MAC Flamingo lipstick, new blog layout + GIVEAWAY!

I've been on the hunt for the perfect pink lipstick for months now and I think I finally found it! I've always loved the idea of having a nice pink lipstick that I can fall back on but I've never actually been able to find the right shade of pink. Almost all pink lipsticks look awful on me but when I saw MAC's Flamingo on someone else, I thought that I might have found the pink lipstick.

MAC's Flamingo

MAC's Flamingo

MAC's Flamingo lipstick is a limited edition lipstick that was most recently released as part of the All About Orange range. I was able to grab one during a restock of the collection but it's since sold out on both the Australian and US MAC websites.

Flamingo is a lustre lipstick and it's glossy on my lips. It's not quite sheer but it's definitely not a full opaque lipstick. It's kind of like a muted (MAC) Chatterbox lipstick or a fun and outgoing version of (MAC) Creme Cup. It's definitely an everyday lipstick that doesn't wash me out and gives a bit of colour to my lips.

Indoors facing sunlight

Indoors facing sunlight

Face of the day:

Laura Mercier Silk Crème Foundation in Bamboo Beige

Make Up For Ever Full Cover Concealer in shade 7

MAC Studio Finish Concealer in NC20

NARS Laguna Bronzer

Maybelline Mega Plush Mascara

MAC Eyebrow Pencil in Lingering

MAC lipstick in Flamingo

Photo taken indoors near a window/sunlight

Photo taken indoors in natural lighting

Now, I unintentionally ended up with 3 of these lipsticks so I've decided to give one away to one of my followers as a celebration for my new blog layout! If you haven't noticed, I changed my blog layout and I'm over the moon with how it looks now :) I worked with the amazing Sharnee from Suck My Lolly. I know that it can be really hard to find someone to design blog layouts so although I paid her for her work, I made sure that she put a little credit section for herself on my sidebar so go check her out if you're looking for someone to do a little magic on your blog :)

Onto the giveaway:

This giveaway will be done through Rafflecopter so make sure that you enter through the Rafflecopter form. The giveaway will end in 3 weeks!

It's an international giveaway but you must be following me via Google Friend Connect (GFC). The lipstick will be shipped out to the winner within 2 weeks after the giveaway finishes and please make sure that you have your parents permission to give me your address (to ship the lipstick to) if you're under the age of 18 (if you're the winner).

Good Luck!

What's your favourite pink lipstick?

a Rafflecopter giveaway

MAC Marilyn Monroe

When this collection was released a few weeks ago, I really wanted to buy the Love Goddess lipstick.
However, the lipstick retails for AUS$38 which I thought was excessive when it was priced at US$16.50 and CDN$20 (although they also have to pay taxes on top). The majority of the collection sold out within hours when it was released online on the US MAC website. Similarly, when Nordstrom, Bloomingdales and Macy's released the collection a few days later, they also sold out really fast.

Luckily, a friend in Canada was able to get me the Love Goddess lipstick and the Legendary blush. She took it with her to California (had a holiday there) and shipped it to me from there. It arrived in 8 days and cost less than $5 in shipping! (She used USPS First Class International Shipping).

Packaging

Lipstick and Blush

Lipstick and Blush

Back of Packaging

The lipstick is very pigmented and reminds me of my Elizabeth Arden Cranberry Cream Lipstick (review here: http://shoppingqueenjen.blogspot.com.au/2012/09/cranberry-cream-lipstick.html).

In natural lighting

In shaded lighting

With Flash

I find that the Elizabeth Arden lipstick is creamier, although this comes a close second. It's described my MAC as a "midtone pink red".

The blush is very sheer so I didn't do a swatch of it as it wouldn't show up in photos. It's not very pigmented and gives my cheeks just a hint of colour. The container is also very flimsy and it creaks every time I open it. I'm not too impressed by it but I was drawn to it as it's limited edition and I didn't want to regret missing out on it.

I really regret missing out on the MAC Watch Me Simmer lipstick that was released earlier this year. I found it on eBay but I'm not sure if I trust the sellers :P Does anyone know of any reputable MAC resellers?

Rimmel lipsticks

Priceline started their new catalogue today so I picked up a few Rimmel lipsticks as they were buy one, get one free. I also wanted to buy some Bourjois blushes that were 30% off but the Priceline at Central Station didn't stock Bourjois at all :(

I bought 4 of the lipsticks for $24 in total so it worked out to be $6 each. The Kate Moss lipsticks retail for $11.95 each and the normal lipstick is $9.95.

I bought 2 of the same ones.

Kate 19, Kate 16 and Asian

 I bought two of the 16's as they had run out of 05 and nothing else caught my eye. I might try to exchange it at my local Priceline store.

Left to Right: Asian, Kate 16, Kate 19

Asian and 19 are very similar although Asian is a tad darker. I haven't taken great photos of the swatches but all three lipsticks are pink-er in real life and a lot brighter. I'll do a review of them on my lips later if anyone wants it.

All 3 are super creamy and pigmented. I've read lots of reviews that they last about 2-3 hours.

On a totally unrelated note, I received my $30 gift voucher from Country Road today for reaching loyalty status!

Gift Voucher

I absolutely love Country Road but I never buy it unless it's on sale. To reach loyalty status, you have to spend over $750 in 12 months. I love Country Road and rarely ever shop for clothing any where else.

On my way home today, I also bought these bottles of Lipton iced tea :) They're limited edition and have been out for about 2 weeks.

Limited Release Iced Tea

Of course I had to buy them all to try :) (the pina colada is amazing!)

Don't forget to enter my giveaway! http://shoppingqueenjen.blogspot.com.au/2012/10/50-followers-giveaway.html and I have a new post coming up tomorrow!

Cranberry Cream Lipstick

I recently received the Elizabeth Arden Cranberry Cream Lipstick from a swap on beautyheaven.com.au

When I first saw it, I was intimidated by its dark red shade and to be honest, I'd never worn red lips before. But this shade is gorgeous! It actually goes on like a deep raspberry pink colour that's very wearable. It's very creamy and gives a great colour payoff. I find that it's easiest and most precise to apply with a lip brush.

Left: One swipe
Right: 3-4 swipes

Bare lips

One *light* swipe of lipstick

Two swipes

Bare lips

Two swipes of lipstick

Outside lighting (two swipes)

This started my love affair with bright lipsticks and I'm dying for the MAC Marilyn Monroe collection to be released. There's a nice pinkish-red lipstick in that collection :)