Lip pencils are all the craze now and I would happily say that I love this craze. The idea of taking a lip product and modelling it into a fat crayon is somehow incredibly adorable to me (yet I do not own the pioneer Chubby Sticks, odd?).

While the lazy me would prefer if all lip pencils came in a twist-up form so we would not have to fuss with sharpening, I am so impressed and in love with the NARS ones that, NARS, I shall forgive you this time.

Ha, well who am I to forgive NARS but truthfully the sharpening factor did hinder me a little from splurging on more of these lovely pencils. Out of the 12 shades, I managed to be good and only walked away with 2.

While several other shades are haunting me right now (Luxembourg, Isola Bella and Golshan, I am looking at you), I do believe I can go without them.

The two shades that I got, Majella and Yu, are a little more unique to my stash and are two rather strong / bold colors. As I am back to donning contacts for work days, I have no qualms with giving bold lips some love.

Majella — Garnet red
Yu — Shocking Pink

Yu is a shade that I would typically steer clear of due to my 'fear' with wearing pinks, especially bright blue-toned ones. Though now, with a new (hair) do, I am determined to try and conquer that spectrum.

After all, I had eased my way into red lips and grown rather comfortable with it now so why not stark, bright pinks. Yes?

Here's a hand swatch of the pencils!

The formula of these Satin Lip Pencils are a dream.

The minute I swatched them on the back of my hand, I knew it was going to be quite a struggle to just settle for 2.

The Satin Lip Pencils swatch with intense pigmentation coupled with an incredible glide on the lips. They leave, as the name goes, a satin-like finish and a soft stain for the deeper / brighter shades.

It appears rather glossy in the close-up due to the camera flash but while a slight sheen is evident, I would not classify them as glossy.

— Majella —

Majella was love at first swatch.

While an intense red, it isn't too bright and has an interesting depth to the shade. It is incredibly pigmented and dressy when worn in full pigmentation but I like it best worn as a stain.

In fact, I wore it as a stain (while it slowly faded out on its own) in the hair makeover entry!

I have since worn this shade endlessly to work and tote it around in my makeup pouch for touch ups (as these do not entirely survive a meal).

— Yu —

Yu requires a little more effort to wear just because I am getting used to seeing myself in this tone of pink, or rather in pink in general!

Though Yu is a beautiful purple-pink. striking enough yet not as stark as I had imagined it to be, which is a yay to me if you were wondering.

On me, while the theoretically correct term is blue-toned, it tends to lean a little purple and give off a slight plum edge amidst the bright pink.

I have also picked up NARS's Schiap Lipstick, a shade that many have compared Yu to. Though that little comparison would be up in Schiap's post to come!

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These pencils are retailing at S$37 each and definitely worth every bit of it given the intensity and amount of product. I doubt I would ever finish a whole lip pencil but we'll see!

If brights aren't your thing, the neutrals are worth a look too! The formula on those are just as lovely.

Thanks for reading!

I am slowly waddling my way through this all to familiar term, backlog. So I hope you don't mind me putting up all these items I have received from awhile ago.

Awhile ago being towards the end of last year.

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It was during my confinement period when Nicole by OPI held their bloggers event, thus I could not head down for it but they were kind enough to send over a generous bag of polishes for me to swatch to my hearts delight.

I have 10 Nicole by OPI bottles with me, all from the brand as I did not own one prior to this.

I am not unfamiliar to Nicole by OPI but with the amount of polishes on hand (and other distractions), I never gave myself the opportunity to look at their offerings until now.

The polishes they sent are a good spectrum of colors and even contained shades that I do not have in my stash – such as that bright pink, bright yellow and bright green that you see there!

So... maybe there are some 'loopholes' in my stash. And we all know what that means.... heh.

Nicole by OPI polishes, as many of you may already know, comes with a flat brush and isn't too long in length. Polish brushes of this design and length are my favorite because it applies easily and the length allows for good control.

In terms of the Nicole by OPI brushes, I found them easy to work with. There was nothing overly spectacular yet the design and size did allow for easy application.

Since I don't have time to paint my nails that often these days and do not want to go for an uncoordinated skittle nail look, I decided to make use of my nail wheel once again to show you some swatches!

All swatches done below were done with 2 coats regardless if the polishes are still sheer or were easily opaque in one coat.

Here's a bit of a rundown about each shade.

• Berry Sweet is a chrome-like shiny red. It reminds me of Danke Shiny Red which is now in my mom's possession so I welcome this color very much.
• Reach Out is a lovely jelly pink shade. While it is a jelly, it still remains vibrant in color.
• It Starts With Me is a rusted champagne shade. It is a little sheer at 2 coats but would maybe look quite nice with 3. Alternatively it could be used atop another color
• Light A Candle was easily opaque in one coat. Some brush strokes are inevitable with this blue-ish metalic shade but it isn't obvious nor would I classify it as streaky.
• You're A Star is a sheer polish, made to serve as a topcoater to add sparkles

Now on to the second batch of shades, featuring 2 colors from the Kardashian Kolor collection.

• Keeping Up With Santa appears very similar to Berry Sweet (above) but is more darkened in appearance which would make it easier and more understated to wear for some. The red jewel tone is still very lovely regardless.
• Deck the Dolls is a beautiful pearly cyan-blue shade. It does have a chrome and slight metalic effect to it resulting in some brush strokes being apparent but yet again, not streaky in my terms.
• Purple Yourself Together is beautiful, simply stunning! A medium, slightly cool-toned, purple with gold shimmers within. The shade itself is also beautifully glossy.
• Make Mine Lime was stunning in the bottle and slightly disappointingly sheer but a bright green nonetheless. There was a slight pearly tone in the bottle that is lost upon swatching.
• Yellow Its Me , like Make Mine Lime, is also on the sheer side which is sad but it is a cheery yellow nonetheless. It would be most effective over a white base.

My picks of the lot would definitely be Purple yourself Together, Deck the Dolls, Keeping Up With Santa and Reach Out. The other shades are also very lovely too but these were the ones that stood out the most to me.

While these nail wheel swatches serve as a quick representation of the colors, I will show them up-close and with better shots when I wear them on my nails (in On My Nails entries).

In fact, I think I really want to swatch Purple Yourself Together soon!

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While doing this entry up, I hopped over to Nicole by OPI's website and noticed that they had a Modern Family collection! Modern Family is probably my favorite sitcom of all times so... call me intrigued!

Turns out VampyVarnish had done swatches of all the 14 shades released with this collection (yes, all) and you can see them here.

Some shades are passable, well most are to me actually, but I like how What’s The Mitch-uation? and Candid Cameron looks! How coincidental!

Well, thanks for reading and I hope these swatches are of help!

Nicole by OPI retails at S$12.90 and is available at select Watsons outlets (Ngee Ann City for sure).

Do you own any of these shades? If not, did anything catch your eye?

Disclosure:
Products were provided to me for review consideration.
I am not affiliated to them and all opinions expressed are my own.

What a quirky (and long) name for this polish and it faintly reminds me of Hitler... tsk.

I normally prefer darker tones when I have shorter nails so after (finally) trimming my nails down, I took this opportunity to swatch on OPI Germany's Nein! Nein! Nein! Ok Fine!

Yes I am still going through the Germany batch one at a time.

The swatches are 2 coats of Nein! Nein! Nein! Ok Fine!, without a top coat so you can see the color's glossy glory.

(with camera flash)

The color is fairly straight forward but still lovely — a darkened olive that is almost black yet not not quite. It isn't so dark that under dim lighting it is a flat black, no, you can still see mild greenish tones running through it.

I have been wearing it for over a week now and while I love it, dark creamy tones have a tendency to bore me after awhile, no matter what brand and how gorgeous.

I think I need a color kick in my life again so I will be moving on to something else real soon.

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In other news, work is picking up again with the influx of assignments, along with home-matters to tend to after and on weekends thus time has been on the tighter side these days.

I have just been a wee bit overwhelmed with everything and my life is a little on the routinal track thus isn't overly exciting and is a lot of rushing about with my makeup routine (work or weekend) being at its peak of simplicity (really just foundation, brows and blush) thus I apologize for any blah-ness going on here! In truth, I would love to have some me-time for a bit but that's a little hard to achieve at the moment.

I am working at clearing the backlogged stuff by drafting with Evernote (awesome app btw) when I get some time on-the-go but there's only so much you can jot down while you're out and about!

Lastly, I have news to share sometime down the road. I am still in the process of putting that news to words but... yes I will share it shortly and when it's ready. Stay tuned :)

Thanks for sticking around and reading still!

Still easing my way through my OPI Germany haul here and I wouldn't lie, I have my sights set on a couple more nail polishes, some already out there and some upcoming ones.

I remember what I said but frankly it's quite impossible to completely halt purchases, and why decline yourself that bit of hauling fun in life, yes? But I am making sure I don't go overboard with the current lemmings!

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Anyway, OPI's Berlin There Done That is one beautiful shade if you are a fan of greige / grey tones on your nails.

It's not extremely unique and it is likely dupe-able but that doesn't take away the fact that it is a lovely color with a decent formula.

In comparison to the other 2 I have swatched from OPI Germany, this has a slightly thinner consistency but 2 coats later, you're left with a creamy, glossy and streak-free finish.

Swatches are 2 coats of Berlin There Done That with 1 coat of Seche Vite Topcoat. It is probably glossy enough that you can do without a topcoat but I love that extra shine (and durability).

Berlin There Done That is greyish taupe with a slight milkiness to it, a very easy shade to reach for and wear on occasions when you want something chic, neutral but not quite a nude. At least that's how I see it and how I would likely wear this color.

(with flash) – Blur shot but it shows how creamy this looks!

At a glance, this felt a little comparable to the really (once?) popular Sephora by OPI's Metro Chic.

Comparable, probably in the color family but Metro Chic has more mauvey tones in it and isn't as grey or milky as Berlin There Done That.

While Metro Chic still has a special place in my heart for being one of the earlier polishes I had been downright obsessed with, I think I may reach for Berlin There Done That a whole lot more in situations where I would used to reach for Metro Chic.

I just love that neutral creamy grey-ness!

Did you haul Berlin There Done That? What are your favorite grey-toned polishes?

Thanks for reading!

Hope everyone is having a good weekend! I'm spending mine being very productive in the lazing department (oops), catching up with the family and just enjoying the slow pace of life before Monday comes around again. Boohoo.

I realize that this is quite a random (perhaps boring to some) update from the middle of nowhere but I have been extremely swamped with work of late to be able to handle proper entries. In fact typing this simple one up challenges my sleep-deprived brain cells a little but it's too pretty a red not to share.

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And yes, you heard me right.

I have previously mentioned with my OPI Germany haul that red nails aren't quite my thing but this was way too pretty to pass up.

From the swatches online, it seemed like a gorgeously glowy color with a chrome-ish finish that I personally have never seen on another red.

Perhaps I just haven't been looking but I am pretty satisfied with this find! What's more, the swatch you see below is just 1 coat (plus Seche Vite Topcoat over) of OPI's Danke-Shiny Red.

(with camera flash)

(with camera flash)

Danke-Shiny Red is a beautiful glowy red that is somewhat chrome-ish, darkens a little at angles and yet still has a pearly hint to it. I am horrible at describing it but simply put, it's a beautiful red.

It's also odd how this reminds me of a car body's paint job with the whole chrome-y bit.

While I love this, I have given this bottle to my mom as she's a huge fan of reds and I think this shade would be a lot better appreciated with her.

What is one red polish you absolutely love?

Thanks for reading and I will speak with you all again when I manage to draw some time out of my jam-packed work schedule this September. Tata!

While this is my first time knowing of Australian brand Mirenesse, they are no new folks to the market and have been around for awhile with award-winning titles under their belt.

A look at the site and you will see that they have a good arsenal of both makeup and skincare products. Ranging from liners to primers, lip plumpers to eyeshadows and I have not even touched on their skincare ranges available.

Not to deter too much, in this post I would only be shedding light on their new Lip Bomb Glossy Lacquer Stains, introduced as part of their Boutique M Exclusive Collection.

The Lip Bomb is a revolutionary lip color that marries the properties of a gloss, stain and lacquer all into one sleek little tube. These are literally meant to be a 'bomb' in terms of pigmentation and color hence a specially designed Infinity Lip™ Applicator is  found within these tubes, for easier and more precise application.

It looks almost like a doe-foot being pinched in the centre and flattened towards the front.

The 'paddle' portion allows you to easily smooth the lacquer over your lips and the rounded tip gives precise application at corners and crevices. Overall I didn't notice anything too revolutionary with using the applicator but it was easy to apply the color and that is what matters!

The Lip Bombs are available in 15 high impact colors and of that I have 4 to showcase to you.

Left to Right: No. 2, No. 7, No. 8, No. 15 (yes, sadly it's 'named' with numerals!)

Mirenesse markets these as Custom Lip Colors because aside from wearing them on their own, you have the option of mixing them up and creating your own customized shade.

Hence aside from the usual reds and pinks in the 15 shades, you will see a pale silver and a golden toned one.

These Lip Bombs do look gorgeously bright and opaque within the tube and I am rather happy to report that they swatch true to tube-color!

Aside from strong pigmentation, they do have a nice glossy finish to them too.

While the colors swatched lovely on the back of my hand, I had to do the true test of swatching it on the lips.

I did it haphazardly since I wasn't intending to go for a proper lip swatch but was so blown away by the pigmentation I just had to grab my camera to capture it.

Here is No. 7, the bright fuschia with a hint of purple.

Like Lip Tars, a little goes a long way for these and I think the above was one 'application' from the tube. So no re-dipping back inside and this is the intensity / coverage you would get!

While it being intensely pigmented, I didn't feel a need to reach for a lip brush for precision due to the applicator actually making the job easier.

Pinks and I aren't entirely good friends but somehow a small part of me likes how this looks on. Definitely not something I would wear daily (this shade I mean) but I now have a bright fuschia to reach for if the occassion calls for it. If I ever dare wear this out that is!

Though to give it some use, I could do some mixing and create a comfortable pink for myself.

I haven't officially tested the Lip Bombs for wear and its hydrating or moisture-sapping abilities but after wiping the glossy stain off, I was still left with an evident pink stain on the lips. Certainly not the same bright pink but a very present lip color all the same.

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Mirenesse is not available locally, however you can purchase from their online website and they do ship to Singapore. You can find the Lip bombs on this page. 

These Lip Bombs are regularly priced at US$39 (3.1g / .11oz - slightly lesser than a MAC Lipglass) however there is a sale on the site right now and they are individually available for US$29. Even better, you can purchase a set of the 4 shades I have above for only US$49.99 (click here!)

If these glossy lipstains are your thing, you may want to check these bombs out! Thanks for reading!

Disclosure:
Products were provided to me for review consideration.
I am not affiliated to them and all opinions expressed are my own.

After patiently waiting for word after the US launch of it, Rouge in Love is finally available island-wide on our shores!

Though, as I had mentioned in the introductry entry, our shades are not the same as the US in terms of formulation and color selection.

I would admit, I was initially bummed-at-first-swatch due to the expectation I had of a vividly creamy and opaque color, only to be met with a glossy and slightly translucent swatch.

Though after giving this a chance, my mind has been changed and I am starting to enjoy how these lipsticks look and feel on.

I have 2 shades to share but before I delve into the shades, I first want to showcase the elegant-looking lipstick bullet.

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The 'panel' with Rouge in Love inscripted on is meant to mirror a... mirror! The idea is hinting at the romantism of scribbling a note on the mirror for your lover who hasn't risen from slumber.

There are also stocking holstery designs along the side (how sexy) and a very classic looking lipstick base design.

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Quickly recapping, Lancôme's Rouge in Love lipsticks aim to capture 3 different moods and times of the day - Morning, Evening and Night.

It was incredibly hard settling for just one or two when you have 27 beautiful shades in front of you but after much swatching, I ended up with one for the morning and one for the night.

In order of time, let's start with 132M, Corail in Love.

Coincidentally, when I was checking out the US Rouge in Love swatches, I zoomed in on their version of Corail in Love (which isn't entirely the same as ours).

The version we get appears to be more coral, less pink (I think?) and with a natural edge due to the translucent glossiness.

This is a perfect perk-me-up lip color without looking too stark despite the inclusion of coral - refreshing yet subtle for the day!

Moving on to the night, this was honestly the hardest as I was choosing between 3 shades. After much deliberation and re-swatching, I settled for 365N, Rose Grenadine.

I don't know how to describe this color but it's not quite a red, has hints of corals from the tube yet seems to pull pink when swatched on me.

On my hands, this swatched a little more coral than my other picks but on my lips, it seems to have morphed into a rosey pink tone.

The pinky tone it took on my lips was unexpected because I made sure to choose the one that swatched least pink amidst my options thus I think these lipsticks are those you really have to try on and see for yourself!

Kas has Rose Grenadine too and check out how it wears on her!

Hand swatches can only do so much and in most cases it doesn't do the lipsticks justice either because they may appear 'blah' and 'similar' that way.

Corail in Love and Rose Grenadine appeared quite close when swatched on my hands yet once applied, they are indeed like night and day.

On my lips, I find these to wear good for about 4 hours without eating. They glide on the lips effortlessly and feel light-weight on, almost reminiscent of my Maquillage Glossy Lip Rouge, except with more color to them.

They did not feel drying on nor do they supplement balm-like hydration but it was good enough for me.

I find that the Night color seems to leave a soft stain on the lips even after it wears (light dabbing after meals) off, leaving a natural altered liptone. Though this can be removed by wiping it off properly.

In all I have grown to love the textures of these lipsticks, especially Corail in Love, and while they may not have been what I expected, it didn't disappoint me either. While I love the jaw-dropping pigmentation of opaque cream lipsticks, I do realize that I tend to reach for glossy lipstick finishes that wear comfortably on - especially so for a day look.

Even if lipsticks aren't your thing, I urge you to give these 27 shades a look, a swatch and maybe a try. If you are a lipstick fiend... well, what are you waiting for, 27 shades are calling out to you!

Lancôme Rouge in Love retails for S$40 and is available at all Lancôme counters.

Disclosure:
Products were provided to me for review consideration.
I am not affiliated to them and all opinions expressed are my own.

Hello again everyone! Today is officially the last day of my 'freedom' so to speak, but more of that in another post.

In this one, I want to quickly share pictures and swatches of my first ever Butter London polish!

For the longest time I have been wanting to get my hands on these and sure they are available at Takashimaya but everytime I go by there (which isn't too often), I forget to drop by and check that display out. Though it's not like they have a huge range to choose from anyway.

So... enter ArglyDuckling!

ArglyDuckling is a new online boutique with a pretty quirky definition to themselves. In terms of the name, it's explains the general direction that all of us are just waiting to transform into beautiful swans with the right amount of effort and products!

I also like that apart from some familiar brands, ArglyDuckling aims to source out cutting edge brands that are not very known to us. So, instead of another online boutique carrying what everyone else has, ArglyDuckling has that little more to offer!

I think the easiest way would be for you to check out the website and find out for yourself!

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But back to my Butter London.

Putting 1 and 1 together, yes ArglyDuckling does stock Butter London on their website and it's a pretty decent selection of colors at that!

I picked out Muggins for myself as I am still in that whole pastel and light phase but the bright colors are tempting and I may just have end up with Butter London #2 in my stash soon.

Muggins is a greyish-pastel-purple that leans purple in some light but grey in others, making it quite a chore to capture on camera.

The polish feels runny in consistency (compared to what I am generally used to), though it builds up quite okay with 2 coats.

For the swatches below, I applied 3 thin coats to give it that more opaque finish and prevent the nail bed from peeking through at all.

While this was 3 coats, it didn't feel thick on due to the runny nature of the polish, so I guess that worked out in the end. It dries rather fast between coats as well so it doesn't take too long to paint 3 coats on.

In terms of color, I am really liking how soft Muggins is yet it still stands out in terms of the pastel purple. Like Dior's Glacier, I can definitely see myself reaching for this shade if I can't decide what to wear!

Butter London retails for S$23 on ArglyDuckling.com, which is cheaper than what we get at Takashimaya. Plus if you spend over S$50, you qualify for free postage!

Aside from Butter London, ArglyDuckling also carries Deborah Lippmann and Laqa & Co Polish Pens.

Thanks for reading and head on over to start shopping!

Disclosure:
Products were provided to me for review consideration.
I am not affiliated to them and all opinions expressed are my own.

It's all about lips, lips and lips!

While eyes can be the glitz and glamour of a look, it seems that lips are slowly taking centre-stage in the makeup realm with brands launching lipstick-focussed collections be it with re-promotes or spanking new shades.

< think I can almost hear lipstick fiends rejoicing or perhaps groaning at knowing where their moolah will fly to.

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But keeping on the topic of this post, Make Up For Ever had taken the success of Rouge Artist Intense to another level and decided to launch a little sister collection. Well put it this way, if Rouge Artist Intense is night, the new collection, Rouge Artist Natural is day!

While Rouge Artist Intense brings B to the bold and harnesses pigmentation like no other, Rouge Artist Natural is a very friendly opposite.

Rouge Artist Natural

Inspired by a very natural and fresh look, the Rouge Artist Natural range dresses lips in a crystal-clear shine while still injecting a very natural color coverage. Described to have a melt-away texture and 'fresh lip' effect, this aims glide on and deliver 8-hour hydration to the lips.

How balmy sounding!

The lipstick is encased in a newly revamped bullet with the brand name printed on all four sides of the cap.

The shade I have on hand is N5 Nude Beige, which is one of the 50 shades available! While having Natural' as part of its name, this lipstick sure doesn't hold back in terms of color.

The Rouge Artist Natural range has you covered from pinks to reds to corals and even burgundy. It's certainly a little something for everyone.

Texture-wise, I find these do glide across the surface of the lips like butter with a soft melty texture. Yet at the same time we aren't talking about a vulnerable lipstick prone to squishing itself. It has a balm-like texture that makes it very comfortable to wear yet delivers good pigmentation like that of a lipstick.

The secret to this is a savvy-mix of film-forming polymers, intense pigments and precious pearly particles for the shade along with Candelilla plant wax and beeswax for better color adhesion despite it's light balmy texture. The moisture facter is also well taken off by a cocktail of genetal castor oil and Cupuaçu Butter for that silky feel all day.

Well, that chunk of ingredient and behind-the-scenes listing aside, all I can say is:

Hydration + Color, MUFE is doing it right!

Rouge Artist Intense

Just for comparisons sake and also to re-introduce the earlier successor, Rouge Artist Intense, here is the shade I had received - Moulin Rouge.

If I am not wrong, Moulin Rouge is the only shade in the Rouge Artist Intense collection to have it's own special casing. The rest look just like the above (minus the top design), except with a silver base. That is if I'm not wrong.

Inside, the Moulin Rouge lipstick has another little extra touch.

For someone who wasn't too familiar with the Rouge Artist Intense prior I think I gaped a little at the beautifully intense shade of red (orange-based). That gaping also continued after I did a quick swatch of Moulin Rouge on the back of my hand.

The Rouge Artist Intense lipsticks carry a whole different offering with intense pigmentation, supreme coverage and extreme color results. According to a KarlaSugar swatch post, they carry various finishes from satin to pearly but one thing is for sure - they are all packed with color!

Here's a back of the hand swatch of the above 2 lippies.

I did one swipe of Rouge Artist Intense and 2 of Rouge Artist Natural

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Of course I can't wrap this post up without some lipswatches so first up, a more day appropriate look featuring the Rouge Artist Natural, the new range.

I had done a half lip swatch but forgot to snap a full lip swatch though I guess there really isn't a need for it.

This shade swatches to be very similar to my actual lip color, perhaps with a little more beige. If I wanted a nude 'My Lips But Better' shade, this would be a perfect find.

The shade looks glossy and creamy on the lips, which is certainly how it feels in person too. I never got to test the wear time and 8 hour hydration theory just yet though.

I think I am going to give Nude Beige a whole lot of love in time to come.

Moving from a soft day look to something a whole lot more 'night'.

Make Up For Ever really were not playing around when they dropped the term 'Intense' into Rouge Artist Intense!

For better precision and control of the lipstick I would actually recommend applying it with a lipbrush, which was what I had done with the Intense swatch.

Now, I'm not very accustomed to seeing this bold and bright a lipstick on myself so pardon me if I look like a deer in headlights or something.

This lipstick has a drier satin finish (though not necessarily drying) and feels like it could last forever but I never did wear it about for a test. After attempting to wipe it off, it did leave a stain on my lips which kept it a nice red shade still. That leaves me to think this lipstick could fare very well in longevity.

It's also slightly amusing how a simple change in lip color can switch up an entire makeup look.

I would definitely recommend checking out the Rouge Artist Natural if you are seeking a hydrating and comfortable lipstick that offers decent glossy pigmentation. And let's not forget that full range of 50 shades out there to choose from.

If you haven't given the Rouge Artist Intense a look, you may want to do that too if you feel you have a need for a pow-wow lip shade that will last and last through parties!

These lipsticks are available for S$35. Select shades are stocked at Sephora stores while the entire assortment is available at the Make Up For Ever Academy and Pro Loft.

Thanks for reading!

Are you a lipstick fiend?

Disclosure:
Products were provided to me for review consideration.
I am not affiliated to them and all opinions expressed are my own.

Instead of 'saving the best (of the batch) for last' as I always do, I've decided to toss that aside. Whenever I save anything for last, I always end up forgetting about it by being infatuated with a million other new things.

But back to this lovely deep emerald green. While I was contemplative about the other colors in A-England's The Legend collection (because I loved them all but don't need them all), I knew I HAD to get my hands on Saint George.

Below are swatches I took, with flash, the night they were painted. Flash shots tend to emphasize on the shimmer and holo shades making them more distinct than it looks in person.

Saint George has a deep emerald base, a truly gorgeous shade, and it's shot through with green, teal and some gold shimmer. In person, the shimmer flecks aren't as obvious as the photos and the shade sits at this beautiful deep emerald from a distance. I know I keep repeating 'deep emerald' but honestly even without the holo effect, I am still in love with the base color (but I still love the holo too, heh).

And here are shots in daylight which are a lot more true to what you will see in person. Sadly I chipped the nail on my index finger and had to file it down and live with that bald spot.

*small voice: deeeeeeep emerald!*

The light blue shimmers are a lot less obvious in person and I didn't notice how concentrated or present they were till I inspected the flash pictures.

One last photo and I am done with this mini nail polish fangirl moment.

These shots were with trusty Seche Vite topcoat over. While Saint George had a decent glossiness to it, I wanted more to truly emphasize the glimmer and holographic effect.

A-England is available for purchase through their website or Mei Mei Signatures (local e-store).

On a side-note, I caught Hunger Games and amidst the whole negative take on it, I was actually quite entertained through the show. Enough for me to be interested in reading the books that is. Or perhaps because I went in with all that negativity in mind to expect nothing, so perhaps it's a case of expectations?

Regardless, I have found or rather lugged home a new 'toy'. Sad to say while I love this shade, i wouldn't be having this on for very long.

Until then, thanks for reading!