Jumping On The Bandwagon: Rimmel Apocalips Lip Laquers

Hi guys and welcome to my new blog feature 'Jumping On The Bandwagon'. Like most beauty addicts I get drawn in to the hype surrounding new products, and whilst sometimes I totally understand the popularity, sometimes I can't help feeling a little disappointed. I have decided to start posting regular 'Jumping On The Bandwagon' posts where I will review some of the most popular, hyped up products on the market and I'll let you guys know if I really think they're worth spending your hard earned cash on.

(Top-Bottom: Luna, Big Bang, Nova, Apocaliptic)

As you have probably guessed, the first hyped product I am going to be putting to the test are the massively raved about Rimmel 'Apocolips'. The Rimmel website describes them as 'The end of colour as you know it. Invincibly smooth shine. Intense earth shattering shades.' But is this the case?

The short answer is yes. I have 4 colours in the drugstore lip laquers; 'Luna' a dusky Orange/Peach which reminds me a lot of my favourite Revlon Matte Lipstick in 'Smoked Peach', 'Big Bang' which is a bright true Hollywood Red shade, 'Nova' a bright Rose/Pink with blue undertones and 'Apocaliptic' which is a deep Raspberry/Fushcia and they are all insanely beautiful.

The texture of these lip laquers is like no other I have ever tried before. They are incredibly opaque in just one coat like a lipstick, but creamy and moisturising, more like a gloss. I honestly don't think I've ever tried anything, be that high end or drugstore, quite as impressive as these. 

(500 Luna)

(400 Big Bang)

(102 Nova)

(303 Apocaliptic)

All the swatches above are just with one layer of the lip laquers, I know incredible or what?! There are 8 shades in the collection and I am 100% going to be buying the rest of them, I have never been so excited about a new lip product. As someone with naturally dry lips these are just outstanding and have every quality I personally look for in a lip product; Opacity, longevity and a creamy, moisturising texture. And the best bit? They are currently on 3 for 2 at Superdrug, so that's 3 for just over a tenner, a bargain for such a high quality product if you ask me!

VERDICT: Worth the hype.

I hope you all like this new feature, let me know if there are any hyped products you would like me to review and I will happily do a bit of investigation, all in the name of research of course! 

Becca.x

Review - L'oreal Caresse Lipsticks

Today I am sharing with you some of my new favourite drugstore finds; The L'oreal Caresse lipsticks. Now I know they're old news, I remember people were going crazy for them around the same time as the Revlon Lip Butters blew up but for some reason I just never fancied dipping my toe in the water. Whilst I love moisturising lipsticks, I'm also a big fan of bold colour so I thought these tints might be a little wishy washy for me. How wrong I was.

(L-R: Cheeky Magenta, Dating Coral, Tempting Lilac)

The three colours I picked up were 'Cheeky Magenta' a suprisingly intense blue toned pink, 'Dating Coral' a natural looking every day coral and 'Tempting Lilac' a really wearable pinky-lilac. The packaging of these lipsticks is chic, sleek and expensive looking and the colour payoff is buildable to that of a regular lipstick, but with a more glossy, balmy finish. Dating Coral is by far my favourite, it is subtle enough to be worn every day but really helps brighten the complexion and make you look awake on those chilly mornings.

(Top-Bottom: Tempting Lilac, Dating Coral, Cheeky Magenta)

I am super impressed with these lipsticks. The formula, packaging and colour pay off is seriously admirable and I definitely prefer these to their drugstore rivals, the Revlon Lip Butters. These are the perfect lipsticks for work, keeping your lips nicely moisturised whilst maintaining a bright pop of colour. I've definitely got my eye on a few more of these bad boys.

Becca.x

"Drugstore" Lip Haul + Swatches

I've got a lip related post for you today, shock horror! I am seriously feeling this season's whole vampy makeup trend so I've been heading to Boots and Superdrug a lot to update my look on the cheap.

Superdrug have had 3 for 2 on all their makeup the past few weeks so I headed straight to the Sleek stand to pick up a few of their lipsticks. I am a massive Sleek fan, every single item I have used from them is incredible quality and the prices are such good value. I have to be careful when selecting lip shades as a good selection of them are matte which my dry lips do not agree with, although I know some people will love that. The colours I settled for in the end are 'Peaches & Cream', 'Cherry' and 'Mulberry'.

(L-R Sleek Lipsticks in 'Mulberry', 'Cherry' and 'Peaches & Cream)

(Mulberry)

(Cherry)

(Peaches & Cream)

All 3 lipsticks are in a 'Sheen' finish which means they glide on smoothly and have a subtle shine to them, I find the texture similar to a Mac 'Cremesheen' for reference. They are really impressively opaque and not at all drying on the lips, for £4.99 I don't really have a bad word to say. Props to Sleek!

I wanted 'Peaches & Cream' for the whole of Summer but it was constantly sold out, so I figured while it was in stock and on 3 for 2 I may as well pick it it up! It is the perfect creamy peach and intensely pigmented. I have naturally quite dark pink lips but I found the shade easily covered it up. 

My favourite of the 3 I bought is definitely Cherry. It is a vivid, deep red but different from any other red I own. It is darker than a true red such as Topshop 'Hazard' or Mac 'Ruby Woo' but brighter than your classic Autumnal berry red hue such as 'Dubonnet'. 

The final shade I picked up is WAY out of my comfort zone. 'Mulberry' is an extremely dark, blackened purple and to be honest, a shade I'm not sure I'd actually wear out the house. This is unusual for me as I'm not one to shy away from bold lipsticks but this is just that bit too close to black for me. It hasn't translated just how dark it is in the swatch on the lips as I had to use the flash due to our incredible English weather, but I think the swatch on the hand portrays better the true colour. Whilst this colour isn't for me, I still cannot say a bad word against it. It has incredible pigmentation, an excellent creamy texture, and if a super dark vampy lipstick on a budget is what you are after, I couldn't recommend this highly enough.

All hail Sleek!

I've also been desperate to try Revlon's answer to Clinique's Chubby Sticks, the 'Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stains' for so long and when I saw they were also on 3 for 2 I finally jumped on the bandwagon and got myself a couple, as well as one for a friend. The colours I picked were 'Crush' and 'Rendezvous'.

(L-R Revlon Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stain in 'Crush' and 'Rendezvous')

(Crush)

(Rendezvous)

'Crush' is by far my favourite of the two balm stains I chose. It is a beautiful deep, pinky berry colour that literally looks as though you have crushed a blackberry on your lips. The other colour I selected, 'Rendezvous' is a subtle wash of orange and will be perfect for summer time (forward planning!). 

The texture of the Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stains is very smooth and easy to apply and there is a nice minty flavour which is very fresh and not too sickly. The colours are sheer but extremely buildable, however the only negative I have to say is that when the balmy texture wears off, the colour left can become a little patchy and slightly flaky. This is nothing carrying round a good lipbalm doesn't solve and the stain really does last all day. For £7.99 I think Revlon are on to a winner and I will definately be picking up a few more shades, 'Honey' is next on my wishlist!

What are your favourite drugstore lip products?

Becca.x