Berry Lips

Berry-toned lip products have been catching my eye in recent months. Don't get me wrong, I'm still a big fan of the red lip but I've found berry shades much easier to wear during the day as well as in the evenings. I'm now of the opinion that there's a perfect berry lip out there for everyone and with that in mind I wanted to share my small, but growing, collection with you.

L-R: MAC Pro Longwear in Red Dwarf (LE), Illamasqua Magnetism, MAC Spice It Up!, Revlon Kissable Balm Stain in Crush, Rimmel Kate Moss Matte in 107

The first berry lipstick I tried was released in MAC's Daphne Guinness collection last year. It's a Pro Longwear lipstick in the shade Red Dwarf. I like this one because it's quite a light, warm toned berry shade. I prefer a matte finish when it comes to bold lip colours so Red Dwarf ticks that box as well. Sadly, it's no longer available to buy but if you like the look of it there are similar shades out there; I think it's universally flattering.

Next up is the much hyped Magnetism from Illamasqua. This was released in their Generation Q collection and it was one of those products I just had to have. It's a dark raspberry colour with a satin finish and can be worn lightly as a stain or built up for a more intense look. Unlike other Illamasqua lipsticks this one feels very comfortable on the lips. I really need to wear this one more because it's a beautiful lipstick. 

MAC Spice It Up! is a lustre finish lipstick from their core collection. I stumbled across it when I was looking for a dupe of my beloved (and not available in the UK) Revlon Fig Jam lip butter. Some might consider this shade more of a red than a berry but I see it as a nice compromise between the two. Formula-wise it's sheer and slightly glossy so it's a nice option if you're in a rush or not sure about wearing a more intense colour. I do find it to be a tad drying but I can live with it because I like the lipstick.

L-R: MAC Pro Longwear in Red Dwarf (LE), Illamasqua Magnetism, MAC Spice It Up!, Revlon Kissable Balm Stain in Crush, Rimmel Kate Moss Matte in 107

Revlon's Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stain in Crush has very quickly become one of my most worn lip products and I'd recommend that everyone give it a go! I like these balm stains in general but this shade is a great berry pink. The finish is slightly glossy and the staying power is excellent. 

The newest addition to my berry collection is a Rimmel by Kate Moss Matte lipstick in the shade 107. It looks a lot brighter on the lips than it does in the bullet but I love the matte finish. I've worn this a couple of times now and the staying power has been great. At only £5.49, this is the cheapest option on my list but it compares well with the pricier alternatives so it's worth a try if you're not sure you'll suit these sorts of shades.

One of the few glosses I own is Wild About Beauty's Nutrilips Gloss in Astrid. Admittedly, this was a total impulse purchase but I was so drawn to the colour that I had to have it. I've not had the chance to use this a lot yet because I find glosses in general a bit difficult and messy to wear, especially when they're as pigmented at this one but I do like the lightweight, non-drying formula. This product is very similar in colour to MAC's Red Dwarf. 

Are you a fan of berry lips? What are your favourite shades?

Stace xx

Worth The Hype? Revlon Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stains

I've decided to do a little series on the blog called 'Worth The Hype?' My aim is to do a post once a week about products or groups of products that receive or have received a lot of attention from the beauty community. I usually try to make sensible decisions when buying new make up but sometimes when a product is talked about so much, I just have to try it and see what the fuss is about!

This week I'm going to be talking about the Revlon Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stains which launched in the UK this summer. Despite hearing good things about these products from Stateside bloggers and YouTubers I told myself that I didn't need them. I wasn't a fan of the Clinique Chubby Sticks that everyone seemed to be comparing these to so I thought I'd save my pennies. 

However, I was in Superdrug one day and spotted the Balm Stains. They were on offer for £5.99 (and still are in Boots - link) so I swatched a few. They were so much creamier and more pigmented than I expected and reminded me more of the Tarte Lip Surgence pencils than the Clinique Chubby Sticks. So, of course, I bought one. I picked up Rendezvous because it was the shade that caught my eye; I love orange shades!

Rendezvous

I decided to give it a whirl the next day and the first thing I noticed was how easy it was to apply. I applied a few layers for the most intense colour and went about my day. I topped it up every three or four hours (after eating/drinking) with ease and by the end of the day my lips were still orange. More importantly, my lips weren't dry at all. I've used this quite a few times now and can safely say that I love it. The sweet minty scent/taste helps as well!

Crush

So I went and bought another shade; Crush. It's a medium berry-red shade which I think will be perfect in during the colder months of the year (which in Glasgow means September - July!) I've only tried this shade once so far but in terms of texture, pigmentation and staying power it performs exactly like Rendezvous. 

Rendezvous 

On a final note I want to mention the packaging. I should have mentioned that first but got a bit carried away!  I've become a bit obsessed with a variety of chubby pencil type products and find that they're particularly great when it comes to lip products. I have relatively thin lips and sometimes normal lipsticks are difficult to use if I'm in a hurry, especially if they're quite pigmented or bright. I like the fact the Balm Stains don't require sharpening, too.

Crush

Are the Revlon Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stains worth the hype?

Yes! 

Rendezvous, Crush

Do you agree?

Stace xx