Vita Liberata | Luxury Tan (pHenomenal 2-3 Week Tan Lotion)

Winter is coming … so what better time than right now to inject some oh-so-welcomed sunshine into your beauty routine? For those of you like me living in a climate that’s beyond unpredictable (and sunlight levels dropping daily), one option is by using a self tanner to combat the pallor – but not just any product will do; introducing Vita Liberata Luxury Tan, a range of sunless tanning products made from natural origin as well as organic ingredients, with claims of providing a true-to-life sun kissed colour … and no noxious fumes. Fake bake, begone.

Hailing from Ireland and naturally pale-skinned, founder and CEO Alyson Hogg, was looking for a healthy alternative to achieving that gorgeous vay-cay bronzed glow. After disappointing efforts with other products in the market, she took matters into her own hands and created a range of self-tanners that not only give realistic results, but which also come with healthy skin benefits. The Vita Liberata line was then quickly picked up by some of Hollywood’s beauty insiders who use these tanners to prep many celebrities for the red carpet (among other events), and word quickly spread after that (hello, Sephora contract).

My personal experience with self-tanners is somewhat limited; being of Greek origin, I’m blessed with skin that tans easily & rarely burns, but unfortunately sun safety was not exactly extolled back in my youth – a fact for which I’m now paying the price (as in, minor hyper pigmentation issues). Next came the first versions of sunless tanners, all of which provided colour (think: Oompa-Loompa orange), stank to high heaven, looked 100% fake, and were basically the stuff that nightmares are made from (yet people still bought & used them. Go figure). That being said, the sunless tanners of today have come a long way since then, and I’m always up for testing products out. The things I do for you guys (and loving it) #humanguineapig.

Seeing as how I’m somewhat of a chicken where self-tanners are concerned, I decided to play it safe and opted to first test the pHenomenal 2-3 Week Tan Lotion (mini mitt included), from the assorted products sent to me for review.

Vita Liberata | Luxury Tan

Luxury Tan pHenomenal 2-3 Week Tan Lotion + mini mitt (CAN $65.00) | The Vita Liberata self-tanners come in either lotion, mousse, or bronzing powder (*review on the powder coming soon) formulas, allowing you the freedom to pick and choose the version which suits you best. The pHenomenal Lotion I chose to test out has the brand’s pHenO2 technology for ‘the longest lasting tan result with instant colour‘; other benefits include:

Odour Remove™ Technology for zero self-tan smell
Moisture Locking System for 72 hour skin hydration
certified organic botanicals

Meant to condition your skin and offer hydrating properties while the colour develops, the pHenomenal Lotion claims to last up to ‘4 times longer than regular tans‘ (note: I’m not sure if ‘regular‘ refers to natural and/or bottled, spray tans), fading ‘perfectly with no patchy effect‘ and can also be used on both face and body. Other key ingredients include:

lychee – refines and balances the skin, preventing imperfections
raspberry – repairs, conditions and moisturizes the skin
ginkgo biloba – anti oxidant that stimulates and firms for younger looking skin

As with any other self-tanner, proper prep is key in achieving optimal results; I began by exfoliating using my nylon loofah while in the shower, then after towelling dry I applied a very light film of moisturizer to key areas: kneecaps, elbows and heels (this is to prevent too much colour from developing on these thicker-skinned sections of the body). At this point, you may also want to don a pair of thin latex gloves to avoid any potential staining of the hands, although I personally had no issues; I just made sure to thoroughly wash/scrub my hands when I was done. The general rule of thumb is to start with larger surface areas first (the trunk, upper thighs), and work your way to the smaller parts last. Apply a blob (←technical name, lol) of lotion to the mitt and working fairly quickly, apply the product to the skin using circular motions to create a proper overlap for the most even-toned look (reapply lotion to the mitt as needed). I also enlisted my husband’s help to apply the product along my upper back, but I’m thinking that wrapping the tanning mitt over a long handled bath brush might work fine for solo use as well. Use the leftover product on the mitt to apply to your face, then do a light pass over the tops of your feet, hands, elbows, and kneecaps to finish.

This particular formula can be dialled up for an almost customized look; 1 application gave me a whisper of colour but you can also wait about 4-8 hours before showering and reapplying, in order to deepen the colour. My second application gave me a gorgeous sun kissed glow, while a 3rd & final application (done the next day) raised things up a few notches for that ‘I just got back from vacation’ look. The best part? NO NASTY ODOUR. In fact, it smells rather citrusy (to me) and quite pleasant. Another bonus was that the colour dried relatively quickly on my skin, and while I wasn’t brave enough to fling myself on white sheets for testing purposes, I can say that within an hour I was pleased to see that there was no colour transference on either my white face cloth, or clothing.

With regards to lasting power and without subsequent applications (I wanted to get as accurate an impression as I could with my testing process), I’d say that my ‘tan’ was pretty solid for about 7 days (even with showering in between) and I started to notice fading by day 11 (but an even-looking fading, no blotchiness) – perhaps a far cry from the afore-mentioned 4 weeks, but then again, you can always reapply the product for continuous maintenance, if desired.

Vita Liberata | Luxury Tan pHenomenal 2-3 Week Tan Lotion

Vita Liberata | Luxury Tan pHenomenal 2-3 Week Tan Lotion & Tanning Mitt

Vita Liberata | Luxury Tan pHenomenal 2-3 Week Tan Lotion with mini mitt (included)

Vita Liberata | Luxury Tan pHenomenal 2-3 Week Tan Lotion (comparison mitt sizes)

Luxury Tan pHenomenal 2-3 Week Tan Lotion on mitt (left) with swatches before (middle) and after (right)

So we probably all know by now that while a little sun exposure is good for you, too much will have an adverse effect. That being said, I don’t mind embracing the paler version of me, but for those times when I ~~need~~ want that Summery glow, I’ve been reaching for the Vita Liberata Luxury pHenomenal Tan lotion – it’s the tan version of having one’s cake and eating it too. And you know what else? The colour looks real enough to fool people into thinking you’ve just returned from a beach-side getaway. Just make sure to have the details of your story straight, if questioned ∗grins∗.

Vita Liberata Luxury Tan products are available through Sephora & sephora.com – find more information via www.vitaliberatacanada.com

Product samples kindly provided for my unbiased consideration/post may contain affiliate links

Rescue Beauty Lounge | The Fan Collection 3.0

October 9, 2015

There’s a good reason why Ji Baek of Rescue Beauty Lounge has such a loyal fan base: she understands what makes lacquer lovers tick, and has welcomed the world to becoming an integral part of the creative process behind several of her nail polish collections. After the resounding success of the two previous iterations, Ji once again put out the call for fans to submit a vision of their dream polish shade, and after receiving thousands of entries (which were then narrowed agonizingly down – I mean seriously, how can a person choose from so many original ideas?), the list was finalized to the seven hues shown here.

Therefore and without further ado, presenting The Fan Collection 3.0 – enjoy!

Rescue Beauty Lounge | The Fan Collection 3.0

“It is reflected in a fleeting sunrise, the lining of a seashell, the bubbles of pink champagne in a gold-rimmed flute, the shimmering silk of a sari, the elegant glow of a candle through a gossamer white curtain. Ethereal is elegant and infinitely wearable, but has the merest hint of flash. It’s a versatile polish that can be word by anyone, for any occasion” – Nancy’s Fantasy

This colour truly reflects the inside of as seashell – shiny, with a mellow white mica and flashes of pink that swim through its slightly golden-grey shimmer – you can practically hear the waves by looking at the bottle.

Ethereal | An opalescent white shade that displays some sheerness with the first coat, albeit still giving good coverage – and which applies non-patchy and self levelling. This pearly shade gives way to a visible pink flash and while not super glossy, the finish is quite shiny just the same. Note that longer nails may still see some translucency after 2 coats, but I personally love that look.

Coats applied: 2, plus top coat

Rescue Beauty Lounge | Ethereal swatch

“This dream color would be an icy pastel blue/green with magical iridescent sparkles. It would be light and bright, never described as muted or dusty. More blue than Aqua Lily, and much lighter than Faraway, it is closer to the colour of Bikini Bottom, but striking and opaque. I imagine the sparkle effect to be along the lines of Scrangie and NailsandNoms. Tiny, yet highly effective” – Ashley’s #want

Electro Glacier was the most challenging of the collection, requiring many variations (there were tons of non-stop mixing going on – making this the most demanding fan color thus far) and boy, am I glad we stuck with it! Creating an icy blue that would stay light, but still be a true blue, took some magic. This blue iridescent sparkly delight is jammed-packed with shine.

Electro Glacier | An icy baby blue with ultra fine and tightly condensed shimmer. The formula leans slightly thick but is still easily spread along the nail with a quicker dry time than most of the others here, so make sure to load up your brush and work fast. Opaque enough by the first coat, you’ll need a second for complete coverage. Note: be prepared for some glitter spread upon removal.

Coats applied: 2, plus top coat

Rescue Beauty Lounge | Electro Glacier swatch

Rescue Beauty Lounge | Electro Glacier swatch (detail)

“…a night-sky black polish that, like Uluru, responds to its environment revealing fiery flashes of red orange from within. ‘Many Splendors’ can be thought of as a darker sister to my beloved bottle of Pie Mosso, however, like the island that inspired her, she will be truly one of a kind.” – Angela’s Envisage

I am super technically challenged, but not one to give up. we focused on creating a lava-like color since black pigment by itself is very dense. I replaced the black matte glitter with gold and orange sparkles. This color dries to a matte. I’m really into this look, but one swipe of our super-shiny top coat will transform Many Splendors into live, hot, molten danger.

Many Splendors | A sheer charcoal base that’s brimming with gold and fiery amber ultra fine glitter, in a formula that appears somewhat thin at the first coat, but achieves good coverage by the second. This shade comes to a velvety matte finish (very hard to capture in photos; much more cohesive and smoother than appears in the first swatch photo) with the shimmer keeping it from coming off as too flat or 1-dimensional (soft grit to the touch). Adding top coat does all kinds of crazy magic to Many Splendors and makes it come alive.

Coats applied: 3 thin (top coat only in second swatch photo)

Rescue Beauty Lounge | Many Splendors swatch

Rescue Beauty Lounge | Many Splendors swatch with top coat

“This is a beautiful place in Istanbul where the Bosphorus makes an inlet. The idea is to have an off-white base (nothing too strong) with gold particles in it, similar to Naked Without Polish (which had a pink base). I love Naked Without Polish and I believe this can be a unique addition to your line. The particles should show through, so probably the base will not be 100% opaque. I love white & gold, I think it can be worn all year round, it is classy and chic” – Sara’s Marvel…

This is a sophisticated, soft white mica base with a flash of lavender and golden flecks. It applies like a dream and yep – all year around and for every occasion.

Golden Horn | An opalescent ivory hue with irregularly shaped gold flecks that appear to be suspended beneath the surface layer – in a formula that falls semi-sheer at first, but reaches a decent opacity by the second. There’s a subtle lilac flash flash seen at some angles that add a nice depth of tone, and the finish is relatively smooth to the touch. Bonus: no glitter migration upon removal.

Coats applied: 2, plus top coat

Rescue Beauty Lounge | Golden Horn swatch

“The color I crave is a juicy jelly à la Starfish Patrick with a bright burgundy base. It is luminous, like Poco a Poco, illuminated by the soft, peached pink glow and subtle flashes of orange. The colour is vibrant, bold, and spirited. At once bright and sparkling, mysterious and dark” – Lygie’s Craving

It isn’t technically possible for a jelly to hold shimmers and flashes, so we’ve altered the base to a smooth, gliding, non-streaky mica base, which we punched with sparkles. If Peachypolish.com is raspberry, this is its brighter, sparkly cranberry cousin.

Sanguine | A luscious claret that’s loaded with shimmer of the glass-flecked variety; this gives the illusion of banked embers and that lit-from-within glow that’s just so mesmerizing (and which I totally love). Highly pigmented, this shade can almost be a 1-coat-wonder if you load up your brush enough, but I prefer the look with 2 coats. Self-levelling and super glossy at the finish, there’s no staining upon removal – bonus!

Coats applied: 2, plus top coat

Rescue Beauty Lounge | Sanguine swatch

“I’m dreaming of a shade that (as of yet?) has been missing from the RBL spectrum. It’s rich and decadent and just dripping with luxury. A vivid magenta! A semi-translucent jelly, but one that is so drenched in color that it can become fully opaque in just a few coats. Its depth is filled with shimmer like (the first) Scrangie. so deep you feel as though you could dive right in and swim around for hours. A magenta that almost glows from within with stunning teal and gold, sparkling, shining through its layers…” – Shelly’s Dream…

There are so many shimmers in here that it’s almost ridiculously obscene – in a good way of course. This flawless formula waxes poetic on magenta while it perfectly embeds and traps the decadent, luxurious glimmers…

Vixen by Sassy Shelly | An intense magenta with similar glass-flecked shimmer to that of Sanguine, with that same inner fire and hypnotic tone. There’s a jelly-like quality to the formula, bearing a self-levelling application and insanely glossy finish — although be warned that there is some mild staining potential here, so do not skip your base coat.

Coats applied: 2, plus top coat

Rescue Beauty Lounge | Vixen by Sassy Shelly swatch

“Things that excite (and somewhat terrify) me are outer space and the sea. My inspiration for a new shade are those two extremes, as well as my favorite colors – multi-faceted shades of purple, blue, magenta – think fish scales. I love glitter in my polishes or sometimes a well-done shimmer makes an even bigger impact — think stars” Danielle’s Yearning…

Ok. This might win top honors at a shimmer contest. It really reminds me of our long-ago Scrangie, but on steroids. This lavender base enmeshed with flecks of blue glass makes this formula glidingly, oh-so-easy to apply — it’s a win-win.

Galaxea | A high-voltage violet/lilac hue with prismatic glitter that gives off pink, blue & purple flashes. The formula falls this side of thick (similar to that of Electro Glacier), but is nevertheless easy to work with and provides excellent coverage even by the first coat. While shiny on its own, this shade turns almost supernatural with an addition of top coat – spectacular! Note: be prepared for some glitter spread upon removal.

Coats applied: 2, plus top coat

Rescue Beauty Lounge | Galaxea swatch

Rescue Beauty Lounge | Galaxea swatch detail (in sunlight)

Upon looking at the shades when I first received them, I was positive that my favourites would be the Ethereal, Golden Horn (just proves my weakness for whites) and Electro Glacier (my other weakness for anything remotely aquatic-looking), and while I was correct about ethereal and Electro Glacier, I was totally unprepared for the way Sanguine, Vixen by Sassy Shelly, and Galaxea would grab me. Many Splendors is an interesting contradiction; what appears to be a shimmery black hue, turns out to be many sided and also adds a tactile and visual appeal – and while matte may not be everyone’s cup of tea (I confess to loving a matte and/or textured finish), it’s a shade that will blow you away once seen with a layer of glossy top coat. Believe me.

The Rescue Beauty Lounge Fan Collection 3.0 will be available for pre-sale starting October 13th for 48 hours, retail USD $20.00/each (shortly thereafter for everyone else) – make sure to sign up for the RBL newsletter in order to receive the email link invite.

Press samples kindly provided by Rescue Beauty for my unbiased consideration

a-england | The Blessed Damozel, Heavenly Quotes Collection

October 7, 2015

There are lacquers, and then there are lacquers; what makes a-england polishes stand out, is an ephemeral quality that is hard to pin down, but is strongly felt nevertheless. With her love of art, beauty, and literature – in particular the Pre-Raphaelite period, Adina Bodana (the creative genius behind this brand) continues to draw inspiration from one of her favourite artists of that period, Dante Gabriel Rossetti. The latest addition to her Heavenly Quotes Collection, is The Blessed Damozel – a lush purple hue with what appears to be plume-like swirls of colour running throughout the base, all of which only add to its hypnotic appeal.

Originally published in 1850 (and subsequently revised twice after that), Rossetti’s poem, The Blessed Damozel, was partially inspired by Edgar Allen Poe’s ‘The Raven’, a story of love, grief, unrequited yearning, and celestial bodies. Interestingly, Rossetti’s poem preceded his painting of the same name, with a maiden (the ‘Damozel’) in heaven gazing down in eternal mourning at her earth-bound lover.

Purple, a hue long associated with both royalty and that of death, also happens to have been a favourite with artists of the Pre-Raphaelite movement such as Rossetti; the undulating pattern seen in the bottle of a-england’s The Blessed Damozel combined with the intensity of colour, perfectly captures the essence of a deep abiding passion clouded by loss. In other words, Adina has done it again and has managed to bring a piece of literature to life in nail lacquer form.

The Blessed Damozel (1875-78), Dante Gabriel Rossetti (credit)

The Blessed Damozel (poem originally published in 1850), Dante Gabriel Rossetti (credit)

The Blessed Damozel | A deeply regal violet with ultra fine inner shimmer in a formula that leans slightly towards the thick side, but which levels out easily and beautifully, with no pooling towards the cuticles. The high saturation of colour means you can basically get away with one coat for full coverage, although I personally prefer the look of two. As the finish is shiny but not glossy, adding a top coat really enhances all the inner fire of this shade and truly makes it stand out. Bonus: non-staining upon removal.

Coats: 2, plus top coat

a-england | The Blessed Damozel, Heavenly Quotes Collection

a-england | The Blessed Damozel, Heavenly Quotes Collection (detail)

It’s no secret that I have a soft spot for this brand, and my love for a-england (and its founder) have been well documented over the years in many posts (click on the a-england tab in the sidebar to see swatches of the entire range), but something about The Blessed Damozel has resonated with me on an almost visceral level; it satisfies my need for broodingly moody shades but stays clear of looking too blackened, provides a multi-dimensional depth of tone thanks to the inner shimmer, and just looks so incredibly velvety and luxurious on the nails. Doesn’t get better than that, I tell you.

The Blessed Damozel is part of a-england’s permanent collection. Find more information on the entire range via a-england.co.uk – Find your nearest retailer here.

Press sample kindly provided by a-england for my unbiased consideration

Burberry | Autumn/Winter 2015 Runway Palette

October 5, 2015

Taking inspiration from the military-chic designs seen on the fashion fall-winter 2015 runways, Burberry has released the Autumn/Winter 2015 Runway Palette (CAN $78.00, limited edition), an eyeshadow palette that’s a work of art unto itself. Displaying 3 shades in an eye-catching camouflage pattern, you’ll be hard-pressed to mar the surface with a brush (I think I spent an entire day just admiring all the pretty), but in the end, you’ll want to. Go ahead and give it some beauty battle-scars. I’m out of military metaphors, so I’ll just stop here.

Autumn/Winter 2015 Runway Palette | Housed in a beige box that comes with a removable outer plastic sleeve printed in a camouflage design, the luxurious pewter compact with its magnetic closure is also stamped with the brand’s signature plaid pattern. Adding further protection is an inner velveteen sleeve that has stitched outer pockets to hold the 3 mini makeup brushes included for on-the-go application. The three eyeshadow shades held within are:

vanilla shimmer
khaki green with a slight prismatic sheen
blackened pine green with light shimmer flecks

Normally I’m not a fan of multi-tonal palettes that don’t have individual shade partitions, as I find that they can get messy with use, but the organically shaped eyeshadows of the Runway Palette are spaced enough apart that you can easily grab the colour you wish without fear of accidentally picking up a neighbouring hue – there’s a more than decent amount of each colour presented in the pan to make the shades easy to work with.

Another plus in the Runway Palette‘s favour, is the fact that three hues are all you basically need for a variety of eye looks that can take you from day/work to night, offering layering options as well as the ability to apply any of them with a dampened brush for more depth and intensity. The two deepest tones register good pigmentation without being excessively harsh, with the lightest shade working great in a highlighter capacity – especially against my skin tone (those with either pale or dark complexions will probably benefit from a more defined colour payoff than I get), and all three hues display a silky texture, smooth application as well as an excellent blendability – with minimal powder kicked up in the pan when swirling brushes through the varying shades. Staying power is excellent applied over primer (I love layering Benefit’s BB Air Patrol over NARS Pro-Prime Smudge Proof Eyeshadow Base to create that perfect ‘eye canvas’), staying true without any significant fading, until removed.

Burberry | Autumn/Winter 2015 Runway Palette swatches (in sunlight)

Burberry | Autumn/Winter 2015 Runway Palette swatches (alternate light)

I’m convinced that there’s a conspiracy going on with all luxury beauty brands this year (and several of the mass-market brands as well, I might add) because they all seem to be in a race to outdo each other with the mesmerizing beauty of their latest collections. Case in point, this Runway Palette from the brand that knows a thing or two about quality (can anyone top their classic trench?). Well worth looking into, especially if you’re looking for a travel-friendly eyeshadow palette that is a modern take on that classic black smokey eye (amongst other looks). Speaking as someone who is a total sucker for luxe packaging, I can guarantee you’ll be wanting to flaunt this compact out in public.

The Burberry Autumn/Winter 2015 Runway Palette (limited edition) is available now through The Bay and thebay.com and Sephora, sephora.com across Canada. Find more information on the brand via www.burberry.com

Press sample kindly provided for my unbiased consideration/post may contain affiliate links

Charlotte Tilbury | Matte Revolution Lipstick, Lip Cheat®

September 30, 2015

Long before beauty chemists figured out the ingredients needed to create a glossy pout, matte lips reigned supreme, and while I personally love the lush appeal that this look provides, I’m not so keen on the dryness factor that comes with the territory. The latest foray into this field from Charlotte Tilbury, Matte Revolution Luminous Modern-Matte Long-Lasting Lipstick (10 shades, $38.00) has somehow managed to eliminate the ‘Sahara Quotient’ from the formula, producing a lipstick that feels as wonderful throughout the duration, as it is sexy to look at. Revolutionary, you might even call it. (Matte Revolution-Revolutionary … see what I did there?!)

Putting into play certain illusionary magics she’s used for years (lighting trickery, pigments and powders), Charlotte wanted to create a product that would give lips the look of fullness and a lit-from-within glow, all with just 1 swipe of lipstick. Some of the key ingredients include:

Lipstick Tree extract – a natural antioxidant, protects lips
Orchid Extract – offers soothing & hydrating properties
3D Glowing Pigments – gives the illusion of fuller & wider lips, lit-from-wthin
Triglycerides – mixed with oils & waxes for long-lasting colour and a perfect glide

Housed in ribbed outer casing in the brand’s signature rose-gold, another innovation is the classically shaped square tip (inspired by a lip brush), which enables you to cover your lips easily and quickly even at the first stroke, and can also be turned along any of its angles for more precision application. Each of the ten shades offers buildable coverage: one swipe covers fully, but still retains a certain overall luminosity, while a secondary pass gives a more opaque and velvety finish. From the three shades I was sent to try, I was impressed with the lasting power which easily surpasses the 7 hour mark, showing minimal wear along the inner rim of the lower lip only when eating and/or drinking. Another plus is the feel: a good hydrated sensation throughout the wearing and even when the colour seems to wane a bit, a simple press of the lips seems to revive it right back.

*I was also kindly sent these 2 coordinating Lip Cheat® shades to test out with the lipsticks.

Charlotte Tilbury | Matte Revolution Lipstick & Lip Cheat®

Charlotte Tilbury | Matte Revolution Lipstick

Charlotte Tilbury | Matte Revolution Lipstick – Amazing Grace, Bond Girl & Love Liberty

Charlotte Tilbury | Lip Cheat®

Crazy in Love | Rosewood, warm leaning with a slight hint of burgundy
Hollywood Honey | Raisin, some brown in the base for depth

The Lip Cheat® formula is one of the best I’ve tried with regards to lip liners; long-lasting, glides effortlessly along the lips without any pulling or tugging (make it excellent for all-over application as well), and displays absolutely no feathering or bleeding into surrounding lip lines.

Charlotte Tilbury | Matte Revolution Lipstick an Lip Cheat® swatches (sunlight)

Charlotte Tilbury | Matte Revolution Lipstick an Lip Cheat® swatches (alternate light)

Amazing Grace | Rosewood coloured, has both cool and warm tones in the base rendering it an almost perfect ‘neutral rose’ hue that can be worn by a wide range of skin tones. Classy and elegant, yet still maintains a young & fresh appeal.

Inspiration: Grace Kelly, polished perfection à la Nicole Kidman and Miranda Kerr

Ingredients: Neopentyl Glycol Dicaprylate/Dicaprate, Trimethylolpropane Triisostearate, Dimenthicone, Microcrystalline Wax (Cera Microcristallina), Polyethylene, Polybutene, Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Silica, Dicalcium Phosphate, Mica, Ethyl Vanillin, Caprylic/Capric Trigglyceride, Tocopherol, Zea Mays (Corn) Oil (Zea Mays Oil), Pentaerythrityl Tetera-Di-t-Butyl Hydroxhydrocinnamate, Orchis Mascula Flower Extract, Bixa Orellana Seed Extract, Tocopheryl Acetate, [May contain/Peut Contenir +/-): Iron Oxides (CI 77491, CI 77492, CI 77499), Blue 1 Lake (CI 42090), Titanium Dioxide (CI 77891), Red 7 Lake (CI 15850), Red 6 (CI 15850), Yellow 6 Lake (CI 15985), Yellow 5 Lake (CI 19140), Carmine (CI 75470)]

Charlotte Tilbury | Amazing Grace Matte Revolution Lipstick swatch

Bond Girl | (As though I would EVER resist anything Bond-related?) Rich Chestnut with a strong vein of berry at the core to keep this shade from leaning too far over into brown territory. Absolutely gorgeous and THE perfect lippie to wear when you want nude/neutral, but with a bit of a punch.

Inspiration: Alluring Bond beauties, from Halle Berry, Barbara Bach, and Olga Kurylenko

Ingredients: Neopentyl Glycol Dicaprylate/Dicaprate, Trimethylolpropane Triisostearate, Dimenthicone, Microcrystalline Wax (Cera Microcristallina), Polyethylene, Polybutene, Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Silica, Dicalcium Phosphate, Mica, Ethyl Vanillin, Caprylic/Capric Trigglyceride, Tocopherol, Zea Mays (Corn) Oil (Zea Mays Oil), Pentaerythrityl Tetera-Di-t-Butyl Hydroxhydrocinnamate, Orchis Mascula Flower Extract, Bixa Orellana Seed Extract, Tocopheryl Acetate, [May contain/Peut Contenir (+/-): Iron Oxides (CI 77491, CI 77492, CI 77499), Blue 1 Lake (CI 42090), Titanium Dioxide (CI 77891), Red 7 Lake (CI 15850), Red 6 (CI 15850), Yellow 6 Lake (CI 15985), Yellow 5 Lake (CI 19140), Carmine (CI 75470)]

Charlotte Tilbury | Bond Girl Matte Revolution Lipstick swatch

Love Liberty | Deep Berry with touches of mahogany playing in the background, cooler leaning but will work equally well on warmer complexions. One swipe provides a rich wine-coloured touch, although I highly suggest taking it up a notch with a second pass for a stunning (& killer sexy) vampy pout, with no goth element to muddy things up.

Inspiration: Liberty Ross, wildly glamorous nights à la Jerry Hall and Uma Thurman

Ingredients: Neopentyl Glycol Dicaprylate/Dicaprate, Trimethylolpropane Triisostearate, Dimenthicone, Microcrystalline Wax (Cera Microcristallina), Polyethylene, Polybutene, Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Silica, Mica, Dicalcium Phosphate, Ethyl Vanillin, Caprylic/Capric Trigglyceride, Tocopherol, Zea Mays (Corn) Oil (Zea Mays Oil), Pentaerythrityl Tetera-Di-t-Butyl Hydroxhydrocinnamate, Orchis Mascula Flower Extract, Bixa Orellana Seed Extract, Tin Oxide, Tocopheryl Acetate, [May contain/Peut Contenir (+/-): Iron Oxides (CI 77491, CI 77492, CI 77499), Blue 1 Lake (CI 42090), Titanium Dioxide (CI 77891), Red 7 Lake (CI 15850), Carmine (CI 75470)]

Charlotte Tilbury | Love Liberty Matte Revolution Lipstick swatch

I have a love-hate relationship going on with matte lipsticks; on the one hand, I adore the more light-absorbing coverage this finish provides as it not only looks hot, but (and depending on the look you’re going for) can either work to perfectly complement the rest of your makeup, or easily stand alone as the star player. That being said, the dryness levels that some matte lipsticks bring to the party, is usually the deal-breaker for me which is why I was so pleasantly surprised by the feel of this Matte Revolution range; smooth to apply, smooth to wear, and smooth long after they’ve gone. So I’m guessing this now means I need to try them all, right?

Charlotte Tilbury beauty is available at select Holt Renfrew stores across Canada. Find more information via: www.charlottetilbury.com