Stila Colour Balm Lipstick: Valentina

After spotting Valentina on Emerald Eyeliner, I added it to my wishlist (post HERE) along with Stilas Convertible Colour trio..neither stayed on the wishlist too long. I hummed, I hawed and I eventually bought both. I'm delighted I did as the Convertible Colour Trio (cream blushers- post coming soon!) have been a permanent fixture on my face since and this gorgeous little tube of brightness is now my go-to lipstick for when I need a bit of a pick-me-up, you know, visage wise. 

The idea with the Colour Balm lipsticks is that they provide the full pigment that a matte lipstick would but with the added nourishing properties of a balm. I expected this to be similar to the YSL Rouge Volupte Shine (Review HERE) or indeed Revlon's ColorBurst Lip Butters but in reality this to me feels like a creme finish lipstick but slightly more glossy. 

The packaging is beautiful, that's a little mirror on the top- dinky!

The Colour! One swatch only.

This is again, just one coat lightly applied so you can see how pigmented it is. I just threw it on before leaving the house but it can be built up by properly applying two coats or using a lip brush.

And here t'is with two coats applied. Lovely.

The colour is just outstanding with this, a super bright orange/red, it really lifts the complexion and if it looks well on me with my pasty face then I'd imagine it'll look fantastic on those with a darker skin tone too. Being a glossier finish, this will need reapplication if you're going anywhere near food or drink but generally I have to do that with any lipstick this bright, unless I lash on a layer of LipCote, which I probably wouldn't do with a consistency like this. 

There are 17 shades in the range and are priced at £16. You can pick them up in Harvey Nichols or HERE on Stilas website, which offers free delivery to Ireland. Asos also sell the brand.