fruitybeauty

Some Current Cherished Beauty Products: June 2013

Because why not?

I love them, I am gibbering about them to friends and strangers alike (my taxi driver was VERY rude when I was busy explaining the benefits of a gel blush stain, it was almost like he didn't care at all) so they must be pretty cherished.

SMASHBOX CAMERA READY CC CREAM SPF 30

I was banging on about this at the Amazing Face Masterclass* Wednesday night. Why I like it, is because like a (good quality) BB cream, it's far more skin-perfecting and gives more coverage than a tinted moisturiser, which is essentially just a face cream with some tint. You see, a BB or a CC cream works to make sure your skin looks even-toned and perfect (as well as providing some sun protection and priming qualities depending on which you buy), it's far more cosmetic.

And a CC cream, (stands for colour correcting) works even HARDER to even out and perfect your skin. Which is terrific for someone like me with brown spots/pigmentation... or someone who has redness, or someone with sallowness or even some post-acne scarring, say. It just makes everything look... better. But not like you're wearing a kilo of makeup.

The coverage from the Smashbox CC is light-medium, and the finish is healthy, but not shiny. The texture is quick thick, and I apply it with my fingers, or a brush so I use only what I need, and get precise coverage.

I use alone on clean skin, unless:

- My skin is thirsty or I am going to be outside for more than 30 minutes, in which case I add daily moisturiser with SPF underneath (The sun protection is actually more than token with this CC! Imagine that.)

- I want more coverage, in which case I blend with some foundation, or add foundation on over the top in certain areas.

Like many BBs and CCs it claims to fade/brighten dark spots over time, but I have my serious skin care for that, I'm more interested in the instant and cosmetic effects.

I was also just sent the new Clinique Moisture Surge CC Cream SPF 30 Hydrating Colour Corrector, (let's just call it "their CC cream") which is copping some sweet reviews overseas, so I will try that out and let youse guys know on a standard bomb rating, just how much of the bomb it is.

 

ESTEE LAUDER PURE COLOR CHEEK RUSH IN POSE ROSE

Cheek stains can be terrifying.

BUT, if mastered, can become quite the addiction (cue Benetint/Posietint/Chachatint) due to their lasting power and the way they sink perfectly into the skin, rather than sitting on top of it. Also, they make for a gorgeous flush of colour on the cheeks when dabbed on with ones' index finger.

Application tends to be where people come unstuck. Best used over liquid products (they can drag and mess up on top of powder) fingers can get real stained, and sometimes leave blend lines. But blush brushes are too dense. I use a synthetic stipling brush for all my creme/gel/liquid cheek products because it is so soft, and so good for quick buffing into the skin.

To be specific, I use the MAC 188 brush:

 

And after squirting some of this fun, translucent pinky gel onto my wrist (to be VERY quickly scrubbed off post cheek application), I dab my brush into the gel, then swiftly work the gel into the fleshy part of my cheek, taking it up and back towards my temple for a youthful, uplifting fresh pop of colour that will last until the very last season of Two and a Half Men in 2019. See? 

 

 Like I've been out for a play in the leaves. Lovely.

*It was a one off. But it was very successful and fun, so maybe we can do more. I will let a dame know.

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With regards to BB creams and CC creams.

Best CC-creams

Australian Beauty Best-sellers: Priceline, part two.

Unfurl the sails, polish your pegleg and adjust ye eyepatches, for 'tis time for part two of Priceline's best makeup sellers from the past 12 months!

(Part one is here.)

 

BLUSH: Models Prefer Blush in Desk to Date

Ah yes, the $10 princess of Priceline. Model's Prefer is unique to Priceline and seems to be doing AOK as this exposes. This corally-goldy-pink, (slightly shimmery, (could possibly be a little too glitzy for some daytime wearers) and very highly-pigmented (be sure to TAP OFF your brush before applying to face) blush gives a terrific burst of cheek fun.

MASCARA: Max Factor False Lash Mascara in Blackest Black

If you are the kind of dame who likes limp, thin lashes you will fucking hate this so hard. Because it gives TREMENDOUS volume and lots of thickness and length, and while I am a strict tubular mascara fan during the day, I love cracking this mascara (or CoverGirl Clump Crusher) out at night.

LIPSTICK: Rimmel Lasting Finish by Kate Moss in Coralicious

FINALLY the coral-orange lipstick thing I have been banging on about for years is starting to really sink in. Well it must be if the number one lipstick is a coral. Come on. Just agree with me, it will be easier. This is more of a red-coral than a peach-coral which actually makes it more flattering/wearable for more women,  which is nice. Not drying, either.

LIPGLOSS: Revlon Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stain in Honey

I make it no secret these are some of my favourite lip colours. Generally have two in my bag at any one time (speaking of coral which I was just above, my favourite orange colour of these is now in Australia - Rendezvous). This shade, Honey was the best seller by far when I did the events last year with Revlon and why? Because it's a very lovely, flattering, safe dusky rose pink. Lovely as a blush, too.

 

NAIL POLISH: Rimmel 60 Seconds Nail Enamel in Black Out

Looks like the dark nails trend is still tracking strong, and as it should be, especially when you find yourself wearing something very "pretty" or obviously asking for a nude or red nail. Go black and turn everything upside down, why don't you. Just be keep sure to keep black nails short and neat, ay.

And that does it. Might add here that I was inspired to write all this because Priceline emailed and said that Nanoblur was their best-selling product in the last 12 months... after only a couple months in store.

Hey.

Donwahrry.

Imma write about this cream next woyk!

Australian Beauty Best-sellers: Priceline, part one.

If you're anything like me (wide, four wheels, red paint) you are nosy and curious about what other people like. At cafes I ask what the most popular dishes are, and at gelato shops the most famous flavour, and in foreign countries I need to go to the most popular restaurant. I even ask my hairdresser which hair cuts and colours are most popular at the present, not because I want them, but because I am annoying.

So, I've decided to ask beauty brands and retailers what their best-sellers are. Partly because of aforementioned nosiness, but also because I am fascinated as to what you rascals spend your money on. Oh sure, I can sit here on my camel and tell you what to use and buy, but you will of course do precisely as you please when it comes to what you like and need and what interests you enough to spend your lollies on.

I'm starting with Priceline, because they are a terrific indicator of the General Population: we all shop there.

These are the makeup products that smoked their cash registers for the past 12 months, but I'm guessing you already know this, cause you contributed to it, you spendy little squids.

Here is part one: 

FOUNDATION: Nude By Nature Mineral Cover in Medium 


 

My word! And here I was thinking mineral foundation had enjoyed its moment in the sun. Not even nearly. My niece uses this and claims it "covers everything" perfectly without looking too makeuppy. I'm a diehard liquid foundation fan (Nude also do one of those) so have never tried this.

 

PRIMER:  L’Oreal Base Magique Smooth Primer

I know and like this one. Little bit goes a long way, pores look smaller, makeup stays put, the use of silicon makes it glide on like velvet and fine lines are nicely filled in before you splunk on your foundation.
 

CONCEALER: Maybelline Concealer Cover Stick in Medium

Still going! I was using this in high school. A classic concealerwith a waxy base ideal for concealing pimples, the scars thereof and redness. Not for use under the eyes - you need something creamy there as the skin is basically oil-free and needs all the moisture it can get.
 

BRONZER: Rimmel Sun Shimmer Bronzer in Sun Bronze

Another classic, faintly luminous, and with a very fine powder for a sink-into-the-skin finish, (not to mention the <$20 price tag) I get why this one is still smashing it. Apply lightly, is the key. You should never be able to see bronzer... you just look ...healthy... a bit tan. Glowing.

EYELINER:  Maybelline Master Precise Liner in Black

 

Well I am impressed. Thin-nibbed liners are not the easiest thing to get used to, and even uneasier to remove if you make a mistake, but clearly you guys have managed it, because of all the liners - gel, pot, kolh, pencil - this is your favourite. So well done. Now let's all wear winged liner to celebrate.

 

Do you buy these things?

Check your handbag, you might.

Part two in a couple of days. Til then, behave and NO PULLING YOUR SISTER'S HAIR.

How to pronounce tricky beauty product brands.

'Nice hand cream, where'd you get that?'

'Oh, um that nice flowery place in Westfield, Lochitane.'

HOLD THE PHONE AND STOP THE PRESS AND OTHER URGENT THINGS.

This woman has mispronounced a beauty brand.

Instead of sending her to prison, I decided to help. Because let's face it, there's NOTHING worse, not even losing your dog or civil war, than looking like a fool when you pronounce 'La Prairie' incorrectly. I remember this one awful time I served my guests Krug that wasn't quite chilled enough, and let me tell you, terribly humiliating as that was, incorrect pronunciation of skin care is even worse.

And so, in cute bogan phonetic style, here is how to pronounce all those beauty brands we've been collectively mumbling/getting wrong/guessing for years.

(Underlining = emphasis.)

 

L'Occitane: Lox-ee-tarn

La Prairie:  La preh-ree

Jurlique: Jur-leek

Hermes: Air-mezz

Bourjois: Borj-wah

Lancome: Lahn-comb

Bvlgari: Bool-ga-ree 

Illamasqua:  Ill-err-ma-skah

Dr. Hauschka: Doctor How-shkah

Caudalie: Ko-da-lee

Frederic Fekkai: Fray-day-rik  Fek-eye 

Sodashi: so-da-she

Givenchy: Zhee-von-she

La Mer: La Mare (as in horse)

Korres: Cor-ezz

Guerlain: Gher-lahn

Decleor: Deh-klay-or

Narciso Rodriguez: Nar-sis-oh  Rah-dree-gez

Issey Miyake: Ee-say Me-yah-kay 

Laura Mercier: Laura Mer-si-yay 

Kerastase: Care-ras-tass

Shiseido: She-say-doe

shu uemura: Shoe oo-eh-moor-ah

Kevyn Aucoin: Kevin Oh-kwan

YSL: Eve-sanh Lorr-ahn (silent 'T's)

Stila: Stee-lah

Nars: Nahrs

St Tropez: San Trow-pay

And of course, 

Dove: Duv

Have I missed any?

Butchered any?

Probably.

Tubular mascara fan? Tried this one?

It's the Becca one, called Ultimate Mascara.

There she is!
 

I feel like a fool for not realising this was a tubular mascara until now. On the plus and less foolish side, it's good to know it exists, and is probably the thickest and most 'classic mascara' of all the tubular mascaras I've tried. (I usually use Clinique Lash Power, which gives a lovely clean, defined look.)

If you're not sure what tubular mascara is, here's a (very old, but no less accurate) post on it. It's all I use now, except at very occasionally when I go for something REAL VOLUME BOOSTING like Lancome Hypnose or CoverGirl Lashblast.

In a clamshell:

• Tubular mascara that has been created specifically to stay put, and was first invented for women living in humid envirnoments. It's water resistant, essentially. I love it for teary days, or sweaty days, or dancing nights. Actually, I rarely wear any other kind of mascara, so 'every day' is probably a more accurate description.
• It is terrific for women who always get drop down, or mascara smudging under the eye, as tubular mascara will offer neither of these "benefits"
• It is removed very easily with warm water and your index finger and thumb, by gently pulling the 'tubes' of mascara off the lashes. There is no damage to the lashes, don't be a dingus!
• If you're a fan of black, messy eyes when you get out of the shower, you will no longer be granted them as the eyes will be completely clean and free of all mascara when you turn off the taps.

Another new (genuinely new, not just new to me ala the mascara above) product I have been using and am starting to think very highly of is the Ultraceuticals Ultra B2 Hydrating Serum ($79). I fly too much, and have dry skin to begin with, so this has been a wonderful moisturebooster-er under my night cream. It's a thick, slightly-sticky gel, but it sinks in fast.

Remember: What ever your greatest skin concern is, that's what your serum should target. Your face creams can be more generic, but the serums can actually DO something. Might be breakouts, redness, hydration, sagging, brightening... depends on your needs. (And yes, you can layer them.) 

I'm a big fan of anything with hyaluronic acid in it, (a non-irritating complex sugar found abundantly in our bodies) which is a hydration powerhouse due to its Popeye-style ability to hold 1000x its weight in water... meaning it not only helps boost water levels in your skin, but more crucially, locks it there, so you get smoother, most hydrated skin. It's also a terrific 'piggy-back' ingredient, which is good news when one of the other ingredients needing a ride into the skin is B5 (which is anti-inflammatory... and anti-inflammation is HUGELY important in skincare, especially know that we know how incredibly inflammory ("ageing") things like eating sugar and the sun and smoking etc are). 

But I'm also a fan of lunch, which is what I'm going to make right now. 

 

The only eye makeup I took with me to NYC for a month.

(Mascara and lash curler not withstanding) was this:

The key player was the nude palette. All of us should have one. Find the right one and you're set like Joan Jet.

The one I chose was from those Palette Queens at Benefit. It's called the World Famous Neutrals palette in 'Easiest Nudes Ever.' (There are two other options in the range, which I'm not convinced I would not love more.) It costs $44 and is new on the scene. I was impressed. I also love their Brows a-go-go palette and their Cabana Glama palettes, since you asked. (And if you didn't ask, I apologise.)

But then, Benefit always do cracking palettes. Terrific combinations, useful, easy to use products, nothing superfluous, except for perhaps the size of the actual cardboard box. Excellent for those who are tentative about trying new looks, because the colours are generally universally flattering, but also they include visual step-by-steps. This one has the steps and a mirror in the palette. What fun!

I chose this palette for travel because it has all I need for a variety of looks.

Specifically, 'day' and 'night.' 

It has two lovely cream eye shadows, one that's a creamy pinky-rose shade (shade name: R.S.V.P)  and one that is a darker, browny-bronze shade (shade name: No Pressure!) both of which are perfect for:

A) priming the eyelid before powder shadow

B) ensuring there is no funny business in terms of creasing or rapid fading.

Then there are four  powder shadow shades. I mostly use the two brown ones, the innocuous, suits-everyone shade of light brown (shade name: Thanks a Latte), and the dark chocolate brown (shade name: Matte Espresso) that is terrific for drama, definition and using wet as a liner. Great for smudging into the lower lashline for a lived-in look, too.

There are also two very light shades, pink (shade name: Pinky Swear) and vanilla (shade name: Call My Bluff), for using in the centre of the eye  and under the brow bone and on the inner 'V' so that your eyes look VERY WIDE OPEN AND PRETTY. 

There was not one dingin' occasion I couldn't use this palette (with my favoured shadow brush for travel, the dual-ended Bobbi Brown eye shadow brush, which comes in her travel sets. But lots of brands do these - one end is thin and flat for liner, one is medium-sized brush for shading and blending). 

My favourite day look was a wash of pinky-brown cream shadow up to the crease, and then pushing in a light taupe shadow, with some flesh-toned liner in the lower waterline with mascara, which was a cinch with this guy, and for night, cream shadow in a brown or bronze, just a touch further up than the crease for more excitement, then a dark brown shadow pushed into the lash line and blended up onto the lid about a cm, blended nicely of course. Some lower lash line biz, too. Then, as always, lots of mascara.

BUT, sometimes I get bored with just my browns and taupes and lattes and want something a bit more dazzly.

Which is why I included the small Becca Powder Shimmer in Damask (rose-bronze-gold) shadow you see in the picture, and also some gel liner (Lancome Ink Artliner in Black Carbon Ink.)

This allowed me to have the further options of either:

- A clean, precise winged liner (with a base of the R.S.V.P cream shadow all over the lid to keep it fresh)
- Some complementary eye interest to a red, pink or orange lipstick should I choose to sass such a thing, which I most certainly did. Flat or matte brown shadow with zingy lips can look a bit dull in my opinion. A bit of metallic spices things up. The great thing about No Pressure! as a cream shadow is that it has a hint of metallic sheen to it, so you already have a nice warm base in place even before adding bronze.

Here's what that looked like:

With Revlon Ultimate Suede Lipstick in It Girl on the kisser.

 

As a dame who generally overpacks, I gotta say, choose a killer palette to travel with, and chuck the rest. How many eye looks can you REALLY use on one trip? HOW MANY I SAID.

 

With regards to BB creams and CC creams.

I am asked about BB (and now CC) creams a lot so I have created a fictional character, Eoz, with whom I will conduct an informative and snappy lesson on their uses, meaning, benefits and dining preferences:

Eoz: First of all, you have such great hair. Tell me, are BB creams worth it?

Zoe: Thanks, Eoz. That's kind of you to say. Regarding BB creams, yes, they're pretty great. User friendly and time saving. However, some are taking the piss a bit in my opinion, generally the more numerous and varied a products claims are, the less better it achieves any of its multiple components, so touting 10 benefits isn't neccessarily a great thing. 

Eoz: What does the BB even stand for?

Me: Originally, in Asia ("Korea") where they first found their fame, BB stood for Blemish Balm, because they had skin-clearing capabilities, or were gentle enough to use post-procedure (laser, peels etc... I would use a very gentle, very pure mineral foundation personally.) Now BB generally stands for Beauty Balm.

Eoz: Aren't they basically doing what tinted moisturisers have always done?

Zoe: Terrific question and outstanding detective work, Eoz. Yes is the answer, which as a dedicated tinty moisturiser fan, delights me, because suddenly the whole category has been reinvigorated.

Tinted moisturisers (should any still exist, having narrowly avoided being mildly adjusted and re-labelled as BB) give you a bit of hydration, a bit of sunscreen and some tint. A nice, simple multi-tasker that was great for days when you don't need a lot of makeup.

BB basically creams do the same as this, but on a couple of cans of Red Bull and with high-achievers syndrome in the shape of Extra Bonus Benefits (depending on which you buy) like illuminating skin-tone perfectors, antioxidants, shine reduction, anti-aging and skin smoothing ingredients, primer, or pigmentation fading ingredients designed to even your skin tone over time. (I would not rely on your BB for fading pigmentation. That's an exceptionally tricky task and one better left to a targeted brightening products like my favourite, Ultraceuticals Even Skintone Serum, or Dr Plunkett's SuperFade, or Clinique Even Better Clinical Dark Spot Corrector, used on clean skin at night under night cream.) I think of them as new generation tinted moisturisers, basically. Just with better marketing.

Eoz: How do I use BB cream? 

Zoe: With terrific ease; they are designed to simplify your routine. So instead of layering your day cream, sunscreen, primer, foundation, you can get it all in one wee tube. By all means use them as your one-step do-it-all on clean skin, although - lecture coming - I personally don't believe the SPF in BB creams to be enough for our Aussie sun, especially when you use about 1/3 of the amount you need for that SPF factor to be working, so please use your regular daily moisturiser with SPF first, then your BB cream. The exception to this rule could possibly be a SPF 50+ BB cream, because the strength of the SPF means you can use even that pea amount and still get adequate protection.

They are often used under your foundation as a skin-perfecting base/primer and can act as a great mixer: I blend mine with moisturiser when my skin is dry, and with my foundation when I want more coverage, and I dab some onto my face late in the day for a hit of hydration. Please note despite their many charms, they can not be used as a sleeping bag.

Eoz: And now I hear about CC creams? Does this stand for Creme Caramel?

Zoe: No, you gorgeous dunce. It stands for colour or complexion correcting. CCs are for those with less... perfect skin than the average BB user. They're designed to act as a colour correction product, something that generally takes a slew of green, yellow or pink based concealers and creams, followed by skin perfectors, and that's all before the makeup is applied. They also claim to help with long-term skin tone correction, although I'm a bit suss on their efficacy in that area. Try a CC if you have redness, sallowness, or dark spots and find your BB cream is too sheer and ineffective, or you are still relying on your old colour correction techniques. CCs tend to be more lightweight, offer more coverage and spend less time on Facebook than BB creams.

Eoz: Which BB cream do you use? 

Zoe: I like the L'Oreal Paris Nude Magique BB cream. So much so I bought a new tube to replace my old one here in the US, and look! It's different! I like the fresh, healthy glow it gives, the smoothing feel and the coverage level, which is strong enough to even out my skin tone, and lightly conceal my pigmentation, but still looks as though I may not be wearing any makeup. I find it nicely hydrating, too. I like the self-adjusting formula, which means that when I apply the product, it comes out creamy and purple then blends onto my skin in a lovely, flawless, skin-matching way. I don't know how exactly self-adjust makeup works, think it's to do with my body heat and the micro-particles being released on contact to correct tone and give coverage, but it's awesome, and one of the reasons Estee Lauder's DayWear Sheer Tint Release remains one of my faves, too.

Old Aussie tube Vs new US tube. Samesies.

 

I also love the new Kiehl’s Actively Correcting & Beautifying BB Cream SPF 30, (although it is actually SPF 50 the cosmetics regulator in Australia, NICNAS, hasn't yet adopted the new Australia Standard which allows the SPF 50 claim, and as BB creams are classed as cosmetic, not sunscreen, they remain limited to an SPF 30 claim) because it's lightweight, luminous, gives a lovely, fresh look to the skin, is buildable if you want more concealing, is hydrating, has antioxidants (Vit C - also good for fighting pigmentation) and as with the Nude Magique, you need only use the teeny, tiniest amount for your whole face. Also the tube is adorable. And it made it to my Amazing Face App must-haves. And it's mineral oil and paraben free. And it sings lullabies at night.

 

Eoz: Thank you, that's been very informative. Guess I'll CC you around.

Zoe: BB good now.

 

Primer isn't a fad product.

If you enjoy wearing makeup, and you get snitchy when that makeup doesn't last then I cannot for the love of Liza Minnelli understand why you are not wearing primer.

You wouldn't paint your walls without priming them first, would you? (Ignore the fact that our face is nothing like a house please.) Primer is a staple, you guys. A must-own. It's not a silly thing that will come and go in the beauty world like nailpolish pens - although I personally wish nailpolish pens would come back hard - primer is clever and purposeful and effectual. 

Some reasons that might get you across this g-damn line if you are not already there:

- Most but not all primers have silicone in them. This is a good thing, because it means this non-toxic silicone acts as a wall between your face and your makeup - meaning your makeup stays in place, because your skin cannot eat your makeup all day (because you are not feeding or watering it properly, usually - give it some exfoliation and a mask why don't you?) It means thorough cleansing and exfoliationg a few times a week, this silicone, though. Don't let that shit build up.

- Primers are flaw-fixers so that all the heavy lifting isn't left to foundation and concealer, which to be fair, are not really qualified. Certain primers (I'm looking at you, Smashbox) can conceal the look of large pores, mattify shine, even out redness, boost glow; whatever. There are SO many different kinds now, and they all do different things, so be sure to find one that best suits your personal skin needs, not one some chump on a beauty blog recommends, even if she is a real nice girl and knows heaps about everything.

- Primer pretty much acts as spac filler. If you are the type of dame who sees wrinkles and fine lines as though they are neon lights or small waving hands, then primer helps to fill those in and plump them up before you apply makeup.

- Primer, the right primer, will cosmetically illuminate and add radiance to your skin before your makeup goes on. This is a wonderful thing and I cannot understand why if this was available to you, especially when you want your makeup to look IMMACULATE for an event, or last the whole day at work or at a wedding or your annual fly-fishing conference, you would not adopt it.

My two go-to primers these days:

The Dermalogica Age Smart Skin Perfect Primer one is slightly tinted and full of SPF 30+ skin care and heavy with silicones to really smooth out the skin and plump up fine lines, which I have around my eyes and quite enjoy filling in. It's very thick and velvety, and adds a lovely evenness to the skin. If you have cracking skin, it could be used alone as a skin perfector on top of moisturiser but I prefer using it under foundation. Also, the size is tiny and perfect and very awesome for this travelbot. I love it.

The Face Of Australia Face Base 3-in-1 Primer is less powerful at skin-perfecting and line-filling, but its benefit is that being all creamy and moisturiser-like, you can skip your daily face cream and use this straight onto cleansed skin which means less layering/build up on the face. That said: I recommend sunscreen first, obviously then primer - the SPF 15 in here and such a small amount won't do nada. It's hydrating and helps makeup last longer - simple. Also it is about $10, so that's something.

 

 

Related articles

Not to prime is a crime!

The Makeup Lady - Prime Yo Eyes

Face Primer for Oily Skin

Video: A genuinely non-drying long-last lipstick in many awesome shades.

Uh oh, looks like someone can't stop blogging about lipstick!

(Me. That someone is me.)

Today I am more vlogging, as those who dabble on the innernette are wont to say, and my subject is the new lipstick launch by our good friends at Revlon. Revlon have sponsored this blog and video, but since when it comes to talking about coral and berry-toned lipsticks I could talk for a solid week, or even 10 days if I had lozenges and water, and this is a genuinely excellent lipstick, their request for a 'two minute' video has been deeply betrayed. I apologise, Revlon. Make your lipsticks less interesting and delightful for The People and I won't be forced to jibberjab for six minutes next time.

So!

I would've thought Revlon would still be flying high from their Just Bitten Balm Stains, outstanding as they were, but those devils don't quit, and their new lip star is already here.

She's called Revlon ColorStay Ultimate Suede Lipstick, and she launched this week. The headlines are that she is of velvety texture, and she does not dry out a dame's lips as she coats them in a fine selection of extremely young, fresh, fun colours like summery soft coral-melon, and trendy-runway-famous-Russian-model berry.

This non-drying bit wouldn't be so exceptional except that long last lip products ALWAYS DRY OUT THE LIPS. But things have changed. An thank goji berries for that.

I'll let the video/my head do the talking, and now, after 9 hours of wearing Ultimate Suede (in It Girl), I shall either remove it with a cotton pad and some cleansing oil, or gently take a facial makeup remover wipe, and massage the product off my lips, which is the fastest and laziest and most effective way to remove what is DEFINITELY, no two ways about it, worthy of the ColorStay name.

 

 

Final important bit: It's $25.95 and you can buy it all the places you normally buy your Revlon. ("Not Bunnings.") 

Final unimportant bit: I was tired and shitty on Sunday so wore Finale (the red) with bronzer and big black sunglasses to brunch, and in an instant felt terribly glamorous and like I might actually be very famous and from Hollywood.

 

 

Related articles

Review: Revlon Colorstay Ultimate Suede Lip Color

Revlon: ColorStay Ultimate Suede

We all love orange lipstick these days, right?

Good.

Thought so.

My pick for years has been Ginger Fawn from Tom Ford's Private Colour Collection, and when I say private, I mean he keeps them in his home, locked up, and only if you say the magic password ("Gwyneth loves kale") do you get access.

But that's all over now. That shade was discontinued, as was the whole Private Collection. (I have a special knack for making great lip products I love tip-toe off to cosmetic heaven; be sure to never recommend me your most cherished lipstick shade.) Tom kicked all the privacy, and the (sexy, Dynasty-style) gold and white packaging, and went sleek ebony and gold casing for his lipsticks, now just called Lip Color.

Of course, they are just as less exquisite. And there are more shades. And they look incredible when pulled out of a handbag to be re-applied.

The replacement orange shade is Wild Ginger, and is it glorious. Sold out for ages, but is just back in stock. (From a handful of David Jones stores, $65.) A vibrant, exciting, POP of reddy-orange, (good if you aren't ready for pure orange) it instantly peps up my face, makes any bronzer or tan I happen to be definitely wearing sing, and makes my teeth and eyes beam. I feel awake, alive, polished. It applies like a dream, all smooth and creamy, and I don't get cracks and creases.

Here's mine, all pretty and posh before I mashed it on to my kisser. 

And after, with a purple t-shirt which is not an accident because I highly rate orange and purple together.

A word on orange lip colour: I firmly believe that any skin tone/age can wear it. The very pale, the very dark, the very teenagey, the aged and elegant - all of us, all of us! 

So try it, why don't you. Go on. It washes off.

Unfortunately, cheaper brands are a bit behind on the orange and coral wagon for some reason. They tend to stick to high-selling shades like pinks, nudes and red. And when they do attempt orange, they always dump shimmer in there, or make it too pink or bronze, or too sparkly. 

That said, L'Oreal Colour Riche Lipstick inVolcanic is pretty excellent, and Revlon's Orange Flip is a bloody corker, and it's cheap and has been around since your granny was smoking in fast cars and kissing bad boys. (Also from Revlon is their new ColorStay Ultimate Suede Lipstick in Cruise Collection, which I will go into detail about next week, and which is a terrific soft coral-orange shade.)

MACs Vegas Volt and Morange are both very popular (a bit more pure orange than red-orange like Wild Ginger), as is Bobbi Brown's Jenna, which is a nice matte version. And of course one N. Perdis' Hara lipstick is a much-loved and cult (very) bright orange.

But if you're feeling spendy-luxe-I-deserve-a-treaty, and I very much encourage dames owning one or two Special Lipsticks to flash around like posers given the chance, give Wild Ginger a nod.

Ms Bosworth would want it that way.

 

 

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