During my latest clear-out sesh I stumbled across some interesting finds: a blue glitter I was keeping just because it was so pretty though I can pretty much guarantee I’m never going to be brave enough to don it, some worn-down MAC Lipsticks that are so nude I’m not sure how I didn’t used to get them mixed up with concealer and the following three items, all once loved and now kinda lost. When I first used this trio I loved them; thought they were the next best thing, rooting and raving on their behalf. Pioneers in the field, they’ve now been overtaken by the newbies and I’ve got to face it, the new kids in the category are killing it and my old favourites are being left behind in their dust. Let’s examine…
Neutral eyeshadow palettes have been having their moment ever since the first Urban Decay Naked Palette first arrived on the scene, but when Bobbi Brown began to package up line-ups of their best-selling browns and golds from mattes to glimmers I was pretty darn excited. The quality of the shadows were unrivalled and the shade combinations a little more chic than others. The first (to my knowledge) was the limited edition Rich Chocolate Eye Palette which I did do a little gasp over when I first unclasped it. It’s a beaut. But since then we’ve had neutral palettes in abundance and there’s bigger and better out there. The Lorac Pro Palette is the first that comes to mind, but then there’s the Smashbox Full Exposure and the more recent L’Oreal La Palette Nude that all cater for a brown-hued mix of textures in a larger quantity.
For an eyeliner noob like myself the release of the Benefit They’re Real Push-Up Liner was like my feline flick prayers had been answered. A gel-liner tucked up into a silicone nib that dispenses it in a way that your perfect point is all ready done for you is kind of genius. It was the first time that I’d ever been able to conjure up an eyeliner look that resembled some kind of symmetry. Then Lily told me I had to try the Tom Ford Eye Defining Pen and man was she right. I thought I’d experienced near perfection with the Benefit liner, but the Tom Ford was on another level. With a thin, shorter nib and a longer, thicker one on the other end you can go for something subtle or stunning and gone are the days of felt tip. Oh no. This bad boy is like loads of little brush fibres all gathered together which means no dragging and the precisest line your hand can give. Sorry Benefit, Tom wins this one.
Finally we’ve got to talk liquid lipsticks. My first introduction to the formula came from the Hourglass Opaque Rouges. Over the years I’ve tried a few but my favourites are the pinky-toned red Muse and the orange-red Riviera. Though application took a bit of getting used to, I loved the longevity of these and despite touch-ups and flaking being a bit of a problem I could handle it for the colour and the fact that they were pizza-proof. Then the Bourjois Rouge Edition Velvets came along and the touch-up and flaking problems were gone. Layering was a piece of cake and despite there being a bit of dryness, as with any matte finish, there was no ‘it looks like my lips are slowing wearing off my face’-ness to be seen. If Bourjois ever come out with a shade similar to Riviera then my life will be complete. Bourjois – you listening?
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