Burberry - London with Love Blush Highlighter

It was love at first sight with this beauty. I am absolutely powerless to resist blush anyway but add in a pretty pattern and slap on 'limited edition' and you have me whipping out my credit card. I know, I am a marketers dream.

The Burberry London with Love Blush Highlighter appeared on the Burberry website back in April. I have had it in my stash for two months now but it was only in the last couple of weeks that I could actually bring myself to dip my brush in it. I really didn't want to upset that pretty pattern. 

The London with Love Blush Highlighter features a raspberry pink in the centre, in the shape of a heart to form the blush. The heart is surrounded by a soft beige highlighter. You can either use each shade individually or mix together. I personally prefer to mix them for a glowing, pink blush. The blush on its own has a satin finish whereas the highlighter is quite shimmery. They mix together perfectly. 

The formula is lovely - soft and blendable but not powdery. Pigmentation is strong, almost too strong so a light hand is needed for application. I found wear time with this blush to be good. It lasts all day with only minimal fading around the edges. I can look in the mirror when I get home and I still have pretty pink cheeks. 

The product itself comes in the standard Burberry compact with the check print, it comes housed in a velvet pouch and a brush is included. Honestly, I haven't even tried the brush - I much prefer to use my own blush brush. This product is also quite heavily scented (as I have found most Burberry powders to be), I don't notice it once applied but something for those sensitive to scented products to be mindful of. 

The swatches above a little out of order (apologies). The first swatch is both the blush and highlighter heavily swatched. The second is just the blush and the third is just the highlighter. The final swatch is a lighter swatch of both the highlighter and blush. As you can see both the highlighter and blush are quite pigmented. When mixed together they make such a pretty rosy pink. 

Overall I am very happy to have the London with Love Blush Highlighter in my collection. The formula is spot on and the palette is gorgeous. It's LOVE!

The Burberry London with Love Blush Highlighter is available in Australia now and retails for $94.00 (luxury and limited edition don't come cheap). It will sell out fast, so if you want it, buy quickly - you have been warned!

Are you feeling the love with the London with Love Blush Highlighter?

Birthday Haul

Almost a month ago I headed to Chadstone for some post birthday retail therapy. Since I turned 25, I needed some therapy. Turning 25 is a little scary - I am now a quarter of a century old! I got money for my birthday and it was burning a hole in my wallet - I had to spend it. 

I had a pretty big wish list of items I wanted to purchase. I don't do a lot of online shopping now, I prefer to pick up items in store when I can. When I shop in person I get carried away and buy more than I planned to though. Maybe I should go back to online shopping? 

I purchased three foundations in one day. Looking back now, that seems pretty excessive. However they have been ones I have been lusting after for ages. The YSL Touche Eclat Le Teint is a reformulation of the original Touche Eclat Foundation. I also wanted the new foundation brush that was released at the same time but it wasn't in stock. 

I have been lusting after the Laura Mercier Candleglow Soft Luminous Foundation since its release in the states some time ago. Thankfully the Laura Mercier counter at DJ's was actually staffed that day so I could get colour matched, plus I got the last one in my shade (#winning). The Giorgio Armani Maestro Glow Foundation is another one I just had to have. I couldn't resist picking up The Body Shop Shade Adjusting Drops in Lightening as they were 40% off and something I definitely need. 

Even though Mecca Maxima has been stocking Urban Decay for ages now, this is my first Urban Decay from them. I have heard great things about the Naked Skin Concealer and the lightest shade is super light (perfect for a translucent person like me). The All Nighter Makeup Setting Spray is another one that has rave reviews and I needed to try it. 

There is absolutely no way I can go to Chadstone with visiting Chanel. I restocked some skincare (which is kind of boring) and picked up some new makeup items. The Hydra Beauty Flash Hydrating Balm is new and modelled on the Clarins Beauty Flash Balm (which I used to use and love). So far I am enjoying the Chanel version, it makes a great primer. 

When I orignally purchased from the Eyes Speak Volumes collection one of the Stylo Eyeshadows I was wanting was sold out. Luckily Bronze Platine was back in stock because it is a gorgeous shade. 

The boutique also still had some items from the Les Sautoirs de Coco Collection. I fell hard for the Perles et Fantaisies Illuminating Powder. It is so pretty and the design is so Chanel. The Rouge Allure in Indemodable was too pretty to resist. 

I haven't tried a lot of products from Bobbi Brown but I like what I have. Last year I purchased a Blush Trio, this year they released Blush Duos. I chose the shade Plum/French Pink. I also purchased another Art Stick this time in Bright Raspberry, I love the formula of these. 

I admit the last two items were actually purchased online, only because I couldn't get them in store. I haven't tried the Shanghai Suzy range of lipsticks before but I knew I had to have this one when the shade is Miss Steph. I've only used it once but first impressions are good.

Finally the last item of my birthday haul and a bit of a spur of the moment purchase. When I saw the latest Tom Ford collection up on the DJ's website, I had my credit card out faster than you can say 'Tom Ford'. The Sheer Cheek Duo in Bicoastal is gorgeous and I am so glad I didn't hesitate to purchase it (it sold out pretty quickly). 

What have you hauled lately?

365 Days of Lips - 2015 Results

This post is a long time in the making (almost 18 months). It should have been written a long time ago but what can I say? I get lazy and unmotivated. 

At the start of 2015 I decided to keep a record of what lip product I wore each day, for the whole year. If you have been a Luxury on the Lips reader for a while (if not, hello!) you will know that lip products are my biggest weakness. Hell, even this blog is named after my lip addiction. My lip product stash has been getting a bit out of control, I decided to keep a record so I can see what products I actually wear in the hopes of having a bit of cull. That hasn't happened yet...

I have over 170 lip products in my collection (yes, I know this is ridiculous). During the 365 day period, I only wore 87 different products. Of the 365 days, I wore something on my lips 259 of those days. That means I didn't wear anything on my lips for 109 days which is a lot more than I expected, though I rarely wear makeup on the weekends. 

One thing I found interesting when looking at my Excel spreadsheet was that I could track certain things or events that happened during the year. For example I knew when my Nan was in hospital in Melbourne because I wore lipstick everyday for about 6 weeks. I also knew when I had been feeling down or ill because I didn't wear any, even during the week to work. 

Without further ado here is my 10 most worn lip products for 2015:

1. CHANEL Les Beiges Lip Balm - No. 10

This lip balm is just so easy to wear and that is why it was my most worn lip product for the year. It imparts a perfect nudey-pink tint that looks polished. It is also great for when my lips are feeling dry but I don't want bare lips. 

2. YSL Tint-in-Oil - No. 5

This line would almost be my favourite release from 2015. It applies as an sheer oil and then sort of develops on the lips into a darker shade. No. 5 is reddish pink. I love how comfortable this is to wear. 

3. BOBBI BROWN Art Stick - Hot Berry

This is one of my favourite lipsticks - ever. The formula is spot on - matte, long wearing but comfortable. Hot Berry is a gorgeous shade, a bright berry pink. I also really like the pencil shape - you can use it to line then lips and then fill them in. 

4. CHANEL Rouge Coco - 454 Jean

Chanel revamped the Rouge Coco formula in 2015. I fell in love with Jean on first sight. It is more plum/berry than I would normally have gone for but I love it. The formula is beautiful but sadly not very long wearing (it's too creamy). 

5. MAC Lustre Lipstick - Lovelorn

One of my all time favourite lipsticks as you can see from the tiny little nub that is left. It is an effortless pink-nude that feels creamy on the lips.

6. YSL Tint-in-Oil - No. 8

As above but No. 8 is a purple-pink. 

7. CHANEL Rouge Allure Velvet - 50 La Romanesque

This formula would have to be my favourite from Chanel. It is another matte but comfortable formula. La Romanesque is a little darker than what I would normally wear but it is perfect for when I am looking for something a little vampy-er. 

8. TOM FORD Lip Color - 29 Jack

This shade is part of the original 'Lips & Boys' collection from Tom Ford. This berry pink shade is not as matte as the others but still wears well. 

9. CLINIQUE Soft Matte Lipstick - 49 Matte Magenta

A beautiful bright pink. A favourite of mine when I need a pick me up. Another comfortable matte formula. 

10. CHANEL Rouge Coco - 448 Elise

This is a classic 'me' shade - a pretty pink. A cool toned pink that isn't too bright but definitely not a dull shade. 

Swatches of all the shades on paper because I knew I would fail at swatching 10 lipsticks on my arm. So, I didn't even try. Shades 1 to 5 are on the left side and the 6 to 10 are on the right side. 

What else did I learn from this little experiment? I like bright matte lipsticks. Especially if they are pink or berry toned pink. I like my lipsticks to be comfortable and long wearing. I also like a lighter product like oil or balm for when my lips are dry. I also learned I don't use even half my stash and I really should cull some of it... maybe. 

I am keeping a record for 2016 so I will see if it changes between years.

What is your favourite or most worn lip product?