Sweet Lips - NYC 16H Smoochproof Lip Stain & GOSH Long Lasting Lip Marker

These are the mainstay products I have for a daily makeup routine. Let me go through it step by step.

Face base: The Hada Labo BB Cream has rather decent coverage on its on and with SPF30 is great for a base that protects, hydrates and evens out skintone. Remember concealer face? I've managed to whittle it down to just the MAC Pro Longwear Concealer and I'm really excited about it because that means that my acne scarring is toning down! 

Cheeks: I did a really stupid thing the other night. I tried to epilate my face myself. (hides away in a dungeon of shame). Confession - I have a rather hairy face which I am not proud of but I haven't been to to get my face threaded for a rather long while. My hairs are not that visible but they bug me anyway ): Anyway, long story short, I am considerably less hairy but I managed to irritate the tops of my cheekbones and they've turned red, like a sunburn. Now I have to try to blend it in with my blush, that's why my blush seems so high. I used the Natural Collection Blush in Pink Cloud on the cheeks under my eyes to draw the blush down. I really like this blush as it's matte and the colour is so subtle it looks like natural skin.

Eyebrows: I stick to pencils when I'm rushing for time as it's just that much easier to control. This Maybelline Eyestudio Brow Pencil is the perfect grey-brown for soft brows. 

Eyes: Raved about the Essence Liquid Ink Eyeliner before here. It's such an intense black and works really well whether drawing a fine small line or an obvious cateye like I've done. The Diorshow Extase Mascara is my choice of mascara for really long, defined separated eyelashes that still look natural. Did I mention long? These make lashes so long.

Lips: Mentioned the NYC 16H Smoochproof Lip Stain and the GOSH Long Lasting Lip Marker in this week's favourites and thought I should showcase them. I used them in this look for a subtle ombre look and I quite like how they work together. 

Both are felt tip markers and leave a stain on the lips. The NYC is in Persistent Pink, looks really neon but comes out much more subtle on the lips. It probably would not show on more pigmented lips but on mine, it ups the pink factor of the lips. The GOSH stain I have is in Berry which is a berry red (excellent description eh!) that looks exactly like a cherry stain. 

NYC has a faint scent that smells like cherries and apples (and chemicals) mixed together and GOSH has a very strong cherry smell which I love. Both taste sweet on the lips which is so amazing! I know I should not be ingesting my chemical lip products but I cannot help it. Wearing these feels like I rubbed cherries on my lips and left the juice all over. Yummy!

Bigass picture of my crackly lips to show the ombre. I used the NYC Persistent Pink all over with GOSH's Berry in the centre. As you can see, Persistent Pink does not really show up on the browner edges of my top lip. Since I'm not a fan of lipsticks, my favourite part about the lip markers are that they don't change the natural texture/finish of the lips. Though they might be drying, I'd much rather top up with a balm than use a lipstick.

Obviously, these last a very short time on me because I lick my lips like crazy when I have this on (I might just have an addiction) but even so, I don't think the lasting power is that great. They could probably last you through a drink but not a full blown meal.



Summary:

Pros:

• Tastes like sugar heaven!
• Smells like fruit heaven!
• Doesn't change lip finish - only stains lips to a nicer colour
• Marker like and very easy to use

Cons:

• Ingesting the chemicals due to excessive lip-licking probably isn't too good
• Stain does not last too long
• Can be drying

These get an A from me as a lipstick noob. What do you guys think? Are stains the way to go or do you still prefer lipsticks? Have an awesome weekend lovelies! 

Weekly Favourites #9

Hello it's friday the 13th! It has been a crazy week for me, with my dissertation finally getting done (HOORAY) and one of my sisters flying off to London for her studies. I haven't really gotten much sunlight (I'm like a plant, I need a daily dose of sunlight to function), let alone slapping on any make up, but these have been life savers at perking up my deathly tired complexion this week.

The Rimmel Scandaleyes Waterproof Kohl Kajal in Nude has saved my poor eyes from looking like they've barely gotten any sleep. Not only does it make my eyes look more awake, it can actually double up as a dark eye ring concealer for me! I swear this stuff does not budge. It's got a slight sticky texture that I think really helps it stay glued to the waterline and undereyes. In fact, I have the swatch on my arm now and I've rubbed the swatches away vigourously.. and I do mean vigourously and the liner still has not budged. Ace product need more!

Lipstains have been my go to this week because they add colour to the lips (and face) without looking like I've actually put anything on. In my opinion, this is the ultimate product to use to con poor boys. They'll be looking at you and have absolutely no idea what you did to your lips because all that's different with your lips are their colour and absolutely nothing else! The NYC 16H Smoochproof Lip Stain in Persistent Pink(that's just the cutest name) and the GOSH Long Lasting Lip Marker in Berry leave the most gorgeous blushed lips - that's if lips could blush. It's like you've been eating cherries and stained your lips or been gnawing on your lips and they flooded with colour, just so perfect. The GOSH Lip Marker also has the most amazing cherry taste and scent. Your lips will be sweet with this on. I always take sneaky licks of my lips when I have it on. Ah-maze-zing. 

Is the Shiseido Lip Amulet in Pure Red just  the cutest lip product in existence or what? Each colour has a different person design. If I'm not wrong, this may be a limited edition (comes out every christmas or occasion or something but this was a december 2012 release) item but they're sold really cheaply at convenience stores in HK/Taiwan, just not Singapore ): The bullet within is a really bright red, but the formula is extremely sheer and more like a barely tinted lip balm. It is extremely hydrating and glossy and I tend to reach for this when my lips are dry from insufficient hydration through the night (I feel like the computer monitor sucks water away from me..strange I know). This is for glossy MLBB pouts.

My 2nd sister got me convinced to start on this moisturizer again. I've been having rather bad luck with moisturizers lately, and she told me that the Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturizing Lotion was a really good one because it absorbs so fast. My skin hasn't been faring too well with the late nights and intensive computer staring (like I said, I am convinced staring at the screen dehydrates me) and this moisturizer has been quite the lifesaver. It feels really odd upon application, almost oily in fact. But give it 10 seconds and it disappears. Don't know why I never gave it the 10 seconds it needed. The best part is that it works really well through the day, just don't overdose or you will have oily skin (tried and tested. got greedy).

L-R. NYC 16H Smooch Proof Lip Stain in Persistent Pink, GOSH Long Lasting Lip Marker in Berry, Shiseido Lip Amulet in Pure Red, Rimmel Scandaleyes Kohl Kajal in Nude

I'm so absolutely in love with all the products featured this week I'm typing at top speed! Do you guys own any of these products too? Let me know and have a great friday night! <3