Kryolan Lip N' Cheek

Kryolan is a brand I have been aware of for over 10 years now, and one that has created some of my all time favourite kit staples. What I would do if I lost any of Dermacolour palettes, god only knows!

 For the average beauty shopper however it seems Kryolan is a brand known by very few. Especially amongst my friends at home in the North, who found themselves in beauty heaven when I introduced them to my favourite items from the range in London's Charles Fox last weekend.

Charles Fox and their imaginative window!

If you too are new to this brand, then here is a quick overview of the important bits you should know!

• The brand was started by Arnold Langer, and now run by his grandchildren. A real family company!
• Launched in Berlin in 1945, they have been supplying make-up to TV and Theatre for over 66 years
• Kryolan has an extensive range of over 16,000 products and is a favourite with professionals
• They use their own recipes and formula's to manufacture their own products
• Kryolan products have never been tested on animal

Recently, Kryolan's newest product Lip N' Cheek has been brought to my attention, and quickly made its way into my kit bag! This multi-purpose product is available in 11 shades, from beautiful nudes to bolder hues, they all create a soft subtle hint of colour. It is also water resistant, making it ideal for weepy brides, those with oilier skin and for us gym bunnies! Who doesn't want to look good at the water cooler?!

The three shades I have been using are of the orange tone family.

Hibiscus, is perfect for a very natural, daytime glow. Petunia adds a pretty apricot hue whilst Poppy gives that kick of tangerine, sheer enough for even the most bright shy. All three looked lovely against my ivory skin tone but I think Poppy will look come into its own against a sun kissed tan!

Packaged similar to a lip gloss, with an angled applicator for ease of use, you get a mighty 10ml of product within a handy size tube. Ideal for your make-up bag or that unused handbag pocket!

Whats really clever is the formula. Its smooth enough to easily blend using your fingers onto the cheek area, yet applies precisely to instantly stain the lip area. Although I'm a fan of matte lipstick, I did prefer applying a touch of lip balm about 10 minutes before the tint and a a small top up after, just to stop my lips looking a little chapped.

I'm sure once the warmer weather arrives this will be unnecessary, but until then, its balm all the way for me!

Overall, this is definitely a product I will be investing more into- especially the girly pink shade Lotus, which I think will fly off the shelves of Charles Fox this summer! So, if you are looking for a pretty flush, perfect for the summer sun or emotional weddings, look no further than Kryolan Lip N' Cheek. 

Hibiscus, Poppy and Petunia

No7 Stay Perfect Lip Stain

When you are a lipstick devotee like myself, you are always on the hunt for the latest miracle product offering that perfect pout all day long.

When I heard that my beloved No7 were launching a lip stain, in a design similar to a felt tip pen, I was intrigued. In the past I have tried Stay Perfect Lip Lacquer, which, due to the liquid formula is rather tricky to apply. Especially if, like me, you are always late and tend to rush your lippy application on a moving train!! They are also not to be used in situations involving wine. Trust me on this one girls!

Available in five shades, ranging from a pretty nude to a striking red, with plum pinks in-between, there is a Stay Perfect Lip Stain shade for every cosmetic eventuality. 

These slim double-ended pens feature the stain on one end and a moisturising clear lip balm on the other. As a women with minimal handbag space, this is a win win situation.
 No7 have also cleverly created a 'double lid' to the stain end- meaning that even if the cap comes off, the nib itself won't be damaged or dry out! The team over at No7 are obviously very intelligent indeed!

Image- Boots.com

Being a red lip obsessive, I dived straight for 'Ruby'-  a pink toned red. 

The pointed nib makes for precise application and I'm sure most of you can achieve a perfect edge to your lips using it. But if, like me you have an uneven lip line or you haven't got the most steady of hands, you may find it beneficial to apply a lip liner in a similar shade before hand. 

Remember, this is a stain- meaning one small slip, and you may resemble a child who has drank far too much cherryade. Definitely not the desired effect!

Merely seconds after application, the stain has dried, leaving my lips with a pretty red flush yet feeling like there is nothing on them at all! The beauty of these stains, is that you can re-apply for added depth of colour- something I have been unable to do with previous purchases, as it has tended to feel sticky and overloaded.

As with all lip stains, my lips quickly feel dry, but after a slick of the clear balm my lips are re-hydrated and left with a subtle sheen rather than a heavy gloss. It's essential to reapply the balm throughout the day not only to prevent dryness, but this also helps to keep your colour even.

After 12 hours of wear, 2 meals and endless glasses of water, I'm pleased to say my lips are still looking perfectly polished!

Looks like I may have found another favourite to my red lip collection!