Mac Lipstick Review - 'Hue'

'Hue' - £14.00

 I have been looking at this Lipstick for a while now, and after having heard so many good reviews by different beauty bloggers and Youtubers I felt like it wouldn't hurt to purchase it. The nearest Mac counter to me is in Selfridges in Manchester, so when my mum and I ventured into town for a cheeky shopping day last Monday, I couldn't pass up the opportunity! With this being my second 'Mac' lipstick, I wasn't feeling brave enough to go for any bright red shade, because I'm really loving the soft pinks and neutrals at the moment, and I know this is a must have soft pink shade, especially for beginners!  

     
 Hue is a 'Glaze' finish, and is described by Mac as a 'Soft Pale Pink' which I think describes it perfectly. I have to say that I thought it would be slightly more pigmented, because it is only just visible on my lips. However, this could be down to my pale complexion, and the soft pink shade is washed out by my skin and doesn't really do a lot for me. I think it would show up better when I have a tan (which isn't often!) but I do apply it sometimes for nights out and special occasions, but I shall have to test this theory. I may also have to try it with my Revlon ColourBurst Lipgloss in Crystal Lilac, just to see if it would give any definition and more pigmentation to this lipstick. The gloss is also a very pale pink shade, so it would most likely match. Wear time is the same as my 'Jubilee' lipstick, and doesn't dry out the lips at all. Re-application would be needed thoughtout the day if you wanted the colour to last, because I found myself having a sip of water and having to reapply straight after, which you don't really want after paying £14.00 for a lipstick! 

Comparing the shades of the two

Left: 'Jubilee'

Right: 'Hue' 

    

I think I will go for a slightly less of a paler pink for my next purchase, for something thing a little more pigmented. I do like this colour, but I'm a little disappointed with how it looks on my lips. 

                                                                         

Recent Lipgloss Favorites!

      Recently I purchased two new lip products - The L'Oreal Paris GlamShine Stain Splash in the shade 'Lolita' and The Revlon ColourBurst Lipgloss in 'Crystal Lilac' 

      Both have a sheer formula, but the L'Oreal is more of a Lip Stain rather than just a straight out gloss. When I apply this lip stain, I find that the colour lasts for hours! I was at work practically all day last week, and applied this in the morning, and it lasted until I got home later in the afternoon! (woo!) 'Lolita' is the lightest shade in the collection, and it is more of a neutral toned pink, that gives my lips just that little bit extra colour to make them stand out, as well as give them a nice shine. Application is so easy, and the packaging makes it look so much more expensive than it is. When applied onto the lips, it starts to dry, but it doesn't have that 'sticky' feeling which other lip products have. The smell is amazing too, I can't really describe it, but it smells of sweets and vanilla?  I don't really know, but that what it reminds me of! I've been wearing this all week and I am very impressed with it, I've teamed it up with the neutral tones of my Naked Basics pallet, because I want a fairly natural look, so this on my lips that gives some colour is perfect to complete my look!

L'Oreal Paris GlamShine Stain Splash - 'Lolita' - £7.99

Revlon ColourBurst Lipgloss - Crystal Lilac - £7.99

You can easily see the small glitter particles in the formula!

I also picked up then Revlon ColourBurst Lipgloss in Crystal Lilac, because Boots currently has a 3 for 2 offer on their makeup! (my bank balance is now quivering!) I also like this product, but is more of a lipgloss than a lip stain, so it doesn't have the same lasting power as the L'Oreal one. However in saying that, the colour is really pretty, such a light shimmery pink, which suits my blonde hair blue eye look. I'm into the more neutral/soft pink side to lipsticks/lip glosses and yet to really venture into the world of red lip colour, mainly because I'm a bit apprehensive to walk out with bold red lips! However, I'm sure the need will come to me one day soon enough. This lip gloss smells sooo good, just like vanilla  and I can smell is on my lips until it wears off. The down side to it is that it does need to be reapplied regularly, if wearing it just on its own. However, I am yet to try it over a lipstick to see if the wear time is any longer. Again, super easy to apply and gives the lips that nice shimmering glow. 

The revlon is slightly more opaque than the L'Oreal one, and when the Revlon lipgloss is on the lips, it is much more of a paler pink, my photo doesn't do it justice! 

Mac Lipstick - Jubilee

   This was my very first Mac lipstick purchase, and how very exciting was it to go up to the Mac counter for the very first time! (not to mention slightly intimidating!) However, I walked away with 'Jubilee' which is a 'Lusture' finish. Mac describes it as a 'Naked Beigey-Pink' which I do actually agree with. It gives your lips that 'your colour but beter look' and because it is a 'lusture' is gives a nice shine that makes your lips stand out. The reason I chose this shade was because I wanted to try a neutral shade, but with a pinky tone running along with it to wear at work,  so nothing too brown in other words.  I feel that this lipstick achieves this, and gives me some colour, without without being too over the top. It's super easy to apply, and I do normally wear it without any lip liner, but I am finding myself going back into my bag to re-apply every few hours or so. Being that this was my first Mac lipstick, and I didn't want to go too adventurous with my first colour choice! However, I am very keen to try out more shades. I feel as though I am being pulled towards 'Hue' (which is a cult favorite i've noticed!) and Viva Glam V, which are again both very pink/neutral shades, but as I am coming to realize  no girl can only just have a few Mac lipsticks! No mater how loud my bank balance protests!

  My camera makes its look much more of a neutral 'pinky' shade rather than the brown tones that this lipstick has in it. However, I would say that the colour shown here is more of a representation of what it looks like when it is translated onto the lips. I wear this for when I'm at work, or college, because it's not the kind of lipstick that screams 'look at me!' its much more subtle and refined, in fact my best friend didn't notice that I had anything on my lips when I wore it for the first time! Boys eh?

Overall a lovely lipstick that is great for daytime wear!

No7 Instant Radiance Foundation - Calico

     Sooo, about 3 weeks ago I went to Boots in the hunt of a new foundation, because I had run out of my 'Rimmel Match Perfection.' I have really pale skin, therefore I am always a bit skeptical of choosing the right shade, and obviously in boots there isn't anyone there to help you with the different shades, and sometimes the testers are missing (boo!). With all this in mind, I went to the No7 stand, and asked the assistant to 'Colour Match' me, which is a relatively new service by No7 that electronically matches anyones skin tone to one of their foundations. I got matched with 'Calcio' Which I'm convinced is one of their fairest/or is the fairest in the range. I opted for their 'Instand Radiance Foundation' because I wanted to try the more 'dewy' look rather than the 'Stay Perfect' more moisturizing formula. I have to say that I really like this foundation, and does give me a nice glow! I'd say that it has a light coverage because my freckles shine through, although it is buildable if you do want more coverage. It doesn't feel thick when applied, which is a factor that I look for in a foundation, because no one really wants to have the 'cakey' feel or look on their face now do they!? I have dry skin, so I suit the more 'dewy' formulas that bring the glow into my skin. Especially with being pale, this foundation is perfect for 'putting some life' into my face.  Unlike the Rimmel 'Wake me up foundation,' this No7 formula doesn't have noticeable shimmering particles in it but still managed to brighten the face. I have tried the Rimmel one, but actually prefer this to it, because the Rimmel shade collection let me down. The lightest shade in that collection is just a little too dark for me, so sadly it didn't live up to the extraordinary large hype for me (unpopular opinion!) although the formular was fantastic. Another thing that I like about this product is that it has a pump, which makes life just that little bit easier doesn't it!?

Its a nice lower priced foundation, but I would say that is isn't my absolute favorite. 

    I apply it with my 'Real Techniques Stippling Brush' because I find that it helps to give me a flawless look, and it is so easy to blend around the chin and hair line with this brush. I also have the Mac 190 foundation brush, which I used to use all the time, until I recently bought the stippling brush, so I am yet to try this foundation with the 190 brush. If you don't have the stippling brush, I recommend that you go out and buy one! It can be applied smoothly and evenly with just the hands, as it is easy to blend. 

   If you want a foundation that lifts and brightens up your face, then this is the one to go for, and if you feel like you want a change from the Rimmel 'Wake me up' foundation.

 Priced at £12.50.

Happy Easter!

Recent Daily Essentials.

      These are the items that I have been using daily on a regular basis for the past few weeks. Normally I go for a no eyeshadow winged eyeliner look using my Mac fluid liner, however, seeing as it is coming into Spring, I want to try and go for a new more natural look, without any eyeliner on the top of my lids. When I first started to change my normal makeup look, I didn't really like it, I felt that my eyes looked bare without the eyeliner. However, my new look is starting to grow on me, and I can't wait to try other combinations of the various neutral eye shadows that I have!

1. No7 Instant Radiance Foundation - Calico

2. L'Oreal Paris GlamShine Stain Splash - Lolita

3. Urban Decay Naked Basics Pallet

4. Rimmel Lash Accelerator Endless Mascara - Black

5. Collection - Lastin Perfection Concealer - No 1 Fair

6. Real Techniques Stippling Brush

(Hello freckles!)

Urban Decay Naked Basics Pallet.

After hearing so many people talk about this beautiful little pallet, I finally caved and bought it. It's such an amazing pallet, filled with neutrals which I think suit any season. In total there are 5 Matte shades and 1 shimmer shade, and they are just so easy to blend together to create that effortless 'I've not spent a lot of time blending these together' look. It fits perfectly into the palm of my hand which is great for travelling! And has a perfect large mirror that covers the lid of the pallet, so no need to put any other mirror in your makeup bag!

The way I wear these colours on my lid is just normally very natural, I've recently been ditching the winged eyeliner look and replacing with a natural smokey eye and mascara look using this pallet. I love the look it creates, and because I'm so pale, the colours just help to give my eyes that much needed definition instead of an unattractive 'washed out' look. I usually take 'WOS' all over the lid using my Mac 217 brush, then blend 'Naked 2' with the same brush into the crease and down the lower outer edge of my eye. Then taking 'Faint' on the very edge of my Mac 239 brush, and just make a line in the crease where I had just put 'Naked 2' until I reach about the centre of my eye. Then taking the 217 brush again, I blend the two colours together. To finish, I dab my ring finger into the only shimmer colour in the pallet, 'Venus' and put it along the brow bone and tear duct area as a highlight. 

Overall a gorgeous little pallet by Urban Decay, and I can't wait until my 'Naked 2 Pallet' comes for me in the post this week! 

Rachel x

(Left to right) Crave, Faint, Naked 2, WOS, Foxy, Venus.

(Foxy and Venus are especially hard to see against my oh so pale skin, but look perfect on the eye!)