lipstick

A pre-Christmas swap with the lovely Charlotte yielded a lipstick from a brand I'd never tried before - NYX Round Lipstick in a beautiful red called Chaos. The name of the product might not be particularly inspiring, but the product itself certainly is!

Firstly, the application of this lipstick is fantastic. It's incredibly smooth; feels very moisturising as it glides onto the lips. The pigmentation is also brilliant - fully opaque colour in one swipe. It feels very comfortable on the lips; at the beginning almost too moist - I started to worry that it would come off on everything - but after five minutes or so it dried down a little.

By far the most impressive thing about this lipstick is the wear. It's so impressive that I felt compelled to take several photos throughout a day to demonstrate how long one application lasts.

On the right, we have a photo of Chaos freshly applied at 2pm, and photographed in natural light. The colour is a lovely blue red with fushia undertones and you can see how full the coverage is. Lips look (and felt) moist and smooth.

4 hours later, and it's no longer light outside. I've had several cups of coffee, quite a bit of water, and an apple. The colour is still going on strong; the lips don't look quite so moist, but they are still comfortable and don't feel overly dry.

At 9pm, after a couple more drinks and a bagel deli dinner, I finally feel that my lips feel too dry and wipe the remaining lipstick off. The colour is still fairly evident, although any moistness has long since dissipated. To be fair though, this is a whole 7 hours after application with no touch ups.

What strikes me is that the colour is still so even - I don't mind lipstick that fades, it's unavoidable, but I dislike being left with a stupid ring of lipstick around the edges of my lips.

In short - this stuff rocks. It lasts for a long while, it's pigmented, it's moist - it's rocketed up to being one of my favourite lipsticks already. I might even stop immediately going to MAC when I want a new lipstick (shock horror). And guess how much it costs?

$3.50. Incredible. I immediately went to Cherry Culture (who ship to the UK) and bought a few more - they're currently on offer for $1.75. If you're a lipstick lover, I highly recommend you try these out.

Lipstick Queen was founded by Poppy King, a lady whose obsession with the lips and lip products led to the production of her first lipstick line when she was just 18 years old. Since then, Poppy has owned several lip-based businesses, and now runs Lipstick Queen, who aim to produce unusual lip products. They're an exclusive, niche brand - not widely available, and with a high end price tag.

I've wanted to try out the Sinner lipstick for ages. Billed as a 90% pigment matte lipstick, with a "opaque, rich and creamy with a matte yet silky finish", I took the opportunity to try out the Rose shade at Space NK's recent 20% off event. The range of shades is 10-strong,with nude, pink, red and brown shades on offer, all with a fairly browny base.

The lipstick comes in a slim black tube; there's nothing particularly original or interesting about the packaging. The product within, however, is undoubtably one of the best matte lipsticks I've ever tried. Most matte lipsticks are incredibly drying, and can be difficult to apply - but this is smooth and creamy, and while it doesn't glide onto the lips, there's no tugging to get good coverage.

The colour is completely opaque with one pass over the lips, and this stuff definitely lasts - I had a good 4 hours between top-ups, which in itself isn't unusual for a matte, but my lips didn't feel at all dry after those 4 hours - they felt soft and cushion-y. I'm in love with the formula. The overall effect is very 1940s glamour - perfectly matte, perfectly opaque, and still very lush looking.


If you'd like to try this one for yourself, you can find Lipstick Queen at Space NK, where a Sinner lipstick will cost you £16.15 for 4g.

Is it just me or do any of you also find the idea of having to get on a waiting list to BUY something crazy?!  I understand that making something hard to get makes it more desirable - the capitalist side of me gets that - but the socialist side of me thinks that if you have the money you should just be able to just buy it, and they should just keep making them until everyone that wants one, has one! Rant over!

NARS has caught on to what video game console makers have known for years - the best way to build up demand for something is to not make enough!  Send out a few and watch the people fight over them!  Or in the case of beauty products, make a few and watch what people will pay for them on Ebay!
Bento Box Set - $125 - a limited edition set of two Kabuki cups that were hand-poured with a new exclusive-to-NARS lipstick formula in highly pigmented shades containing Vitamin E.  Housed in a handmade bento box, the set also comes with a Kabuki lip brush, designed for precise application by dipping the brush into the cup and blending until desired coverage is achieved.

It will be available Monday at Holt Renfrew and at www.narscosmetics.com - you can get on the wait list at www.narscosmetics.com/bento - you won't have to fight me for one, I'm not on the list!  I'd be curious to know if any of you are or what your general opinion of beauty wait lists are!

When picking up your A Tartan Tale pretties, don't forget that you can look pretty and feel pretty with one of the holiday charitable offerings...
'Tis Noble to Give Viva Glam Lip Bag - $43.50
Viva Glam Lipstick in Viva Glam V - neutral pink with pearl
Viva Glam Lipglass in Viva Glam V - neutral pink with pearl

proceeds go to the MAC AIDS Fund


This year MAC's special project for Kids Helping Kids is the MAC Sir Teddy

Sir Teddy - $18 or Sir Teddy with Clip - $14.50
Available at MAC Retail Stores only!

Tartan Tale cards - good for year round giving - were created by kids affected by HIV/AIDS with all proceeds going to the MAC AIDS Fund.

6 Kids Helping Kids Cards - $10 - set of 6 cards with envelopes
12 Kids Helping Kids Gift Cards  - $10 - set of 12 gift cards with envelopes

Along with the colour story releasing today is my favourite part of every one of their holiday collections - the kits!  Loving the tartan although I'm a little confused as to why they didn't include the Beauty Crazed pink & black...


6 Dashing Lassie Eye Shadows - $43.50
Once Upon a Time - metallic vanilla (veluxe pearl)
Bronze - copper penny (frost)
Buckwheat - frosty medium brown (frost)
A Dashing Lassie - metallic milk (frost)
Magical Mist - metallic taupe (lustre)
Showstopper - dark brown (matte)

6 Beauties Play it Cool Eye Shadows - $43.50
Heather Belles - dark charcoal/carbon (satin)
To the Ball - dusty lavender (satin)
Hold My Gaze - medium grey (frost)
Magic Moor - purple grape (veluxe pearl)
Altered State - blackened plum (veluxe pearl)
Silverwear - metallic lavender (frost)

6 Twists of Tartan Eye Shadows - $43.50
Vainglorious - metallic maroon (frost)
Rolled Gold - gold (lustre)
Lady's Prance - clay (matte)
High Spirits - shimmer avocado (frost)
Bows & Curtseys - metallic hunter green (satin)
Set To Dance - dark royal blue (matte)

6 Reelers & Rockers Eye Shadows - $43.50
Carbon - dark carbon (matte)
White Rabbit - shimmer white (frost)
Melt My Heart - metallic silver (veluxe pearl)
Gaelic Gold - metallic gold (veluxe pearl)
Crown & Sceptre - metallic copper (veluxe pearl)
Family Treasures - metallic bronze (veluxe pearl)


Happily Ever After Lip Kit - $27
Cheers All Around - bright candy pink (frost)
To Joy - medium pink (frost)
Endless Fun - sheer frost pink (gloss)


A Fabulous Fantasy Lip Kit - $27
Storybook Ending - raisin (lustre)
Imagine This - binky beige (amplified)
Heroic Tale - sparkle flesh tone (gloss)
A Triumphant Blush Face Kit - $45.50
Melba - soft coral peach (powder blush)
Peachtwist - golden peach (sheertone shimmer)
Smooth Harmony - neutral mid tan (beauty powder)
Hark the Heraldry Face Kit - $45.50
Dame - sophisticated blue/pink (powder blush)
Plum Foolery - faint dusty plum (sheertone shimmer)
Oh So Fair - pale pink (beauty powder)
Vain and Glorious Lip Bag - $43.50
Lustre Lipstick in Mellow Mood - sheer pink
Dazzleglass in Baby Sparks - sparkle baby pink
Lip Pencil in In Synch - light pink

Dazzle the Lads Lip Bag - $43.50
Cremesheen Lipstick in Timeless - medium rose
Dazzleglass in Moth to Flame - sheer neutral beige
Lip Pencil in Lingerie - dusty rose

Noble Knights Lash & Line Kit - $43.50
Fluidline in Blitz & Glitz - black
Pigment in Teal - bright metallic teal
Zoomblack
209 Brush


Violet My Love Lash & Line Kit - $43.50
Fluidline in Macroviolet - dark grape
Pigment in Violet - bright metallic purple
Zoomblack
209 Brush
Sweep Me Off My Feet Sweep & Define Brush Collection - $58
129SE, 190SE, 212SE, 227SE, 275SE


A Lady & Her Tricks Buff & Line Brush Collection - $58
168SE, 187SE, 209SE, 219SE, 252SE

She's Got It All Apply, Define & Line Brush Collection - $58
194SE, 204SE, 224SE, 266SE, 275SE

The holiday collection season really starts for me when MAC puts theirs out and I am loving everything this year!  I will definitely be running to my MAC counter tomorrow at lunch to check it all out in person - until then, admire the pretty pictures!

Lipstick - $16.50
Cut a Caper - mid-tone peachy pink (lustre)
The Faerie Glen - pale neutral pink (lustre)
Deepest Wish - deep creamy reddish brown (amplified)
Full Fuchsia - bright blue fuchsia (amplified)
Courting Lilac - sheer lilac mauve with soft gold pearl (glaze)

Dazzleglass Creme - $21.50
Radiant Jewels - dark sparkly magenta
Soft Dazzle - mid-tone peach pink with gold pearl
Passing Fancy - bright orange coral with soft pearl
Lightly Prancing - light peach with gold pearl
Gone Romancin' - mid-tone lavender with multi-dimensional pearl











Eye Shadow - $23.50
Golden Crown - light gold with bronze tartan striping
A Wish Come True - dirty mauve with bubblegum pink tartan striping
Follow Your Fantasy - mid-tone peach with chocolate tartan striping
Enviably Fun - grass green with dark green tartan striping
Semi-Precious - aubergine with chocolate tartan striping
Glamora Castle - dark grey with teal tartan striping

Pigment - $23.50
Later - black with transforming purple pearl (frost)
Moonlight Night - blackened teal with teal pearl (frost)
A Family Crest - blackened bronze with bronze pearl (frost)

Pearlglide Intense Eye Liner - $17.50
Petrol Blue - deep navy with pearl
Black Line - black with gold pearl
Undercurrent - teal with pearl
Black Swan - black with pearl
Lord It Up - bronze with pearl

Zoom Fast Black Lash - $16.50 - deepest black

Powder Blush - $22
Her Blooming Cheek - very bright iridescent blue pink (satin)
My Highland Honey - bright coral with soft gold pearl (satin)

Nail Lacquer - $15.50
Sly as a Fox - creamy mid-tone russet/burnt red (cream)
Style Clan - dark taupe with red pearl (frost)

Yves Saint Laurent Rouge Pur Couture - $37 - If there's anything more wonderful then a luxury lipstick, I don't know what it is and from the elegant gold case to the rich pigmentation this one screams luxe!

The idea behind the Rouge Pur Couture line was to redefine the YSL red - to create an attitude enhancer.  Don't worry if you aren't a red lipstick person - it's not one red, but a play on a fiery triple accord, associated red, orange and fuschsia.

There are 16 shades as well as a white and black shade that can be combined with any of the other colours to create infinite variations of red. 

Available are:

No 1 - Le Rouge, No 2 - Rouge Pourpre, No 3 - Rouge Saadi, No 4 - Rouge Vermillon, No 5 - Beige Etrusque, No 6 Rose Bergamasque, No 7 - Le Fuchsia, No 8 - Belle De Rose, No 9 Rose Stiletto, No 10 - Beige Tribute, No 11 - Rose Carnation, No 12 - Blanc, No 13 - Le Orange, No 14 - Rouge Feu, No 15 - Brun Sienne, No 16 - Rouge Roxane (shown), No 17 - Rose Dahlia, No 18 - Noir Laque

The pigmentation is wonderful - due apparently to how finely they grind the pigment, the finer the pigment, the more intense the colour.  Even better, they feel very moist and comfortable on your lips and contain a cocktail of anti-oxidants as well as SPF 15.

I've been on a gloss kick lately but these have been enough to have me reaching for lipstick again!


Available now at Holt Renfrew and coming next month to selected The Bay and Murale stores.

For several months now I have been drooling over the Lipstick Queen Jean lipstick and gloss on my favourite American beauty blogs - I have actually had it in the back of my mind that I needed to track down a way to get my hands on it - as it turns out, it was easier then I thought it would be - The Shopping Channel carries Lipstick Queen - hurray!

I wear jeans pretty much everyday so it makes perfect sense to me that I should own lip products to match them!  The colour looks quite strong in the tube but actually goes on sheer, I had to apply quite a bit just to have some colour show up in the pictures so don't be thrown when you see it in the tube by thinking it's too bright for you - on the other hand if you like a bright lipstick, you will be disappointed.
Lipstick Queen Jean Lipstick - $20 - this lipstick has a lot of moisture to it so it would also be a great choice if you like a tinted lipbalm - it's sheer so you need to build it for more colour and if you don't like a lot of colour, you will be happy with one coat!
Lipstick Queen Jean Queen Lipgloss - $20 - the gloss has more colour and is again very moisturizing but not sticky.  The only thing I'm not crazy about is the tube - it's a squeeze tube with a brush on it - I would have much preferred a brush wand or even if they had to have the brush attached, a click tube - I'm always afraid I'm going to squeeze too hard and have a gloss explosion!  (please excuse how it looks on the upper right hand side in both pictures, it looks like I didn't apply it there but it's actually just because of the way the light was hitting it)

And here's some great news and you're like me and feel you need both - The Shopping Channel offers the lipstick and gloss as a set for $26!  You can go to http://www.theshoppingchannel.com/category/beauty.do?e=1&Ne=100025&N=100038+134038 to check it out!

Alright - Gemma has totally put me to shame with her prodigious posting this week, so here's a review of a recent purchase of mine. The eco-rama right-on feel-good Plant Love Botanical lipstick from Cargo.

Plant Love is a range of products that are organic and made from recycled/natural materials and packaging. You can ogle the full range at Cargo's website, but currently only a small selection of the lipsticks area available at the Cargo counters in selected Sainsbury's across the UK. They are accredited by ECO-CERT, are paraben-free, incorporate a charity donation in the RRP, and generally are totally halo-worthy.

As I'm slowly (and sometimes unwillingly) opening my eyes to health and ethical issues related to my beauty obsession, this range is great news for me, even if it does demand a slight suspension of disbelief to embrace the idea that a high-end lipstick is going to contribute significantly to solving the world's problems. "Be the Change"(TM) says Cargo, in their Plant Love strapline. I could probably be a more effective agent for change by doing voluntary work, giving money to charity, or helping a homeless person in the street by buying them a meal with my £13. But anyway.

The lipstick I'm modelling for you below is "Lola", designed by Denise Richards (and named after her daughter). It comes in a plastic-looking tube that is in fact made from corn - although you wouldn't know it had you not been told. Instead it feels like basic Boots Natural Collection-style white packaging - not luxurious, but not horrible either. The tube is printed with 70s-esque pink floral designs. Meanwhile the outer box is made of recycled paper that has been embedded with wildflower seeds. Apparently if you plant the box, the seeds will grow into a plant. Cute.

The lipstick itself is rather nice to wear. It manages to be non-sticky and also non-slippy at the same time. It almost feels like wearing nothing at all on the lips. The effect would be matte except for the shimmer particles in the formula - the colour is actually dry to the touch once applied. Unlike other matte formulas (and this is a frequent accusation about mattes from MAC, for example) it's not particularly drying either.

As for the shade, I absolutely love it. It's a warm neutral with a bit of a kick to it that really brightens up the whole face without being too attention-grabbing. Well done Denise! Well done Cargo! Pats on the back all round. Plant Love Botanical Lipstick retails at the VAT-weird price of £12.72.

Besame Cosmetics' line of vintage styled, gorgeously packaged lipsticks are now available online at CultBeauty. Besame has been hard to find in the UK, with a few select products available in a few online boutiques. The full line of lipsticks and lipglosses, entitled Enchanting Lipstick and Enriched Lip Glaze, is now slightly easier to find.

The range of colours goes from subtle pink to intense red, all of which are densely pigmented, with a distinct vintage / old Hollywood vibe. The lipsticks are tiny - 1.8g, compared to the 3g of a normal MAC lipstick, as are the glosses, at 3.7g compared to 4.8g for a MAC lipglass, so the price is very definitely aimed at a high end market. With the luxurious packaging and styling, and a great selection of beautiful colours, this is looking like a tempting product!

Lipstick is £11 for 1.8g, and gloss is £12.50 for 3.7g. Available at CultBeauty.

Estée Lauder is raising awareness and funds for the battle against breast cancer during the month of October with the Pink Ribbon Collection:

Evelyn Lauder Lip Set - $30 - the lip design collection shades were hand-picked by Evelyn Lauder and include three lipsticks:  Pure Color Crystal Lipstick in Tiramisu, Pure Color Long-lasting Lipstick in Candy and Rubellite.  And of course the best part is the shiny pink case!


Elizabeth Hurley Lip Set - $30 - the lip design collection shades were hand-picked by Elizabeth Hurley and include four new Pure Color Gloss shades: Nude Rose, Rock Candy, Brazen Berry and Extravagant Pink.
Jeweled Pink Ribbon Pin - $18 - covered in 20 deep pink crystals it's a simple and elegant way to show your support of the cause.

Double Wear Stay-In-Place Makeup SPF 10 - $42 - will also be featured in a pink sleeve for BCA Month.

Estée Lauder will donate $100,000 in connection with its Canadian sales of the Pink Ribbon Collection to The Breast Cancer Research Foundation.

And if you're in Ottawa, get yourself to Parliament Hill tonight at 6:30pm when it will be illuminated in pink light as part of theEstée Lauder Companies’ Breast Cancer AwarenessGlobal Illuminations Initiative, now in its eleventh year.  Parliament Hill will join a long list of prestigious international institutions, including the Sydney Opera House in Sydney, Australia and the Tokyo Tower in Japan in creating brilliant displays of pink light for the cause.

Great Lips, Great Cause limited edition lip trio key ring - $19.50 - so cute and so practical to keep your lip stuff where you can find it!  Includes three pink mini lip favourites:  Long Last Glosswear SPF 15 in Clearly Pink (1ml), Supebalm Moisturizing Gloss in Grapefruit (4ml) and Different Lipstick in Glazed Berry (1.3g).  $4 from the sale of each key ring during the month of October will be donated to The Breast Cancer Research Foundation. 
Great Skin, Great Cause limited edition Dramatically Different Moisturizing Lotion with a collectable Clinique key ring - $45.50 - Now's the time to stock up if this is a favourite product of yours or something you've been meaning to try!  $10 from each sale of this special edition bottle sold during the month of October will be donated to The Breast Cancer Research Foundation.

Available while supplies last at The Bay, Sears, Murale and select Shoppers Drug Mart locations across Canada.

The new Healthy Makeup colour collection from Avon is designed to enhance the key signs of healthy skin:  hydration - moisture helps keep in essential nutrients so skin looks fresh, texture - smooth, silky skin allows colour to go on evenly and look naturally flawless and radiance - radiant colour makes your entire look come alive.  The line is formulated with a triple vitamin and antioxidant complex infused with vitamins A, C, E, pomegranate and olive leaf and I especially like that several of the products contain an SPF!  Here's what is available in the new line:

Healthy Makeup Mousse Foundation - 18g - $14.99 - available in twelve shades from light to deep with a feather-light feel and a velvet matte finish.  It has a light to medium buildable coverage and is suitable for sensitive skin.  Triple vitamin & antioxidant complex in enriched with pomegranate and apple.

Healthy Makeup Liquid Foundation SPF 10 - 30ml - $14.99 - available in twelve shades from light to deep the foundation instantly boosts moisture up to 164%.  It has a satin finish with light to medium coverage and is suitable for sensitive skin. Triple vitamin & antioxidant complex in enriched with pomegranate and apple.
Healthy Makeup Eyeshadow - 7g - $9.99 - cream to powder eyeshadow available in eight shades:  platinum, rose satin, tiger's eye, iced mocha, violet dusk, lilac ice, crystal waters and limestone - crease-proof, smudge-proof to wear all day.  Triple vitamin & antioxidant complex is enriched with olive leaf.

Healthy Makeup Lipstick SPF 15 - 3g - $9.99 - available in ten shades: pink radiance, blooming berry, apricot burst, luminous peach, fresh berry, naturally perfect, pink flush, cocoa gleam, rose shine and pink light - with vitamins A,E and B complex to help diminish dryness and restore a rosy glow.  Triple vitamin & antioxidant complex is enriched with pomegranate and olive leaf.

Healthy Makeup Lip Conditioner SPF 15 - 3g - $9.99 - available in clear plus four tints: berry, coral, nude blush and rose - boosts moisture 115% and is formulated with collagen to help lips look softer and smoother as well as vitamins A, E and B complex for moisture.

Sound like something you'd like to try?  Be our guest!  Up for grabs is:
A mousse foundation in natural beige, 2 eyeshadows:  violet dusk and iced mocha, a lipstick in pink light and a lip conditioner in nude blush.
This contest is open to everyone, everywhere. All you have to do is join Beauty Crazed as a follower if you aren't one already.  You can either do it through Google or through Networked Blogs on Facebook - you can find both signups on the right hand side of the Beauty Crazed site.  Once you belong to our crazy family just leave a reply to this post letting us know you want in and give us your best healthy fact or tip.   If you give the contest link a tweet and/or post it on your blog, there's an extra entry in it for you! Including an e-mail address would be extra helpful and you can write it like this - info(at)beautycrazed(dot)ca - so the bots can't find you but we can.  If you prefer not to leave your info on a public post, please leave a post saying you want to enter and then e-mail us your info - info@beautycrazed.ca, please put "Avon Contest" in the subject line.  Winner to be decided by random drawing and you have until October 21st to enter. 

Finally a cosmetic line to warm Christelle's cold, black heart!  Celebrate your own dark side with a little something from Venomous Villains - just remember that your villain pick says a lot about you...
Cruella de Vil
Eye Shadow - $18.50
Sweet Joy - frosted creamy pale gold (frost)
De-Vil - rich copper (veluxe pearl)

Lipstick - $18.50
Innocence. Beware! - light yellow pink (cremesheen)
Heartless - cherry red (amplified)

Lipglass - $18.50
Wicked Ways - deep fuchsia with pink pearl
Devilishly Stylish - light nude with gold pearl

Powder Blush - $23.50
Darkly My Dear - dirty brown plum (matte)


Beauty Powder - $30
Her Own Devices - cool nude

Penultimate Eye Liner - $20
Rapidblack - true black

Evil Queen (don't you think it's weird that she doesn't have a name?!)
Eye Shadow - $18.50
Her Alter Image - light violet (veluxe pearl)
Vainglorious - bronze burgundy (frost)
Vile Violet - deep dirty blue purple (matte)

Lipstick - $18.50
Toxic Tale - bright coral (satin)

Sinister - soft brown plum (lustre)

Lipglass - $18.50
Strange Potion - soft coral pink
Hot House - deep raspberry with pink pearl

Powder Blush - $23.50
Bite of an Apple - soft coral pink (matte)

Beauty Powder - $30
Oh So Fair - clean pink with gold pearl

Penultimate Brow Marker - $20

Maleficent
Mineralize Eye Shadow (duo) - $25
My Dark Magic - deep pink with pink pearl/deep plum with purple pearl
She Who Dares - deep navy with blue pearl/deep forest green with lime green pearl

Lipstick - $18.50
Violetta - bright clean violet purple (amplified)
Dark Deed - burgundy plum (amplified)

Lipglass - $18.50
Revenge Is Sweet - light yellow purple
Wrong Spell - deep plum with pink purple

Beauty Powder - $30
Briar Rose - soft violet pink with pearl

Nail Lacquer - $15.50
Bad Fairy - red with red multi-changing pearl
Formidable! - teal green with pink multi-changing pearl
Mean & Green - purple with teal multi-changing pearl

Dr. Facilier ( I don't know how a guy got on here instead of Ursulla!)
MAC Magically Cool Liquid Powder - $35.50
Truth & Light - sheer shimmer that reflects silver and pink
Cajun - sheer bronze shimmer that reflects gold

Lipgelee - $18.50
Resort Life - off white with pink pearl

Greasepaint Stick - $21
Slick Black - true carbon black
French Quarter - dirty black green with multi-colour pearl

Pigment - $23.50
Melon - soft bright golden peach (frost)
Brash & Bold - bright magenta (frost)
Push the Edge - deep bright purple with pearl (frost)

Zoom Fast Black Lash - $16.50 - deepest black

MAC I'm So Vain Mirror - $14.50

Hitting your MAC counter next week on Thursday, September 30th - what is your inner villain compelling you to buy?