REVLON COLORBURST BALM STAINS

Since my early days of blogging, the Revlon Colorburst Balm Stains (previously known as the Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stains) were a firm favourite of mine, with Honey even reaching a holy grail status at one point. I treated myself to a trio on my flight home from Madrid for £16 (bargain)  and so thought I would revisit them for a full review.

I have three shades; Sweetheart, Rendezvous and Honey, all of which have become staple colours for me. Sweetheart is a bright pink, one I will be getting a ton of use out of in the summer months, and Rendezvous is a classic orange colour that actually suits me really well and fulfills my wants of an orange lip colour. Honey is a classic neutral mauve pink colour, that if applied too generously can look a bit ancient but with experience you get the right balance.

The formula is what I love, they apply so easily to the lips, and I never have any trouble with bleeding or uneven fading. These really do stain, so when that slight glossiness (which can be blotted down if you aren't feeling the sheen) has faded, you are still left with the strong colour - even my holy grail eye makeup remover struggles to get this off my lips sometimes.

I am looking to get my mitts on the rest of the collection, as well as trying out the Matte and Lacquer offerings which I am leaving too late to purchase (note: must go to Boots), so that I can compare the formulas...

HOLIDAY BEAUTY HAULING

First thing first (I'm the realest - I joke), you may be wondering why I haven't posted for almost a week, well, I was in Madrid soaking up the sun and hitting up the sights (as well as the shops), and now I am reporting back with a haul whilst trying to inspect whether I tanned or not.

Megan and I were on the hunt for a Sephora from day one and although I didn't get too much it was nice to experience a Sephora for the first time and pick a few bits. The first was the Sephora Honey Fiber Mask which I used the day I got it, and really want to try more sheet masks now. I also picked out a Soothing Facial Mist for the face as it was very hot which kind of made me buy it immediately, as well as buying the Waterproof Eye Maker Remover as the one I took with me on the trip was frankly awful. Last but not at all least from Sephora was Nails Inc Porchester Square, the cult classic, or 'hero shade' which cost me a tiny 6 euros - it would be stupid to leave it.

In Zara I got the Woman Cherry Perfume which smells so good, and for a 50ml bottle it only cost me 4.95 euro, and yet again it was a bargainous find. In a shop called Tiger which I think is in the UK too, I got some eyelash curlers and a spoolie for a euro a piece so I look forward to giving them a go. The rings aren't beauty but I got them from Bershka (as well as some other clothing... fashion haul?)

Finally, I spent the some left over money from the In Flight magazine, and chose the Revlon Colorburst Balm Stain/Just Bitten Kissable trio, containing Honey, Sweetheart and Rendezvous. I already had Honey but it was looking a little worse for wear and in need of a replacement, and I previously had my eye on one called Lovesick but Sweetheart is fairly similar and Rendezvous is just a nice summer addition to the lip collection and I don't really own many orange lip colours.

So, perhaps I need to refrain from spending for a while, as I do need to save for a trip to America later this year (hitting up the makeup shops once again), so perhaps a full spending ban is on the cards...

GETTING INTO GLOSSES

I have never been a gloss kind of girl, I prefer lipsticks all the way. But, recently layering a gloss on top of a matte lipstick, or even alone is becoming my new thing and I am loving it, and apparently the ones I have been liking come in pairs in my collection.

The first duo are from the Tanya Burr Lips and Nails collection which is really exciting. I have Afternoon Tea* and Champagne Toast*, a bubblegum pink and an orange-y shimmery nude. For me, none of these two colours suit me alone, but I have realised that putting them both on makes for the perfect shade.

I also have been really enjoying the Revlon ColourBurst Lip Glosses, in Crystal Water and Bellini. Crystal Water is a clear gloss with almost duo-chome shimmer particles that sometimes look blue, other times purple. Over a fuchsia pink lipstick this looks awesome. Bellini is a milky peach gloss, which over my MAC Faux Lipstick looks lush.

I also have been enjoying the GOSH Volume Shine offerings, in 04 and 07. 04 is the red, which I like to wear alone on the lips as a muted red with a slight orange tint to it in some lights. 07 is a brownish plum, which when in the tube I didn't think I would like, but on the lips (especially over nudes) it is a really nice colour.

What are your current gloss favourites?

THE RED-CORAL NAILS

When I don't know what to paint on my nails, there are three colour groups I will go for - either nude, mint green, or corals. As I was hunting through my (ridiculously large) stash, I found out that I actually have four corals that are pretty darn similar, some more affordable than others, and so I thought this would be a good post for those who want to get into the reddish-corals.

The first one you see is Ciaté Playdate which is more of a pink toned coral rather than the red-orange. The formula of Ciaté polishes is one of the best that I've tried as they last really well on me considering nail polish generally chips on me in about a day or two *cries*.

For more of an orange-toned take on the corals, we have Revlon Craving Coral, which is one of my favourites for my toes, and  can imagine I will be getting mucho use out of this one when the summer comes along and the sandals make an appearance.

Two that are very similar (almost identical on the nails - I've tried wearing both at the same time and there isn't any difference), are OPI Red Lights Ahead...Where? and GOSH Crispy Coral, which both sort of sit somewhere in the middle between the pink-toned ones and the orange-toned offerings. Fun Fact - the OPI one was actually my first ever OPI Nail Polish!

Something tells me that my nails will be seeing a lot of these shades in the warmer months... What are your favourite summer polishes?

LIP COLOURS FOR SPRING

When Spring comes around, I gain a little more confidence in the lip product department, and go for things that aren't nudes and neutrals. I don't go full out with the bold brights by any means (they are saved for summer), but the more balmy, hint-of-tint offerings are well used in my stash at this time of year.

The Revlon Lip Butter in Sweet Tart is one of my favourites of the bunch, as not only do I love the stunning medium pink colour, but the texture of this is amazing, its a thick, balmy, nourishing consistency which makes application a dream, and so a purchase of a few more in the range is on the cards.
One that is more of a lipstick than a balmy product is the Rimmel Kate Lipstick in 16 which is a peachy coral colour, with a finish that is nor glossy or matte, which makes it a little more suitable for the season.

The L'Oréal Rouge Caresse Lipstick in Aphrodite Scarlet is another favourite, which is a no-frills pink that finishes off a look in a swipe. Think, the Revlon Lip Butter, but with a slightly less pigmented look on the lips.
Another balm is the NYC Apple-licious Lip Balm in Apple Blueberry Pie, which is slightly more purple than the other bright pinks I go for but I have really been enjoying it recently - and I must add the apple taste and scent makes it even better.

Finally, one that I hated for such a long time but recently got into using is the GOSH Soft n' Shine Lip Balm in Irony, which is a slightly peachy orange. I normally have issues with oranges suiting me, but if I apply this one by tapping it on with fingers (the actual product is rather smooshed anyway), it doesn't look all that bad.

Writing this is making me want to scour the aisles of Boots to find some more brights in preparation for the warmer weather that everyone is hoping we'll be getting this year...

BRIGHT BLUSHES FOR SPRING

Another Spring-based post today, as will be the majority of my upcoming posts over the next few weeks, but today I am focusing on the cheeks, and in particular - blush. When Spring comes along, I like to crack out the brighter shades and add some colour to my makeup.

One that I'm sure you all hate me for banging on about on almost a weekly basis is the Topshop Cream Blush Duo in Up In The Air - a duo of a bright orange and pink with a cream to powder finish. Another heavily mentioned one is the Revlon Photo Ready Cream Blush in Coral Reef, a red coral which blends out to something a little more muted, with the same powder finish.

For a budget offering, the MUA Cream Blush in Bittersweet comes in at £2 a pop, and has a nice range of neutrals and brights. I particularly love this one as it is so bright in the pan and it really translates that candy pink colour onto the cheeks. Another MUA product is the Powder Blush in Shade 1 (which I'm not sure is still available), is a muted, powder version of the pink in the Topshop Duo. 

Last but not least, not only does the H&M Spring Flowers blush get points for the stunning pink-coral colour, it also gets the award for the prettiest packaging of the bunch. It's mostly matte, but that centre pale pink adds a hint of shimmer, but often I just avoid that if I want a matte cheek.

Blushes are quickly becoming my weakness, so we will have to wait and see which will be my purchased next...

THE SPRING POLISH PICKS

As Autumn and Winter leave us, and as Spring looks as if it is just around the corner, I have been ditching the vampy plums and reaching for the dainty pastels when it comes to polishes. There are definitely a few more types of colours I am looking to purchase, like pastel blues and pinks that are almost off whites - the L'Oreal new releases look promising. But, for now I have been enjoying using my current lineup.

An old favourite is the Barry M Gelly Hi-Shine in Greenberry. If it was possible to have a pastel mint green, with a hint of neon about it, this would be it. The formula scores full marks from me too - glossy and opaque. Stunning.
Who can resist a bubblegum pink? I certainly can't and Ciaté Candyfloss is the one I am loving. There's something about this milky pink that stands out among the rest of my collection of polishes that makes me want to paint it on my nails every day.
Another offering from Ciaté is Chinchilla, a powdery pale blue which looks really nice on my skin tone. The formula of this one isn't quite as good as my other Ciaté polishes, but I still love it nonetheless.

One that I never stop banging on about is the Revlon Colourstay in Provence, a dusty, slightly grey pale lilac, which I slap on my nails if I can't decide what to wear - it's basically my go-to.
I don't really like how oranges look on my nails, but GOSH Peachy* is slightly more pastel and muted, so I feel like it is one of the only oranges I enjoy wearing. I'm not sure if this is still available anywhere, but if it is, I recommend picking it up.
Finally, what would this post be without a true mint. This is the Rimmel Salon Pro polish is Peppermint, and it is the perfect blue-mint which has a great thick formula and I seriously don't understand why I haven't purchased more from the line because they really to rule.

So, that's what my pointers have been loving, but leave your suggestions of what to get for when Spring hits hard so I have my fair share of pastel lacquers...

P.S - This is my 200th post! *applause*

CURRENT BEAUTY CRAVINGS #1

Bourjois Happy Light Foundation // Revlon Matte Balms // Garnier Micellar Cleansing Water // Rimmel Scandaleyes Shadow Paint // Hourglass Ambient Lighting Powder // Bourjois Bronzing Primer // No7 Pop & Glow Cream Blush // Maybelline Brow Drama // The Balm Mary-Lou Manizer // Nuxe Reve de Miel // Rimmel Wake Me Up Concealer // MUA Luxe Lip Laquer //

Since I have been on my rather lengthy spending ban (only a week and a half left now), I have been going crazy over all sorts of products, new releases, and even the things that have been around for a while, but I just cannot wait to get my beauty fix once my spending ban is over - watch out Boots. It's time to share what I have been lusting after recently...

There's a few things complexion wise that I have been craving recently, one of them being the Bourjois Happy Light Foundation. I recently rediscovered my Healthy Mix Serum and it makes me want to try this one even more. Another is the Rimmel Wake Me Up Concealer, one which Megan keeps egging me on to buy, and I think at some point I will have to give in and purchase it. This No7 Pop & Glow Cream Blush jumped out to me on the Boots website, as it just seemed like a really quick product to swipe on your cheeks for a bit of colour.
The Balm Mary-Lou Manizer is the priduct that everyone keeps talking about at the moment, and it just looks so glowy even through the stock pictures that I want to reach out and touch it. Another glow-getter is the ever so hyped Hourglass Ambient Lighting Powder - I just feel like I want something a little more from my powder and this looks like it would give that. Finally on the complexion front is the Bourjois Bronzing Primer, and I don't know what it is, but something really intrigues me about this one.

Onto eyes, and I only have a few current cravings in that category. The first is the Garnier Micellar Cleansing Water, another product everyone is raving about at the moment. I have Lily Pebbles to blame for this one, as she is constantly hyping the Rimmel Scandaleyes Shadow Paint in Rich Russet, and it just looks like such a no fuss eye look. Lastly, the Maybelline Brow Drama has been on my wishlist for some time now, and for someone who has never tried a tinted brow gel/mascara, I am even more intrigued.

For lips, I'm sure you all saw the Revlon Matte Balms coming into this wishlist. In particular I am really interested in Audacious and Elusive, as I am getting into brighter colours. The Nuxe Reve de Miel Lip Balm is one of those products that I have been wanting to try for ages, but never got round to doing so. Maybe one of the boldest lip products I have ever wanted to try is the MUA Luxe Velvet Lip Lacquer in the colour Kooky in particular which is a purple. Yep, you read that right. I don't know why I want this, or when I would wear it but I always go into Superdrug hoping it's there.

Lets hope some of these cravings go away before my spending ban is over, otherwise we could be in for a rather large spend up...