My top ten brushes

(Okay, it’s not actually going to be a top ten.  It’s not even going to be a top seven, as pictured, it’s a top eight – I’m a photographic-doofus, sorry!)

During Foundation Week recently, I mentioned my flat top kabuki brush a lot, and people on Twitter were asking me about my favourite makeup brushes as a result.  I’m not  a brush expert though, and many of my brushes are very, very old, but I do find myself reaching for a couple of classics over and over and over again.
In the same order as the picture:



This is an old – a very old – MAC 218SE, a flat, animal-hair eye brush that is perfect for colour-washes.  It’s a very soft, silky feeling brush that grabs powder shadows well, and is great for blending.  I use this to add the base colour of whichever eyeshadow I’m wearing for the day (I tend to only use two different eyeshadow shades in most of my makeup looks).


This is a Benefit “Talent” brush, which is the one I use for applying cream eyeshadows.  It’s flat synthetic brush, which is a bit less “grabby” than the 218, it doesn’t pick up powders as well, but with a cream, it deposits a smooth veil of colour on the eyelid.  The rounded edge doubles up as an eyeliner brush, though it’s a bit wider than the eyeliner brushes I’ll talk about later.


This is a very old Smashbox “pencil” or “bullet” brush, which I use entirely for defining the my eyelid crease, which is where I wear a darker shade in 80% of my own makeup looks. I find this technique makes my lids look less hooded.  Lots of companies make brushes like these now, but when I first got this one, around ten years ago, it was revolutionary!  This and the 218 are the two brushes I use on a daily basis almost without fail.



This is the infamous flat-topped kabuki brush which is my latest obsession!  I received it in a swap from a lovely  US reader, and it’s had a centre spot in my collection ever since.  This one is from ELF, and it’s a round, densely packed brush, which is great for picking up liquids.  I put foundation on the back of my hand, dab the brush into the liquid, then “buff” it very gently into my skin.  I find it leaves an almost perfect airbrushed kind of effect when I use it.  I much prefer it to the flat “hard” foundation brushes (similar to the Benefit brush above, but larger), which I find can leave you a bit streaky.

It also works really well with powders – it’s a very soft synthetic, brush – and doesn’t leave you with a cake-y effect when you use it. I bought a back-up of this for powders.  For £3.50, this is a bargain!



This is a MAC 266SE, which I find to be ideal as an eyeliner brush, in particular for using powder eyeshadows as eyeliners, which is something I do a great deal, to the extent that it’s a very rare day indeed when I use a pencil-eyeliner at all!  This brush is great because it’s fairly stiff, so it doesn’t splay when you press it against your eyelid, and unlike many cheaper versions, it’s thin enough that if you’re going for a very subtle thin liner effect you can do it.  I also use this for putting powder shadow on the waterline, which of course, I cannot possibly recommend anyone does, ever, but I do do it occasionally.  Allegedly.


This is a MAC 224SE, which is a very soft, very fluffy synthetic brush that I use for blending.  Especially useful since I started using Urban Decay Primer Potion on a daily basis!  Doesn’t rub and tug your skin so much as using your fingers does.


This is an ELF smudge brush, which has short, quite stiff (but yielding) synthetic bristles, it’s the most recent addition to my brush collection, and it’s one I like a great deal – in fact, it’s another one I have two of.  I use one for cream or gel eyeliners, I prefer it to the 266 for those, as there is less surface area for the product to dry out on as you’re applying them.  It’s also very good for tightlining, which is something I like to do to my upper lashes upon occasion.  I use the other one for cleaning up my cuticles after a messy manicure.  Again, excellent value from the people as ELF.

And last, but by no means least, my blush brush, which is a MAC 129SE (all my MAC brushes are special editions, I much prefer the shorter handles):


It’s not the greatest blusher brush in the world, it’s slightly too scratchy, but it does give a nice soft finish to blush, when it’s applied.  Whenever you see me use Cargo illuminator, I’ve used this to apply it, as it doesn’t deposit the colour in clumps as some brushes can.  I also have a denser animal-hair brush from Smashbox, which gives heavier coverage, and as a result, I mainly use that one for contouring.  Which I don’t do often.

As for looking after my brushes, I tend to wash them with a brush cleanser or shampoo on a weekly/monthly basis depending on how often I’ve used them, and I give them a quick clean on a cleansing wipe immediately after using them on a daily basis.  My advice basically is to  spend whatever you’re happy to spend on brushes, (and if that’s nothing, then so be it! Make up is all about finding out what suits you, and that applies to application methods as much as colours and the like), but whatever brushes you have, look after them!  The vast majority of my brushes are around ten years old (some are even older, I have a Body shop brush here that’s got Barbara Daly’s signature on it!), but if it weren’t for the worn off numbers, and slightly chipped handles, you’d never know.

What are your favourite brushes?  What have I missed? What2 brushes do I absolutely need to make up my top ten?

Organic Wednesday - Neal's Yard Wild Rose Elixir

I've mentioned Neal's Yard a few times before, I'm a big fan of their distinctively packaged, gloriously scented and usually highly natural products.  When the chance came up to take a look at their new Beauty Elixir, which is part of their Wild Rose range - I already own the balm, and the facial oil in this range too! - I jumped at it. 

Here's what Neal's Yard say about the product

A nourishing radiance boost for ALL SKIN TYPES

Luxurious new Wild Rose Beauty Elixir is enriched with wild rosehip oil, one of nature’s richest sources of antioxidant vitamin C, proven to help repair, firm and smooth the skin, ultra-moisturising hyaluronic acid, brightening turmeric, an anti-ageing peptide and the pure essential oils of frankincense and geranium. Use morning and evening after cleansing for radiantly glowing skin.

Then, once it arrived, I kicked myself quite thoroughly, as I realised I was already committed to trying out 42, 135,438,431,518 squillion other facial products so I did the decent thing and handed over the £42.50 bottle over to my friend Sarah.  Here's what she had to say about it:

"I'm not really one for make-up routines. My skin's lucky enough to have the makeup washed off it at the end of the day. So when Lippie asked me to test this Neal's Yard Beauty Elixir, I went a bit blank.

Me: "OK, I like Neals Yard. The bottles are pretty. What do I do with it then?"

Lippie: "It's a serum"

Me: "Uh..."

Lippie: "Just put it on before you apply moisturiser"

Me: "That's the greasy stuff in the jar that you made me buy, isn't it?" <-- well, I would have said that, except Lippie had THAT look on her face, so I nodded wisely instead.

Lippie: "Take a picture of your face before you start, then one about a week later, and tell me how you get on. Simple! Now pour me another glass of wine if you know what's good for you..."

I do know what's good for me, and arguing with Lippie isn't. 


I'm 43, with unevenly pigmented, ageing combination skin. It used be a zit factory; now it's just slightly dry.

The serum comes in a pretty, blue, typical Neals Yard bottle. I couldn't see an ingredients list, but the ads seem to imply that it has some kind of rose hip extraction. I suppose that means that it's Good For You. A bit of explanation about what the rose hips actually did for my skin that other plant extracts don't (apart from making it smell purty) would have been nice. I mean, does it calm the skin? plump it up? eliminate blotchiness and at least three of the Six Signs of Ageing?? (It's 10 Signs of Ageing now, do keep up - Ed)

Eventually I found some instructions in a corner of the label, which said, "Apply with fingertips in a circular massage motion".

There was no indication as to how much, so I experimented with two drops.The serum was cool and velvety on my skin, and absorbed after a few rubs. On the hand it felt quite rich, and smelled faintly of roses. My face looked considerably pinker after application, but calmed down after a few minutes. On went the usual winter face, and off I went to work.

Looking in the mirror after two weeks of daily treatment, I'd say that my skin is still unevenly pigmented, but ever-so-slightly pinker, clearer and smoother to touch. Clear smoothness: good. Extra pinkness: not so good. The pre-menstrual breakouts were fairly minimal too, though whether this was down to the serum or actually following a proper moisturising regime, I couldn't say.

As for the price tag; £42.50 is more than I would pay for any kind of moisturiser, especially one that may or may not work. It smells pretty and didn't burn my face off, so I'll probably continue using it until the weather brightens up a bit and I only need a bit of tinted moisturiser to loosen up my face. But I don't think I'll be rushing to replace it when/if it finally runs out."

Okay, whilst this possibly isn't the most glowing review ever (and, I remember the conversation somewhat differently, iirc the wine reference came a LOT earlier!), but, I will say this, I had dinner with Sarah last night, and she was glowing.  I could see the difference in her skin, even if she couldn't! If I could guarantee my skin would look as good after a couple of weeks use, I'd have snatched the bottle back there and then!

Organic Wednesday - A'kin Rosehip Oil

Two organic posts for you today!  First up, A'kin.

Part of the Australian Purist Company, A'kin promises the following about their products:

[A'kin] and [Al'chemy] products are formulated free from sulfates, parabens, ethoxylated and petrochemical cleansers, propylene glycol, silicones, phthalates, mineral oils, DEA and artificial colours.Our products are ingredient rich, vegan, 100% natural botanical aromatherapy and formulated without animal ingredients or animal testing.


I'd heard a lot of good things about their rosehip oil - rosehip oil generally is considered a great skin-loving ingredient, plus, I have very fond memories of snaffling my baby sister's rosehip syrup as a child, so was looking forward to trying this.  I used it for a couple of weeks, and found it to be a lovely moisture boost to my dry skin, but my friend Seona was looking to try some oils that had some therapeutic benefits after a disastrous trial of an oil-based cleanser, so, being the kind-hearted soul that I am, I passed my bottle along.  Here's what Seona made of it:

I was given A’kin Rosehip Oil to trial. The bottle tells me it has Pro Vitamin A, Vitamin E and Omega 9,3 & 6. It also says it’s revitalising, brightening and restorative. I’m always look for a bit of revitalisation for my skin, so I was looking forward to trying it.


The recommendation is to apply 2-3 drops to the face and neck, once a day for oily/combination skins or twice for other skins. I tried to use it twice a day for the first week, switching to once a day for the second week as I am just not organised enough and my skin is combination.

The oil itself is bright orange, which I wasn’t quite expecting as the bottle is tinted brown so you can’t see what you’re getting. This isn’t fragranced and smells of, well, plant is the best I can do. It’s not an unpleasant smell, just a very natural one. The packaging is a medicinal looking glass bottle with an old-fashioned dropper with rubber top. The dropper does collect a lot of oil in it, so I generally squeezed most of it straight back into the bottle to avoid accidentally using too much. That’s probably overcautious of me as the dropper does only dispense one drop at a time, making it very easy to control the amount you use.

A little of this goes a very long way, so the 2-3 drops direction is about right. I was pleasantly surprised by how quickly it absorbs, especially as I was using it in the mornings and worried I’d have to wait ages before applying make up. It sank straight into my skin and I could apply my tinted moisturiser almost immediately.

Results wise, I can’t say I noticed a massive change in my skin. My skin certainly felt soft, but it looked much the same as always. However, I do like this as a winter base for my tinted moisturiser. I felt like I needed a little extra moisturise and after applying the oil my moisturiser went on a lot smoother than without any sort of base. The other good point, and this isn’t on the bottle at all, but my hands looked a lot better from rubbing the excess oil in. Using this oil regularly meant all those little bits of loose skin around my fingernails disappeared, leaving me with much nicer hands.

Overall verdict: As an extra layer of moisture in winter I’d use this product, it was a nice extra boost. It just didn’t do much in the way of revitalising or brightening for me. Having said that, I do have fairly good skin and it might work better for someone with dryer skin than mine.

So there you have it, have you tried A'kin products, or rosehip oils on your skin?  How did you get along?

A'kin products are available from Wholefoods, and independent chemists.

The Small Print: This product came from my own collection, all reviews are honest and impartial regardless of the source.  Man, I could murder a Malteaster Bunny right about now.

Giveaway Winner!

Oh, I'm so pleased to announce that the winner of my recent OCC Liptar giveaway is ....


Silhouette Screams

Congratulations, lovely!  The winner was picked as follows: I asked MrLippie for a random number between 1 and 206 and he picked 176, which was Silhouette's second entry into the draw for being a follower.

Thank you so much to everyone for taking part, and don't forget there is still time to enter the draw on London Beauty Review  or place an order on The Make Up Artist Boutique with your Get Lippie discount code of LIPPIEOCC up until the 23rd March.

Normal blog-posting service will occur from Wednesday this week, thanks for bearing with me!

Happy Mothers Day!

There's no makeover this weekend, as I'm on holiday, so, in the meantime here is a picture of some giant daffodils, and some soothing music.

Incidentally, my giveaway is now CLOSED, and all entries/comments are now being rejected, so please, STOP ENTERING! The winner will be announced tomorrow.

Hope all my readers have a wonderful Sunday!

Giveaway Reminder

Just to remind you that if you haven't entered my OCC Lip Tar Giveaway yet (you can win your choice of the colours above!), that I'll be closing it at midnight tonight!  Posts left after this time won't be counted, even though I'm not making the draw until Monday evening.

Go leave a comment on this post and I'll make sure you're entered.

If you've missed the deadline for mine, then you can enter  the giveaway that's being hosted by the lovely and amazing Gemma and Sarah over at London Beauty Review (and if you're not following them already, why not?  Did I mention that they're lovely and amazing?  I should have, because they are!) which closes on Saturday 20th March at 12 noon prompt.

And if even that seems too much effort, then you just go and blimmin' well BUY yourself one or twelve, but don't forget to use your discount code!  Just enter LIPPIEOCC  at the checkout on the MakeUp Artist Boutique website, and they'll knock a lovely 10% off your entire order, just for you, but only till the 23rd of March, so get a wriggle on!

Good luck!

The Small Print: I am not affiliated with Make Up Artist Boutique, and recieve no payment either for these posts, or if you click any of the links contained within this post.  I may, however, have placed an order myself, so I'm actually LOSING money on this one ... ;)

Lip Balm Roundup.

I've been collecting lip balms again! I know I do a lip balm post seemingly every other week (there is a reason the blog is called Get Lippie, you know ...)  but the last few have concentrated on more natural ranges, and I thought that this week that I'd talk about some which are chock-full of chemicals and science an' t'ings. 

I'll do this in ascending price order, first off:

Malin+Goetz Lip Moisturizer (It's American, mmkay?)

What they say:

Scientifically synthesized to instantly restore and replenish, our hydrating lip gel is easily integrated for daily maintenance, prevention, and treatment of dry, irritated lips.  Absorbent fatty acids, unlike traditional oils and drying waxes and silicones that are often licked off or wiped away, nourish upon impact while offering a continual layer of hydrating protection throughout the day and night.  Fragrance, flavor and color free.


What Lippie says:

Putting aside the rather unappetising descriptions of "fatty acid hydration technology" on the packaging, this is actually a knockout lipbalm, you need only the tiniest amount of this silky-textured gel to soothe even the sorest of dry lips.  Applied lightly, it makes a great base for lipstick, and it's one you can instantly feel doing your lips some good.  It's unusual in that it's not a grease-type of balm, and it's totally non-sticky.

A little of this really goes a long way, so you can expect your £9 tube of this from Liberty to last quite some time.

Now for Dior Addict Lip Glow

 What They Say:


A balm which beautifies and enhances your natural lip colour, with a lasting effect. The result is immediate. Thanks to the “Colour Reviver” technology, Dior Addict Lip Glow reacts to the lips’ moisture levels for lips that appear rejuvenated, fresh, luscious and shiny.
Available in one shade, the SPF 10 formula, enriched with wild mango, continuously protects and hydrates.
Lips are soft and plumped, day after day

What Lippie Says:

80's-tastic packaging, or what?  This is another flavourless non-sticky gloss, but it's more traditionally "grease-based" than the Malin+Goetz formulation.  I find the colour effect to be very subtle, just leaving the faintest hint of baby-pink on my lips in a way that's really quite flattering. It's not at all dramatic though. It's not as good a treatment as the M&G, but it is quite moisturising, though the effect doesn't last all that long.  I suspect it wouldn't be as great for sore, or chapped lips as other balms, but it does have an SPF of 10 (not 15 as I was told in store).  It has a very soft texture in the tube, and I think it wouldn't last all that long in daily use, as you have to reapply it quite often.  Nice for a soft subtle look to your lips if lipstick and/or gloss just feels like too much effort.

Lip Glow costs £18.50 and you can find it in most department stores.

And finally:


Kaplan MD Lip 20

What they say: 

This is a lip treatment with a difference. LIP 20 is the first dermatologist developed lip treatment designed to moisturise, plump, contour & protect with SPF 20 - all in one. This lip balm is enriched with anti-ageing marine collagen, peptides and antioxidants, vitamin A, Black Cohosh, Seabuckthorn Berry extract. In addition, Hyaluronic Acid Filling Spheres are micro-injected into the lips to fill out lines & plump. Unlike most plumpers this doesn't irritate, it gradually builds your lips

What Lippie says: 

This one is so scientific that it took me a fair few minutes to figure out how to open the thing (you turn the bottom, the cute little lid slides up, then the balm pops out).  Seriously, I've been stumped by an Estee Lauder mascara tube recently, then this, and the other day, I couldn't figure out how to open a cardboard box. Either this means that designers are getting too clever for their own good, or I really am a cack-handed muppet.  I know which explanation I prefer ...

Anyhoo, onto the balm.  Unlike the other two this is a plumping product.  It definitely lives up to the "no irritation" claim, as you can't feel any cinnamon or peppermint oil on your lips whilst wearing and as a result it doesn't have that familiar "tingle" that you get wearing plumping glosses. It does have a flavour, albeit a very faint one.  To me it's very slightly sweet and the taste makes me nostalgic for ... er ... something! It's a flavour that reminds me of my childhood, for some strange reason, but for the life of me, I can't figure out what it is! It's driving me nuts, I don't mind admitting. Lip 20 also has an SPF of, you guessed it ... 20.

I have fairly plump lips anyway, so I don't use it for it's plumping effects - you can definitely feel you're wearing this one, out of the three balms here, this has the most slip on the lips - but it's a very glam, and almost sci-fi tube that'll have people marvelling at you when you use it in public. In a good way, I mean, not in a "look at that weirdo putting on lip balm" kind of way! I have the clear version, but I've heard extremely good things about the coloured versions too, there are four shades, from nude through to red.

You can get Lip 20 from - again! - the lovely, lovely people at Cult Beauty, and it retails for £22.50.

I always have a lip balm in my makeup bag, and I bet you're wondering which one of these has made it into that hallowed container, hmn?  Well, in sad/mad/bad (delete as applicable) confession time: they ALL have. My makeup bag always has about twelvety million lip products - and the occasional eyeliner wondering how the hell it got there - and all three of these balms are in there, I've been rotating their useage.

How many lip products do you carry around with you?


The Small Print: I bought some of these with my own actual money, and I was sent some of these to review.  I'm not going to tell you which is which, so ner.