cosmetics

REVIEW: MAC A Novel Romance Lipsticks – Lingering Kiss, Hearts Aflame & Yield to Love

/ Fiona Seah / 5 Comments

Hey everyone!

I’m back with a mini lipstick haul from maccosmetics.com and they are limited edition from the latest collection “A Novel Romance”. Prior to the online release, I saw some images associated to the collection. I don’t know if they’re meant to be satirical but they’re so cheesy, they cracked me up! 😛

mac-anovelromance-1

mac-anovelromance-2

mac-anovelromance-3

The hot Jesus lookalike model in the campaign pictures strangely looks more made-up than the female lol. I’m so loving the muscles smoky eye make-up the artist applied on the guy though 😀

Singaporeans! Find out how to buy from maccosmetics.com here!

Inspired by romance novel covers, this collection features deep and luscious shades like plum and burgundy (omg my most loved – shut up and take my money!). Products launched include eye shadows (A Novel Romance, An Amorous Adventure and A Passionate Quest), a mascara (Haut and Naughty Too Black Lash), tinted lipglass (in Bared For You, Wanting More, Pure Fiction, Reckless Desire and Talk Sexy), lipsticks (in Myself, Yield to Love, A Novel Romance, Good Kisser, Hearts Aflame and Lingering Kiss) and powder blush (in Fun Ending and Animal Instincts). I, of course, was more interested in the lipsticks! Honestly, all the lipstick shades are very pretty, but I couldn’t possibly buy all six of them – that would leave me broke for the rest of the month. So I chose my THREE I absolutely love!

mac-anovelromance-shades

All 6 lipstick colours. From left: Myself (soft shimmery nude beige), Yield to Love (midtone rose), A Novel Romance (light cool dusty pink), Good Kisser (midtone fuchsia), Hearts Aflame (midtone brick red), Lingering Kiss (deep plum red)

If you have read any of my FAVOURITES posts, you’d definitely be able to guess the colours I picked (without looking at the title of course). My top 3 choices were Hearts Aflame, Lingering Kiss and Yield to Love because as you can see from the official swatch, they are the darkest among all hehe. I was torn between Yield to Love and Good Kisser (what a gorgeous shade of pink) but I picked the former in the end due to it being “online exclusive”.

SAMSUNG CSC

 

heartsaflame

SAMSUNG CSC

SAMSUNG CSC

SAMSUNG CSC

SAMSUNG CSC

Check out how it makes my lips look fuller!

SAMSUNG CSC

It’s so MATTE and I lovvvvvvittt. It has long staying power!

SAMSUNG CSC

Swatch. I feel that it’s comparable to MAC’s Diva!

lingeringkiss

SAMSUNG CSC

SAMSUNG CSC

SAMSUNG CSC

SAMSUNG CSC

I love how dark lipsticks always make me look fairer!

SAMSUNG CSC

No teeth staining!

SAMSUNG CSC

Swatch!

yieldtolove

SAMSUNG CSC

SAMSUNG CSC

SAMSUNG CSC

SAMSUNG CSC

Notice how I immediately transform from some Goth wannabe to a decent-looking person? That’s the power of lipsticks! And oops, pardon my hair coz I just woke up from my nap!

SAMSUNG CSC

Love how the pink enhances my dull lips! Doncha think they look healthier now? 😉

SAMSUNG CSC

Swatch. You can tell how it complements my skin tone!

mac-swatches

Compare!

Each lipstick retails for US$16 (S$20) on maccosmetics.com but the last time I checked, all of them were sold out! WOW. But I can totally understand why because the payoff is really awesome! And the colours are exactly the kind of dark I’m looking for.

Since most of them are not online exclusive, they should be available in Singapore outlets soon but it’s definitely going to be priced around S$30. I think there was a soft launch (or a sneak preview) of this collection in Raffles City outlet way before the official release because I saw someone selling Lingering Kiss on Carousell and the seller claimed that she bought the last piece. So MACaholics in Singapore, be sure to grab your desired products once this collection is launched in other MAC stores here! They will run out in no time.

My total damage for this haul is US$60 including shipping. I used comGateway for their forwarding service this time and I must say they’re a hundred times better than vPost in terms of efficiency, speed and cost. So goodbye vPost for now.

Did you buy anything from this collection? Feel free to share your reviews in the comments below!

Thanks for reading lovelies ❤

FAVOURITES: 10 Dark Lipsticks

/ Fiona Seah / 17 Comments

Hey everyone!

SAMSUNG CSC

I just received my MAC parcel all the way from USA today and instead of reviewing my haul one-by-one (most of them have already been reviewed by other beauty gurus a million times anyway), I thought I should just talk about them as a whole! I have a lot of lipsticks as you can see from the picture above (*guilty*) so I’ll pick some and classify them into different groups like favourite dark lipsticks, my lips but better lipsticks, red lipsticks, so on and so forth.

Check out what made it to my MLBB and Red lipsticks lists!

This post, as you can see from the title, is all about my favourite dark lipsticks! There are several types of dark lipsticks but in my books, they are usually in dark plum or dark rusty brown shades. Call me weird but I really love, love my dark lipsticks the most! Most people don’t as they tend to make them look gothic but for me, I’m seriously not into cosplaying. Dark makeup just enhances every facial feature of mine which other shades don’t. I do get a lot of stares in public when I wear dark makeup but meh, that’s just coz they don’t see it all the time! (大惊小怪)

Most of my favourite lipsticks are from MAC and Urban Decay

Most of my favourite lipsticks are from MAC and Urban Decay

Everyone is born with different lip colour, so here's mine without lipstick to give you an idea on how the lipstick colour will turn out on my pale pink lips.

Everyone is born with different lip colour, so here’s mine without lipstick to give you an idea of how the lipstick colour will turn out on my pale pink lips.

Love my eye makeup here so here's one to flaunt it HAHA.

Love my eye makeup here so here’s one to flaunt it HAHA.

darklipsticks-all

Overview of my top 10 in no particular order! I love them all just as much!

Lighting is really terrible in my room when night falls, so please bear in mind that the lipstick bullets are a lot darker in real life!

First 4: (from left) Venom, Shame, Diva, Rebel

First 4: (from left) Venom, Shame, Diva, Rebel

1. Urban Decay Revolution Lipstick in VENOM 

Love UD's Revolution lipstick line - very moisturising yet long-lasting. Venom is a deep fuchsia shimmer with blue undertone.

Love UD’s Revolution lipstick line – very moisturising yet long-lasting. Venom is a deep fuchsia shimmer with blue undertone.

Swatch

SWATCH (ha ha pardon my hairy hand – haven’t waxed them yet)

2. Urban Decay Revolution Lipstick in SHAME

ud-shame

Out of the 10 lipsticks featured here, this undoubtedly is in my top 3 (possibly the top 1). I love how RICH the colour looks. It’s like what, deep burgundy with brown and ruby??! Major LOVE!

ud-shame2

One more shot for my greatest love!

3. MAC in DIVA

Diva is comparable to Urban Decay's Shame, I feel. It's also in a deep burgundy shade :D

Diva is comparable to Urban Decay’s Shame, I feel. It’s also in a deep burgundy shade 😀

mac-diva2

I’m obsessed with the matte finishes in MAC’s lipstick line because they are all so beautifully pigmented. Don’t be surprised to see a lot of them in my upcoming features!

mac-diva3

 

Singaporeans! Find out how to buy from maccosmetics.com here!

4. MAC in REBEL

Deep, fuchsia berry!

Deep, fuchsia berry!

mac-rebel1 mac-rebel2

The next 4: (from left) Paramount, Dark Side, Dubonnet and Film Noir

The next 4: (from left) Paramount, Dark Side, Dubonnet and Film Noir

5. MAC in PARAMOUNT

Deep, reddish brown! It's really very gorgeous in real life.

Deep, reddish brown! It’s really very gorgeous in real life and makes me look fairer 😛

Took this a few days back with direct sunlight. It's more true to this colour :)

Took this a few days back with direct sunlight. It’s more true to this colour 🙂

mac-paramount1

6. MAC in DARK SIDE

Another deep burgundy shade with red undertone lipstick! I don't think this shade is available in Singapore because I couldn't find this in local stores. I got this off maccosmetics.com!

Another deep burgundy shade with red undertone lipstick! I don’t think this shade is available in Singapore because I couldn’t find this in local stores. I got this off maccosmetics.com!

mac-darkside2

It may look quite similar to Diva here but it is definitely not! This is more towards the red side. No hints of purple at all.

7. MAC in DUBONNET

Dubonnet is a deep red with brown undertone.

Dubonnet is a deep red with brown undertone.

I was contemplating on whether to put this shade in the "10 Favourite Red Lipsticks" category but this is a tad too dark to be in there!

I was contemplating on whether to put this shade in the “10 Favourite Red Lipsticks” category but this is a tad too dark to be in there!

mac-dubonnet2

8. MAC in FILM NOIR

Received this today! Tried it almost immediately after opening my parcel and fell in love with it INSTANTLY! It's a very gorgeous shade of deep, reddish brown (like rust). Something that Morticia Addams would use haha!

Received this today! Tried it almost immediately after opening my parcel and fell in love with it INSTANTLY! It’s a very gorgeous shade of deep, reddish brown (like rust). Something that Morticia Addams would use haha! Like Dark Side, this is not available in Singapore.

I am hoping for my skin to be fairer! It looks AWESOME with fair skin.

I am hoping for my skin to be fairer! It looks AWESOME with fair skin.

mac-filmnoir4

Following behind Dubonnet and Film Noir are Cyber and Sin

Following behind Dubonnet and Film Noir are Cyber and Sin (last 2 on the right)

9. MAC in CYBER

This is a WAY darker version of Pure Heroine. It's a much deeper purple with red undertone.

This is a WAY darker version of Pure Heroine. It’s a much deeper purple with red undertone.

mac-cyber4

10. MAC in SIN

Last but not least, a very intense blackened red lipstick. It's a little darker than Paramount but lighter than Film Noir. This also just flew in from the states!

Last but not least, a very intense blackened red lipstick. It’s a little darker than Paramount but lighter than Film Noir. This also just flew in from the states!

mac-sin2

What do you guys think? Which colour suits me best? I need unbiased opinion because once I fancy something, I’d just use it regardless of how I look in it. I can’t ask my boyfriend because he objects every single item featured here. Hahaha.

That’s all for this entry! Hope you like that I bombarded more pictures and wrote less in this entry which is so unlike me. If you have any recommendation for any dark lipstick (it has to be most importantly long-lasting), do leave a comment below! 🙂

Be sure to stay tuned for more posts like this!

Thanks for reading ❤

Read also:
FAVOURITES: 10 MLBB Lipsticks
FAVOURITES: 13 Red Lipsticks

REVIEW: MAC x Lorde Pure Heroine Lipstick

/ Fiona Seah / 4 Comments

HELLO everyone!

It’s time for my first proper lipstick review! I finally received my MAC parcel after 2 torturous weeks and I was so stoked 😀 I can’t wait to show you guys how Pure Heroine looks. I mean c’mon, it’s DEEP PLUM! You can never go wrong with that. I think it’s the most gorgeous shade of purple!

article-2612282-1D517E9B00000578-288_634x815

Campaign poster for her two-piece make-up limited edition collection in collaboration with MAC – Pure Heroine lipstick and Rapidblack Penultimate Eye Liner.

I first saw the campaign picture above sometime in April (tweeted by GlamourUK) and I was immediately won over. I’ve been obsessed with darker-than-usual lipstick shades recently so this just resonated with me. I also like Lorde and her unique sense of style so I knew I had to get the lipstick!

Due to budget constraint and my preference towards using gel eyeliner, I gave Rapidblack Penultimate Eye Liner a miss.

Unfortunately the lipstick is only available online and selected stores in U.S. But thank god for freight forwarders, I managed to buy this at time of launch on 5 June (yup, was camping on MAC website the entire day!) and get it shipped over to Singapore. If anyone’s interested to know, I used Vpost 🙂

Singaporeans! Find out how to buy from maccosmetics.com here!

pureheroine1 pureheroine3 pureheroine2

I’m slightly disappointed with the packaging though. Since it’s a Lorde x MAC collaboration, I expected some differentiation in it, like how MAC did for their Viva Glam collection. Right now the lipstick looks like any other lipsticks in the MAC’s permanent line (Pure Heroine is limited edition).

Okay, now time for a swatch!

pureheroine5

It’s kinda like dark violet with an undertone of fuchsia (true to this colour)

pureheroine8

Named after Lorde’s debut studio album, Pure Heroine is a fusion of Heroine (bright purple) and Cyber (very deep purple). It has an amplified finish. Like other MAC lipsticks, it slides smoothly on my skin and lasts a long time.

pureheroine7

What it looks like on an NC35 Asian skin.

One more :D

One more 😀 On my eyes is “Classic” from the Too Faced Natural Eyes palette

My verdict: To my dismay, it doesn’t look like what it is on the campaign poster *sigh* so I’m pretty disappointed 😦  I’d say it’s 80% Heroine and 20% Cyber whereas the poster depicts the other way round (which is what made me want to get it 😦 ). This is definitely too bright purplish for my liking.

However if you like Flat Out Fabulous or funky shades of purple, this is definitely something you should get!

Pure Heroine and Rapidblack Penultimate Eye Liner retail for US$16 (S$20) and US$19.50 (S$25) respectively. Both items will be made available internationally on maccosmetics.com in July (exact date unknown).

I spent S$56.20 inclusive of shipping charges for 2 lipsticks (including Pure Heroine) not available in Singapore 🙂 So if you do the math, each lipstick is only approximately S$28 which is still cheaper than a regular-priced MAC lipstick here (S$29). But the wait is terrible lol unless you opt for express shipping.

Thanks for reading!

Do you own Pure Heroine as well? Share with me your thoughts about the product! 😀