Aldi Lacura Perfect Nude Lip Range - Charlotte Tilbury Dupes?

If you have taken a stroll down the middle aisle of Aldi in recent weeks, you will have noticed an explosion of products within the Lacura range - The ProNight Advanced Range getting a lot of attention as well as the Perfect Nude Lip Range which sold out as quickly as baskets were filled, though thankfully I did manage to grab one of each.

The Perfect Nude Lip Range has been likened to products from the Charlotte Tilbury Pillowtalk collection and whilst there is some similarity within the shades, not so much with the packaging, but as ever, here is a look at each product. Priced at £2.99, the Aldi Lacura Perfect Nude Lip Range features a Lipstick, Lip Liner and Lip Gloss, all of which are described to boast a "stunning universal nude-peach shade".

The Lacura Perfect Nude Lipstick (£2.99, 3.5g) is sold in a pretty pastel pink box which clearly labels the product inside. The lipstick bullet itself is silver in colour, not gold like its Pillow and it is more of a triangular shape than cylindrical, in the middle of the silver tube is the letter L for Lacura. At first glance, it doesn't look or feel like a lipstick that has cost £2.99, it is quite weighty in your hands.

The lipstick bullet itself does look very similar to the original Pillowtalk shade in natural light and it is said to offer a buildable and high colour payoff to give a velvety soft matte look with a hint of highlight. The texture of both Charlotte Tilbury and Aldi Lacura are very different, Tilbury is much smoother than Lacura and the latter slightly more chalky but not too drying. Enriched with Moon Orchard Plant and carefully formulated with specially selected waxes, this Lacura Perfect Nude Lipstick is designed to ensure the colour effortlessly glides to give a flawlessly hydrated finish.

On the lips, I am a huge fan of the colour, it is a shade, like Pillowtalk, that will suit pretty much everybody, but what has really impressed me is the longevity because it lasts all day, doesn't transfer as much as I had expected, infact it is barely noticeable. So impressive for £2.99.

The second product within this trio is the Lacura Perfect Nude Lip Liner (£2.99, 1.2g) and again, there are some similarities to the Charlotte Tilbury Lip Cheat.

Keeping with the theme of silver metallic packaging, this lip liner is sleek in design and again, for the price it definitely doesn't have that budget feel to it. If anyone does get their hands on this product, I would suggest sharpening it first because it is slightly tough and drags a little, but as soon as I had sharpened, it was a breeze to use and I absolutely love the shade, it is also really creamy when applied and could be used on its own as a lip colour.  

Again, it is formulated with a blend of Coconut Oil and Soya Bean Oil which work to offer a seamless and moisturising finish. This lip liner is everything it claims to be - long lasting, non-transferring and it has a smooth and velvety texture.

The final product within this trio is the Lacura Perfect Nude Lip Gloss (£2.99, 2.7ml). This Lip Gloss was a bit of a surprise for me because I haven't stopped wearing it since I bought it.  Described as being a dupe of the Charlotte Tilbury Lip Lustre Lip Lacquer, Pillow Talk, but again there are only a few similarities.

Again, this lip gloss is packaged so beautifully it looks much more than a high street brand, packaged in a clear glass tube with a silver lid, it keeps in design with both the Lip Liner and Lipstick. This Gloss is enriched with Collagen, Coconut Oil, Vitamin A and also includes Mint Oil, so it not only leave your lips feeling smooth, soft and moisturised it also has an aromatic scent creating a refreshing feel. 

It isn't sticky or tacky when applied and as it is sheer, it works wonderfully well with the lip liner and lipstick or on its own.

 

Aldi Lacura is a cruelty-free beauty brand and this launch of its new line-up of luxe makeup must-haves are priced from £2.99.

*this post contains PR samples and/or Affiliate Links unless indicated otherwise - you can learn more on my Disclaimer page.

Charlotte Tilbury - Cult Beauty Brand Of The Month

Every single month, Cult Beauty have a different brand as their ‘Brand of the Month‘ where they focus on one particular brand for the whole month. For the month of September, Cult Beauty is focusing on Charlotte Tilbury. Cult Beauty says that "Makeup artists don’t come much more legendary than Charlotte Tilbury; with twenty years in the industry, she’s a true trailblazer – creating looks for some of film and fashion’s most iconic faces".  I am sure everyone who reads my blog is very aware as to who Charlotte Tilbury is.

The Vintage Vamp, The Glamour Muse, The Rock Chick and the Dolce Muse are just a few of the ten looks you will see at Charlotte Tilbury stands in departments store and of course, the global store in Covent Garden, with these looks are the products you would need to create each look.  I have a small collection of Charlotte Tilbury makeup and have a wishlist as long as my arm of products I want to add to it, to that end, I have narrowed that list down to these few:

Airbrush Flawless Finish (£34) - I have combination skin, so battling that afternoon shine can be an absolute nightmare. You spend ages applying your makeup, all for it to slide off mid-afternoon.  I have seen the Airbrush Flawless Finish Powder on quite a few blogs and I love that it contains Rose Wax and Almond Oil so as well as ensuring my skin is shine feel and flawless, it is also nourishing and hydrated, perfect for those drier areas.

Pillow Talk (£24) - The one lipstick I hear the most about on social media is Pillow Talk and admittedly it does look just absolutely stunning on everyone whom I have seen wearing it. Described as being a warm rosy-beige lipstick with a matte finish, I love the finish and matte lipsticks are not usually my first choice.  Again, this lipstick is more than just makeup, it contains a delicate blend of extracts, oils and waxes to nourish and hydrate the lips.

Light Wonder (£32) - For me, a foundation, BB Cream or Tinted Moisturiser has to be lightweight but give a fairly good coverage.  I really dislike anything heavy and this sounds perfect.  Described as being the perfect solution for those who crave coverage without weight, Charlotte Tilbury's Light Wonder foundation unifies uneven skin tone and bestows a gorgeous glow without suffocating or looking too 'done'.

Legendary Lashes 2 (£25) - I am a bit of a mascara fiend and love trying out new brands and new releases, but I am picky about formulas. What draws me to Legendary Lashes 2 is the description "The nearest thing to brush-on lash extensions, this stars an innovative, clump-resistant 'elastic' formula". For me, a mascara with too wet a formula or too clumpy a brush is a no-no and this one sounds right up my street.

Colour Chameleon (£19) - I am a huge fan of eyeshadow pencils, they make eye makeup on the go (the tube) a much easier take and they are easy to carry around in your makeup bag. The shade which really stands out to me is Champagne Diamonds and it is described as being a Light shimmer eyeshadow pencil designed for blue eyes, which I have and this is the shade which caught my eye before I looked at the description.

The final item is within the skincare category and it is the Instant Magic Facial Dry Sheet (£18).  I am used to face masks being wet, overly gunked and requiring some massaging into the skin some excess gel or cream once finished.  With this mask it is claimed that in just 15 minutes the dry sheet infuses dulled, depleted skin with its revitalising cocktail – lessening fine lines, smoothing, lifting, tightening and hydrating for up to eight hours which is quite a big claim. I haven't seen too many reviews on the mask, but the ones I have read rave about it.

So there you have my little Charlotte Tilbury wishlist.  I would love to know if you are a fan yourself and whether or not you have a favourite product?

*this post contains PR samples and/or Affiliate Links unless indicated otherwise - you can learn more on my Disclaimer page here

Phase Zero Makeup X Love Me Beauty | The Lipstick Collection

Whether or not you are a subscriber, you might have noticed that there have been some intriguing changes made to Love Me Beauty and its whole concept. I love beauty boxes and Love Me Beauty has decided to change their role within the Beauty Box world and have instead decided to shake things up with Phase Zero Makeup. 

Simply explained by Oliver Gauci

Phase Zero X LMB is a project where we’ve created a cruelty-free, luxury formula based brand at factory prices. As we are the manufacturers, we are going to sell straight to the consumer, without all the middlemen and huge markups! A lipgloss that retails at £12 for example, you’ll get for £3.50 with us

Phase Zero is exclusively available to Love Me Beauty and it works in a similar way to the Beauty Box Subscription. So, for a £5 monthly membership fee, you as the subscriber gain access to the Phase Zero Makeup collection at those much-discounted prices. The brand promises that they will deliver high quality, cruelty-free makeup products that contain luxury formulas but instead of costing exorbitant amounts, you will instead get them at factory prices, for example, retail for £12 but members pay only £3.50. If you don't want to be tied into a contract, then you don't have to be, you can still buy the products for their RRP.  The month of February sees the Phase Zero Makeup X LMB project launch with a collection of lip glosses, matte lips and lip toppers which I am sharing with you today.

The collection I have features three lipglosses, four matte lipsticks and two lip toppers and all of the lip products are packaged in plastic tubes, which all look the same and are best identified from the little stick on the bottom of the tube. The plastic tubes contain 8ml of product, come with a standard doe foot applicator and there is a slight Vanilla scent to them.

The three lipglosses I have are the shades

• Dark Burgundy which is a beautiful rich aubergine shade
• Baby Pink which is a really pretty nude pink
• Postbox Red which as the shade name gives away is a stunning bright red.

I am really picky when it comes to lipglosses because I cannot stand anything that is icky, sticky or tacky on my lips, you know the feeling that you have rubbed your lips across a block of lard? Yeah, that feeling. Thankfully these glosses do not have too thick a formula and nor are they sticky but they do contain Sunflower oil, so are really hydrating and quite lightweight for a gloss. 

So far from my using them, Dark Burgundy is the hardest one to work with and is a bit streaky, but it works fine over a lipstick. Postbox Red is not really my shade at all but it is really pigmented and Baby Pink is more of a nude and not so much of the pink and again it can be worn alone or over lipstick.

The liquid lipsticks are matte shades and all four of them dry without flaking, feathering or even running.  The four shades that I have are:

• Classic Red which is, again as the shade states a very classic shade of red
• Pink Suede which is one of my favourite shades and it is a pink nude
• Chai Latte is best described as being a brown nude
• Gingerbread is a deep brown/red which is said to warm your complexion.

All four of these liquid lipsticks are pigmented and deliver an even coat onto the lips in just a few swipes.  

They dry down quite quickly and are really comfortable to wear and last for hours once applied.

The final two products within the collection are two lip toppers and they are both just stunning and my favourite products from the Phase Zero Lip Collection.

• Holographic Girl is everything you think it will be and is definitely one for the Unicorn lovers with its pink/blue hues
• Prosecco Kiss is my absolute favourite product from this collection and it is just stunning with its shimmery rose gold shade

What I really love about these lip toppers is that they can be born with or without lipstick and the formula is non-sticky and dries quickly so it is perfect for keeping your lipstick in place.

Again neither of them are sticky and tacky when applied and they pretty much work alone or with your lipstick.

I am really intrigued as to where the Phase Zero x LMB project will go over the next few months, I think the Lip Collection is an incredible start and a great introduction to what the entire project is about. To find out more about membership benefits check out LMB’s How It Works section and to get your 1st membership month free quote: PZONEFREE at checkout.

*this post contains PR samples and/or Affiliate Links unless indicated otherwise - you can learn more on my Disclaimer page here

Primark's £4 Naked Palette Dupes

I have mentioned a few times now that I don't own a single Naked Palette and whilst that isn't any criticism of the brand, one I absolutely adore, I just haven't felt the need to rush out and buy them and to date I haven't been to swatch them.  To that end whilst on an endless trip to Primark, a friend asked me if I could pick her up one each of the 'Primark Naked Palettes' and I thought I would give them a go myself along with a few other pieces, which will appear on the blog soon.

At £4 each they are not going to break the bank and I wasn't holding out much hope that they would be any good, infact I expected no pigment, no colour pay off and absolutely no staying power.  Well these palettes just go to show that you never should judge and just because it is cheaper, it doesn't mean it will be awful.

So first up we have the Smoky palette and whilst the packaging is made from cardboard and not overly fancy, it does the job it is intended to do. It looks alright and houses ten different shades, all of which are designed to be able to help you create that smokey eye whether you like you nude smoky or your more dramatic one.

 As you can see from left to right, the shades are actually quite nice, nothing too over the top and a mixture of Matte and Shimmer shades, again, I think there will be something for everyone on this palette and I happen to also like the shadow names too.

When it comes to using, ive done some basic swathing below, the end result is of each finger moving up and down in the shadow, nothing to heavy or multiple swiping to get these colour pay-offs. What you see is exactly what you get.

 From left to right there is Conclave which I use as a base powder for the application of my eyeshadow. It isn't worth using for very much else in my opinion.  Then we have Winter Mist, Even Tide and Smoulder.  Smoulder is one of the shades I absolutely adore but am not yet brave enough to wear and for me Winter Mist is the weakest shade on the whole palette and doesn't give the best colour payoff, but as you can see, it does have a grey tone to it.

 Next we have from left to right Leaded Lights which has a slight gold shimmer to it, Midnight Velvet which is the most incredible blue shade and it almost reminds me of the colour my Mum used to wear and then next to that is Fire Pit and Blood Magic.  Blood Magic is one of the most pigmented shades on the palette and Fire Pit I find is an odd shade but I like it a lot, ive just not braved wearing it outside the house.

The final two shades are Grey Wind and Darkness and both really good colour payoff and both work really well for smoking out that dramatic eye.

There is a bit of fall out, but nowhere near as much as I was expecting and when wearing I get around 6 hours wear time, using both a primer and setting spray.

I love my Nude palettes so this was always coming home with me. The packaging is exactly the name as the Smoky palette, only this one represents the nudey neutral shades.

As with the Smoky palette there are again ten shades which again has something for everyone and if like me you love the nudes, there are quite a few that you can use and again there is some fall out when you use the shades, but not as much as I was expecting.

From left to right we have Panacotta which actually works well for the inner eye and isn't a shade I would want all over my lid, but I can't help but like it. Beached Blonde is a really light rosy pink shade and it works so well with the shade next to it which is called Barely Berry and it definitely isn't a berry shade, it is a light shimmery pink. Finally there is Skinny Dipping which has a rose gold tone to it and it is such a pretty shade.

The next lot of swatches feature quite a myriad of shades. Starting with Café Crème which is one of my favourite shades on the palette and it is a gold toned shimmer shade which is just so pretty. Brown Bare is a nice matte shade and perfect for the everyday eye shadow, it gives good colour coverage and is one that can be built up for a night out. Wood Nymph is the first of two shades which surprised me the most on this palette because it is a bold brown shimmer shade and there is next to no fall out, it lasts much longer than everything else. Finally there is Summer Solstice which is quite an odd shade, it is matte but the colour is quite hard to describe as it is neither a brown or gold but is like a murky taupe.

The final two shades on the palette are Under dressed which is a matte black shade with reddish undertones and finally is Caught Red Handed which is a copper brown shade and my second favourite one on this palette. 

So there you have two palettes which at £4 each are not going to leave you penniless and they are proof to me that you shouldn't judge something by its price. 

Have you tried any of the Primark make up collection?

*this post contains PR samples unless indicated otherwise

BEN NYE BANANA POWDER

One product I use to constantly use and rave about is the Ben Nye Banana powder and suddenly it became harder to pick up and well as it does, something else came along and until recently I had forgotten all about it. If you have never come across it before, Ben Nye Banana powder it holds is not any ordinary setting powder, it is one which holds cult status amongst the world of celebrities, including Kim Kardashian!

Now with a bit of a makeover, the Ben Nye Banana Powder has been relaunched, gone is the bottle which was quite awkward to use and very messy and in its place is the brand new luxury Dome Jar packaging which is not only much easier to use and work with, it creates less mess and is travel friendly. With so many different uses, this Ben Nye Banana Powder, which does have a slight hint of colour to it, banana, in fact, helps to absorb excess oil incredible well, it can help neutralise darkness, subtly colour corrects surface redness and pink undertones, as well as neutralises blue under eye circles and also helps to brighten the skin. 

Suitable for all skin tones, even mine which some describe as being almost see through, I switch between the type of brush I use for application. If I am using it as a setting powder then I use a big powder brush or powder puff to apply it evenly to my skin. If I am using it to set my concealer, which it does incredibly well, then I opt for a much smaller brush and it is brilliant and ensuring there is no caking or creasing of said concealer. Again, with a slight redness on both cheeks, I find this powder does help to neutralise it slightly, so if I decide I just want to wear a tinted moisturiser, I would use this on the top. 

Inside the power, the powder is really finally milled and on the skin it is really lightweight, more so than some of the setting powders I have used for a long time and it because it does so much more than any powder I have ever used it is just amazing and I am so glad to have it back in my stash.

Priced at just £13.50 this powder is such good value for money, you use so little of it every time you apply your make up that it lasts for a really good amount of time. If you have never tried this powder and it has always intrigued you, it is available from Precious about Makeup - HERE.

Have you tried this Powder before?

*this post contains PR samples unless indicated otherwise

Code Beautiful - New Launches

CODE Beautiful is a new brand on my radar and it has made quite the impact with the two latest releases from what I have come to learn through research is a huge collection of products. CODE Beautiful is all about creating must have hero products for women, those handbag essentials we can't live without. The first product, CODE VLM (Volume Lengthening Mascara), launched in 2014. Fast Forward to 2017 and these new products are all about the lips, CODE LIP a lip plumping treatment and CODE SSL a soft smooth lip liner gives us fuller more volumised lips, in a natural way.

CODE SSL Soft Smooth Lip Liner (£18 here) has been created for defined, volumised and hydrated lips. Lip Liners are one product I am hopeless at remembering to purchase and I have 4 in total, including this one. I have been using it since it arrived as it cleverly goes with every lip product I am wearing right now and what I love about it is how soft it is. On the lip it glides on and is as soft as a lipstick, it doesn't drag across the lips and it is pigmented enough to notice it, but not so much so that it takes away from that lipstick. 

It doesn't feather, there are no harsh lines, it is blendable and once applied it does not budge or smudge! It is self-sharpening, so a perfect tip each time and whilst there are no parabens, the ingredient Maxi Lip, a natural peptide which helps to stimulate collagen and provide a corrective and restructuring care for the lips.

CODE LIP Lip Intense Plumper (£20 here) is described as being as Insta Plumper on the go! I have always wished for slightly bigger lips, but am not ready nor feel I need to go down the route of Lip Fillers, so if a product promises me the chance to do that, I am wanting to try it! This product contains a magic ingredient which goes by the name of Hilurlip, and it contains a blend of lip treats such as Hyaluronic acid, Tripeptide-1, and Dimethicone. This exclusive combination is said to help redefine the natural contours of the lips and create a more youthful, sculpted look. Hilurlip also contains compounds that protect the lips from sun damage and helps minimise the appearance of small vertical lines.

This Lip Plumper has a rosy pink tone to it and Code Beautiful say they have chosen this shade because rosy pink nudes make your lips look larger and it also works effortlessly with the Code Soft Smooth Lip Liner and the two compliment one another. 

The ingredients of coconut oil, sweet almond oil and castor oil are also used alongside a quite noticeable minty scent which when applied to your lips makes them tingle whilst feeling quite cool at the same time. The tingly effect lasts for around 15-20 minutes before it subsides and it is not at all uncomfortable, it doesn't burn or sting, it is actually quite soothing. 

Does it plump my lips, well yes it does slightly but only I have noticed but what it does do is really nourish and moisturise and is not at all sticky, usually one of my main complaints with products like this. It also works well on its own or over your lipstick.

By way of an introduction to CODE Beautiful, I am really impressed with what I have seen. Really lovely products which are beautifully presented and as a further treat you can order one of the Limited Edition CODE MEK My Essential Kit makeup bags (£16 here) which is big enough for your make up for travelling with, it is fully lined with a sturdy zip and there is a choice of slogans - mine saying "Be Your Own Kind Of Beautiful" which I love.

If you haven't yet come across CODE Beautiful then you need too, it is such a kooky little brand that is hard not to love!

*this post contains PR samples unless indicated otherwise

Alice Through the Looking Glass Lipsticks | Urban Decay

When the new Urban Decay Alice in Wonderland 'Alice Through the Looking Glass' lipsticks dropped through my letterbox, I did squeal with excitement. Firstly I cannot wait to see the film, I love the Tim Burton spin on classic films and the inclusion of both Johnny Depp and Helena Bonham-Carter add to the excitement of finally seeing that film (despite what the media might say). 

If you have haven't seen the stunning palette doing the rounds on blogs, then I urge you to look for it because it is simply stunning. To add to the palette are 5 bold, quite unique and very daring lipsticks. Keeping with the theme of the film and the palette, each lipstick is inspired by a character within the film and each Lipstick case features a colorful, kaleidoscopic pattern inspired by the film. Each case has 'Urban Decay' written on it and debossed on the top of the cap is the UD icon. 

The lipsticks have three finishes to choose from, if you like your sheer nudes, metallic purples and super deep mattes, then this is a collection for you to look at. Before this range, I had four other Urban Decay Lipsticks, the latest from the Gwen Stefani range and whilst each one is slightly different, the colour pay off id just stunning and long-lasting.

So the first of the lipsticks is Alice (played by Mia Wasikowska)it is a really lovely sheer nude, great as everyday shade and even better for those who are not quite brave enough just yet for the more bold shades within the collection. Next we have Mad Hatter (played by Johnny Depp) and it is a gorgeous bright purple shade which has a shimmery finish which in some light looks slightly metallic. Mirana (played by Anne Hathaway) is next and it is an intensely deep, lovely matte berry shade with a tonal shimmer and one that is perfect for autumn and winter. Iracebeth (played by Helena Bonham-Carter) is one for those of you who love a bright red lip and this one is just absolutely stunning with a matte finish. The final lipstick within this collection is Time (played by Sasha Baron-Cohen) and it is perhaps the most daring of them all, a gunmetal-navy shade with a noteable silver shimmer running throughout, stunning though it is, I am not too sure I am yet ready to leave the house wearing it, but it is just beautiful.

From Left to right - Alice, Mirana, Mad Hatter, Iracebeth and Time

Available online at www.urbandecay.co.uk as well as Urban Decay counters nationwide, each lipstick is priced at £16 - which shade will be taking your fancy?