REVIEW: OHLEO Cosmetics Creme Long Lasting Lipsticks - All Dolled Up Collection

Almost three months ago I bought two of these All Dolled Up Collection packs from OHLEO Cosmetics (and the makers of that fantabulous Breeze Balm) - one to keep and one to give away (congrats again Lady L.) - and it's only now that I've had the time to review these gorgeous lipsticks. I first discovered them back in June when I bought some loose ones when they were on special for a ridiculously low price. They still have a couple of the colours for sale, but sadly this collection is no longer listed on their website - I don't know whether that means it's discontinued or simply out of stock. They've recently released some tinted lip balms, so maybe that's what they'll be focussing on in the future. In any event, they are luxurious and luscious lippies, so in case they come back online or you fancy picking up the remaining KELLY or CHELSEA shades, here we go with the review...

The box contained four lipsticks in glamourous rose-gold cases with OH LEO engraved around the base section, and the inner bullet case is etched with the phrase You are Fierce. The formulas are all pretty much the same, although one seems to be a little less glossy than the others, but not drying in any way. They wear very well (survived yoghurt and berries brekky) and keep my lips comfy and supple all day. With no discernible fragrance, they are paraben-free and made in the USA ♥...

BECKY...

Such a pretty pink, but too pale for moi - I reckon it needs someone with blonde hair and a suntan! I recently did a cull of my entire collection, but I've kept this as I love the formula and can make it wearable by using a deeper lip-liner underneath ♥...

BRITNEY...

Love this shade - the bullet is almost a pastel terracotta and when swatched on my hand it has quite a bit of orange content, but on my lips, it turns out a soft slightly corally nude. While the others finish with a fair amount of gloss, this one is more satin. Super flattering and a bit different from the usual nudey pinks ♥...

KELLY...

My fave from the bunch - a fabulous fuschia that's the perfect antidote to a dull day. Isn't she gorgeous? Bold and sassy, I've worn this one the most so far ♥...

CHELSEA...

This one looks almost neon in the tube but applies as a reasonably subtle orange that I simply adore. No streaks either, which is a common complaint with lipsticks in this hue ♥...

Love these lipsticks, and I hope Breeze Balm will continue to make them available as I would gladly repurchase for myself, or for a gift ♥...

Take care of you, and keep safe,

kats xxx

7 Year Bloggiversary Giveaway!...

Holey guacemoley - I've been doing this for 7 years? I remember the excitement (and trepidation) I felt when I uploaded my very first blog post in September 2013 (HERE) - would anyone read it? does the world need yet another blogger? can I maintain the commitment? All these doubts were running through my head as I hit the upload button, but encouraged and inspired by the beautyheaven beauties I'd made friends with over the years, it happened, and I'm still here! I'm not posting twice weekly any more, and the content has changed a bit, but it's still based on pretty things, things that I love. So to celebrate yet another milestone of my mumbles and musings, I decided to put together a giveaway bundle of those beauty items that I write about most frequently and are dearest to my heart - lipsticks and perfume! ♥...

So if fragrance and lippies are your thing, I hope you'll like what I've put together:

• Britney Spears Hidden Fantasy EDP 100ml
• Britney Spears Island Fantasy EDP 100ml
• MCoBeauty Limited Edition Fruity Beauty 6 Piece Lipstick Collection
• Nutrimetics Floral Bloom Gift Set - contains 8ml Rollerball EDT & 50m Body Lotion
• OHLEO Cosmetics All Dolled Up Collection Creme Long Lasting Lipsticks - Becky (bright pink), Britney (mauve), Kelly (fuchsia) & Chelsea (orange) 
• W7 Kiss Kit - Red Alert - contains Mega Matte Lip Liner (Red), Lippy Chic (Tongue & Cheek) & Glam Gloss (Too Hot!)
• W7 Kiss Kit - Bare It All - contains Mega Matte Lip Liner (Pink), Lippy Chic (Banter) & Glam Gloss (Super Star)

All items were purchased by me and the approximate value is $300.  The giveaway is open to...

Australian Residents Only! 

Here's how to enter...

1. Leave a blog post comment on this page as per the Rafflecopter directions (please note: if you don't leave a comment on this page, you won't be included in the draw!) If you're unable to leave a comment for technical reasons, please email your answer to katshepsutt(at)gmail.com.
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

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This giveaway is now closed  - check back later tonight to find out who won!
a Rafflecopter giveaway

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

Congratulations gorgeous! 

Lady L, please respond to the email I've sent you by midnight

Wednesday 28th October to claim your prize :-)

Edit: Lady L. has claimed her prize ♥

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Best of luck to all who enter!

Take care of you, and keep safe,

kats xxx

Liptember September

Don't you just love September? It's quite possibly my favourite month of the year and always lifts my spirits. And how could it not considering it heralds the start of spring - a bevvy of blossoms and new growth in the garden, longer daylight hours, not so chilly nights and mornings, and not to forget, it's Liptember month. Every year various organisations & individuals contribute to the Liptember campaign to raise awareness of women's mental health. Chemist Warehouse is the major partner and they always have a stand at their checkout counters displaying colourful lipsticks for $5, made by W7 cosmetics. I buy these every year as they're a creamy and moist formula, the colours are so cheerful, and I'm keen to support a great cause...

There are six in the set, but I didn't buy the blue and the green - truly, apart from Halloween (will there be one this year?) I'd never wear them, but here are the other four gorgeous and totally wearable colours...

Cin Cin

Palest pastel pink and the sheerest of the set - needs to be reapplied often as it wears off quickly, but what a heavenly spring shade this is, blossoms all the way ♥...

Neon Purple

Adore this royal colour - so vibrant and lush, and it covers my freckles with a couple of swipes ♥...

Fluorescent Orange

One of the few yellowy oranges in my kit, and it goes on easily with barely any streaks ♥...

Devils Darling

I've saved the best till last - fire engines, eat your heart out! One of the best $5 reds of all time ♥...

Well worth a trip to Chemist Warehouse hey lovelies?

Take care of you, and keep safe,
kats xxx

P.S. In case you're wondering why I haven't been posting my usual social media photo frenzy, I've been blocked on Instagram for over two weeks, and there's no end in sight and no explanation. Can't like anything, can't comment.  Will just have to ride it out and cross my fingers they let me back in :-(

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 March & April 2020 LOTD's...

Sadly I missed the upload boat for the fave March LOTD's. To be honest, when I started working from home, I didn't wear any makeup for the first 10 days (until it hit me how much I missed it!) so there weren't a lot of photos to choose from, soooo...I decided to combine the March and April posts to have as wide a colour and texture range as possible to choose from, so here we go ♥...

With the start of Autumn, I trotted out some of my precious browns...

1. NYX Slip Tease Lip Lacquer - Shady. These were March's Find Of The Month. For $7 each at Priceline, I couldn't possibly resist - dense, creamy, rich and deliciously moist, my full review of the first six I bought is HERE ♥...

2. Maybelline Color Sensational - Bean There. Probably one of the last few times you'll see this in a post as I've almost hit pan, and as is often the case with my loves, it's no longer available. Still on the hunt for a replacement - I have quite a few browns in my collection, but they all have a lot of red content, whereas this darling is golden all the way ♥...

3. Colour by TBN - Mocha-Chino. This range was last year's big discovery at Price Attack. For $3.95 they can't be beat for intensity, packaging, range and comfort. This is such a pretty and soft latte ♥There are two dedicated posts for these babies, HERE & HERE ♥...
4. L'Oreal Le Rouge Lumiere - Brilliant Brown. This was one I bought from Priceline recently (online) and which I was hoping would be a replacement for the MNY Bean There above. Of course, the trap with buying lipsticks online is that rarely are the website colours accurate, and this one is leaning more towards orange. But I'm glad I indulged as it's totally gorgeous and perfect for this time of year ♥...

5. NYX Slip Tease Lip Lacquer - Modern Soul. Possibly my most favourite orange of all time. I mean how unusual is it, and so different than anything else I have. I'm totally in love with these lacquers, and because they were (and are still) $7 from Priceline, I figured the range was being discontinued, but they are still listed on the NYX Aussie site, just not these shades, so perhaps they're just doing a colour revamp? Fingers crossed ♥...

6. Colour by TBN - Why So Orange.  Another amazing orange, and one that will brighten many a dull day in the coming winter - SO vibrant ♥...

7. Colour by TBN - Roses Are Red. Well now, I could just keep on raving about these lipsticks forever, but how about this red? I reckon it would almost glow in the dark! ♥...

8. Nutrimetics Silk Creme - Chilli.  Still loving all my Nutrimetics lippies, and Chilli red is another one that will punch a massive hole in the dreary ♥...

9. Maybelline Vivid Hot Lacquer - Classic. Sometimes I just need a super-duper glossy OTT out-there red, and when I do, this is the one I reach for. Bought it mid-2018 and there's been no deterioration in the formula or wham-factor ♥...

10. Colour by TBN- Milkshake. One of the most gorgeous rosy coral pinks ever! ♥...

11. Antipodes Natural Lipstick - South Pacific Coral.  This was in a gift pack that was sent to me recently, for which I will be eternally grateful ♥ Antipodes lipsticks are so full of goodness, and they never disappoint in comfort, density and moisturising power ♥...

12. Karen Murrell Natural Lipstick - Blushing Rose. Don't you just love it when companies put out a freebie with a magazine? This was one of three colours that came with the April issue of Marie Claire. I'd been wanting to try at least one from the range for ages, but hadn't gotten around to it. At $29.95 they're not cheap, but who cares when they're riddled with nourishing ingredients that make them so good for girl ♥...

13. NYX Slip Tease Lip Lacquer - Rosy Outlook. Absolutely nuts about this shade. Have been going through a discovery phase with rose coloured lip products, and delighted with the results, given that I'd always classified this colour family as "doesn't suit me". But this darling has changed all that ♥...

14. Karen Murrell Natural Lipstick - Bordeaux Rouge. Another from the Marie Claire GWP - perfect winter red, like mulled wine, and my lips drink in all the goodness ♥...

15. Maybelline Colordrama Intense Velvet Lip Pencil - Berry Much.  These lip crayons just keep on keeping on - this baby has had many many outings, and more to come. The formula is so comfortable, and these also work brilliantly as lip liners ♥...

16. NYX Slip Tease Lip Lacquer - Negotiator. Oh oh oh. Haven't lusted after a new purple for ages, but this one has my heart ♥...

Which ones do you like?

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

kats xxx

Colour Theory Lipsticks - Part 2...

Following on from PART 1 of the Colour Theory Lipsticks, here is the second batch from the bundle that was gifted to me back in Feb - two almost impossibly pale, two that are perfect Spring pout partners, and one sassy and bold red that will no doubt appear in my monthly faves post, well at least once I stop wearing a face mask when I venture outside ...

Always On...

Pretty, but not for me - my darling grandmother would have referred to this as a "salve" (something to treat dry lips or as a sunscreen) but not a lipstick to wear out...

Sugary Sweet...

Another one that I cannot wear, but it will come in handy as a soft blush come September...

Pink Persuasion...

Now, this is more like it - I have a few soft pink items in my wardrobe that I wear only in Spring/Summer, so I'll be putting this aside for later in the year...

Pretty in Pink...

Love this pink - muted yet with enough oomph and warmth to go with light denim, soft coral and even khaki...

Swipe Right...

My pick of this bunch - juicy and bright yet soft, and with less intensity than most of my other reds. The bullet looks a smidgin more orangey in the photo than it does on my lips, but that's just lighting differences...

As you can see these are all super-moist, and my only beef with this range is that the brand labelling on the case wears off pretty quickly, and then they look a bit scruffy. But other than that, great value!

Would you wear the paler shades?

Take care of you, and keep safe,

kats xxx

Colour by TBN Lipsticks - Part 2...

Back in December (HERE), I reviewed nine of the lipsticks from the Colour by TBN range - absolutely loved them (especially for $3.95 & cruelty-free!), so much so I've been visiting my local Price Attack on a regular basis, waiting for them to restock. Well, it finally happened a few weeks ago (pre-COVID), and I found another six that, from the packaging, looked like they would serve me well, and indeed, these are all terrific for my particular colouring, although the last one is a wee bit pale but still totally wearable ♥...

There are 20 in the range, so with these six new babes, I have 15 of them! Only missing three that I really want - Going Taupeless (looks like a purple-pink), Bite Me (deep red), & Sugar & Spice (bold pink), the other two (Ice Queen & Candy Man) will be way too light, so I'll give those a miss...

And so, it's on with the swatches!...

Why So Orange...

Oh yum - doesn't get much more vibrant or juicier than this citrus delight. Has quite a bit of red in it - in fact, I'm calling it a rorange (just made that up lol) ♥...

Roses Are Red...

Who doesn't love a bold and bright red now that the weather is cooling down, the days are shorter, and dull days will be far more frequent? This hydrating scarlet is the perfect antidote! ♥...

My Milkshake...

Gee, I don't know what this has to do with milkshakes - maybe a strawberry one? Can't decide if this is a coral or a rose - either way, it's such a gorgeous colour, n'est-ce pas? ♥...

Birthday Suit...

Aptly named, this is one of those my-lips-but-better shades. On my lips it's a nude, although it does have a tinge of terracotta ♥...

Mocha-Chino...

I love a warm soft brown, and while this one is more of a latte, it will certainly see some outings with the biscuity beiges, and even the golden tans in my wardrobe ♥...

Souffle All Day...

Same goes for this one - borderline too pale but just scraped through. Love how creamy it is, makes me think of butterscotch cream pie ♥...

These are such terrific value - which one(s) would you choose for yourself?

Take care of you, and keep 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

Colour Theory Lipsticks - Part 1...

A few weeks ago the generous folks at Colour Theory sent me a surprise parcel containing most of the cosmetics from their range. I mean, there was so much in the box - nail enamels, highlighters, bronzers, lip glosses, blushes and of course, that makeup item so dear to my heart (and always on my lips), lipsticks! It will take me a while to work my way through all of the goodies, but I thought I'd start with what I've been wearing daily in the last week - half of the lippies ♥...

The Colour Theory range is only available at Amcal or Guild Pharmacies, or there is a website (HERE) where you can order most of the products. Every item (except for multi-packs) is $5, or two for $8. From what I've tried so far they are amazing value. The lipsticks are creamy, smooth, hydrating, refreshingly well pigmented, and there are 10 shades in the range - five soft pinks and nudes, and five bold shades, which if you know me, are TOTALLY up my alley lol. Because they are so moisturising they need to be reapplied fairly often, but I'd much rather that than have my lips all shrivelled by lunchtime ♥...

So let's get started with the first five...

Timeless

The first of the nudes I tried - it's such a delicate shade, but matched the outfit I was wearing perfectly. It has a hint of orange which makes it quite different from the others which are mainly pinks. Even though it is so pale, the coverage is excellent, and it complimented my complexion way better than I expected ♥...

Love Me Coral

Love me this colour - I would call it more orange than coral, but it's just plain gorgeous and surprisingly streak-free. Not too bright but with enough oomph to be noticed, I'll be wearing this quite a bit come Autumn/Winter when I want to cheer myself up ha ha ♥...

Pink Lemonade

Such a yummy pink - almost a magenta, but with a softness that's refreshingly girly, and not too loud. I wore this with a hot pink & black combo outfit and it was the perfect match. This is a shade I will wear all-year-round ♥...

Vintage Crop

My favourite so far - halfway between a plum and a berry, I just adore the fact that it has intensity without being too dramatic. I slayed them in the aisles pairing this with aqua - adore it! ♥...

Boyz-N Berry

100% berry-licious, this is almost a purple and delightfully fruity and fresh. The bullet pic was taken in natural light, and the lip one was under my cool makeup light, which is why the colour looks a wee bit different. Bold and really quite vampy, it will be perfect for the cooler weather when the darker wardrobe shades need a lift and it will undoubtedly have many outings in the future ♥...

I'm so impressed with these lipsticks - of course, I'm more partial to the brighter colours, but as you'll see in Part 2 (coming soon!), the nudes and soft pinks are ever so pretty. Thanks again Team CT for the opportunity to try these luscious lip smackers - I'm feeling very spoilt! ♥...

Have you heard of Colour Theory Cosmetics, or tried any of their lipsticks?

Take care of you,

kats xxx