Saturday, March 15, 2014

'90s Nude for Now

Despite the sane part of me acknowledging the last thing I need is another lipstick, when the new shades of Rimmel Moisture Renew Lipstick launched recently, I couldn't resist picking up Notting Hill Nude (720). This was a lipstick I felt compelled to rush out and buy after reading about it months ago on UK blogs. At the time, the revamped line wasn't yet available in Australia, so I waited patiently for the latest range to hit our shelves. While I rarely wear or feel drawn towards nudes, I had high hopes for Notting Hill Nude (the 40% off sale Priceline was having didn't hurt, making it an affordable $8.37). It's been touted as a Tom Ford Spanish Pink dupe (though to my eyes, they're really not that similar in colour), and it looked dark enough to wear on an everyday basis without washing the complexion out.









Rimmel Moisture Renew Lipstick in Notting Hill Nude reminds me of the quintessential '90s reddish brown nude lip, but modernised. It's not really my thing, but I can appreciate the intent. It's a medium, distinctly brown-based nude, but with enough red in there so it's more flesh-toned than caramel or chocolate. It's still a bit too brown for my liking, but you can definitely sheer it out or mix it with something pinker and softer, so it's fresher, less brown and not as dark. It seems like a very serious lipstick shade (no frivolous pinks or party brights here), office-appropriate, grown up, conservative and polished. It's a good pick for a true nude when you still want to give some shape and colour to your lips while keeping it entirely neutral.

One unexpected and quite unpleasant aspect of this lipstick is the smell. I do remember the other Moisture Renew lipstick I have, Nude Delight, having a similar scent, but it's nowhere near as strong (or maybe enough time has passed that it's faded). When you lift off the cap of Notting Hill Nude, the strong "grandma lipstick"/synthetic floral fragrance just assaults your nose. You can smell it when you're applying it, and you can smell it once it's on your lips. Formula-wise, the lipstick is smooth, glossy and nicely pigmented. It's not overly thick or creamy, but it's not thin and slippy either. It strikes a good middle ground between the two. It does settle slightly into lip lines because of the more moisturising formula, but it's not too noticeable.


l-r: Revlon Soft Nude, NARS Biscayne Park, Rimmel Notting Hill Nude, Face of Australia Sundae, Revlon Ginger Rose, Revlon Mauve It Over

Once I took Notting Hill Nude home and saw exactly what kind of colour it was, I instinctively knew I'd have a couple very close dupes. Closer than Tom Ford Spanish Pink, at least. I included two lighter nudes in the above swatch mainly for comparison purposes. Revlon ColorBurst Lipstick in Soft Nude is the lightest, most pinkish/peachy nude. NARS Satin Lip Pencil in Biscayne Park is a bit darker than Soft Nude, slightly redder and more brown-toned. Face of Australia Sheer Gloss Lip Crayon in Sundae is very similar to the Rimmel in colour, but significantly glossier and sheerer. Revlon Super Lustrous Lipstick in Ginger Rose is more opaque and less glossy than the Rimmel, also darker and more rosy. Revlon Matte Lipstick in Mauve It Over is probably the closest match to Notting Hill Nude in both shade and finish, but more matte, a tinge darker, slightly more red than brown.

I see Notting Hill Nude working with a variety of skin tones, given it's not one of those pale, milky nudes that only the fairest among us have a chance at successfully pulling off. It gives me a bit of a nostalgic '90s vibe (kind of like a lighter, glossier version of the lip colour worn in this "Kate Moss/boho/grunge look" by Pixiwoo, but the concealer added later on the middle of the lips ruined it for me), though it's not as dark or brown/raisin as what was in fashion then. I prefer it to Revlon Ginger Rose and Mauve It Over, two similar-coloured lipsticks that I feel are too heavy for my tastes. The smooth, shiny, lightweight texture makes it easy to layer with another colour or a balm underneath, or dab on for a more subdued, easygoing look. Just hope the off-putting smell eventually loses steam.

33 comments:

  1. oo see i love this shade, but its not for everyone! :)

    em @ lipsticklives.blogspot.com xx

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  2. Love this shade so much, I can get away with wearing it for school haha!
    http://whattaylorbuys.blogspot.co.uk/

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  3. Really nice post, love the colour and the dupes are a great idea to add to the post! xx
    http://marybloomy.blogspot.pt

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  4. This really is a beautiful nude, another lovely girl from a beauty blog I followed also recently showed this shade and another nude from rimmel. I really must have a shade like this! It's so versatile!

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  5. Judging by your descriptions, I think I would like the formulation a lot but I am glad you also talked about the scent. Rimmel lipstick scent is something that keeps me from buying more of them. It seems inoffensive at first but lingers on.
    Notting Hill Nude looks quite pretty on you, though. It is a little pinker on your lips than on your arm, too. :)

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  6. lovely nude shade!! i love that its almost yellow/brown toned! this nude might actually fit me! gonna try it! thanks for review!

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  7. I love a good 90s inspired nude lip, even though nudes aren't really my thing either. Notting Hill Nude looks like it was made for you! It's so pretty. Have you ever tried the Kate Moss matte lipsticks? Those are probably my favorite from Rimmel, the colors are gorgeous. I agree about the smell, I hate how strong it is.
    :)

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    1. Nope, I only have one Kate Moss for Rimmel lipstick and it's shade 11? It's like this deep pinkish red. I was eyeing 107 though! :)

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  8. I'm not a huge fan of Notting Hill Nude, it just wasn't right for my complexion... Love the range though, Let's Get Naked is definitely my fav! :)

    Tiny Alis

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  9. Not every place sells this new Rimmel Lipsticks, but I'll be sure to check the ones that have because of this ones. It's a really pretty shade of nude. I like this type of colours to those days were I want to work a bit more on my eye make up.

    Take care, have a nice day!*

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  10. Rimmel has one of the best lipstick formula for the drugstore range.. I love their Kate Moss lipsticks as well as their moisture renew lipsticks.. too bad Rimmel has left German market last year so I can only get them online through Asos..
    Notting Hill nude looks like a nude shade I could pull off since it is not too washout. But Revlon ginger rose looks the prettiest among the shades!!

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  11. "revlon ginger rose" looks lovely! :)

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  12. I have to admit, I find the smell of the revamped 'Moisture Renew' lipsticks very off-putting, but 'Coral Britannia' is the perfect nude/peach colour for my complexion, so I suffer through it. I can totally see what you mean about the 90's nude lip, the colour is a bit of a throw-back, but it seems to really suits your skintone, from the pictures xx

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  13. this is really pretty! I wish I could pull off nude lipstick, but it just makes me look sick!

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  14. It looks like a nice peachy nude :)

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  15. That's too bad that the smell kind of ruins it for you (at least at the moment)… like you said though, hopefully it get's a little less offensive/powerful over time! I think the color is really lovely; I could see it looking really gorgeous with a shimmery peachy-pink gloss over top :)

    ♥Cassie
    thriftthick.blogspot.com

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  16. It actually looks pretty good on you worn by itself. But I admit I might put a pink lip gloss on top to counter the brown if only a little.

    Love :)
    CJ
    NANSHY BRUSH SET - CRUELTY FREE - PETA APPROVED : A REVIEW

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  17. I totally agree with you on the 90's vibe! Too bad about the smell.. don't think I could pull it off anyways hahaha. Thanks for the review!

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  18. I love the way it looks on you! It's a shame about the smell especially being so close too your nose... It's a bit unavoidable isn't it? I caught wind of the new range being launched but haven't came across it yet, hopefully I can get swatching soon.


    Sarah | More Than Adored

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  19. I have Spanish Nude and they honestly don't look all that similar. Im a sucker for nudes though, so I should def check this lippie out!

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  20. Lovely nude shade!

    rubyblogi.blogspot.com

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  21. How awesome is the sale Priceline is having?! I picked up a few Revlon lip butters, but might return for this nude colour -- it'll be good for uni where I like to wear something that's not too flashy. Pity about the smell but luckily the texture of the lipstick is nice and makes up for it. I like the purple packaging too haha. Thanks for the review :)

    ♥ Michelle/MICHALOGY

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  22. All these are gorgeous, I've never seen this shade at the rimmel stand but it's now on my to-buy lipstick list... Like I need another!

    Love Beth | BethBlogsBeauty
    xx

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  23. The grandma scent is definitely a no for me, however this is a nude brown that I could wear everyday and I don't have close dupes. I'm going to check on this , thanks for the thorough review! :D

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  24. I love the look of this but do hate lipsticks with those sorts of scents - argh! Dilemmas, dilemmas...! x

    Evelyn @ We Were Raised By Wolves

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  25. I like how the brown undertones in this lipstick is not overdone and that it'll range of skin tones. The smell of this line of lipstick is definitely not appealing but maybe if I see a shade that appeals to me I'd compromise or hopefully Notting Hill Nude works for me haha :P

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  26. I've been wearing nude lips a lot lately, my prefered shades are Estee Lauder Crystal Baby and a new gloss by BM Cosmetics which was a total surprise love for me from a recent glossybox. I know what you mean about that Rimmel lipstick scent and it can be a bit off putting but I find you don't notice it after a while so hopefully you won't either. Love how this looks on you!

    Emma x

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  27. This is my favourite drugstore lipstick formula and j just love this shade. It's so wearable and like you said it'll suit so many skin tones xx

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  28. I've yet to try these lipsticks from Rimmel, my local store has them in but they're always quite badly stocked or they're in a right mess. It makes me wish I worked there so I could sort out the messy situation! They really do sound great though, I'll have to check them out again when I go further afield.
    Amy x | A Little Boat Sailing

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  29. I saw Rimmel lips and nails were BOGOF and I swatched Notting Hill Nude but it was bleh. I even got out my MAC lipsticks that were in my backpack- Bare Again and Shy Girl- and swatched them alongside. Much preferred my existing lipsticks and left without it. You're right- the settling into lines and the brownness do not entice.

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  30. I really like this formulation, I have a nice pink shade that I don't wear nearly enough but still absolutely adore. I'm going through a real nude make up phase at the moment and I'm definitely on the search for my perfect shade. Really like how this shade looks on you, it would look really terrible on me so I might have to go and have a look at nude delight or Revlon soft nude!

    Jennie xo | sailorjennie.com

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  31. Ha how funny. Once I saw the swatch I immediately thought it had to be similar to Revlon Mauve it Over

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  32. This colour is exactly what I love (yes I am so boring!). I love the finish, not too glossy, not too matte. I'm definitely going to swatch this the next time I am at a Priceline, although I strongly dislike the "grandma" unpleasant smell that some lipsticks have which my deter me from purchasing it :P

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