Studio 10 Longlast Velvet Liquid Lips & Youth Lift Plumping Blush

When I try products that instantly add life to my face, I know I’m onto a winner. That’s exactly what happened when I tried Longlast Velvet Liquid Lips and Youth Lift Plumping Blush - two new releases from Studio 10, which could be described as the make-up equivalent of age enhancing skincare. (I’m trying to avoid the term anti-ageing, but yep - that’s what I mean). More than just pretty products, these actually make me look more healthy and awake.

LONGLAST VELVET LIQUID LIPS are demi-matte liquid lipsticks with the lightest texture I’ve tried to date. I’d describe the finish as satin-like; it’s almost matte, but doesn’t set, crack or crease and literally feels as light as a silky balm in both application and wear. You don’t need to be overly careful applying this (I usually am with liquid or matte formulas) - just a single layer with the doe-foot applicator and you’re good to go. Regular readers will know I’m not a fan of uber pastel nude lip shades - and while these lean towards nude, I’d describe them as healthy lip tones. I like - and have been wearing - all three and struggle to choose a favourite, though find the lightest shade, Peach, is the most wearable for everyday colour. Enriched with hydrating vitamin E, this doesn’t emphasise lip creases, bleed or dry out my lips.

Highlights: almost matte, silky finish, non-drying, longwearing, skin-flattering shades

YOUTH LIFT PLUMPING BLUSH is one of the best face perker uppers I’ve tried and takes my cheeks from zombie to zesty in seconds. Although a liquid formula, it’s not drippy or watery - more lotion than liquid - and feels a bit like a silky serum (more dense than Daniel Sandler Watercolour if you’re familiar with that). If you’re afraid of liquid or cream blush, then this is for you - it couldn’t be easier to apply. One teensy dot is all I need for both cheeks - patted on and blended out with fingers or applied with a stippling brush, it doesn’t stain the skin or need to be worked in uber fast… it’s just so easy. It comes in one universal shade created to suit all skin tones - a rosy peach that I’d call ‘Oomph’ - and is slightly pearlised to add light reflective sheen, not shimmer. It doesn’t interfere with foundation or highlight pores, lines etc. The only thing I don’t love is the size of the pump, which is a little chunky for my liking. The hydrating formula contains plumping actives and light reflecting pearls.

Highlights: oomph-giving, easy to apply, radiant finish, suit-all shade

Swatches

From left, Liquid Lips in Blossom, Tea Rose and Peach (single swipe of each) and a heavy swatch of Plumping Blush (enough for about 8 cheeks!).

• Blossom - a soft, warm pink, very flattering on my skin tone and semi-bold without being in your face. Gold sheen in tube, which I don’t notice this on my lips.
• Tea Rose - beige rose, great everyday shade for a polished, not overly made up look
• Peach - peachy beige, the most nude and natural looking of the three
• Plumping Blush - peachy rose coral with a subtle pearlised sheen (zero shimmer or glitter)

 

Apols that these pics aren’t great quality - snapped on my way out at the weekend, but I wanted to give you an idea of how the products look applied. In this I’m wearing Plumping Blush and Liquid Lips in Peach. My sis suggested I add a little lipgloss on the way out the door (she said gloss would make the look more evening-y!), so I did. I’ve included a mini pic taken pre-gloss to let you see the natural finish.

What do you think? I honestly couldn’t love these more.

Youth Lift Plumping Blush £24 and Longlast Velvet Liquid Lips £22 are both available at cultbeauty.co.uk

For more on Studio 10 see my previous posts: Contour, Conceal & Glow and Visible Lift Definer & Lip Definer

Studio 10 Make-up: Contour, Conceal & Glow

 

In late teens and early twenties, pretty much anything goes when it comes to make-up… from layering up concealer and powder a la Kardashians  to heavy glitter, matt lips and sharply defined eyes. As we get older, less is definitely more and we need to get clever with finer textures, light-reflecting formulas and a moisturising wash of colour. It’s all about enhancing, which is exactly what Studio 10 achieves with a range of make-up and skincare created especially for older skin: think firming, moisturising and glow-inducing.

I imagine that fans of the natural make-up look and anyone with dry or dehydrated skin will also enjoy these products.

I’ve been loving the Visible Lift Definer, complete with the most perfect contour powder I’ve tried. Super finely milled, this has ZERO orange tones, yet isn’t grey or muddy either, making it perfect for subtle enhancement of cheekbones or even a sweep of bronze. The cream blush leaves a dewy finish on my cheeks, either patted on with a finger or applied with a stippling brush. Although it looks quite deep in colour, the sheer texture means it isn’t at all scary, more of a natural blush shade. I don’t usually go for a gold toned highlight, but this one is a very pale champagne gold, which leaves a subtle sheen on the tops of cheekbones and brow bones - very flattering and daytime friendly, this isn’t at all OTT (not a speck of glitter in sight).

The Age Defy Skin Perfector includes a creamy primer (left), 2 correctors (right) and two concealer shades. The latter are too deep for my skin colour (this palette is medium-dark) but the correctors work well at counteracting redness (the green one) and dark circles (the peachy shade). These are fine, creamy and quite sheer in texture, designed for use under the concealer.

I’ve been using the Visible Lift Definer and Age Reverse Perfecting Lip Definer (top pic) regularly. The nude end of the lip pencil redefines the outer lip contour, helps avoid feathering and gives the impressed of volume, while the pink end adds a natural flush of colour and works well alone over a balm or under any lipstick.

Overall, I’m impressed - and have heard good things about the rest of this small, but perfectly formed range. There is no powder as it’s all about the glow and avoiding dry, powdery finishes, but personally I did feel the need to use one to set my T-zone. If you’re looking for a flattering finishing powder, I can’t recommend Jurlique Rose Silk Powder highly enough. I’ll share a natural make-up look using Studio 10 products this weekend, so you can see how they look applied.

Studio 10 prices start at £22 and the range is available at Cult Beauty HERE.

Does the idea of perfecting and defining products appeal to you?