Manhattan Soft Mat Lip Cream 56K

Hi there! Today I’m reviewing another matte lip product – Manhattan Soft Mat Lip Cream 56K. I’ve already reviewed one of these matte lip products, and you can read the review here. But let’s focus on this one!

Right… I don’t like this product at all. And here’s why: First of all, both the look and the feel of this product are dry af. Terrible! This lip cream feels wonderfully velvety when it’s applied, but once it’s dry, it really is dry! But there’s more…

The colour is something else! This shade is clearly not for me. Since I hate letting products go to waste, I am now mixing this mat lip cream with the other one (pale nude shade) AND with an overly creamy lipstick (the kind that doesn’t just bleed into the foundation but actually almost “slips off”). I know it sounds over the top but it actually works well, so I’m getting more than just some use out of a number of unloved products. 🙂

If you’re interested in matte lip products, Manhattan‘s Soft Mat Lip Creams (different shades) are available at the Poundstores for £1 each.

Mrs Strawberry Blonde

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Manhattan Cosmetics Soft Mat Lip Cream 95G

Hi there! Today’s post is about a product that’s been living in my cosmetic bag for quite some time – Manhattan Soft Mat Lip Cream 95G. These Manhattan lip products have hit the Poundstores (different shades are available), so I thought it’s time for a review. 🙂

So how’s the product? I think it’s not great. This lip cream applies like liquid velvet (it feels amazing), but within a few minutes it dries down to a matte mess. It feels very drying, it doesn’t look good or natural, and the pale nude colour makes me look ill. If you’re wondering why I’ve chosen such a light shade… well, this was the darkest (or the 2nd darkest) available shade. I expected something else…

Having said that, I found a way to make the product work for me! I use it as a base for all those uber-creamy lipsticks that don’t last or tend to bleed. Guess what? It works! Perfectly! You could say the dry lip cream and those uber-creamy lipsticks cling to each other!

All in all, I have no reason to complain. This lip cream has given me the chance to wear a number of different lipsticks that I didn’t think I’d be able to wear at all (well, at least not without checking my lips every half hour…).

Mrs Strawberry Blonde

MUA MakeUp Academy Matte Lipstick Wild Berry

Hi there!Today I’ve got another lipstick to review. It’s MUA MakeUp Academy Matte Lipstick Wild Berry. I’ve previously reviewed a matte lipstick from MUA – and I wasn’t impressed. And unfortunately today’s review isn’t a positive one either. Now let me tell you why I’ve already binned this lipstick.

First of all, I don’t like how the lipstick applies and how it feels on my lips. The formula is thick and waxy, the colour doesn’t transfer well onto the lips, and the lipstick feels drying and sticky at the same time.

I also don’t love the colour. It looks like a dark berry colour in the bullet. But it’s a fuchsia / plum shade on the lips. The colour pay-off isn’t that great either. I’ve got a white spot on my bottom lip (it’s just a lack of pigment). Most lipsticks cover this small area easily, so it was quite a disappointment that this lipstick didn’t.

All in all, I think this isn’t a good lipstick. I know the reviews about it are mixed – lots of people seem to love MUA’s matte lippies (I really don’t get it), but just as many don’t. I compare every matte lipstick to UNE’s brilliant matte lipsticks (they feel like velvet, but they’re matte). And based on that comparison I’d be flattering MUA’s Wild Berry lipstick if I were to say it’s ‘below average’…

MUA MakeUp Academy Matte Lipstick in Wild Berry is available for £1 (Superdrug, MUA online store).

Mrs Strawberry Blonde

Essence Lipliners – 06 Satin Mauve, 07 Cute Pink, 08 Red Blush, 12 Wish Me A Rose, 15 Honey Berry

Hi there! I’ve been using Essence’s eyeliners, nail polishes, lipsticks and eyeshadows for ages, but I’ve never tried their lipliners. Why? I don’t know. Anyway, the last time I swung by my local Wilko store, I bought 5 Essence lipliners. I picked up the following shades (top to bottom): 06 Satin Mauve, 12 Wish Me A Rose, 08 Red Blush, 07 Cute Pink, 15 Honey Berry.

First of all, these lipliners are lipliner pencils – my favourite form of lipliner. I like sharpening my eye and lip pencils – that way I can actually see that they’re getting shorter (= the product will eventually be used up). And yes, as a beauty hoarder I do feel like I’m achieving something big whenever I use up a product! 🙂

Now back to the products! I think these lipliners are absolutely fantastic. They’re soft and velvety, and they’re so easy to apply. They can also be worn on their own because they’re opaque and they last long. And they double up as matte lipsticks!

I swatched these lipliners in the following order (left to right): 06 Satin Mauve, 12 Wish Me A Rose, 08 Red Blush, 07 Cute Pink, 15 Honey Berry. I’m sorry I smudged Red Blush when I swatched the lipliners. I guess I was too excited after seeing how beautifully opaque Wish Me A Rose went on. 🙂

Since these lipliners are a great alternative to matte lipsticks, I’ll be doing proper reviews and swatches on my lips shortly. So please bear with me until I’ve had the chance to wear all the lipliners on their own for a full day. In any event, I would definitely recommend these lipliners. They’re £1 each – amazing value!

Mrs Strawberry Blonde

MUA MakeUp Academy Matte Lipstick Lilac Belle

Hi there! Today’s post is about this MUA Lilac Belle Matte Lipstick. I’ve always hated frosty, shimmery and pearly finishes in lipsticks, so I’m easily tempted by anything matte. 🙂 So let’s have a look at this lippie.

Lilac Belle is a pinkish lilac shade. I’m not a fan of this particular colour because it makes my teeth look yellow (which they’re not). I think this is a lipstick colour only girls with pearly white gnashers can wear.

In terms of quality, I’m not happy with MUA’s matte lipsticks. They’re very waxy which makes it hard to apply them and they’re very drying. And I’m sure I’m not the only one whose matte MUA lippie broke on first use.

The MUA Lilac Belle Matte Lipstick is clearly not for me and I won’t buy it again. It was £1 only, so it wasn’t much of a loss. If you’d like to try this lippie, check Superdrug’s web site or MUA’s online store.

Mrs Strawberry Blonde

UNE Casual Matt Colour Rouge Demi-Mat Lipstick M18

Hi there! I haven’t done many posts about colour cosmetics recently, so here’s a quick review of one of my favourite lippies: UNE Casual Matt Lipstick M18. As the name suggests, this is a matte, or rather semi-matte lipstick. I really love the texture of this lippie because it feels like velvet on the lips.

M18 is a gorgeous brownish nude shade which would suit almost everyone. I love the colour because it’s one of those ‘your lips, but better’ shades. It’s perfect for all occasions because it’s a timeless shade that will always look good, and it goes with a natural look or with a dramatic eye make-up. It’s a real beauty weapon! 🙂

UNE is part of Bourjois. UNE products used to be available at Boots and Superdrug stores a few years ago, but now UNE products are available at Whole Foods and a few online retailers only. I’m not sure why, but I guess it may have to do with the brand’s all natural image (I may be totally wrong, though).

I cannot recommend UNE’s Casual Matt lipsticks enough. They’re worth every penny (prices vary from £2 to £10 depending on where you shop) and they truly deserve 11 stars!

Mrs Strawberry Blonde