Bare Minerals & Virgin: Upper Class Red Lip Colour

When you think of Virgin Atlantic, what's the first thing you think about?  Well, I normally see red, to be honest, the livery of the planes, the uniform, the  ...  lipstick?

Well, with that in mind, Virgin Atlantic have teamed up with Bare Minerals to create their perfect red shade, matched to the uniforms worn by all Virgin Atlantic staff, designed to last through long-haul flights and not be drying.  Initally it's available on Virgin Atlantic flights, and it's due to be released through Bare Minerals stores later this year.  Oh, and it's actually now part of the VA uniform, so it's the only lipstick the staff can wear!  Having worked for several years in the travel industry prior to becoming an accountant, there's actually nothing particularly new about this, lots of holiday companies dictate the shades of lipstick their staff can wear, but this is the first I've heard about a brand creating the shade in the first place ...

So, how does it measure up?  This is a gorgeously pigmented red, that slips beautifully over the lips, and stays put for quite some time.  However, it does fade, and it will give you the Red Ring Of Doom (the RROD - you'll see this acronym a fair bit over the next couple of weeks, btw) as it does.  

The applicator is a wonderfully flexible springy thing of beauty, but I do find that the wider bits at the base can lead to a slightly smudged application if you're not careful with it.

I find that you must (no ifs, ands or buts) wipe off the excess lipstick back into the tube, because if you don't, you will end up with a lipstick/teeth-type situation that you won't appreciate, but if you apply lightly, in layers, then you'll have a lovely glossy finish that eventually dries down to a stain.

  
This is a lovely tomato-red, it's actually fairly blue-based, but it pulls a little orange on my cool-toned skin. 

Overall, this is a good liquid lipstick, if you apply it carefully.  I like the shade, don't love the applicator, and like how long it lasts (again, if you apply it carefully), but how does it measure up to other red liquid lipsticks?  Well, I'll let you know that over the next two weeks, where I'll be comparing it to other iconic red liquid lipsticks (from Chanel, Beaute and Guerlain, for a start), and I'll keep you posted.

The Fine Print: PR sample.  From Bare Minerals, not Virgin Atlantic.  Dear Virgin Atlantic, if you're reading, I'm planning a honeymoon.  This is "not" a hint.  Okay, it is a hint.  I'm cheap, sue me. 


This post originated at: http://getlippie.com All rights reserved.

Bourjois One Seconde Gel Polish: Shades 3, 4, 5, 6, 9 & 15

(L-R: Shade numbers 6, 4, 15, 5, 3, and 9 Didn't realise they had numbers when I lined them up - sigh)

Whilst hanging around in Superdrug (you know, like you do) recently, I had my eye caught by these colourful little numbers!  Also, they were on 3-4-2, so it would have been rude not to pick up a couple or three.


My nails are horrendously ridged at the best of times, and I was intrigued by the gel-like finish promised by these polishes, I was hoping that they would give me a smoother-looking nail.  Oh, and they're pretty, so very pretty!  I'm not much of a fan of pastels, but Bourjois do a nicely saturated, not too white based selection of pastel shades normally, so I'm always willing to give them a try.

(L-R: 15, 9, 6, 5, 3, 4)

Most of the shades have a cream finish, aside from 15, which is a clear coral (which makes an excellent top-coat, to darken other colours), and 5, which is a coral with golden shimmer.  Here's a closer look at the finishes:

As to my ridge-filling requirements, well, I've been very impressed, I mentioned my nails are very ridged at the moment (no ideas why, alas), but I've found that these polishes have a nice, "cushion-y" finish, which minimises their appearance:

My ring finger in particular has the worst ridge on my left hand, and here you can see how smooth it appears here, I couldn't be happier!  The brush is a wide, flat and has a curved edge, meaning you can cover most of the nail in one stroke, I have a bit of trouble with this brush, as I have extremely narrow nail beds, but, once you get used to it, it's very easy to use.  The picture shows two coats with a topcoat, I found that two coats was more than sufficient to a) colour the nails, and b) cover any ridges.  The formula is a little on the thick side, so three coats might be one too many.

Bourjois have informed me that they're releasing more shades in this formula later in the year, and are including some metallics in the range, I can't wait!

The Fine Print: Some are purchases, some turned up on the doorstep AFTER I made purchases, thanks to the existence of the Nail Varnish Fairy. I love the Nail Varnish Fairy, she's a very nice ... um ... mythical being.


This post originated at: http://getlippie.com All rights reserved.

YSL Rouge Pur Couture Vernis À Lèvres or Glossy Lip Stains

 

I'm months behind on reviewing these, there was a lot of blog-love for these a few months ago, and, I can't deny it, I'm underwhelmed with them.  A bit.  The shades are lovely, and I adore the applicators, but ... I just can't get them to stain my lips for love nor money.

According to Twitter, it's my fault for making poor colour choices, but ... heck, I don't want to take the blame for a product not working on me, frankly! I have shades 3 (Brun Cachemire), 12 (Corail Fauve) and 5 (Rouge Vintage).

On initial application, the shades are beautiful, even the brown, which I usually find difficult to wear.  This is thanks to it's purple undertones, which you should be able to see here:

So, we have a brown, a coral, and a pinky-red.  I love the shades, and I love how they look on my lips.  Some people have reported that they're very drying, I've never particularly had that problem with them, but this is my problem with them:

Can you see the stains?  No?  Me neither.  They are there though, I promise you.  These are billed as a glossy lip stain, I get the gloss, which I love, and I adore how pigmented they are, but I find they fade unevenly, and ... well ... the stain part is just non-existent!

How did you get on with YSL glossy lipstains?

This post originated at: http://getlippie.com All rights reserved.

Plum by Mary Greenwell

Confession time: Mary Greenwell is one of my all-time idols.  Alongside Kay Montano, a young Get Lippie used to collect pictures of the looks these two women created for the likes of Princess Diana, all the Supermodels, and practically every celebrity you've ever heard of (and a few you haven't) ever since.  Both ladies are still going strong today, and Mary, in particular simply can't put a foot wrong as far as I'm concerned. 

Normally you'd expect a makeup artist's eponymous line to start with a makeup item.  A range of lipsticks, perhaps, or a perfect eye palette, but no, Mary's decided to go with a perfume, and it was, I have to say an inspired decision.

Plum by Mary Greenwell is ostensibly a fruity-floral (normally my most loathed perfume genre), but this is far more of a modern chypre.  To my nose it appears perfectly balanced, to the extent where I can only rarely pick out any of the individual notes, to me the perfume smells, always, perfectly of itself.  It's not too sweet, and I can't, in all honesty pick out any fruit in the perfume at all.  My nose just isn't up to it.The listed notes contain:

Top: peach, blackcurrant, plum, bergamot and lemon.
Middle: gardenia, tuberose, orange flower absolute, rose absolute and jasmine absolute.
Base: woods, sandalwood, oakmoss, patchouli, amber, and white musk.


Reading that list, you expect a screechy fruit-y marmalade-ish affair, which will dry down to a nothing-y skin scent at the end, suitable for teenagers of all ages. But lists of notes can be misleading, because Plum is a very grown-up affair indeed.  Sophisticated, and glamorous, even.  MrLippie likes this one a great deal.   

It's quite a perfume-y scent, in the style of Chanel No5, but without the shouty aldehydes at the beginning. I notice that the cunning Mary has styled the bottle after the classic flacon of Chanel, topping it off with a stylised gold representation of a plum that will do some serious damage to you if you're ever unlucky enough to drop it on your toe (take it from one who knows). 

Mary considers a spritz of fragrance to be the perfect finishing touch to a beauty routine, and, with this unashamedly feminine (not girlish) fragrance, I have to say that this is one of the better spritzes out there.  You can buy Plum from House of Fraser, or you can buy it direct from marygreenwell.com

The Fine Print: I won my bottle in a Twitter competition.

This post originated at: http://getlippie.com All rights reserved.

Burberry Lip Mist: Copper No. 202

The last thing I need is a new lipstick range to become obsessed by.  I mean, seriously it's the last thing I need.  I'm already a fan of Burberry cosmetics, even though it's taken me TWO YEARS to pick up a lipstick for some reason.

Packaged in the brand's signature print, it has to be said that these are some of the loveliest packaged lipsticks on the market - what can I say, I'm a sucker for a pewter casing!

I was sent Copper 202, and, I have to admit that my heart sank a bit when I opened it, as I find it incredibly difficult to wear brown-ish shades on my lips.  However ...

This lipstick isn't as opaque as it seems.  Much like my beloved Chantecaille Lip Chics (which are my favourite lipstick texture bar none), these are a sheer, almost-balmy  lipstick, but they are not lacking in pigment.

On my hand this is a rust-brown shade, sheer, but on the lips, it covers up my uneven lip pigmentation very well, and is a far more nude-shade than you'd expect from the bullet.  I really like it, it's nude, but not too beige so it doesn't make me look like a corpse.  It's extremely comfortable in wear, it feels thick and nourishing, and doesn't dry my lips out.  Like other sheer lipsticks, wear time is about average, around three hours or so, but it's not a real chore to keep reapplying with a lipstick like this, to be honest.

I adore the magnetised lid too, which means you can't put the top back on in the wrong position, as you see here. If you do try to put the lid on incorrectly, the top spins around till the magnets line up properly, and there are literally seconds of fun to be had sending the top spinning around and watching it settle.


All in all, this is a a lovely lipstick, and one I've been wearing a lot since it turned up.  Lovely texture, pretty packaging, and a nice colour.  :sigh: I'm going to need at least three.  Pink Heather and Field Rose next, I think.  Dammit.

The Fine Print: PR Sample. I HATE when a sample leads to unexpected purchases.  My bank manager is going to kill me.  Still, there's always the wedding account, hey?
 
This post originated at: http://getlippie.com All rights reserved.

Ark Skincare: Ark at Home

It's not every day you have an ARK Angel in your house, but a couple of weeks ago, I was privileged enough to have Shula Starkey, founder of ARK Age Aware Skincare giving myself and a few friends (both blogging-, and work-friends) an outline of how their new enterprise, ARK at Home, works.

A home-selling concept, essentially, you invite an ARK Angel along to your home, get a few of your mates together, have a glass of wine (or two, or fruit juice, if you're that way inclined), one of you gets a facial, you get a great introduction to a skincare brand, and a chance to test out many of the products for yourself, all in the privacy of your own home.

Founded in 1998, in Fulham, ARK is an all-British brand, dedicated to nasty-free skincare, with an innovative approach to skincare, having ranges of skin-care devoted to various age-groups, rather than individual skin concerns.  You select the range most suitable for your age, then customise it to your particular skin via a selection of targeted SkinResponse serums.

There are three ranges, Age Prepare (teens to thirties) Age Maintain (thirties to fifties) and Age Repair, which is for fifties and beyond.  Each range consists of a cleanser, moisturiser, mask and exfoliator, but you can also add in a "pre-cleanse" which is an oil-based product (and the one I happen to love most out of everything), for those times when you need a double-cleanse.  There are also bathing products and room scents, but the ARK at home concept really concentrates on skincare.

We really enjoyed our party- and we greatly enjoyed watching Product Pixie getting a facial! -  and I know that at least a couple of our party have made purchases since too.  


So, what's in it for you?  Well, as the host of an ARK at Home party, you get a free facial, and a free skin serum of your choice (if your guests make purchases more than £100, that is), and if your guests make further purchases, you get either half-price or free shopping from the entire ARK range!


All the ARK Angels are fully trained in both facial techniques, and the product range, so if you're thinking about a way to make a little money for yourself, then you might want to consider becoming an ARK Angel yourself- the outlay for the initial kit (and full training!) is only £99, and you make commission on sales made at any parties you might attend.  I admit, I've given it some thought since.


ARK products are top-quality (I wouldn't let just any brand through the door of Lippie Mansions, believe you me), and I think this is a lovely idea both for customers - there's no "hard sell", the products speak for themselves, for better or worse - and it's a great way back into work, to make a new career for yourself or just make a little extra bill-money in these straightened times.  Don't think I haven't given it a thought ...


If you want more information, then click the ARK at Home link.


The Fine Print: My ARK at Home party was arranged by PR. Literally, I did nothing.  I'm a TERRIBLE hostess.


This post originated at: http://getlippie.com All rights reserved.

Lipstick Storage

I have a lot of lipstick, and I like to keep my regular favourites close to hand, so this Muji storage system is on my desk at all times, filled with a selection of favourites.  I tend to do my face and eye-makeup first, then pick whichever lipstick suits my fancy on a particular day, sometimes it's a bit hit and miss, but hey, you have to mix things up for yourself, don't you?  

There are a selection of colours, shades and textures, everything from clear balms, to full-on opaque RED lipsticks (of which there are more than a couple) and stains.  I never know what mood I'm going to be in from day-to-day, so I like to have a proper choice around.

How do you decide which lipstick you're going to wear every day?

This post originated at: http://getlippie.com All rights reserved.