LIP WARS! Sleek Pout Paint v OCC Lip Tar

 

This is smudgy because I didn't mess with it for the photo. I tidied it up with a brush afterwards!

I don't suggest these colours are dupes. They are obviously not. But they were compatible to be worn together.

Top lip: Sleek Mauve On

Lower lip: OCC Katricia

Sleek 

Not peppermint-y, neutral flavour

Maybe a little drier in the tube and more reluctant to squeeze out

Seems a lot glossier on the lip (which is odd considering the point immediately above)

May need a smidgen more product to achieve coverage - but quantities are so small it's irrelevant really

Seems less likely to transfer onto the teeth which can be a big problem with the OCC

It did quickly transfer onto the lower lip - is it more highly pigmented/stronger than the OCC? Maybe

OCC

Dries matte on the lip

Pigments seem from the photo to be less evenly distributed - I've had the OCC longer but didn't notice any problem in the tube - I have heard that some separation can occur in Lip Tars

Does have a sharp minty tang - less so than some of the other shades though - I know some people quite dislike it

Yes, I applied with sponges. I have found it works quite well with these. It's hard to keep lip-brushes clean and remove product whereas the sponges are ten-a-penny and you can easily keep them and match them to the correct shade at a later date.

• Quantities are identical.
• OCC tube marginally more workable because of the 'gradient' but you have to use brushes (or sponges) for these anyway - do not apply directly

Conclusion
Have to award the laurel wreath to Sleek. I do think it's a better product at a lower price (normally a fiver but currently 3 for £10 at the moment) and it's readily available from Superdrug or online in the UK. A clear knock-out win for Sleek. Not even a victory on points. Knock-out. OCC however do more colours and were initially aimed at the professional make-up artist (I think) who does a lot of blending. So if you are super-creative/innovative with your cosmetics then I'd suggest you get lots of the Sleek and supplement any blending shades from the OCC range.

I really rate the Sleek so I had better reiterate that I bought these myself and I've never had a product given to me for review by anyone. Lest you think I am too ardent in my support!

Jenni

Eyeko Liptastik Loudmouth + Baby Bonus/Bonus Baby

I failed with 2 of my 3 TK Maxx purchases. Nails Inc polishes not so good. Ditto OPI. The Eyeko however was another story....

All these for a fiver! Loudmouth is the one in the middle.

• Lasts for ages.
• Feels good.
• Not too sticky.
• Good value at 3 for a fiver.
• Very highly pigmented.
• So easy to apply. Foolproof actually. 
• Don't need a sharpener. Just twist the base (see pic).

(Oh, sharpeners for jumbo crayons! Do I have to buy a pen-knife and learn to whittle whilst humming "Ol' Man River" in order to sharpen my Barry M Lip Lacquers or is there a jumbo sharpener I can buy?)

UNfortunately made in China. I did not realise this because there was a label stuck over country of origin and I just tend to assume (bloody fool) that British companies get their stuff made in Britain. Or how about Europe even? Once I had broken the seal I couldn't return them.

My latest Illamasqua polishes are made in Australia! What's that all about?! I have to stop buying Illamasqua now. OK, the Australians aren't employing slave labour and beating people but the carbon-footprint implications are just plain intolerable to me.

I won't start on trade, the global economy and jobs for local people. But I SO COULD! And probably should.

On a lighter note, the next post will feature LIP WARS!

Plus a "baby bonus" pic. Granddaughter. 9 days.

Jenni

Couleur du jour?

Maybe even couleur du mois/ de l'annee!
Orange.

Illamasqua Insanity. Even WITH a bubble it's simply the best orange there is and moreover the best polish I've bought for a long time. £5 in the sale! Superb result. How chuffed am I.
3 coats is plenty. 2

So what d'you reckon is the genuine, current couleur du jour?
Orange
Coral
Other

And would that be a creme formula?

Oh, a little pointer for those who weren't sure. The large square cap on Illamasqua is MEANT to be removable. In fact you SHOULD remove it and leave the smaller cap for proper control. I have heard some say Illamasqua polishes are unwieldy. That need not be the case.

Jenni

BLOG SALE - over 60 polishes

The Revlon is Silver (actually a grey)

NEW, UNUSED
OPI (2) Miami Beet & Fiercely Fiona £4 each
China Glaze MINI First Mate £2
Barielle (2) June Bug & Myrza's Meadow (Barielles tend to separate out in storage but these ARE new) £3.75 each
Models Own (7) Concrete Mixer & Lemon Meringue & Sterling Silver & Baby Blues &Blue Moon & Champagne & Mystic Mauve £3.25 each

Illamasqua Rampage (in box) £6
Color Club Electronica £3.75
Finger Paints Blissfully Blue £3.75
Nails Inc The Hurlingham & Hays Mews & Chester Terrace £3.50 each (the latter 2 are suede)
Barry M Instant Nail Effects Black & Blue £2 each
Bourjois Orange Creation £2.50
Mavala Pure Diamond & Daring Pink & Milky £2.25 each
Revlon Silver £1

USED ONCE (probably only on one hand)
OPI (4) DS Coronation £7 & Hopelessly In Love £3.50 & Samoan Sand £3.50 & My Private Jet (new version) £6.50
Illamasqua (2) Purity and a red one that may be Ruthless £5 each

Models Own (3) Nyla Nude & Utopia & Lili's Pink £3 each
China Glaze Blue Island Iced Tea £3
Essie (4) Alligator Purse & Nutcracker Sweet & Gladioli & Lily Pond
Confetti Happy Birthday £3.50 each
BB Couture (3) Santa's Sak & Tuxedo Night & Bullfighter £3.50 each
Leighton Denny Golden Girl £5

missguided (3)  Misschievous & Missdemeanour & Missunderstood £2.50 each
RMK Holographic Blue Pink £4
Bourjois (2) Bleu model & Fuchsia provoc' £2 each
Pop Beauty (2) Violetta & Pinkest £2.50 each

Hard Candy (see photo for colour) £3.75
Sinful Colors Out of this World £2
Barry M Nail Effects Pink £2
Accessorize (2) Purple Dream & Pin-Up £2.50
Nails Inc Drury Lane £3

• P&P within the UK is £1.60 for a single polish. For the 2nd and subsequent polishes add 20p each (example: 4 polishes would be the price of the individual items + £2.20 P&P)  You're not in the UK? Please indicate this in your comment and I'll calculate a price for you.
• This is ordinary 2nd class post. I get proof of posting but if you want recorded or whatever then please ask.
• Paypal only - gift to friend (see next point)
• On ebay I have 100% feedback as jayannlay. I buy and sell on ebay and I have 289 transactions to my name. If you don't feel you can trust me and don't want to do the 'paypal friend' thing then I'm afraid we have no deal. I just don't want to pay the extra charges!

Jenni

OPI pink-astrophe gradient

Pictures first.

 

• VNL? No problem with VNL in THIS house.
• 3 coats and still streaky? Now that IS cack.
• On goes plenty FlorMar to attempt to rectify matters. Hm, tolerable.
• But I shouldn't even have bought this mini-set. Seduced by cheapitude at Tk Maxx. Serves me right, huh?
• The colours (!) are Alpine White, Bubble Bath and something along the lines of Pink-ing or Pink-est (frankly I don't care) + a RapiDry
• I'm sure the box said 'Princess Rule' but I chucked the box and I'm not going through my recycling bin just for that!

Oh, yeah. Princesses. As the mother of two daughters and grandmother of very small grand-daughter plus I'm a woman myself (yeah!) I deplore the whole girlie-princess thing. Ladies, if your idea of success is marrying some ghastly chap and sponging off him then you're welcome but I don't share your ambition and never have. Girls don't need heels as much as the ability to run fast and deal a knockout blow if absolutely necessary. Girls don't need tiaras (leave that to Elton John) as much as brains and education. Girls don't need petticoats as much as they need gumption.

In short, pink polish is fine. Pink/fluffy attitudes and aspirations? No.

Jenni
Blog sale tomorrow. Best time?

Nails Inc Augustus Street - not so august

Well, I googled it and I can't say I was impressed. Looks a bit shabby to me. The street in Camden. Ya get wot am sayin', blood? OK, that's enough of me getting down with the kids.

(BLOG SALE WILL BE MONDAY AS REQUESTED.)

The polish ain't no better. Looks good in the bottle. Not so much on the nail. And it's suede-effect! Bah. I've put RapiDry over it and it still isn't glossy. So I tried Top Rock. I'm new to RapiDry and I'm guessing it isn't even meant to provide shine. Does anyone know? The Top Rock improves it a little.

AND worse yet it's one of a set of 4 I got cheapo from TK Maxx and they are ALL suede!

Never mind.

Jenni

I can't believe it's not better! AND BLOG SALE NEWS

The photo. It's no good at all. Can't get this to show up nearly as well as it looks IRL.
 Mavala Pure Diamond over beauty uk Gun Metal.

And one in the sun.

 

Ah, well. 

BLOG SALE - launch tomorrow (Saturday) or wait until Monday? Your thoughts, please.

What's your go-to item to revive or rescue a mani or an outfit or a "face"?

I tend to slop this Mavala over pretty much anything. And a new bottle of it will be featured in the sale.

Jenni

Reports of my demise greatly exaggerated...BFF BIG FAT FAIL

The OH observed I looked dead.

The spiffing plan was to execute a funky-glitter French with OPI Extravagance. The outcome was nails that merely look grubby. Hey, you live and learn.

Jenni

beauty uk Gun Metal

A regulation shimmer/frost gunmetal but it has a tiny hint of glitz, I'd say. 2 coats are more than adequate. I have a Revlon like this - only not so good. Another impressive polish from beauty uk. Well done to them.

I'm very anti-colour these days. Couldn't bear the thought of another coral/green/yellow/blue. A little jaded.

Jenni

Leighton Denny Natural White

 

If ever I had any nail-blogger credibility I think I may be losing it. I am now starting to adore pale, natural colours beyond all reason. Time to lay up the old polish brush and retire. Oh, I can't during the long school hols because I have to have a hobby (hated word, makes me sound like someone who collects stamps and knits) to keep me off the streets.

The index finger has 4 coats of lusciousness. The others have an extra layer of FlorMar goodness. LD is a top-class brand. Thank-you TK Maxx for selling this stuff. And can you please get some more stock in.

Enjoying your summer?

Jenni