Lips for the brave

A few of my... less conventional lipsticks/glosses. 

Apologies for the 'science fiction...double feature' shots - I have come to appreciate the necessity of modelling certain products for demonstrative purposes. Plus I've staved off looking silly taking pics of my own lips and evoking such queries as: 'why are you kissing your phone?'  for as long as I possibly could. 

Geek Chic Lipgloss - Mana Potion

I don't tend to opt for gloss over stick. When I was growing up gloss was the big 'must have' along with hair straighteners and eyeliner. I find that it looks a little less sophisticated which can be a tad detrimental in the working world. The following however, are more suited for the night time alter ego.  I originally found this wonderful electric blue shade at Thinkgeek.com however you can find a much wider selection at their website Geekchiccosmetics.com. Being a sci-fi/gamer nut I simply had to try these out. Descriptions are charmingly packed with nerdy quirk which is always fun to read.  It's not designer and it probably isn't of the absolute utmost quality, however it has remarkable staying power compared to most competing highstreet brands. Here I'm wearing no base, no liner just two coats of mana potion and a prime pout. Formula is quite smooth and creamy with a satiny finish. It's quite opaque and loaded with pigment, which as you can imagine aren't the most common of features for gloss, however this does make it feel a tad heavy. The tackiness felt post immediate application doesn't leave your lips with that tightening feeling, instead it serves to seal in the bleed, hence lack of need for liner. Wear remains relatively even for hours without need for reapplication/correction. Disadvantages as with any gloss of course include hair getting stuck to your lips, which will not only take some of the gloss off but leave you with bright blue sticky stuff in your locks that you'll be lucky to comb out. Overall however, I love it to bits and I must have more! Currently got my eye on 'Banished.' Very keen to also try the lipsticks and the eyeshadows. 

Obsessive Compulsive Lip Tar - Tarred

This one I have mixed feelings about. First, it has a very strong artificial peppermint smell, which I'm not all that joyous over. At least with Mana potion the mintiness is a lot softer, Tarred just smells repulsive. The purple/grey colour however is quite appealing and looks fantastic on paler lips. Formula is extremely watery so I would suggest contrary to what I did in the pic above and apply as a gloss (although I do quite like the veiny pooling effect) applying it over a single coat of lipstick or a tinted balm by first working in a tiny amount with a brush. Bleed is inevitable, so be proactive and apply liner BEFORE applying the tar. You're also going to want to stick to supping your Archers and lemonade through straws all night to avoid hourly application!
Not all that bothered about getting more of these myself, but others have had more success. 

Limecrime - Styletto  /  Illamasqua Lip Pencil - Sophie

I love black lips, possibly more so than red ones. Unfortunately the hunt for an amazing quality black lipstick has been long and arduous simply because this shade is considered too 'alternative' and has consequently been left to inferior brands (illamasqua excluded). Styletto isn't bad considering, but still it's not quite Tom Ford. It's black, it's velvety and it stays very well, but the slightest of accidental smears can be devastating! Used underneath Illamasqua's 'Sophie' for added opacity and definition.  

Illamasqua Colour Intense Lipstick - Apocalips

Hmmm, a lot less pigmented than I originally anticipated due to the deceptively strong colour on the stick. I just slapped this on again sans primer and liner for the purposes of showing how it actually looks on the lips. Texture is a bit on the 'crayony' side which can feel quite drying without balm or gloss. Still, a very original choice of colour which itself is quite pretty; very cadaver-like. Too morbid?

-Leo-