little white truths

It was a bad night again at our joint last night (teething baby) so I'm behind today and haven't been able to sit down at my computer until now.

I really hate it when that happens: writing in the morning is a habit I've had for as long as I can remember, and when I'm unable to do it for whatever reason, the day just doesn't feel 'right'.

Anyhoo. I've had this product on my list of things to review for ages and it's high time I wrote this post because this particular colour was part of last season's range, and while I think it's still available in some Sportsgirl stores (I've seen it there on special), it won't be for long.

If you read this blog, you'll know that Sportsgirl and Shanghai Suzy products are my top picks for budget lipsticks.

These Sportsgirl ones cost a measly $9.95 each and they're better than many more expensive products I've tried: they're comfortable to wear and last ages, plus they come in a large range of shades so there's sure to be something to suit everyone.

I'd been wanting a lavender coloured lipstick for ages but didn't want to pay too much for it because it's not a colour I can wear easily. When I saw this on sale for $4.95, I 'had' to have it and I'm glad I picked it up because it's different and I often reach for it when I'm getting bored of wearing the same old 'work appropriate' shades.

Sportsgirl claims/product details:

Vibrant lipstick colour that moisturises and protects
Matte finish
'Whirlwind' is described as 'purple' (I would call it a lavender grey)
Not tested on animals
RRP $9.95 AUD for 4g

I've photographed the lipstick bullet in sunlight above, and in natural light below.

You can see that it's a bit of an odd lavender grey colour, and it's one that I personally need to use with care because it can look a bit ghoulish if I'm not careful.

Below I've swatched it in natural light (sheered out on the left and applied more heavily on the right):

Same shot, direct sunlight:

My bare lips for reference:

My lip photos of this product just wouldn't turn out well, but I've included the better ones because they still give an accurate representation of the colour, even if some of them are a little fuzzy (my apologies - I just can't bear to take another 564 photos and hope for some clearer shots!).

Below I've applied the faintest swipe of it and taken the shot in natural light (this is how I would normally wear it):

And in the shade:

Below I've applied it more heavily and taken the shot in direct sunlight (here's where it starts to look ghoulish on me):

And in the shade:

Natural light:

Verdict

I love Sportsgirl lipsticks and this one is no exception. Even though it's matte, it still has a reasonably creamy texture that's not drying and feels comfortable on the lips.

Whirlwind is an interesting lavender grey shade that won't suit or appeal to everyone, but I'm glad to have it in my collection because it's so different from anything else I own.

I don't use this colour a lot but when I do, I like using a small amount because it looks softer and more lavender if I use it gently. If I add too much, it crosses into grey territory and doesn't suit me.

Sportsgirl lipsticks don't have a strong scent, so you should be ok with them if you don't like fragranced products. I also like that they're cruelty free.

The best thing about these products is that they're cheap and great quality. They last longer on the lips than most other lipsticks I've tried, plus they apply and wear well (no feathering or bleeding), and even the matte ones are quite creamy and don't dry out the lips.

This means I don't need to wear a gloss over them if I don't want to, which I reckon is rare when it comes to matte lipsticks: my lips are always dry and most matte products make them feel even worse.

In sum, I really love these products and can't recommend them enough. If you want to buy a few seasonal shades but don't want to pay a lot for them, I urge you to head into Sportsgirl and check out the range.

Love.

I received this product in a sample kit from Mecca and I was thrilled to see it because I've been wanting to try one of these Bare Minerals lipsticks for ages since I've heard so much about them.

I'd thought of buying one because they aren't too expensive, but I have so many lip products already that I just didn't need another one.

Happily I've now had the opportunity to try one, and extra happily it's a sample size so I can try it without having yet another full sized product to add to my collection.

In short, I can see why people love these but this one isn't quite my colour: I can certainly get away with it but it's not one I would have chosen for myself.

Anyhoo. Let's have a look.

Bare Minerals claims/product details:

A super-saturated, ultra-pigmented, creamy lipstick
Provides full coverage with a rich, satin finish
Lips look fuller and more voluptuous with the buttery texture and high impact colour
Super hydrating formula that's infused with nourishing minerals, leaving lips looking healthy and revitalised
Free from parabens, sulphates, phthalates, synthetic dyes and fragrances
RRP $26 AUD for 4g

This is one of those lipsticks that looks quite different in different lights - both in the tube and on the lips.

Above is what it looks like indoors in natural light (more pink and vibrant) and below is what it looks like outside in sunlight (more subdued). The below shot is a better representation of the colour - at least on my lips.

There's a swatch in sunlight (it looks more pink and brown here):

And in the shade (here it leans more red):

My bare lips for reference:

Wearing the product in the shade:

In natural light:

Indirect sunlight:

And direct sunlight:

Verdict

I had a look at other reviews of this product (they all gave it a big thumbs up) and noticed that this particular shade is one that looks quite different on different people. Many call it a MLBB shade, but on me it pulls a little too pink in some lights and a little too brown in others, so while I like the formula and I'll use it, it's not a great colour on me.

I'm only talking about the colour issues so you're aware that it's worth testing this product first - rather than relying on online swatches - because you may find that where it looks great on others, it mightn't hit the mark for you.

As for the formula, it's beautifully creamy and applies smoothly with no tugging. It's comfortable to wear and doesn't feel drying on the lips.

The pigmentation is great and I only need one swipe on each lip to get the colour showing well.

Also great is the finish. It gives a flattering satin sheen, and while you can see the tiniest bits of glitter in the lipstick bullet itself (they show up in the direct sunlight shot above), this doesn't translate to the lips but probably adds to the sheen the product delivers.

It doesn't wear for ages but you'd expect that from a creamy product and I do need to reapply it throughout the day. Having said this, it doesn't transfer as easily as other creamy lipsticks and I'm impressed because I've been sipping at my coffee as I write this and the lipstick is still showing well on my lips.

It also doesn't feather or bleed throughout the day - a huge plus because I really hate it when lipsticks do that!

All in all, this is a great formula and the product generally meets its claims. If I ever manage to reduce the size of my lipstick collection, I'll certainly look at buying one of these.

little white truths

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