Rimmel - The Kate Collection lipstick swatch and review

Brit drugstore brand recently released a new collection of lipsticks called The Kate Collection. 

No, not the Duchess of Cambridge but the Lady Kate of Croydon.

Rimmel sez:
" FALL IN LOVE WITH YOUR FAVOURITE SHADE, THERE ARE 7 TO CHOOSE FROM.

Amazing alluring shades developed by Kate for RIMMEL. Exclusive signature pack, smooth on pure London class with the Iconic Lasting Finish Kate lipstick. A true chic treat. Unique, sexy and unconventional, just like Kate. 

Black Diamond brings incredible new levels of light reflective elements. Creating gorgeous, hypnotizing tones that make you look, then look again. Wow.

Get ready to fall in love with your new signature colour that capture all the flair, edge and timelessness of Kate’s unique look."

Nunu sez:
I believe these have been spotted in US pharmacies like CVS already, however, there is still no sign of them in Canada. Again I got mine from my friendly Brit smuggler Vicky.
I have shade 05 - a bright corally pink.
There's really no difference in formula between these Kate lipsticks and the usual Rimmel Lasting Finish lipsticks. They have the same weird smell and the same neither drying nor particularly moisturising formula.
It glides on easily, is nicely pigmented and lasts a good 4 hours between meals.
It is also thankfully free of the annoying glitter/shimmer that some of the Lasting Finish lipsticks have.
I don't quite recall how much I paid for mine, perhaps 5 quids? Rimmel Lasting Finish lipsticks are usually about $6 in Canada and regularly go on sale at London Drugs for $2.99.
Buy if you're a Kate fan, it's on sale, or you're in need of a nice bright coral lippy and have no aversion to weird scents.

Swatches:

Rimmel HD Glam Eyes review and swatches

Thanks to the kindness of Vicky, my smuggler of all things across the pond, I managed to get frostbitten paws on two of the Rimmel HD Glam Eyes palettes before they hit Canadian shores.

I believe these have recently cropped up in pharmacies in the US and go for around $5 a pop. I have yet to see these in Canadian pharmacies but if the Revlon Lip Butters are anything to go by, we should be seeing them sometime in the new year. 

Packaging is in the usual meh plastic compact with a see through lid. A duo ended sponge applicator is included. 

The true standout of these palettes is the ingenious way in which the shadows are arranged to form the shape of the Union Jack/British Flag. As an ardent lover of all things Pommie (except for their horrid food), the palettes made me squee a lil xD.

There are a total of 6 colour combinations: English Oak - warm neutrals/browns; Black Cab - smokey greys; Royal Blue - blues; Purple Reign - purples; Green Park - greens; and True Union Jack - a mixture of bright fuchsia, blue and white. I picked up Green Park and Purple Reign.

Left: Green Park. Right: Purple Reign

Green Park swatches:

Purple Reign swatches:

Texture wise the shadows are incredibly soft. I did these swatches using the included sponge applicator and it made huge dents in the shadow. The finish is akin to a MAC Veluxe Pearl - a smooth pearly sheen.

The above swatches are all 1 swipe and the pigmentation, as you can see, is utterly amazing. 

Wear time was impressive too, I wore the purple palette sans primer for work and it stuck around from 7am-7pm with no creasing although it had faded slightly.
The one thing that really annoyed me about this palette was that apart from the shadow in the main cross pattern, the shadows the four corners were next to impossible to get to because they are SO TINY! You'd probably have to use the corner of the smallest brush you have to get anything out.

For $5 each, these palettes just can't be beat and I am so hauling one of each when they hit Canada!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

May all your wishes come true!! I hope you all spent it with your loved ones, consumed large quantities of food glorious food and got lots of presents!!!