Mansa Fashion

Tag: review

  • twilight week: colourpop collection (body oil and ink liner)

    twilight week: colourpop collection (body oil and ink liner)

    It’s all Twilight all the time here on the creation of beauty is art. The second post in this theme week is dedicated to the SOL Shimmering Dry Body Oil and Graphix Ink Liner from the Twilight x ColourPop collection. As mentioned in my last post, these wonderful items were gifted to me by one of my oldest friends. I have been putting everything in the collection to good use in the last few weeks. One thing is certain: these themed beauty products have been adding a little extra dose of fun to my days! They have also inspired me to do a full rewatch of the movies. These days, I am fully immersed in the world of Twilight.

    Twilight x ColourPop SOL Shimmering Dry Body Oil in Like Diamonds. Maybe it is the Twilight obsession in me talking, but when I think of vampires, I think of sparkling skin. That is the reason the SOL Shimmering Dry Body Oil is such an important part of this Twilight inspired collection. It just makes sense! Generally speaking, shimmering body products are a love of mine. Anything that glitters, twinkles, and shines makes me happy. This body oil is described as a lightweight oil with multidimensional shimmer. As you can see from the photo above, this absolutely delivers on the shimmer and shine. It really does look like diamonds all over the skin. An added bonus? It smells so good. This oil has a light scent that is kind of sweet and smells a bit like coconut. I love how shimmery this is and look forward to adding an extra dash of sparkle and shine to my life.

    Twilight x ColourPop Graphix Ink Liner. There were three eyeliners included in this Twilight collection: Forever, Vampire, and Coven. These are really interesting colours and certainly stand out from others that I have tried before. Though I tend to use a pen liner (like the NYX Epic Ink Liner) this more traditional style of liquid liner is easy to use. The applicator tip is flexible but not too flexible. It works like a dream! I also love the Twilight quotes written all over the packaging and the Twilight logo. Even the eyeliners are themed and thoughtful. The shade Coven is a glittery black, Vampire is a vampy red, and Forever is a forest green. Forever is one that is going to be worked into lots of holiday makeup looks, because the metallic green colour is fabulous. Coven is a nice twist on an everyday liner, because there is glitter worked into the traditional black. But the best one of all is Vampire, which is a rich red. That is the liner I chose to incorporate into my birthday makeup look a few weeks back.

    In the makeup look above, there were all sorts of Twilight x ColourPop products put to use. On the eyes, there were some of the eyeshadows (there will be a full review of the eyeshadow palette later this week) and then the fabulous Vampire eyeliner. Since black eyeliner is an everyday must for me…it was kind of fun to wear something completely different. I loved the dark red and how it paired with the other products in the collection. On the lips was the Bells lip oil to finish off the look. And of course, there was a bit of the SOL Shimmering Dry Body Oil on the décolletage and arms for a little extra sparkle and shine.

    The Twilight themed collection from ColourPop has an awful lot of exciting products. From the thoughtful packaging to the vampy colours and all of the sparkle…there is so much to love. For me, this has been a really fun way to incorporate some unexpected pops of colour into my more recent makeup looks and break out of my usual makeup routine.

    What do you think of this Twilight makeup collection? Would you wear colourful eyeliner?

  • twilight week: colourpop collection (lip oil and highlighter)

    twilight week: colourpop collection (lip oil and highlighter)

    Say it. Out loud. Say it! …..vampire. It is hard to know exactly when my love of Twilight began, but I was posting about the movies way back in 2011 and read the books before the the movies were released. So, at some point or another, Twilight became a meaningful part of my life. I loved the intensity, the drama, and the romance. But for the record, I have always been and will always be Team Jacob! The day before my latest birthday, I was able to see one of my oldest friends for lunch. She was kind enough to drive down and take me out for my favourite meal. During that lunch, she gifted me the entire Twilight x ColourPop collection. Talk about being spoiled rotten. Her kindness and thoughtfulness was completely overwhelming. I did not feel deserving – and still do not feel deserving of all the Twilight goodness. Despite that feeling, I am also extremely grateful. Since that day, I have been having a lot of fun putting these Twilight inspired products to the test. Ready for another theme week? All of the posts on the creation of beauty is art. this week will be focused on this iconic book and movie series.

    Though there are all sorts of exciting products included in the Twilight x ColourPop collection, the first post in this theme week is dedicated to the Lux Lip Oils and Super Shock Highlighters. There were three Lux Lip Oils in the collection and two Super Shock Highlighters. As you can see from the photo above, the packaging is really well themed. The boxes have all the gloomy colours of Forks and symbols related to each character, like the Cullen family crest, Bella’s truck, and a werewolf howling at the moon. There is the iconic Twilight logo on everything as well. Plus, all of the product names are associated with the books and movies. It is absolute perfection. I love a themed beauty product and ColourPop definitely went all out on this one.

    Twilight x ColourPop Lux Lip Oils. The collection came with three of the Lux Lip Oils: Team Jacob, Bells, and Team Edward. I do not have a ton of experience with lip oils in general, so it was exciting to be able to try out a different kind of product. Most of the lip oils I have seen are clear or a light pink colour. Something neutral. Not these! The Twilight inspired lip oils are so well themed. Team Jacob looks black and glittery in the tube, but it results in a gorgeous wash of dark grey on the lips. Bells is a dark blood red and Team Edward is a cool grey-blue. I love that these add a nice amount of colour to the lips, but are more subtle than a traditional lipstick. This is the perfect way to incorporate a little colour into a makeup look. These lip oils are not sticky and feel really hydrating on the lips. Clearly, the Team Jacob one is my favourite, because I am obsessed with the colour.

    Twilight x ColourPop Super Shock Highlighters. Also included in this collection were two of the Super Shock Highlighters. I have heard a lot of wonderful things about the highlights from ColourPop over the years, so it was exciting to put one to the test for myself. The first is Vampire Skin, an icy white highlight, and the second is Meadow, a lavender highlight. Both are gorgeous. I love the soft and buttery texture of the the highlight and the beautiful shimmer. Vampire Skin is far more pigmented than Meadow and pairs well with a lot of different makeup looks. Despite the fact that Meadow is not as pigmented as the well named Vampire Skin, it is actually my favourite, because of the incredible purple shimmer. It is subtle but still stands out. I love that there is an ultra versatile highlight included in this collection as well as something that is a little bit different.

    The makeup look above made the most of both the Lux Lip Oils and Super Shock Highlighters. I actually used the Meadow highlight all over the eyelids for a simple but shimmery eye look and used Vampire Skin as a highlight on the cheeks. The Team Jacob lip oil was used on the lips. It is definitely a favourite out of everything in the Twilight x ColourPop collection, because it is possible to achieve the look of a black or grey lipstick without all of the maintenance throughout the day.
    There you have it…the first Twilight themed post here on the creation of beauty is art. Stay tuned for even more reviews from this collection. And another thank you to my wonderful friend for her generosity and for making this theme week possible.

    Are you a fan of Twilight? Be honest…are you Team Edward or Team Jacob?

  • review: r.e.m. beauty babydoll eyeshadow palette

    review: r.e.m. beauty babydoll eyeshadow palette

    Last month, there was a post here on the creation of beauty is art. dedicated to the Back to School Beauty Bundle. That mini backpack was loaded with lots of different beauty items, including an eyeshadow palette from r.e.m. beauty. Over the last little while, it has been fun putting some of those beauty items to the test, including the Babydoll Eyeshadow Palette. Ready to take a peek inside? Find out how this eyeshadow performs? And how it compares to other releases from the brand? Keep reading…

    There are a couple of different eyeshadow palettes from r.e.m. beauty in my makeup collection: Gogo Boots and Smitten Kitten. While Gogo Boots is colourful, bold, and unexpected, Smitten Kitten has warm pinky colours. This time around? There are a handful of everyday neutrals to put to use. Babydoll has a pink cream colour, peachy gold metallic, matte sandstone, metallic bronze, matte cinnamon brown, and matte chocolate brown. Though there is nothing groundbreaking here in terms of the colour story, this would likely be a useful neutral palette for someone who likes to keep things sweet and simple.

    The packaging for the Babydoll Eyeshadow Palette is the same as the other r.e.m. beauty palettes in the collection and has an almost retro future vibe. I think it is fun and creative, but with three of the eyeshadow palettes in my collection now, it isn’t immediately apparent which eyeshadow palette is which. Though the colour story for this particular palette is fairly basic, this is a decent option for those everyday kind of looks. The quality is impressive and consistent throughout the palette. The mattes are nicely pigmented and blend well. The shimmers are bold and add a little something extra to the look. As you can see from the photo above, the golden metallic eyeshadow is easily the standout here. It was applied all over the lid, blended out with the sandstone colour, and a bit of the chocolate brown was added to the outer portion of the lid for a bit of contrast. This was a quick and easy makeup look to create and took only a few minutes. I think that is where the Babydoll Eyeshadow Palette excels. If you are running late, traveling, or just want a no-fuss look, this r.e.m. beauty palette is one to reach for.

    Though some of the other eyeshadow palettes from the brand are a little more exciting to me (Gogo Boots is a serious standout)…this is one that will be used often. It is nice to have neutral everyday colours in a formula that works well.

    Have you tried any of the r.e.m. beauty products? What is your favourite neutral eyeshadow palette?

  • halloween town eyeshadow palette (melt cosmetics)

    halloween town eyeshadow palette (melt cosmetics)

    The debate continues. Is Nightmare Before Christmas a Halloween movie or a Christmas movie? It’s hard to say for sure. On one hand, my brother and I have watched the movie on Christmas Eve in past years. On the other hand, it is a movie that I tend to watch most often during the month of October. Whether you view it as a Halloween movie or a Christmas movie, one thing is certain: Oogie Boogie is a memorable character. A little while back, the Halloween Town Eyeshadow Palette from Melt Cosmetics was added to my collection. This is not a brand that I have a lot of familiarity with. Though I have heard about some of the products before…this was one of the first to really capture my attention. Keep reading for all the spooky details.

    As mentioned, Melt Cosmetics is not a brand that I am super familiar with, so there was some uncertainty about what to expect in terms of the packaging, formula, and overall quality. But given the Oogie Boogie of it all, it was worth the risk. This particular collection had two different eyeshadow palettes available to choose from: Christmas Town and Halloween Town. Though both were intriguing, the colours in the Halloween Town eyeshadow palette really spoke to me. As you can see, the colour story has a mixture of metallics, blues, and purples. There are definitely a lot of fabulous colours to work with this spooky season and beyond. On the other hand, the Christmas Town eyeshadow palette had white, red, purple, and green eyeshadows to choose from. Though both were interesting, there was just something about this Oogie Boogie inspired palette.

    It is clear that the colour story is exciting. I love the bold but wearable metallics (Gone Again is described as a metallic burnt orange and Oogie Boogie is described as a metallic chartreuse), the different shades of blue (Ooze is a deep teal blue, Shriek is a teal matte, Rag Doll is a matte sky blue, and Mausoleum is a metallic seafoam), and the bold purples (The Mayor is a muted rouge, Worms Wort is a bright purple with pink sparkles, My Bugs! is a matte lilac, and Bone Daddy is a deep matte plum). I love that the eyeshadow names are perfectly themed to The Nightmare Before Christmas. The attention to detail is spot on.

    Speaking of the theme…that is where this eyeshadow palette shines. It is phenomenal. The actual palette has indentations so it looks like one of the holiday doors. Then there is an image of Oogie Boogie on the front that moves back and forth when you turn the eyeshadow palette. On the backside of the palette, it says, “Wasn’t It Terrifying” with all sorts of spooky images, like spiders, worms, bats, and tombstones. Inside the eyeshadow palette is a mirror and even more of those spooky Halloween Town inspired images. There are orange pumpkins, ghosts, bats, Sally’s leg, and The Mayor printed inside. Absolute perfection!

    Now for the actual quality of the eyeshadows. Clearly, this is a winner in terms of the colour story and theme. The quality is a little hit and miss. There are some eyeshadows that perform spectacularly and some that are so-so. For example, the shade Worm’s Wort is phenomenal. The bright purple with the pink sparkles (featured in the look shown above) is bold, pigmented, and easy to work with. On the other hand, Mausoleum is dry and works more like an eyeshadow topper than an eyeshadow that can be used on its own. Some of the lighter matte shadows are a bit dry as well and require more building to achieve full colour payoff. The standouts in this eyeshadow palette are: Worm’s Wort, The Mayor, Shriek, and Gone Again. Though I do enjoy the Halloween Town eyeshadow palette overall, it would’ve been nice to see more consistency throughout the palette.

    This is Halloween, this is Halloween, pumpkins scream in the dead of night…With Halloween just a few days away, this is the perfect time to put the Halloween Town eyeshadow palette from Melt Cosmetics to good use. There are all sorts of fabulous colours and the theme is stellar. Though the formula is not consistent throughout and some shadows perform better than others, all of the little holiday inspired details make this eyeshadow palette a seasonal delight. Spooky season is underway.

    Do you watch Nightmare Before Christmas at Halloween or Christmas? What do you think of this eyeshadow palette?

  • oes it work?? infallible brows volumizing mascara

    oes it work?? infallible brows volumizing mascara

    My at-home makeup looks tend to be a little bit different than what I wear out and about. When I am heading to the store, to the movies, or somewhere else, the makeup look that I create tends to be based on my mood and there is often lots of dark and dramatic mascara involved. At home? I like to create makeup looks that are a little more laid back, but still have some pizazz. For instance, some glittery eyeshadow all over the lid, a bit of pencil liner, a coat of mascara, and a fun blush. With that in mind, it only seemed right to put the L’Oreal Infallible Brows Volumizing Mascara to the test. Would it perform well? Fall flat? Be a new must have? There was no better way to find out than by incorporating it into a recent at-home makeup look. So….does it work?? Keep reading to find out how the Infallible Brows Volumizing Mascara compares to other brow products.

    First thing is first. Just what is the Infallible Brows Volumizing Mascara? According to the brand, this is a long-lasting volumizing brow mascara that creates eyebrows that look up to two times fuller. It also claims to last for up to 24 hours. It has a “micro gripping brush” for precise application and comes in seven different shades. This product claims that it is smudge resistant, flake resistant, transfer resistant, and easy to remove. The shade that I have this product in is Brunette.

    So…does it work?? Yes and no. The colour of the product is a good match for me and looks quite natural on my eyebrows. The product stays put and does not transfer. The applicator brush is fairly straightforward to use, though product tends to clump at the end of the brush, so it is important to be mindful of that and wipe away any excess before application. Unfortunately, while this does a decent job of filling out the brows, it does not allow for any shaping of the brows. Whether this product works for you or not will really depend on your needs. For instance, one of my eyebrows does not grow in as far as the other. That means whatever eyebrow product I use needs to be able to create the shape that is missing. The Infallible Brows Volumizing Mascara is not an ideal product for that need. While it can add a bit of colour and fill out the brows, it is not the best choice for me, because it cannot really be used to shape the brows themselves. Something else to note? This is a product that I can feel. Though it doesn’t make the eyebrows feel crunchy or firm, I can always feel there is some sort of product on my eyebrows.

    The Infallible Brows Volumizing Mascara could be a good fit for someone looking to add fullness to the brows, but not necessarily for someone looking to shape the brows. The wand shape is interesting and largely works well, but unfortunately, this product was not a winner for me. Eventually, I will learn my lesson and stick to the eyebrow products that I already know and love. Until then, there will continue to be reviews of all sorts of products here on the creation of beauty is art.

    Have you tried the Infallible Brows Volumizing Mascara? What eyebrow products do you like best?

  • show and tell: back to school beauty bundle

    show and tell: back to school beauty bundle

    The words “back to school” have not been in my vocabulary for quite some time. Clearly, my student days are well behind me at this point! Despite this, the Back to School Beauty Bundle was seriously tempting. This set came with an assortment of skin care and makeup items all in a cute pink mini backpack. Keep reading to see what is included and what items I can’t wait to try.

    The Back to School Beauty Bundle retails for $60 CDN but has a total of $175 CDN worth of items. Definitely a good way to stock up on some goodies ahead of the school year – or just in general. The set includes the following items:

    • Ariana Grande Cloud Pink mini perfume (7.5 mL)
    • Benefit 24-Hour Brow Setter (2 mL)
    • Bioderma Sebium Foaming Gel (100 mL)
    • Drunk Elephant Protini Polypeptide Cream (5 mL)
    • Embryolisse Lair-Creme Concentrate (15 mL)
    • Estee Lauder Nutritious Melting Soft Creme/Mask (5 mL)
    • Jouviance Restructive-Glyco Pads (20 pads)
    • Neostrata Post-Acne Mark Correcting Serum (5 mL)
    • Philosophy Microdelivery Facial Wash (30 mL)
    • r.e.m. Beauty Midnight Shadows Eyeshadow Palette in Babydoll (full size)
    • Stila Stay All Day Waterproof Liquid Eyeliner (0.25 mL)
    • Too Faced Hangover Primer (20 mL)
    • Urban Decay All Nighter Setting Spray (15 mL)
    • Vichy Normaderm BHA Serum (5 mL)

    As you can see, there were an awful lot of products tucked inside that mini backpack. There was a nice mixture of skin care and makeup items, so this felt like a really balanced release. Though I am more of a makeup person than a skin care person (though I recognize it is important to take proper care of my skin)…there was a good blend of items I wanted and items I needed.

    Since there was such an assortment of products inside (many of which I have not put to the test at this point)….I thought it might be fun to highlight some of the ones I was most excited to receive. There was a mini version of the Cloud Pink perfume from Ariana Grande, which was welcome, because I absolutely adore her perfume line. (You can check out my Cloud Pink review here.) Her scents tend to be very sweet and warm….and Cloud Pink is fabulous. I was also thrilled that the Back to School Beauty Bundle set came with an r.e.m. beauty eyeshadow palette. This one is called Babydoll and it has some warm neutrals. I look forward to putting this to the test, so check back for a future review here on the creation of beauty is art. Other items that I was excited to receive? The 24-Hour Brow Setter from Benefit (they have excellent eyebrow products), the Stila Stay All Day Waterproof Liquid Eyeliner (which has excellent staying power), the Urban Decay All Nighter Setting Spray (an old favourite of mine that I have not purchased in ages), and the Too Faced Hangover Primer (a product from one of my favourite makeup brands). There is so much to test and try…some items that are new-to-me and some that are old favourites.

    What do you think of this beauty set? Have you tried any of the products that were included?

  • testing the pixi eyelift max liquid shadow

    testing the pixi eyelift max liquid shadow

    Eyeshadow comes in many forms. Though powder shadows are the most common in my personal makeup collection, there is something to be said about a liquid eyeshadow every now and then. These are often boldly pigmented and can be useful when time is limited. More recently, the Pixi EyeLift Max Liquid Shadow in the shade Amethyst caught my eye at the drugstore. Quite simply, it looked pretty and purple. That was all it took for me to toss it into my basket. Ready to find out how this liquid eyeshadow actually performs? If it was worth the splurge? Here is everything you need to know about this drugstore product.

    According to the brand, the EyeLift Max Liquid Shadow is an “extreme long-wear liquid shadow that leaves a smooth veil of flattering colour that can be worn solo or layered.” It is supposed to be easy to blend and buildable. Best of all? It claims to have a no-crease formula. This comes in several different shades, but the Amethyst one stood out to me most, because I love a purple eyeshadow. This one was especially intriguing, because it appeared to be a cool-toned purple. Though a lot of the eyeshadows in my collection are on the warm side, there will always be a soft spot in my heart for cool-toned makeup looks. I think this has to do with the fact that cooler toned palettes used to be really popular when I first dipped my toe into the world of makeup. I remember wearing lots of greys and cool-toned browns in the beginning. So, there is something nostalgic about a cool-toned eyeshadow for me. It reminds me of makeup looks that I used to love and products that used to be my must haves.

    When it comes to the EyeLift Max Liquid Shadow from Pixi, there are some pros and cons. The pros? The colour is a cool-toned purple. It goes on easily, blends well, and has a really nice and creamy formula. The cons? The colour isn’t as bold or pigmented as I would like. Though the brand claims this is buildable, even with several coats, the Amethyst colour isn’t exactly vibrant. I think this is better for days when I want something a little more laid back or natural. Though the formula is really impressive and I like the cool-toned colour…I do wish that this made more of an impact . All in all, it is a decent product and I like it well enough, but it is not as fabulous as it could be. Perhaps some of the other colours in the EyeLift Max Liquid Shadow line have a bit more vibrancy, but Amethyst is more on the subtle side. This is a good option if you do not want something too over the top or want something simple for work. However, when it comes to eyeshadow, over the top is a little more my speed. It ultimately comes down to your personal preferences. Though this wasn’t an all out winner for me, the EyeLift Max Liquid Shadow in the shade Amethyst might be ideal for you. Consider the pigmentation level you like best before adding this shade to your cart.

    Have you tried the EyeLift Max Liquid Shadow? Are you a fan of Pixi products?

  • review: clairol root touch-up and john frieda brunette products

    review: clairol root touch-up and john frieda brunette products

    It has certainly been an adjustment. Dying my hair is not my favourite thing to do and I find myself feeling resentful about the grey hairs that have forced a change to my routine. For the last several months, there are a few products that I have been using to maintain my brunette status. It seemed time to share my thoughts on them, just in case anyone else is in the same boat. On that note, here are reviews on the Clairol Root Touch-Up by Natural Instincts and some hair care products from John Frieda.

    Clairol Root Touch-Up by Natural Instincts. How am I keeping the greys away? Lots and lots of hair dye. I dyed all of it using a box dye from Clairol and have been using the Root Touch-Up every month since. The rest of my hair doesn’t need to be redone at this point, so it is just root touch-up after root touch-up. Eventually, I will need to redo the length, but for now, this works. (The colour on the length turned out darker than I anticipated, but I’m just telling myself that the darker colour is better for the fall season anyway.) This root touch-up kit works really well and is actually quite simple to use. It has a plastic mixing bowl made from recycled plastic, so it is super simple to mix everything together. There is also an applicator brush, so the application process is fairly straightforward. This dye doesn’t have a strong scent (unlike the one that I used for the length) and it doesn’t make a mess. Since I hate the fact that I have to dye my hair at all, it is nice to have a kit that makes it simpler.

    John Frieda Brilliant Brunette Colour Vibrancy Shampoo and Conditioner. As I may have mentioned once or twice…I do not like to dye my hair. I also do not like that having dyed hair means I’ve had to make a lot of changes to the products that I use. For example, switching from regular shampoos that smell lovely to colour safe shampoos. I have to spend a lot more time conditioning my hair as well, because the texture is slightly different than it was before. Sigh! Clearly, I am not handling the transition well. At any rate, I have been using the Brilliant Brunette Colour Vibrancy Shampoo and Conditioner from John Frieda. It is supposed to maintain the colour and prevent it from fading. From what I can tell, it works well and makes a difference. However, it is a lot more expensive than the shampoo that I was using before, so that is also an adjustment.

    Even though the whole dying-my-hair thing does not thrill me…I am grateful to have products that make it a little bit easier.

    Do you dye your hair? What products do you use to achieve and maintain your preferred colour?

  • mini fall haul (decor and accessories)

    mini fall haul (decor and accessories)

    Though my home has been decorated for the last few weeks (there are decorative pumpkins everywhere)…the official first day of fall was yesterday. So long summer! It is all cozy sweaters, scented candles, and fallen leaves from here on out. This time of year makes me especially joyful, which is probably the reason it is difficult for me to steer clear of fall decor items in the stores. I have done fairly well so far this year and have only added a few little items here and there, as seen in this mini fall haul.

    Fall Themed Home Decor Items. My husband asked me what my obsession with little wooden signs is. To be honest, I don’t know what it is about a decorative wooden sign that I love so much. What I do know is that when I see a cute wooden sign….I want it. The Farm Fresh Pumpkin Patch sign was simply too cute to resist. I found it and the small pumpkins at Walmart for only a few dollars. Two of the pumpkins are fuzzy and felty while the other the wrapped in plaid fabric. The sign and pumpkins are all placed together on a shelf in my living room. These items bring undeniable fall vibes to the room! I love the warm colours.

    Fall Inspired Accessories. There were a few fall themed accessories that were added to my cart at Winners recently. (It is almost always Winners, isn’t it? It is near impossible to visit a Winners location and leave empty handed.) The first is a pair of Betsey Johnson earrings that say PUMPKIN SPICE. I am obsessed with these earrings and have already worn them too many times. There is a large yellow stone and then the words dangling down. Since I am a pumpkin spice kind of person, these were essential. Next were some temporary tattoos from Inked by Dani. I have several packs of temporary tattoos from this brand and purchase them whenever I can. I love a good temporary tattoo and often wear them like an accessory. This particular set is zodiac themed and since I am a Scorpio, there are all sorts of tattoos that I can wear this fall and around my birthday.
    What do you think of this mini fall haul? Have you purchased any fall themed items lately?

  • testing out the pillow talk lip kit from charlotte tilbury

    testing out the pillow talk lip kit from charlotte tilbury

    What is it about those little items near the Sephora cash register that always seem to catch my eye? Mini versions of mascaras, tiny perfume bottles, and travel sized lipsticks line the queue….and my eyes have a tendency to wander while I wait. That is how the Charlotte Tilbury Pillow Talk Lip Kit was added to my shopping basket. Though my only previous experience with the brand was lackluster there is someone that I follow on Instagram who is obsessed with the Pillow Talk line. Essentially, temptation took over reason. Story of my life! Curious about this high end lip duo? Here is everything you need to know about the Charlotte Tilbury Pillow Talk Lip Kit, which features the much praised lipstick and lip liner.

    As you can see, this lip kit came with a lip liner and mini sized lipstick in the shade Pillow Talk. This is described by the brand as being a nude pink colour. The set comes with the “iconic bestselling lipstick with a Lip Cheat Lip Liner Pencil for a dreamy, nude-pink, kissable look.” The products claim to be long lasting, cruelty free, and without parabens. It was about $30 CDN for the lip duo, which is not that expensive in Sephora-land, but is not exactly affordable, generally speaking, for a liner and mini lipstick.

    There are some pros and cons when it comes to the Pillow Talk Lip Kit from Charlotte Tilbury. Let’s start with the pros…the packaging. The lipstick packaging is really beautiful. It has a warm golden tube with the brand logo printed on the top. It looks retro inspired and elegant. The lip liner has that same warm golden colour and looks very classic, elegant, and chic.

    Now for the cons. While the lip liner performs adequately, it is not the best formula I’ve ever tried. There are much better offerings at the drugstore. The Pillow Talk lip liner doesn’t have a lot of glide and the formula is a bit on the dry side. The colour is decent though and the nude-pink is nice enough. When it comes to the lipstick? This is a real miss for me. The formula is dry, the lipstick doesn’t seem to last very long, and the colour is off. It has this orange tint to it that the lip liner does not have. It’s an okay colour in general, but not one that is super flattering on me, and certainly not what I expected based on the brand claims or the praise I have heard from others. This simply was not what I expected in terms of the formula or the colour.

    Fingers crossed that I have now learned my lesson. With two disappointing Charlotte Tilbury experiences under my belt, it might be time to accept the fact that this formula is not for me. It seems to be on the dry side, and in this case, the lipstick colour was inconsistent with the claims. Though I can see myself using the liner from time to time, it is less likely that I will reach for the lipstick much. The next time I am at Sephora, I will do my best to remember this experience.

    Have you tried any of the Pillow Talk products from Charlotte Tilbury? What did you think of them?