Urban Decay have finally released their collaboration palette with Gwen Stefani. I couldn’t resist, I needed it in my life. The Urban Decay marketing team are geniuses 🙂
I picked my Urban Decay Gwen Stefani in Debenhams. It will set you back €46. They have it on the website with free shipping here, if you like what you see 🙂
The palette contains a mixture of neutral matte, satin and shimmery shades for the most part, with a couple of more intense colours for good measure. I think it’s a good mixture. As a Urban Decay fan I have alot of their palettes, so I’m used to them having some crazy colour combos within them. I think the Gwen palette gives good practical but still really pretty colour choices. You get 15 shades in total which is pretty decent for the price. They are soft and pigmented as you would expect from the brand. I love all the names she gave them too. If you’re a Gwen fan since her old school No Doubt days (like myself) you will get all the references she makes with them.
Now onto the good part, the eye shadows in action 🙂
The top row:
We have ‘Blonde’, the lightest shade in the palette.
‘Bathwater’ (one of my favourite No Doubt songs :).
‘Skimp’.
‘Steady’.
‘Punk’.
Then the second line of shadows:
‘Baby’.
‘Anaheim’.
‘Stark’.
‘Zone’.
‘Serious’.
And finally the third line of shadow and where most of the crazier colours lie:
‘Pop’.
‘Harajuku’.
‘Danger’.
‘1987’.
And ‘Blackout’, a matte black is always a welcome addition to a palette for me.
I struggled to part with the money for the Gwen palette so close to Christmas for myself I have to admit. The guilt has subsided now however and I’m so glad I did. She’s just so darn pretty. I love everything the colour choices, the packaging everything! And there’s also an added bonus with it. You get samples of the lipsticks Gwen will be releasing with Urban Decay too. Score!
The packaging of the lippies looks amazing in the picture may I add 🙂
So we have ‘Rocksteady’.
A pinky red lipstick with a cream formula.
It wouldn’t be Gwen without a matte red. So this is a mega-matte (according to Urban Decay) and it’s called ‘714’.
‘Ex-Girlfriend’ is a sheer neutral brown shade.
Then, finally we have ‘Firebird’ an awesome bright purple hot pink shade with a cream finish.
I think it’s safe to say the Gwen palette for Urban Decay is a hit with me 🙂
Have you picked it up? Or is it on your Christmas wish list?
I could probably make a list like this at least once a year. I know Mac lippies are a bit expensive and other more afforable brands do brilliant alternatives that I have and love, but Mac lipsticks were the first ‘higher end’ makeup I ever owned. I love going into Mac full stop, but coming home with a sleek black bullet full of colour just gets me so excited and less face it they do great lipsticks. You can pick them up in Brown Thomas or in some BT2 and they are priced at 19.50 euro.
So I wanted to compile my top 5 for you. I thought 5 was a manageable number and I could get a good range of colours and finishes into the list, in case you are a Mac newbie or you are just looking for a new one to add to your collection 🙂 I will disclaim and say I am not really a nude lip gal. I have a couple of more nude options in my Mac collection like ‘Lovelorn’ and ‘Myth’ but they don’t really get a whole load of love. I wanted to be honest with my picks, so if you only wear nude lippies…I’m sorry 🙁
First up, I have probably the most wearable out of my 5 picks.
This is ‘Plumful’. This is a lustre finish lipstick. You can see from the bullet this is well loved by me.
It is a modest berry colour, that I think would suit a multitude of people. It has a lovely sheen to it with it being a lustre, so gloss does not have to be added if you like a glossy finish. It goes with any kind of makeup look and is so easy to wear, you can slap this on on the way out the door and you don’t need to worry about it. It last reasonably well too and will leave a hint of a stain behind when it starts to wear.
Next up I have Plumful’s more intense cousin 🙂
This is Rebel and this is a Satin finish lipstick.
I have blabbed about Rebel a good bit since I have added it to my collection. It’s a medium to dark berry toned shade depending on how intensely you apply it and is cool toned. With it being a Satin finish, it is not completely matte, it has a subtle shine to it which makes it comfortable to wear. I love Rebel for a dramatic night out with minimal makeup, it really makes a statement. If you like a dark lip Rebel is a good option to have in my opinion, I get alot of wear out of it. Again, it lasts really well and is easy to touch up throughout the night or day as the Satin formula doesn’t cling too much to the lips.
‘Girl About Town’ is one of my favourite lipsticks ever ever ever.
Growing up, I had crap teeth, so in my teens and early 20’s I didn’t experiment with lipstick alot because I didn’t want to bring attention to them. A few years ago I got Invisalign (best thing I ever did). After a few months my teeth were straight and my lipsticks stash started to grow and grow. Girl About Town was one of the first intense colours I ever bought and will always hold a special place in my heart.
It is an Amplified finish.
This means it packs a bold punch, a little goes a long way. It is a fuschia pink with blue undertones, hello whiter teeth! Although it is nearly a matte formula when on, it’s a creamy lipstick and glides onto the lips really well. I love this shade, it makes you look brighter whatever your skin tone. If you don’t have it, swatch it the next time you are in Mac, it is really worth the look.
The last two on this Mac lipstick journey are matte formula lipsticks.
First up is ‘Lady Danger’.
Lady Danger is one of the coolest lipsticks I own ever, full stop!
It is bold, it is rich, it is orangey red and it has warm undertones, so not for the faint hearted. I think it is alot more orange than red, but I suppose it depends on who is wearing it that determines that. On me (Mac NC20) it is more orange. Lady Danger lasts a really long time on the lips. Although it’s matte its not the most drying lipstick I have ever used, it doesn’t cling too badly if your lips are not in tip top condition. Not for everyone I know, but I just love it 🙂
My last choice is a no brainer. Mac do red lipsticks and they do them well, so one had to creep it’s way into my top 5.
This is their Retro-Matte lipstick in ‘Riri Woo’.
This is the red that they collaborated with Rihanna on, but ‘Ruby Woo’ from the permanent collection is pretty much the same when applied, the packaging just pulled me in on this one.
Riri Woo is the perfect cool toned matte red lipstick. It is pigmented beyond belief but it is one of the most drying lipsicks you will ever use. You need to be prepared for that. It lasts for ages too and will stain the lips as it wears but if your lips begin to dry or flake you will feel it and notice it and it won’t be pretty, so you do have to keep an eye on your lips throughout the day or night. It is best applied with a lip brush for precise application as it can drag the lips a bit.
I sound a bit negative saying all of that, but it is so worth it for the lip colour you get in return, just prepare in advance for it!
There you have it. My top 5 Mac lipsticks. I am always in the market for more favourites, so be sure to tell me yours.
https://i0.wp.com/beautynook.ie/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/Beautynoom-Top-5-Mac-Lipsticks-25-1.jpg?fit=1600%2C1069&ssl=110691600Gemhttps://beautynook.ie/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/Logo.pngGem2015-03-24 15:13:552016-01-25 19:22:32My Top 5 Mac Lipsticks
I have already listed some favourite red lipsticks here, pink lipsticks here and even some bolder darker choices here. So I thought the natural progression would be…some oranges. I pick up an orange number more than you would think on a day to day basis, it can really brighten up a look, and make it fresh and interesting. Like any lippies you can go wild and full on or you can do it under stately. It all depends on your preference, or what mood you are in that day 🙂
I picked 5 from my collection that should cover all bases when it comes to finish, pigment, glossy and matte.
First up is an offering from Shiseido.
This is in the Shade OR418
This is a glossy but pigmented lippie. I actually got this in one of my Chic Treat Club boxes and I have gotten so much use out of it. It’s a lovely true orange shade, that’s moisturising on the lips and is really easy to wear. Really need to try more Shiseido, it’s so readily available in Irish pharmacies.
Next up is more of a sheer orange gloss in the form of Revlon’s Colorstay Moisture Stain.
This is in the shade 025 Cannes Crush
This is a more subdued peachy orange for those of you who just want a hint of a tint. The great thing about the Revlon Moisture Stains is that when the non sticky gloss wears off they still leave you with a bit of colour on your lips. They are so easy to wear too and the doe foot applicator is small and nifty so the product is really easy to apply.
I picked a peachy shade for my next choice. I know everyone doesn’t want bright shiny or orangey lips.
This is one of the Bourjois Rouge Edition Velvet.
This is in the shade 04 Peach Club
The camera makes these come up shiny but I promise they’re matte 🙂 I’ve waffled on about these Rouge Edition Velvet’s before so I won’t bore you with the details. This colour is so wearable for all skin types. It really brightens up a look without looking like you tried too hard, and believe me these last all day too.
I choose probably one of the most infamous shades to talk about next. You cannot talk about orange lip products without having this involved.
This is of course Mac’s Lady Danger
When you want to make a statement you wear this…simple. It is a vibrant red toned orange lipstick of loveliness. If you like a bold lip, and don’t have Lady Danger, add it to your shopping list, you won’t be disappointed. Just looking at it in the bullet gets me all a flutter 🙂
My last choice here in orange heaven is of the pink toned variety for again the girls who don’t want to go full on orange.
This is one of the Sleek Matte Me Lip Creams in 434 Party Pink
When they say these are matte, they really really mean it. I had left this one until last to swatch and my lips just shrivelled up, so apologies. You can still see the colour though. It’s a gorge pinky orange shade, that would be perfect for the warmer weather. Some tinted moisturiser, mascara and Party Pink would be the perfect pool party combo. It’s such a fun colour. Just be sure to exfoliate and moisturise the lips before applying 🙂
I picked 5, but I really could have picked 10. You would have been here all night reading about orange lipsticks though and I am sure you don’t want that.
Some food for thought anyway and all of these are readily available in Boots, Brown Thomas (for Mac of course) and pharmacies nationwide.
https://i1.wp.com/beautynook.ie/wp-content/uploads/Orange-Lipstick-1-620x405.jpg?fit=620%2C405&ssl=1405620Gemhttps://beautynook.ie/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/Logo.pngGem2015-01-21 18:49:242018-02-19 21:18:14Do You Tango? Your Lips That Is?