Tom Ford Matte Lip Color in Electric Pink & Velvet Violet

Confession time... I spent the majority of my tax return on makeup. Do I have any regrets? Nope, not a single one. I hadn't purchased much new makeup in the first half of the year and I needed to splurge (and cross a few things off my wishlist).

These two lipsticks had been on my wishlist since I first saw them on Temptalia and other blogs. I am a big fan of matte pink lipsticks so it was a match made in heaven. Of the 10 shades released I purchased two of the limited edition shades (most of the shades are permanent) in Electric Pink and Velvet Violet. 

The Tom Ford Matte Lip Colors come housed in dark brown and gold cases. The tubes feel luxurious and have that weighty feel you expect with high end makeup. 

Electric Pink is fuchsia pink with cool undertones. My favourite shade of bright pink. Velvet Violet is a plummy pink with cool undertones. I wasn't sure about this shade when purchasing it but now I like it more than Electric Pink. I think it is the perfect shade if you want to wear a berry lip but not a dark berry. 

These lipsticks are marketed as matte. Neither of these shades are fully matte, more of semi matte, satin finish. Both shades are creamy enough to make them easier apply but matte enough that they last on the lips for several hours.

I have found these lipsticks have really good wear time (for me anyway), they last around 5 hours on my lips with only minimal fading/wear. They aren't an uncomfortable lipstick to wear either. They don't feel dry as you wear them and they don't leave your lips feeling dry after wear. I have lips they dry out easily so I am super happy about this. 

Now onto the lip swatches! Apologies they are so big, for some reason Blogger changed the colour if I tried to make the photos anything other than extra-large. Weird right?

Tom Ford Matte Lip Color in Electric Pink

Tom Ford Matte Lip Color in Velvet Violet

Overall I am really glad I made the splurge on these lipsticks. Electric Pink is a gorgeous shade that is going to get a lot of use in the warmer weather. I must admit though that Velvet Violet is my favourite, it is such a gorgeous pink-berry shade. I have had it on high rotation since getting it. 

These lipsticks retail for $70 each. Pricey? Yes. Worth it? In my opinion, yes. These lipsticks have an excellent formula and gorgeous shades. I love how luxe they are, it feels like I am treating myself every time I apply. 

Tom Ford Beauty can be purchased from David Jones in Australia. Both these shades are still in stock HERE. I am planning to add Pussycat and Plum Lush to my collection soon.

Have you tried Tom Ford lipsticks before? Do you think they are worth the splurge? 

My Night Away Makeup Bag

I know, I've gone missing. Again. Life is still pretty hectic for me at the moment and the blog is still the last thing on my 'To do" list. Sorry! I am trying to rectify this.

To get myself back in the swing of things I decided to do a nice easy post that I always enjoy reading on other blogs. I think it is because I am super nosy and love sneaking a look into other peoples makeup bags. So here is the makeup bag I took for a recent overnight trip.

For foundation I packed my HG (holy grail) - Chanel Vitalumiere Aqua, it is my absolute favourite that I know will make my skin look flawless with minimal effort. The By Terry Terrybly Densiliss Concealer is a newer acquisition that seems to be pretty good at covering up my always present dark under eye circles. The MAC Mineralize Skinfinish is perfect for setting foundation and never cakes up on my skin. 

I am all about the highlight at the moment and the Burberry Fresh Glow Luminous Highlighting Powder is my favourite for a more natural glow. For a healthy flush I packed the Tarte Amazonian Clay 12-Hour Blush in Amused.

I knew I wouldn't have much time to get ready in the morning so I packed my favourite 'all over the lid' eyeshadow - Chanel Soft Touch Eyeshadow in Gri-Gri (I believe this was limited edition). Of course I applied this over the Nars Pro-Prime Smudgeproof Eyeshadow Base. For mascara I packed a sample size of the Bobbi Brown Smokey Eye Mascara. This is great mascara for dark and voluminous lashes. For brows I packed the Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Wiz because uncared for brows should be a crime. 

I didn't realise until I took these photos that the two lipsticks I packed are actually very similar. The Tom Ford Lip Color in Jack and Chanel Rouge Coco in Jean are both purpley-pink shades that are oh so pretty on the lips. 

Finally the makeup bag I use is the Charlotte Tilbury Makeup Bag. I got it back when Charlotte's line first launched and I purchased one of her 'looks' sets. It is a great bag that fits heaps in it plus it is super cute. 

What is in your makeup bag?

PS: Apologies for the less than stellar photographs, natural light is just too hard to catch at the moment. 

Makeup Empties #3

I seem to have lost my blogging mojo again, I can never seem to keep it tied down. It is always escaping me! I thought I'd try and rein it in with an easy post - Makeup Empties. Since I have a new batch of products that are almost empty I decided to empty the bag first. These products have all been finished up since the start of 2015. 

Again, apologies for the bad photography. I seem to have lost that mojo too (and I never have time during daylight hours to take photographs).

YSL - Le Teint Touche Eclat Foundation

I really enjoyed this foundation. It is light-medium coverage with a dewy finish, that lasts all day. Very easy to apply too and good for dry skin. I will repurchase. Original review HERE.

Burberry - Fresh Glow Luminous Fluid Base

I have raved about this primer before and I still think it is amazing. This makes your skin look glowing but not shiny - just a healthy glow. It helped hydrate and smooth my skin prior to foundation. I haven't tried another primer like this - I must repurchase it.

Clinique - Blended Face Powder

This powder seemed to last forever! I originally purchased this back in early 2011. It is a nice loose powder but not a 'wow' product. It did have a tendency to look a little cakey if applied whilst foundation was still wet. A good product but not one I am going to repurchase.

Bobbi Brown - Creamy Concealer Kit

A concealer that so many rave about. I thought it was good but often creased under my eyes. I honestly can't really remember if I really liked this product or not. I finished the concealer ages ago but the powder part stuck around for a lot longer. I may repurchase, just to see if I really do like it or not. I would not purchase it in the kit though (the powder took forever to finish).

Laura Mercier - Silk Crème Foundation

Even after using up the tube, I am still in two minds about this foundation. I like the finish it gives my skin but I dislike how it can feel heavy on the skin and application can be a bit time consuming. I find this foundation strange to wear because it is full coverage and something I am not used to, it's odd to look at myself wearing this. I believe a new version has been released which I am keen to try.

NARS - Radiant Creamy Concealer

This is another raved about concealer which I really enjoyed. I found it covered my dark circles but wasn't overly brightening, probably because the shade Vanilla is a perfect match for my skintone. I will repurchase this. 

Clinique - Airbrush Concealer

This is an absolute favourite of mine (and the second time I have used one up). For me it is the ultimate under eye concealer and brightener. I'm repurchasing this next week. 

Australis - Ready Set Go Finishing Powder

This powder was fine but don't accidentally inhale it, it stung my nose like a bitch! I ended up using this in my hair when I ran out of dry shampoo and it worked really well for that. As a face powder it did it's job but it didn't blow me away. Won't repurchase. 

Pop Beauty - Peak Performance Mascara

I purchased this mascara because I kept seeing it in Michelle Phan videos. It is a really unique comb mascara which you wind at the bottom to dispense the product into the comb. It was a fiddly mascara to use and prone to clumping. Won't repurchase (not even sure if this is till available).

Charlotte Tilbury - Full Fat Lashes Mascara

I loved this mascara. It gives voluminous, long and really black lashes. It has a classic spoolie, the formula is what makes this mascara. I would repurchase (once I use up some of the 15 or so mascaras I have in my 'unopened mascara stash').

Kevyn Aucoin - Precision Brow Pencil

I purchased this on a whim from Mecca Cosmetica. As a brow product it is fine but I don't like the packaging. The actual pencil does not have a lid, it just winds up like a crayon and the pencil was very easy to break if wound up too much. Won't repurchase just because I like ABH more.  

Clinique - Cream Shaper for Eyes

This is a nice creamy eyeliner that is super easy to apply. It is the shade Black Diamond which meant it had black sparkles through it which made it look less flat than a matte black. I liked to apply this then blend it out softly. Sadly the staying power of this eyeliner let it down. Would not repurchase. 

There is my makeup empties for the year so far. I really enjoy writing these posts, it is a good reflection and provides some reminders for my shopping list. I rarely seem to actually repurchase the products I say I will though, something new and shinier always seems to come along and grab my attention. What can I say? I'm not very loyal...

What have you finished up recently? Do you actually repurchase the products you say you would?

Chanel Mediterranee Collection - Summer 2015

A few weeks ago the Chanel Mediterranee Collection for Summer 2015 landed on counters. The collection is inspired by the vivid skies and blue seas of the Mediterranean. With this collection you can create bronzed skin, mesmerising eyes, bold nails and colourful lips. 

I, as the Chanel lover I am, rang my favourite beauty boutique the next day to place my phone order (I had had my wishlist ready since February). I only purchased four items from the collection. The bronzer - Lumiere d'Ete Illuminating Powder looked gorgeous online but would have been too warm and dark for my cool and pale skin. For the first time in quite a few collections, none of the lip products appealed to me. They weren't overly unique and therefore seemed too similar to products I already own. 

Stylo Eyeshadow in 127 Laurier Rose & 147 Caroube

These two were my must-have items in the collection. I have some of these from when they were released in 2013 (review HERE) and I still enjoy the formula so I had to have them. Laurier Rose and Caroube are the two more neutral options in this collection. 

Laurier Rose is metallic, coppery pink. Very much a rose gold hue which seems to be all the rage at the moment in cosmetics, jewellery and even home decor. Caroube is a cool toned, taupe brown and my favourite of the two. Caroube is definitely the more work and everyday appropriate shade of the two. 

These eyeshadows have a very cooling effect when applied on the lids. These shades however have a very quick drying/setting time, I find I only just have enough time to apply and then blend out on the edges. It is best to work with one eye at time. On the plus side though, once these babies are set they don't budge until they are removed. 

Le Vernis Nail Colour in 707 Mediterranee & 727 Lavanda

There are four polishes in the collection and I was really tempted to get them all but then I remembered that I hardly wear nail polish. Mediterranee is a slightly dark blue, almost teal in some lights (or just the poor light in my bedroom). Lavanda is a royal purple with a cream finish. It is a really gorgeous shade. 

I haven't actually worn these polishes yet, my nails are in horrible condition currently (I think winter is messing with them as it is with my skin and hair...). I did paint one nail with each polish and I didn't have any issues with the formula. I think these shades would look great on the toenails during summer.

Did you pick anything up from the Chanel Mediterranee Collection?

Update & Collective Haul

After twelve weeks, I am finally back with a bit of an update & a collective haul from the last couple of months. Long story short, my Nan has had some serious health issues over the last three months. She spent almost 8 weeks in hospital in the city (4 hours from home). Thankfully she has been home since early May and her health is hopefully on the improve. Now that life is getting back to normal, I finally have the energy and time to blog.

Apologies for the poor photography skills in this post. I was having major issues!

I know the MAC x Cinderella collection was released like forever ago but I wanted to include this just so I could whinge about the way MAC handled the collections release. It was released online through a secret link, so only those who went through Facebook could access it, the instore release date was meant to the Monday but MAC told some it was Sunday so stores started selling it then and the amount of stock available in the first place was ridiculously low. I called stores (about 10 different ones) at lunchtime on Monday and all I could get my hands on was the Stroke of Midnight Eyeshadow x 6 palette. 

I purchased the Burberry Spring/Summer 2015 Runway Palette on a spur of a moment from Net-A-Porter, it was $20 cheaper compared to DJ's and there was free shipping. The Guerlain Meteorites Perles de Blush Angelic Radiance was something I knew I had to have the moment I saw press images online. It is so beautiful and smells like violets (my favourite).  The YSL Volupte Tint-In-Oil have been a favourite of mine since I purchased the first one in No. 8, I ended up purchasing No.5 because I like them that much. 

The Bobbi Brown Hot Collection was another collection I was powerless to resist. I originally purchased the Pink Cheek Palette and the Hot Pink Art Stick from the Bobbi Brown website. I fell in love with the Art Stick and ended up purchasing the Hot Berry Art Stick from a counter. They are amazing lip products and I wish I had discovered the range sooner. 

I headed to Chadstone whilst in Melbourne and of course I visited one of my favourite places - the Chanel Beauty Boutique. Whilst there I stocked up on skincare (which I can share later, if interested?) and picked up just three makeup items (self restraint for the win!). I needed a new concealer so I decided to try the Correcteur Perfection Concealer for something new. I also picked up two of the new reformulated Rouge Coco lipsticks in 454 Jean and 448 Elise, both are amazing shades and the formula is beautiful. 

Phew! 

It is good to be back. I have a couple of haul and mini review posts planned - Chanel Mediterranee Collection, Chanel Les Beiges Collection and my first haul from ColourPop (when it finally arrives). I don't have anything planned after that so I will just be easing back into it and making it up as I go. I feel like a lot of the posts I had planned aren't relevant now as so much time has passed. A three month break is a long time and I feel like I have a lot to catch up on in the blogging world!

What have you hauled lately? 

7 Days of MAC Lipstick

A few weeks ago I realised that for the previous three days I had unconsciously worn a MAC Lipstick each day. I then consciously made the decision to wear a MAC Lipstick everyday that week. Well for seven lipstick wearing days. So technically my ‘7 Days of MAC Lipstick’ is actually 8 days because I don’t wear makeup on the weekend unless I am going out (which I did on the Saturday but not the Sunday). 

I have over 30 MAC Lipsticks in my stash and I have to admit they have been neglected over the last few months. I find their little black tubes a pain because I have to physically sort through them in the morning to find the shade I want (even though I store them labels facing upwards). I also know I have quite a few in my stash that I don’t like. When I first got into MAC I went on a spree purchasing a lot of the popular shades, not thinking whether they would suit me. 

Now onto the lipsticks, unfortunately I think a couple of the lipsticks below were actually limited edition and are now unavailable. I apologise in advance! 

L-R: Embrace Me, All Fired Up, Pink Pigeon, Chatterbox, Impassioned, Candy Yum-Yum & Party Parrot

MONDAY – Embrace Me

Embrace Me is described by MAC as a ‘bright fuchsia cream’. It is a medium-fuchsia pink with a cool undertone. This is a matte formula but I find it more of a satin-matte finish. Unfortunately this was a limited edition shade from mid 2013.

TUESDAY – All Fired Up

MAC describes All Fired Up as a ‘bright fuchsia matte’. It is a bright red-pink shade with a completely matte finish. This can be a little dry on the lips as it is the Retro Matte formula, there is a bit of tugging when applying. This is a permanent shade. 

WEDNESDAY – Pink Pigeon

On Wednesday’s we wear pink! So it was totally unintentional to wear a pink lipstick on Wednesday but I cannot resist a Mean Girls reference. Pink Pigeon is described as ‘bright cleanest pink’. It is a bright, cool pink with an almost matte finish. This is one of my favourite MAC lipsticks and one that was on my wishlist for some time (along with Party Parrot), it was originally a limited edition shade but is now permanent. Hallelujah! 

THURSDAY – Chatterbox

MAC describes Chatterbox as ‘a bright pink with red undertones’. It is a creamy, soft pink, which pulls a little warm on my lips and against my skin tone. This is in the Amplified Crème formula and is a permanent shade. 

FRIDAY – Impassioned

Impassioned is described by MAC as ‘amped up fuchsia’. It is a bright reddish-pink which leans slightly warm. It is a permanent shade in the Amplified Crème formula. I totally blame Lilit from Makeup and Macaroons for this being in my stash. It was on her blog that I first saw Impassioned and fell in love. Impassioned is still one of my favourite lipsticks. 

SATURDAY – Candy Yum-Yum

My pick for Valentine’s Day (this shows you how long ago I started to write this post)! Candy Yum-Yum is described by MAC as ‘neon pink’ and that description is completely correct. It is a hot, blue-based pink with a matte finish. It really is a show stopping shade. Another one that was on my wishlist for some time as it was originally a limited edition shade but is now permanently available (lucky for you!). 

MONDAY (take two) – Party Parrot

MAC describes Party Parrot as ‘bright red pink’. It is a bright coral-pink which can look slightly red, it has a matte finish. It leans more coral-red than Impassioned. Like Pink Pigeon and Candy Yum-Yum, this one was on my wishlist for a while before MAC rereleased it. Sadly though, it has not been made permanent. *weeps*

L-R: Embrace Me, All Fired Up, Pink Pigeon, Chatterbox, Impassioned, Candy Yum-Yum & Party Parrot

Getting to the end of this post I also realised that this features some of my favourite MAC lipsticks! It is no surprise though as this post is filled with bright pink lipsticks (my absolute favourite shade). 

I hope you have enjoyed this peek into my lipstick stash. Let me know if you would like to see a similar post again in the future!

What are is your favourite MAC Lipstick? 

TAG: Addicted to Blush

I have no shame in admitting that I am a massive blush lover (or a blush fiend). It’s funny; blushes were actually one of the last beauty products I got into. With my naturally rosy cheeks and tendency to flush very easily, blush seemed a bit unnecessary. I don’t know what the hell I was thinking back then! I am all for blush these days. 

When I saw Kat from Kitsch Snitch, had created her own TAG called Addicted to Blush, I instantly added it to my ‘Blog Posts to Write’ list. How could a blush fiend not complete an Addicted to Blush TAG? Make sure you check out Kat’s original post HERE. 

WHAT COLOUR BLUSH SUITS YOU THE MOST?

I find that cool pinks suit me the most and the shades I am most drawn to. I think it is because they look similar to my natural flush/blush. I also quite like nude-pink shades.

PRESSED/CREAM/LOOSE BLUSH?

My first preference is pressed blush, I find it the easiest to apply and it definitely dominates my stash. I like cream blushes but I find them a little trickier to apply and can take a little bit longer to blend in. To be honest, I have never even tried a loosed blush but all I can think about is the mess it could make!

FAVOURITE SHIMMERY BLUSH?

The Illuminating Powder Gelee Blush from Estee Lauder in Pink Tease is a gorgeous shimmery pink. Charlotte Tilbury and NARS also create lovely shimmery blushes. The MAC Mineralize Skinfinishes are great when you really want to amp up the shimmer factor. 

FAVOURITE MATTE BLUSH?

I only have a couple of matte blushes in my stash, both of which are from Illamasqua. I love Naked Rose and use it quite often, Lover not so much these days (corals just seem to make me look orange lately). I personally prefer a satin finish blush, I think they really lift my face and make my complexion look alive. 

FAVOURITE CREAM BLUSH?

I really like the Chanel Le Blush Crème de Chanel blushes and you would hope I do as I have six in my stash. I also bought a Shu Uemura Silk Cushion Cheek a few months ago from the Shupette collection which I have been enjoying. 

FAVOURITE DRUGSTORE BLUSH?

This is kind of embarrassing but I do not actually own any drugstore blushes. I guess I am a bit of a ‘Blush Snob’. I have only ever tried a couple and I wasn't that impressed. They were either too sheer, chunky glitter or dry and unblendable. Also by the time I really got into blush, I was mainly purchasing higher end products.

FAVOURITE HIGH END BLUSH?

Where do I start? I love Tom Ford and Burberry for the strong pigmentation, blendability and long lasting power. Chanel because… it is Chanel. I cannot resist and I don’t want to resist. I also really enjoy my Guerlain blushes for the lovely violet scent (violet is an absolute favourite for me). NARS as well, because of the amazing range of shades like the cult Orgasm and Deepthroat. This is really only a small selection of my favourite blushes. I pretty much consider all my blushes (all 70+ of them) my favourites. I said I was a blush fiend... 

FAVOURITE BRIGHT BLUSH?

Tom Ford Cheek Color in Narcissist, Burberry Light Glow Natural Blush in Pink Coral, Chanel Le Blush Creme de Chanel in Fantastic, Clinique Cheek Pop in Plum Pop and Tarte Amazonian Clay 12-Hour Blush in Adored – I love a bright pink blush. 

BIGGEST BLUSH DISAPPOINTMENT/REGRET?

I don’t have any blush regrets but I was really disappointed in Bourjois Blush Pots. They were extremely sheer and hard. I had to scrap the blush to be able to use it. Things that would disappointment in a blush is lack of pigmentation, no lasting power and being too stiff to apply and blend.

BEST BLUSH PACKAGING?

I think the Tom Ford Cheek Color packaging is both simple but luxe, it has the feel and weight you expect but doesn’t waste space with a useless brush. The same goes for the Hourglass Ambient Lightening Blushes – luxe but practical. I used to love the packaging on the Benefit Boxed Blushes but I feel like I have outgrown their cutesy packaging these days. The blushes are still fantastic but I prefer a sleeker packaging. 

WHAT’S ON YOUR BLUSH WISHLIST?

The new Bobbi Brown Cheek Palette in Pink from the Hot Collection looks divine and I MUST HAVE IT. I would also like to track down the Guerlain Meteorites Perles de Blush. Some more Tom Ford blushes wouldn’t be unwelcome in my stash either. 

NUMBER ONE, HOLY GRAIL BLUSH? 

It has to be NARS Deepthroat, the only blush I have ever hit pan on. It was also the first high end blush I purchased and one I reach for almost weekly. It just looks so good on, I feel like it brings my pale face to life. 

If you have read this, consider yourself tagged! If you don’t have a blog, feel free to answer some or all of the questions in the comments below. I would love to see your answers! 

Now I am off to have a browse of some online shops for some more blush, because you know I have no self control #blushfiendforlife.

Cull the Stash #1

One of my 2015 Beauty Goals is to ‘Cull the Stash’. Which basically means I want to get rid of the unloved & unwanted makeup in my stash/collection. I want to make my collection more refined, for it to only contain products I love and use. I thought it would be easy.

I was wrong. 

It seems I am a sentimental fool who tries to convince herself that she will totally wear that blue eyeshadow trio that has been in her stash, unused for three years! She also thought it would be a good idea to keep six year old Estee Lauder palettes from a Christmas gift set because they were a gift, yup she is a fool! Okay, enough referring to myself in the third person but you get the idea. 

I also wanted to get rid of anything that was excessively old. I know there are standard use-by-dates for makeup but I don’t follow them. I instead keep an eye on my products and throw them out when the scent, texture and effectiveness changes. 

As of today, I have completed a cull of my base products, eye products and the tub under my bed full of old makeup (my ‘Makeup Graveyard’ – it’s where products go to die). 

Giveaway/Sell

My base products were pretty easy because I know what works for me and also which shades match me. Many foundations I purchase end up being too dark (especially from the drugstore), so I knew they had to go. Eye products weren’t too bad; I looked out for crappy pigmentation and cream products that had dried out (I’m looking at you Maybelline Color Tattoos!). 

The hardest part was my Makeup Graveyard. The reason they ended up in there in the first place was I had trouble parting with them. The products were no longer being used and I needed the space in my drawers but I couldn’t bring myself to throw them out. I managed to whittle the graveyard down but I will admit there is still some products in there that I can’t bring myself to get rid of… yet. 

I haven’t done a full cull of my lip products yet as I am waiting until around June and will be referring to my ‘365 Days of Lips’ spreadsheet to see which lip products I have actually been using. I am keeping the record in an attempt to convince myself of products I don’t use and don’t need. Lip products are a real weakness for me and I really struggle to get rid of any (unless they have gone bad or are awful products). 

I haven’t culled my cheeks products yet either. Like lip products they are a weakness and I cannot bear to get rid of any of them. To be honest, I am less concerned about culling them as being mostly powder products they don’t really go ‘off’. I will do it eventually though… I hope.

Binned

All up I think I did okay for my first attempt. I binned over 60 products – these were old, well-used or just really horrible products I wouldn’t want anyone else to try. At this stage I have over 140 products to giveaway or sell, but this may increase as I have been finding makeup stashed away in some odd places (hello desk drawer!). Oh well that is the life of a #makeuphoarder. 

I think my makeup cull will be a work in progress, something that I go back to occasionally, with the goal of a streamlined, useable collection. That doesn’t mean I will stop buying new things, I will just make better and more informed decisions. I am also making an effort to use up my older products before they go bad. I even hit pan on a blush recently! 

Have you culled your stash lately? Did you find it hard or easy?

How much did you cull?

Nailed It - OPI Nail Lacquer in My Silk Tie

Fifty Shades of Grey would have to be on of the most talked about books and now films in recent years. Now OPI  has launched a new collection inspired by Fifty Shades of Grey. 

No, the collection is not made up of fifty shades of grey but five grey shades a creamy red. I received three shades to review; Dark Side of the Mood - a dark charcoal grey, Romantically Involved - a creme red and My Silk Tie which I will share with you today. 

My Silk Tie is definitely my favourite shade of the collection. It is a cool, metallic silver and it looks stunning on. It almost looks like you have a mirror on your nails!

I applied two thin coats for an even coverage. Application was easy but I wish I had used a smoothing base coat - my nails are quite ridged and I felt My Silk Tie really showed this. It was not as obvious as I thought it was and you could only really tell if you looked closely. 

I really love this polish and I know I will wear it again. Wear time was good for my nails - 3 days with very minimal wear on the tips and I am hard on my nails.

No matter what you think of the Fifty Shades of Grey book/film you have to agree that the Fifty Shades of Grey nail polish collection by OPI is lovely. The shades are all very wearable but slightly less mainstream. 

OPI nail polishes can be found at Myer, David Jones and selected salons nationally, full size polishes retail for $19.95 each. There is also a super cute mini set (pictured above) available containing all six shades in the collection, it retails for $29.95.

Laters Baby... (Sorry, I couldn't resist)

What do you think of the OPI Fifty Shades of Grey collection? Are you a Fifty Shades of Grey fan?

*This post contains products that were provided for consideration for review in accordance with my Disclosure Policy. This has not affected my opinion in any way, honesty as always.*

Tom Ford Lips & Boys

On Boxing Day 2014, Tom Ford released 50 shades of miniature lipsticks. They were limited edition and released on a whilst stock lasts basis. The shade range was varied and I think everyone would be able to find a 'Boy' that suited them. Each lipstick has a boys name and was named after a man in Mr. Ford's life. 

I originally ordered two shades - Justin & Cooper but then gave in a couple of days later and ordered another three - Flynn, Michael and Jack. David Jones was unusually slow to ship and I didn't get a shipment notification until a week later and even though they were ordered days apart, both parcels arrived on the same day. 

None of the shades I purchased are still available online and I had planned to have this post up much sooner but between the slow shipping and my horrible photography skills it was delayed. So apologies in advance but I couldn't resist sharing my 'Boys'. 

Whilst these are considered a miniature size, they do not loose any of the luxuriousness that Tom Ford is known for. The cases are made of the same high quality materials and has the same weighty feel to them. The actual cases are only about 3mm smaller in both width and length and about 1.5cm shorter in height. 

The actual lipstick bullet is smaller but does not feel weak or like it will break with use (like many miniature lipsticks do). The actual weight of the lipstick in the Boy size is 2g and a normal Lip Color is 3g. Using Australian prices the weight per gram works out to be very close. The Boys are $22.5/g and the full size are $22.67/g. 

Since these have been in my stash for a month or so now, I have a had a good chance to try them out. I have found them to be the same fantastic quality that the original Lip Colors are - pigmented, creamy, long lasting and comfortable to wear. They glide onto lips and I have found they last really well for a creamy and comfortable formula. 

Flynn

Flynn is a medium, nude-pink with slightly warm undertones. 

To be honest I really wanted Julian but that was sold out so I settled for Flynn. This is the Boy I have worn the least, it just doesn't really work with my complexion. It makes me look a bit washed out. More  experimentation is needed to make this shade work for me. 

Nothing is wrong with the formula though, it is creamy, pigmented and very beautiful. 

Michael

Michael is a warmish, coral-pink shade with a slight frost. 

I wasn't sure whether Michael would suit me but I wanted a more coral shade from the collection so it was added to my cart. The shade is actually really nice on and oh so creamy on the lips! I was worried about the frost but it is barely noticeable on the lips, it just stops the colour from looking flat. 

Justin

Justin is a cool, fuchsia-pink with fuchsia and blue pearl. 

I knew I had to have Justin the moment I saw it online. It is such a me colour the name made me think of Justin Timberlake (my teenage years celebrity crush). Justin is a beautiful bright pink, the type of lipstick that I always reach for. 

Cooper

Cooper is a darker fuchsia shade with cool undertones.

I consider Cooper a more serious or adult version of Justin. It isn't quite as bright and for me it makes it feel a little more grown up and 'boss lady'. On my lips it is more of a pinky-red but definitely more on the pink side.

Jack

Jack is a purple toned pink with cool undertones. 

I'll admit, I was worried when I opened this one and saw the colour of the bullet. It was purple and I don't wear purple lips (I don't feel they suit me). Luckily the colour looks completely different on my lips. It becomes a very pretty orchid pink that I really like on. Jack has probably been my most worn Boy. 

L-R: Flynn, Michael, Justin, Cooper & Jack. 

I tried to pick a range of shades because I wanted to try and get a good scope of the collection, though I was immediately drawn to the pink shades. In this swatch Cooper and Jack look quite similar but on the lips they are quite different. 

I am really sad that this a limited edition collection. I love these lipsticks and the shade range is phenomenal. If they were around for longer I know I would have added at least another five shades to my collection. I actually prefer the smaller size for two reasons. Firstly I rarely use up a lipstick so I don't need the larger size (and the initial cost outlay is less for the Boy size). Secondly I actually prefer the smaller size of the case. I may be the only one but I sometimes find the full size packaging a little bulky, the Boy size fits perfectly in my handbag and doesn't feel as larger or sharp. 

The Tom Ford Lips & Boys collection is/was available exclusively at David Jones. Each lipstick retailed for $45.00. Some shades are still available online HERE otherwise try calling your nearest counter to see if any stock is still available. 

Did you pick up any Boys? Which is your favourite Boy?