Lip Liner : The Essentials

I love a good lip liner, I can be pretty cack handed when applying bold lipsticks so I find lip liners make the whole process a lot easier whilst also acting as a good base for the lipstick which helps with longevity.
I have narrowed my favorites down to this bunch here- I feel like I have all the bases down so whatever lip shade I am wearing, I have a liner that works with it.

You do not need to have an identical liner to every lipstick you have.

Mac Lip Liner in Soar : Soar is a pinky brown shade that is very easy to apply and due to its natural colour and matte finish it can you help you achieve a slightly fuller pout if desired.

I do find this drying though so I don't often wear it alone, but it looks beautiful under a lot of lipsticks. My two favorites to pair with this are Macs Mehr and Bobbi Brows Rose Brown.
Soar is also very long lasting. 

For a full review click here 

Urban Decay 24/7 Liner in Venom : This is the only lip liner I have tried from UD but I am keen to pick up more. This is very long lasting and comfortable to wear.
 I don't find it works that well as all over lip colour - I can get it to spread, I find it very easy to draw a neat line which is super helpful for a bold lip but i find if I wear this solo all over the lip it can cling to some dryness I might have.But I love using it to outline my lips when I use any dark shade.

I find this works with Charlotte Tilburys Night Crimson and Love Liberty - anything that is rich/deep/dark/burgundy/purple, this has me covered.

Estee Lauder Double Wear Lip Liner in Coral : I bought this purely on Sali Hughes recommendation. I love her, she is unbelievably intelligent, chic, beautiful and she knows a hell of a lot about beauty.

If she likes something, I'm going to try it.

I saw a picture of her on her Instagram wearing this with the Nars Audacious Lipstick in Lana (for a review click here) and I became obsessed.

I am pleased to report that I love both and this works fantastically with any orange based lip colour- it suits Lana, The Bourjois Rouge Edition Velvet in Hot Pepper, If you are looking for a long wearing coral that also works all over the lip, this is great. 

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Charlotte Tilbury Lip Cheat in Pillow Talk : This is hands down my favorite of the lot and if I were to only keep one liner, it would be this. 

This is my second and when this runs out, I will without question order a third.

If you are only going to get one thing from CT - get this, or if you can't be bothered with endless lip liners, this one has you covered as it works with everything.

That's the thing, you don't actually have to have a matching colour, a nude lip colour works just as well. I mean yes you can't go in after and add red liner to were there wasn't before, but this liner still adds definition and a base.

The colour is a beautiful natural pink mauve and it is long lasting whilst being creamy. It is comfortable whilst lasting- not like Soar which can end up being quite drying after some time. 

I get a lot of wear out of this and I often wear it alone. It's always in my make up bag. I totally love it and have yet to find someone that doesn't.
I use this will a whole multitude of lipsticks- it's my safety liner so I would never go without it. I use it with Charlotte Tilburys Penelope Pink and Bitch Perfect, Nars Barbara and Anita, YSL Fuchsia in Rage- as a base, Mac Mehr and Plumful, Urban Decay Fiend and Rapture. To be honest- anything. 

Mac Lip Liner in Cherry : This was one of my first ever lip liners and I bought specifically so I could use it with Macs Ruby Woo. 

This lip liner lasts for days on the lips and although can be drying is still a lovely red to add to your collection.

I don't feel the need to buy any other red liners as this has be covered. I use it with CT Red Carpet Red, Ruby Woo, Night Crimson if I want to redden it up, Bourjois Hot Pepper- it's a suit all classic red.

If you need one red liner- this is your guy. 

Rimmel Exaggerate Lip Liner in East End Snob : I love this almost as much as Pillow Talk and this is also my second. 

Again I will keep repurchasing it. 

This is another mauvy pink but with a touch more purple to it.

I love using this on its own- the angled cut of the nib makes it ridiculously easy to use and hard to mess up.

It is so creamy and comfortable, I cannot believe this thing sells for under a fiver. This is by far my favorite Rimmel Product.
 This does a very similar job to Pillow Talk but it is a lot cheaper.

The colour is very similar to Nars Anita. 

Charlotte Tilbury Lip Cheat in Pink Venus : This is noticeably more pink than Pillow Talk and East End Snob. 

This is a lovely warm pink shade that also possess the long lasting rich creaminess of CTs other offerings.

I like to use this when I want to warm up or lighten my nudes. It adds just an extra touch of pink to Bitch Perfect making it look so effortless and summer ready.
This is a lovely pink accompaniment for UD Streak Lipstick as well. 

L-R : Venom, Cherry, Coral, Soar, Pillow Talk, East End Snob and Pink Venus

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Mac Soar Lip Liner and Mehr Lipstick : Swatch and Review

These two items seem to be forever out of stock, I knew they were so hard to come by that to be honest...I wasn't that bothered by them.

I have my Charlotte Tilbury lip liner in 'Pillow Talk' so I wasn't super bothered about tracking Soar down, but something just happened to me in the shop the other day....

I was mooching round Mac in London St Pancras, I saw it on the shelf and literally grabbed it before anyone else had the chance.

I felt like I had achieved something by grabbing one of the few remaining that I thought it was fair to treat myself to Mehr. I saw Lily Pebbles wear it in this video and it looks gorgeous on her- and Soar and Mehr are meant to be friends, and to be honest that is enough justification for me to buy both.

All the hype aside- I am really enjoying these two products! Both are very natural and both are matte- I don't think I really own any colour like this in a matte formulation, so they are both getting a lot of wear. 

Lets start with Soar.

On the Mac website this colour is described as a 'mid tone pinkish brown' so it does fit into that 'your lips but better' thing and yes, if you do want to slightly over line your lips- you really can do that with this.

The colour is lovely and I think it looks great all over the lips.

Due to it being matte- it is long lasting and obviously creates a more realistic overdraw as glossy products highlight where your lips end.

This reminds me a lot of Bobbi Browns Art stick in Rose Brown - I feel if you have one you don't necessarily need the other- which is useful as Rose Brown is generally easier to find than Soar.

I do have both. but I also have hoarder problems, so we will move on. 

Here is Soar all over the lips:

I really like this. Do I like it more than my CT Pillow Talk? No, I don't think so...but my love affair with PT has been going on for nearly a year so it's tough competition!

But yes, a lovely lip liner, and I will get a lot of use out of this. 

Onto Mehr.

Look how pretty!
In this picture I am only wearing Mehr, a 'dirty blue pink' a matte lipstick that looks lovely with or without Soar. It is lighter without the lip liner and would make a brilliant everyday lipstick.

Even though it's matte, its not particularly drying and it has great wear time. 

I am happy I have this. 

Here are the swatches side by side to give you some idea of difference:

L- R: Mehr and Soar

You can see that Soar is browner.
I think if you can get your hands on these-check them out!
I reckon most people will get a lot of use out of them.
If you can't, I wouldn't worry too much, I can see some similiarities in my stash- the ones that come to mind are CT Pillow Talk, Rimmel East End Snob, Bobbi Brow Rose Brown.
When in Mac I thought the lipstick in 'Brave' was quite similar too.

Here is Soar all over the lips with Mehr on top:

Bottom Line : These two products are long lasting and very day time appropriate.

I love that I can apply them and not be super paranoid that it's wearing off or is all over my teeth. 

Have you tried either one of these products?

Soar has really added to my (almost getting out of hand) lip liner addiction....would anyone like to see a post on my favorite liners?

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