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

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

September Favourites - Cruelty Free Beauty Favourites

September has been more month than I can cope with. Five flights, two holiday destinations and a whole lot of jet-lag. For that reason I havent been using the same products religiously and so all my favourites are solely make-up (and one haircare product) and not that varied. Sorry folks.

Also last time I checked all the products featured here were completely cruelty free, however if anything has changed please let me know as I've been trying to be super strict regarding this.

Superdrug Hair Therapy Oil with Macadamia

This treatement was an absolute lifesaver on holiday. The conditioner I had packed would have been fine in the UK however with the extreme heat and humidity and the extra intense sun, my hair was soon a dry, frizzy mess. This treatement was really good and could be used both after washing when the hair was wet and then again during the day if it was getting dry and tuggy.

I've been using it since getting back to the UK as well and I really like how it leaves my hair shiny and healthy but not feeling heavy or weighed down. It also isn't so heavy it knocks the curl out my hair. I'd happily buy it again.

Collection Reviving Primer in Cool Rose

I've had this for a while now and I have a bit of a love hate relationship with it. I will never use it straight up and on its own however it is really nice and illuminating when its mixed in with another primer. I just feel like it gives my base a little extra something-something in the morning. 

Probably won't need to buy it again any time soon as its a huge tube and I only need a teeny bit. Would I buy it again though? Yeah, probably. Although by the time I'm done this there will probably be something else out I wan't to try.

Kat Von D Everlasting Liquid Lipstick in Project Chimps

I picked this up in the Sephora in Times Square for as its a really pretty colour and I was excited to finally try the formula. Up until after I got back from the States, Kat Von D was a brand we could not get over here. Now its available on the Debenhams website (and you can click and collect in store), this colour is a Sephora exclusive though.

This lipstick is just the perfect red colour for me, its not to pink, brown or blue for my liking. Its somewhere between red and terracota. Also although the formula is apparently hit and miss, this seems to wear really well on me. It does require a post lunch touch up though so its not maybe as everlasting as it claims.

And from the most expensive to maybe the cheapest on the list...

Collection Extreme Liquid Eyeliner in Brown

Up until recently I had forgotten how good these eyeliners were. The black is an extremely black black and wears for a very long time. Since re-discovering that one, I've gone back and bought them in all the other colours (brown, dark blue and purple), almost in an effort to re-live my late teens. 

As much as I love a black winged liner, the brown has proven much more wearable and its easier to hide any mistakes I make first thing in the morning. Also the formula builds really nicely so if I want a more vibrant colour I can work it that way.

Gosh To Be Cool in Copenhagen Palette

I was unsure about this palette when I picked it up. I like the cool tones but are these too cool for even me? I'm still not sure but I've been loving the top row mixed with either the left or right shade in the middle. I have reached for it every morning since I bought it and the shades are so nice and blendable that I've even started getting adventurous and mixing them with other colours to make brighter eye looks. 

I'm really tempted to pick up one of the other palettes from this line and compare the formulas. They have a really bright one that I kind of fancy but have no idea what I'd do with. I'll maybe get that and just pretend in my head its the new Urban Decay Spectrum Palette. Dam I want that palette.

NYX Fireball Prismatic Eyeshadow Mono

This eyeshadow is amazing. Its just BAMMM. So pretty and reflective. Not one for work though.

I'd be really interested to try more of these as this one is so pretty. If you like colour then go into Boots and swatch them. You're welcome.

MUA Undress Your Skin Highlighter in Pink Shimmer

So I've been looking for a good stand alone highlighter for a while and when I had this one recommended to me, I was like. Really..? MUA are a dirt cheap drugstore brand, and although some of their products are pretty good (I did a first impression/ review of their Inkd Stains here)

the only powder products of theirs I've tried are the Loose Powder and Hydrating Face powder. Those powders are nice, but they're nothing special.

This highlighter though... Hot Dam. I'm in love. It starts of subtle but if you go in with a second swipe, it builds super quickly. The pink tones are quite subtle, and its not as bright as any of the other pinks I own, however they are more than enough to stop it looking frosty. It might be me tripping too, but I think theres almost a cool blue sheen kicked off of it. I noticed it in a couple of different lights so I don't think I am.

Kiko Milano Cocoa Shock Blush Duo in 03 Adorable Pink and Peach

Kiko are a brand that are fairly new to me. The store hasn't been opened on Buchanan Street that long (and even if it had, I'm hardly ever passing so they would probably still be new to me), and the store in Silverburn hasn't opened yet. I've had a couple of bits but the only one to make it into my everyday routine is this one. Specifically that peach shade. 

Its a gorgeous soft shade that builds really well. It also works nicely with the MUA highlighter which makes mornings so much easier when I'm half asleep.

So thats what I've been loving this month. Hopefully October will be a little more settled and I can use the same products for at least a couple of weeks and find something I love

xoxo Scruffy

New MUA LUXE Inked Lip Stains - Thoughts and Swatches

 This is an impromtue post I hadn't planned on writing, but as these are new out and I've ended up with 80%  of the range, I figured why not.

These are from the MUA and are part of the LUXE line. Theres 5 colours, I bought four of them and they cost £4 each. I had only planned on getting two but after picking them up and playing with them I was so impressed I went out and picked up two more. The only colour I didnt get was Dewbury which was insane, and as these are stains I thought I could a lot of damage with that decided not to go with that.

Top-Bottom. Tropicana, Watermelon, Maraschino, Sangria

So I was unsure how to swatch these, as I already made the mistake of swatching Tropicana on my skin in the shop, and yeah. They really stain that was a really bad mistake. So that wasn't happening again.

Best thing I could come up with was this.

Top-Bottom. Tropicana, Watermelon, Maraschino, Sangria

As you can see, they're bright. I've done you some lip swatches for ya'll too, so if you want to see some photos of my mouth then keep scrolling. I have no other make up on in the pictures and managed to smudge Tropica all over my face, so they're a real treat.

Tropicana

Watermelon

Maraschino

Sangria

Couple of things. These have a slight smell, its not much or bad but it is there. Also they apply super runny but dry very quickly. They taste super bad if they get in your mouth so not letting that happen is a good thing.

I had Sangria on yesterday, applied it before lunch and even thought the top layer of product wore, the stain stayed on all day and was still visable at 10pm at night.

In short, these things are amazing. I just need them bring out some more colours, a mid-tone pink would be amazing. All four of them are coming on holiday with me, thought I can see me wearing watermelon most.

MUA is available at Superdrug and online. They're stuff is also cruelty free which is a big bonus.

I bought all the products mentioned in this review myself and all the opinions are mine.

First Impressions - Technic Colour Max Baked Eyeshadow Palette

I love a bargain, and theres a couple of brands I've been curious about for a while. Technic is one of them and after doing some research, it looked as though the parent company Badgequo do not test on animals.

They're webiste is a little confusing, however I went to a couple of cruelty free blogs I trust, and they said they were fine, so I've basically bought these on faith. I'm comfortable with that, however if you need something more concrete please don't make word for it.

There are four palettes in the range. I picked up two of them, the blue and silver one and the red and copper one. There is also a pink and purple and red and blue one. Neither of those ones grabbed my attention and I actually found the red and blue one a bit weird. They were £2.99 each and these two are so pretty.

The packaging is a nice and sturdy plastic with black and silver detailing. I like that its not a solid colour and you can see what you're reaching for as well. I can count the number of times of times I've reached for the wrong thing in the morning and ended up with some highly questionable looks. You get 2 grams of each colour, which is quite a lot of product. They do have a smell, its not strong or overpowering, its familiar though but I can't place it.

Now on to some swatchy swatches...

Blue Palette.

And Red Palette.

See what I mean when I say they are so pretty. They are a tiny bit powdery, so once I'd swatched them their was some loose pigment round the edges. However at less the 40 pence a shadow I'm not going cry over a tiny bit of fall out. 

Due to my work schedule, I've not been wearing a lot of makeup (specifically eyeshadows and winged liner) cause lets be honest, I would rather have the extra ten minutes in bed. First occasion I get though, I will give these a proper test run on my peepers and report back.

Have you tried any Technic makeup? If so what did you think?

xo Scruffy

PS. Check out my new sunnies (And please ignore my skin, hair, double chin and lack of make-up. I've been starting work at 7am and sleep is more important than concealer right now). Picked these up recently and I'm in love. Can't wait to get away on my holidays so I have an excuse to wear them.

Makeup Revolution - Solo Blush Review

So lets have a little chat about Makeup Revolution.

Makeup Revolution are a UK based brand that have a reputation for making fantastic quality products that rival and often dupe high end brands such as Urban Decay and Too Faced. Their products aren't tested on animals either, which is awesome.

I've been using there stuff for a few months now and I largely find the quality to be amazing with their eye and lip products. Their eyeshadows are usually amazing, nicely pigmented and easy to work with. Sometimes you come across one or two in a palette that aren't as good as the others, but, seeing as I paid under a tenner for 20 shades, I'm not going to loose sleep or claim to be ripped off if one or two are a bit pants.

The only area they have ever disappointed me in was their blush palettes. I own two and just found the quality to be no where near as good, also out of 8 pans you get maybe 3 or 4 that are unique colours and the rest are all very, very similar to each other. Not a fan.

A while ago, in a moment of madness, I picked up one of their single colours in the colour Treat. I say moment of madness as it looks a stunning shade of orange in the pan. I don't know if I genuinely picked up the wrong thing, it looked different in Superdrugs insane lighting or I just spaced and thought pumpkin-chic was in this season.

However, this little guy is the business.

Now, buyer beware, as its orange. When on my face it just gives me a warm peachy glow though. I don't know if this would look good on anyone else. I have really rosy red cheeks so it might be mixing with my skin tone, or it might just be an awesome colour. I don't know but I love it.

I love it so much I went and bought another one. I got Now!. A soft pinky shade that reminds me of Dandelion by Benefit. Its really nice as well. Really, really nice.

Yesterday I went out and bought the other four shades they do so I have them all.

Top Row (ltr) Love & Treat, Middle Row (ltr) Now! and Hot!, Bottom Row (ltr) Sugar and Wow!

As you can see some of the shades are kind of similar and I'm honestly a little scared of putting Hot! anywhere as its so pink. This photo isnt the best colourwise though as its made Love and Sugar look far more similar than they actually are. Love is far more cool and brown and Sugar is more like a warm muted pink.

The only thing I'm really not crazy about is the packaging. It looks and feels really cheap and nasty. The white plastic does nothing for the products (and the only other brand I can think of that used white plastic is Natural Collection, Boots budget line). Honestly, even if all they changed was the white for another colour, I think it would do wonders. MUA (Superdrugs own brand) has it blush in similar packaging but in black, and it looks so much better. Makeup Reveloution's own eyeshadow singles come in the exact same packaging as these but in black as well, and again, so much less cheap and nasty looking.

Also I'd have preferred it if the pans were either round or square as its hard to swirl a big brush into a rectangle, but that's just me moaning.

I'll keep you updated on how I get on with these, especially Hot! and if you want a post with swatches or me to do one about the blush palettes, let me know.

Makeup Revolution is available at Superdrug in the UK and also you can buy it direct from their website (I know they ship to America, Canada and New Zealand but can't be sure about anywhere else). Also I think some of their products are available in Ulta stores, but from watching American Youtubers I think the selection is pretty limited.

XOXO Scruffy