SPOTLIGHT: Favourite May & June 2020 LOTD's...

If you follow my Instagram account, you would have noticed that instead of the regular five-days-a-week appearances, my LOTD uploads are somewhat sporadic and erratic. Due to COVID, I'm only heading into the office every second week, and while I'm still wearing makeup just about every day, I'm saving my dress-ups (and consequently my LOTD pics) for those days when I go to the workplace. Consequently, I've not had many lip love photos to choose from, but below are what I put together from the May & June limited assortment...

What's been interesting is that my lipstick application skills soon deteriorate if I don't keep up the practice, so some of these are a bit lopsided - anyways the colours and textures are what count, right?

1. Colourpop Ultra Metallic Lip - DM. A regular, I trot this out when I'm wearing golden browns from my wardrobe. In July last year, I said it was too drying and was going to toss it, but in the end, I couldn't bear to do it as I've nothing else quite like it, and I solved the problem by applying a thin layer of balm underneath ♥...

2. NYX SlipTease Lip Lacquer - Shady. You'll see these fairly often as they are totally fabulous - full review of the majority of the shades is HERE. Still can't believe I picked these up for $7 each from Priceline ♥...

3. Revlon Colorburst Lacquer Balm - Coy. I've had this for ages and I'm bamboozled as to why I've never worn it. Lost in a sea of lip products, I'm delighted I singled it out. It's gorgeous - creamy, moist, wears pretty well, super convenient being in crayon form, and I just adore the colour ♥...

4. Antipodes - South Pacific Coral. Received this in a surprise gift from the brand, and I wear it fairly regularly. It's actually a lot brighter in the tube but I'm experimenting with different lip liners underneath to see if I can get it to really pop. Fabulous formula, sooooo comfortable ♥...

5. Maybelline Color Sensational Rebel Bloom - Rose Rush. Seems to be only available on eBay now - such an unusual and pretty orangey-pinky-red. I'll keep wearing it though in the hope that MNY changes their mind and brings it back - LOVE IT! ♥...

6. Seraphine Botanicals Vegan Berry Tint - Cherry Cream.  Three years old and still going strong. Supremely comfortable with brilliant coverage and wears well. Although it does get a little dry after a few hours, reapplication is smooth and makes it all creamy again ♥...

7. Maybelline Superstay Matte Ink - Pioneer. How about that red hey? These liquid lippies are astonishingly good - methinks I need a few more in my kit. Their lasting power is amazing, and the comfort-factor is way up there ♥...

8. Avon Mark Lipstick - Berry Cute.  Love the name, the colour, the formula - I think this is appearance #4 in my faves posts, will definitely be a fifth ♥...

9. IBY Beauty High Intensity Lipstick - Mardi Gras. I keep this for the shade - it has a very high blue content which makes it just the right colour for several outfits. It's a little drier than other formulas, but my obsession with matching is stronger than my desire for comfort lol ♥...

Would any of these suit you?

Take care of you, and keep your loved ones safe,

kats xxx

SPOTLIGHT: Favourite February 2020 LOTD's...

I hope all of you are coping ok with this virus nightmare, and pray there will be an end to it soon. In these troubled times of health and economic uncertainty, I am SO fortunate to be able to work from home, and only venture out to pick up essentials at the supermarket (masked and gloved) or for a neighbourhood power walk in the fresh air. I'm certainly grateful for the extra hour's sleep because I don't have to travel or get all dolled-up, but I have to remind myself to take regular breaks, to get up and move around, and hit the treadmill in the evenings - it's so easy to stay glued to the computer all day and half the night, and that's not good for anyone. But unlike so many others, I'm counting my blessings that I still have a job, and while the usual routine is out the window (believe it or not I didn't wear ANY makeup last week) I'm determined to keep up with the usual blog posts for as long as I can...

Let's start with some uplifting reds hey...

1. PUR Cosmetics Velvet Matte Liquid Lipstick - Key Red. Such a beautiful cream, such a sensational shade, and I give it a 9.5/10 comfort factor. There are so few matte liquid lipsticks that I can heap praise on, but this is one of them! It was actually gifted to me by a beautyheaven member as part of a Christmas 2017 Secret Santa ♥...

2. Maybelline Colorsensational Made For All - Red For Me. Lots of appearances in the Faves, and there'll be lots more - I reviewed the whole range HERE ♥...

3. Seraphine Botanicals Vegan Berry Tint - Cherry Cream. Another gorgeous cream that first appeared in July 2017 - it just keeps on keeping on, and how lustrous and lush is that red?! Still knocks me for six how well this covers all my freckly spots ♥...

4. David Jones Moisture Cream Lipstick - Honey Gold. I don't know if DJ's make their own lipsticks any more - they're not listed on their website, so maybe not. All the same, they knew what they were doing - this actually came in a Deluxe Sampler Tote in February 2016, which makes it at least 4 years old, yet that divine burnt orange hue still packs a punch and keeps my lips soft and supple all day ♥...

5. Colour Theory - Love Me Coral. Still crushing on this $5 range - there are two more of the shades down below, and 10 in the set - I've written up and swatched five of them (HERE) and the post of the other five is coming soon ♥...

6. Maybelline Color Drama Intense Velvet Lip Pencil - In With Coral.  Still in love with these gems - reviewed most of the set back in 2015 when they first came out (HERE). I hope the MNY design team member who came up with these was given a huge bonus for creating a brilliant formula in a wide range of colours for such a low price - they've certainly stood the test of time, and the odd shade or two is still available from Priceline ♥...

7. Maybelline Colorsensational - Mauve For Me. Sigh. I've said it all before, and many times over - one of my all-time favourite shades, and formulas ♥...

8. Maybelline Colorsensational Matte - Touch of Spice. Crikey here's another oldie but a goodie - I've just done a search and this one appeared for the first time in August 2016. Lipsticks are supposed to be binned after two years, but I can't bear to part with anything past that when it still looks fabulous on, smells perfectly normal, and keeps my lips hydrated - Roger that ♥...

9. Colour Theory - Vintage Crop. It was a very good year for this shade, credit to the vintner for creating a hue that's halfway between a rosé and a grenache ♥...

10. Nutrimetics NC Hydra Brilliance - Marshmallow. A Limited Edition (50th Anniversary) - why oh WHY did I not buy a few of these? One word - divine! ♥...

11. Maybelline Smoked Roses - Dusk Rose.  Reviewed three from the range HERE, and then went back for this stunner. Can't for the life of me figure out why I ummed and ahhed over this slayer as they were half price at the time. I guess it was because the hand swatch wasn't a patch on how it turned out on my lips. Anyways, I adore it so much I don't give a hoot that I had to pay a bit more for it ♥...

12. Colour Theory - Boyz-N Berry. Yes, another of the $5 lip smackers, fruity fresh and berry bright ♥...

Would love to know if there's one here you like more than the others ♥...

Take care of you, and keep your loved ones safe,

kats xxx

SPOTLIGHT: Favourite April 2019 LOTD's...

This April LOTD's post was supposed to go up in May, and being so late, I considered combining these 12 darlings with this month's selection. But there were just too many gorgeous shades to cull, so another lippie post will be coming your way hot on the heels of this one ♥...

Given we've hit winter, let's start with the ones that look like they're chock-full of Vitamin C ♥...

1. NYX Cosmic Metals Lip Cream - Speed of Light. Being a limited edition, and only available now on Amazon and eBay, I should really stop teasing you with pics of this beauty. On the other hand, I keep hoping that if there are still current mentions on the web of how FANTASTIC this range was, NYX might reconsider and bring it back ♥...

2. Innoxa Summer Matte - Tangerine. A fabulously citrus orange hey - this one I've had for ages, and it's still a regular in my repertoire because non-streaky lipsticks in this shade are rare, thank you Innoxa! ♥...

3. Bourjois Rouge Velvet The Lipstick - Brownette. Brown lippies that are rich and lush are also few and far between, but fortunately, Bourjois appreciates the desire some of us gals have for something as warm and toasty as this earthy babe ♥...

4. Nutrimetics Silk Creme Lipstick - Chilli. One of the most comfortable formulas in my experience, I reviewed these HERE and loved them so much I bought the three above, plus a couple more in the plums and pinks section below. All very similar sassy shades, but sufficiently different for someone who appreciates the tint variations. Chilli is bright and bold and leaning towards the warmer orangey spectrum ♥...

5. Nutrimetics Silk Creme Lipstick - Scarlet. Scarlet is blood red - no mistaking it's bold and potent haemoglobin content, Dracula would be drooling over this ♥...

6. Nutrimetics Silk Creme Lipstick - Rhubarb. A challenge for both my camera to capture and your monitor to display, this one is softer and more subtle IRL than the other two reds, with a couple of drops of pink added to make it a tad less scary if reds have you thinking twice. I think you'll agree though that all three are stunners ♥... 

7. Nutrimetics Silk Creme Lipstick - Plum. Be still my beating heart - there are moments like this when I think plum is my absolute favourite lippie shade ♥...

8. Chi Chi Viva La Viva Lipstick - Lady Bump. Oh, joy of joys, even though I've had this for yonks, their website still has it listed - one of the most divine plum/berry lipsticks to ever grace the cosmetic shelves, awesome price and moisture-rich formula. Wear this if you want to slay, and I mean no prisoners lol ♥...

9. Rimmel Lasting Finish by Kate - 30. Another one that could sway me away from all the other hues if it wasn't for my rainbow wardrobe. Kate knows her berries, and this is super sweet, succulent and juicy fruit all the way ♥...

10. NYX Intense Butter Lip Gloss - Spice Cake. And then, of course, there is Spice Cake, which makes me yearn not for cake, but a strudel with cream cheese and blackberries. I swear when I wear this I'm salivating all day, but I don't need to lick my lips as this gloss keeps them super soft and supple between meals ♥...

11. Nutrimetics Silk Creme Lipstick - Violet. The perfect transition shade if you've grown weary of pink but you're not quite ready to take the plunge into the berry deep-end. In case you hadn't noticed, I'm madly in love with this new Nutrimetics range ♥...

12. Rimmel Lasting Finish by Kate - 20. One decibel away from Barbie-land, this always lifts my spirits and I can laugh at whatever challenges life throws at me. Kate also knows her pinks ♥...

Any faves here? Have a brilliant long weekend lovelies!

Take care of you,
kats xxx

SPOTLIGHT: Favourite March 2019 LOTD's...

Given I have such an acute obsession with lipstick, I've always wanted to send a massive "thank you!" into the ether to whoever invented it. So I did a bit of digging (aka googling) and yes, no one knows who came up with it, but the practice of colouring the lips can be traced back at least 5,000 years. And in those early days, red lip colourant was often extracted from highly toxic substances that eventually poisoned the wearer, and apparently, this is where the term "kiss of death" comes from. Whoa - who knew? Fast forward to today when we still need to be careful with what we use to decorate our pouts, but fortunately, there is a multitude of choices available, both in formulation ingredients and presentations, so let's just say I'm eternally grateful to anyone and everyone who has contributed to the evolution of this most magically uplifting cosmetic ♥...

And so here we go with the products and hues that clanged my chimes in March ...

1. Revlon Super Lustrous - Bronze Beauty. Have had this one for a long long time - according to the purists I should have tossed it 2 years ago, but it's still going strong, comfortable, no colour change and doesn't have a weird smell. Ok, so I'm not a purist lol ♥...

2. Mirenesse 3D Forever Gloss - Star Struck. Another one that's older than I care to admit, but I just ADORE the colour, and they don't make it any more sob ♥...

3. David Jones Moisture Cream - Terracotta. This autumn stunner is a long time favourite, and exactly 2 years old - I guess you can tell that I was rummaging through my aged lippie box in March! Seriously though I've had a major blitz in the last couple of months and tossed out a whole bunch so that I can rotate my precious lippies more frequently ♥...

4. Appeal Cosmetics Ultra Shine Liquid Lipstick - Vixen. This one hasn't made an appearance in these posts since 2017, but I have been wearing it fairly regularly - it's the ultimate in glossy red liquid lipsticks, but you definitely need a lipliner as it has a tendency to bleed, well on me anyway ♥...

5. Mirenesse Mattfinity Rouge - Ibiza. This one is still available - luscious formula, intense colour, supremely comfortable, but not really a matte (thank goodness!) ♥...

6. Rimmel The Only 1 Matte - High Flyer. Love this nudey pink - I have a few from this range and they are very kind on the lips. I've binned all the ultra-drying lip products I had in my kit, but this one is a stayer ♥...

7. Jane Iredale Triple Luxe Long Lasting Naturally Moist - Ella. Oh oh oh, this was a freebie at the beautyheaven Glosscars event. The formula is to die for - so rich and creamy, silky smooth, and it even survived a meal. More please! ♥...

8. Covergirl Katy Kat Matte - Catoure. A regular in these posts, there's something about this shade that I just love on my skin, and it's also one of the non-lip-shrivelling mattes left in my collection ♥...

9. Lacura Photo-Fit - London. Discovered this range last November, and I've been a fan ever since. There's a fabulous red and hot pink too, but this mauve has won my heart ♥...

10. Maybelline Colorsensational - Pink Me Up. I admit I have now let this one go - they don't make it any more, and while it was way paler than I normally wear, I loved pairing it with the occasional pastel outfit ♥...

11. NYX Cosmic Metals - Fuchsia Fusion. My ultimate hot pink gloss of all time - these were a limited edition and I'm totally bummed as they were unquestionably the best metallic lip glosses I've ever tried. NYX, please reconsider!!! ♥...

12. Revlon Ultra HD Metal Matte Lip Color - Dazzle. One of the few matte liquid lipsticks I've kept - it's quite drying but I simply can't let this fabulous orchid purple go ♥...

Well lovelies, that's it for March - April will follow soon!

Take care of you,

kats xxx

SPOTLIGHT: Favourite December 2018 LOTD's...

Another lipstick love-fest! Somehow or other I'm always a month behind with these LOTD posts so there may be another one before the end of Feb if I can catch up. I was hammering the reds and bricks in December, but there'll be more pinks and softer hues in the next collection ♥... 

In case I don't get to post again before the 14th, Happy Valentines to all the lovers in the world! Although in my book, if you love someone I reckon every day should be Valentines Day ♥♥♥

1. NYX Intense Butter Gloss - Chocolate Crepe. I'm always banging on about these glosses to any gal who will listen - they're just the best! Super pigmented, creamy and very kind to dry lips. An awesome range of colours too ♥...

2. Essence Melted Chrome Liquid Lipstick - Iron Heart. Chrome lip products are hit and miss with me - this one's a hit, stunning red and comfortable to wear ♥...

3. Nutrimetics nc Hydra Brilliance 50th Anniversary Lipstick - Marshmallow. This one keeps appearing here, love everything about this range ♥...

4. L'Oreal Infallible Lipstick - Forever Frappe. One of the best bricky orange-reds around, deliciously moist, love L'Oreal lippies ♥...

5. NYX Cosmic Metals Lip Cream - Speed of Light. After featuring this so many times I probably don't need to say too much, other than ADORE ♥...

6. MUD Full Colour Lip Lacquer - Vintage Pink. Another one that keeps coming up in these posts, such a soft and feminine coral ♥...

7. Bourjois Rouge Laque - Selfpeach. Weird name as there's nothing very peachy about this hue, but what a fabulously bold red/orange it is - goes on so smooth and slick ♥...

8. Bourjois Rouge Edition 12 Hours - Red Belle. A lovely formula that lasts for at least 6 hours, whoa! ♥...

9. NYC Lipstick - Ruby. Cheap and cheerful, the pigmentation is exceptional for the price, I should buy more from this brand ♥...

10. NARS Audacious Lipstick - Grace. Can't decide if this is pink or red, but I do know it's gorgeous ♥...

11. Chi Chi Viva La Diva Lipstick - Countess. Have had this one for almost four years, and every time I toss it in the bin, I take it back out again. No change to the formula or smell - it's magical! ♥... 

12. Maybelline Colour Drama Intense Velvet Lip Pencil - Berry Much. Here's hoping MNY keeps making these - this is such a divine berry, and I love that I can use it as a lipliner too ♥...

13. Maybelline Colorsensational Lipcolor - Fifth Avenue Fuchsia. Dreamy, creamy, this is what Barbie wears when she wants to be taken seriously ♥...

14. Australis Colour Inject Moisturising Mineral Lipstick - Mash Up. A smidgen more blue takes this over the edge into purple-land, a winning formula from Australis - lush and moist ♥...

15. Revlon Ultra HD Matte Lipcolour Metallic - Dazzle. The metallic finish is almost non-existent - actually I don't get how you can have a matte metallic, but I can't get enough of this colour so who cares ♥...

More soon lovelies!

Take care of you,

kats xxx

SPOTLIGHT: Favourite November 2018 LOTD's...

Another month of lip slickers, although not so many to choose from as I wasn't working and therefore not getting all dolled up every day. But I still managed an array of colours - when you love lipsticks as much as I do, there's very little chance of NOT wearing something, even if not venturing out in public ♥...

There are four brand-newbies here, and I also took advantage of the downtime to revisit some of the long-forgotten nude-ish shades in my collection, and I'm so glad I did as there were some darlings languishing at the back of the box...

1. Hikari Lip Crayon - Armour. Fabulously bold red with the barest hint of blue, beautifully moist and comfortable to wear ♥...

2. Lacura Photo-Fit Lipstick - Paris. One of those "special buys" that Aldi is famous for. This stunning red is smooth, sleek and a moisture-rich delight on the lips. Here's hoping this range (all with capital city names) is added to the permanent collection ♥...

3. Bellapierre Cosmetics Mineral Lipstick - Sassy. Such a pretty coral shade, this came in a Lip Monthly bag ♥...

4. Revlon Superlustrous Lipstick - Peach Me. This is one that I buy on repeat - the colour is so flattering, it's wearable all year round, and Revlon lippies are great value ♥...

5. Rimmel Moisture Renew Lipstick - Iced Coffee. An old fave, I trot this one out fairly regularly - it's a beaut neutral shade that goes with so many things ♥...

6. Covergirl Katy Kat Matte Lipstick - Catoure. One of my favourite nudes, and one of the best matte-ish formulas around ♥...

7. ModelCo Lip Lacquer - Casablanca. From memory, I scored this on a magazine cover. Another great nude, and I like the glossy finish although it's a wee bit sheer and needs a liner underneath ♥...
8. Lacura Photo-Fit Lipstick - London. My #1 discovery in November, I reviewed the whole range HERE. Absolutely ADORE this - could easily wear it every day ♥...
9. Lacura Photo-Fit Lipstick - Milan. Awesome pink, these are the best lipsticks that Aldi has produced so far ♥...

10. Maybelline Colordrama Intense Velvet Lip Pencil - Fuchsia Desire. I doubt I'll ever stop loving these crayons - reviewed HERE, and they're obviously still so popular - this range is now four years old, one of Maybelline's greatest successes ♥...

11. MBA Cosmetics Liquid Matte Lip Color - Immortal. How divine is this purple, and considering it's a liquid matte, comfortable ♥...

12. Essence Wanted Sunset Dreamers Marble Lipstick - Rise Into Sunset. Another gorgeous one for those of us with a passion for purple, creamy and moist, cheap as chips, but alas, a limited edition ♥...

That's it for another month - would love to know if any of these appeal to you ♥

Take care of you,
kats xxx

SPOTLIGHT: Favourite July 2018 LOTD's...

As promised, this is my LOTD catch-up post - just for the record, these collages are so interesting for me as I have zero conscious recollection of the lipsticks I've worn in previous months, and this collection is particularly revealing as there's only one true red - what on earth was I thinking? It's all a bit odd as I almost always wear at least one scarlet lippie in a week, but obviously NOT in July lol...

Oh and I have a special giveaway at the end, so please read on ♥...

1. I think this is my favourite plum of all-time - Max Factor Color Elixir Giant Pen Stick in Intense Plum. Oh Max baby, PLEASE bring this back! ♥

2. Here's one for the bargain hunters - boe professional Colour Last Lipstick in Primped - beautiful formula and it's a steal for only $8.95 at BigW ♥...

3. The Lone Red is essence Bring the Glam On Star Lipstick in shade 01. The bullet is creamy and lush, and in the shape of a star - so very cute, but in reality, not all that practical ♥...

4. This gorgeous bricky shade is Milani Cinnamon Spice - another one I hope one day they will bring back (why do I fall in love with discontinued lippies?) ♥...

5. Next is one of my favourite browns for Autumn/Winter, Maybelline ColorSensational Lipstick in Bronze Metal - I do so love this range for comfort and value ♥...

6. And number 6 is Rimmel Lasting Finish Lipstick in Coffee Shimmer - not quite so daring as the previous one, but gorgeously earthy all the same ♥...

7. Next we have the find of the month, LipMonthly Lipstick, shade 02. Wowee, what an unusual colour - I'd describe it as burnt orange, and I absolutely adore it. I guess it was only a matter of time before LipMonthly released their own range, and if this is any indication, bring it on! ♥...

8. Ohh...the darling (and most expensive @ $46) of the bunch (thanks to beautyheaven) - Bobbi Brown Crushed Lip Color in Watermelon. There are no words, just ♥♥♥♥♥♥...

9. And another gem from a LipMonthly bag - this is a matte, but a comfortable one, City Color Be Matte Lipstick in Melon ♥...

10. Yay, the pretty pinks, starting with Mirenesse French Kiss Lip Cocktail in Bijoux - this lippie is beautifully moist, wears well too ♥...

11. 2nd from Mirenesse - this is their unbelievably sensational Lip Bomb, shade #3. I have quite a few of these and MUST dig them out because they really are something special - the pigmentation is extraordinary ♥...

12. I need to buy another one of these - MBA Cosmetics Color Rich Lipstick in Mauvalicious. It's the most exquisite feminine girly frosted pink, n'est pas? ♥...

13. On the home stretch now, and into my precious PURPLES. On the left is Australis Colour Inject Moisturising Mineral Lipstick in Mash Up. Sadly no longer listed on their website...sob. They seem to have gone ballistic with their GIRLBOSS range, so it would appear the lippies are on the way out ♥...

14. Another from MBA Cosmetics, and so dear to my heart - Heliotrope ...sigh...♥

15. And lucky last is Colourpop Satin Lips in So Wavy - not crazy about the formula, but the colour speaks to me in the language of love ♥...

And now for the giveaway!

So I ordered some lipsticks from Nutrimetics when they were on special recently, and I have two to give away to whoever thinks they could use them...

• Hydra Brilliance - Amber, a soft peach
• Hydra Brilliance - Garnet, a soft red (swatch of my one is HERE)

And because this will be a very small and lightweight package (no extras!), this giveaway is open...

INTERNATIONALLY!!! 

Here's how to enter...

1. Leave a blog post comment on this page that answers the question inside the Rafflecopter (please note: if you don't leave a comment on this page, you won't be included in the draw!)
2. Leave your email address inside the Rafflecopter so I can contact you if you win
3. Follow my blog one way or another from the many choices listed
4. Only one entry per person, please read the T's & C's inside the Rafflecopter

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
This giveaway is now closed  - check back later tonight to see who won!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Woo hoo! - random.org has chosen the beautiful Meedee as the winner.  

Congratulations gorgeous! 

Meedee please respond to the email I've sent you by

Saturday 29th September to claim your prize :-)

Edit: Meedee has claimed her prize

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Best of luck to all who enter!

Take care of you,

kats xxx