MooGoo - Strawberry Tinted Lip Balm

This is a tinted lip balm with no camphor, paraffins, parabens, or phenoxyethanol.
It has all natural ingredients.

It has a subtle, red tint from beetroot and a wonderful strawberry scent.

A swatch so you can see how tinted it is.

I really like this lip balm!


Price: 4/5 ($5.50 for 5g)
Scent: 5/5
Effectiveness: 5/5

Art Break! - Sleigh Gift Box and Present Gift Box

This is a two part post!

Part 1: Sleigh Gift Box

This is a simple idea for when you have a gift already purchased for someone but want to add a little extra effort/ personal touch to it.
Great for a hamper and/or you have many boxes in your house (certainly saves on wrapping paper).

To start, get a box big enough to hold your gift/s.

Standard box.

Then use a marker to draw where you need to cut to make the box into the right shape. Don't worry about the marker being all over the box, this puppy is getting painted.

Cut off the excess box and cut out the runners and other decorative bits you want from the scrap cardboard.

I cut out one side and used it as a stencil for the other to get close to symmetry.

I'm going with a gold and red sleigh, but you can pick any colours you like.
I painted the outside of the sleigh red, the inside gold, and the accessories gold.

Then we glue our accessories on and Voilà!

Runners are up on the side because I don't need it to be like a real Sleigh.

Then you just load up your goodies, add a little tissue paper, and you have a festively prepared gift!

Part 2: Present Gift Box

This is for when you have a box that fits the item perfectly and don't want to use wrapping paper.
A more structured twist on the classic look.

I painted the box itself blue (because the recipient's favourite colour is blue).

I cut up an empty toilet roll (it was just going to be recycled anyway) into the loops and curls of a ribbon and painted them gold.

I also cut out some stars from some thin cardboard and painted them gold too.

Finally, we glue the 'ribbon' and stars on and done!

I love the way it looks!

Verdict: They loved them!

Catrice Cosmetics - ICONails Gel Lacquer - 05 It's All About That Red - Nail Polish

A nail polish from the June Glossybox!

This is a high-shine, fire-engine red which requires more than one coat to be opaque.

It claims to last 7 days  without a top coat... I'm going to give it a big test and wear it under my dish gloves for 9 hours of work (with the heat from an industrial dish-washer)!

And it was destroyed immediately!

Price: 5/5 ($4.39 for 10.5mL)
Scent: 1/5 (don't sniff it, normal nail polish smell)
Effectiveness: 2/5

Essie - Nail Lacquer - Too Too Hot

This is a cool-toned hot red (red that you almost think might be a pink, but isn't).

Two coats and you can still see the cross.
Note: texture is a reaction with the plastic, not the polish itself.

Price: 1/5 ($16.95 for 13.5mL)
New Name: Red Light District
Effectiveness: 4/5

Covergirl - Blast Flipstick - Lipstick - 840 Stunner

This is two lipsticks in one, meant to be blended together.

One is a fire engine red and the other is a shimmery gold.
The red has some glitter in it and is thus a little chunky, it won't give you a smooth finish.
The gold is a bit better, and if put over the red, helps to hide the poor finish.

On nude lips.

The coverage of the red is great though.
Price: ** no longer sold **
Scent: 4/5 (faint marshmallow)
Effectiveness: 3.5/5

Covergirl - Colorlicious Lipstick - Hot 305

This is a hot red lipstick that has good colour intensity and good coverage.

It is a nice, bright red lip colour!

Price: 2.5/5 ($16.95 for 3.5g)
Scent: 2/5 (generic lipstick scent)
Effectiveness: 4.5/5

Same Product, Different Colour - Bianca J Professional - Lip Liner - BJLL2

This is a red-brown lip liner that goes on smooth, has a good colour intensity and seems more red when on.

***** This product could be reviewed thanks to the raunchy, informative and gorgeous Miss Smut Buttons! *****

Same Product, Different Colour - Bianca J Professional - Lip Liner - BJLL1

This is a smooth, red lip liner that works like a dream!

Swatch!

***** This product could be reviewed thanks to the raunchy, informative and gorgeous Miss Smut Buttons! *****

Estée Lauder - Pure Colour Lipstick - Maraschino

Like the least impressive Sherlock Holmes, I found out what this lipstick was.

But I look better in lipstick.

The packaging had long since lost any identification on it.

It is a lovely cool toned brick red shade.

Even though it is old, it is still super creamy and full coverage!

Over the Bianca J Professional lip liner in BJLL1.

And it lasts! It stays on so well!


This is the type of lipstick that just won't quit!

There are still Pure Colour lipsticks, but not in this shade and I cannot speak to their quality.

Price: 1/5 (~$52)
Scent: 5/5 (smells like sweet cherry)
Effectiveness: 5/5

***** This product could be reviewed thanks to the raunchy, informative and gorgeous Miss Smut Buttons! *****

Models Prefer - Nail Enamel - VIP

This is a cool-toned red that is in no way opaque after two coats.

Two coats and you can still clearly see the cross.

Price: 5/5 ($1.10 for 7mL)
New Name: Scarlet Letter
Effectiveness: 2/5

Elizabeth Arden - Color Intrigue - Dare

I think my one may be a bit old, its quite dry.
It pulls on my lips when I try to put it on.

The colour is a brick red with a slight gold shimmer, which always looks like a 'more mature' colour.

Lip stick over BJLL4 lip liner.

This isn't really a shade I can pull off.

Swatch.

It also smells like house paint, not that desirable to have on your face.

The resulting colour is patchy and wears off quickly.

I think this is a pass for me.

Price: 2/5 ($20 for 4 g)
Scent: 1/5
Effectiveness: 1/5

***** This product could be reviewed thanks to the raunchy, informative and gorgeous Miss Smut Buttons! *****

Models Prefer - Nail Enamel - Hot Right Now

This is a slightly orange-toned red that is not opaque AT ALL.

Two coats.

Price: 5/5 ($1.10 for 7mL)
New Name: Racy Negligee
Effectiveness: 1/5

Sally Hansen - Complete Salon Manicure - 610 - Red Zin

This is a dark red/ blood red shade that looks wonderfully vampy!

Because it is by Sally Hansen, it is good quality.

Nice colour intensity, dries relatively quickly, and has a good shine.

It does require two coats for opacity.

Price: 1/5 ($14.95 for 14.7mL)
Scent: 0/5 (don't smell it)
Effectiveness: 4/5

Same Product, Different Colour - Revlon - Ultra HD - Matte Lipcolour - Romance

This is a cooler toned red than the 'Love' shade.

Photo taken in bright sunlight.

I love the colour intensity of this line!

Swatch!