Disgustingly late 2019 lipstick empties: swatches and reviews

It's a-me a-Mario.

Somehow, I managed to be EVEN WORSE than last year. A 2019 lipstick empties post on the eve of April 2020. I've neglected this blog for so long but somehow, I don't want to consign it to the dustbin of history. Not while I'm still mega OCD about lipstick and hoard my depleted tubes like a tally of mates I ain't got.

Plus, we're in the middle of a dystopian pandemic that's forcing us to confront our archives of procrastinations. So, to you, my only reader, I present:

The Seven Lipsticks I Murdered Last Year

1: Primark Beauty P.S.. Workout Lip Fix. 

Primark Beauty PS Work Out lip fix- warm up

This is the shade 'Warm Up', which is a toasty gentle terracotta. It's an effortlessly flattering shade on my warm olive complexion, which is why it got a lot of use. It's a typical liquid to matte affair with a doefoot applicator, and it was two quid. Not sure about wearing lipstick to hit the gym but I won't knock it coz I ain't tried it. 

2: BareMinerals Gen Nude matte liquid lip color.

BareMinerals Gen Nude matte liquid lip- Icon 

I already did a full review on this badboy here, so I won't go into detail on this one. It's cute and comfy. The shade is 'Icon'. 

3: Essence Cosmetics Matt Matt Matt longlasting lipgloss.

Essence cosmetics Matt Matt Matte longlasting lipgloss- Beauty Aprroved

I love Essence! They do such cute and affordable makeup. I don't care that I'm 26, gimme that ridiculous palette. This particular cutie has a moussey texture that eventually settles down to a matte finish, though it retains some squishiness and doesn't fully dry. This is the light rose pink olive skintones pray for. This is the shade 'Beauty Approved'. Or it was. These are now sadly discontinued. 

4: MUA Cosmetics Power Pout colour intense tint+balm. 

MUA Cosmetics Power Pout colour intense tint+balm- Rendezvous

I am LIVID that this stick of balmy gorgeousness has been discontinues. SEETHING. Good job I bought a backup. Oh yeah, I love it that much. I even bought one for my mum, who loves it even though she is very fussy about lip products. Ok, so I've only ever tried this shade- 'Rendezvous'- and bought it again and again because it's just so perfect that I saw no point in further wandering. Like a sheer, moisturising, easy to wear nude that doesn't make you look dead? Like a just-bitten raspberry pink stain? Like an adorable transition period between the two states of bliss? Well I do. I bloody well do. 

5: Creme Cosmetics matte lipstick 

Creme Cosmetics matte lipstick- Devoted

Erm, I can't give much detail on this one because the brand- an indie affair I stumbled upon on Instagram- has vanished without a trace. But isn't it so lovely? Happy and feminine. The shade is called 'Devoted', in case you care about shade names like I do. Oh, and it was in one of those clicky pen tubes but I broke it, so I depotted into the little palette in the squad pic. 

6: Look Beauty Fat Lips! Intense Colour balm and stain. 

Look Beauty Fat Lips!- Snog

Shoot me, it's another juicy pinky balmy crayon. I've been a fiend for the moisturising lip stuff for a while now. I've developed eczema which means my face is often like parchment, so anything that can allow me to smile without cracking my entire mug is a is instantly in my good books. This is a cute coral-pink, though unexceptional I guess. And guess what? It's another discontinues brand! You're very welcome. Oh, and the shade is called 'Snog'. 

7: Smashbox Always On Liquid Lipstick.

Smashbox Always On Liquid Lipstick- Girl Gang

Hnng. Well I do love my budget lippies, but this sassy lady from Smashbox really won my heart. Such a deep, velvety purple, and really comfy wear for a liquid matte. It looks dry and patchy in this pic, but that's just because there was barely anything left to scrape out. I took it right to the finish line and beyond. This shade is 'girl gang' but I own a couple of other shades and they are excellent too. Rrp £19, but they go for cheaper on various makeup sites. 

And that's that. If I survive the virus, I might check in around these parts again. 

Essence moisturising lipstick- review and swatches.

Another Essence lippy? Well, why not. They're sweet and cheap so I don't feel guilty picking up a new shade every now and then. I've previously reviewed a lipstick from their nude collection (here) as well as one from their long last range (here), but this is my first time trying one from their standard moisturising line. It weighs in at a mere £2.00 (or is it £2.30?) and looks good enough for the price. So what did I think?



essence lipstick- all about cupcake

Well.... I wasn't blown away like OMG THIS IS THE BEST LIPSTICK I'VE EVER TRIED, but then I wasn't expecting anything particularly exciting. What I wanted was an easy to wear moisturising lipstick that would give me a wash of colour throughout the day. Something I could throw in my bag and apply in a hurry. And that was exactly what I got. So I'm pleased.

I got the shade 'all about cupcake' which is a sheer neutral pink. It offers a tint of colour, sort of like a tinted lip balm, but it's not so sheer as to be useless. It's pleasantly hydrating without being greasy or sticky, so that's a plus. It doesn't last long, but then that's hardly surprising (and it doesn't claim to). Anyway, it's hardly high maintenance to reapply. Have a swatch:

essence lipstick- all about cupcake

Bear in mind that my lips are quite pigmented, so the colour will show up more if you have paler lips. Personally, I'm happy to have it in my stash. If you prefer something with more bang for your buck though, the longlast lipsticks might be more up your alley. They're at a similar price point, but offer more coverage.

Thanks for dropping by, and feel free to ask if you have any questions xx

essence longlast nude lipstick- review and swatches.

 

I'm always tempted by the Essence stand whenever I'm shopping at Wilko. So far, I've got quite a collection going. I've previously reviewed their longlast lipstick here, but decided to pick up one from their nude collection. I went for 03, come naturally, because it was the most unique of the bunch. It was priced at a cheap and cheerful £2.30. Let's have a look then.

 

The packaging is lightweight and simple, but I do like that it corresponds with the bullet shade. I've easily got 600+ lipsticks in my obscene collection, so anything that makes hunting for a shade easier is definitely welcome. And I've not got a shade like this in my stash! Greige-y nudes are all the rage right now, and I like that this is wearable without making me look dead. It's a cool toned mauve with a grey tinge, and has medium coverage and streak-free, comfortable application. It works ok on its own (pictured), but I love pairing it with a purple lipliner.

essence longlasting nude lipstick- come naturally

What do you think? Whilst it's obviously not overly luxurious, Essence does offer a good range of nudes for different skintones, and I reckon it's definitely worth having a swatchfest in store. You might just find one you really like. Let me know your thoughts!

essence xxxl longlasting lipgloss (matt) lip cream- review & swatches

 Look guys, I'm finally reviewing a winter appropriate neutral shade *pats self on back*. It's a soft nude, and it is (very appropriately) called 'soft nude'. Introducing the Essence XXXL Longlasting matt lipgloss, which described as a 'silky lip cream' with long wearing colour.

essence xxxl matt lip cream- 06 soft nude

    There she is. Not bad for a budget brand, huh? Certainly not garish, and it's a generously sized tube. This lip cream comes with a flat paddle-like applicator which is actually quite easy to use and distributes the colour evenly. It's long and it's flexible, so I guess that lets it cover a lot of surface area in one pass. 

   And one pass is really all you need. In fact, you might even want to wipe off some excess product as you don't need much to get decent coverage, and overdoing it can result in impairing the formula's ability to set. Yep, it will set somewhat, though not entirely. The finish is perfect for me because the slight softness afforded prevents drying, yet it's not so wet that it gets all messy and won't stay put. On first application, be prepared for a slippery texture and a soft sheen. Worry not though, it will dry down a little in time. Here's what it looks like freshly applied:

essence xxxl matt longlasting lip cream- 06 soft nude

    I like the colour! It's a great nude that I can see suiting a whole range of skintones. It's somewhere between a dusty rose and caramel beige- lovely.

    All in all, I'm impressed, and at £2.30, it's a sure bargain.

review and swatches: essence longlast lipstick 13- love me

  

It's been a while, hasn't it? Sorry about that. It's been a hectic couple of weeks. Student finance, Eid celebrations, illness. But no matter what life throws at me, you can count on it that my lipstick love will never go neglected. Or indeed, that my lipstick loves will never neglect me. I'm gonna share a cheap and rather lovely lippy that has been a trusty friend to me in my late hours of need. And it's a budget friendly one! 

    Remember Essence? Their old lipstick formulas were really crap. But, thankfully, they've been revised and repackaged and the new kids are a vast improvement. Retailing at a mere £2.30 (I got mine from Wilkinson's), they're one of the cheapest brands out there, excepting poundshop offerings, which can be a little... meh...

    I got the shade 'love me', because I was feeling quite unloved at the time. Pass around the box of tissues. It's a lovely warm toned coral pink that translates into a cooler tone on my lips, which I don't mind as it's still flattering. 

 I found the coverage to be medium, with a little scope for buildability (I don't care if that's not a word). Application is a dream: it glides on with no drag at all and doesn't ever look patchy or streaky, and all the while remains comfortable with plenty of slip. As far as longevity is concerned, I think calling these lippes 'longlast' is a bit of stretch. I found wear to be pretty average, which is all you can ask for for the price. Oh, it does have a slight chemical scent but it dissipates in no time. 

Essence longlast lipstick - 13 love me 

   Overall, I'm glad I bought this lipstick, and though it's far from luxe, I think it's great value for the price. It gives you a fuss free wash of colour when you're in no mood for fuss. 

What do you think? Will you be checking these out?