So, let’s talk lipsticks! Obviously, you need to try lipsticks on to see if they suit you, and not just on the back of your hand. We can’t recommend that you buy these without trying them on, but we absolutely confidently can recommend that you give them a go. The first thing that you’ll notice is the smell. Like all the rest of the Karen Murrell product range, these lipsticks smell amaaaaaaaaaaazing. In fact, ever since I got them, I have been shoving them under people’s noses going “here, smell this!”. There’s no aroma of crayons or chemicals like some brands (cough Revlon cough) give off. There’s a very good reason for that, if you’ll allow me to quote here:

A woman consumes an average of nearly two kilograms of lipstick during her lifetime through drinking, eating and kissing – so keep lipstick natural! KM Lipsticks are made totally of natural ingredients. They do not contain any mineral oils, animal based material, parabens or preservatives.

In fact, their active ingredients are Candelilla wax, Evening Primrose oil (so I like to pretend that wearing this lipstick will help my PMS) and castor oil. You probably don’t want to eat two kilos of Karen Murrell in a sitting, but I can’t imagine that you’d do that anyway. What these ingredients mean is that the lipstick goes on really smoothly, and doesn’t dry out your lips at all. You’ll want to top up every hour for optimum colour and coverage, especially if you’re eating or drinking, but that’s true of everything I’ve ever worn anyway. And because we’re truly hardcore here at Pretty Pretty Pretty (and not because I am an idiot or anything, honest!), I tested the lipsticks in EXTREME conditions. They held up to being put through the washing machine, being carted around in a hot bra and having their lid jammed on while still wound up just fine. You might want to avoid leaving them in the sun for days though or they’ll get a tiny bit out of shape. But now onto the colours themselves!

First up we have Cordovan Natural. This is a little bit brown. I find it’s the perfect lipstick to wear to job interviews, because it’s obvious that you’re actually wearing lipstick so you’ve made an effort, but, like the name says, it looks really natural. Of course, I have yet to actually get a job whilst wearing it, but I suspect that has more to do with the job market than my lipstick choice.

Next up is Red Shimmer. This one is my total fav. You might remember how Megan finally helped me fufil last year’s fashion goal of wearing red lipstick with her MAC expertise? I recommend beginners start with one instead! It’s a little orangey, so better for those with yellow skintones rather than blues though. I can apply it without needing a mirror because the shimmer is more forgiving than a matte, it looks softer and doesn’t bleed. Shortly after I got this lipstick I had already put a deep curve in it, so often did I wear it. And if you’re into what your lipstick shape says about you, you’ll see that means I’m “Creative, Enthusiastic, energetic, Talkative, Loves attention, Falls in love easily, Helpful”, all of which sum up this site quite nicely too, right?

Next up is the Pink Starlet. Apparently our red lipstick queen Megan is all about the Pink now, and this one got her seal of approval. I’m not entirely sure it’s the right colour for me, because I am yellowy, but pink lipstick is definitely hot right now, and this would be a lovely one to start with.

The Violet Mousse is another subtle one that’s good for job interviews, or for wearing during the day if you’re the sort of person who wears makeup during the day. Again, I’m not certain that it’s right for me, but I think it’s a lovely shade and I wish it was!

There’s also a lip balm Moisture Stick, which has multiple uses:

Great to use overnight as an intense lip treatment. Use over lipstick as a lip-gloss and lip plumper. Creates a protection barrier against harsh weather, hot or cold. Tame unruly eyebrows. Small in size and it will not spill. Take it anywhere!

I’m definitely a fan of this range, and I’m hopeful that one day there might be even more colours (I’d love a dark lipstick), but this is a great starter palate. They’re great value for money at $25 each, and getting two for $25 is insanely great, so please, do go to a Farmers during March, try them on, and if the colours are right for you, you should stock up!

I visited Mecca recently and swatched Ellis Faas’ range of Milky and Creamy lip colours. The Milky range is subtle, with just more than a hint of pretty colour that you can tone up or down with more or less product.

But the real stand-out is the Creamy range. These are highly pigmented colours that just look stunning. If you’re serious about lip stick then you should definitely check these out (and the serious price tag $65 to go with it).

All of the Ellis Faas products are liquid, including the eye colours and blushes. They all come in the same pen-like packaging, which I think may be a bit annoying because if I were rummaging through my makeup bag I couldn’t easily tell all the products apart. But then, I think I’d be quite happy owning even just one of these beautiful cosmetics.

Ellis Faas is a famous make-up artist who has launched an interesting range of cosmetics. What’s interesting about the range is that the colours across the whole range are based on colours that occur naturally in the human body. The idea is that these colours suit every skin tone and fashion trend. And so they’ll never go out of style and all the current colours will always remain in her collection (i.e. they’re not seasonal so you’ll never be without your fave colours). That’s the idea anyway.

All the products are in liquid form too, dispensed in felt-tip pens type things.

On 23rd and 24th September, Mecca Cosmetica at Kirk’s in Welly will be having an Ellis Faas event. It costs $50 redeemable on products.

I’ve been using the Mary Kay Lip Mask for a while, usually for special occasions (you need to leave it on for a mintue or so, so not an everyday kind of thing, I mean who has a minute to spare every day?). But today my boyfriend was complaining of chapped lips, so I made him try the Lip Mask. He’s not very receptive to me dousing his face in products (ever since a false eyelash incident where I accidentally glued his eyelids shut.) He was pleasantly surprised that the Mask was harmless, and even worked a treat. He is currently sporting satin-smooth lips without the stickiness and shininess of using a balm.

The scrub can take a bit of getting used to. It does feel a bit weird but well worth the results. And it is pricey – NZ$36.50. That’s more than I’d pay for a lip balm, and even a lipstick. But if you’re a lipstick junkie maybe it’s worth it to ensure your fave lippie looks its best on smooth lips.

I put the blue lipstick on with slummy weekend clothes and went to the supermarket. People gave me strange looks. I suspect it would go down a lot better with more makeup (but not over the top eyeshadow), and some fancy clothes somewhere like Mighty Mighty. In fact, I look forward to trying that idea out sometime soon. Now, tell me about some interesting makeup that you’ve done lately, please!