Red Velvet cupcakes is one of my baking specialities. Crimson red sponge topped with cream cheese frosting. Get Lippie loves them so much that she requested they be made for her wedding.
Red Velvet is also the name of Lime Crime’s liquid lipstick or to be exact, Velvetine Lip Colour. Are there other shades available? I don’t know. I bought this at UMAe last month and I think I paid £10 with the discount on offer that weekend (normally priced at £11.50).
I’ve never tried anything by Lime Crime. It’s a cult brand I’ve glossed over and to be fair, don’t really know a lot about it but I *do* know of it. One of those US brands that is difficult to get hold of here unless you buy at a trade make-up fair or online.
Vegan and cruelty-free, the Red Velvet Velvetine is a long-lasting, waterproof liquid lipstick that goes on with the ease of gloss and dries completely matte almost instantly. It is a rich, poppy red – dramatically vampish and sexy. The writing on the packaging is very Christmas-like, isn’t it? Was this originally a Christmas release? Anyone know?
I’ve tried other red matte liquid lipsticks like Sephora’s lip stain and Stila’s Stay All Day™ Liquid Lipstick in Fiery. Lime Crime’s effort comes out top. It is unbelievably weightless – you forget it’s on your lips unlike Sephora and Stila which give you that uncomfortable film coating feeling. Those two also start to flake and peel over a short period of time, which Lime Crime’s Red Velvet Velvetine does not. At all. Nope. Not even the slightest crack.
It’s an absolutely beautiful and sizzling red that I’m thrilled to have in my collection. What do you think? Proper Rocky Horror Picture Show lips!
Last week I told you about Box Delux a new luxurious subscription service launching this month. Well here it is…the Best of British.
The first Box Delux contains 4 floral fragrance samples from favourites of the Royal family Illuminum Perfumes, 100ml body cream from Skin Salveation, a sample of Morning Glory tea from Teapigs, a cookie from Blueberry Hill Cakes who deliver Afternoon Tea to your door, sugar-free snacks from Buddy Fruits and a £50 voucher to use at NuYu skin clinic. It’s a mix of beauty and homely pleasures and there are only a limited number of boxes every month.
There will be no repetition of products and each item featured will be available to buy in the online shop at www.box-delux.com for a limited period only. There is also an exclusive £20 gift voucher for redemption included in this month’s box.
Subscription prices which include delivery, are as follows:
1 month subscription £35
3 month subscription £105
6 month subscription £175
12 month subscription £350
Giftboxdelux from £100
SPECIAL OFFER TO READERS OF JUST NICE THINGS
We’ve secured an exclusive offer for Just Nice Thing readers to get £5 discount off a Box Delux subscription by 31st May. Just enter the code ‘JUSTNICE5′ at the checkout at www.box-delux.com.
*PR sample
I am going on holiday to Marrakech soon. It will be 7 days in the (here’s hoping for) scorching north African sun, and I am looking forward to getting my first sun tan in almost 18 months.
One thing I am determined to do is to minimise on my packing with make-up and beauty products for two main reasons: I will be flying by no-frills airline Easyjet who are notoriously difficult with luggage dimensons and weights (total size includes wheels and handles for crying out loud!). Also I want to leave enough room for any potential purchases I will find difficult to resist from the souqs.
I took a heaving bag of make-up on my last getaway and shamefully I didn’t even use two-thirds of the contents. What is it about going away that sends us into a panic that we might need several palettes and lipsticks? It’s a holiday, not a fashion shoot!
So here are the essentials I’ve whittled down to:
- Maybelline’s Volum’ Express The Rocket Mascara – my current favourite mascara (not photographed)
- Illamasqua’s Precision Liner in Abyss
- Illamasqua’s Skin Base (12)
- MAC Pro Longwear Concealer (NW35)
- L’Occitane’s Sublime Beauty Cream – BB Cream in Medium*
- GOSH BB Cream in Warm Beige
- Bourjois cream blusher in Sweet Cherry (04)*
- Nars cream blusher in Maui
- Avon Supershock Gel Liner in black
- Clinique Chubby Stick Intense in Roomiest Rose and Mightiest Marschino*
- Revlon Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stain in Crush (005)
- Smashbox Megatint in Punch*
- Bourjois 3D Effet lip glosses in Brun Exotic and Brun Rosé*
- Hourglass Extreme Sheen High Shine Lip Gloss in Icon and Empress
- Elemis Pro-Radiance Illuminating Flash Balm* – doubles up as a primer
- Liz Earle Sheer Gold Shimmer
I have purposely avoided products which need brushes as well as powders, and subsequently I am leaving out the eyeshadows because frankly I can’t be bothered with all that faffing around.
Bourjois’s new collection of cream blushers are not until 15th May but you can read a review and see swatches by Leanne of Do Not Refreeze. Light and slim in packaging, these are perfect for travelling so I’m popping one in the bag.
I am also looking forward to putting L’Occitane’s new BB Cream through its paces and I will be posting a review on it.
All of these fit nicely in my relatively small Bourjois make-up bag*. Honestly my make-up bag before was hand bag size!
Is there anything else I should take? I know I’ve overdone it with the lipwear but the trouble is, I don’t know which ones I will wear (depending on how I feel at the time) so I’m taking a few. Madness. I would love to know if you try to downsize your make-up when you go away or if you take more than what I am packing.
On a separate note, if you’ve been to Marrakech, please let me know your recommendations about what hidden gems I should visit or try. One thing that is an absolute must is a hammam and massage and picking up some argan oil. Can’t wait!
*PR sample
Yay! It’s a long weekend in the UK – look how happy Leanne of Do Not Refreeze is! May the next 3 days be filled with sunshine and happiness.
