No7 & Poppy King: History Lipstick and Gloss

Be patient my dears...it's now just 3 days to go until the official launch of the highly anticipated collaboration between Boots No7 and the Lipstick Queen herself, Ms Poppy King. One of the boldest, most vivid shades on offer is History, a show stopping red fit for a hollywood siren...

Slightly chameleon in it's appearance, when swatched both the tones of the lipstick and gloss pull visibly more pink against the skin. However, when applied onto the lips, the pigments transform to produce a very accessible, very wearable, very flirty red - ideal for teaming with a classic neutral eye.

History Lipstick/ Gloss Swatched

Much the same as Intrigue, this formula really is a breeze to wear. Comfortable, non drying, reasonably long lasting - fans of Lipstick Queen definitely won't be dismayed at the quality of this partnership. Whilst it's not completely 100% on par with Poppy's personal line, I find these lipsticks - and glosses in particular - to be notably superior to the standard No7 mix.

History Lipstick applied to heavily pigmented lips

Worn alone, both products are toned down enough to be suitable for a day time lip. This red appears more playful than overtly sexy, which makes for a generally less self conscious make up experience. When layered up, History is outstanding for a evening face, not to mention bright enough to play into the bold summer lips trend as seen on the catwalks.

Free from shimmer, the non-sticky gloss is a gorgeous, semi sheer texture that instantly adds the appearance of fuller, thicker lips. I'm completely smitten with this shade.

History Gloss applied to heavily pigmented lips

For those of you who usually shy away from a bolder lip, History really is a fool proof way of easing yourself into unknown cosmetic territory. Whilst lipstick lovers may have several dupes of this shade already floating about in their collection, those with a more modest stash should definitely make way for this scarlet beauty.

History Lipstick and Gloss launch in Boots' stores nationwide on March 23rd, priced at £12 and £11 respectively.

*this product was a free sample obtained by the Beauty Bite*

No7 & Poppy King: Intrigue Lipstick and Gloss

As far as collaborations go it would be a huge understatement to say I was excited to hear Lipstick Queen was collaborating with one of Britain's biggest high street brands, after all, in my eyes the woman can do no wrong...

Inspired by the No 7 brand name, Poppy King has developed and created a compact collection of colours to reflect the 7 reasons she truly believes women love to wear lip colour: Power, Glamour, Seduction, Intrigue, Confidence, History and Allure.

Intrigue Lipstick/ Gloss Swatched

One of the most versatile shades in the range is Intrigue - a pink nude intended to give the eternally desired my-lips-but-better finish. Weighing in at 3.5g (the same as L.Q Medieval), these lippies are smaller in height but equal in width to Poppy's own range; packaged in a very similar but slightly thinner tin case.

I absolutely adore this lipstick. The colour is beautiful, elegant and faultless for pulling together a natural and chic day time look. I found the formula to be relatively loyal to Poppy's usual high standards, except the overall longevity was slightly poorer when compared to the likes of the Butterfly Ball range, for example.

Intrigue Lipstick applied to heavily pigmented lips

For me the gloss is the real star of the show. Although this isn't perhaps the best colour for my pigmented features, the formula itself is long lasting, non sticky and extremely comfortable to wear. Lipstick Queen is my go to for glosses and I truly think this collaboration has successfully transported the brands incredible credentials for shine and pigment. Perhaps not as nicely scented as Poppy's personal range, these would be ideal for women who aren't typical gloss fans.

Intrigue Lipgloss applied to heavily pigmented Lips

Poppy King and No7 have done a stellar job at merging together a mass high street chain with a small quirky brand. Customers who have never stumbled upon Lipstick Queen before will definitely be impressed with the high quality and wearable shades released in this collection. For me though, I'm perhaps not as excited as I was at first - mainly due to the pricing. If these goodies were slightly cheaper I'd be ecstatic, but retailing at only a few pounds less than Lipstick Queen's original line, I think the temptation of a slightly more innovative range will always draw me in.

If you've never tried any of Poppy King's lovely lippies before than definitely check these out - after all, they don't call her Lipstick Queen for nothing!

Intrigue Lipstick (£12) and Lipgloss (£11) will be available from Boots Stores nationwide from Wednesday 23rd March.

*this product was free samples obtained by the Beauty Bite*

No7 Exceptional Definition Mascara

Yes, I know, this post is literally 473 months behind but trust me when I say a good mascara never goes out of fashion...

Whilst the beauty blogging world goes up in arms over No7's latest mascara (and it's marketing techniques) I'm still secretly loving 2010's three-in-one creation designed to deliver deliciously defined results.

The clever innovative brush (one side for volume, one side for combing and a rounded tip to reach those hard-to-get-to-hairs) means all curves and corners can be covered with just a simple flick and wiggle of the wand. Enriched with vitamins and soy protein, this keratin rich formula claims to both protect and care for lashes during wear.

Before:

After:

The results speak for themselves; length, volume, no dried out clumps - I can't see many lashes not being happy with this fluttery affair.

No7 Exceptional Definition Mascara is available from boot stores and boots.com priced at £7.50

*this product was a free sample obtained by the Beauty Bite*

No7 Delight Sheer Temptation Lipstick

They're back!

If like me your purse is literally bulging with Boots' £5 off No7 vouchers, then you could certainly do a lot worse than picking up one of these stunning gloss meets lipstick hybrids.

Sheer Temptation is available in a range of 12 shades developing from subtle natural nudes to full on racy reds. I picked up Delight - possibly the lightest colour of the bunch once applied - this glistening pink has not only the characteristics of a conditioning balm, but also the moist appearance of a super sticky gloss.

Delight Lipstick swatched

Enriched with both natural waxes and Theobroma Oil, this formula is extremely comfortable to wear. It noticeably feels luxuriously hydrating and is perfect for anyone who regular suffers from dried out lips. Non sticky to touch, the colour effortlessly applies to the skin and instantly adds the illusion of both volume and plumpness.

Delight Lipstick applied to heavily pigmented lips

Priced at £9.50, these are an absolute steal when purchased with the voucher. Although not long lasting in any sense (I managed around 45 minutes before reapplying) it's best to treat this product as if it was a gloss, simply due to the lightness of the formula. If you fancy a money saving, moisturising treat then Sheer Temptation will definitely have a colour to suit.

No 7 Sheer Temptation Lipstick in Delight is available from Boots and boots.com for £9.50.

*this product was purchased by the Beauty Bite*

No7 Limited Edition Plum Rebellion Soft Matte Finish Lipstick

We don't know about you, but this autumn we've been craving berry bitten lips a whole heap more than usual. However, we've never quite worked out how to rock a rich red with the sultry confidence needed. That's why No7's limited edition offering - Plum Rebellion - has made one trend we usually shy away from far more accessible than ever...

Created in an uber trendy Matte Finish, although this colour may look heavy on the bullet, it applies only to transform into the most gorgeously sheer of shades. Non drying, this is definitely a lip friendly formula that doesn't require plenty of prep before hand...Who'd have thought it!?!

Plum Rebellion swatched

Super light to wear, this product is without a doubt a pleasure to possess in your seasonal make up bag. However, our only gripe is that the colour faded slightly on our heavily pigmented pout after just 30 minutes wear. We plan to try it again later with the aid of a lip primer, simply because we love this shade way too much to give up on it just yet...

Plum Rebellion applied to heavily pigmented lips (after 30 minutes wear)

If you like the look of this autumnal beauty then be quick! It's only gracing stores for a couple more weeks, alongside it's more neutral sibling Nude Rebel. We're not usually big fans of No7, but this lipstick is definitely a stand out piece to check out next time you're on the highstreet.

No7 Plum Rebellion is available from Boots stores nationwide and boots.com for £9.75

*this product was a free sample obtained by the Beauty Bite*

No7 Limited Edition Smoky Eyeliner

Smoky Eyes are definitely one beauty look that seem to be eternally on trend. So, as part of their seductive new Autumn range, No7 have reinvented their wheel and produced a unique powder based sponge liner: ideal for taking that sooty smouldering effect to new levels of depth.

Sleek, slim and easy to style, the small but seriously awesome sponge picks up just the right amount of product for sexy, sweeping, smoky smudginess (Wow. that sentence was S crazy!) On our first go at using this product, we'd be lying if we said the application wasn't a tad messy. However, once you've obtained a feel for the formula, we actually found this powder smoother to apply than most standard liner pencils.

No7 Smoky Eyeliner swatched using the wide side of the sponge/ tip of the sponge

If you're someone who hasn't quite mastered the fine art of liquid liner than this certainly makes a brilliant alternative. However, it's not as long lasting as the majority of pencils and gels we've tried, so you may find a primer is needed to achieve a more durable look.

Simple to apply, simple to smudge, and simple to smoke - this pretty powder is only available in stores until October 5th.

No7 Smoky Eyeliner is available at Boots stores for £10. (or just £5 with your No7 voucher.)

*this product was a free sample obtain by the Beauty Bite*

No7 Colour Calming Primer

Last weekend we posted about the undeniably boring, yet equally fantastic E45 Dry Scalp Shampoo. Today we're travelling down a somewhat similar avenue with this: a dull yet handy neutralising base from Boots No7.

Designed to cool and calm rosy complexions, this thick green cream is intended to be gently blended into the face straight after moisturising. With caring, conditioning ingredients, the pale pigments instantly neutralise unwanted redness leaving skin tone visibly more even. Although it can be worn by itself, we found it necessary to apply foundation to ensure a fresher, more natural finish.

Calming Primer lightly blended/heavily swatched

If you suffer from redness you'll appreciate just how vital a product like this can be. We know many people who've picked up a tube and no longer feel self conscious about their cheeks burning up. However it can appear a bit patchy at times - which is no doubt the last thing you want if you're aiming for a smoother base. That being said, it does gives reasonably good wear and, most importantly, doesn't sting when applied.

On days when you find yourself piling on more and more foundation to block out constant blushes, this primer will definitely save both time and effort. Since being repackaged and renamed - it can also be purchased in Lavender. A soft, lilac tint intended to correct sallow and dull complexions.

When we find our face feeling a bit too hot and flushed, we're always pleased with the results this gives. At £10.75 for 40ml it's noticeably cheaper than most options provided by premium brands, but we do advise that you swatch in store first. Redness - whether it be on your nose, cheeks on chin - varies from case to case so be sure to check out if this formula works comfortably with your specific needs. Hypo-allergenic - this cream is suitable for those with both eczema and sensitive skin.

Boots No7 Colour Calming Primer is available from stores worldwide and boots.com for £10.75.

*this product was purchased by the Beauty Bite*