MAC Lipstick Collection & Swatches

This has been a post I've wanted to write for ages, just because I love MAC, their lipsticks are amazing, theres literally ever colour you could think of, the formulas are lovely, they are all pretty moisturising even the matte finishes.

However, when I was younger and I wanted to try some MAC lipsticks, I didn't know where to start because of all the reasons I just mentioned (too much choice)! So I used to read and watch videos on all the colours, finishes and I was just generally nosy because I wanted to see what colours people had. To be honest I still do love reading and watching people ramble on about their MAC lipsticks.

To a lot of you this might be so many lipsticks, and you will be like "how has she spent all that money on them!?" but to the other half of you, you probably are thinking thats not many... I do currently have 11 lipsticks. Which to me, doesn't seem too many.

My favourite finishes are the matte finishes and the amplified ones. I find the colour pay off amazing, the formula lasts a long time and they aren't drying on the lips. So lets get on with this, and get straight into the matte finishes.

Honey Love - This is a gorgeous nude shade, its got quite a peachy undertone. I just think this one suits my skin tone nicely, and is just a lovely formula (like I've said a million times).

Mehr - I got this shade when I was on holiday, so it reminds me of the holiday. Even though I would say its more of a winter shade. But its such a lovely colour for everyday, Mehr is probably my favourite MAC shade. It's pinky, berry and gorgeous.

Whirl - This is a very recent purchase from my boyfriend. I have only worn it once, but I know it will defiantly be a firm favourite of mine. It's a very browny nude, and I absolutely love that vibe at the moment. I really like this colour!

Ruby Woo - This one is a classic MAC shade, a lot of people have it, however I have heard a lot of mixed reviews on this one. Personally its lovely, a very true bright red. I always reach for it, when I'm going out or for a meal and I need my lipstick to stay on. A few people say it is drying on the lips, and I do agree a little bit, because its probably the most drying lipstick formula, because it's a retro matte, which means its more matte than matte.... hmm, yeah you still with me? haha. I think you would love this one if you do like matte lipsticks.

Now onto the amplified formulas, like I said earlier this is my other favourite formula because the colour pigmentation is amazing and they are moisturising.

Impassioned - A very bright, pink with a coral undertone, thats the best way for me to describe it. I actually got this as a present for Christmas off my parents click here to see the blogpost. But I think I will love this shade in the summer and get a lot of wear out of it.

Up the Amp - One of my more daring lipsticks, it's a purple. I got this when it was cool to have purple lips, but I found that they really don't suit me. I got this one with another purple colour at the time, wait until you see that one... But I wouldn't  really recommend this one, because I'm just not a fan, I don't get much use out of it at all.

Violetta - This was the lipstick I was talking about. I really don't like this one, I never wear it. Its just a purple thats quite bright and scary. I would only wear this if I needed it for halloween or something. I think its got a lovely finish thought, its got a shinny shimmery finish, like its got glitter in it.

Blankety - OOO, I love this one. It's very similar to honey love, but its very creamy and not matte. I really like this one when I wear it, it's a very true nude shade. I get quite a lot of comments asking what lipstick it is, when I wear this one too.

Cremesheen finishes, I'm not really a fan of, I just find they don't stay on my lips very well, even though I do only have two colours in this finish. I think that shows you that I don't like them much.

Speed dial - Officially my first ever MAC lipstick purchase, I do really like the colour and thats why I got it. I remember seeing it in MAC when I was with my boyfriend, then I was like 'no I'm not getting it' then went back in, then said no, then finally went back it and finally got it, haha. But its a really nice pink shade, I probably should wear it a bit more.

Peach Blossom - I love this shade, my friend has been going on and on about it for months. So I finally picked it up. It's amazing for every day, goes with every eye look and just is stunning. As the name would suggest it's a peachy/coral shade, with a slight sparkle.

I've got one lustre finish, I do quite like lustres because they are quite sheer, but they just make your lips look fuller and plump.

Patisserie - I absolutely love this lipstick, its my most worn colour. I just think its gorgeous for every day. Its nude with a little bit of pink and I think it suits me really well. LOVE IT.

I hope this was helpful for you, please don't think I'm bragging, I'm not. I just wanted to create a post with my collection.

What's your favourite MAC shade?

♥

Review: Estee Lauder Double Wear & Revlon Colour Stay

I have been trying out yet another foundation, I don't really know what goes through my head. But I always want to find the best foundation. I believe that if your makeup base is good, all the other makeup you apply will look better. It all starts with the base. I have found a high end foundation and a drugstore foundation that is very similar.

Stop Rambling Helen and get on with it...

Let's start with the high end foundation, Estee Lauder Double Wear!
Before I purchased this, I read lots of reviews, watched lots of youtube videos and found information out from the Estee Lauder consultants. I would say if you aren't sure on this foundation, go to the counter and ask to be colour matched and get a sample to try. This foundation does retail at £30, so you don't want to waste your money. However, with Estee Lauder you can return a product if you aren't happy with it. It is a company policy of theres.

Double Wear is a very full coverage foundation, it doesn't transfer, so it won't smudge and go on your clothes. It does also last a very long time on the skin. The foundation doesn't have a pump at all, which is annoying because every time you use the product you have to tip the product out. I am not 100% sure but I don't think there are pumps available to purchase either.

I am the shade Ivory Nude 1N1. I can't stress enough though, get a colour match. I always used to think I was being a pain asking for a colour match but at the end of the day, it's the consultants job and they should enjoy doing it as it is their job! Also, if they apply a colour to your face, and you don't think it is right, please say! Some consultants will just apply any colour to your face, because they might not have your shade in stock or they just simply can't be bothered. They are trying to get a sale at the end of the day. There is 29 shades to pick from, so there is a shade for everybody! 

Double Wear is a very popular foundation, and is Estee Lauders most popular foundation. It is a matte finish, and for me it did look very flat on my skin. I do like a matte finish because I get shinny throughout the day from having oily skin. But I did find the foundation very flat. Applying this foundation is quite hard also, I'm not sure why I found it so hard to apply, but it just left lots of brush marks in my skin, however once I went over and dapped my skin with my beauty blender it was fine. I think it also was a bit of a faf trying to apply because it took quite a bit of time with applying with a brush, blending with the beauty blender and getting it all buffed into the skin. It's an extra few minutes to the makeup routine. 

Now onto the Drugstore alternative, Revlon Colour Stay!

There is two different types of versions of this foundation, which I think is very good. There is an oily/normal and a normal/dry version for the different skintypes. Mine is a oily/normal. It is the most full coverage foundation from the drugstore that I have tried and is also a matte finish, this is why I am comparing it to the double wear. 

It says it lasts 24 hours on the skin, which firstly I don't believe is true. I don't really know who is going to need a foundation on for 1 day! But anywho, it does last a good 8 hours on the skin. Which is all I need really, but the Estee Lauder one I would say lasts longer and would be the one I would wear if I was going on a night out or wanted the foundation to look flawless all day. 

The application of this foundation, is quite similar to double wear but I don't think it is as difficult to apply as double wear. I will say with the Colour stay once you apply it on your face you haven't got much time to play with because it sets into place and doesn't budge.

I am the shade 'buff' which for me is the perfect shade, but because it is a drugstore foundation, there isn't a consultant colour matching you. So it is very difficult. The only advise I can give is to use the testers (if there isn't a tester ask for one) and apply a bit on your face, then go and stand outside or away from the cosmetic lights to see the true shade. There is 9 shades available, so not a large amount of colours but enough to find a shade for your skin-tone and colour. 

This foundation doesn't have a pump either, and you cannot buy a pump for this foundation. But it is a lot cheaper than double wear. Colourstay retails at £12.99, so it's not as bad as a £30 foundation not having a pump. 

To conclude, I believe that they both are amazing foundations, and if you are on a budget the Colourstay is a very good foundation that will give you a good full coverage finish and will last for the day. Whereas double wear is a very full coverage foundation, lasts all day and doesn't budge. It also is a premium foundation, so it's a bit more luxury. The bottle is a frosted glass so it will look gorgeous on your dressing table. I love both foundations, and I use both foundations! 

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