Tuesday T. Bryan: moisture

Showing posts with label moisture. Show all posts

Friday, 8 November 2013

☆NEW Avon LUXE COUTURE Créme Lipstick; 3 shades; review + photos☆

I'm simultaneously writing this review and on hold to a mobile network company. I was going to name and shame them, but the fact that I'm calling to tell them I want to leave their network should be enough - at least I'll never have to phone them again!
[2 minutes later...] Finally! I'm off hold and the the call is done. Now I can focus on my writing.

Today's review is about a product from Avon's new make up range, the LUXE collection. Their "exclusive premium" range is out in time for Christmas, and it's a perfect way to treat yourself and your loved ones without breaking the bank!

The new range includes a ladies perfume, a jewelry roll, 10 shades of lipstick, 6 eyeshadow palettes, 2 liquid eyeliner shades, 2 mascara shades, 8 shades of lip gloss, a shimmer powder compact, and 5 shades of liquid foundation.

Today I will be reviewing Avon Luxe Couture Créme Lipstick in three shades; High Style Coral, Designer Red, and Stiletto Red.

"Silk-infused formula with pearlescent colour."

- Avon.

The first thing I noticed about these lipsticks is the glamorous golden packaging. It's gorgeous! All of the Luxe range products are presented in eye-catching, golden chrome-effect packaging. It's really stylish and makes the products appear much more high-end and expensive than they really are. They really do look like designer products! They look like accessories as opposed to just make up. It's very sleek and sophisticated (see image - top right).

Now, let's discuss the lipsticks themselves. The formula is divine! Avon say these lipsticks make the lips feel more voluptuous and as soft as silk, and they certainly live up to the claim! My lips felt deeply moisturised and nourished, both during and after wear. Some moisturising lipsticks don't have very good wear, they often don't stay in place very long and require re-applying regularly, however that is not the case with these lipsticks. I had to top up the colour every few hours and after eating, but otherwise the soft hue lasted for hours! Very impressive. So far, so good!

I chose these three shades because I thought "High Style Coral" looked irresistible in the brochure, and I picked the two red shades because I'm a sucker for red lips!

All the shades have a slightly sheer finish, but the colour can be layered to make the hue more intense.

"High Style Coral."
© Tuesday T. Bryan Photography
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☆High Style Coral: (images - right and end of blog) As I said previously, I had high expectations after spotting this shade in the brochure photos. Many times I've found that shades don't look as good in reality as they do in a brands' advertising images, and sometimes they look like a different shade altogether, however this shade didn't disappoint. It's a soft, sun-kissed, caramel shade that gives the lips a flattering pearly sheen.

"Designer Red."
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☆Designer Red: (Image - right) This bright, orange-toned red is a classic shade for the lips. It looks best paired with simple eye make up and pale, flawless skin. With the winter weather and the Christmas party season approaching, this shade is an ideal buy!

"Stiletto Red."
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☆Stiletto Red: (Image - below-right) This red is a more delicate than "Designer Red", but it's not at all subtle! For me, this shade worked perfectly with medium-dark neutral eye shadow and a rosey blusher. Again, this shade is great for Autumn/Winter make up.

Now, let's talk dollar. This range is a little more expensive than most Avon cosmetics. Everything released from the range so far will cost you between £6 and £16 at the normal prices, and these lipsticks will set you back £9.50 each. If you snap them up for the introductory prices they'll be a little cheaper, though.

So, with Christmas just around the corner, why not treat yourself or your loved ones to a little something special from Avon's new luxurious range?

Click here to purchase Avon Luxe Couture Créme Lipstick from avonshop.co.uk.

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Image - below: Here I am wearing Avon Luxe Couture Créme Lipstick in "High Style Coral". My blouse is from New Look. My gold chain was a gift. Excuse the forehead wrinkles, I don't know why I'm pulling such a stupid face.

Friday, 25 January 2013

Revlon Vital Radiance Moisture Boosting Lipcolor; 4 shades; reviews + photos

I really like Revlon's cosmetics. Their all-round quality never fails to impress me. I was browsing online for make up to buy and review, and I came across these little beauties; Revlon Moisture Boosting Lipcolor from their Vital Radiance collection. Apparently, Revlon decided to sink Vital Radiance in 2006, but they're still easy to find on the internet. I had high hopes for these "lipcolors" (I'm British, so spelling it "color" rather than "colour" doesn't feel right), and they didn't let me down!

As the name suggests, they're super moisturising; they come in a range of shades that look great all year round, but the moisturising quality makes these ideal for the cold dry winter air. They work wonders on my dry lips! They have a sophisticated glossy creme finish, especially "Cabernet", which gives my lips a lovely shine without them feeling uncomfortable; it appears have a thinner consistency than the lighter shades. However, this does make the darker shades a little difficult to apply without the use of a lip brush (I use Mac's 209 which is really an eyeliner brush), and I was constantly using my mirror to check I hadn't smudged my lips!

Revlon claim these lipsticks "brighten your face and leave your lips looking noticeably fuller". The colours are lovely, but I didn't notice any "brightening" effect so I can't really comment on whether they "brighten your face" (honestly it sounds a bit silly to me; brightening highlighters and foundations? Yes... Brightening lipsticks? No). However, they defiantly made my lips appear smoother which I love.

All four of my shades have fairly good staying power, some better than others. "Cabernet" needed quite a few minor touch-ups due to it's thin consistency and dark colour, where as I only needed to re-apply "Tea Rose" twice throughout my 18 hour day! I suppose it depends on how you apply it, your lip condition, and what you do during your day. Staying power isn't something these products boast about, so it wasn't my main concern.

Included with each lipstick is a little piece of paper with information about the product, tips on how to apply it, and a bit of info about other Vital Radiance lip products. I've added an image of the back and front of it to save me typing it all out (see image on the right).

Now, let's talk colours. I have this product in four shades; 002 Bare, 026 Tea Rose, 042 Glistening Berry, 048 Cabernet. Below are images of my lips sporting each shade and my short opinions on them...

002 Bare

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026 Tea Rose
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002 Bare: I do like this colour, but it's not bright enough for me to want to wear. It's has a fully opaque and super glossy finish.

048 Cabernet
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042 Glistening Berry
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026 Tea Rose: I really like this "pinky-nude" shade. It's an absolute winner for all year round. It's still not quite bright enough for me to feel comfort able to go out in though; beautiful as it may be, I don't quite feel myself in it.
042 Glistening Berry: This colour is stunning! It's a gorgeous dusky pink shade packed with golden shimmer, resulting in a beautiful opalescent finish. An amazing winter lip colour.
048 Cabernet: I really love this dramatic shade, deep bold reds are my favorite lip colours! However, the thin consistency makes neat application difficult without my MAC 209 brush (yes, I know it's for eyeliner, but it makes a killer lip brush), and I constantly worry about it smudging. If it had a matte finish rather than creme it would be perfect for me!

So, all-in-all, I think these are great little lipsticks. They may have their bad points, but for me, the pros outweigh the cons. As I said, Revlon scrapped Vital Radiance, but their Moisture Boosting Lipcolour lipsticks are still available from many places online. I found mine on Ebay. Get searching!

© Tuesday T. Bryan Photography
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By Tuesday T. Bryan.

Below: Myself in my bathroom mirror sporting Revlon Vital Radiance Lipcolour in "026 Tea Rose". Please note that I've toned down the colours in this image, the shade comes out more vibrant than it looks in the photo below! See the image above to see it's "true colour". My nail polish is No7 Speed Dry in "Iced Mocha". Also, notice I've taken my bridge piercing out? I got it done in 2007 and I got sick of it. :)

Friday, 4 January 2013

No7 lipsticks; reviews + photos; Moisture Drench | Stay Perfect | Wild Volume

No7 is one of my all time favorite make up brands. I love every cosmetic I own from them, and I own a lot. This review is about two shades of No7 Moisture Drench lipstick, and one shade of No7 Stay Perfect lipstick. I really wanted to share my thoughts on No7 Wild Volume lipstick, but it seemed a bit pointless seeing as they no longer sell it, so I've just done a "mini-review" at the end - I'm sure you'll be able to find it online somewhere!

So, my No7 Moisture Drench lipsticks are great. They really do moisturise my lips without drying them out afterwards (a problem I have frequently encountered with moisturising lipsticks). They also aren't "messy"; I've used similar lipsticks that are so packed with moisture that they are a pain to apply, they go everywhere when you eat and drink, and you're afraid to touch for fear of them smudging. Another thing I like about these is that they are fairly compatible with Lipcoat, an absolute must have for me being such a lipstick-junkie, whereas other moisture lipsticks will reject it. They are brilliantly bold and super glossy resulting in some really eye-catching colours.
120 Siren is my favorite of the two shades I'm reviewing. I absolutely 100% adore this colour. It's probably my favorite red lipstick of all time, and I have more red lipsticks than you could imagine. It's shiny, completely opaque, and super bright (probably not for you if you're a little shy of bright colours). If you're a red lipstick lover, this will make a gorgeous addition to you're make up bag!
75 Sugar Plum is a "dusky plum" shade; it's much more suitable if you're not so into bright colours, but it's still very bold and gorgeously glossy! I think this one is beautifully suited to fair skin tones, but I'm sure it would look fab on all of you.
No7 Moisture Drench Lipstick is available for £9.00 from Boots stores.

I own No7 Stay Perfect lipstick in "80 Cherry". It's a gorgeous rich shade of red; it's darker than "Siren", but it's still beautifully bold. It has a matte finish and it's sparkle-free, so if you like it shiny just use a little clear gloss over the top. It's is a very "sophisticated" shade, perfect for day or night.

It has such a silky soft texture, it's absolutely divine It really does stay put for hours, but I do like to touch it up throughout the day just to maintain that boldness. However, if you use Lipcoat over the top it doesn't need touching up at all! You don't need to worry about the colour transferring, bleeding or smudging, but be careful when applying it as these long lasting cosmetics can be a pain to correct! It doesn't dry out your lips like some similar cosmetics do, it actually gives quite a moisturising feel and makes my lips look healthy and hydrated. A clear winner, I'll defiantly be buying more shades!
No7 Stay Perfect Lipstick is available for £9.00 from Boots stores.

No7 Wild Volume lipstick in "25 Plum Blush": I'm so disappointed these lipsticks aren't sold anymore. The shades are amazing, they're really moisturising, the lipsticks last ages, they have good staying power, they're volumising (not that my lips need it) and they are vanilla scented - what more could you want?? I have it in 25 Plum Blush; I don't know what it is that I love so much about this shade, it's not usually what I'd go for, but I just adore it. It has a super-shiny finish which does reject my Lipcoat, but I'm still in love with it! No7, please bring these lipsticks back!
As previously mentioned, No7 Wild Volume lipstick is no longer available, but you may be able to find it online somewhere!

In the webcam photo below I am wearing No7 Moisture Drench Lipstick in "Sugar Plum" and Avon Nailwear Pro+ in "Golden Vision".

© Tuesday T. Bryan Photography
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By Tuesday T. Bryan.

Friday, 28 December 2012

Revlon ColourStay Overtime & Maybelline 18h SuperStay - lip colour reviews + photos

To give my lipstick staying power, Lipcoat is an absolute dream (it defiantly needs a review soon). And I pretty much hate lip gloss, the vast majority of them anyway, particularly the "wet look" ones that look like they're melting off your lips.
However, I quite like lip colours that are almost "a cross between lipstick and lip gloss". I understand that sounds quite vague, so I'm writing a review of two of the cosmetics I place in this category. These are Revlon ColourStay Overtime Lip Colour and Maybelline 18h SuperStay, both in two stunning shades of red. The photos just don't show how amazing these colours are. Click the photos to enlarge them and you'll get a better feel for what they're like.
(I've had both these products for quite some time, as the photos show!)

Revlon ColourStay Overtime Lip Colour in "On-Going Flame":
This colour is incredible. It's one of the most classically beautiful shades of red I own, and I own a lot. It's completely matte, so if you like a bit of sparkle this one probably isn't for you. You can also layer the colour; if you only apply a light coat it looks a slightly "pinky-red" colour, or you can apply a full coat to reveal a gorgeous bold red (see the "swatch photo" below for the colour variation).
I also like how quickly the colour dries. Some of these products take ages to dry before you can apply the top coat, which can be a real pain as you're meant to keep your lips apart while it dries, however this is not the case with Revlon's ColourStay.
The glossy top coat is great, too. It's completely clear with no shimmer or sparkle, and it gives a lovely shine to the red. It's non-sticky which is always a winner (I think sticky lip glosses were what made me dislike lip gloss so much).
It has incredible staying power; I apply mine in the morning and take it off before I go to bed, and even after 18+ hours wear that fabulous red is still as good as when I first applied it. You will need to touch up the gloss top coat after you eat, though.

Maybelline 18h SuperStay Lip Colour in "538 Crimson Crystal":

Now, if you're a lady who prefers some sparkle, you have to try this colour. It's the ultimate party shade of red - bright, bold, and packed with hot pink shimmer and has a bronzy undertone. You can layer this colour just as you can with Revlon ColourStay, but this is slightly less opaque so you will need to apply a bit more (again, see the "swatch photo" above for colour variation). I always wear two or three coats before applying the top coat.
Unlike the Revlon's product which drys quick as a flash, this product is pretty slow drying which is quite disappointing.

This colour does actually dry out my lips quite a lot, but this is where the top coat comes in. It's a fantastic moisturising balm which instantly hydrates your lips and gives a healthy looking shine. I prefer it to the Revlon ColourStay gloss top coat by far. I do find myself needing to reapply the top coat a lot throughout the day which can be irritating, but at least you'll never run out as can buy the top coat separately.
This product has some epic staying power, too. It does me proud on my 18+ hour days just as Revlon ColourStay does, however I do find it starts to flake a little if you don't keep reapplying the moisture top coat, especially after eating and/or when I've had it on for about 10 hours.

So, all in all, two great products in two gorgeous shades of red, both with amazing staying power. I love them. If I could combine the two, I'd take the Revlon product and replace the glossy top coat with Maybelline's moisturising top coat!

© Tuesday T. Bryan Photography
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By Tuesday T. Bryan.

Wednesday, 19 December 2012

☆Barbara Daly Moisture Foundation & Concealer + Avon Oil Control Powder - reviews + photos☆

I thought I'd do a review of my "everyday" foundation and concealer. I have lots of both types of these cosmetics, but Barbara Daly's are my most used and I wear them pretty much every day.

First off, my foundation. I use Barbara Daly Moisture Foundation in "Ivory".
It's always done me proud and I've bought it several times. It lasts ages, too - I've been on my current bottle for about 5 months and, although I wear it everyday, there is still loads left and it hasn't started to dry out or separate or any of that horrible stuff that some foundations start to do after you've had them "too long".
As the name suggests, it's moisturising. I actually rarely get dry skin, but it's great for keeping my skin hydrated in England's cold winter air.
It has a great consistency, too. It's quite thin and gives light-medium coverage, which I love as I like some of my freckles to show through, but it's also build-able and blend-able. It doesn't feel at all heavy on your skin, and it has great staying-power. It's also gives a matte finish, which is great if you have combination skin (like me!). The moisuriser absorbs quickly so you don't have to wait before you can continue applying your makeup, unlike some moisturisers and tinted foundations I've tried.
You apply it with a little sort-of spatula which is attached to the lid. You could then use a foundation brush or sponge, but I find it best just to work it in with your fingers.
Barbara Daly Moisture Foundation is available for £8.00 from Tesco stores and online.

Next, my Barbara Daly Concealer in "Fair".
I much prefer my concealers in pots than one's that you apply with a wand or a stick, so this one is a winner for me. I apply it straight with my fingers rather than using a brush as it's just easier to apply and blend. Again, it lasts ages - I bought this 5 months ago with my foundation and, although I use it daily, I still have over half left. It hasn't gone dry or horrible in any way, but make sure you apply it with clean fingers so you don't get anything unwanted in it.
It's seems ever-so slightly on the oily side, but it doesn't look or feel oily at all on the skin. The coverage is beyond perfect, it's super easy to blend, and gives a 100% matte finish. I use it under my eyes and on my lids - it has excellent staying-power and doesn't crease, and also helps my makeup to stay put for longer.
Barbara Daly Concealer is available for £5.00 from Tesco stores and online.

I always finish set my foundation and concealer with a powder, mainly to help control shine due to my slightly oily skin. My favorite product for this is Avon Colour Trend Oil Control Pressed Powder in "Translucent". It keeps shine at bay and, when used with my foundation and concealer, it gives my skin a totally flawless finish. I keep one in my makeup bag, one in my car and one in my handbag at all times so I can top it up when I need to.
Avon Colour Trend Oil Control Pressed Powder is available from your Avon representative or online. Prices vary.

...And here is an image of what the three products look like together! They're my perfect everyday combination.

Now, obviously I don't go out just looking like this, so I've uploaded a photo of today's finished makeup and my chosen products below...

- Barbara Daly Moisture Foundation in "Ivory"

- Barbara Daly Concealer in "Fair"
- Avon Colour Trend Oil Control Pressed Powder in "Translucent"
- Avon True Colour Eyeshadow Quad in "Attraction"
- Avon SuperShock Mascara in "Black"
- Avon Perfect Eyebrow Pencil in "Blonde"
- The Body Shop Cheek Bloom in "Desert Rose"
- No7 Moisture Drench Lipstick in "Siren"

Tuesday T. Bryan

Friday, 8 November 2013

☆NEW Avon LUXE COUTURE Créme Lipstick; 3 shades; review + photos☆

Friday, 25 January 2013

Revlon Vital Radiance Moisture Boosting Lipcolor; 4 shades; reviews + photos

Friday, 4 January 2013

No7 lipsticks; reviews + photos; Moisture Drench | Stay Perfect | Wild Volume

Friday, 28 December 2012

Revlon ColourStay Overtime & Maybelline 18h SuperStay - lip colour reviews + photos

Wednesday, 19 December 2012

☆Barbara Daly Moisture Foundation & Concealer + Avon Oil Control Powder - reviews + photos☆

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