Clinique Cheek Pop in 'Peach Pop'

I'm a bit late to hop on the Clinque Cheek Pop (£16.50, here) train, but then again, I've been using this for a while now, and isn't it better to have a fully formed opinion on this little beauty product? Clinique say that this product is a 'Vibrant yet natural-looking cheek colour that looks virtually powerless. In a silky smooth, stay-true formula with shades for every skin tone. That just-pinches look, simply effortless'. They make it sound pretty wonderful, don't they? Well, here's the deal. It is, pretty wonderful. But more on that in a little bit.

This little Cheek Pop was a cheeky (see what I did there?) little giveaway win from the amazing Ellis who runs elrbx and is a total babe, you should totally follow her if you don't already. This was my first venture into Clinique makeup, and it totally didn't disappoint. So I was so incredibly chuffed with myself, that I'd won her giveaway, and to have a product that was being hailed as a very good one in the blogging world is a bit of a big win for me, so I hope I can do Ellis justice with my review (: So on with the show! (She even sent a little note with it! Isn't she lovely? <3)

I chose the colour Peach Pop mainly because, thanks to Bourjois and their cream blushes, coral and peaches have become a must have on my face. So this was a total 'I must have it' as soon as I saw the swatches, and a few days later it arrived - I immediately had to photograph it, before giving a good ol' test run. Let's talk about the packaging though. It's beautiful. Simple and elegant, clear, heavy plastic with Clinque printed on the front, showing off the gorgeous little flower printed into the cream blush. It's wonderful, isn't it? I couldn't stop looking at it, when I got it, and I will admit, I was a little sad to ruin the perfection that were those petals. But the colour payoff was totally worth it.

You don't need a lot of this product. I will repeat, you don't need a lot of it. It's very pigmented, and can look too harsh if applied with a heavy hand - via brush or fingers. I start off with a light sweep on the cheekbones before applying a little to the apples of my cheeks - remember, you can always add more, so light is the way to go with this. I totally agree with the 'just-pinched' look that they were talking about, as it just looks so sweet, like a little flush has risen on your cheeks and made you look fabulous. When swatched, it's bright and you think 'Ohmygod I can't put that on my face' which is what happened with me in the beginning, which is why I included a picture of me wearing it, so you can see, that even on my absurdly pale skin, it looks completely natural and effortless. Just-pinched, indeed.

It's a soft, creamy texture, light and wonderful to apply. It's really dreamy on the skin, and I think it's a colour that would suit just about any skin tone, as it can be built up for a more dramatic colour, or left as a subtle wash - like a watercolour paint. I think it's completely gorgeous, and I for one, am looking forward to getting another. Maybe Ginger Pop? I think a little swatch-fest is in definite order the next time I head to a Clinique counter. Is this something that strikes your fancy? Do you think the pinks would appeal to you more? Let me know (:

Revlon Lip Butters.

From top left to right, and then ending at bottom left; Strawberry Shortcake, Juicy Papaya, Macaroon, Wild Watermelon, Red Velvet, Peach Parfait and berry Smoothie. They're £7.99 or two for £10 here.

Let's talk about these little beauties. I remember when they were first released, and everyone went slightly mad over them. I say slightly, I mean they went full on crazy over these lipsticks, and it's not hard to see why. The amount of colours to choose from is wonderful and although I've photographed seven, I swear I have a few more that I cannot remember what I've done with... I'm going to blame my best friend, as she probably stole them from me the last time I went to see her (; or I'm sure they'll turn up eventually. Moving on, these lipsticks are full of moisture and can be slicked on for a sheer wash of colour, or can be built up for a more stunning show. Obviously the deeper colours show up more when applied, but the lighter colours are not ones to be overlooked, as they do pack some serious punch, just you know, slightly paler in tone. 

Revlon Lip Butter in Peach Parfait

Peach Parfait is a gorgeous coral with a shot of gold shimmer running through it, and although it may not be too clear in the picture (sorry about that) the shimmer adds a noticeable plumpness to the lips in real life, and I do like a good lipstick that makes my lips look even nicer. 

Revlon Lip Butter in Red Velvet.

Red Velvet is ugh. It's gorgeous and definitely one of my favourites, a burgundy red that has this shine to it, it makes my day whenever I wear this. This can also be worn smudged onto the lips, and blended to give that 'I've just been kissed ridiculously well' redness to the lips, which I love. This was what I wore in the winter time, and I loved it so much - it's one of the reasons why I love colder weather so much. Pale skin and reddened lips are something I adore and wear as often as I can. 

Revlon Lip Butter in Berry Smoothie

This was actually the first colour I ever bought from this range, and it set me on the course of destruction, as I obviously love them, and couldn't do without adding several more to my collection. It's a soft berry, a more pastel raspberry with a small shot of shimmer, and I for one love a bit of shimmer, as you know, anything to draw more attention to the fabulous shade on my lips is okay by me. 

Revlon Lip Butter in Macaroon

One of my most recent additions to my collection is this gorgeous pinky coral red, with the most subtle shot of shimmer running through it - it's just glorious, and makes my skin look alive; I think that's the thing about a good lipstick, the colour has the ability to make you look less like a member of the undead, and more like a glamorous lady who can rock an amazing colour on her lips. Believe me, without concealer, my dark circles are something fearsome, so with no makeup on, I'm a pale, dark circled mess, but with a kick of colour on the lips, I suddenly look alive, and feel like I don't have to actually put makeup on. It's a total win. 

Revlon Lip Butter in Strawberry Shortcake

Strawberry Shortcake is the palest shade that I own, pink wise, and it is a lovely shade, but it's not really one that I wear. Don't mistake that as a bad thing though, even though the pink is totally not something I usually wear; stepping outside of my comfort zone is always a good thing, as It make me think of new eye makeup and new cheek products, as why not change up the entire look? Because it's so pale, it does go on quite sheer, but can be built up for a more powerful wash of pale pink, which I think is awesome, as the strength of colour can be changed based on your mood. Win, right?

Revlon Lip Butter in Juicy Papaya

Much like the pale pink above, this pale peachy orange is gorgeous and totally not something i'd usually wear. It goes on like a dream, soft and moisturising, a gentle slick of colour that doesn't look too much or overdone, which is perfect for when you're feeling subtle is the way to go. I have days like that, where a smudge of eyeliner and a peachy lip is what you feel like wearing, and even though I feel as powerful as I usually do when wearing red lips and sharp black liner, I just want to wear something a bit cuter. And when I say I'm feeling powerful, I mean like I'm feeling awesome and nothing can bring me down. I love those days. 

Revlon Lip Butter in Wild Watermelon

Last but not least, is Wild Watermelon. This colour is gorgeous. Gorgeous. Bright almost coral pink, and it's so good. This is the shade for summer, in my opinion, as it just has that punch of colour, which I think would look gorgeous on any skin tone. Much like the rest of the lip butters, they're buildable, moisturising and ridiculously lovely. I would definitely recommend you checking them out if you haven't already. What colours are your favourites? 

Figs & Rouge Vanilla Pistachio Lip Butter.

A few weeks ago, I posted on twitter about my little pot of Figs & Rouge rose lip balm and how it had developed a little bit of skin on it, and wondering whether it'd happened to anyone else. Figs & Rouge actually got back to me and told me that I'd had the pot for two years and that because they were completely natural, they'd go off or expire. I was pretty flabbergasted. Two years?! Where did those two years go? I have no idea, but they offered to send me a little product to make me feel better about the lack of lip balm, and I was more than happy to accept one. This little tube, is a lip butter* (ugh, gotta love it) is something that I haven't seen in store anywhere, and after a bit of googling, you can purchase it on FeelUnique here (£4.95).

But let's talk about it. It smells amazing and feels really good on the lips, really moisturising and even slightly oily, but not in a bad way. It's so lovely on the lips, and this makes them feel so soft; i'm not a massive fan of my lips looking shiny, but after a while, this does kind of matte down with wear, but still retains it's moisturising values, which is what I really look for in a good lip product that doesn't offer any colour properties. I want my lips to feel good and plump for a good few hours after applying a product, and this really works for me. I am a bit of a subconscious lip licker, so I tend to get a lot of wear around the middle of my lips, but a quick move around the product still left on my lips ensures that not only do my lips look nourished for longer, but it means that you don't have to reapply the product; which is what we all want, yes? It's a way to save product, and therefore save money. I love the Figs & Rouge products that have, so this is a really welcomed addition to my stash.
And let's not forget about the smell and taste, as that can really make or break a product - as you know, it's right below your nose, so if it doesn't smell good, i'm a bit reluctant to use it. This product however, ticks all the boxes and i'm so pleased with the lip butter that I was sent; Vanilla Pistachio*. I may have developed a slight addiction to pistachio macaroons in Paris, so this really reminds me of those times.

Have you tried any of their new lip butters? Is it something that appeals to you? Let me know (:

The Sunglasses Edit.

Going on holiday is always a brilliant time of year, but you know what isn't fun? Packing and deciding what you're going to take... unless you're buying lots of new things, which is fun, but the bank account wouldn't agree with me, there. I don't like packing; it's a mass of folding, squishing and trying to fit everything you want to take, especially those fifth pair of shoes that you pack, just in case. This also applies to sunglasses. I have quite a few pairs, eight to be exact, and you can't take eight pairs when you're going on holiday for seven days, can you? Nope. So witting down this selection was a task and a half - so why not blog about my struggles then, yes?

Let's start with the top left. Converse shades from TKmaxx, setting my back nothing more than £15, and looking so fabulous on, I couldn't stop myself from buying them (it was a very sunny day and the lack of sunglasses were affecting my eyes, so it was a must have purchase, for ...health reasons?). They have that very rectangular, cool look about them, and the tortoise shell print is something that I adore so much - it's a classic design that goes with everything. These are a definite contender for being packed. Next up are my Fossil glasses, and yes, they're from TKmaxx (let's assume they're all from TKmaxx unless specified otherwise) and these were one of my first purchases when I came into some money (thank you student finance loan) and they served me very well during my University years, as living by the sea means you've gotta have some good shades... otherwise, you stand out like a sore thumb. That's not something I like to do, unless standing out like a sore thumb means fabulously dressed, in that case, I don't mind. 

Next we have the retro looking tortoise shell glasses, and those are old. They were my mum's when she was younger, and she gave them to me as she can only wear sunglasses with prescription lenses. These were originally from Boots, all those years ago and these are perhaps, some of my favourite sunglasses ever. They look wonderful perched on my nose, and resting on the top of my head; they're fabulous, and I always feel so retro whenever I wear them. The white and black rimmed ones next up are by Lacoste and from, you guessed it, TKmaxx, for less than £20. I can never remember the exact price, but when I wasn't in possession of a lot of money, I wouldn't pay more than £15/£20 for a pair of sunglasses. These are also some of my favourites, as come on, they're fabulous and look so good on. They're another definition of retro, and when teamed with red lips and waved hair, I feel so vintage and I do love a good vintage look.

As we go down, we've got a good selection from Boots and TKmaxx - wanna guess which ones are which? Another pair of tortoise shell glasses, are also another pair given to me by my mother, from her time in the 80's when she was a badass lady with fabulous taste (she did have a perm though, let's not talk about that). These ones are thinner and less 50's retro, they're more like something John Lennon would have worn in the 70's, and I love that. White and black are Playboy, Blue and dark, dark grey are Ben Sherman and yepp, they're all TKmaxx finds that I've picked up over the years. I think the main realisation of this post, is that Tkmaxx is a wonderful place for good quality glasses, at vastly reduced prices, and for those who can't really afford Raybans or anything like that, this is a great place to have a good nose. I suppose, even if you can afford Raybans, there's nothing more exciting than finding a bargain, is there? I love a good bargain, and consistent looking over the years has allowed me to build up quite a collection of wonderful pieces, that add a certain edge or glamour to any outfit. I think people sometimes tend to overlook the influence of sunglasses, but they can completely make an outfit or create a certain look that'll give you an extra bounce in your step. 

Have you found any wonderful sunglasses lately? Aren't they just an essential? Not only to protect your eyes, but to jazz up any outfit? 

The Parisienne Bold Lip.

For Paris, a bold lip is an essential – or maybe just for me, depends on how you want to feel; I, want to feel fashionable and amazing, and having a bold lip totally makes me feel like that. Now, Bourjois are pretty awesome at giving that bold, long lasting lip without breaking the bank. Actually, you buy one, and get change from a £10 note (£8.99, here). Result! Personne ne Rouge, Ole Framingo and Peach Club are my colours of choice, as whilst the latter is a peachy offering, it seemed right to include something a bit more toned down, just in case. I do also have Hot Pepper… but that seemed to have eluded me when I was packing for my trip… but it’s their loss, after all, France is the homeland of Bourjois, and it got to miss out on that trip. Shame.

Rimmel is an essential for most women, let alone bloggers, so let’s talk about these two lipsticks. The first one is Kate Moss’ range, and it’s 111, Kiss of Life (£3.99, here). The perfect red. It is perfect, just so you know. That classic, not orange, not blue, red. The next is 31 from her Lasting Finish collection is a cerise pink, and like all her lipsticks; they’re so easy to wear, and comfortable on the lips (£3.99, here). I get a good few hours of wear out of these lipsticks before some serious touch ups are needed, but lipstick tends to wear away at the center of my lips very easily – I think I’m a subconscious lip licker… weird, right?

YSL’s Baby Doll Kiss & Blush in 5, is ohmygod gorgeous (£27, here). It applies glossy and creamy, and fades to a soft stain, which is gorgeous for a blush (which I haven’t actually tried out yet, I’m just assuming) and it’s not overtly good with it’s lasting time, I’d say a good... three hours or so, before some application is needed again – I actually applied this at a services on my way to Dover, promptly fell asleep afterwards (totally took a selfie before we left the services) and it was almost all gone by the time I actually woke up in Dover, about two hours later. But that was sleep, and when I’m actually conscious, it lasts for a while, but let’s talk about the colour – which scores some major points with me. I actually have no idea what kinda colour it is… it’s a bright pink, but no fuchsia – it has no purple in it, it’s just pink really, and it’s totally gorgeous, I just can’t describe it. Hopefully I’ll think of a name for the colour by the time I come to review it properly. Fingers crossed.

Nuxe’s Reve de Miel is stuff of legend; the honeyed, lemon goodness that is the lip balm bloggers rave about, and it totally deserves it (On sale for £6.33, here). Nuxe have themselves a winner, and not only is a winner, it is one of the best, if not the best, lip balm I have ever had. You have to give it up for Nuxe, they’ve made, perhaps, one of my favourite products ever, and something I recommend to everyone who’s looking for a lipbalm – and sometimes, not even then; ‘I need a new nail polish’, ‘TRY NUXE’S REVE DE MIEL’. It doesn’t sound impressive, but once I pull out my little pot of wonder, they all change their tune. I’ve inspired so many purchases of this bad boy, I should work on commission for Nuxe.

Barry M’s Gelly hi-shine lip crayon in …Alpha Bright Red, is shiny. It’s so shiny! And it’s that kind of orange red that’s so big right now – it’s creamy and looks gorgeous on the lips. This is definitely a big summer product, as I think it’ll look gorgeous on any skintone, no matter if you embrace the sun, or shy away from it this summer. It does have a downside however – with shine, comes stickiness, and if you’ve read some of my previous posts, I am not a fan of sticky lip products. It’s gets in your hair, and it’s so sticky – a ‘not impressed with sticky products’ fan. When I have shiny lips, I tend to rub my lips together a lot, and that means more application of product – so I’m a maybe on this product, I’ll have to give it a proper test. Paris will not be it’s playground, however.

So, what do you think I chose? It was definitely a Bourjois and the colour was *drum roll* Personne ne Rouge. It was the colour choice after doing some lipstick wearing earlier that week - for me, it's bold but classic, and considering it was really warm and I was rocking some light grey trousers and a floral kimono, this red lip totally set up the look and gave it something extra. Only fitting, right? Wearing Bourjois in Paris.