Erborian Matte or Rouge for lips?

Whether you like your matte lip, your shiny lip or something in between, one thing I know for certain is I don't like a sticky or tacky glosses and I don't like anything which makes my lip feel as though you have been dipped into cement.

Erborian is one of my favourite brands and one I have enjoyed discovering over the last 18 months or so, whenever there is a new product I get a little excited because with Erborian you get a mixture of Korean and French loveliness all rolled into one.  Lip products are something Erborian do a lot of products in, but is the one area I hadn't really got to know until recently.

It is said in Korea, the world capital of sophisticated beauty rituals, the skin is not the only part of the face where care is considered essential; the lips are considered to be a real asset of beauty and seduction, and they are also the object of meticulous attention through nourishing, soothing rituals.

Rouge for Lips and Matte for Lips are the latest releases from Erborian and they are two nourishing balms that tint and embellish the lips.  What Erborian have done with these two products is develop a hybrid which is a cross between makeup and skincare.  Both balms are delicately scented and they give you the chance to play with both colour and texture whilst caring for your lips, so depending on your choice of finish there is a choice of balm.

My favourite product of the two is Matte for Lips a product which promised velvet lips with a matte finish for a healthy glow effect. I really like the ultra smooth texture which has a really soft finish. As it is applied, the balm glides across and envelopes the lips that leave them feeling nourished and hydrated. 

Enriched with nourishing Camellia oil, known for its antioxidant properties which helps to sooth, prevent sign of ageing and dehydration plus Beeswax which helps to nourish and prevent dehydration.

The second product, Rouge for Lips is definitely where makeup meets skincare and coats your lips with an ultra-intense shade of red and it is much more pigmented than I had expected it to be, but it is a delight to use. 

Again, as with Matte for Lips, it is enriched with Cameillia Oil and Beeswax for its antioxidant and nourishing properties which prevent dehydration and nourish the skin but there is also the inclusion of Shea Butter which really helps nourish your lips.

Both of these products can be applied using a lip brush or your finger and both can be used with other products.  If you are a fan of a red lip, then using Rouge for Lips as a base can really intensify the red lipstick shade and then you can apply Matte for Lips over the top.  Equally you can use either product alone or with absolutely any other lip product that you have, depending on the look you are trying to achieve.  Each one of these products retails for £18 here on the Erborian website.

*this post contains PR samples and/or Affiliate Links unless indicated otherwise - you can learn more on my Disclaimer page here

Laura Mercier Oil-Free Tinted Moisturizer SPF 20

It is always nice to get compliments about how good your skin looks and questions as to what you have done differently to get 'that glow' and those are the questions I have been asked lately from both friends, colleagues and bloggers and in truth, other than changing my skincare routine slightly, I have changed the foundation I was wearing (it ran out) to something completely new, from a brand I knew very little about - Laura Mercier.

Whilst browsing in John Lewis, I was mesmerised watching the girls on the counter do various makeovers and drawn in by how good they looked once finished, I was sat in a chair within seconds.  Unlike other makeup counters where I have been, this time I was told a little bit about the background to the brand, for example the brand was founded back in 1996 and the entire philosophy revolves about The Flawless Face -  a concept that making the skin look perfect is the first and most important thing we can do to achieve a great look.  Not something I can argue with that is for sure.  Having been asked what I would usually use on my skin, what make up look I like and whether or not any of the products had jumped out to me, the one thing I did say is that I cannot stand foundation that makes your face feel suffocated, has that caked on look no matter how little you apply and anything that works to cover blemishes and with combination skin, especially an oily t-zone is a must.

Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer which comes in a range of around 15 different shades, is described as being an oil free, sheer, lightweight foundation with SPF 20 and is suitable for all skin types, even those with sensitive or acne prone skin. I have shade Blush which is a one of the lighter shades and perfect for those with pink tones. 

Thankfully because it is a tinted moisturiser, it actually is really lightweight on the skin, despite being quite a creamy formula.  As it was applied and as I now apply it, I use a buffing brush and finish off with my beauty blender to ensure I get an even coverage, but you can build up in areas that you feel need a bit more covering. I love that it is an oil free formula and it also works to prevent excess oil from setting on the surface of the skin, so if like me you can have that mid-afternoon greasy shine, you are not going to get that with this, something which has impressed me the most.

I have used quite a few tinted moisturisers over the years, especially when the warmer weather comes and ive never really found one I have loved until now.  It is the one which is truer to the formula than anything else I have used and by that I mean it is hydrating, nourishing and moisturising whilst offering a hint of coverage.  As I have said, whenever I have worn it, people have asked why my skin is all glowy and what am I using.

You can also mix this tinted moisturiser with your favourite foundation too.  But all in all I absolutely love this product! Not only does all my redness, it does so without looking caked on and I really love that it is so light but also buildable.  Priced around £34 it isn't going to break the bank and a tube lasts a good few months, obviously depending on how often you apply it and it is widely available at places such as John Lewis, SpaceNK, Feelunique, House of Fraser and more.

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*this post contains PR samples and/or Affiliate Links unless indicated otherwise - you can learn more on my Disclaimer page here

Pixi Beauty Rose Essence Collection

The Pixi Beauty Rose Essence Collection is quite possibly one of the prettiest things I’ve ever received, from the cute little rose gold padlock to the contents inside, the entire box is so beautifully thought out and packaged.

After unlocking the padlock the box opens up and on left hand side there are some Skin Treats and the right hand side there are some Lip Treats. The My Rose Collection unlocks the beautifying benefits of Rose Hip and Rose Flower Oils, Rose Extract and Rose Water.  It is said that for centuries the essence of rose has been celebrated as a powerful elixir that unlocks beauty from within, so this entire packager works to unlock that beauty.  

The Skin Treats promises products for glowing skin and the two full-sized products are a  Rose Caviar Essence and a Rose Flash Balm, neither of which I had used or come across until now.  The Rose Caviar Essence is for all skin types and is designed to brighten, nourish and hydrate.  To be used after cleansing and toning, you only need a small coin sized amount to gently press onto the skin of your face, neck and decolletage.  I am a huge fan of essences and have used two others for well over a year now and they do make quite the difference, this one happens to smell just like roses and it is simply divine.  Rose Caviar from Pixi uses flower oils which are encapsulated in the weightless essence serum which melt onto the skin. As it melts fresh botanicals are delivered to the skin which hydrate and restore skin’s brightness for optimum radiance. The formula also contains antioxidant rich natural oils that soften, tone and refine the skin.  Priced at £26.

The Rose Flash Balm is described as being a 3-in-1 formula which works to prime, moisturise or it can be used as a hydrating mask.  I am happy to use anything which promises to brighten my complexion, particularly in the colder months when my skin ca be dull and dry.  It has an oil-free formula which absorbs instantly and adds instant moisture and brightens the skin.  To use as a treatment primer you simply apply a thin layer to face and neck after cleansing and leave it to absorb or if you use it as a mask, which is my favourite thing to do, you simply apply a thick layer onto your skin and leave it for up to 5 minutes before rinsing off with water water. It leaves my skin feeling so hydrated, smooth and soft to the touch and again it smells just incredible. Priced at £26 for a full sized tube or there is an option to buy a miniature version for just £6.

Opposite the skincare treats are the Pixi MatteLast Liquid Lipsticks and there are five in total which, if you like neutral shades, these are definitely worth looking at because they are all stunning. Infused with rosehip oil and Vitamin E, the lipsticks apply evenly and glide onto the lips thanks to the shape and design of the Pixi Petal applicator and once they have been applied, they dry and set incredibly quickly with a Matte Veil finish but they are not uncomfortable or drying, they are incredibly hydrating and easy to wear. Again, nothing budges these lipsticks. I wore Pastel Petal on Christmas Day and it was still there late evening as I was going to bed.

The five lipstick shades are from right to left:

• Au Naturelle which is a rose toned nude
• Matte Beige which is a beige toned nude
• Pastel Petal which is a pinky beige nude
• Really Rose which is a rose brown
• Evening Rose which is a mauve brown

All of the shades are incredibly easy to wear and I have worn Au Naturelle the most of all the shades during the daytime and during an evening I have topped up with Evening Rose, both of which I just adore as shades.  Each Liquid Lipstick retails for £16.

Again Pixi have managed to wow me with an abundance of products and I have absolutely loved and will continue to love using the,  Are you a Pixi fan?

*this post contains PR samples and/or Affiliate Links unless indicated otherwise - you can learn more on my Disclaimer page here