I’ve recently fallen out of the habit with wearing lipstick. Not intentionally, never intentionally. My love for lipstick is a never ending affair and if I am not still wearing bold reds by the time I’m 80 I will be severely disappointed.
However in the duration of Summer I became a little lazy. Okay a lot. I decided that in the humidity of the weather I could not be bothered with the upkeep of wearing make-up everyday as dealing with constant melty face is far too much hassle.
Luckily though I have something to bring me out of that funk, the release of #VelvetTheLipstick by Bourjois Paris. A beautiful range of 12 buttery yet powerful lipsticks (for just £8.99!!) to cater for every look you could possibly want. Hello ‘Brunette’ I am looking at you to get me through most of Autumn. How could I possibly feel lazy about Lipstick now that I have so many gorgeous shades to play around with!
PACKAGING
So first things first, lets talk packaging. The packaging of a product is the very first thing you see obviously and if the product has likeable aesthetics then I for one am certainly more easily persuadable to it (calling mr vain). One of the key features of the rouge velvets is that the colour of each lipsticks case is the actual shade of the lipstick making them so easy to identify. Gone are the days of me rooting through my make-up drawers checking the labels on the bottom of lipsticks trying to find a certain colour!
Removal of the lid reveals the tear-drop shape of the lipstick which is another favourite feature of mine. I love this shape as it makes it nice and easy to apply. The narrow point of the tear-drop means it’s great for precision application especially around the cupids bow area. Perfect for on the go reapplications!
FORMULA
The first thing you notice when you go to apply the lipstick is quite a strong scent. I can’t quite put my finger on what it smells like, it’s not unpleasant but it’s not like a nice fragrance either. However this is not a problem as I said the smell is not unpleasant and quickly fades too meaning it is unnoticeable after application. The formula is very buttery and allows the lipstick to comfortably glide across your lips. I’ve found with some lipsticks they feel a lot dryer when applying and cause a dragging effect however this is definitely not the case with the rouge velvets. As I write this I am wearing ‘Hey Nude’ at work and have had it on for about 4 hours now.
The stay power is very good, not perfect but definitely good. After about five cups of tea, there has been understandably some wear however the colour is very much still there. A reapplication will be needed probably at lunchtime to freshen up, but this is common with so many lipsticks. The one thing I have definitely noticed is how soft and moisturised my lips still feel even though I’ve had it on for a few hours now. The lipstick has no drying out effects and remains soft with a nice matte appearance throughout.
RESULTS
Sometimes when it comes to lipsticks with soft buttery formulas the colour pay-offs can have a little less impact then desired. The beauty of the Velvet’s is that this is pretty much the opposite. I found all shades to be highly pigmented giving beautiful bold colours right down to the nude shades. A huge array of colours is offered in this range of twelve lipsticks from plum hued browns to juicy corals which means you are covered for all occasions!
When applying the lipstick you might be surprised by how it looks a little satin at first glance however as the lipstick dries it gradually turns into a lovely comfortable matte (not a mega liquid lipstick kind of matte though definitely think more satin matte). Although I found the formula nice and moisturising on my lips I found that, as we all should know by now, it worked best on lips which had been previously moisturised (with my favourite Burts bees balm) before application.
COLOUR RANGE
So as I just previously touched upon there is a big range of colours when it comes to the Velvet range. I love lipstick collections which can offer me shades which are perfect for different occasions. Whether it be wearing a nice nude for a day at the office or an autumnal wine red for a night of cocktails with friends, this collection definitely covers all areas for me. I’ve swatched these colours over a period of time so unfortunately haven’t colour categorised these so apologies!
Abrico’dabraSo Peach is certainly in right now (Urban Outfitters do a lovely peach bedspread which people are going crazy for) which means this shade is pretty trendy. It’s quite a vibrant shade but the orange is a lovely soft colour and I really like wearing this for little day trips out. It makes me feel quite summery so I will probably use it a lot when I go to Thailand!
Fuchsia Botte
This is a very powerful pink which has some serious blue tones to it. This pink is the power suit of all lipsticks. I think with it’s bold colour it would be great for statement looks and nights out.
Hey Nude Now this is a colour I call an every-day-go-to shade as it is just a perfect neutral tone which you can dress anything with. I wear this shade a lot at the office as it’s not too over the top but still makes me feel well presented. It’s quite a beige toned nude and really wearable!
Brique-a-braq
is a much warmer light pink which is a really nice dusty rose colour. Another great colour for everyday wear I like to think of this lipstick as a go to fuss free day time lipstick . This is a nice transitional evening colour as well as it’s not too neutral but also not too bold.
Brunette
This shade is going to be absolute Autumn life saver for me. When we think of this season we think of crunchy leaves on the floor, conkers literally everywhere and of course your classic Pumpkin spiced lattes. This colour perfectly reflects those brown tones which just scream Autumn Autumn Autumn.
Joli Carmin’ois
Is exactly what it says on the tin. A fun and vibrant orange toned red which definitely is going to be worn this Halloween whilst carving Pumpkins. Gotta colour co-ordinate you know!
Hip Hip Pink
A nice little medium shade pink which is great for everyday wear much like the other pinks in this range.
Berry Formidable
Hello my new December colour. Much like the name this shade has me thinking of mulled wine and winter berries which is making me feel very Christmassy. Did someone say only 91 sleeps until Christmas day?! This is a lovely deep darker shade of red and perfect for making a statement during the day or wearing as a lovely little evening red for a date night or something similar.
Rubi’s Cute
Has made it into my firm favourites list and not just because I also love the name. This red a true wow factor classic red. Think statement. Think Pillar box. Think bold and powerful. I think I will be pairing this shade with my new topshop trousers quite a lot.
Magni-fig
Okay so Bourjois are really killing it with the names right now, I can’t cope. Everyone loves a well thought out lipstick name. This is another berry shade which is a deeper more wine purple compared to the Berry formidable. Definitely another Autumn contender which will look lovely this season.
Hyppink Chic
A real rosy pink which I have totally fallen in love with. This shade is really nice for glowly looks I think as it’s not too harsh and gives your skin a lovely luminous look.
Flaming Rose
To finish up my swatches is this natural pink which is just a tad darker and pinker than the Hey Nude shade. On me this shade did look a lot pinker but in the photo it looks quite nude. I would say it’s a medium between the Hey Nude and the Hip hip Pink. Another perfect shade however for day-to-day wear!
So there we have it huns, the latest edition to the Bourjois range is a definite hit! The great range of shades means that I can easily transition from Summer to Autumn and I also have plenty of colours to look forward to using this Winter too. Has anyone else tried this range yet, what are your thoughts?
*This was kindly gifted to me via Influenster for reviewing purposes*
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