NYX Full Throttle Lipstick in Jolt, Locked and Loaded. Review, Swatches and Wear Test - Cruelty Free Cosmetics

A while back a colleague mentioned picking up one of these lipsticks in the colour Night Crawler to me. I hadn't even heard of them, I'd focused everywhere else on the NYX but had someone managed to overlook these. Night Crawler wasn't my colour but I picked up shades 09. Jolt, 10. Locked and 11. Loaded. 

LtR. 11. Loaded, 10. Locked and 09. Jolt.

Their packaging is a bit different to the standard stuff. Its weirdly long and thin. You also don't get a lot of product with these, you get 2.4 grams of product and they cost £5.50. The NYX butter lipsticks are also £5.50  and you get 4.5 grams in them. 

So this is what a brand new one looks like. Its really thin and the top has a lot of weird edges. Kind of reminds of the twist up pencil type lipsticks you get but in bullet format.

I've chosen to swatch these in the order above as I thought it made the most sense and would result in the least weird staining. Now lets get looking at my face.

09 Jolt.

11. Loaded

10. Locked.

These lipsticks claim to be waterproof and according to the NYX website "covers your lips with super-saturated matte colour". From playing with these and wearing all of them I've noticed the formula is inconsistent between shades. Jolt and Locked are softer and creamier than Loaded and apply better, even if you heat it up by swatching on your hand first. It also feels very waxy when applied and is patchy if you don't apply a really heavy coat.

 In between photographing them and writing up this post, I actually dropped all of these and Loaded snapped. When I was trying to fix it, it slid out my hand and got smooshed as well. Unlike the Ripe Berry Butter Lipstick that also snapped, I won't be repurchasing this.

As this lipstick claims to be waterproof I decided to test it out the same way I would a liquid lipstick that made similar claims. I was already wearing Locked and its a pretty distinct colour, so I decided to roll with that. 

The rest of my makeup seems to have given up in this photo...yuck.

So I had this on for about six hours and ate a full plate of dinner and there's very little wear and tear. I'm really impressed that a bullet lipstick lasted this well. You can see that it has worn a little thin on my lower lip but its all still there. One small sweep and it would look immaculate again.

Over time, like most lipsticks these will begin to breakdown and transfer. This one was getting to the stage where it was beginning to powdery and if I touched my lips or drank things I'd get colour transfer. This is pretty typical of Jolt as well, I've worn them both a couple more times since photographing. They're great for work though, as they don't breakdown or smudge throughout the morning and still look good after lunch although they are beginning to break down.

Overall I like these. The last a long time and don't dry my lips out at all. They're definitely some of the better long wearing lipstick from the high street, along with the Sleek Matte Me Lipsticks and are are really affordable, even if you don't get tonnes. Plus I'd estimate that with regular eating and drinking I'd need to top up my lipstick three, maybe four times if I was going all day and then to then going out for food and drinks. I would need to top this up twice total, so that's a saving right there. 

XOXO Scruffy

Other NYX lip product reviews 

NYX Lip Lingerie

NYX Matte Lipsticks

Sleek Onto The Horizon Ltd Edition Palette Review with Arm Swatches - Cruelty Free Drugstore Makeup

Earlier this year Sleek released some limited edition palettes: Onto the Horizon, Nordic Skies and Goodnight Sweetheart. All of them are still available and over the past month I've somehow acquired all three. I've spent a bit of time forming an opinion on them and now I plan on reviewing them all whilst they're still available on Sleek website.

The first one I got was On The Horizon palette, and I believe it was a Superdrug exclusive in the UK. Sleek have a habit of splitting collections down the middle in the UK and making half of it Boots and half Superdrug. They've done it more recently with the Rockstars Collection and you can find my review of the Hidden Gems palette from that here.

This is also one of the products I thought I'd lost all the photos for when my laptop died. Luckily I managed to find some on my backup hard drive, and I've chosen to use them as I've already binned the box and can't re-photograph it.

They all have gorgeous outer packaging that is themed around the colour selection. On the Horizon is a mix of forest greens,burnt oranges and brown tones. I've been wearing a lot of nudes recently but on Saturday I cracked into Lightyear from the Moondust palette I bought on Black Friday and I'm in love with greens again.

So the actual palette is just standard Sleek packaging. It comes with the usual sponge applicator and sheet with the names printed on it. I now have a stack of these in my palette drawer just from Sleek and Makeup Revolution, and I have no idea which one goes with what palette.

Here's a better photo of the shades themselves, you get 9 shimmery metallic shades and 3 mattes. The shimmer shades are where Sleek always excel so its a really good breakdown.

So here's the top row of the palette, as you can see the first shade and last three are gorgeous but two and three (Sugar Maple and Beech) didn't swatch very well.  It's a shame because Sugar Maple is such a pretty rose gold colour and looks really nice when its blended.  Beech on the other hand is just mehh.. and blends away to nothing.

Here's the bottom row. Again not all of them swatched very well. The first shade, Chestnut is a really beautiful brown with a blue/purple sheen. Willow (third from the right) swatched really intensely but isn't as vivid and vibrant when blended out and the two shades to the right of it Dew Drop and Pine Cone are really nice shimmer shades that just need building a little. The only shade in this palette that I would say is bad is Fawn (the yellow shade third from the left). It's far chunkier than any other Sleek eyeshadow I've ever seen and just skips and highlights skin texture. 

The one thing I really like about the outside of this palette is that it has the name of the palette stamped on the front on clear lettering. My biggest criticism of these palettes has always been that I can't tell them apart from the front and need to flip them all over or open them to see which is which. I like that they all come in a hard plastic shell and have a large mirror, it helps make all their products feel like they're extra good value for money.

I've also been using this palette for a week straight now and I do love the shadows but I was limited by the colour selection and had to mix it in the Naked Ultimate Basics palette as the week wore on. I liked mixing the shiny green and brown colours together but found I didn't use the orange even though I thought I would. I also didn't find a use for the lovely navy blue and feel sad I couldn't be more creative in the mornings. 

XOXO Scruffy

Other Sleek reviews

Matte Me Liquid Lipsticks

i-Lust Hidden Gems Palette

Smoke and Mirrors Gift-set

Enquiry? Message me ascruffyduck@gmail.com

(Just a wee note. I live in Scotland and we're currently in Winter. Right now we're getting less than eight hours daylight a day and I spend that in work, so sorry about the badly lit photos).

Urban Decay Naked Ultimate Basics Palette Review and Swatches - Cruelty Free Eyeshadow Palette

Don't you just love it when things fall into place? A couple of weeks ago I was feeling in need of a little retail therapy (bad day at work and narrowly missing out on a job I really wanted) and at the same time Debenhams sent me through another £5 Beauty Club voucher. I initially wasn't going to use it but then I ended up on the Debenhams website and the stunning gold packaging caught my eye. I had thought about maybe getting the Full Spectrum or Moondust Palettes, but I wouldn't get the use out of them, so I decided this would be the way to go. I don't have any of the Naked Palettes, or any higher end neutral eyeshadow, so once I reasoned it out this actually began to sound like an investment more than retail therapy.

Look at how pretty it is. Both the box and the top of the palette have this glorious, ridged sunburst design. It feels really chunky and sturdy, and you'd do some damage if you chucked it at someone (why do I think about these things). 

It's so pretty. That textured writing... Dam!

Inside you get twelve 1.2 gram eyeshadows in a range of gorgeous neutral colours, a very good sized mirror and a double ended brush.

Look at all those neutrals.

Top row finger swatches.

Bottom row  finger swatches.

This is the brush and it is the devil. When I did the brush swatches below I thought I was in trouble. You can see from the see from that photo, there seems to be a lot of fallout and there was a lot of powder kicked up in the pans that did not seem good. I found that odd as there really wasn't any with the finger swatches. 

Turns out that's just this the brush though. These shadows perform beautifully with any other brushes, I usually use Real Techniques or Eco Tools brushes (and occasionally some very cheap ones from years ago) and with all of them, they're totally fine. I washed the brush and tried it with other shadows  that are usually absolutely fine (Sleek and Makeup Revolution) and it did the same thing. Even if you only use it to blend it seems to pick up and flick product. It's my least favourite thing about the whole palette. The shadows actually perform better than the picture suggests. I just felt it was important to use the brush included so you were seeing it exactly as it is.

Every time I've done a full face of makeup since I bought this palette I've used it, either or its own are as a base for more sparkly and colourful looks. The shadows apply beautifully and blend really nicely (as long as you don't use the brush that came with it). I love using nudie or comando and then blending out with a little instinct or lethal for an everyday look. For more interesting looks I've been shaking it up with the Sleek Bad Gal palette I featured in my November Favourites and did full swatches in the Smoke and Mirrors giftset review. I've been using my everyday colours and then using the purple or silver out of the Sleek palette to make them pop. 

They also last brilliantly and don't crease. I've tried a variety of different bases and primers and they still don't budge. I was so impressed. 

Final thoughts, yes this is expensive. Even with my £5 off its still more than I've spent on a single make-up item up until now. And yes, the brush is crap. The shadows though... They are so good. They apply beautifully, blend really well and last all day without creasing. If this is the standard Naked shadow formula then I want them all (maybe if I get some Debenhams vouchers for my Birthday/Christmas I'll grab a different one, please send me recommendations). I would really recommend this to anyone looking for a good quality, matte, neutral palette. 

XOXO Scruffy

Enquiry? Message me ascruffyduck@gmail.com

(Just a wee note. I live in Scotland and we're currently in Winter. We get about 9 hours daylight a day and I spend that in work so sorry about the badly lit photos)

Pacifica Tuscan Blood Orange Perfume Review - Cruelty Free & Vegan Perfume

Not that long ago I reviewed the Pacifica Mediterranean Fig perfume and in that post I mentioned I'd picked up four of the scents from their range (would have been six but I couldn't get the Lemon Blossom or Rose ones). 

Once I got tired of using the Mediterranean Fig one, I moved onto this one. I still really really like the other one, I just got tired of using it every day. I feel that's pretty normal though. You have to shake it up once in a while. 

Everything I said about the packaging in the last post still stands. The cardboard box is cute and has the same quote in the inner lid. . I love the cut through orange and tiny little flowers. The bottle has the same cut through orange design on it.

I'm still loving the functional feel of the bottles. I found another perfume when I was cleaning out the bathroom and when I went to spray it, managed to drop it on my foot because my hands had a tiny amount of moisture on them. This simple shape is just so easy to grip and spray. As I said before, my only issue is the lack of lid. The spray cap does feel secure and chunky, but I still don't think it would hold up for more than a couple of weeks in my handbag. If you're the kind of person that doesn't like topping up and leave your perfume at home, then this packaging would be ideal for you. 

Scent wise, the back of the box describes this as...

"Tempting blood orange, loved for its sparkling juicy raspberry and strawberry notes. mingles with spicy and sweet Italian mandarins in this memorable blend"

It definitely smells of orange, but like orange sweeties not actual oranges. Its a really nice, fresh, fruity smell and is a lot lighter and more summery than Mediterranean Fig Perfume. It doesn't smell like children's perfume or anything, its still very grown up and sophisticated. It's also not really strong or overpowering so its perfect for everyday wear. 

I really, really like this and have had a lot of compliments when I've been wearing it. I think that's because its a bit different to most of the really popular perfumes out there. I would highly recommend this to anyone that likes fruity scented things. 

XOXO Scruffy

Enquiry? Message me ascruffyduck@gmail.com

Makeup Revolution Unicorns Unite Lipstick Collection Review and Swatches - Cruelty Free Affordable Makeup

So I got these Lipsticks in a huge Makeup Revolution haul a while ago, and for the longest time I had no idea why I bought them. I've come to the conclusion it was a moment of madness, coupled with some curiosity over the name of the collection, I love all things unicorn.

LtR: Throne, Horn of Magic, Magical, Pink Myth, Legend

These have the standard Makeup Revolution  packaging with the wee pot things on the end. I heard somewhere this was lip liner and in others it was lip balm. After testing it I would say its "weird, not very pigmented, jelly goop I don't care for". I got these in a five pack when they launched on the Makeup Revolution website but they are still available and cost £1 each. They are the cheapest thing I've ever reviewed. 

So the bottom line is the weird goop out the pot is applied with a lip liner brush and the top one is the lipstick out the bullet itself.

Throne

So Throne is light purple/grey colour. Its really shiny and reflective and I actually don't hate it. It's not an everyday colour and I will probably get rid of it the next time I de-clutter my lip products, but I might use it as a topper over Christmas and see how I go. 

Also this is the one shade I can no longer find on the Tam Beauty site. I'm not sure why as the rest of them are still up.

Horn of Magic

Yipes, this is not a flattering colouring on me. If it was more opaque, or maybe applied better and my naturally pink lips didn't shine through as much it might look better. It just highlights how pink and blotchy my face is. This will go in the de-clutter as well.

Magical

I hate this one more than I hate Horn of Magic. It has zero pigment and feels waxier than my favourite candle. Looking at the lipstick in the bullet I had hoped for so much more. but if you look at the swatches (especially the hand one) you can see how poor it is. Would not recommend it.

Pink Myth

So I actually kind of like this one. So the colour isn't particularly flattering but the formula isn't bad. If I was going to recommend one from the collection it would probably be this one, which makes me sad as its also the most boring. 

Legend

Again, this one isn't bad either. The shiny cement grey isn't the most flattering or wearable but the formula is better than the light blue and purple ones. It has a nice blue sheen to it too but again I wouldn't wear it 98% of the time.

Final thoughts. This collection isn't work the £5 it costs to buy all the colours. The best shade is a bright pink and for a couple of quid you could get a Barry M one that was 10x better and I would recommend doing that instead(in other news I got some Barry M lipstick and I actually really like it). All of these, except maybe Throne, will be going out in the next de-clutter. 

Thats all for now duckies.

XOXO Scruffy

Enquiry? Message me ascruffyduck@gmail.com

Empties: November 2016 - Lush, Smashbox, Murad, Herbal Essence, John Frieda & Boots Ingredients

If you've been following my blog since the start of last month, you'll know I currently have a project on the go where I want to finish seventeen products by the start of 2017. There are currently 24 different products in the mix for that (full list here). Not all of these empties are part of that, however if the product is one of those I will mark it with a * before its name (example *Shower Gel).

So these 3 mini products were the first I "finished". I've put it in inverted commas as they were more abandoned in the Czech Republic with about one use left in each. I wasn't hugely fond of any of them and won't be buying full sized bottles.

Murad AHA/BHA Exfoliating Cleanser

I didn't feel like this did anything apart from maybe remove old makeup. It certainly didn't seem to exfoliate very well. The lather also wasn't great and I found I had to use a lot to just clean my face. I expected more of a higher end product.

Natures Ingredients Lemon Verbena Shower Gel

OK, this actually wasn't bad. It was really thick, more like squeezy jelly than regular shower gel and it smelled nice. A travel size of this was £1 though and I can get a huge shower gel from Superdrug or Morrisons for less than that. Also the packaging made it difficult to get anything out once it became less than half full, I'd have to squeeze and squeeze then I'd suddenly end up with way too much.

Smashbox Photo Finish Primer

I know people rave about this but I don't get it. It does blur pores and help smooth skin texture, but I also feel like it leaves my skin feeling wet and greasy. If any got in my eyebrows when I was applying it (no matter how tiny an amount or how long I left it), my brow brush would leave wet marks in the powder when I was filling them in. Never again

*Herbal Essences Dazzling Shine Shampoo & Conditioner 

They're OK. I found them in (very underused) gym bag and decided to finish them. Won't buy them again as they're not cruelty free but they do smell nice.

*John Frieda Frizz Ease Serum in Original

I don't like this one bit. I feel it does nothing for my hair and having to apply it wet hair is a huge pain in the bum. When I used the final drops last night I was so happy. Will not re-purchase. Sorry mum, I know you love it.

Yeah I kept all the packets, I did clean them out though.

Boots Ingredients Charcoal & Willow Sheet Mask

Loved this, have already repurchases two of them as well as they're on offer. Full review here.

Boots Ingredients Lotus & Tiger Lily Sheet Mask

Didn't love this as much, but it is still nice. Another full review available here.

7th Heaven Argan Oil Mud Mask

I have a full review of this mask, complete with the mask selfies, which will be out in the next few days as part of Blogmas. Full disclosure though, it isn't positive. This "balancing" mask both dried me and broke me out. I was left with sore spots and peeling skin. Not a fan, will not repurchase. 

Boots Ingredients Super Hyaluronic Sheet Mask

I reviewed this too but I'm not sure if I'll end up using it or not as I've done a lot of foil packet masks lately and I'm getting a bit bored of them. I feel about as strongly about this as I did about the Lotus one. Might get one more and give it another shot when my skins not so haywire (still recovering from the above mask) before I write it off though.

Montagne Jeunesse Peel Off Two Pack

This is what 7th Heaven was before they re-branded and honestly I can see why they changed the name. Luckily Google knows me better than I do and can work out what I'm trying to say. I used these to use them up and for no other reason. Didn't like them and wont be buying the single packs of these. 

Burts Bees "Pearanormal Activity" Wipes

I really liked these and they smelled so good. I'd buy them for my handbag if I ever saw them again. If you ever see them, buy them and then send them onto me.

PS Argan Facial Cleansing Wipes

These are OK, and good value, but nothing special. I'm probably not going to but them again, unless I get suckered in by an impulse buy at the tills.

PS Oil Balancing Facial Cleansing Wipes

I prefer these to the Argan Oil ones but still not enough to repurchase them. The Superdrugs own brand ones are better and often on offer.

*Sanctuary Spa Body Butter and Conditioning Body Butter

I liked both of these products but didn't love them. They made my skin nice and soft and smelled really good. Probably wouldn't repurchase but I would definitely not say no another gift pack of three.

Lush Ro's Argan Body Conditioner

I really like this product but its better when you have a shower to wash it off in rather than a bath. I had this mostly used up and then left it for a long time and when I went to use it again it seemed a little off. Decided to wash the pot out and take it back to Lush rather than risk it being bad. I'd happily buy it again, 

Lush Whoosh Shower Jelly

I really like this to shave with. It leaves your legs really smooth and smells good. My favourite shower jelly of all time was the Nightwing one from Halloween, and I liked the Snowman as well. Would happily by this again, or just about any other Shower Jelly they make.

*Superdrug Pink Grapefruit Facial Wash

I added this to my 17 by 2017 as I just wasn't using it up, however once I started regularly using it to try and get rid I realised I actually quite like it. It smells good, and doesn't break me out or leave a weird residue on my skin. I'd by this again.

Kneipp Herbal Bath Back Comfort with Devils Claw

I got this in subscription box earlier in the year and didn't use it at all until now. I really, really liked it. It has a strong herbal, medicinal kind of smell that I enjoy and makes the bath water a really nice dark pink colour. In the new year I'm going to be making a Cult Beauty order and when googling the correct spelling of Kneipp and I realised they were a UK stockist so I'll be picking up a bigger bottle of this and a multipack of some of the other ones they do. I also might try some of the Sweet Dreams bath salts.

So I actually got through a fair amount of makeup this month. I also went through a binned two very old mascaras, so that helped add to the numbers. 

*L'Occitane Shea Butter Lip Balm

I really like this. I've already bought a full sized one and it cost more than I've ever spend on a multi-pack of lipbalms for just the one of these. It is so worth it though. Especially in winter here in Scotland. Today's high temperature is 3 degrees above freezing.

*MUA Eye Volume, Nourish & Case Mascara

I liked this mascara, it had just gotten to the stage it was hard to apply and was breaking down during the day and ending up down my face by the time I got home from work. Super cheap and good. Would buy again.

Max Factor False  Lash Effect Mascara

This is now over a year old so its getting binned. I really liked it, but wouldn't but it again because its not cruelty free and I thought the MUA one was better.

Makeup Revolution The Viper Mascara

I liked this, and started using it when I gave up on the MUA one. Its good and cheap, I've had it a long time and its done. I would get it again if I was placing a TAM Beauty.

*MUA Skin Define Hydro Powder

I really liked this. I found it better than the Soap and Glory one that's over three times the price. Would recommend and have already repurchased.

MUA Pro Base Moisturising Primer

Out of all the MUA products I've tried this is one of my least favourites (along with the LUXE Lip Lacquers). It makes the skin shiny and doesn't do anything to prolong the wear of your makeup. Not worth it.

*NYX Matte Finish Setting Spray

I've tried a few setting sprays, including some Urban Decay ones, and I really like this. Will probably buy it again but I have a huge Freedom one to finish next

*MUA Pro Base Mattify Fixing Mist.

This was OK, but the NYX one is better and not that much more expensive

Products without Packaging

(no photos for this, sorry)

Lush Mangnificent Hand Soap

I liked this soap and would buy it again. It lathered well and smelled nice. My only criticism is that the huge bits of fruit flesh are a bit annoying to have to pull out when the soap around them has mostly disintegrated.

Lush Lord of Misrule Bath Bomb
If you've read my review (here) you'd know how much I loved this. I well and truly ate my words. Its not boring at all. Love it, would buy it again.

Lush Butterball Bath Bomb 
I didn't think I loved the Butterball, having used it in the past, but I didn't hate it as much as I remember. Its not my favourite by a long shot, but if I got it in a Christmas present then I would definitely use it.

Bomb Cosmetics Flutter By, Butterfly Bath Blaster
This is cute but ultimately it leaves the bath coated in coco butter which is a pain in the butt to clean off. Not a fan.

Products I'm Binning

Soap and Glory Scrub 'em and Leave 'em Scrub

I persevered with this for so long but I hate it. I really hate it and I don't want to use it any more. I don't feel like it exfoliates very well and it has microbeads, and then they get all over the bath. Just, no.

Models Own Lipstick in Pink

I bought this off Groupon and when it arrived (still sealed) the top was very discoloured. I missed the deadline for sending it back as well. I'm not worried about the others but this ones going in the bin.

NYX Butter Lipstick in Ripe Berry

I love this lipstick (and have already gone and bought a replacement) but this snapped and when i was trying to fix it I melted the plastic coating with the lighter so this one no longer closes. I own a fair few of these lipsticks and this is the only one that's ever broken so I'm not that sad 

*Cynthia Rowley Pencil Eyeliner in Black (Mini Size)

I got this in a Birchbox and I really don't like it. I've tried and its not for me. I don't feel like it lasts a long time, and it just seems to smudge. I have loads of other eyeliner pencils to play with so its gone.

Finished: 32

Binned: 4

XOXO Scruffy

Enquiry? Message me ascruffyduck@gmail.com

(Just a wee note. I live in Scotland and we're currently in Winter. We get about 9 hours daylight a day and I spend that in work so sorry about the badly lit photos)