Revlon Colorburst Matte Balm in #225 'Sultry' [Review]

Dear readers,

As soon as I first locked eyes with the Revlon Colorburst Matte Balms, I just knew I had to have them. The Colorbursts come in 2 versions: matte and lacquers.

I got mine when they were still not available in Europe from **here**.

If I'm not mistaken there are 10 shades to choose from, and I got #225 Sultry, since I love Dustry/Old Rose shades.

By now I believe they are widely available [also in Boots] but I don't think that they have been stocked up in Malta yet, boo [and nothing surprising there].

The packaging is one which has become widely used by now; Elf, MUA, and loads of other brands have launched similar lip products.

These are really similar to the Just Bitten Balm Stains also by Revlon - check them out here- they also have the same peppermint smell.

This shade has a slight brownish undertone.

I've read on some other blogs that these matte balms are really drying, but for some reason I believe they're really hydrating on my lips [and I do have dry ones] [these do have shea, mango and coconut butter in the formula so that explains].

Even though these go by the name of 'matte balms', it's not a good idea to use these as a lipbalm when your lips are chapped, so make sure to apply some balm before using them since they are matte and therefore more drying. 

They feel really velvety and smooth, and these have super duper pigmentation. 

You can 2.7grms worth of product in a twist up 'lip crayon' - so no need to grab a sharpener!

Another thing which I read from other bloggers is that these only last about 2 hours before they need to re-apply, but on me this lasts more than 4 hours even after eating/drinking.

When it does fade, it does so gradually so you aren't left with a 'lip-liner' kind of look.

Will you try the Revlon Colorburst Matte Balms out?

Love,

Lorraine

xoxo

Anatomicals Zap! Zap! Zap! Gets That Chap: Day and Night Spot Stick [Review]

Dear readers,

Unless you're blessed with a clear complexion, you know how annoying it is to wake up with a humongous zit [or 2, or 3...] anywhere on your face [especially on your chin grrr].

Before I used to dab on some toothpaste on the offenders [I don't know if it's harmful to the face, but someone had told me to try it out since toothpaste dries out spots].

That is until I got my hands on the Anatomicals Zap! Zap! Zap! That Chap: Day and Night Spot Stick. It costs €4.50 and you can get yours [locally + internationally] by following this link **here**

The Spot Stick comes packaged in a lipgloss kind of plastic tube: with double ended doe-foot applicators. One end is for day treatment, the other, you've guessed it, for night time use.

This smells like tea tree, mint and maybe witch hazel? All I know is whatever the concoction in this spot zapper - it works wonderfully.

The only difference between 'day' and 'night' is that day is clear and night is white - plus the night one smells a lot stronger than the other side. 

The fact that the 'day' version is clear means that you can easily use this even if you're going out - since it dries clear and leaves no tell tale marks.

Just one dab of this and the spots are begone! I cannot rave enough about this product, this has worked wonders on me. 

I especially like to use it when I squeeze a spot [I know you're not supposed to do it but I just can't help it!] - I just dab some of this miracle concoction and the offender gets no chance of resurrection lol :) 

Go on, try it!

Love,

Lorraine

xoxo

***Disclaimer: This product was sent to me by Anatomicals Malta for review purposes. I was not paid to do this review. What I wrote in the review is my honest and unbiased opinion.

Pupa Milano Vamp! Eyeshadows [Review]

Dear readers,

A couple of months earlier I was invited to a Pupa Milano event, where the sweet Stephanie showed a couple of fellow bloggers and myself some new collections by Pupa. You can check out the post *here* for more info about the event.

Two of the main stars of the event were undoubtedly the Pupa Vamp! Eyeshadows, which come in both Compact and Wet & Dry Formulas.

The Vamp! Compact comes in 24 different shades and 3 different finishes: matt, metallic and satin.

The Vamp! Wet & Dry also come in a staggering 24 different hues but with 2 different finishes: satin and pearly.

I was lucky enough to get to choose 2 different shades from the collection, and I got #202 and #203:

#202 is the gorgeous golden eyeshadow on the left, while the brownish/plumy one on the right is shade #203.

Both eyeshadows come in the same packaging: silver plastic compact cases which have a small clear 'window' where you can easily spot the colour you want to use.

They also come with small sponge brushes.

The main difference between the two eyeshadow is, as their name implies, that one can be used both wet and dry, and the other is used like any other normal eyeshadow.

The pigmentation of these is absolutely amazing and silky smooth. They also blend super easily.

I especially love to use the golden one in the inner corners of my eyes and I know that I'll be using it loads during summer when I'm tanned.

These Pupa Milano Vamp! Eyeshadows also have remarkable staying power.

The only problem that I have with these l eyes hadows is deciding which ones to buy from the lovely collection!

You can get yours for €11.70 each from a number of Pharmacies, Perfumeries and Beauty Salons around Malta and Gozo.

Left: swatched wet
Middle: swatched dry
Right: swatched dry

Would you try them out?

Love,

Lorraine

xoxo

***Disclaimer: This product was given to me by Pupa Milano for review purposes. I was not paid to do this review. What I wrote in the review is my honest and unbiased opinion.

Tony Moly Cat's Wink Curling And Longlash Mascara #1 [Review | First Impressions]

Dear readers,

I love mascara.

...and so I thought that I should try out Korean mascaras, especially since I have an ongoing love affair with their cosmetics.

I'd tried the Tony Moly Cat Chu Wink Lipstick [check out my review here] which I loved, especially the cute cat inspired packaging, and so I bought the mascaras from the same collection.

#1 is for volume and #2 is for curling [but more on the 2nd mascara in a later post].

I got mine from 2 ebay sellers but they both have none in stock at the moment :( These mascaras sell out like hot cakes! I bought mine for around €5 but I can't find any cheap ones available. The cheaper one I found out is $8.99 from this seller here.

The Cats Wink Mascara comes in cute cat packaging which I absolutely adore! It is quite slim for a mascara [especially if you compare it to Maybelline mascaras for example].

The mascara is really black and does not feel wet at all once you apply it - I'd say it dries quite fast [not as fast as waterproof mascaras though] - and yes, this is not waterproof.

The wand is made out of fibre bristles [not silicone] and it is quite on the thin and longish side, which makes it super easy for you to apply mascara on the shortest and tiniest lashes [and eases bottom lash application].

I looooveeeeeee this mascara! It gives such a luscious effect to my lashes, and for such a bargain price! It also works on shorter and straighter lashes - I tried it on my mum, and since then 5 of my lovely work colleagues have asked me to buy them this mascara.

And the good thing is that even though this mascara is not waterproof, it does not smudge under the eyes, nor does it flake. It is awesome like that. Not even when you wear this for the majority of the day, or when you wear this without using any other makeup, this stays put. I promise.

The only flaking that this does is when you try to remove it. But that's ok.

It also does not clump, even when you try applying more than 1 coat [I tried to apply 3 once] and it does not give you spidery lashes.

1 coat of mascara 

1 coat of mascara

Which is your favourite mascara?

Love,

Lola

xoxo

They See Me Haulin', They Hatin' [Collective | Haul]

Dear readers,

Happy Sunday!

... and excuse the blog post title, but I just couldn't resist.

I've bought quite a number of things [mainly from New Look] these past few days, but truth be told I'm never really bothered to gather everything I've bought, take photos and blog about it.

...but I did decide to post about some of the things I bought [and which I'm loving] during this past week.

Enjoy!

Boots from New Look [website] bought on sale for £12 - get yours from this link here - they still have some sizes available. They're super comfy and I love the colour!

I'm addicted to sweaters! These are both from the New Look website and were both on sale. 

Get the Coral one from this link here - I got it for £10. The multicoloured one is sold out though.

Wide Fit nude pumps with a mid heel. I love love love nudes for spring [and they really elongate your legs too!]. I bought mine from the New Look store in Malta for I think €18. These were not on sale but were really affordable.

You can get yours from the New Look website by following this link here.

I also had to buy a handbag to go with the nude pumps, so I chose this one here. It cost €30 / £24.99. I just love how it has patent and leather finishes and loads of pockets!

Also from New Look. I got this blue/black peplum top from New Look Malta and it cost me just €9 from the sales. It was the last one on the rail, so hooray for me! And actually this is the first peplum top that I have ever bought.

Black Zip Chain Clutch [also from the local store] I needed a black clutch bag and I fell for this one - mainly because of the rose gold chain and zip details. Plus I love cross body hand bags.

Get yours by following this link here.

I also finally got this gorgeous rose gold Michael Kors watch which I have been lusting over for the longest time eva'! [just in time for spring, woop!]

Ain't it lovely? 

Tony Moly Face Mix Cover Concealer

Avon Colour Trend Lipstick

Avon Mega Effects Mascara

Avon Colour Trend Foundation

I've been testing these out for the past few days and I'm not so sure about them. The foundation has made me break out, the lipstick packaging is super flimsy and the mascara I don't know what my thoughts about it are as of yet.

I also got myself 3 new polishes from It Style, a new makeup store which has opened its doors lately. These were dirt cheap [2 of them on sale for €2, the other I think was €3.95]. Love the colours, but not the drying time. Tested out the dark purple one - waiting for it to dry for about 45 mins, used quick drying drops but still I have scuff marks alllll over the nails. Bah humbug.

Hope you loved the post!

Love,

Lorraine

xoxo

Say Hello To My Other Blog!

Dear readers,

So I have decided to start up another blog following my journey on the 5:2 diet.

You can check it out by following this link here!

It is called Lola's 5:2 Diet

Go check it out if you're interested. It's also still new so if you want you can keep updated by following by email/google friends connect.

I've also added a new application on this [lolalovessparkles] blog - a contact form, so that you can easily contact me for help, information or some sweet comments!

Love,

Lorraine

xoxo

The FAST [5:2] Diet [Series]

Dear readers,

I've always been a yo-yo dieter. I could go for days bring extremely good with what I ate, then I would get fed up and binge eat.

I've tried many diets, some of which have worked, some of which didn't.

My favourite diet is the Dukan diet, which limits your carbs but does not limit your portions. You see, when I am hungry I want to eat, and so the Dukan was quite 'easy' to do [even though reducing your carb intake is quite tough]. 

So I'd first heard about the 5:2 diet from my brother. Now it's quite popular. In this diet you can eat 2000 cals [so the norm] for 5 days, but you 'fast' on two days.

Check this helpful video out;

I've decided to fast on Tuesdays and Thursday. 

I thought of blogging my progress every week, so keep posted for updates!

Love,

Lorraine

xoxo

Batiste Dry Shampoo for Dark Hair [Review]

Dear readers,

It is so dark, wet and gloomy today - it seriously doesn't look like it's Malta. At least the rain has washed my car - hooray!

Anyway. 

I've been meaning to post a review for the Batiste Dry Shampoo for Dark Hair for ages!

I've wanted to try the Batiste range for the longest time ever but never came across them in Malta. I got this from Boots Uk and it was on offer - buy 2 get 1 free [or something like that? - seriously you girls are so lucky to have Boots!]

You can choose from quite a large variety, but I decided to go with the one meant for dark hair. 

As you can see from the residue on the nozzle, the spray is a really dark brown colour. Therefore, there is no risk of you leaving a tell-tale white mist on your hair roots [although this does look quite grey-ish when sprayed].

To use, spray from a distance of around 30 cm on your roots, then massage in until no spray/residue is visible. 

This does make your hair cleaner and oil-free in seconds! I just love to use this product in between washes - especially on my fringe [since I'm always touching'fiddling with it and therefore it gets oilier before the rest of my hair]

It also leaves your hair smelling quite fresh.

I also sometimes use it on clean hair to create more volume [especially when I want to back comb my roots]

Unfortunately I've run out of this one, but I've seen Batiste for sale at my local pharmacy [a friend also told me that she saw them on sale at a local supermarket] so yey! I must re-stock asap.

Have you ever used Dry Shampoo? If yes, which brand?

Love,

Lorraine

xoxo