I’m all out of Estee Lauder Double Wear and I need it for a wedding this weekend. Bang goes £24
However I’ve learned a lot about my skin, hair and make-up over the past few years. One of those things being that I need to pay high end prices for the kind of flawless finish I’ve come to love from a foundation. On the flipside though I also now know that drugstore brands offer comparable if not superior lipsticks and eyeshadows for a lot less ker-ching.
Recently I came across a fine example of this. Boots Natural Collection “Pink Mallow Moisture Shine Lippy at £1.95 and their “Turkish Delight” Juicy Lips Gloss £1.95.
Cheap as chips.
I’ve looked at these many times but never purchased, convinced that the product quality would be in line with the price. However while out in Belfast on Sunday I had a lip emergency. I had left the house wearing YSL Rouge Volupte in Lingerie Pink, but neglected to put it in my handbag for touch ups. After around half an hour in town it was all but worn off. I adore YSL lippys but their staying power is monumentally rubbish.
So I hot footed my naked little lip smackers to the nearest Boots for a cheap rescue remedy. Pink Mallow looked pretty, Turkish Delight smelt yummy, and they weren’t about to break the bank… Sold!
As I holed up in a corner of Castlecourt to apply I was immediately struck by how moisturising the lipstick felt, I was able to apply a few generous swipes without caking or creasing (a problem I face with many MAC & Illamasqua lipsticks). I applied Turkish Delight over the top and felt it had just the right amount of stickiness, without being overly wet or sloppy. There is a fruity taste/ scent but its certainly not over-powering or sickening.
Fast forward THREE HOURS of heavy weight shopping later and this little lip combo was holding fast. I actually only needed to reapply after four hours, and that was because I had eaten. I’ve been wearing this combo daily since, and I am beyond impressed. If you like MAC Angel but find it just that little bit too cool toned against your skin, then I urge you to give Pink Mallow a go.
It’s a winner!
xox
{ 21 comments… read them below or add one }
Sold! I shall be hunting these babies out in my own Boots on Saturday morning, thanks Arlene!
ps I ADORE the last picture of you, you have just the right amount of makeup on, you are rocking the 'natural' look
<3
xx
I have this gloss somewhere youve inspired me to go and dig it out again I used to love it! I agree about the ysl lipsticks they dont last long enough for the price – thinking of checking out the estee lauder lippys see if they are any better
liz
x
@MissCatherine Awww ty hun
Hope you love it as much as I do xxx
@lizzclare It's a pity as I love the YSL colours and traditional lippy scent, but I don't think I'll be re-purchasing. They are A LOT of work lol
Have you seen the Estee Lauder Holiday set?? I'm wondering what the quality is like and if its really worth it…. http://www.debenhams.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servle…
I love some of the natural collection range esp the lip gloss. Will def be trying out the lippy now. Looks great on you
xx
i wish we had a boots here – seems like they have the best cheap stuff there! that last pic of you is hot! you go girl!
@Emma thanks lovely
@DeAnna *blushes* I'm having a bit of a hair mare at the moment, going to have to break out the straighteners, another awkward stage as it grows down :S
Btw if you want some of the Natural Collection goodies or any others I'm more than happy to custom purchase for you
xx
I've been looking for a lip colour like this for a while. You've
Haha oh dear my laptop decided to publish the last comment before I'd finished :s I was going to say that you've convinced me to pop into Boots and get these two products
What a great find! xx
@Kim LOL you left me on a cliffhanger there
You'll love them, feel lovely on xxx
Oooo thats pretty am going to check out the Natural Collecion lippies tomorrow I have tried the glosses before but never the lipsticks
that is such a pretty combo & it really suits your colouring.
i picked up 2 of their lipsticks (apple blossom & candy mist) and 1 of their blushers (pink cloud) the other day & i have to say they are all lovely & such great value as you said! x
I've heard great things about Pink Cloud blush, must pick that up xx
I really like the Natural Collection range. I tend to wear their eyeshadows for work as none of the colours are too bright. I really rate the mascaras too – we're not talking masses of definition, but if you jsut want to add a bit of colour they're perfect.
And of course, the fact that its all regularly on 3 for £5 is just the icing on the cake.
This combo looks gorgeous…I'm blatantly going to copy! LOL
Bx
I concur with the ladies above-your makeup is fab!!! I have a question for you that I hope you don't mind answering….
I went to the hairdresser last week for a 'trim', and asked her to take an inch off my hair. However, she took more like 4-5 inches off and my shoulder length hair is significantly shorter-just slightly longer than your own.
I so used to having longer hair, that I just don't know what to do with it and seeing as you hair is always fabulously styled, I was wondering if you share some of your perils of wisdom, styling techniques, good products for shorter hair, etc, to keep me going until my hair grows
@Alethea I can definitely sympathise. I damaged my hair last year to the point where it was breaking off in handfuls near the roots. I made a very hard (but in hindsight correct) decision to have it all chopped off and to start afresh. Now my hair is back to full health.
I am crazy about protecting my hair against future damage, therefore I no longer colour it, at all, which wouldn't suit everyone, but it really is so much healthier not being loaded with dye. I also only use Heat Protectant Shampoos & Conditioners (at the moment Trevor Sorbie's Straightening Addict range) then I use a Heat Protectant spray before blow drying (again Trevor Sorbie). I use the low heat setting on my hairdryer, and also sold my GHDs and went back to using my old style Babyliss Straighteners which are temperature variable. 180c is more than adequate.
Once a week I use an intense treatment (Chi Silk Infusion/ Tresemme Mask etc).
Day to day I don't tend to use any products like mousse, hair spray etc, however I do use Lee Staffords beach babe sea salt spray to add texture on lazy days when I'm going to let my hair dry naturally and give it a break from the hair dryer. I hope this helps. It will grow, and before you know it, but if you really can't wait have fun with extensions. I use them regularly, Jessica Simpson Hairdo and also Wildest Dreams from Sallys. xxx
I was thinking of starting to wear lipstick so these cheapies may be a good starting point. However im a very (like alsmost see through) pale blonde so i'm not sure on colours. Does anyone have any ideas? Your such a yummy mummy btw! X)
@Clare Thank you
The power of make-up! 
If you don't normally wear lipstick just start with something sheer, pick something as close to your own natural lip colour and go from there. Then as you grow in confidence you could introduce a bit more pigment and opt for a colour perhaps one shade lighter or darker than your natural lip xxx
Awww, thanks so much for your long (and very speedy) post-I really appreciate it. I will definitely look into getting some of the products you suggested. A trip to boots should sort me out with some Trevor Sorbie and Lee Stafford goodies. It's taking awhile to getting used to having short hair-especially in terms if what you can do with it, versus long hair.
With regards YSL lippys-I agree, they don't last long but they are so pretty and hard to resist. I recently started using bare escentuals lipstick and gloss (it was a prezzie so I didn't have to splurge out myself) and they have fantastic staying power-I get a good 4-5 hours before I have to reapply with the lipstick, and understandably, a little less with the gloss. They smell fantastic though…yum!
@Alethea they sound brilliant, will have to check them out the next time I'm up in Belfast. xox
I have a Rimmel one somewhere, that's pretty much the same colour, you 've just reminded me!
))
Pretty pink lips ftw!
xxx