Barry M Lipstick And A MAC Velvet Teddy Dupe!

I love nude lipstick, and I also love a matte lippy too but they leave my lips feeling so dry so I wanted to find a nice nude lipstick that wasn't matte that I could wear in between times while my lips "recover" from matte lipstick.

Enter Barry M Satin Super Slick Lip Paint in Mannequin 169 £4.49 (that's quite a gob full!). This is a polar opposite to a matte lipstick, but that was what I was looking for. It has a lipgloss shine to it but the the colour pay off of a lipstick and I've found myself reaching for it nearly everyday. It's not as long lasting as a matte lipstick but it does last a good couple of hours (the colour outlasts the shine) and I'm happy to reapply if that means my lips don't feel like the Sahara desert!

Another bonus to this lipstick is that the colour is remarkably close to that of MACs Velvet Teddy. The finish is obviously no where near the same but the colour is very nearly spot on, the picture below doesn't really do it any justice as the different finishes make it look really different but if your looking for a cheaper alternative to MAC Velvet Teddy or just a nice nude lipstick I'd definitely go check this one out. 

Barry M isn't the brand I'd usually think of for a lipstick but I'm so impressed with this one I'll certainly pay more attention to them in the future! 

Get yours online HERE or at your local high street store.

Have you tried Barry M Lipsticks before?

Thanks for reading,

Wench x   

Collection Cream Puff Lip Cream

I have a serious lipstick problem, to the point I might even need counselling I just can't help myself and when I find one I like I can't just stop at one I have to have more.

This Collection Cream Puff Lip Cream is one of those such discoveries. It's a matte finish, which I'm very much in to at the moment but unlike a lot of matte lip products out there it's not super drying. Now I'm not saying it doesn't dry out my lips at all but it's considerably less than most. It's also really comfortable to wear and goes on really smoothly, it's creamy when you put it on initially but then it sets to a lovely matte finish. It lasts amazingly too, I road test most of my make up while I'm at work and I only really have to apply after I've eaten or after about 4 hours and considering the price tag (RRP £2.99) I think that's really good! 

excuse the red nose, I had a cold! 

There is only one real downside to these and that is the limited colour range. There are only four colours which I think is a travesty! The one I have here is Cotton Candy which as you can see from the photos above is a lovely, neutral, dusky pink colour. Not pictured here, I also got the shade Angel Delight (for some reason this one seems more difficult to find in stores. FYI I got mine in Wilkos) which is a really good nude colour (Google it to see the colour!) I tend to find that high street brands can never get a nude colour right but this one is spot on (not to be confused with the other nude colour they do Powder Puff which I think is really pale and awful!)

Collection as a brand are full of hidden gems and too easily overlooked!

Find Collection Cream Puff Lip Creams HERE or in your local Boots, Superdrug, or Wilkos. 

Have you tried anything from Collection?

Thanks for reading,

Wench x 

Worth The Hype? Mac Velvet Teddy Lipstick

MAC Matte Lipstick in the shade Velvet Teddy is harked on about so much, but is it for good reason? 

A while ago I was on the hunt for a really nice nude shade lipstick, I scoured the usual drugstore/high street make up stands but nothing seemed to really hit the mark. A couple of my work colleagues had been sporting really nice shades of nude lipstick and of course when I asked them both what lippie they had on, they both piped up "It's Velvet Teddy." Regardless, I tried to find a budget friendly version but found that the shades were too pinky coloured or too pale and so decided to take the plunge and buy the damn thing.

For the most part, I do think Velvet Teddy is worth the hype, it is in my opinion the perfect nude shade and it suits so many different skin tones. The ladies I saw it on both fake tan regularly and I wondered if it would look nice on my pale skin but when I walked into work wearing it one of them asked what lipstick it was I wearing because it looked nice. Winner! 

The actual formula is really creamy for a matte lipstick and it applies really smoothly. The wear time for this lipstick is pretty impressive too, considering it's not particularly marketed purposely for long wear I do find I only have to re apply a couple of times a day (usually after I've eaten) and while it does transfer onto cups etc the colour still remains after I've swigged my brew.

It's not without it's flaws though and being a matte lipstick it does dry my lips out and clings to dry, flaky parts. Unfortunately my lips are prone to being dry pretty much all year round but if that's not an issue for you, well, lucky you and this won't be such a problem for you. The second problem I have with this lipstick is the price, at £15.50 it is on the pricey side for me and one of very few high end make up items I own.

There has however been a surge in high street/drugstore brands bringing out new nude shades and I'm hoping I can find a cheaper alternative!

MAC Velvet Teddy Lipstick is available HERE or from your nearest MAC counter.

What's your favourite nude lipstick?

Thanks for reading,

Wench x

A MAC Velvet Teddy Dupe?

Isn't it wonderful when you find something really cheap that's a near match to something really expensive?

I have just that for you today! I know the colour isn't exactly the same but it's very close. MUA Fawn Fancy is a new shade from MUA's matte lipstick range and it's very close in shade to MAC Velvet Teddy and they both have a matte finish.  

However, MUA Fawn Fancy at just £1 is a fraction of the £15.50 you'd pay for MAC Velvet Teddy and at that price it's definitely worth a try!

Yes you need a few layers of MUA's offering to really get the colour, it's not as comfortable to wear and it will need topping up during the day but for a pound you can't really complain!

Get MUA Fawn Fancy HERE or at your local Superdrug store

What's the best dupe you've ever found?

Thanks for reading,

Wench x

Maybelline Color Drama Velvet Lip Pencils

Hello internet! I have some more make up musings for you today in the form of Maybelline Velvet Lip Pencils.

You know when you find something that you love so much you have to have more? This is what has happened to me with these beauties! I have totally fell in love with the formula of these lip crayons and now I own 5 of them. So let me tell you about them.

The formula of these are lovely and creamy, they apply really smoothly and the pencil format of them means its really easy to outline your lips and fill them in quite precisely (which is great in particularly for the bolder colours). I wouldn't go as far as to say they are like lipliner because they're too thick for that but it does make application a bit easier. 

Once applied I wouldn't say they were completely matte, more of a satin, velvet like finish (as the name suggests, duh!) I really like this finish as completely matte lipsticks tend to be very drying where these are only slightly drying on your lips but have the full staying power of a matte lipstick. When I wear these for work they stay put and don't slide around all over my face (definitely a no-no when working with the general public face to face) and I only touch up on my break after eating and that's more out of habit than necessity. 

The five colours I have are Keep it Classy, Berry Much, Minimalist, Nude Perfection, and Red Essential. My favourite of the bunch has to be Keep It Classy which is the first one I got, it's the perfect balance of bold colour but is also a wearable, everyday colour for me making it a staple in my handbag.

Maybelline Color Drama Lip Pencil in Keep It Classy on the lips

I'm not sure if 5 is enough of these!

What's your favourite of the bunch?

Thanks for reading,

Wench x