is left, ready for my base to be applied. It helps it apply evenly and blends so softly too. So, how well does my foundation last? Actually surprisingly well! I always use pressed powder and setting spray to lock it all in too, but it definitely helps to prolong the length of time before needing to "top up".

Lash Lengthening Mascara with Fibres* - I love a good lengthening mascara, but one with fibres? I don't know if I like it; perhaps I'm clumsy but I feel as though I've always got fibres left in my eyeball after use. Maybe I'm paranoid. But that's the one thing that I don't like about this mascara. Apart from that, it's an ok mascara for an every day use - it's not super bold but it's enough to open your eyes. It certainly helps to length your lashes, and it catches every last lash. It's quite a natural mascara but in general, it's not my number one mascara.

I was also sent a glitter powder eyeshadow, which I haven't had time to trial out yet. I intend to feature it in an upcoming future post - watch this space!

For the price, the quality of Wonderland is quite impressive. I am in love with the primer, and it's my current go to. I hadn't heard that much about the brand beforehand, but I really want to share the word! I'm curious to their other products though.

Have you tried this brand?

xx

*PR Samples

Kick Off Your Skincare Routine With Bravura💕*

A strict skincare routine is crucial in my eyes. In order to achieve flawless makeup, you need a beautiful, blank canvas too. I do slack some days where I'm feeling tired and I'm too lazy to actually bother. On the whole, I'm not too bad, and one brand who I rely on to give me perfect results is Bravura London*. A skincare brand who caters all skincare types, are inexpensive and deliver high quality products.

Revitalising Ginseng Toner*; this toner honestly works wonders for my skin because as soon as I stop using this toner, I notice a massive change in my skin. It's so gentle on my skin and I feel as though it leaves it looking fresh and glowing. I love how clean my skin feels after using it. Apparently, it's a dupe for the Pixi Tonic and if there's a dupe, I'll give it a bash. Unfortunately I cannot compare it but I do know they're made with the same ingredients. This toner does have a slight scent but it's nothing too powerful.

Glycolic Acid 10% Peel*; The Bravura chemical peels are brilliant. They work well if you use one that's suitable for your skin type. This one fades any hyperpigmentation as a result of sun damage or acne, reduces appearance of fine lines, helps to exfoliate dry skin and reduces any breakouts. For me, the only thing it would do for me is reduce any breakouts, which I tried on my chin which keeps breaking out. It helped to dry them up which I guess is a bonus in anyone's books. Personally, I feel this is aimed more towards those with dry skin but hey, it's not a bad product!

Salicylic Acid Peel*; I've already got another bottle of this and I do love it. I find it works well with my oily skin as it helps to unblock pores, and I have a lot of this problem specifically around my t-zone area. My skin always feels squeaky clean and smooth afterwards. I also use it on breakouts, and I've found it works quite well. It doesn't sting nor burn which of course is vital.

Both of the chemical peels come with a dropper style packaging. I don't need to use a lot of product per use because a small bit goes a long way where this is concerned.

Azulene Moisturiser*; This is hands down my favourite product of the lot. It's the most beautiful, luxurious moisturiser ever and is just perfect for these cold, Winter months. It's thick but not too thick but isn't too thin either, so for me, it's an ideal consistency. My skin drinks it up and honestly, my skin looks super healthy whenever I use it. I tend to use it in the evenings because I prefer using a thicker moisturiser before I sleep.

I've actually reviewed some products more in-depth in a previous blog post which you can read here.

My love for Bravura hasn't decreased at all since I last used the products, and every time I use them, I fall in love with them even more.

Have you tried Bravura?

xx

*PR Samples

A Handy Multipurpose Product💕

Multipurpose products are just brilliant. They are a 2 in 1 which are handy to have - 2 for the price of 1 in some circumstances. One thing I love is highlighters. Wait, let me re-word that. I blooming love highlighters. Shimmer bricks are basically the quad version of eyeshadows as it contains more than one shade in the compact. Two I particularly love are the Seventeen Instant Glow Shimmer Brick*, and MeMeMe Shimmer Stack in Gold*.

The idea of shimmer bricks is that they are created with four different varieties of highlighter - you can either use the shades individually or mixed together. Being pale means I can only get away with using the first two, either together or themselves. The first two shades are gorgeous - light but glowy. They are more on the low-key side of highlighters - they are more natural looking as opposed to bright and blinding. Although you know I love my highlight to be striking, sometimes a subtle highlight looks better with certain makeup looks, especially those that are minimal (aka the "no makeup" makeup look). It's definitely more suitable to wear on a daily basis!

The other two shades? Too dark to use as a highlighter on my pale skin, however, this is where it comes in as a multipurpose product. Simply, I use them as an eyeshadow. I love brown and gold eyeshadows, so using these two is a brilliant idea. It looks beautiful as an eyeshadow and you wouldn't ever think it was a highlighter. Even though they are formulated differently to an eyeshadow, they still blend really well. The golden shade (the third one) is beautiful with a tan, so I imagine these two shades looking stunning on darker skin tones!

I actually took this quad with me on holidays because it meant that I had two highlighters to choose from but I also had eyeshadows with me too. No need to complain about room, eh? Not to mention that I've had many compliments using this quad as either eyeshadow or highlight.The texture of these as a highlighter overall has a buttery finish and blends dreamy.

Have you tried this quad? Any other multipurpose products I should try?