Review and swatches: Rimmel Apocalips 304 Eclipse

After a long hiatus, here I am with a new post. Bear with me, moving to another country without the help of the Erasmus project ain't easy.

So today I want to bring to your attention a drugstore gem I discovered before moving to France, and that has become one of my favorite lip products of all time. I am talking about one of the Apocalips lip laquers by Rimmel, namely no. 304 - Eclipse. 

Dopo una lunga pausa, eccomi di ritorno con un nuovo post. Abbiate pazienza, trasferirsi all'estero senza l'aiuto del progetto Erasmus non è per niente facile. 

Oggi vi voglio parlare di una perla low cost che potete trovare anche al supermercato. L'ho scoperta prima di trasferirmi in Francia e da allora è diventata uno dei miei prodotti labbra preferiti. Sto parlando di uno degli Apocalips di Rimmel, e più precisamente il numero 304 - Eclipse. 

Why are Apocalips different from other liquid lipsticks? They don't dry your lips, they are glossy but not sticky at all, the texture is creamy and soft, the pigmentation is extraordinarily rich, and finally they are really long-lasting even if you drink or smoke. 

To be honest, I prefer them to the YSL lip stains, which can feel a little bit drying and which do not have the same pigmentation, nor the same longevity. Also, the price tag on the Apocalips by Rimmel makes them much more appealing: they are 10.60 € in Italy. 

The shade 304 is a perfect burgundy color, as you can see from the picture below, which displays a very realistic swatch on my lips. 

Perché gli Apocalips sono diversi dagli altri rossetti liquidi? Non seccano le labbra, sono lucidi, ma non appiccicosi, la texture è cremosa e delicata, la pigmentazione è straordinariamente alta, e infine sono davvero molto duraturi anche se si beve o si fuma. 

Ad essere sincera, li preferisco ai lip stain di YSL, che possono seccare un po' le labbra e che non hanno la stessa pigmentazione, né la stessa longevità. Inoltre, il prezzo degli Apocalips di Rimmel li rende decisamente più appetibili: € 10.60 è il prezzo consigliato. 

Il numero 304 è un borgogna perfetto, come potete vedere dalla foto sottostante, che ne ritrae piuttosto fedelmente il colore sulle mie labbra. 

The picture was edited in order to make a realistic swatch// La foto è stata ritoccata per avere uno swatch fedele

So have you ever tried the Apocalips lip laquer by Rimmel? What are your thoughts about them? What are your favorite shades?

Avete mai provato gli Apocalips di Rimmel? Cosa ne pensate? 

Quali sono i vostri colori preferiti?

Graduation party make-up using KIKO cosmetics (pics heavy!)

me and my friend Rossella, the newly-graduate

close up of the face

flower earrings: Primark
flower clips and statement necklace: Accessorize

Products used:

FACE
Diorskin nude foundation in 030 Beige Medium
Eyeko 3-in-1 cream on my cheekbones
Rimmel Hide the Blemish concealer under the eyes
KIKO Makeup Milano L.E. Soft Touch blush in 02 Pearly Pink Kiss

EYES
Soap&Glory Arch de Triumph eyebrow pencil and brow highlighter
KIKO Makeup Milano Long Lasting Stick Eyeshadow(s) in 08 - verde chiaro on the inner half of the eye
and 10 - verde smeraldo in the outer half, both blended in with my Sigma SS224 brush
Urban Decay Homegrown e/s blended on the LLSE's
Urban Decay Midnight Cowboy Rides Again (just a flush) above the crease to gradually blend the green
KIKO Makup Milano L.E. Urban Look eye khol on the waterline and slightly blended on the outer corner
Rimmel Sexy Curves mascara
KIKO Makeup Milano False Lashes Concentrate topcoat mascara

LIPS
DiorAddict Ultra Gloss in 873 in the pictures I took at home
Barry M Lip Laquer Crayon in n 1 - Scarlet Red with Maybelline watershine lipgloss in 10 Pink Ruby on top in the picture with Rossella


And on my nails I had one of the KIKO nail polishes that have been sent to me, in 302 - Orchidea Perlato (pearly orchid) w/ KIKO Shiny topcoat

Can you believe these polishes are only €3,90? They're awesome!

Kiko LLSE/S and nail polishes were sent to me for reviewing purposes.
Soap & Glory Arch de Triumph was sent to me for reviewing purposes.
I do not work for the aforementioned companies, however they have sent me their products for consideration.
I have paid for every other product I mentioned on this post.

Face of the (yester)day

This is the look I sported for my friend's graduation(not the one in the picture), yesterday.
I wore a blue and black dress (although you can't really see it...it's lovely), so my makeup was based on those colors.

By the way, Congratulations "French"! I love you to bits, you were perfect yesterday!
now for close-ups:

yes, they get blurry when you crop them. Who knows why?

This is once I got home, extremely tired and sleepy. LOL

Products used:

FACE
Diorskin Nude in 030 - medium beige
Eyeko 3-in-1 cream on my cheekbone as a highlighter
Bourjois blush in Cendre de Rose Brune*

EYES
UDPP
the very light baby blue glittered e/s (no, not a chunk of glitters, this is actually awesome!) from the Pupa Precious Gold LE palette, all over the lid
Pupa Matt Extreme e/s in 07 (navy) on the crease and blended
Barry M Dazzle Dust in 927 - Storm Cloud blended on the navy matte shadow*
Soap & Glory Arch de Triumph -pink end - as a highlighter on the brow bone*
UD 24/7 glide-on pencil in Zero on the lower lashline
Eyeko Graffiti eyeliner pen as my eyeliner on my upper lashline
Rimmel sexy curves + Max Factor false lash effect mascaras

LIPS
although I had eaten already by the time I took the pictures, I wore Soap&Glory Sexy MotherPucker lipgloss in Nude (review to come)*

* Soap&Glory's Arch de Triumph and Sexy MotherPucker were sent to me for consideration and reviewing purposes. I am in no way S&G affiliate.
The other items signed with an asterisk were sent to me in a make-up swap.


PS: my camera bleached my skin. There's no way I'm that pale, but it looks good in contrast to the blue makeup ehehe

Gemstones inspired series - n 2: Jade

The weather was a little bit hotter today, and I had lots of wonderful new goodies to play with (from my swap).
Pictures don't do it justice, because it's just so hard to photograph these blue/green/teal colors at night if your lighting is poor. Anyway, you get the drift, this will look lovely in spring evenings ;)


Products used:

Face
Diorskin nude foundation in 030 Medium Beige
Bourjois blush in 48 Cendre de Rose Brune -got in my swap, for the FTC records...-
Eyeko 3 in 1 cream as highlighter on my cheek bones

Eyes
Pupa Lumynis baked eyeshadow in an antique gold tone all over the lid and on the browbone
Illamasqua cream shadow in Amour on the crease -got in my swap-
Teal color from the Clinique Nature Temptations palette on the crease
Teal color from the Sleek "The Original" palette blended on the crease, over the previous 2 colors -got in my swap-
Rimmel London exaggerate waterproof eye definer in 250 Emerald Sparkle
Rimmel London white eyeliner on the waterline
Rimmel London Sexy Curves mascara

Lips
Deborah Milano Rossetto LightCreator in 01 (it looks more fucsia in real life)
Sleek Pout Polish in Pink Cadillac

UPDATE: on my nails: Eyeko Vintage polish (doesn't it look gorgeous?)

ooh yes, I made it!

I have finally managed to put on false lashes! I cut them into halves, to be honest. I needed to start somewhere with my practice, didn't I?

I also perfectioned the green and brown smokey eye inspired by the Urban Decay look-book on my BOS vol II palette. And with proper lighting and camera, it does look a lot better.


these lashes are from e.l.f. (www.eyeslipsface.co.uk) and only cost me £ 1,50.
Sounds barganeous, especially if you're a beginner with false lashes. Last year I spent € 7 on some Ardel falsies, couldn't get the hang of them, and ended up wasting them.

The only downside is that the little glue in the package does not even open, so you'll have to have your own glue.


Products used:
UDPP
UD Misdemeanor e/s all over the lid and on the lower lashline
UD Homegrown e/s on the inner corner, and blended onto Misdemeanor on the upperlashline and outer corner
UD Twice Baked e/s on the crease
UD 24/7 glide-on pencil in zero on the upper and lower waterlines, and then smudged into Misdemeanor on the lower lashline
e.l.f. dramatic false lashes (outer half of the eye)
two coats of Rimmel Sexy Curves mascara in Intense Black
e.l.f. brow kit to fill in my eyebrows.




DISCLAIMER: all of the afore-mentioned products were paid for. I do not represent or work for any of the company named in the post.

a Barbie doll look...

Products used:

FACE:
- Pupa Smart Skin in 04
- Lumiere Firebrick blush

EYES:
- UDPP
- UD Sellout all over the lid and as highlight
- the fuschia e/s from the Sleek Acid palette
- the blackish blue (or bluish black, don't know) from the Sleek Storm palette on the V corner and as liner
- Sleek Ink Pot in Dominatrix
- Rimmel Sexy Curves mascara (what's left of it!)

- Lips
- Sleek Pout Polish in Pink Cadillac.


And of course, I once more hate my camera. Pics really doesn't do justice to the Barbie look (I didn't do that on purpose!).
-

London purchases: Make-up and related.

Hello lovelies!
Long time, no blog, huh?! Well, I'm back from my little vacation in London, and I want you to see what I've got from there. I will do separate posts from mak-up, clothes and shoes.
And of course, when I gather all the pics from my brothers cameras too, I will select a few to tell you about my trip. It might take a little while, you know how slow this connection is.

I apologize in advance for the bad pictures, it's a rainy day today, so the light was aweful!

So, from Superdrug: Sleek Make-up products!

for those of you who are wondering what tourists-convenient Superdrug stores stock Sleek:
Victoria Tube Station --> when you are opposite the main entrance look right, you will see a secondary entrance.
Next to that you'll find a small Superdrug store. You can't go wrong, you'll see the black and white sign with the star.
Oxford Street --> there's a big Superdrug store, 10 mins walk from Primark, but on the other side of the road.
Camden Town --> you can't go wrong, it's right in front of the tube station!

i-Divine Palette in "Storm": a must-have! It has all you need to make a perfect neutral make-up, or a more sultry brown toned one, or even a smokey eye for evenings and nights out. I was lucky to grab the last one in the store. They seem to be selling out everywhere!;
Pout Polish - tinted lip balm - in Pink Cadillac: I love it, from its color to its cocoa butter smell (eventhough my boyfriend hates it!);
Ink Pots in Espresso (brown) and Dominatrix (black). They're smudge-proof...I've been wearing them all day long. They come with a rather useless and gimmicky brush, which has been trashed immediately.

I confirm my love and addiction to Sleek products! I'm your #1 Italian fan, Sleek Make-up! ;)

Collective (I'm too lazy to re-order pics, ahah!)

(L - R, and T - B)
Sleek i-Divine Storm palette, Sleek Ink Pots in Espresso and Dominatrix, Boots Gorgeous Feet (sensationally smooth foot scrub), L'Occitane hand cream (freebie from a magazine, which went right inside the garbage can, cos I hate fashion mags!), Rimmel London Nail Pro lycra nail polish in Beige Style (I noticed that nude polishes are rather hard to find there too! I visited 3 Boots store before I found this!), Urban Decay Book of Shadows vol. II, Sleek Pout Polish in Pink Cadillac, MeMeMe Poppy Tint for cheeks and lips, Jemma Kidd lipgloss mini tube (took advantage of the Bodyform offer!) in...a shade that has no name but it's perfect for me! its smell is also amazing, think it's grapefruit, Witch Natural Beauty blemish stick (contains witch hazel and is the best spot fight stick I've ever used), Bourjois Regard Effet Métallisé eyeliner in 54 - Bleu Cliniquant, Rimmel London Soft Kohl kajal eye liner pencil in 071 - Pure White, and last but not least the infamous Gosh Darling lipstick! ( I so love its texture!)
Not displayed in the picture: Soap&Glory's The Fab Pore mask. (review to come soon)

From Boots: Urban Decay!

For those of you who are wondering which tourist-convenient Boots store stocks Urban Decay (only larger stores stock UD): go to Piccadilly Circus. If you cross the road right in front of the statue, there's a large Boots that sells Urban Decay.
I know House of Frazer and Debenhams in Oxford Street have Urban Decay too.

No flash. Bad photo. Anyhoo, it contains 16 eyeshadows, including 8 exclusive to the set, which are:
AC/DC (deep eggplant shimmer), Mushroom (taupey - gunmental), Sphynx (pink shimmer with glitters), Jinx (bright blue shimmer), Homegrown (bright green shimmer - genius name!), Misdemeanor (they describe this as deep teal sparkle, I think it's more of a "military" green shimmer), and Perversion (a matt black).
The others are best selling shades, and I can understand why. They are lovely. Personally, I don't get all this Midnight Cowboy Rides Again rant: try to mix it over Perversion, and you will see how wonderful it is!
It also has two mini 24/7 eye pencil in Zero and Bourbon (I fell in love with the consinstency of these!!!) and a travel size Primer Potion.
Its value is certainly more than what they charge you with! It's "bargaineous", if you buy it in the UK!

with flash! Still not a proper photo. I will do a separate post with swatches on this palette, because I have to do it justice!
I forgot to mention that when you open the lid that has the mirror you will see two "doors" on a peacock feathers pattern design, which open to reveal an inspirational look book. I am showing my favorite one in this picture, but all of them are great.
I will take pics of them and share them with you soon.

Some prices for my girls' information:
Urban Decay Book of Shadows vol II: £ 27,00 (bargain alert!)
Sleek Palette(s): £ 4,87 (bargain alert!)
MeMeMe Poppy Tint: £ 3,38
Sleek Ink Pots: £ 3,91

I haven't had the chance to properly browse the Barry M stand in Superdrug and Topshop, as I was the only woman in the group, so I was forced to rush on my purchases (and paradoxically the guys spent hours and hours in their stores!)

I will blog again with my clothes purchases and an eotd

simple eotd

Products used:
e.l.f. eye primer
Mabelline Expertwear Duo in 10 - Cashmere brown
Shiseido Accentuating cream liner
Rimmel Exaggerate waterproof eyeliner in 250 - Emerald sparkle
Corolle Pastel pour les yeux (a jumbo pencil) in Luce oro on the inner corner (eventhough it's too subtle on the photo...weird)
Rimmel Sexy Curves mascara in Black.

I am loving the eye primer...I hadn't used the Mabelline duo in ages because it was very very subtle. Now I can take out all those nice pigments, and it looks gorgeous. It hasn't creased or smudged all day long!

xoxo,
Lyd

fotn

Hello lovelies,
just a quick post before I go on my little road trip.

I wish my camera had a better flash so that I didn't have to edit my pics to capture colors on my eyes.... :S



last picture is not so pretty, but at least you can see what it is like a bit. Kind of 60's style with Urban Decay inspired colors.
I hate my camera. it's so hard to get good self-pictures with it.......

Products used:
Face: Pupa bronzer
Eyes: Pupa Lumynis in Beige-gold
Rimmel Exaggerate eyeliner pencil in Emerald Sparkle on my crease and lower lashline
Clarins teal eyeshadow on the Nature Temptation palette
Rimmel Sexy Curves mascara
Lips: Pupa sheer strawberry pink lipgloss

xoxo,
gotta run

August make-up shopping

How many posts I've posted today? eheh...don't worry, I'm soon off to the beach :)
Just wanted to share some makeup love with you, showing the things I've bought this morning when I shopped for the prizes for my giveaway...
So I got...the Johnson's cleansing wipes 3 in 1. The best wipes ever! I've tried several, but these are the best so far. You don't need to spend big money on wipes, these are wonderful! They clean all the makeup off of your face, but also moisturize it! That's right, you heard it... it is true! They give you this wonderful clean and fresh sensation, leave your skin soft and I think they unclog your pores too! I don't know, I just feel awesome when I use them!

Then I've got a Debby (it's actually a girls' range from Deborah) nail polish in 26, which is a very cute deep red, and a Rimmel 60 seconds nail polish in a lovely rose-nude color called "Rose Libertine" (more appropriate for the summer)...The Debby polish only cost me €2,50 , and it is a pretty good product for that price!

The most expensive thing I've got is the Shiseido cream (or gel if you want) liner. It costs more then 26€, good lord, it better be good! I really wanted to try out a cream liner, they're not so popular in this country.
I'm gonna review it as soon as I get the chance to try it, and maybe also the hang of how to apply it properly. It comes with a very very pretty and awesome mini angled brush, which has a cap - so at least I know the quality of the product is top notch (of course, it's Shiseido). Now it's only up to me to learn how to apply it.

So anyways, I'm off to eat lunch and get ready to go to the beach.
That's enough posting for today, but please comment me, comment my looks, and enter the giveaway, the prizes are amazing!!!

Have a jolly good day you all,
Lyd

"Dolly look" using the Sleek Acid palette

Here is a simple look using the lovely shimmery fuchsia in the Acid palette.
You will have to excuse me if the picture is not great, but somehow my little digital camera has an aweful flash that ruins every look I do when I take pics under the neon lights I have at my parents' home.
Anyway, it's kind of a "Dolly look", and I think it is very pretty for those who have blue, green or grey eyes. Pink really highlights those colors (although my picture really doesn't do it justice).

For this look I used:
The lightest peachy color in the Clarins' Nature Temptation palette (on the lid and on the brow bone)
The lovely shimmery pink on the Sleek i-Divine Acid palette (on the corner of my lid, then blended onto the crease, right above the crease, and on the lower lashline)
A Pupa shimmery black on a limited edition palette (as the eyeliner, and blended on the lower lashline)
A Revlon black eyeliner pencil on the waterline
Rimmel Sexy Curves mascara.

Hope you enjoyed it,
xoxo,
Lyd

products I love/use part II

Pupa Smart Skin Foundation in 04
This is the only foundation that really matches my skin tone!
Also, it is great if you have a mixed complexion.
It has a mattifying action, but doesn't create that mask effect
and it has a full coverage.
I guess it is the greatest foundation I've ever worn. I've tried many others, but I've always come back to it.
It is also very affordable.

Collistar "Unghie Perfette" (perfect nails) nailpolish in Glittery Purple
I've loved this nail polish this winter!
It was limited edition, but I hope they will become part of the permanent line.
It had so many glitters on it, and the color was a dark super cute purple!
Also it is very long lasting and you don't need to wear a top coat on it.
If you can get a hold on this (or any other by this italian brand), please do!
You won't be disappointed!

Rimmel London Sexy Curves mascara
Oh now...Diva's Lashes by Pupa used to be my favorite mascara...until I found SEXY CURVES!
This is an amazing product.
This little brush that you think wouldn't hold any product...is simply brilliant!
It does hold product, and...well I don't know if it is the formula or the brush - possibly both
however, it curls your lashes like they were fake!
I love it! My lashes appear to be so curved, black, long and full...
It is the best product from Rimmel so far...I totally love it, and so do pro make up artists..
therefore, two thumbs up for the cheap mascara with a great payoff!
And two thumbs up for Rimmel this year!

Rimmel London Lasting Finish lipstick in "Temptation"
which is that awesome red you see on the right...it is a little bit lighter when you wear it.
Another great product from Rimmel. It's the shade of red I've been looking for all fall...and what I've been wearing all winter on my nights out :D
You know, I used to hate Rimmel, but this year it released so many great products that I've started to love it (minus the Lasting finish Mineral foundation, which is too "buttery"-like and give you a mask effect ... at least on my skin type and tone).
They really improved the payoff of their products, anyways.

Jane Iredale PureMoist lipstick in Emily
Which I couldn't find a picture of, but since it has become one of my fave lipsticks
you'll definately see it in pics I'll be posting and make-up tutorials that will soon come.
It is a glossy,shimmery, beige...
The texture of these lipsticks is fantastic...it really has a moisturizing effect.
Also, if you suffer from any allergy you can rest assured these products won't give you any.
All Jane Iredale's products are mineral and 100% allergy free.
Also, if you care about the environment and animals...they're 100% cruelty free, not tested on animals, and natural formulae... (I'm also currently using a base shadow by J.I. and I'm waiting to get some others, they're good!)
Plus, isn't the packaging classy?! Definately worth the price!

Pupa Plastic Shine Baked eyeshadow in 04 - Purple
Now this is another amazing product.
You can wear it wet or dry, the wet version is a little bit darker and "marker"-like...awesome!
The dry version is a little bit more pearliscent...The color pay off is great, and it is long lasting.
Unfortunately it is a limited edition color...I really wanna get my hands on the fucsia one too!!!

Pupa Luminys Baked eyeshadows
They are all amazing. the best eyeshadow that has ever been released!
Dry, the colors are shimmery and some of them are a little sheer
Wet, they're all darker and ultrashimmery.
I have the black one, and the one at the bottom left...it is a beige-gold...awesome products!

Pupa Polvere di Luce Duo
I guess they don't make this anymore :(
great packaging, carrying two powders: one is the actual eyeshadow, very pearliscent, and the other one is a glittery powder that gives light wherever you wear it. it is awesome!

Pupa Polvere di Luce mono
I have these two shades (minus the lipgloss)...they're great...very pigmented, pearliscent powders....easily blended and all.
Great products, although they're not making it anymore (they're all about baked eyeshadows now) you can still find it in some stores....

No MAC cos they don't sell it here, but these are all great products nevertheless.
Maybe when I go back to London or Canada I can buy some MAC, if I'm not on a budget.
However, there are lots of other brands I wanna get a hold on when I go back to London. I'll make a wishlist ;)

Anyhoo...these are the products I use and love! I didn't wanna take pictures of my stuff and post them, cos I'm in my dorm room and this connection takes forever to upload anything. I'll use pics I find on the net instead. This is why sometimes I couldn't find my exact colors.


Hope you enjoyed it, and if you have questions on the products tell me.
Also if you can find some Italian brands and can't find it in your country, let me know :)