Showing posts with label AW13. Show all posts
Showing posts with label AW13. Show all posts

Saturday, 21 December 2013

❄10 High-End Winter Lip Colours and their Cash-Saving High Street Alternatives.❄

High-End Winter Lip Colours and their Cash-Saving Alternatives.

One of the things I love about Winter fashion is being able to don the darks. I just adore deep, rich lip colours! So, I've complied a list of stunning high-end lip shades that are perfect for this season. Of course, if you want high-end you have to expect a high price. So, in case you don't want to splash too much cash, for each pricey product I've found a similar alternative with a high street price. For ultimate drama, pair your sultry Winter lips with a matching nail polish, flawless skin, and simple eye make up. Whether you're into the bold and daring or if you like to keep it simple and sweet, there's something for everyone wanting to rock the timeless Winter trend.
All prices are approximate.
Click links / product names for purchase information.
All images via Google Images.


1. Serge Lutens Fard à Lèvres Lipstick - Couvre Feu.

This beautiful berry shade from Serge Lutens is a real stunner. Deep and dark, Couvre Feu sure to draw positive attention your way. Every Serge Lutens lipstick is sculpted to a point for precise and defined application and to emphasise the contour of the lips. You can expect your bank balance to take a hit of around £50 if you buy this product. When you run out you can even purchase refills so you don't have to buy it again and again (although, at about £30 each, they still don't come cheap!).

- High Street alternative: Revlon Super Lustrous Lipstick - Va Va Violet (£7.49).

2. Chanel Rouge Allure Luminous Satin Lip Colour - Rouge Noir.

This seductive, vampy shade from Chanel is an absolute classic when it comes to Winter lipstick. Team is with the matching Rouge Noir Le Vernis Nail Colour (approx. £17.50 per 13ml bottle) and who could resist your sultry charms? This little beauty will set you back around £25, but surely that's not too much for such an iconic lipstick?

- High Street alternative: Collection Gothic Glam Lipstick - Revenge (£2.99). Click here for my review of Collection Gothic Glam Lipstick in "Scorned" and "Revenge"!8

3. YSL Golden Gloss - 37 Golden Red.

Not many of us consider going for gloss when it comes to dark Wintery lip shades, usually a lipstick is the go-to product, but this stunning shade from Yves Saint Laurent may be the one to change your mind. This wondrous burgundy shade is sure to be a hit for the Party Season as it's infused with golden shimmer. Plus, on the whole, glosses will keep your lips hydrated better than a lipstick will in a season when many of us suffer from dry lips. It can be yours for around the £22 mark.

- High Street alternative: B. Glossy Shimmering Lip Gloss - Cassis 24 (£6.99).

4. MAC Lipstick - Cyber.

Time for a product from the much-loved MAC Cosmetics! I've included this lipstick as a high-end item, however MAC is not as pricey as a lot of other designer brands out there. In fact, this lipstick will cost you £15, which isn't bad at all! I've chosen this product from their original Lipstick collection, as opposed to a limited edition shade. Cyber is a Gothic-inspired opaque purple hue with a satin finish. Purples like these are a suitably interesting change from the usual reds this season.

- High Street alternative: Rimmel Kate Lasting Finish Lipstick - 004 (£5.49).

5. Lancôme L'Absolu Rouge Christmas Limited Edition Lipstick - 132 Caprice.

This product HAS to be on this list for two reasons. Firstly, the limited edition glittery packaging is to die for and it's so Christmassy! Secondly, you just can't go wrong with a sexy classic red lip this Winter (or any time of year, for that matter). It's only available in two shades, 132 Caprice, which is the best-selling shade I've chosen, and limited edition Lancôme heritage shade, Etincelle #189. If you're looking for a lip shade that won't let you down, this is definitely one to consider. However, at £25, this collector's edition lipstick doesn't come cheap.

- High Street alternative: Seventeen Lasting Fix Lipstick - Hot Chilli (£4.29).

6. By Terry Hyaluronic Sheer Rouge - #10 Berry Boom.

Some ladies find it a little too daring to go for the shades I've listed above. If you're one of them, why not opt for a red lipstick with a sheer finish instead? Choose a product such as Hyaluronic Sheer Rouge from the French beauty company, By Terry. By wearing a shade such as Berry Boom, you can rock the dark Wintery lips without feeling too bold. This product costs around £25.

- High Street alternative: Avon Shine Attract Lipstick - Passionate Red (£8.50).

7. Illamasqua Lipstick - Pristine.

Let's move on from delicate, sheer colour to the ultimate daring hue... Black lips have become quite popular recently, and celebs such as style icon Rihanna and the beautifully eccentric Lady Gaga have been spotted sporting this shade. Believe it or not, the darkest-of-dark colour can suit all skin tones, you just have to know what to pair it with. For ultimate high-end Gothic glamour I've chosen Illamasqua Lipstick in Pristine, which has a matte finish. This product can be purchased from the Illamasqua website for £16.50.

- High Street alternative: Barry M Lip Paint - Black (£4.49).

8. Chubby Stick Moisturizing Lip Colour Balm - Two Ton Tomato.

I've slipped this one into my list of Winter lip colours because, at this time of year, a lot of us suffer from dry lips due to the harsh temperatures. As well as delivering bright colour with a shiny finish, this highly popular product from Clinique conditions and hydrates the lips, too! I've chosen the shade Two Ton Tomato as it's a little brighter than some of the other reds I've shared with you which makes it a little more versatile and suitable for all year round. I also love the fun "crayon" style applicator! Clinique Chubby Sticks are widely available for about £17.00.

- High Street alternative: No7 High Shine Lip Crayon - Statement (£9.00).

9. Shu Uemura Lip and Cheek Tint Color - Magical Red.

I want to share this product from Shu Uemura, a cosmetics company that originated from Japan. The versatile tint can be used on both the lips and the cheeks, and it's easy to build so you can layer it up for more intensity if you wish. It's also really long lasting, so you needn't worry about touch-ups all day! It's available in a range of shades, but I chose Magical Red as I think it's beautifully suited to Winter. At £20 a pop, it's not the cheapest stain on the market.

- High Street alternative: Gosh Long Lasting Lip Marker - Berry Red 3 (£6.99).

10. Bobbi Brown Creamy Matte Lip Color - Crushed Plum.

For my final product I wanted to chose a shade with a touch more femininity. Crushed Plum by Bobbi Brown is deep, rich and seductive berry shade. The purple-ish tone makes it appear a little more flirty and feminine than some darker reds and purples. It delivers 8 hour wear, a weightless feel, and a creamy moisturising formula. Impressive! There are currently 19 shades to choose from on Bobbi Brown's website, and they'll cost you £19 each.

- High Street alternative: ModelsOwn Lipstick - Plum (£6.00).

So, there you have it! Some of my favorite high-end lip colours that are on-trend for Winter, plus similar products that are readily available on the high street that won't break the bank! Hopefully you've found you're perfect shade, or maybe you've found something new that you'll be donning for the party season.


Merry Christmas!

By Tuesday T. Bryan.
http://tuesdaytbryan.blogspot.com

Saturday, 14 December 2013

Maybelline ColorShow Nail Lacquer; shades 352 / 3 / 651; review #2 + photos (My 2nd ColorShow review)

I've already reviewed three shades from the massive Maybelline ColorShow Nail Lacquer range, but I recently became the proud owner of three more which I am sharing with you today!


© Tuesday T. Bryan Photography
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Image - above: Maybelline ColorShow Nail Lacquer in shades (L-R) "352 Downtown Red", "3 Tutti Fruity", and "652 Cool Blue".

Because I've published a ColorShow review before, I'm not going to go into a huge amount of detail about anything but the shades themselves. To read about the product in more detail, click the link in bold above.

For brief notes on this product's wear, scroll down to the bottom of this blog and read the description to the right of the final photo, which shows my nails in "352 Downtown Red" after three days of wear. For more details, click the link in bold above.

Let's get started!

The shades I'm reviewing today are "352 Downtown Red", "3 Tutti Fruity", and "651 Cool Blue". I chose these because 352 is a perfect classic red shade for this season's nails, 3 is a more delicate and playful option that can be pulled off all year round, and 651 caught my eye because I've recently been expanding my collection of blue nail polishes.

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Images - right: These photos show each shade after 1, 2, and 3 coats. Click the image to enlarge.

651 Cool Blue: I love this pastel blue shade. For me, a perfect pastel has to be balanced, not too bright and not too dull. This icy hue is a cool contrast to the classic berry and plum shades we usually see in winter, but it's also bang-on trend for Spring / Summer every year. A great all-rounder!
One coat looks a little patchy, but 2-3 coats will give even and opaque colour.

3 Tutti Fruity: If you're looking for sparkly nails this season, Maybelline may have your perfect match. Tutti Fruity is a soft, shimmering purple shade infused with iridescent glitter with an opalescent finish. This sweet, shimmery, "candy-like" shade reminds me of Parma Violets! I used to love those sweets, but sadly they don't taste the same as they used to, so if you've never tried them (who hasn't?!) don't get too excited.
This polish has a semi-sheer finish, so it would take a lot of coats to get a 100% opaque finish, but I achieved my preferred look in 2-3 shades.

352 Downtown Red: (See below for more photos of "352 Downtown Red). If I had to pick a favorite of these three shades, Downtown Red would probably be the one for me! You just can't go wrong with a shade like this on your nails. For ultimate glamour, pair it with simple eye make up, flawless skin, and a matching lipstick shade. This sexy, seductive, ruby shade is reminiscent of red wine. It's shimmer and sparkle free, and has a deep glossy finish. You can't go wrong with a dark red manicure this season. It's a classic, and it will always be a winner!
2 coats gives an "almost-opaque" finish, which I personally was more than happy with, but opt for 3 coats if you desire.


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Image - left: My nails in "352 Downtown Red". Deep, glossy, red wine shades are a classic for Winter nails. This polish is sure to go down a storm in AW13! Here I am wearing 2 shades and a clear top coat.
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Brief notes on this product's wear;
Image - right: "352 Downtown Red" after three days of wear. I am wearing 2 coats and a clear top coat with no touch-ups. As you can see, the signs of wear are very minimal. The gloss has faded a bit and the colour has worn off around a little on the tips. Not bad for a £2.99 nail polish! You'll get even better wear out of it if your nails are in better condition than mine (mine are quite thin), or if your hands are a bit less active (mine hands are busy writing, typing, and looking after my birds both indoors and in my garden).






Click here to view the Maybelline Colorwheel, where you can view the Color Show Nail Lacquer shades, view suggested tips and ideas about what to wear with each polish, share your favorite polish via social media sites, and purchase the Color Show shades.

Click here to purchase Maybelline ColorShow Nail Lacquer from the Boots website.

As I've previously mentioned, if you want to read about this product in more detail and see my notes on summery shades 265, 341, and 186, click the link in bold at the top of this page or click here to see my first Maybelline ColorShow Nail Lacquer review. :)



© Tuesday T. Bryan Photography
DO NOT USE IMAGES WITHOUT PERMISSION. Copyrighted material

By Tuesday T. Bryan.

Monday, 25 November 2013

❄Perfect Party Season Polish... Barry M Textured Glitter Nail Paint; Shade "Lady" (White Pearl TNP8); Review + photos❄

Source: Google Images
Today's review is all about a Barry M Nail Polish shade that I believe is perfect for the fast-approaching Christmas Party Season! The shade is called "Lady" (White Pearl, TNP8), and it's from The Royal Textured Glitter Collection. About halfway down this page I have included an image of all 5 shades from the collection, and I've written the shade names next to it.

"The new Royal Glitter inspired collection from Barry M will make you feel like a glittering, glistening Princess. With 5 shades in the range, these Textured Glitter Nail Paints will get your nails noticed in an instant." - Barry M (source: www.barrym.com)

I'm not usually a fan of textured shades, I much prefer a smooth and polished finish to my manicure, but this shade has shed a new light on the textured nail look for me. The texture it gives the nails feels just like hardened sand! It's an interesting look, and I don't think textured polishes in darker hues would float my boat, but the "gritty" look and feel just seems to work with this glittery shade. I love the contrast between the soft colour and the coarse texture.

Image - above-right: Barry M Textured Glitter Nail Paint in "Lady" (TNP8) from The Royal Textured Glitter Collection.

It also has fantastic wear. Glitter polishes do tend to have better wear than non-glittery ones, but the addition of textured particles in these seems to make the polish set like cement! I didn't see any signs of wear for 5 days, none what-so-ever! When signs did begin to show they were minimal, just a few minor chips here and there. In fact, this stuff has such serious staying power that it's a bit of a nightmare to remove! Someone should really invent a nail polish remover specifically for glitter polishes and other stubborn shades (if it already exists can someone please tell me?!).

Source: Google Images
The textured finish also seems to have some effect on the way a topcoat will look. I added a shiny topcoat to add durability and a glossy finish, but it didn't add any shine at all, no matter which brand of topcoat I tried. I have no idea why this happens, but the matte finish is all part of the look. It's still a good idea to add a topcoat to extend wear, though.

Image - left: The Royal Textured Glitter Collection from Barry M. Shades (L-R): Purple Countess (TNP9), Gold Majesty (TNP6), Nude Duchess (TNP7), Lady (TNP8), Pink Princess (TNP5).

Another thing good glitter and textured shades seem to have are accelerated drying times. This stuff set solid in seconds for me. Always opt for a shade with a near-instantaneous drying time when you're in a hurry! Remember to touch-up mistakes with some nail polish remover after painting each nail, as this textured stuff is a nightmare to adjust once it's dry.

© Tuesday T. Bryan Photography
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Now, let's discuss the shade itself. This shade's main colour may be white, but it's far from boring! Barry M describe "Lady" as being a white pearl colour, which is bang on the money, really. The snowy white pearlescent hue is flecked with iridescent glitter and has a sandy textured finish. As I said earlier, the combination of the soft shade and gritty texture is an interesting contrast that creates a fabulous and unique polish! It seems to marry with our snowy English Winter landscapes perfectly (which appear to be occurring more and more frequently!).
If you're looking for this shade on the Barry M website, look in The Royal Textured Glitter Collection in the Nail Effects section, and click on shade TNP8 - it just says TNP8 on the website, not "Lady" as it does on the bottle, bare this in mind when browsing.

❄So, why not make a change from the usual seductive dark burgundy and plum hues in AW13 and opt for something light, innocent and snowy instead?❄



© Tuesday T. Bryan Photography
DO NOT USE IMAGES WITHOUT PERMISSION. Copyrighted material


By Tuesday T. Bryan.

Wednesday, 20 November 2013

†NEW Collection "Gothic Glam" Lipstick; 2 shades; review + photos†

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Apologies for being MIA recently! I've been working on some new writing ideas that I could be sharing with you very soon! I've also been testing some new products, one of which I'm reviewing today.

This product is Gothic Glam Lipstick from Collection Cosmetics. It's available in three vampy shades, and I'm reviewing two of them, 02 Scorned and 03 Revenge.

"Deeply intense lip shades which lock in colour all day, and will transport your look from glam, to Gothic Glam in seconds!"

Collection Cosmetics, formerly "Collection 2000", is well known for it's extensive range of cheap and cheerful make up products. They don't sell anything that will break the bank, so they're great for girls on a budget, and there are shades for all ages, skin tones, and styles.

Image - above-right: Two new vampy lipstick shades from Collection Cosmetics, perfect for AW13.
Image - below-left: Here I am wearing Collection Cosmetics Gothic Glam Lipstick in "02 Scorned".


"02 Scorned."
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I don't often buy products from Collection Cosmetics, but they have recently been my savior! Let me explain... If you've read my blog before, or even flicked through my images, you'll probably know I'm a sucker for red lipstick. Now that AW13 has rolled around, it's time to work that sultry dark lipstick trend. I was on the lookout for the perfect shade of maroon lipstick, but I didn't want to opt for something high end to share on my beauty blog, there's no place here for those expensive price tags, I wanted something that would please the Penny Pinchers! I stumbled upon these lipsticks unexpectedly; Collection Cosmetics are available in loads of stores, and I came across mine when doing my supermarket shop! As I said, there are three shades available, but there were only two of them left (and, since swatch-sampling the other shade at a later date, I'm sure I've purchased my favorite two!).

Image - below-right: Here I am wearing Collection Cosmetics Gothic Glam Lipstick in "03 Revenge".

"03 Revenge."
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Firstly, in my opinion, the packaging could do with jazzing up. A simple way to make cheaper make up seem more expensive is to update the packaging to make it appear more like designer brands'. There are loads of brands out there who have sleek and stylish signature packaging whilst still being very affordable.

Let's move on to the product itself. As I said, these colours are out just in time for Autumn, and suitably the formula is moisture rich, a must have for harsh winter temperatures. My lips instantly felt softer, smoother, and deeply nourished, and that feeling continued throughout the day!

(Image - below: My freshly applied lipstick transferred onto my coffee mug. Luckily, the mug came off worse, and my lipstick did not appear to have been effected.)
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As for wear, this lipstick rates pretty highly! Especially for such a well-priced product. The moisture lasted for approximately 3-4 hours before my lips started to dry out, and the colour lasted longer than I did! Just make sure you touch up the colour on corners of your mouth after you eat and drink if necessary, as liquids can sometimes cause dark lipsticks to run, and check your lips with a small mirror regularly to make sure your colour hasn't smudged. When the lipstick was freshly applied it did transfer onto my coffee mug, although it didn't appear to effect the way on my lips, the appears that the mug came off worse (see image - left).

I just want share a few tips about application in regards to these shades. We're working with dark colours and a moisturising formula, so ideally use a liner first and apply the lipstick with a good quality lip brush - I'm currently using MAC and Bobbi Brown brushes (a lip brush will almost certainly be necessary when the "new lipstick shape" wears down). To add depth to the colour, carefully blot the first layer and reapply. Blot again for a matte finish (see below for more details).

These products have a smooth, shiny finish. If you'd prefer it matte, just blot the final layer to absorb some of the moisture. If you want a glossy look, finish you lipstick with a slick of gloss.

Dark shades like these are best paired with flawless matte skin and simple neutral eye make up, and maybe a little blusher. For this review, I paired both shades with light, earthy eye shadow and winged black eyeliner, and I added a flush of healthy colour to my cheeks using Rimmel WAKE ME UP Instant Radiance Shimmer Touch in 004 Radiant Rose (click here to read my review, it's fabulous stuff!).

"02 Scorned."
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Now for the exciting bit. Let's talk colour! I am dying to share my photos of these shades with you, they're stunning...

02 Scorned: Sultry purple hues are another great choice for AW lipsticks. This deep berry shade is quirky, mysterious and sexy. Also, purple lip shades can create the illusion of whiter teeth!
(See photo above for a photo of this shade paired with my chosen make up.)
03 Revenge: For me, the best thing about AW is knowing that, whatever happens, the deep red lip will be on-trend. Vampy and seductive, you can't go wrong with a stunning maroon or burgundy lipstick (as long as you choose the right one and apply it properly!). You're sure to have the lads weak at the knees when you're sporting a ravishing shade like this!
(See photo above for a photo of this shade paired with my chosen make up.)

So, has my review convinced you to try these out? At prices this good, it's definitely worth giving them a whirl!

Click here to purchase Collection Cosmetics Gothic Glam Lipstick from the Collection Cosmetics website.

© Tuesday T. Bryan Photography
DO NOT USE IMAGES WITHOUT PERMISSION. Copyrighted material


By Tuesday T. Bryan.

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