Red-Lip Combo

 

Elizabeth Arden Color Intrigue Lipstick in 'Geranium Shimmer'

&

Laura Mercier Lip Glace in 'Petal'

I don't normally wear red lipstick, at all. If I do it's because I have to at work, but as I had the E.Arden lipstick lying around just never being used, I decided to see what it'd look like toned down with a golden shimmery gloss. (And Laura Mercier's lip glaces smell diviiiiiine)

 

What's your favourite red lip combo?

Estée Lauder GWP - Debenhams

 

Free Estee Lauder gift set worth £60

(when you purchase any 2 Estée Lauder products)

Offer ends 19/03/11, Debenhams

 Free gift includes:

Time Zone Line & Wrinkle Reducing Creme SPF 15

Advanced Night Repair serum

Advanced Night Repair eye cream

Pure Color eyeshadow palette

Pure Color Long Lasting Lipstick

Sumptuous Bold Volume Lifting mascara (mini)

Cosmetics bag

& a generous-sized compact mirror!

The 2 products I decided to purchase were; Pure Color Longlasting Lipsticks, in shades Vanilla Truffle & Apricot Sun. Debenhams had a store event on where cosmetics were reduced by 10%, so that was a nice bonus :-)

 

 [Left: Vanilla Truffle. Right: Apricot Sun]

The claim:

TRUE VISION™ COLOR

• Maximised colour impact
• Magnified vibrancy, clarity and dimension
• Amplified brilliance

INDULGES YOUR LIPS
In 2 seductive finishes:

• Satin, Lasting Creme
• Lustrous, Lasting Shimmer

Medium-to-full, buildable coverage.

• Long-lasting wear
• Fade-resistant

 Swatch: Vanilla Truffle - a gorgeous, soft creamy nude.

 Swatch: Apricot Sun - glossy, shimmery, slightly darker & more pink than Vanilla Truffle.

What strikes me first with these lipsticks is how soft & creamy they are upon the lips - so much more pleasant to wear than other lipsticks I've tried.

Estée Lauder Signature Hydra Lustre Lipstick & Purifying Mud Foam Cleanser

Signature Hydra Lustre Lipstick - 01 Pink Sand

  

"Colour so creamy, it seduces every curve of your lips."

 Estée Lauder also claim that: "You know this is an extraordinary lipstick from the moment it touches your lips.

• Full-coverage colour has true character and depth.
• Finish is lustrous for a smooth, sophisticated shine.
• Rich, hydrating formula feels light and comfortable.
• Hours of moisture. Hours of wear."

My new favourite lipstick - I love the creamy texture, the classy packaging and the soft sophisticated colour. However, the downsides to this are its smell/taste on the lips, and the fact it actually isn't that long-lasting... I found after a couple of drinks I already needed to re-apply. 

As much as I love this lipstick, I'm not sure I'd re-purchase to be honest, as the price is quite steep and I'm sure there are cheaper nude/pink alternatives out there, albeit less creamy and moisturising.

As there was a Gift Time promotion offer on in Boots (buy 2 products to recieve sample-sized products & a travel/makeup bag), I also bought the 
'Sparkling Clean Purifying Mud Foam Cleanser' (£19).

"The right Estée Lauder cleanser sweeps away impurities in a burst of refreshment.

It works gently, without stripping essential lipids away from your skin.

Skin is left feeling cushioned, primed, ready to maximize the benefits of the formulas that follow."

This smells gorgeous and leaves the face feeling really refreshed. I also love that it doesn't leave the skin feeling too dry/stripped  - and I can already tell this product is gonna last for AGES! You only need a small amount to massage into the face and the tube is fairly large. Pricey (what the heck...I love Estée Lauder), but worth it for this cleanser.

Clarins July GWP - HOF/ Revlon Colorburst Lipstick

House of Fraser have a Clarins GWP offer on at the moment - a free cosmetics bag including 4 trial-sized products. There are 3 different coloured bags to choose from, and each set comes with different products.

I chose the hot pink and recieved free trial-sized 'Extra-Firming Day Cream', 'Instant Smooth Perfecting Touch base', 'Pure Melt Cleansing gel', and 'Extra-Firming Tightening Lift Botanical Serum'.

The 2 products I purchased to recieve my free gift were the 'Hydra-Care Tinted Moisturiser' in shade 'Peche' (£25.00) and 'Perfect Shine Sheer Lipstick' in 'Melon' (£15.50).

I am yet to use much of my 'Hydra-Care Tinted Moisturiser' as I'm still currently using Estee Lauder's Double-Wear one, but upon trying this out I find that it feels really light on the skin & nourishing with a smooth texture. Due to its coverage I'd only use this on its own on good skin days! (which isn't often enough)

The packaging is a little dull as with many of Clarins skincare products... but I'm just being fussy now.

'Perfect Shine Sheer Lipstick' in 'Melon'

This lipstick claims to "deliver sheer colour and silky-smooth shine. Deeply moisturizing and long-wearing for softer, more comfortable lips."

It definitely provides sheer colour and appears silky-smooth, however I do find it drying and doesn't last as long as I'd hoped for considering the price-tag. I am pleased I bought this though - the packaging is sleek and I love the fresh (& glittery) colour.

REVLON COLORBURST LIPSTICK

'Baby Pink'

'Blush'

I've never really bought any Revlon make-up before but after hearing many good reviews about these new lipsticks I thought I'd give a couple a try - and I love them! I alternate between the two but I'd say I use the 'Baby Pink' more as it's slightly more flattering (in the flesh anyway!)

Pros

• Good pigmentation
• Moisturising
• Glides on smooth
• Sleek packaging
• No off-putting scent
• Not too matte, nor shimmery
• Doesn't feel heavy on the lips
• Fairly long-lasting
• Value for money
• Wide range of shades available

Cons

The only thing I could say is that the colour shown on the packaging doesn't really match to the actual colour of the lipstick - you'd need to actually look through the testers to see what the colour's really like. I'd like it to last a little longer too - but for the price it was (and Boots & Superdrug are offering £2 off at the moment) you can't really complain!