Rimmel 'by Kate' 107 comparison swatches

This is one of few highstreet lipsticks that have caught my eye in years, generally the formula's are disagreeable. This one is a nice purple-red colour, pigmented, satin finish though best avoided if you've got dry lips.

These Lasting finish lipsticks are posted every where at the minute so since I own a few purple shades I thought I would compare them in this post rather just swatch the one shade.

Left to right; YSL glossy stain #22 Prune Minimal, Rimmel Kate 107, 

MAC Media, MAC rebel, MAC Amorous

Left to right; MAC Amorous, MAC Rebel, MAC Media,

Rimmel 107, YSL #22 Prune Minimal.

Of all of these I like my YSL #22 and my MAC Media most, I'd describe them and the rest but the pictures speak for themselves really.

My Media is a sample from thebodyneeds2.com (if you're in the UK keep your order value, before shipping , to £15 or less and you won't pay duty or have it held up by customs). 

Nuxe Reve de miel lipbalms

Lip balms are hardly glamorous but are really essential most of the year round. So many lipbalms just put a layer over the lips that rubs off and ultimately do nothing. Enter Nuxe.

Nuxe Reve de Miel lipbalms.

I know having two might not make much sense but I brought the pot first however the pots only real down fall is that the product melts slightly in heat and gets a little sticky plus it's glass and heavy so I found a discount code and brought the stick version to keep in my handbag. 

The dent in the pot is from a cotton bud, my applicator of choice for the pot to keep it from getting under my finger nails. 

Performance wise their similar (both make lips feel soft and nourished) but the pot feels thicker, more luxurious and generally seems to last that bit longer. If you tend to just apply lip balm before bed to work it's magic over night the pot if definitely best for you but if you like to keep your balm with you then go with the stick just for convenice.

That being said the prices of the different types are also interesting, the stick has 4g where as the pot has 15g making the product in the pot half the price.

Stick - £5.50 = £1.37 per gram

Pot - £9.50 = £0.63 per gram

MAC Aurora Pigment

I've recently really taken a liking to pigments and loose eyeshadows and Aurora is the one I've been reaching for most.

MAC's Aurora Pigment

MAC's Aurora pigment

I love this colour, it's a combination of gold and a tan shade but perfectly wearable. I've been adding a hint or green eyeliner or matte purple smudged along above my top lashes for a quick hint of colour before collage in the mornings (I have to catch an 8am train 3 days a week, I have no time in the mornings but if I don't bother with makeup I look like death's rather grumpy minion).

Aurora isn't listed on MAC's UK site at the minute, I brought mine from the Estee Lauder outlet in Bicester/Oxford.

MAC Coral Bliss

It's no surprise by now that I love MAC lipsticks, they make up the majority of the lip products I own.

I brought Coral bliss hoping it would be similar to MAC's ever hip, it's a similar finish but they're not really close enough for a dupe. However it's still a nice peach/coral/orange coloured creamsheen.

MAC Coral Bliss

MAC Coral Bliss applied lightly.

If you try to build up high cover with this it clings to every bit of dryness and looks awful and moves around your mouth, you end up looking how the joker would if he'd gone off red.

Wear time, when you go lightly, is about 2-3 hours.

YSL Glossy stain #5 Rouge Vintage

I've fallen in love with these Yves Saint Laurent Vernis a Levres (aka. glossy stains). I only own two because they're just so expensive but more shall be mine... as soon as I can afford the pretties.

YSL Vernis a Levres - #5 Rouge Vintage

I love this shade, it's a lovely cream/gloss type finish in a rose color.

It does set darker on the lips than it is in the tube.

The trick with these is applying with the applicator and not touching your lips together for several minutes. The application can look/feel a little strange until these minutes have past, it definitely changes after this and last for hours.

Models Own notd

  

Here's my current nail varnish, one coat of Models Own Peacock green with one coat of Emerald City over the top. I couldn't get a picture of this that truely does the brightness of Emerald City justice.
I've had this combination on for less than 24 hours and there's already some tip wear so not the best lasting combination, I did use a basecoat but no top coat. As the nail on the left shows my nail painting skills leave alot to be desired.

So thats my current notd and i'm kind of loving the glitter

Halloween gore makeup, not for the squmish.

Recently I've been playing around with scar/nose wax so given that Halloween is coming up I thought i'd share a few pictures.

My first attempt with the wax, figured I'd start with the obvious cut.

Then I tried Freddie Krueger-esq cuts.

A close-up edit, I really love this picture.

Grazed knees, edited because it helps distract from my legs and brings out the red.

Fight makeup.
Contrast edited only, just to bring out detail and help with bad natural lighting.

And finally tonights playing around that inspired the post...
my first Joker scar attempt. 

I had real trouble getting the wax to stay still, it got too warm and didn't stay put, so it looks more uneven than planned.