Revlon Colorburst Matte Balm Review

Hey Lovelies!

As soon as i spotted these in my local Boots i knew i had to have them, its no big shocker really considering my love for all things matte in the lipstick department! There are 10 shades in the matte range and i had to pop into three stores to find the shades i was after, annoyingly it seems smaller Boots are stocking just 4 shades while the larger are only carrying 8. Which leaves the purple shade firmly out of my reach at the moment... Sigh.

I did get my paws on 3 gorgeous shades to share with you today! These are currently on 3 for 2 in Boots or £7.99 each (Superdrug currently have £2 off) so keep your eyes peeled for offers if you are after a few shades. The shades i picked up were Unapologetic - an extremely bright warm pink, Elusive - nudish (for me) lightish pink and Audacious - hot orange. I don't think i own anything like these in my collection!

Matte, oh how i love thee. I really enjoyed the balm stains Revlon released in previous years so was SO excited to hear of the release of these beauties. I'll make the obvious comparison now... These are very similar packaging, smell and texture-wise to the Tarte matte balms. I haven't tried any of the Tarte permanent range shades but i did get one of their gift sets around Christmas which contained 4 smaller sized balms and i feel these are very comparable. They both share a similar minty scent, extremely similar packaging and both have a lovely creamy texture. Surprisingly I've found the Revlon ones pack more of a punch in the colour department, but this may just be because they have a brighter colour range. If you're not after an exact Tarte shade these are a great inexpensive dupe.

I like to wear a balm underneath as with any lipstick but for a matte shade i don't find them overly drying, i actually find these a lot more comfortable on the lips than Mac Mattes or Retro mattes. They are pretty much opaque after two swipes and i find the application really easy with these sort of chubby stick style pens. I've worn Unapologetic for around 7 hours before needing a touch up, it even lasted through eating and drinking although it did look a little dry by the end of its wear. I even forgot at one point i was even wearing a lipstick, so these get a huge thumbs up from me!

 

Overall the Revlon Matte Balms are a massive win for me, but i am a little biased towards mattes. They are comfortable, they wear well and they are affordable. So far are my stand out drugstore product of the year! If you love mattes you really need to go give these beauties a swatch. I'll now be hunting down that purple until i can eventually get my hands on it, oh and possibly a couple more shades while I'm at it... I know they're a new release and its wishful thinking, but i do hope Revlon release more shades in this range!

Have you tried the Revlon Matte Balms yet?

What are your favourite matte lipsticks?

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xox

USA Drugstore Haul!

 

Heya lovelies. Long time no post!

Its finally here, the LAST of my USA hauls and this one is a bit big... I had quite a lot of fun raiding stores like Ulta, Walmart and Target whilst i was away (i got back well over a month ago now, *cry*). What hasn't been very fun is not being able to use half of it! I was determined to save it all for a haul and with University deadlines its been a bit tricky. So now i get to dig in and give this lot a good ol' test!

I'm going to try and not waffle on about products as much as possible or this is going to be one lengthy post. But as always, if theres anything you'd like a full review on, let me know through the comments.

 Hard Candy - Glow All The Way in Dollface - $8

Its so shiny! Such a lot of product for your buck, its a huge sized highlighter with a pearly pink glow and some glitter which I'm currently undecided on. Can't wait to test it out!

Revlon - Colorstay Foundation in Buff - $10
I do own a colourstay foundation already, but for once, its actually quite a bit too light. So i picked up another one in a darker shade as they were half the price they are here in the UK.

Neutrogena - Healthy Skin Foundation - Ivory $12

I'd been eyeing this for a while after hearing SO much about it online, i just couldn't resist.

 Hard Candy - Moon Glow $ Welcome Matte - $8

This is what happens when grabby hands come out in Walmart. I may as well have been doing a supermarket sweep run the rate i was picking things up. Oooh that looks interesting... *grabs* 

 Hard Candy - Glamoflague Concealer - $6

Another grabby hands purchase. Plus i was curious if this can really cover!

Maybelline - Dream Lumi Concealer in Radiance - $6

Probably my favourite discovery. I fell in love with this on my trip so much i hunted for them where ever i went and only managed to grab another two! Such a great brightening concealer for under the eye and pretty damn cheap too. This NEEDS to come to the UK!

 Lotsa lip products...

EOS - Lip Balm in Sweet Mint - $3

Another cliche holiday purchase...

Milani - Lip Flash in Hot Flash - $6
VERY similar to the Urban Decay Super Saturated lip pencils!  

Maybelline - Baby Lips in Grape and Cherry - $3

Yet another cliche purchase, i am a lip balm fiend!

Wet 'n' Wild - Mega Last Lipsticks in Coraline, Cherry Picking and Think Pink - $3

The BEST cheap lipsticks you can buy, ever. I LOVE my Mega Last Lipsticks!

Burt's Bee's - Tinted Lip Balm in Tiger Lily - $4

I did warn you... I am a lip balm whore.     

 

Wet 'n' Wild - Comfort Zone and Petal Pusher Palettes - $5

Another brand i just wish would hurry up and come to the UK. I already had a few Wet 'n' Wild palettes and trios at home and although they were either hit or miss, the hits were fantastic! So i picked up two of each and gifted the spares to the besties.

 

Hard Candy - High Maintenance Duo - $6

Oh how i love taupe. These are probably two of the most famous taupe drugstore shades on the web, so i had to snatch up both!

Cover Girl - Tapestry Taupe Eyeshadow - $4

This is the only Covergirl shadow i have ever tried and i am seriously impressed. Its smooth, buttery and the colour is absolutely stunning.     

 Ecotools - Retractable Kabuki - Bronzer Brush - $12
 My first ever Ecotools brushes. I have to admit i'd been a bit of a snob when it came to Ecotools in the past. They aren't the cheapest in the UK and cost around the same in pounds as they do in dollars. These were buy one get one half off in Ulta so it seemed the perfect time to snag a couple. The bronzer brush will be one of the first things i review because i am shocked at how amazing it is!

Real Techniques - Expert Face - Powder Brush - $10
So much cheaper in the states! These were also buy one get one half off so i grabbed a much needed back up of my favourite powder brush.  

Hard Candy - Fox in a Box in Truth or Dare and Hot Flash - $6

Their likeness to the Benefit boxed powders well and truly caught my eye, plus the colours are too cute. Packaging is pretty flimsy and its probably one of the worst brushes included with a blush ever, but I'll review these soon! 

NYC - Bronzer in Sunny - $3

As you can see i am one of those girls that sees things mentioned online and writes a little lust list... Then buys the lot at the first opportunity, haaa! Its a completely matte bronzer that i hope to use for contouring to make my beloved Laguna last a bit longer.   

Burt's Bees - Lemon Butter Cuticle Cream - $6

It smells like lemony heaven. I adored the smell but not the consistency of Lush's Lemony Flutter Cuticle Butter so after being recommended this by a good friend i went on a hunt, well i say hunt but it was pretty easy to find. I even found it in Boots when i got home... doh!

About a years worth of mascara...

Elf - Liquid Eyeliner in Black - $1

My favourite, cheap eyeliner. I managed to only find two while i was away but i am a little disappointed they seem to have changed the brush on this. It used to be a firm felt nib, but it now seems thinner and a lot flimsier so it takes a bit of getting used to.

Covergirl - Lash Blast Mascara - $6

Its so famous i had to give it a bash. I'd been using the waterproof version on holiday and it was okay so i thought i'd test this one out!  

Maybelline - Mega Plush Mascara - $6    

Was just curious about this one and better to be curious when you can get them at half the price.

L'oreal - Voluminous Mascara - $6

Again, curiosity killed my bank balance.

Almay - Get Up and Grow Mascara - $5

...And another one.

Maybelline - One by One Mascara - $6 

...

So... that's it!

That's the end of this haul and the end of my USA posts! As much as I'd love to carry on posting them, my bank balance wont allow it and I'm sure it'd get boring real fast. But again, let me know if you'd like a review of anything specific and I'm looking forward to posting some FOTD's with this little lot soon!

Whats your favourite high-street or "drugstore" product?

xox 

FOTD: Winter Is Coming

 Hey Lovelies!

 My blogs been choc full of hauls lately, so i thought I'd change it up a tad and share the look I've been wearing quite a bit over the past few weeks. I love the whole rock chick trend at the moment and I've been obsessing over anything studded and bold, berry lips! Its a simple look as I've been pretty lazy on the eyeshadow lately, which needs to change soon. I've not been brave enough to try a black, burgundy smokey eye, but that's next on my list!

Eyes:

MUA - Eye Primer

Elf - Black Liquid Eyeliner

Almay - Get Up And Grow Mascara

Anastasia - Brow Powder Duo

Lips:

Jack Black - Lip Balm 

Revlon - Kissable Balm Stain in Crush

Face:

 Darling Girl - Face Primer

Tarte - Amazonian Clay Foundation in Ivory
Maybelline - Dream Lumi Concealer in Radiance

Laura Mercier- Secret Brightening Powder

Nars- Laguna Brzoner

Mac - Lightscapade
Tarte - Amazonian Clay Blush in Flush

  

I really need to get some more stain like products, i love the Revlon Balm Stains, even though they are on the drying side! But i don't fear having clown mouth with them and they have superb wear time, love them!

Have you cracked any "wintery" shades out of your stash yet?

xox

Summer Lust List!

Slowly but surely i am determined to get some of these beauties in my life...

1 - Inglot Eyeshadows.
I am obsessed with my Inglot shadows and have been lusting after some new ones for what seems like forever (its really not that long, I'm just a drama queen). In particular i really want some more cool toned neutrals and a few pearl brights including shimmery limes and oranges!

2 - A Better Camera
I have none in particular in mind yet, just an upgrade from my current £50 bargain. Yes mine does the job (most of the time) but it would be nice to learn to take some better snaps with a nice new camera. Just nothing toooooo expensive.

3 - New GHD's
Not sure why, but lately my hair has refused to stay straight and has been returning to its usual wavy (and not in a good way) state within an hour or two. Which to be honest is thoroughly annoying! So these are at the top of my must buy list! Mine are about 6 years old and have taken a bit of a battering, so I'm eyeing a nice glossy new pair.

4 - Revlon Lip Stain Balms
There is a fair bit of American makeup on my written Lust List (yes, i actually keep a written list!) but as these are rumoured to be making an appearance in the UK next month i thought I'd include them! Although, i think i might do a shopping list post of all the American makeup i hope to get my paws on later this year!

5 - Darling Girl Cosmetics (all of it)
Okay, all of it may be a slight exaggeration, but hey! This website has been taunting me and my no buy for some time now and I'm not sure i can resist much longer! I've got my eye on tooooo many things on the website including shadows, glitter glue, lip products and multiple scents of their skin quenchers. Must, resist!

6 - Caudalie Beauty Elixir 

If you read blogs you'll know exactly what this is. Its stupidly expensive but somehow this has not put me off lusting over it. /sigh


7 - Dinair Airbrush System 

This is a relatively new lust. Do i need it? God no. But i really, really, really, really want one.
*Insert tantrum*

So thats it!
Lust lists are a rare post for me, but i thought I'd share some of the goodies that are catching my eye lately, and knowing my will power will probably be making an appearance on my blog some point in the near future!

Are you lusting over any products lately? Let me know!

xox

Oh look! Another Lip Butter post...

 Aloha!

Right, i'm going to keep this as short and sweet as possible as im sure you've already seen enough of these posts. I just had to share my favourites!

So unless you've been living under a rock you'll have heard a ton about these beauties. They are quite possibly the most awaited high street release of the year after they gained RAVE reviews in the USA. So i really couldn't resist.

Revlon's Lip Butters are a collection of reasonly pigmented, moisturising lipsticks. Although i think half the colours i picked arnt the best on the pigmentation side, they are gorgeous none the less, and perfect for not so confident lipstick wearers like myself. On the moisturising front, i didn't find them overly hydrating on the lips, but they are not at all drying and feel quite pleasent. They don't have the best wear time, i generally get about an hour or two out of them, but then again i am an awful lip fidget with my piercings.

So onto the swatches!

These are 100% my favourite high street offering for lipstick. Oddly enough my favourite is Peach Parfait, one of the less pigmented of the bunch. It just gives my lips a healthy peachy sheen that i adore! Lollipop and Raspberry pie are the more daring out of the four, with Berry Smoothie and Peach Parfait being on the more natural side. I'm a big fan of the formula as the glossy finish helps makes my terribly thin lips look a little more plump.

These are priced at £7.99 in Boots and Superdrug, and you can often find 3 for 2 deals in both stores.

What are your favourite shades?

xox