THANK GOD IT'S FAVOURITES: M.A.C. Matte Lipstick in Russian Red

Welcome to part two of this week's M.A.C. loving (see part one here!), which now brings me to the Russian Red lipstick. Or as it is also known, the best damn red lipstick ever. (Don't even try to convince me about Ruby Woo, the shade is just not quite as good).

Until Christmas, I did not own a M.A.C. lipstick, which as a self-confessed lip product obsessive, is faintly ridiculous. Noll very kindly rectified this and bought me this lipstick, and it was the best present ever.

REVIEWSDAY: M.A.C. Lipliner in Cherry

As you may have heard, because I have mentioned it on the blog whenever possible, my beautiful and amazing co-author Noll bought me M.A.C. Russian Red matte lipstick for Christmas. This is my first ever M.A.C. lipstick and I love it (ooh I wonder what my favourites post on Saturday will be...?) and everyone ever who has recommended it on the internet is SO right. I have been seriously enjoying using it for the past month or so, but have also noticed that even though it is amazing by itself (it really doesn't budge), lots of people pair it with M.A.C. Lipliner in Cherry. Given that my lipstick application skill is mediocre at best, and intrigued to see what exactly lipliner has done for people after the 90s, I thought perhaps now was the right time to try one and see what all the fuss is about. I think I get it now.

WHAT'S IN MY BAG: Noll

You know the drill, guys – if there’s a new handbag, there’s a new blog post. I have fallen head over heels in love with this beauty – it’s from DuDu Bags (yes, I’ve heard all the jokes and I don’t care for any of them); their Lucille bag in Lilac.

I adore this bag. I would hold up a stereo outside its window. I would sing I Love You Baby to it over a tannoy. I would stand outside its door pretending to sing Christmas carols and holding up signs. It had me at hello.

ANYWAY. It’s a great bag – the perfect size for everyday use, with two main compartments (so I can separate beauty bits and proper, grown up things), a zip pocket in the middle and one on one side and two smaller pouch pockets on the other side. And it’s more beautiful than anything in the world. OK, I’ll shut up now.

REVIEWSDAY: L'Oreal Paris Blake's Pure Red Color Riche Lipstick

I think I might have found the best red lipstick ever. Just saying. I have been dying to try the L'Oreal Paris Collection Exclusive Color Riche Pure Reds (what a mouthful) range for so so long, and I finally got round to swatching them in Superdrug and buying one, and I can't believe I waited so long. I bought Blake's Red, and it is perfect.

I still haven't sorted my office Christmas party outfit (see the dilemma at the end of this post) but at least I now know what makeup I will be wearing, because this lipstick is made for Hollywood glamour. Which is pretty appropriate for something created for/by Blake Lively.

THANK GOD IT'S FAVOURITES: Revlon ColorBurst Balm Stain

First off, apologies for the unhelpful photo, I love it so much that the tube is looking rather worse for wear and the pictures were not coming out brilliantly! 

I was struggling to think of a favourites for ages and then had to go out last night and wanted something super-quick to update my work make-up just a little, and reached for this automatically, and realised that I always do. It is hands down my number one go-to in that situation. It is partly to do with the colour, but also a lot to do with how easy it is to wear because of how well it wears, so definitely a favourite!

WHAT'S IN MY BAG: Poppy

So today I thought I would do a What's in my Bag post! This is mostly because I got a new bag that I love love love and I wanted to show it off. Because the contents of my bag do not always stay the same, I think I may end up doing a few different versions, for different occasions and/or bag sizes - this one is my everyday, work bag. I will do a quick(ish) run through of non-beauty stuff, and then beauty after that, which means I can put off admitting quite how many lip products I keep on me "just in case" until the end.

One Face One Palette

This is a sort of tutorial/review post today, because I recently discovered the Benefit 10 palette hidden away in a bag of stuff and wanted to do something with it. It contains two eyeshadows, two lips tints and a highlighter-bronzer duo, so I thought it might be interesting to see if it is possible to create a decent look using just what is in the palette, brushes included.

Who's Got A Match?

Matching lips and nails has been A Thing in beauty since roundabout the twenties (History Lessons With Noll!), and yet, because of my general nervousness with lip colour, it’s not something I’ve ever really played around with. There is an excellent woman at my work who always matches her eyes and lips, or eyes and nails, or all three – sometimes even her cardigans get involved. I think she is fabulous and I love her, so, armed with my extensive collection of eyeshadows and nail varnish and paltry collection of lipsticks (and, eventually, backed up by Poppy’s), I thought I’d give matching a shot too.

THANK GOD IT'S FAVOURITES: Burt's Bees Beeswax Lip Balm

This is my favourite lip balm ever. Tin, tube, I don't care, it's the best.
It is super moisturising, it's not shiny, it's not sticky, and it tingles, what more could you want? This is actually a pretty good rulebook for any kind of moisturiser, for face or body, as well as lips. The only thing I like to be shiny is my hair.

REVIEWSDAY: Maybelline Color Drama Intense Velvet Lip Pencil

Yay Reviewsday. This is my favourite feature we do, because it means I get to buy new things. I had a list forever long of products I already own to review today but I have wanted one of these lip crayons ever since I heard about them, so instead I bought a new thing.

Lip Me Up And Down

Happy Sunday you guys! As I mentioned in my post on lip balms, lip colour is dangerous ground for me and nine out of ten lipsticks will look great for an evening but then cause dryness and irritation for days afterwards. I know I’m not alone in this problem, and these are a few of the lipsticks I’ve discovered that work with my sensitivity.

THANK GOD IT'S FAVOURITES: Bourjois Rouge Edition Velvet

So this week it's my turn for favourites and I will be doing Bourjois Rouge Edition Velvet liquid lipstick, because it is incredible. I love love love lipstick, especially matte, and I wanted the Lime Crime Velvetines for so long but by the time I saved up enough it was sold out, which was devastating.  

They Call Me Mr Balmbastic

I rarely wear lip colour. That is in part because I've always done my eyes up, and there's only so much makeup you want to frighten your colleagues with at 10am on a Monday, but mostly it's because my lips just plain do not like it. They are sensitive little fuckers, and they need careful handling. I've lost sleep over it. OK, maybe not - let's all hope not - but it's still annoying, and for those of you with the same problem, there are remedies out there and here are a few I've found.