Review: The Bodyshop Vitamin E Sink-In Moisture Mask ~ another dissapointment...

I never seem to learn my lesson ... again Bodyshop's mask dissapoint me.... this time with their Vitamin E  Sink-In Moisture Mask.  The Vitamin E range from The Bodyshop caters almost all group age and suits most skin types. Even among my friends this range has its popularity. I had to blame myself for finding reason to spend money through this... *erghhhh endless regrets*.

At first, looking into the reviews it sounds convincing, some even use this a face cream.... *which I would never ever recommend... it's not even a sleeping mask.

THE BODYSHOP Vitamin E Sink-in Mask - GBP 12.00

So where do I even begin???
From The Bodyshop 
"Sink some antioxidant Vitamin E into your skin. Bring skin back to optimum moisture level with this intensely hydrating mask."

There some degree of truth there... in terms that it does make my face hydrated.
I wear this mask after exfoliating and I remove it after a while with a wet/damp towel....
what I hate about it is the after feeling...
I always feel there still some residue on my face... and I don't want to keep on wiping my face with the towel as this is not good for skin, especially since I just exfoliated. So I hate that... it's uncomfortable.

The texture is like 'lumpy' cream... kind of like yogurt or milk that gone bad. It was alright, light and does not feel weirdly greasy or oily... despite that, I still feel like it left residues... hmmmm

Then when I pay more attention I realize it does stings when you wear it... I'm not sure if this is my skin or is it the product itself, but I don't have this same sensation from my other mask.
In the end, just like the previous mask I used this as body product... sometimes I use it like a mask, and sometimes like a body butter.... this doesn't change my impression towards this product.

I just want to pray that I would not fall prey to The Bodyshop mask anymore!

Overall: 1.0 /5.0

Empties #2

Finally finish my examination, seriously hope it's going to be ok....Since I've had hard time last year, checking exam's result is the most nerve-racking thing to do.... *and I have to do it ... errgggg ~~*

Oh well, since I finally got out from the cycle of intense revision and exams... it's finally summer break and I definitely doing my blog justice this holiday.

I'm just going with a post on Empties or finished product and those related...

I've been putting these in an empty Eason bag and can't wait to throw it after I post this up. 

I meant to post this earlier but just to find the time to take pictures of empty bottles... lol.. then again actually it doesn't take that much time. So here is it.

Empties #2

Origins A Perfect World Cleanser, Nivea Firming Body Lotion, Avene Thermal Spring Water, Origins A Perfect World treatment lotion

Origins A Perfect World Anti-oxidant Cleanser

This would be a new convert since I've been using Neutrogena gel cleanser for a very long time and my first premium face cleanser *quite expensive*. I thought I pick this up to add on to my Origins A Perfect skincare regimen and my I couldn't find the Neutrogena Cleanser I want. My housemate has used the Origins Checks and Balances and she seems to like it, so I'm convinced it's a good cleanser. So yes, it is actually a decent cleanser that lather up into a white foam. However I was influenced by a few beauty blogger/vlogger ( Chelsea and Caroline) about how foaming cleanser is not so good for your skin (quite drying) and soon a fter that I started to feel that the cleanser make me feel dry, hahaa! Although I would said it's not so drying compare to other foaming cleanser, so after finishing this I would again venture to  good gel cleanser, not going to repurchase this.

Nivea Firming Body Lotion

Okay, I'm not big on body lotion even  body care in general. I know's important but there aren't a lot going on compare to my face. But then I always believe it's important to have a decent body lotion. So I got this just because it's cheap *not thaattt cheap* and Nivea is good brand and I have used them before. This lotion is okay, nothing really interesting and has that typical Nivea smell *if you use Nivea, you would know* of body lotion *chemical milky kind of refreshing smell*. It has Q10, very common in firming & anti-ageing stuff. But overall I'm not so crazy to want to repurchase this and there's a lot of free body lotion I have to get through first.

Avene Thermal Spring Water

This is one of those things you feel unnecessary that you just chuck it away a drawer but then at crucial times it just become handy to have. This is the only facial spray I had tried and like I say just now, it's unnecessary but it's convenient to have *that's why I bought the small bottle*. I use this if I have to freshen up which is very rare and.... *krik krik* Then if I'm too lazy or late that I would not spend a mere 30 seconds to apply my regular toner with cotton pad, I just spray this ... voila! Oh and sometimes I would use this instead of my toner if I was doing any exfoliating/mask treatment just because I thought I would lessen the skincare ingredient on my face, you know when you feel you would overload my face with many treatment at once, and this literally don't have much ingredient *I think it's only spring water*. Other than that it's cheap and I definitely will repurchase it, this time in bigger bottle.

Origins A Perfect World Treatment Lotion

This would be my regular toner and I don't think I have any plan to stray away from this. From all the toners I tried this is the best I've tried, it's moisturizing, smell's good and it makes my cream went on better. I believe my skin works better with my Origins serum and cream since I started use this, more obvious changes. But I just had to say it, it's quite expensive *standard for a premium skincare*, but I'm willing to spend an extra money on this. Well, I know there's more expensive toner out there.

Clinique High Impact Mascara, Collection 2000 Longer Lash, 17 Clear Definition

Clinique High Impact Mascara in Black

I just love this mascara and this is just a sample tube. I thought I don't want to include samples in this post but this was happen to be there and I have to admit it's a generous sample tube. I did a first impression post on this *which I usually do for free sample* and do check it out. Not going to bable a lot on this since it might be just repeating stuff so do check out the post.

Collection 2000 Longer Lash in Black

Another tube of mascara and this is so far lame compare to the Clinique High Impact. But good news is, it's cheap as dirt. It was less than five or four quids I think. The only reason I bought this is because I want to have extra mascara if I'm doing makeup on other people and I had purchase the disposables mascara wands. wooooooo *makeup artist wannabe! LOL* So it's says waterproof and longer lash, I thought, oh what could go wrong and just got it. I was not impressed at all, and it was dried and almost solidified and when I put it on, it was still okay and decent but it does leave like black 'crumbs' *bare me with my explanation* on my lower lid. Messy. Not sure if it's just my bad luck getting dried one or what but I definitely not going to repurchase it.

17 Clear Definition

So another venture into trying something cheaper, clear mascara/browgel. Previously, I used the Bodyshop because I couldn't find any clear mascara/brow gel in the pharmacies back in Malaysia and premium makeup was quite expensive for me. Looking through the reviews online a lot says that it's overpriced for what it is and I started to agree thus I try this. Again, another failure! Cheap as dirt. It was so watery and don't think it really tame my brows, I might as well just use water.

Silkygirl Long-Wearing Lipliner in Nude, MAC Penultimate Eye Liner in Rapidblack, Nivea Lip Care Repair & Protect

Silkygirl Long-Wearing Lipliner in Nude
This was the first lipliner I tried and I really enjoyed using it. It's just a pink nude which just brightens my lip a bit. Quite creamy... but still drying. In the old days when I just started using makeup, this was fine and I enjoy the matte look that it gives me. Since I'm into high end stuff now and I have a lot lipliners and I have more demand of what I'm looking for in a lip product, I'm not going to repurchase this.


MAC Penultimate Eye Liner in Rapidblack
I got this as part the Packed to Go 3 Black Eyeliner, genuinely for the price which save you more than just buying it separately. First of all this is my first felt tip eyeliner and I'm not really into it because I just afraid it dry easily. Fromm what I read on the internet, most people didn't like it, not bold and as pigmented as it expected to be,which I agree. Although from the use of this I do acknowledge the ease of using a felt tip, that after I got rid of this and goes back to my gel liner, I had some difficulty since I'm so used to the felt tip. Despite the lack of of pigment, I still feel does last well  and set well as well. I definitely not gonna get this one anymore, if I'm thinking of getting a felt tip probably I will try another brand. Although I want to finish my gel liner first. *I'm not really an avid black liner wearer to be honest, but maybe I will do more this summer*

Nivea Lip Care Repair & Protect
This has been my go to lipbalm, it just simple standard lipbalm, nothing too fancy. Although I believe this one is more superior to other Nivea lip balm or even most lip balm I ever tried. It got SPF and repair feature which is really my kind of lipbalm. Since I started using Elizabeth Arden Hour Cream I had changed this into my day lipbalm. The only thing was that I prefer it's in a pot instead of a tube, because I like to use my finger to dab lipbalm instead of just put it on straight *when I'm on a go*. This is mostly because I don't want to ruin my lipstick and I' just lazy to redo my lips, especially when I'm wearing bold lipstick.

First Impression #4 - Clinique High Impact Mascara, Tony Moly Intense Repair Live Snail Lotion and Skin

Clinique High Impact Mascara in Black

This would be my actual second black mascara I ever tried, my first one was a cheap SilkyGirl one and converting to this, I definitely notice so much different. Even though it's only a free sample, it's still so much better than a my previous full size mascara *what am I saying right, duhhh!*. It gives me the perfect volumes and thickening. From wearing this, I definitely realize how much a good black mascara can do to your eyes, no eyeliner needed. Not only that, it does not transfer, I'm not sure if it's really waterproof but it does not smeared in rain or tears.Now that's amazing. Since I haven't tried that many mascara so probably I'm being naive, but seriously. Okay now I'm using the Maybelline's in pink and green tube *forgot the name at the moment* and it's still far from this "HIGH IMPACT" mascara. And I know there's many good reviews on this and even my favourite beauty blogger, Sam from Pixiwoo like this as well.

The question is, Clinique mascara is expensive, it's a premium beauty brand... would I fork out more than ten quids for a mascara that wouldn't last long?? I'm not sure at the moment, since I have other sample mascara to try on.

Tony Moly Intense Repair Live Snail Lotion and Skin (toner and emulsion)

Another Korean brand free samples I got from my Seoul trip. This is obviously the 'snail' skincare line from Tony Moly and one of the expensive one from the brand. The Snail Skin would be the toner which is in a clear watery gel-like consistency and the Snail Lotion would be the emulsion which is a typical milky light creamy fluid *sorry for the many adjectives*. So the line active ingredient would be snail mucin which is claimed to be very beneficial in repairing skin and rejuvenation. I feel they are very light which can be good but I can't help feeling a bit disappointed that they are as not moisturizing as I hope it would be *like The Face Shop INTEVIA*. However, knowing this I definitely confident that this is very good for acne-prone skin and even the sales assistant told me that this line does gear toward that skin type. I can say this work very well together and at night I would wear it together with essence and face cream which really freshen up my face and I feel it does rejuvenated, although not necessarily heavily moisturized. It's a decent product from Tony Moly.

Hauls #18 - Collective haul: Nars, Ren, Clarks

Another popular brand I'm just getting into, NARS

From Left: Semi Matte Lipstick in Fire Down Below, Pure Radiant Tinted Moisturizer in St. Moritz and Cuba, Pro Prime Multi-Protect Primer SPF30+++, Shimmer Eyeshadow in Ashes to Ashes, Cream Eyeshadow in Beige.

NARS Pro Prime Multi-Protect Primer SPF 30+++ GBP25.00

I've been looking out for a new primer since I'm running out of my MAC Prep+Prime. I was interested in NARS and it seems perfect that it also has SPF 30 with PA+++. It is so hard to come by a primer that has the same sun protection.

NARS Pure Radiant Tinted Moisturiser in Cuba and St. Moritz GBP 28.00 each

This is not really me to get a tinted moisturizer, but suddenly when I started to wear Origins Vitazing sample, I thought tinted moisturizer would be practical to have. This was quite a hype when it come out and I like that it provide more coverage than expected. But too bad when I first bought Cuba, it was a bit too dark to my liking. So I bought  St. Moritz just because I want to lighten it a bit. 

NARS Semi matte Lipstick in Fire Down Below GBP 18.50

This purchase is just simply an impulsive red lips purchase. I know I got a few already, but I just couldn't help it. At first I thought getting the Velvet Matte Lip Pencil in Cruella but I thought it might be similar to what I have already so I chose this, as it was describe as a blood red with no blue, something new. When I got it it's kind of similar to my Chanel Rouge Allure Velvet in La Somptueuse but it's more brownish. I was kind of annoyed but oh well.

NARS Shimmer Eyeshadow in Ashes to Ashes GBP 18.00

I want to try NARS eyeshadow and I was not sure what kind of I should go for and I chose this colour and I think it's easy to pull off but at the same time look a bit different. It looks a bit mushroom, but it's more of plummish medium brown. Some say's it's like a lighter MAC Satin Taupe which I agree and it's great because I don't have medium cool brown.

NARS Cream Eyeshadow in Savage GBP 17.00

Ok this is what I had hope MAC Paint Pot in Rubenesque would be, a warm brown. This is the colour I thought I just can slap it on my lids and walk out the door. It's shimmery warm bronzy brown but not too dark so it brighten my lids. Now I'm not sure of its longevity and if I need to set it with a powder *hopefully not* but I will keep you updated.

REN Micro Polish Cleanser GBP 20.00

I first heard about REN from amodelrecommends and I like that the 'orange' range is glycolic acid rich. Now I've been a fan of DermTV Dr. Schultz and he always mention glycolic acid as the gold standard for exfoliation. Now I almost want to get the glycolic mask but I thought I already have too many mask so I opted for their exfoliator instead. We'll see how it goes and this is not so much a physical scrub like Origins Modern Friction, so I think that would be nice.

Now on the shoes!! I don't know why exactly but Clarks been coming out with something I would really really like. Before this I always think of Clarks to get a comfortable good quality leather footwear, but for style statement..? not really... oh well.

Clarks Lulworth Beach GBP 39.99 (after discount)

This black suede lace ankle boot made me almost jump when I see it in  the website. Not only that, it's quite pointy and the lace give kind of 'vintage' effect. Not only that the short heels is just good enough a bit of height but still be comfortable. I was actually inspired by Natalie Off Duty where she had this suede lace up Modern Vice boots in different colours. I was actually considering other colours and Clarks had this blue gray, but I thought it would not standout and black even though it's common but it can stand out better. I was quite worried about the sizing because past experience with Clarks, I'm always not satisfied. But I take my chances and I'm glad I did, the size was perfect and I don't even need a wide fit size. Happy!

Clarks Aintree Ticket GBP39.99
After getting those fabulous black suede boot, I was hooked again when 'grandpa' slippers is seen a lot on fashion bloggers/vloggers.... and again Clarks caught me with this leopard print. I've seen leopard print flats before but I never get a chance to get it and Clarks has open a pathway for me. It's so chic and can be very casual and you know how I am with leopard print, I just had to get it. It's leather with hairs so it does have the texture and sheen of hair, I love it! Again no sizing issue!

Clarks Henderson Cute GBP 49.99
Now last but not least....the latest addition *about a 1-2 weeks ago*! I can't remember how but I'm so glad I tried this out. Okay since I came to the UK brogues seems more common whereas in Malaysia it seems more as fashion forward. Not sure why but I always think I can't pull it off. Forward to the recently, I just thought I want to take a look at Clarks for a loafers because the Barrats synthetic one I had is falling apart. Even though I already had one from Hush Puppies but the styles was not quite the same. After I look at a few loafers they had I was beginning to argue on why I should get this or that... until I thought try another style and brogues suddenly come to mind *especially when Clarks is doing a lot of it*. I thought yeah, how about that and Natalie Suarez wears brogues *she's my footwear inspiration!* ... LOL, influenced much? To make it more interesting I chose the one with the cut out and weaving details since I chose a usual tan colour. I'm just glad I got it, it's flats so comfortable and it's leather, so I didn't have that 'regret' when I got the my Barratts flats loafer which I hoped was a leather. It look so great with a skinny and I can even wear this in quirky style, *look at picture below*....

Hauls #17 - Collective Beauty Hauls - Illamasqua, Avene, Eucerin

Continuing the collection haul from last post. 

These what I got from Boots. I think I bought this in 3 for two deal, so the Eucerin cleanser is free.

Eucerin Dermo Purifyer Cleanser 200ml GBP 9.18

I tried this product years ago when I was still in school but it was too expensive for me that time. I like that it's anti-bacterial, but also quite gentle in gel form, I never felt tight with this cleanser as far as I can remember. I'm thinking of converting from Origins A Perfect World Cleanser just because I want to get rid of foaming cleanser which can be quite drying. I'm still afraid if Eucerin Dermo Purifyer is drying but if that the case I probably try their gentle cleanser and keep this for emergency when I suddenly have breakouts.

Avene Antirougeurs Calm Soothing Repair Mask 50ml GBP 15.00

When I'm trying new brands, mask is usually the first choice. Mask needs less commitment because you usually wear it once to 3 times a week, compare to a cream which usually once or twice daily. I thought Avene would have decent mask and I found this. There's two version, one Soothing Rich and the one I bought which is Soothing Repair. I chose the repair because I just love something repairing or rejuvenating *same as my love for Origins Planscription* and this probably because of my acne scars. 

  

Avene Micellar Lotion Cleanser and Makeup Remover 200ml GBP 12.50
Ok I'll be lying if I said I was never tempted to get Bioderma, although I did never get to it. Micellar has been a 'big bomb' in beauty world for its art of removing makeup and I don't how I was drawn to Avene's one. What I really like about the idea of micellar, is that it's a liquid remover without oil and it can be for the whole face. So I think instead of getting wipes to be used when I'm too lazy to wash my face and just want to remove makeup. It doesn't need rinsing and it's technically a cleanser as well, so wipe it with the cotton pad and spritz Thermal Spring Water *which I also use occasionally* and done! Definitely great for travelling!

I got to thank the Pixiwoo Sam for introducing Illamasqua for me. She has made this brand to be more approachable to me because before this I think Illamasqua counter can be very dramatic and I can't get myself to the counter but finally I went for it.

Illamasqua Highlighter Brush GBP 24.00

I got this brush when I bought the foundation... on impulse. The sales assistant apply on me the Skin Base Foundation with this brush and I'm totally hooked. Now I'm fully understand why people love using those small dome dense brush for foundation like MAC 109, it just buff the foundation into the skin like a second layer. But this one is better for liquid since it's synthetic, so the brush is not easily ruin. I'm sure I'll be using less of my Real Technique Stippling Brush.

Illamasqua Blending Brush 1 GBP22.00

Alright I think I got this online and I have no idea why exactly I chose this. I was thinking of investing in a premium eyeshadow blending brush and I was aiming for MAC 224 after I got the MAC 217. But I thought of trying other brand and Illamasqua stood out especially when this brush has a reviewer state "a superior dupe of MAC 224" so I got it, lol. This is synthetic as well.

Illamasqua Skin Base Foundation #12 30ml GBP 27.00
The reason of how I got into Illamasqua in the first place. I has heard great reviews on this product and especially professional makeup artist reviewer all love it very much. There was an article from Beautylish which I tweeted before and praise this product. This is claimed as BB cream, and I totally understand it. It is but it's just not label as BB cream and it's been around even before BB cream got crazy in western beauty world. Now that's cool compare to most brand that just re-brand their average even shitty tinted moisturizer as the highly acclaimed BB cream. So I got matched at the counter and I could never be more satisfied with their service as they listen to me in what I want, which is a foundation that brightens up my face instead of just matching my skin tone flat. It is light but it can give full coverage finish.

Illamasqua Liquid Metal in Electrum GBP 10.00 (original price price: GBP 17.50)
I got this in the sale because of the price drop. There was another darker brown colour which look nice as well, but for some reason I was afraid of the red shimmer in it when actually my skintone can pull it off actually. Nevertheless I was drawn to this yellow kind of tarnished antique gold and I'm always drawn to shimmery gold tone eye colour. Definitely prefer this colour than MAC Paint Pot in Rubenesque. Great for simple eye lid colour.

Hauls #16 - Collective beauty hauls: Origins and MAC

I haven't done hauls in a very very long timeeeee... and this by not any means proving any reduction in my shopping habits... *it might have gotten worse*. 

I bought a lot of stuff but I never really get to it, you see, nothing in my first semester and now semester 2 is almost over and easter break coming up... but you know what that mean?? EXAM is soon and not to forget I have club committees to be dissolved in AGM soon... *lots of work*

Nevertheless, since I haven't done any hauls for the whole semester 1 and not yet in semester 2, I leave some of my new purchases still in boxes or bags etc... *now that might mean I need help* with the thought I might post a hauls, it's creeping me up and it's driving me nut that I haven't put these all up in my blog, I mean that is the purpose I have this blog ?? '-.- *lol, I really need help*. but at the same time I do feel 'embarrassed' that I bought 'a little' more than I should have... 

So overcoming that, now I finally got to it. Now some of the stuff dates probably back in September 2012 so since then, there are loads I tell you, LOADS of sh*ts that I myself can't believe I have purchased. I have tried other brands that I'm not use to so I'm excited to share that. But I can't really include every single new stuffs especially clothes because I wore it and all, so probably I'll post it in ootds or something.

Looking through the stuff, I can't really post everything in one large post because it would be so freakin' long and I'll be lazy about it. So I'll do it in a few parts and try to include as much as I can. This one will be on my all time favourite Origins and MAC. Again I would like to remind these are NOT bought in one big purchase.

ORIGINS - Brighter than Nature Skin-tone Correcting Moisturizer, Ginzing, Mega Bright Skin-tone Correcting Serum, Super Spot Remover, Plantscription Anti-ageing Serum

note: those are the usual price but I remember I got these in sales and I also use my Debenhams Beauty Club point so I pay less than the usual, not to forget the freebies I got as well.

Origings Planscription Anti-ageing Serum 50ml GBP 60.00
So I ran out of my Planscription and I just have to get another one and instead of the 30ml one, I decided to fork out extra for the 50ml one and all in all, it's more economic that way and I know I will use this up. This have been my staple serum. It great on my skin and my skin does not break out from it and I always feel that I don't break out as much when I wear this regularly. This was one of the products that change my skin when I started on Origins.

Origins Super Spot Remover 10ml GBP 13.00
Okay I admit I was influenced by the many beauty youtubers such thepersianbabe and uglyfaceofbeauty that rave about this product. I was having extra 10 quids that time and I thought why not? So I asked the sales assistant about the product, like what it's active ingredient etc and it is salicylic acid, I was afraid. I never had good experience with salicylic acid so I was skeptical at first, but she went on how it's gentle but strong enough and it botanical so it shouldn't irritate much. Since I haven't heard of the beauty youtubers saying it irritating, I end up purchasing it.

Origins Dr. Andrew Weil For Origins Mega-Bright Skintone Correcting Serum 30ml  GBP 46.00
I've been hearing good stuff about Dr. Weil's line for Origins and thought of giving this a try since I always on a look for a brightening skin-tone correcting serum. Now it was my luck that the sales assistant recommend me to buy this set for brighter skin *which I can't really remember the exact name* that not only contain a full size 30ml of the serum and including other stuff and for the same price as the single full size 30ml of the serum itself. So definitely a bargain since I don't even have to pay more and I even got a cute cosmetic bag.
It include 50ml of the Brighter By Nature Skin-tone Correcting Moisturizer and full size 15ml GinZing refreshing eye cream which is in a tube *very handy for travelling*.

Plus in one of the purchases, I got another extra sample tube of the Planscription serum *I love this stuff* which is in 15ml tube.

Mega Mushroom Skin Relief Face Mask 100ml GBP 34.00

I bought this mask in midst of a sale and there was only one tube left. The sales assistant told me it take a while to restock this and you wouldn't get the sale discount by then... so for me, at that moment, it was a no brainer... I had tried the mask using the oh-so-generous 30ml sample I got a while ago and it was really the best mask I ever tried. Especially when you have break out, it calms them down and really help with the healing. Got to have it, the full size tube that is.

MAC- Prep+Prime Transparent Finishing Powder, Lipstick in Russian Red, Prep+Prip Lip, Lip Pencil in Stripdown

MAC Lipstick (Matte) in Russian Red GBP 14.00

I finally got one of the iconic red shade lipstick in the beauty world. It was between Russian Red or Ruby Woo, I chose Russian Red because I was told that Russian Red is a tad more warm than Rubywoo, so again... a no-brainer, lol. Not only that, I also think Russian Red is a cooler name and this was Gwen Stefani favourite red lipstick, hahaha! Media influenced much? But I did also read some reviews and comparison people made and they always said that both differ in texture where Rubywoo is more of a dry crayon like and Russian Red is more creamy. I prefer the latter because I pretty much dry on lips and even though it's 'creamy', Russian Red still gives off that bold matte red lips.

MAC Prep+Prime Lip GBP 12.00

 What better way to perfect a red lips look than to starting off with a nice base. I always wanted this since I watch that MAC cosmetics video featuring Fatima on how to get the perfect red lips, it make lipstick last longer and stop feathering *very important for red lips*. I think this would be perfect for me as I am an avid red or bold deep colour lipstick wearer.

MAC Prep+Prime Transparent Finishing Powder GBP 19.50

 Another product I've been wanting to have and this is my first translucent powder. It would be better for me since finding the right powder for my skintone is really difficult. I tried it in the counter and I was satisfied. At first I thought of getting the pressed form but the sales assisstant just tell me that I'm better off with the loose form especially when I'm getting more product for the same price and she said I don't really need this for touch up. Sold! hahaa!

MAC Lip Pencil in Stripdown GBP 11.50

I am an avid red lipstick wearer but I can't deny I still covet those Olsens Twin-styled matte beige nude lips, I want those effect on me. But it's hard to get the right one, the usual nude lipliner I just afraid might be too light on me and the one I had in Spice can look bit more coloured *not the 'nude'* than I want to. I tried asking at counters before, but I don't know which switch was off in my brain that I endup buying a pinky nude Dervish?? So I just go there, ask for the Stripdown and try it. And surprisingly it's not too light/chalky as I expect it to be, it was the best nude beige I have, more importantly it's matte. I think this would work well with my MAC Taupe and probably the Rimmel in Nude Delight. We'll see.

MAC Brush 217 Blending Brush GBP 17.00  and 
208 Angled Brow Brush GBP16.00

I finally got to expand my MAC brush 'collection'. A blending brush is a must and I want to invest in a good one. MAC 217 and 224 are very popular and I end up buy the 217 because it was a bit cheaper but I thought this is a good start. At the same time I thought getting a proper brow brush since the one I used from Real Techniques is quite ridiculously large and does not deliver the finish I want on my brow.I went with the 208, since it says 'brow brush' straight on, so it was direct, lol. I thought this was one of the two that the Pixiwoo sister mention, but it wasn't *they mention 263 and 266*. Well, all three is pretty much the same. 

Review: Revlon Matte Lipstick Really Red

When I'm starting getting into makeup, one of the look that I was really drawn to is the matte red lips. That time I still can't afford MAC or other high end brand and back in Malaysia that time, there aren't any decent red lips and there was NO matte lipstick range. So when Revlon come up with the Revlon Matte Lipstick, I fall heads over heels with it!

Now I had a hard time to convince myself to get it since I wasn't financially well *compare to now, lol... bless you student loan!* and plus the salers at Watson (a drugstore in Malaysia) isn't helping much at all ... keep on saying I should stick to pinky and nude blah blahhhh... you see that time, the RED LIP is not trendy at all, it was still associated with mature women and probably rebellion teenagers... even Malaysian celebrities or artist do not spot a red lips ( but that was back in the those day, now many Malay girls spot a red lips... maybe because of Yuna Zarai?)

Moving on to this lipstick, (skip all the awkwardness trying to wear red lips back in college),
it was one of the best I ever had. It's really red, hence the name Really Red and it's the right amount of being not too bright or too deep. I haven't found red lipstick of the same shade, some say it's a dupe of MAC Rubywoo but I'm not too sure, since Rubywoo can be a bit too cool? but I don't have that so I'm not sure.
All in all, Revlon really nail this shade!

with flash

without flash

Other than that, I think the red is almost neutral and I think it looks a bit warm on me because of my warm skintone. I really like how it does not look pink on me even if I make a stained lips. For me it is a basic red lipstick to have. You can go for pale red stain or you can go bold matte red or you can top clear gloss over it.
Now saying that it's a basic red lipstick I love layering this over other stuff,
I love it with Revlon Colorburst in Sienna to achieve that brick-red stained lips,
I love it MAC Lipstick in Alibi to make it more red orange,
and recently,
I love it under Tony Moly Tony Tint in Red Apple for that ultra deep stained but not dark red lips,

all these look are matte which always the lip looks I prefer and definitely look more edgy compare to a typical red which many *Malay girl* is spotting.
It's inevitable that I branch out to different kind of reds and other deeper colour, I can't believe myself as well when I look into my lipstick drawer.

The formula is really matte and it's actually a drying matte I would say. So if you have a dry lips, lip balm is a must, because it can be flaky. Probably those with not so dry lips would not have this problem.
Being a dry matte, it does not feather at all. This is very important when you spotting red lips, you don't want it outside of your lips. Although I notice it does not last that long and if you have an oily meal, you might as well just wipe it clean and apply it again after eating, cause it's hardly last, well for me. What I'll do is layer it up, that is to wear it, blot with tissue, powder it and layer it again, and do it at least 3 times. That will give the best long lasting result. Wearing red lipliner is helpful as well, and I use MAC lipliner in Redd if I'm wearing its true shade.

The packaging is okay, nothing fancy and does not have that cheap look, though it does not look expensive as well. The top is clear so you can see through what lipstick it is like most of Revlon Lipstick.
Since it's a drugstore brand it's definitely more affordable, GBP 7.49, but I say nowadays many brand has come up with decent matte red lipsticks and probably cheaper. So more options and you can try compare them and find which is the best for you. Since it's quite cheap, it's a good way for experiment if you have not try red lips before but interested.
The question now is will I repurchase? I'm not so sure since I have loads of red lipstick now and I'm still greedy to try other brands as well, but I cannot deny this is a very good staple.

Overall rating: 4 out of 5