#PuckerUpFriday: Velvet Rose - Essence XXXL Longlasting Lipgloss

Welcome to another Pucker Up Friday, I hope your enjoying them! This time I bring you an entry from Essence, and their XXL Long Lasting Matte lipgloss range.

J'Adore Bourjois

DISCLAIMER: I am not bragging about what I have, this series is an insight into some of the beauty brands that I love (J'Adore). I have bought all these products with my own money (some may have been free gift with purchase)


Welcome to the start of a series, every month I will post a brand round-up of some of my favourite beauty brands. This will then be followed up with my Top 5 from that brand and then the day after a brand challenge where I will create a makeup look using only that brands products.

The first brand that I am starting with is Bourjois, this brand came to life in 1863 Paris in the theatre district. The brand's first creator is actor Joseph-Albert Ponsin who created perfumes for the actors and actress of the theatre district of Paris. Ponsin entrusted the company to Alexandre-Napoleon Bourjois in 1868 who turned the brand into what we know today (Brand history from Bourjois)

As you can see my Bourjois collection has grown, this is because it is such a good brand that pushes boundaries when it comes to cosmetics, and they bring out some great products.

Face

I love a good base and Bourjois bring them in spades whether it is as a foundation or as their most recent release their 123 Perfect CC Cream.

I love the Healthy Mix foundation it applies so well and because it is a full coverage foundation you only need a tiny amount.

I have an oily face so I need a setting powder, the one I had been coveting for the longest time was the Java Rice Powder that was released to coincide with Bourjois's 150th anniversary in the same packaging that it was first released in. I will admit I'm not a fan of loose powder and this was a fickle purchase based on packaging but you have to give it to Bourjois they know how to make their packaging appealing.

I've only just recently discovered the benefits of bronzer (I hear the gasp), and the Delice De Poudre was one every youtuber and beauty blogger has been raving about, and it looks like a chocolate bar so I thought I had to try it. It is such a lovely colour and it smells amazing (you will see this in action in my brand challenge post)

Eyes

When it comes to Bourjois and eyes I always think of their Little Round Eyeshadow Pots, these I do love. They also have an intense range that are highly pigmented and give a stronger colour on the lids.
The original eyeshadow pots come with a mirror in the lid

Bourjois when it comes to mascara love to think about volume, and getting it quick, and with their most recent release of the 1 Seconde Volume mascara (I have the waterproof version) they are really upping their game.

Eyeliner is always a trial for me as I don't apply it to my top lids as it all goes a bit Pete Tong (wrong), so I mainly apply to the waterline and around the lower lash line. Bourjois's Queen Attitude Kohl Kajal with it's conical shape applies a really dark line, it would also be good for the upper lash line as it would allow for you to reach the inner corner a lot easier.

Lips

Bourjois's most recent release was the Rouge Edition Velvets, and my god are they good, they apply to the lips like a dream and turn matte and they stay on the lips for ages (it almost seems that you need an industrial strength makeup remover to get it off).

They also have their 3D effet lip gloss, which apply onto the lips really well, these are good if you just want a sheer gloss on the lips with a hint of colour, or even applied over a lipstick.

Before we had the Rouge Edition Velvets, their was the Rouge Edition lipstick, this is in Rose Tweed and is such a lovely nude-rose colour, these just apply so well onto the lips that you only need just one swipe over the lips.

Nails

Following on from the 1 Seconde range is the original product to the range, their 1 Seconde nail polish, which boasts one application only and dries in 60 seconds, these are some of my favourite nail polishes from the range, and I love In the Navy (keep an eye out for my top 5 Bourjois).

The polishes are so pigmented whether they are from the 1 Seconde range or the So Laque they apply to the nails so well and stay on for a while as well.

I hope you like this little series that I plan on doing monthly, what are you favourite products from Bourjois?. Keep an eye out for my top five coming soon.

Thanks for tuning in

Gemma
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The Body Shop Cocoa Lip Gloss

As you know I love The Body Shop and their Chocomania range, so when I saw there was a cocoa lip gloss, that was it I was sold.

I bought this at Christmas when The Body Shop had their special offer on of 'spend £50 and get £25 off'.

I've not really dipped my toe in Body Shop make-up barring their eyeshadows years ago, so this really was my first dip into their makeup for a couple of years.

The lip gloss is really shimmery, but as you can see in the swatch above once applied the lip gloss is very sheer, so this can be worn during the day as something to give your lips a bit of a shine.

As you can see the lip gloss is a tube type gloss with the plastic applicator, it does apply to the lips really easy (but most tube lip glosses do).

Overall a nice lip gloss and one that is great just to stick in your bag just to add a nice sheen to your lips.

Thanks for tuning in

Gemma
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L'Oreal GlamShine Stain Splash - Bonnie

I will admit this was a completely fickle purchase, I bought this because I loved the packaging, the product looks like it cost more than it actually did (you can not beat some good packaging)

Now onto the good stuff the actual product, I have to admit this actually surprised me I thought that once this was on it would just be a normal lip gloss, but once it was ony my lips it started to go thicker and ended up turning into a liquid lipstick.

This stayed on quite a while but if I didn't keep re-applying after a couple of hours it would then start to get clumpy on the lips. I found to make the tint last a bit longer add a swipe of clear lip balm (this will add some moisture back into the stain and give you more time before it starts to go clumpy again.

Overall I love this product and I will have to go and buy more shades in the range.

Thanks for tuning in

Gemma
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BLOGMAS 22: Smashbox Try It Set - Bestsellers

I was in Boots a while ago and saw this set for £19.00, now I'm not a fan of high end brands, I begrudge paying those prices, but for the amount you get in here (and please remember they are trial sizes), they aren't that bad.

You receive these products:

• Face primer
• Lid Primer
• Mascara
• Lip gloss
• Eyeliner

Face Primer
I have used this and for my first dip into a primer it wasn't too bad, has a very odd texture when you apply to the skin, it feels greasy and then dissappears into the skin quite quickly.
It does make the foundation adhere to the face quite well but I don't think I will buy a full size bottle until I have tried some cheaper alternatives.

Lid Primer
This is an eye opener (in more ways than one), I love this product, it really does help your eyeshadow from creasing, If i had to buy a high end lid primer this would be it.

Mascara
The mascara was pretty good it didn't clump up my lashes and it lasted quite well.

Lip Gloss
This is a nice sheer lip gloss, and could be used as a top coat over a nude lipstick to give it a bit more shine.

Eyeliner
This eyeliner is good, I apply my liner mainly to the bottom lash line of my eyes, and the waterline. It stays in place quite well, and leaves a nice defined line, this I would buy a full sized version.

Thanks for tuning in

Gemma
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BLOGMAS 17: Collection Lock N Load Lipgloss

(POSTED 17/12/2013 AT 8:17AM GMT)

I have recently been using the Collection Lock n Hold Lip glosses. These come in a range of 6 colours, and I have 2 here. The colours I have are Body Pop and Rock Steady.

Body Pop
This is quite a barbie-ish pink in the bottle but once on the lips it does go very sheer with a hint of pink in there. This can be built up so the colour can become darker the more applications you add on.

Rock Steady
This is quite a nude colour in the bottle and goes on quite sheer with a tiny hint of colour this could easily be layered over a nude lipstick to give it some shine.

These are some nice colours, I have to admit my favourite is Rock Steady (I like a sheer nude colour on the lips).

Thanks for tuning in

Gemma
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BLOGMAS 4: Monday Haul

DISCLAIMER: All opinions are my own, and I am not bragging about what I have got I am just showing some products that I have purchased recently that will be popping up on the blog in the coming weeks/months.

*denotes a free gift with purchase

So on Monday I went shopping and ended up splurging on some cosmetics.

Superdrug

1) Bourjois Little Round Eyeshadow Pot (no09) - I used to love the little round eyeshadow pots and have not used one for ages, so I thought it might be time to start using them again.
2) N.Y.C. Smooth Skin Perfecting Primer - This was on Superdrug's top 5 primers so I thought I would give this a try.
3) Bourjois Little Round Eyeshadow Pot (no05)
4) N.Y.C. Expert Last Lip Color (Chocolate Chip) - I love a brown lipstick (I have an abundance of them in my make up bag), but you can never go wrong with a brown lip.
5) Bourjois 1 Seconde Top Coat (Vampire Vanity)* - This is a gold lea type glitter (so it might become fiddly when I am applying it but we'll see)
6) N.Y.C Showtime Mascara (Black)

At Superdrug if you buy 2 Bourjois cosmetics you then get the gold glitter top coat for free.

Next

1) NYX Jumbo Eye Pencil (French Fries) - I have seen NYX cosmetics and have been wanting some for ages. When I found out Next stocked them that was it I had to get some for my make up bag.
2) NYX Roll On Shimmer (Walnut) - I thought the shimmer roll on's would be good for the Christmas period and New Year.
3) NYX Jumbo Eye Pencil (Dark Brown)
4) NYX Roll On Shimmer (Platinum)


Boots

1) Bourjois Healthy Mix Foundation (51 Light Vanilla) - I have only heard good things regarding this foundation so I thought I would take the plunge and give it a whirl.
2) SEVENTEEN On The Spot Foundation (Porcelain) - I recieved a voucher via the instore machine to get £2 off of this foundation so I got it at £4.99 instead of £6.99. This might be worth a try.
3) Bourjois Fan-Tastic Volume Mascara (Fan-tastic Black) - This I have been coveting for ages (I am fickle as I love the packaging) so I took the plunge.
4) Bourjois Little Round Eyeshadow Pot (no11)
5) Natural Collection Nail Polish (Burgundy) - I thought this looked like a really good Christmassy colour.
6) No7 Matte Top Coat - I have been after a matte top coat for ages, and I finally managed to get a hold of this one from No7.
7) Smoky Eyes Eyeshadow Trio (01 Gris Dandy)* - 
8) Bourjois Volume Glamour Max Holidays (Black)*
9) Bourjois So Laque Nail Polish (Rouge Escarpin 24)*
10) Bourjois Effet 3D Lip Gloss (06 Rouge Democratic)*

With Boots if you spend £15 on Bourjois cosmetics you then get the Iconic Glam makeup kit (this features the starred products above).

All the above products will be reviewed in the near future so keep an eye out for the posts.

Thanks for tuning in

Gemma
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