Drugstore Stars | Sleek Makeup Blushes

Even as a professional makeup artist, I still love and regularly use products from the drugstore. Certain items have a permanent place in my kit and one brand that I love in particular is Sleek Makeup. When starting out, I looked towards Sleek to create a basic kit that was affordable and still of a high quality so that the standard of my work would not suffer. Now, even with the choice of purchasing higher end brands, certain Sleek products have maintained a permanent place in my kit. Their Blush by 3 Palettes are my favourite from the drugstore; for their price, performance and packaging. 

At £10 per palette, each blush equals to just over £3. This affordable trio is encased inside a fittingly sleek, slim and professional looking black palette. For £20 you can add 6 blushes to your kit; varying from matte to shimmer shades; coral to pink tones and options suitable for light, medium and dark skin tones. 

At such an affordable price, you would expect to have to cut corners in terms of quality and performance; but with Sleek this is not the case. I love the quality of these blushes and honestly can’t see myself replacing them for higher-end options any time soon as the only difference would be the noticeable hole left behind in my bank account.

(Shade : Lace)

For options in my kit, I bought two powder blush palettes and one containing cream blushes. The powder palettes I chose were Lace and Sugar. Lace is perfect for light skin tones and contains two matte shades; a coral and pink tone, and a gorgeous light pink with flecks of gold shimmer running through it. Sugar is ideal for warmer skin tones and contains two matte shades; a dark plum tone and a warm peach. The third shade is a pink-toned brown with gold shimmer running through it.

(Shade : Sugar)

The cream blush palette I have is Californ.I.A, which follows the same format of containing two matte options and one shade with a slight shimmer. The palette is the perfect combination of pink and coral toned blushes and can be used for adding colour to the cheeks or lips on light to medium skin tones.  

(Shade : Californ.I.A)

This is just a very brief selection of some of my favourite Sleek items. These blushes are intensely pigmented, blend seamlessly into the skin and I am yet to find a client or occasion that they have not worked brilliantly for. I honestly can’t see myself replacing these for other options any time soon. I would love to know all your thoughts on the brand and these blushes if you’ve tried them in the comments down below!

Devon 

xoxo

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My Top 4 : Budget Summer Lipsticks

As the weather is finally warming up, I have been enjoying wearing less makeup but adorning a bright lip for an effortless pop of colour that is perfect for this time of year. When the sun is out I like to skip the heavy coverage and opt for a tinted moisturiser before throwing on a vibrant pout, to look effortlessly polished and put together. For today's post I have rooted through my drugstore lipstick collection to find my top 4 choices for a bright, affordable Summer lipstick.

1. Revlon ColorStay Moisture Stain : ‘Rio Rush’ - £7.99

As someone who has always disliked the sticky, uncomfortable feeling of many glosses, these Moisture Stains are the perfect alternative. They create a high-shine, pigmented finish without leaving a tackiness on the lips. The bright colours are perfect for the warmer weather and I especially love ‘Rio Rush’; a bright yet wearable pink. 

The formulation of these stains are also ideal; they are creamy, moisturising and leave an impeccable shine without feeling heavy. An intense colour is left behind that stains your lips even once the shine has faded.

2. Revlon Super Lustrous Lipstick : ‘Cherries In The Snow’ - £7.49

This shade of the Super Lustrous range is my choice for a sheer finish during the warmer weather. It is one that I am sure most of you will have heard of before and has been a favourite of mine for some time. The shade is a bright, blue-toned pink and is amazingly moisturising, easy to apply and is the perfect finishing touch to a lazy, feminine summer look.

3. Revlon ColorBurst Matte Balm : ‘Elusive’ - £7.99

Incase it wasn’t already clear, I am a massive fan of Revlon and find their lip products to be one of the best at the drugstore. For a matte yet moisturising finish I like to opt for their balm in the shade ‘Elusive'; a soft, warm-toned pink. This is ideal for adding a subtle pop of colour to your look and leaves a velvety soft finish. The consistency is creamy and smooth without being sticky or slipping and you can rely on the colour to stay in place in the heat.

4. L’Oreal Paris Color Riche Matte Lipstick : ‘228 VIP’ - £6.99  

My final choice is another matte yet creamy option but this time in a coral shade.  I recently picked this up at my local boots, however I think it is a more recent release and so I couldn't find a link to it online.

As someone who rarely dares to wear an orange-toned lipstick, this was a new venture for me and one that I am definitely glad I tried out. It is the perfect coral with orange, pink and peachy undertones. The colour is buildable and I like to wear it either patted on to my lips for a subtle stain, or smoothed all over for a full, long-wearing pop of colour.

I hope this mini collection of budget summer lip colours helps inspire you on the lipsticks to refresh your collection with this season. I would also love to hear your thoughts as well as the drugstore lip products that you are currently loving down below!

(Left to Right : Cherries in the Snow, Rio Rush Moisture Stain, Elusive, L'Oreal 228 VIP)

Devon

xoxo

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Drugstore Stars | L'Oreal L'Extraordinaire Liquid Lipsticks

I constantly find myself lost in the makeup aisles of Boots, mesmerised by the choice and damaging my bank account in a quest to test the latest drugstore offerings. Without a doubt, my true makeup weakness will always be lipstick and I can simply never resist adding to my collection. A love for both high street makeup and all lip products has resulted in my sharing of the lipsticks I rate as top of the drugstore. I have already talked all about the Revlon Super Lustrous, ColorBurst Matte Balms and Rimmel Lasting Finish By Kate. Today’s post is dedicated to another favourite of mine; the L’Oreal L’Extraordinaire Liquid Lipsticks by Color Riche. 

This Liquid Lipstick formulation is essentially meant to have the pigmentation of a lipstick, the high-shine finish of a gloss and the moisturise of a balm. I can happily conclude that it wins on all three tests. Each shade I have tried reveals an amazingly intense colour, is surprisingly comfortable to wear and lasts for 3-4 hours before I have to reapply. They have the shine of a gloss without the unbearable stickiness and I have the lowdown on my three favourite shades.

Starting with the first of the collection I ever tried is the shade 500 ‘Molto Mauve’. This is the perfect pink toned nude with a slight brown undertone and I have worn this endlessly since I purchased it. It is my go to shade for both day and night whenever I am in a rush and need a shade I can rely on to look perfect with whatever else I am wearing. As someone with pale skin who steers clear of nude lipsticks out of fear of looking ill, I have a small collection that I dare to wear and happily place Molto Mauve at the top of the list. 

Next is a shade perfect for the current season, as the weather transitions into Spring I love to brighten up my makeup bag by wearing pink and coral lipsticks. The shade 201 ‘Rose Symphony’ is a gorgeous pink that is bright yet still entirely wearable. This makes it perfect for the daytime as it will lighten up your look without drawing too much attention.

Finally, as a lover of deep red and berry toned lipsticks, I was powerless to resist the shade 304 ‘Ruby Opera’. This is a blue-toned deep red and is stunning when worn at the forefront of an otherwise basic look. As far as red lips go, I find this one surprisingly easy to wear due to the formulation as it is comfortable and moisturising on the lips. I often choose this for an effortless evening look or when I wish to look slightly more put together during the day. 

Not only do the formulation and shades win here, but I am also a fan of the packaging. These liquid lipsticks are encased inside a gold, reflective bullet with a strip of the colour on the front. The soft, small wand you will find inside picks up just the right amount of product to apply an opaque layer with one swipe. 

500 'Molto Mauve'

201 'Rose Symphony'

304 'Ruby Opera'

(Left to Right: Ruby Opera, Molto Mauve, Rose Symphony)

These liquid lipsticks are a firm drugstore favourite of mine. I love the variety of the shades, the intense colour and silky soft, comfortable to wear formulation. I hope you enjoyed this Drugstore Stars instalment and I would love to know your thoughts. Have you tried these and what are your favourite drugstore lip products?

Devon

xoxo

Other Drugstore Stars Posts:

Revlon Super Lustrous Lipsticks

Rimmel Lasting Finish by Kate

Revlon ColorBurst Matte Balm Stains

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Drugstore Stars | Revlon ColorBurst Matte Balm

As a lover of drugstore lipsticks, I have tried my fair share and this is the next instalment in my series of sharing the lipsticks I crown as top of the drugstore. I have already dedicated posts to my love for the Revlon Super Lustrous and Rimmel Lasting Finish by Kate; now I want to talk all about the Revlon Matte Balm Stains. 

These Balms are in the same sleek packaging as the original stains and are a simple chubby lip crayon. They are available in 10 stunning shades ranging from entirely nude to a bright, bold red and are a bargain priced at only £7.99. Like any large lip crayon, they are easy to swipe on and, even if wearing a slightly darker colour, apply with ease and are perfect if you are in a rush. For these editions, the casing is in a smooth, matte finish in the same colour as the lipstick.

The formulation of the matte versions are surprisingly moisturising and create a velvety finish without drying out your lips. They are infused with moisture due to a triple complex of Shea, Mango and Coconut butter, meaning that you are left with a smooth, opaque wash of colour that is comfortable to wear and doesn't crease. They wear amazingly well and I find that I rarely have to touch up throughout the day

These are my current favourite three shades from the collection. Firstly, 250 'Standout' a bright, true red shade that creates a slightly retro look due to the velvety finish. I adore this shade and it is often my go to red lip as it is so easy to apply and I can rely on the balm to stay in place all day.

(Standout)

I also love the shade 225 'Sultry', a rosy brown that would suit any skin tone and works perfectly either as an everyday colour or paired with a smokey eye in the evening. It creates a finish that is slightly darker than your natural lip colour whilst remaining subtle and suitable for any occasion.

(Sultry)
Finally the shade 205 'Elusive' is a new yet permeant addition to my collection. This is a light, baby pink that creates a soft finish that is not sickly sweet or too reminiscent of Barbie pink. This looks gorgeous paired with a neutral eye during the day and could either be worn alone or with a pink gloss on top for a more intensive finish. 

(Elusive)

(Left to Right: Elusive, Sultry, Standout)

I hope you all enjoyed this mini review and I would love to hear all about your favourite lipsticks! You can also get in touch over Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.

Devon 

xoxo

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Drugstore Stars | Rimmel Lasting Finish By Kate

As a champion of drugstore makeup and a secret lipstick hoarder, I have without a doubt tried my fair share of high street lip products. From Maybelline to Max Factor, satin to matte and balm to stain, I have trailed them all and want to share the lipsticks that I crown as best at the drugstore. I already dedicated a post to my love of the luxurious Revlon Super Lustrous, now I want to talk all about the equally amazing and even more of a bargain Rimmel Lasting Finish by Kate Moss.

These lipsticks are intensely pigmented with a rich, long-lasting colour all for a wallet friendly £5.49. The formula is infused with black diamonds that reflect the light to create a stunning, multi-tonal shine. The lipstick is available in 13 mesmerising shades, ranging from soft nudes to deep berry-toned reds and bright pinks. It is also available in 4 matte shades, which create the perfect velvety finish and mean that there is truly an option to suit everyone. 

The first I ever bought from this range was in fact from the matte collection, shade 107 a gorgeous deep red. This comes in a red bullet with a slanted top that is stamped with the Rimmel London crest and Kate’s signature is spiralled across the lid. I adore these bullets; they are smooth, weighty and are a stunning addition to any makeup collection.

(Shade: matte 107)

These have an incredible wear time, although as they are matte they can dry out your lips. However this is easily fixed by simply wearing a nourishing lip balm before and after you wear this gorgeous shade. 

The main line of the Lasting Finish Lipsticks come in a black version of the same sleek bullet. They are intensely moisturising, amazingly pigmented and wear well with only the odd touch up needed throughout the day. 

(Shade: 30)

As a lover of the classic red lip, I was powerless to resist the shade 30 when I spotted it amongst the Rimmel display and it swiftly became my favourite dark lip. This is a stunning wine red with berry undertones. 

(Shade: 03)

One of my favourite nude lipsticks is also a member of the Lasting Finish collection; the shade 03 is the perfect balance between a pink and brown toned nude. The slight pink undertone stops this from being too light and causing you to look ill, but rather creates the perfect moisturised shine for a ‘your lips but better’ finish. 

(Shade: 08)

A final and long-time favourite of mine is the shade 08, a gorgeous mauve tone that adds a slightly darker colour to your lips without being overly obvious. This is the perfect shade for day or night and one that I have adorned endlessly since I purchased. 

(Left to right: 107, 30, 08, 03)

I really believe that for little more than a fiver you receive an amazing product and I hope you all enjoyed this mini review of the Lasting Finish Lipsticks. I would love to hear what you think in the comments below as well as your favourite drugstore brands. I read and appreciate all of your comments. You can also read all about my top Drugstore Red Lipsticks and top Nude Lipsticks to help find the perfect one for you.

Devon

xoxo

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Drugstore Stars | Revlon Super Lustrous Lipsticks

This short post is dedicated to talking about my current favourite drugstore lipstick brand; the Revlon Super Lustrous. These gems are available in 82 gorgeous shades as well as the choice of a peal, matte, crème or shine finish. Once you buy one you won't be able to stop till you own them all!

I want to start by talking about the packaging. These lipsticks feel and look so much more expensive than they are. The sleek black and gold bullet is reminiscent of Channel and the ultimate edition to any makeup collection. It is a truly glamorous and luxurious lipstick and a bargain at only £7.49.

Moving on from the gorgeous packaging; the lipstick itself is of an amazing quality. Each shade is richly pigmented to produce an intense, opaque colour with just one swipe. The formulation is creamy with ingredients such as Vitamin E and Avocado oil that nourish the lips with moisture. This means that they are extremely comfortable to wear and not at all tacky. Even when wearing a darker shade I can easily forget that I am wearing a lipstick at all. Not only do they have an excellent colour pay off, but they are also long-lasting and I find that I rarely have to reapply throughout the day.

In this post I am going to share my three favourite shades. Firstly I adore the shade 440 'Cherries in the Snow'; a gorgeous blue toned red with a crème finish. This looks stunning on the lips and surprisingly sophisticated. Next is the shade 028 'Cherry Blossom'; a slightly orange toned classic red in a pearl finish. Lastly is 460 'Blushing Mauve', I adore mauve toned lipsticks and prefer wearing them over a brown nude. The pearl finish of this one in particular leaves a gorgeous glossy colour that is slightly darker than your natural lip colour.   

(Cherries in the Snow)

(Blushing Mauve)

(Cherry Blossom)

I think Revlon storms ahead when it comes to drugstore lip products. Whether it be the infamous lip butters or gorgeous balm stains, they are always a winner. Their Super Lustrous lipsticks however are my favourite by far and I definitely feel as though they do not receive the hype they deserve!

(Left to right: Cherry Blossom, Cherries in the Snow, Blushing Mauve)

I would love to hear what you think about them and the shades that you have tried. Also, tell me what your favourite brand is at the minute as I am always dying to find new amazing lip products.

Devon

xoxo

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