How I managed to miss this gem in the recent flood of liquid lipsticks is beyond me, but at least I know of it now. When I first got the Matte Me Ultra Smooth Matte Lip Creams, I expected them to be what lip creams usually are - thicker glosses with a semi-matte finish - but instead, they surprised me with a velvety consistency and a proper matte effect. 

Upon the application, they are slightly creamier, but the right kind of creamy, the kind where the product doesn't go all over your face and is instead easy to apply precisely, which is what you need when you're dealing with bolder shades. It dries down very quickly, into that non-moisturizing but non-drying consistency that is completely comfortable to wear, and most importantly, turns truly matte. The only annoying thing I've noticed with regards to consistency is the slight stickiness when you press your lips together. If you're not constantly rubbing your lips together like I am (I really need to get rid of the habit), you probably won't even notice it, though. 

L: Vino Tinto, R: Velvet Slipper

I usually apply two layers. The lighter shade, Velvet Slipper, doesn't streak at all, while the darker Vino Tinto does tend to get slightly patchy, so make sure your lips are exfoliated. They both wear well throughout the day and are actually super long-lasting on condition you don't eat or drink. Otherwise, the product does disappear from the inner side of the lips. Having said that, it is fuss free to touch up. It's the removal part that requires a slightly heavier approach. While micellar water can do its job just fine, it's way way quicker if you grab an oil-based makeup remover and get it off gently. 

I have to give a huge thumbs up to these Sleek MakeUP numbers, especially since Velvet Slipper has now crawled onto my all-time-favourite-lip-products list. And with them being only £4.99 a pop, you really can't go wrong. You know what? I don't even want to try the Kylie Jenner Lip Kits anymore. I'll take these Sleek lip creams instead any day! The only thing that's left for me to do now is to give the lighter shades a go as well. Have you tried any? 

It took me about four months and hundreds of visits to the drugstore to find this product. Well, this shade to be exact. My housemate wore it all summer long, and apparently the rest of London did too, because it was sold out EVERYWHERE. In stores, online... you get the idea. I still can't believe I managed to finally score it a couple of weeks ago! But don't ask me where. I took the last one. Sorry! 

Revlon Ultra HD Matte Lipcolors have been around for quite a while now, but me being on a bit of a spending ban these past two years, I tried not to pay attention to them or any other product for that matter. I actually forbade myself to buy new makeup unless I either run out of an essential or really, really like something. And that's what happened with this beautiful number. 

The shade I fell in love with and have been wearing non-stop for the past month is called Seduction. It's the perfect nude shade that goes with any makeup look. It's creamy, but dries matte, and is extremely comfortable to wear. It doesn't last all day, so re-applications are needed, but it lasts long enough and doesn't apply unevenly even if you put on several coats, which is a huge plus in my book. 

Lastly, I have to say a few words about the packaging. Isn't it gorgeous? A sleek, glass-looking tube you can see the shade through and a doe-foot applicator that is actually great. It really lets you be precise, which I guess is especially handy when it comes to darker shades. One thing to note if you have a sensitive nose, though. The product is quite strongly scented. Think vanilla and something else thrown into the mix...

For the past few years, there has been an explosion of different nail polish finishes. Companies keep coming out with new, innovative twist be it sand, matte, leather, magnetic, gel... we have it all. Believe it or not, I haven't tried a whole lot of them. Of course, I couldn't avoid the matte craze when it was the cool new thing on the market a few years ago, but being disappointed with the result, the numerous releases to follow just didn't particularly excite me. Apart from the cracking nail polish. Oh, those were the days! 

When I first saw this Latex Matt number from Essence, I thought it was just another matte nail polish with a fancy new name, but I might have been wrong. It does seem matte when you first start applying it, but once it dries, it definitely doesn't look like a regular matte nail polish. I wouldn't necessarily say it looks like latex, but it sure looks like my shiny black faux leather jacket from Primark. And guess what? I like it. It doesn't accentuate my nail ridges and looks kinda chic. I just wish it wouldn't start chipping after a day. 

How are you feeling about the effect nail polishes? Which ones have you tried and loved? Or hated for that matter. I would love to hear your thoughts! 

You know when you discover a product you love so much you eventually end up getting it in every single shade? It's happened far too many times to me, especially with lipsticks, and I think it's happening again. I currently own three shades of Wet n Wild MegaLast Matte Lipsticks, but there will be many more joining the collection, that's for sure.

What I love about these is that they're matte yet moisturizing, and last ages on my lips. They survive meals - yes, really, even the moist ones - and when they do eventually wear off, your lips stay stained evenly, so you really don't have to worry about checking yourself in the mirror every five minutes when you're wearing one of the bold shades. Woohoo! 

I'm getting a lot of wear out of Mauve Outta Here right now, as I believe is the perfect transitional shade for the warmer months ahead of us. Have you tried any yourself? If not, you can get them here, in my online store, for €3,95 a pop. And between you and me, there's plenty of MAC dupes in the collection. Sugar Plum Fairy is basically MAC's Rebel, for example. Just a whole lotta cheaper. 

Hello lovelies! How have you all been? It's been a while since I last wrote on here, but I think I'm now officially back? I don't want to jinx it again, though. Let's just keep our fingers crossed that this post marks the end of my unexpected blogging break. I'll be updating you on everything that has been going on in my life for the past month, don't worry, just not today. It's been a crazy stressful ride, and it requires a lengthy explanation I will be writing up or possibly filming in days to come. Today I'm here to talk about a more lighthearted topic - makeup. More specifically, The Hot Shop's Matte Lipstick in shade number 10 from Born Pretty Store.

If you feel like you've seen this packaging before, you might not be completely wrong. It screams Topshop, doesn't it? And the fact that the 'brand' is called The Hot Shop leaves no room for coincidence. I think it's safe to say someone had zero imagination when trying to create a dupe. 

Dupe or not, I can't make any comparisons, because I don't own any Topshop lipsticks. No, scratch that. I actually do own one but never wear it because it doesn't suit my skintone at all. Or so I thought when I tried it on a few years ago. Maybe I should dig it out of the drawer and give it another go. Anyway. The Hot Shop lipstick is presented as matte, but I wouldn't say this is 100% true. When you first put it on, it has a slight shine. Having said that, the shine eventually fades and you are left with a proper matte finish. The pigmentation can't be faulted. The colour payoff is great. You don't even need to layer the lipstick to get the bold effect and once it rubs off, you're left with a nice even stain. Unfortunatelly, it doesn't last a whole lot of time on my lips like matte lipsticks usually do. Although it does stain your lips, as already mentioned. The main con for me would be how the formula feels on my lips. It's one of those annoying ones that start to dry out your lips as the time goes by, which I am not a fan of. 

The drying out part aside, I think this is a decent $6,68 lipstick. I don't see myself wearing it on a regular basis, as it's quite bright for every day and, like I mentioned, a little bit too drying  for my taste, but it's definitely a nice addition to my collection. I feel like I'll get more use out of it once spring arrives.

P.S. If you're planning to get anything from Born Pretty Store, you can use the code ' SANH10' and get a 10% discount.