Top of the taupes - including comparison between Barry M Mushroom and Cappucino

I had prepared this post from a few weeks ago but never got round to writing it up. I thought it very appropriate for this time of year when we pack away the corals and dig out the greiges...

From left to right: Mavala Mauve Cedre, Barry M Cappucino, Barry M Mushroom, Maybelline Rosy Sand, OPI A Taupe of the Space Needle, Kiko shade 325

Inspired by the taupe-y goodness that is Barry M Mushroom, I decided I'd compare it to my latest Barry M acquisition, Cappucino, and then in a fever of taupe - greige enthusiasm I thought I'd dig out other shades in my stash to compare.

I was worried that they would all look far too similar, but I was pleasantly surprised to see that they are all different enough to justify them being in my possession. Maybelline Rosy Sand (4th along) is perhaps the only one that doesn't really belong, more suited to the nude palette, but I thought I'd chuck it in there as to me it's a paler shade of Barry M Mushroom to it's left. The OPI shade A Taupe of the Space Needle is more of a muddy khaki, you can really see it's green tones when compared to the others. I'd previously thought that the Kiko 325 was quite green, but now I see it as a green-toned grey.

From left to right: Mavala Mauve Cedre, Barry M Cappucino and Barry M Mushroom

 So here is a clearer comparison of the two Barry M's. Cappucino is a more purple take on a classic taupe, but still in the taupe family I'd say. Mushroom is much more milk chocolate with a greyed base. Both are great shades to have, I couldn't choose between them as to which I like best and to be honest, at £2.99, I don't think I have to.
Interestingly I nearly didn't buy Cappucino because I thought it would be too similar to Mavala Mauve Cedre (also pictured above) which I'd had for a while, but there is far more grey in the Mavala.

I love doing these shade comparisons.... I could spend hours just staring at swatches, plus it makes me realise the value of uniqueness in every colour I possess. Yes Mr P, they are ALL DIFFERENT.

I seriously recommend getting some plastic nail wheels from ebay, they are super cheap and hours of fun lie ahead!

NOTD - Essie Tart Deco

Just when we think we're falling into autumn, summer comes round again and slaps us in the face.

This weekend has been hot. Like, 28 degrees hot. I couldn't possibly slap on Black Turquoise in this heat, I needed to go dig out something brighter but not too holiday-esque, if you catch my drift. 

I have various un-trieds in my collection, and Essie Tart Deco was one of them. A milky peachy-apricot-y orange hue in the bottle, it seemed like the perfect crossover shade.

Essie Tart Deco (daylight)

I wasn't a fan of the formulation on this one, a bit thick and tricky to manipulate with the rather narrow brush. I think this is the old Essie formula, one I picked up much earlier this year when still in Brussels. I would love to see how the new formulas compare at some point.

Essie Tart Deco

Anyway, that aside, would you look at that colour?? I couldn't believe how bright it turned out, almost neon actually. And it's a bit of a chameleon... in daylight you see much more of it's apricot milk goodness. In artificial light it leans a much brighter true orange. Either way I like it very, very much and it certainly livened up a monochrome outfit I'd put together.

Essie Tart Deco (artificial light)

As usual, this is two coats with Essie Good to Go topcoat.

Apparently it'll cool down a lot later in two days, but I'll enjoy Tart Deco while the sun still shines. I guess looking back on these photos it IS in fact very holiday-esque.... oh well.

Would you be partial to a slice of Tart Deco?

Max Factor Flipstick Colour Effect Review

Writing this review has made me feel even more enraged about this....

This is possibly the worst make-up item I have ever bought. It's totally unusable. First of all, the idea of two lipsticks in one to be used for 'special effects' is asking for trouble.... obviously marketed by people who are colour-blind and have no idea what they are doing, FOR people who have no idea how to apply make-up and think that a product like this will make their lives easier. It's total pants.

So why did I buy this, you may ask? Well, I was doing a show where I needed to have a metallic gold lip, and seeing as I don't like using other people's make-up I had to source some sort of gold lippie from somewhere. My train was about to leave, it was an emergency and this was the only 'gold' lipstick I found. Gipsy Red (30) has a gold-ish colour on one end and a bright coral red on the other.

Max Factor Flipstick in Gypsy

At least I didn't spend money on it, I used my Boots points, but how I cried over those wasted points.

Firstly, the gold part is poorly pigmented and just left a patchy orangey-bronze glaze which was not the desired effect. Secondly, the main colour, the corally red on the other side was everything that lipstick should NOT be. Rough textured, bumpy, soapy-smelling, and totally horrible. When I tried it the day after the show I was horrified at how a company like Max Factor could make such a horrendous product and sell it for the exorbitant price of £8.49! I mean, with all the incredible lipsticks out there these days, including cheap ones, what the hell were they thinking?? It made my lips look zombified, like they were flaky and peeling. It has chunks of glitter in it that don't come through other than in the texture so it looks and feels rough on the lips.

Swatches of Max Factor Flipstick (Gypsy). Gold shade, top, red shade, bottom

When I removed it straight away, my lips were totally dehydrated and required layers of lip balm to soothe them.

And speaking of other terrible crimes committed by Max Factor.... their 2000 Calorie Waterproof mascara? Officially the most useless piece of **** that I've ever used on my poor lashes.

"The make up of make up artists".... Seriously?????

Rant officially over. Go in peace.

NOTD - Barry M Cappucino with 'graped tips'

I don't actually think the term 'graped tips' exists (although try saying it over and over again as fast as you can, it's worth 30 seconds of braindead amusement.... ) but what I mean is a deep wine/grape coloured French tip.

I picked up Barry M Cappucino last week, alongside a goddess green shade called Racing Green.
2 for £5 at Superdrug, people. Go grab 'em.

Barry M Cappucino with Honk if you love OPI on the tips

Just so you all know, I'm fully aware that 'cappuccino' has TWO c's, but clearly Barry doesn't. Besides, it's not even cappuccino coloured so I don't know what he was thinking. It's more of a mauve-grey-taupe hybrid. And very, very beautiful. So Barry, I will forgive your misspelling and misnaming of this little bottle of goodness, because I think you have just topped Mushroom (which in fact wasn't even mushroom coloured anyway) with this.

French Cappuccino?

The formula is great, two smooth coats give effortlessly lady-like, but edgy, chic. And the lasting power is amazing. It's been on now for four days and because it was only looking a little sorry at the tips (absolutely no chipping, miracle), I decided it was a shame to remove it and vamped it up a notch with a deep purple tip, using Honk If You Love OPI (see here for swatches of it on it's glorious ownsome).

 Did you know that doing a French tip is really hard? Or at least it is if you are as cack-handed as moi. But I managed just about and I'm quite pleased with the effect. I think the colours complement each other and I'm feeling delightedly rock chick sporting my 'graped tips'....

What do you think? Do you like a bit of grape with your cappuccino?