Rimmel Salon Pro Nail Colour: The Kate Collection

Rimmel are currently the high street brand to beat when it comes to product launches.  Earlier this year they launched their popular Apocalips, not to mention their Scandaleyes Waterproof Khol Kajal liners, Kate Collection Matte lipsticks and now the new Salon Pro by Kate range.  The collection features 10 new shades, all picked by Mossy and there are some really gorgeous colours.  These had been on my radar for a while and I'd always look out for them whenever I popped into Boots or Superdrug.  I picked up Soul Session and Jazz Funk, although I have since gone back and purchased Rhythm & Blues and will probably buy some more in the near future.  

Rimmel claim that you can get up to 10 days chip free, thanks to the added Lycra in the formula. Whilst these polishes definitely last longer than some of my more expensive picks (I'm looking at you Chanel), I find they last around 4-6 days before chipping, depending on what I'm doing.  This is still pretty impressive for me, as I usually change up my nails quite often.  The Salon Pro Nail Colours also come with a wide brush, making application super easy, usually only needing one swipe per nail.  The product is pretty opaque and I very rarely go back in for a second coat, which is great if you're as impatient as I am when it comes to waiting for your talons to dry.  

As I previously mentioned, there are some great colour choices including gorgeous nudes (Soul Session has now replaced my beloved Models Own Pink Beige), Summer brights (Jazz Funk, Brit Pop and Hip Hop), a classic red (Classical Red) as well as some darker colours which would be perfect for the autumn (Rhythm & Blues and Punk Rock).  At £4.49 these aren't going to break the bank and with such amazing quality and colours, I'm not sure if I will be tempted by other brands for a while. Another triumphant launch, Rimmel.  

Have you bought any of the Kate Moss Salon Pro Nail Colours?

Rimmel London Apocalips Lip Lacquer

'Big Bang'

'Celestial' 

'Galaxy'

Rimmel's latest offering to the beauty market are their lip laquers, also known as the Apocalips.  They were launched in shops last Wednesday (23rd Jan) and were on 3 for 2 in Boots, so of course I obliged.   Rimmel claim that these have the same intense, rich colour of a lipstick but with the shine of a gloss.  Some might argue these are their answer to the YSL Glossy Stains and although I haven't tried those for myself, I can see some comparisons.  

The colour range is great, boasting eight different colours, ranging from nudes to bright pinks and fire engine reds.  I picked up 'Big Bang', a gorgeous red, 'Celestial', a light rosey pink, similar to Topshop's Innocent lipstick and 'Galaxy', a purple toned pink.  I initially wanted to pick up 'Nude Eclipse' as from swatches on blogs, it seems like the perfect nude, but it must be the most popular of the bunch as it's nowhere to be seen!  

The pigmentation of these lip products is fantastic.  The doe foot applicator has a small pocket in the middle which holds colour, allowing the perfect distribution of product on the lips.  Although they have a high shine finish, they aren't at all sticky and if you prefer a matte lip, blotting with paper keeps the intensity of colour but takes the shine away.  They last for 3-4 of hours before needing a top up and can feel a bit drying on the lips after a while, but once you've reapplied that feeling goes away.  My favourite of the bunch is Galaxy as it's a slightly more subtle berry colour.  At £5.99 a pop you can't grumble.  They have great colour pay off, a decent amount of staying power and a whole lot of punch.  I'll definitely be picking up some more from the range! 

Have you tried the Apocalips?

Revlon Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stain in #005 Crush

Winter has well and truly arrived in England and so that only means one thing for a beauty crazed girl like myself.  Bold berry lips. I've talked about the Rimmel London Kate Collection offering to the trend but today I want to talk about a new favourite of mine, which I picked up on a whim in Boots.  It's the Revlon Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stain in #005 Crush.  

Now, I'm a bit late when it comes to this product, as they've been on the counters for a few months, but I was initially put off by the smell, which is a mixture of peppermint and herbs.  Smell aside, this product is pretty good.  The packaging is much the same as Clinique's Chubby Stick but the products differ in that Revlon's is a stain as well as a moisturising balm.  

The colour is more blackcurrant, making it a purple shade.  It's a sheer product, but it's definitely buildable depending on how bold you want to go.  When you first apply, the product leaves a lovely gloss from the moisturising balm.  Once the balm has worn off, it leaves a subtle stain of colour.  It's also extremely easy to use, I usually use the tip to line my lips and then the side of the crayon to colour them in and build on pigmentation.  I find myself reaching for it more than a lipstick because it is so easy to use and is great for on the go top ups.  I definitely want to pick up 'Lovesick' next which is a bright fuchsia colour.  

Have you tried the Revlon balm stains? 

Benefit They're Real! Mascara vs. Rimmel London Scandaleyes Show Off Mascara

Please bare with me, I'm currently writing this blog on an app on my iPad, so if anything looks different it's because I'm still getting to grips with the software.

Side note over, lets get back to talking beauty! I was watching TV as you do a few weeks ago, when I spotted an advert for the newest Rimmel London mascara. Now what caught my attention was the mascara wand, it looked vaguely familiar to that of Benefits 'They're Real!' I love They're Real, but I don't always have the extra cash to splurge, so I decided to road test both mascara's and see how similar they were.

Benefit 'They're Real' Mascara; £18.50

It's no secret that this mascara is amazing, it's the best selling mascara in the UK market right now. I've been using it for almost a year now and I'm always pleased with the results it gives. It instantly lengthens and adds volume to create that false lash effect, minus the glue. The brush is synthetic and has a small 'hedgehog' like head which helps you get into all the nooks and crannies of your eyes. The mascara only comes in one colour and its a really dark black, just how I like it to be. I find it quite difficult to seperate my lashes with the wand, which is a pain and can sometimes lead to a clumpier effect.

Rimmel London Scandaleyes Show Off Mascara; £6.99

A fairly new mascara to the market, Scandaleyes Show Off is another great mascara for creating a false lash effect. The brush is noticeably larger and the 'hedgehog' is a lot more prominent. Again the brush is synthetic but I find it a lot more spikey and uncomfortable against the eye but for the effect it gives, this can be overlooked. Just like Benefit, this mascara only comes in black (keeping up the theme of false lashes) but I found that a few coats have to be applied to get the desired result. I really like using the 'hedgehog' along my bottom lashes as I find it grabs them without clumping.

Both mascaras together - Left: Rimmel Right: Benefit

Both mascaras have their pluses and minuses. If your looking for a high end mascara that does it all for you with the swipe of a wand (non magical of course), then Benefit's 'They're Real!' is the product for you. If you're looking for a high street alternative to suit your budget, I highly recommend the Rimmel Scandaleyes Show Off mascara, although you will have to apply a few coats to get the desired effect. I love both mascaras but when it comes down to it, Rimmel wins this time round as I find it better separates my lashes and it doesn't break the bank either!

Have you tried either of these mascaras?