MAC Fanfare Lipstick

MAC Fanfare lipstick is the latest addiction to my collection and is one I chose from a blogger competition win. I had swatched it a few times in the Covent Garden store and decided that as I wanted it, I might as well ask for it with my win.

My growing collection of MAC lipsticks consists mainly of pinks such as Angel, Creme Cup and Viva Glam V so it is probably not that surprising that I have added Fanfare and love the look of Lovelorn, Syrup and Please Me - none of which I have bought (yet).

Fanfare is best described as being a light salmon pink shade lipstick with a slight coral undertone. You will find this lipstick in amongst those with a cremesheen finish. So texture wise it is really creamy formula which is quite smooth when applied as it glides right across your lips leaving behind a wonderful shade of pink. 

The one thing I dislike about Creme Cup as a cremesheen finish is that if you have dry patches on your lips, it clings to them, so I can only wear it or feel comfortable wearing it when my lips are in really good condition.

Texture wise Fanfare is smooth and pigmented and on me it has a staying power of around 3 hours before it begins to fade, but as with any product like this, I am one of those people who applies lipstick regularly throughout the day. During those three hours it is more than likely that I will have had copious glasses of water and probably 1-2 cups of green tea, so for a 3 hour stay, I think it is actually quite good. 

As a shade, it is one that I really really love. It looks lovely on its own or with a gloss over the top, something else from MAC which I am a bit of a sucker for. I personally feel this is a daytime lipstick and it is one I wear for work all the time, though for an evening, you could wear it as it is buildable.

Priced at £15.50 it is quite pricey in my opinion but it is a lovely lipstick and I like the shade, plus I won it and I am super chuffed with it.

What MAC lipsticks do you love?

Flamingo Candles - Spring Collection

Flamingo Candles are brilliant, I am quite obsessed with them and have very kindly been sent a few of their new spring scents to try from the Spring Collection Range**. The range itself is just amazing and I would find it quite hard to choose my own scent from the list of the five within the range.

The two candles that I have today are both ones that I have really enjoyed using.

These two candles are just so brightly coloured they scream Spring to me.  Even the scent of each is so warm and inviting that I can already imagine sitting out in the garden in the evening as the sun goes down, a candle lit on the table outside.

Starting with the scent which intrigued me the most when I read the description - Raspberry & Salted Caramel, I didn't think it would be a scent I would like.  Actually it is absolutely amazing.  Described as being both sweet and creamy, Raspberry & Salted Caramel is a delicious treat for the senses.  Fruity notes of raspberry blend with anise, buttercream and vanilla-based caramel.  The first thing you notice when the lid is removed is both scents and it reminds me of candyfloss at the fairground.

The Jar within which the candle can be found is like similar ones from the range and it features a bright blue coloured Flamingo.  Each candle is made with organic soy wax and a cotton wick and has a really impressive burn time of 50 hours. 

The second candle from the Spring Collection is Mango & Dragonfruit and it is both exotic and punchy.  It combines base notes of lily, rose and jasmine with fruity green leaf, peach schnapps, sweet orange, melon, mango and apple and the scent is absolutely divine with both the fruity peach schnapps and floral notes being the first ones you notice as soon as the lid is removed.  If you have ever had Peach Blossom Tea, then the scent, I think, is very similar.

Again this candle is in a jar and it features a sparkly flamingo this time.  For me, this Flamingo stands out much more against the orange coloured candle due to those sparkles.  As before this candle is made with organic soy wax and a cotton wick and has a really impressive burn time of 50 hours. 

If these two scents have got you wanting to try or find that perfect Spring candle, there are three more within the rage which all sound equally divine and they are:

Rose & Marshmallow - Floral and sugary, Rose & Marshmallow is the ultimate sweet combination. Base notes of sandalwood, musk, rose and orchid blend with fruity mandarin, cherry and raspberry and creamy vanilla, coconut and marshmallow.

Green Apples - Fresh and zesty, Green Apples is the ultimate feel-good scent. Inspired by the Granny Smith apple it blends leafy green accords with citrus notes of lemon, mandarin, apple and melon. A fruity delight!

Daisy - Fresh and floral, Daisy opens with a touch of lemon and grapefruit with accords of green leaf, green violet, apple, pear and peach. Leading into a floral heart of jasmine, lily, rose, violet leaves and freesia on a base of sandalwood, cedarwood, amber, vanilla and sweet, powdery musks.

I am quite taken with the sound of Daisy and Green Apples, they sound like the fragrances I would use at home and want from a candle.

Established in 2013, Flamingo Candles is a fun and original collection of hand-poured, organic candles, manufactured in the UK. Stockists for the candles include Amazon, ASOS, Joy and many independent retailers.

Have you tried Flamingo Candles?