Revlon’s new ColorStay Full Cover foundation (R179) really needs a new name. I dunno about you, but when I hear the words ‘full cover’ I kind of expect it to be a heavy-weight foundation that can compete in the ranks of Lauder’s DoubleWear. I thus waited for a bad skin day (hello eyebrow warping blind pimple!) to give it a bash and decided I hated it.

Fast forward to a good skin day with managed expectations and Full Cover (Lord, that name!) is actually a dream to use. Thanks to loads of silicones that give it a fluffy, mousse-like texture, it blends beautifully and dries to a velvety finish that’s matte, but not flat. If you ever use a primer to give certain foundations a little slip, you won’t need to with this guy.

As far as wear goes, I thought it would slide off my combination skin super fast (products with lots of silicones sometimes do that), but nope, it stayed the day. It also didn’t crease up around my eyes which I totally expected. So ja. Here’s to pleasant surprises. If you’re looking for a very easy-to-wear lightweight foundation with sheer to medium (tending towards the sheer side) coverage, than this is a nice pick for day time.

Update: I’ve just learned that Full Cover is actually Revlon’s discontinued whipped foundation (the mousse one that came in that annoyingly heavy glass jar) so if you’ve been pining for it, here it is in a much more make-up bag and travel friendly tube. Yay for that!

Another Revlon product I’ve made friends with is the brand’s Plumping Lip Creme (R99).

A deliciously wallet-friendly selection of opaque lip colours with high shine finishes, Plumping Lip Cream promises to pump up your pout thanks to an ingredient complex called Volulip. While I have no idea what that is, I don’t really care because it’s lip-inflating abilities are very limited. I’ve worn it a zillion times now and if it’s inflating my lips, I haven’t noticed and won’t be cancelling my appointment for dermal fillers any time soon. But! As far as straight up lip glosses go, Revlon’s newbie is a treat.

I really like that the minty tasting, caramel-scented formula feels plush and creamy; is of medium stickiness (so it doesn’t slide off too fast) and that they’re so highly pigmented. I fully expected the lighter shade, Peony Buff, to separate on my lips and enhance my lip’s lines, something lighter-coloured lip glosses tend to do, but it went on fully opaque and stayed that way. In a way, they’re kind of like a high-quality lip lacquer but way more hydrating. Shade-wise, Spiced Berry is a super-flattering colour for pale, cool-toned complexion and Peony Buff looks fantastic when I’ve got a (fake) tan. If you had to toss a Plumping Lip Creme in your trolley I’m convinced you’d use it up.

Lastly, if you’re looking for a top quality liquid liner, know that Elizabeth Arden Beautiful Colour Bold Defining felt tip liquid eyeliner (R285) fits the bill.

I am suuuuper kak at applying liquid eyeliner so I rarely wear it. The idea of slaving away to create a killer evening look and then ruining it in two seconds with eyeliner that looks like it was applied by Edward freakin’ Scissorhands just totally puts me off, so I’ve been making a point of learning when it’s okay to be rubbish. So, in the morning when I wake up, I slap on a cat eye before jumping into the shower. I’ll then do the same thing before I take my make-up off before bed. This has made for some ‘interesting’ moments of high glamour (I’m sure the Dawn Wing courier dude is completely bewitched by my ‘top o’ the morning’ Troll doll hair, geisha gown and dramatic eye combo) but I’m slowly becoming less shit at creating a cat eye.

Thankfully, my handiwork looks fab from far away. I hope. I’m getting old and rather than buy a Lasik surgery top up, I’m going to blow my pennies on a jaunt to Malaysia later this year. Who needs 20/20 vision when you can have Penang curry on Langkawi beach?

But ja. Getting back to the liner. Arden’s latest has a nice sharp tip, the ink is super black and, despite my using it a lot, it’s yet to show an inkling of drying out. Better yet, Arden’s formulation is waterproof, so getting caught in drizzle won’t destroy your day but it will dissolve in a flash when you want to take it off, provided you’re using an oil-based remover or micellar water.

Love, love

Leigh