Top Red Lipstick Picks

I do love a red lip and I have always believed that red lipstick gives you a confidence boost - as long as you're wearing the right shade of course! If I have an important meeting or a big night out, more often than not, you will see me sporting a red lip for sure.

Of course, being a lipstick junkie and a beauty blogger, translates to being constantly on the hunt for more lipsticks to home. At this precise moment in time, I own 22 red lipsticks. There was a time not too far away when I owned way more but I had to clear out my stash for lack of space mainly.

Without further ado, here are my top pricier red lipsticks, their drugstore dupes and matching lip liners ;)

You probably already guessed the first one up...it's MAC Ruby Woo. The cult favourite matte pillar box red needs no introduction as it suits a variety of skin tones. A dupe for it would be Catrice Matt Lip Artist 6hr in 050 Fashion Reditorial. It provides the same matte finish and the colour is pretty close. To seal the deal with these two, Make Up Store Lip Liner in Burlesque has a matte finish and is an exact match.

Next is one that I've had in my stash for a few years now and it is still one of my most used lipsticks. My parents had gotten me the Givenchy Rouge Interdit 20 Illicit Raspberry one Christmas, making it the first high-end lipstick in my collection. A less costly alternative is Max Factor Marilyn Lipstick, 4 Marilyn Cabernet. The perfect matching lipliner for this pair is Essence Lipliner 08 Red Blush.

Next is another MAC matte lipstick - D For Danger. This is one of the darkest reds I own and I love how such reds look paired with a classic smokey eye. The dupe? No other than Flormar Extreme Matte Lipstick 07 Haute Burgundy while for lipliner, I would recommend Flormar Waterproof Liner in No. 205.

I cannot not mention the Christian Louboutin Lipstick in Rouge Louboutin. Of course the price of this one may not be what everyone is willing to spend on a lipstick but I'm going to justify it by saying it is one of the most beautiful pieces in my collection and that the colour lasts throughout the whole time I wear it. A very affordable dupe come from Italian makeup brand KIKO - Glossy Dream Sheer Lipstick 206. Of course you will need to build up the colour to achieve the intensity of the Louboutin lipstick but they are a pretty close match. To achieve the look with a little less effort, applying Catrice Long Lasting Lip Pencil Waterproof 130 Prince Cherry all over the lips underneath the KIKO lipstick will definitely help!

Those were the top red lipstick picks from my collection. Are there any more red lipstick fans out there? 

Review | The Body Shop Drops of Light Pure Translucency Essence Lotion

Skin care is one of my favourite areas in the beauty world and I really like to keep abreast with what's new and right now, essences seem to be all the range.

What are these essences? I hear you ask. Not to be confused with cream moisturisers, they are somewhat watery fluids which help the skin maintain its moisture levels. Many skin care brands recommend you apply an essence right after cleansing to seal in moisture and prepare the skin for the treatments to follow.

One such product I am currently using in my skin care routine, is The Body Shop Drops of Light Pure Translucency Essence Lotion. It comes in a clean white bottle, which may I add, looks very nice in my bathroom. The lotion has a very watery consistency and is transparent in colour.

The Body Shop Drops of Light Pure Translucency essence lotion contains red algae extract which are known to be rich in Vitamin C as well as other nutrients and minerals that are beneficial for our skin's well being. These same extracts also help brighten the skin, giving it a more even tone.

I like to apply it with my fingertips, smooth it onto my skin, then gently pat to help it get absorbed and boost circulation. It is recommended to use this essence lotion day and night on cleansed skin, which is exactly the way I use it and I feel my skin looks much plumper ever since I started using this product. I have also noticed a decrease in sebum production as my skin is always thoroughly moisturised.

If you get one thing from The Body Shop's skin care range, make sure it's this essence lotion which is also suitable for sensitive skin.

The Body Shop outlets are located in Paola, Valletta, Bugibba, Sliema and Arkadia, Gozo.

PR Sample

December Collective Haul

I meant to publish the December posts before departing to London but I didn't manage for I was all over the place for the whole month of December so here is the third post for the day to show you what I bought. There will be a separate post for what I got for Christmas and all the things I bought while in London so do watch out for that in the coming days.

First up are the fashion items as I do not have that many for I tried to save money to spend in London. I got this River Island bag and scarf from their online sale as they were really a couple of nice bargains and I can get a lot of uses out of them.

I also treated myself to one of the Ganutell scarves from local designers Charles & Ron and I have already worn it a couple of times and got a good number of compliments on it. I admit it is a little pricey for a scarf but there is nothing wring in splurging every once in a while ;)

I also bought this set of earrings from Accessorize mainly because of the large snowflakes which are my favourites from the whole set and I also bought this dainty gold Fossil necklace from Sunlab.

Moving on to the beauty items, I want to share with you what I got from the Pupa Milano Christmas Collection Stay Gold! Of course I couldn't pass up the Diamond Dust and Golden Plumage nail polishes so I got those as well as this beautiful burgundy Multiplay Eye Pencil in shade 67. I was also given this cute lip shaped I'm keyring with my purchase :)

I also have something from each of this year's The Body Shop Christmas collections - Glazed Apple, Frosted Plum and Frosted Cranberry and I also got a bottle of Lightening Drops to adjust darker foundations.

I placed an order on kosmetik4less.de along with Marija from Pocalocca and I got some items from Essence & Catrice which I cannot wait to review for you guys. I also bought a backup of the La Roche Posay Ultrafine Scrub and a bottle of China Glaze Don't Get Elfed Up from their Christmas 2015 collection.

More nail stuff from Born Pretty Store which includes new nail art decorations, a new stamper and scraper and a stamping plate, some nail vinyls, chrome nail polish, holographic nail polishes and a makeup palette and spatula set.

That's it for my December haul ladies! Keep your eyes peeled for the London haul ;)

Monthly Favourites | December

In my favourites post, I usually write about the beauty products that I would have enjoyed using most throughout the month. However, for this edition, I am going to start the post with some fashion items that I have literally been super obsessed with. First off, these River Island tassel loafers that literally go with everything and are super comfortable and stylish - they really have been my favourite pair of shoes this month. Another River Island purchase I am currently obsessed with is this fold-over cross-body bag which also features tassels and is great for both day and night use. The Charles&Ron scarf from their Ganutell collection is also a favoruite of mine as of late and I have quite a number of outfits planned around it which I cannot wait to wear! The last fashion related item I wanted to share with you is this dainty gold neckalce from Fossil at Sunlab which I have been wearing almost everyday as it looks good with practically anything!

Now onto the beauty products. So, my favourite eyeshadow palettes this month have been the Essence All About Greys and All About Bronze palettes (and now I'm really excited to try the All About Vintage palette) as well as the Sleek i-Divine Enchanted Forest. All of the palettes feature highly pigmented eyeshadows at small prices and I really like the quality of all three of them with respect to longevity. The Essence Merry Berry Eyeshadows have also made quite a number of appearances in my makeup looks this month as did the Catrice Deluxe Eyeshadow Trio in 010 Antique C'est Tres Chic.

I have also really enjoyed using the Essence Gel Eyeliner Waterproof in the shades 01 Black Blaze and 05 Gunmetal. These are just the best eyeliners I have ever used - they stay on all day even in the waterline without a chance of them budging! The last eye product I wanted to share is the Catrice Fixing Brow Wax which keeps my brows in place all day.

I have rediscovered an old favourite too, the Sleek Antique blush which is the perfect shade of warm pink during winter. It also has a hint of shimmer which I really don't mind as it makes my skin glow. Speaking of glow, I have also enjoyed using the Essence Merry Berry Highlighter which is not overpowering at all and offers just a subtle hint of shimmer so it is perfect for those who prefer a more muted approach to highlighting.

Also from the Merry Berry collection, the lipstick in the shade 01 Let The Berry-Tales Begin has been my favourite this month along with MAC D for Danger.

The Body Shop Frosted Plum hand cream is the last favourite I have to share with you for this month. I love how good this smells and how soft and moisturised my hands feel after using this - pity it is limited edition!

What were your favourites for the last month of the year?

Event | Essence & Catrice Cosmetics Fall/Winter Products Launch

If there is a company for whose events I am always excited for, that is PharmaMT, the company behind Essence, Catrice and Lierac in Malta. Last week, it was time for the launch of the fall/winter products from sister cosmetics brands Essence and Catrice. And what better way than to spend a sunny November afternoon with a High Tea served at the elegant Hilton Quarterdeck Bar?

photos by Mark Pace

Brand manager Daniela guided us through the new launches and we were able to sample most of the products on the spot whilst enjoying herbal tea, coffee, water and array of delicious sandwiches, sweet treats and cakes, melted chocolate, clotted cream and jam. We were also given a goodie bag each and whatever products that were on display that we liked, we were able to take home with us.

Expect some exciting new product reviews! Follow Essence & Catrice on Facebook to keep updated with new product launches!

All of us bloggers with Brand Manager Daniela
photo by Mark Pace

Review | Essence Merry Berry Trend Edition Christmas 2015

One of the Christmas makeup collections I really wanted this year is the Merry Berry Trend Edition from Essence Cosmetics, a brand which is most definitely not new to this blog. As soon as I first saw pictures of this collection on a French blog, I knew I wanted to get my hands on it! 

I'm all about berry tones in winter and I was glad to see this collection deviating from the usual reds that this time of year is synonymous with. Let's have a look at the products that make up this collection, then proceed to swatches and pictures of the products I got. 

The star products in this collection are the highlighter and the scented gold dust powder but all products are packaged really pretty with the exception of the hair fragrance which has quite a plain appearance that contrasts with the glitz of the other products.

First up, the eyeshadows. There are two shades in the collection:

01 The Perfect Dress - light taupe/sand beige with a satin finish

02 The Masked Ball - aubergine purple with a satin finish

  Essence Merry Berry Trend Edition Eyeshadows
01 The Perfect Dress, left | 02 The Masked Ball, right

The transparent cases are quite simple but I still like them for the embossed confetti-like motifs on the eyeshadows and the actual colours still show through. I was surprised to see that these eyeshadows are not powdery as other Essence eyeshadows tend to be and that they have very good pigmentation and staying power. They cost €2.10 each for 2.5g of product.

Next is the Scented Gold Dust Powder which is only available in one nuance, 01 I Love My Golden Pumps. I'll admit this was an impulse buy just because it looks so cute, like an old perfume bottle! I will probably never use this to go out but when I tried it, one pump delivers quite an abundance of gold glitter and there is a good chance that your surroundings will end up all sparkly too. This product can be used on both hair and body. I really liked the vanilla scent this carries and just because it looks so chic, it has taken up permanent residence on my vanity. This costs €3.70.

Essence Merry Berry Trend Edition Scented Gold Dust Powder 01 I Love My Golden Pumps

Since the stand I bought them from was still intact when I went to buy the collection, I managed to get my hands on all three lipsticks. All three are in berry shades in keeping in line with the theme of the collection and I can say they are really up my alley! I like that the outer case is a true representation of the colour of the actual lipstick and has a satin matte appearance and the gold ring at the middle really adds a nice, festive touch! The three shades are:

01 Let The Berry-Tales Begin - deep burgundy purple with a creme finish

02 Pink & Perfect - straight up magenta with a creme finish

03 Red Rocks - raspberry pink with a creme finish

  Essence Merry Berry Trend Edition Lipsticks
L to R: 01 Let The Berry-Tales Begin | 02 Pink & Perfect | 03 Red Rocks

All three are very wearable shades and I think they will look good with many winter looks. The formula is very creamy and they last for a good 3 hours or so. The lipsticks cost €2.40 each for 3.8g of product.

Lastly, I have the nail polishes. I only got one of the opaque shades and the gold flakes top coat because I already have similar polishes in my collection. The nail polish I got is the shade 01 The Masked Ball which is the same aubergine purple as the eyeshadow bearing the same name. Under certain lights, this particular polish looks almost black. The packaging is what sold me to get this polish because it is just so cute!

  Essence Merry Berry Trend Edition Nail Polish
01 The Masked Ball, left | 01 I Love My Golden Pumps, right

The top coat 01 I Love My Golden Pumps comes in the same packaging and I was really impressed with the even application of the flakes which is not always the case with this type of polishes. Both polishes carry 8ml of product and retail for €2.10 each.

I really like this collection and I do recommend you go out and get it before it is gone as I anticipate it will sell out soon! The outlets at which the collection is available are the following:

Tony's Pharmacy, Gzira

Lowla, Zabbar

Trollees Supermarket, Qawra

Claire's Accessories St. Julians's

St.Catherine's Pharmacy, Zejtun

Arkadia, Gozo

Oviesse, Pavi

Rotunda Pharmacy, Mosta 

Pillbox Pharmacy, Naxxar 

Rational Pharmacy B'kara 

Follow Essence Cosmetics Malta on Facebook for updates!

Review | Essence Lash Princess False Lash Effect Mascara vs Volume Mascara

One of the most popular mascaras from Essence is the Lash Princess. Of course the packaging plays a big role in the popularity of this mascara but the performance also plays a part. I have heard people saying that they didn't like the mascara at first but then grew to love it, thus I have to admit that I was a bit skeptical at first.

However, during an Essence event that I attended earlier this year, we were given the latest version of the Lash Princess Mascara, the False Lash Effect one and I thought it was the perfect opportunity to go out and buy the Volume version so I can do a comparison between the two.

Starting with the packaging, it is exactly the same for both mascaras, except that the volumising one has coral writing while the false lash effect one has mint writing. The corset and hearts detailing on both caps are made out of rubber, which makes for a better grip. These are hands down the prettiest looking mascaras in my collection and in fact I keep them on my dresser just because they are so pretty!

The wands are what make these mascaras different. The Volume Mascara has a pretty voluptuous wand with a slight curve and a thicker end to hug the lashes and give a more natural look, while the False Lash Effect Mascara has a leaner, tapered wand that reaches all lashes for a fanned-out, spider-lashes effect that feels just like you're wearing falsies.

Essence Lash Princess Volume Mascara wand

Essence Lash Princess False Lash Effect Mascara wand

Essence Lash Princess False Lash Effect Mascara (right) and Essence Lash Princess Volume Mascara (left)

As for wear time, I haven't really noticed any difference and I haven't had any irritations whatsoever. Neither mascara is a pain to remove and just some makeup remover does the trick in no time.

Overall, I think these are very good budget mascaras and compare well to higher priced versions but I still love Max Factor ones and I will definitely stay faithful to them. If I had to choose one I would go for the volume one because I feel the formula of the false lash effect version kind of makes my lashes feel heavy. 

I believe both mascaras retail for €3.29 each for 12ml of product and I don't think you can really beat that!

Essence products can be found at various pharmacies and authorized outlets across Malta & Gozo. Like their Facebook page to stay in the know!

Essence Lash Princess False Lash Effect Mascara was given to me for free at a PR event while I bought the Essence Lash Princess Volume Mascara with my own money.

Monthly Favourites | September

September didn't bring too many new favourites my way and I only have five products to share with you guys.

The first one is quite a bargain actually, it is this £2 Angelica Nail Polish that I got from Primark last March. This particular one is the shade Tantrum which has Autumn written all over its duochromatic burgundy hue. I love the metallic finish and the colour shifts from burgundy to gold with green reflects - it is truly a unique shade. I was really impressed with the quality of the polish and this is what compelled me to include it in this month's favourites. The polish applies well and it lasted for a full seven days before I noticed a small chip on one of my fingernails! Seven days, one chip! Incredible for a £2 polish right?! Definitely grab this if you come across it!

Another nail product I have to share with you this month is Max Factor Glossfinity 05 Top Coat. I originally bought this just so that I can wear a glossy clear polish on my nails if I want to but while I was at it, I figured no harm would be done if I used it as a top coat for my manicures too. I wasn't wrong as this gem makes manicures last really long and stays glossy all throughout.

Next I have this Essence XXXL Nude Lipgloss in 03 Taste The Sweets. Nudes are always favourites of mine, be it lip products, eyeshadows, nail polishes, you name it! I really like this one in particular because of the smell, it is not sticky and the colour goes with everything and complements my complexion very well; and well, this month saw me reach for it more often.

The last two products are both mascaras. Now I have gone through my stash this month and got rid of bad smelling mascaras and started using new ones. My favourite so far is the Essence Lash Princess Volume Mascara. I love the packaging of it and the wand does a very good job at volumising my lashes. I am really keen on trying the new false lash effect version of this mascara which I have but haven't opened yet.

And of course, to turn this mascara into a waterproof version, all I need is the Kiko False Lashes Concentrate Waterproof Mascara Top Coat!