Rimmel Kate Nude Lipstick Review

I usually opt for Nude lipsticks for work or everyday wear because there is something so classy and understated about them. However, it is quite difficult to get a lovely nude lipstick that would suit my complexion and I think it is the same with many ski tones because people have different undertones. Besides, my lips have two different colours which makes things slightly complicated. My upper lip is slightly darker or maybe more pigmented than my lower lip which is light pink. This means a lip colour which is nude for my lower lip may end up looking ashy on my upper lip. However, there are various ways around it. I tend to mute out my lips with a concealer or foundation so most lipsticks would pop or appear evenly on my lips. Majority of my nude lipsticks are from MAC and Estee Lauder and a few other high end brands because they are more pigmented and offer a wider range of shades. I am not a huge fan of many drug store nude lipsticks because there aren't many shades that are actually nude on my lips. When I heard and saw that Rimmel had launched their Kate Nude Lipsticks and Nail polish range, I was curious. First off, I was pleased they tried their best to cover a wide range of skin tones. I really like Rimmel lipsticks because their formula is amazing particularly the Kate range. I popped into Boots for a little swatching session and I ended up picking three shades from the five shades that were available. I did not pick up any nail polish because I have way too many nail polishes in my collection but they looked pretty. I am not going to lie; the lipstick packaging lured me in completely. They look amazing in pictures and in real life but more importantly, they work really well. I am sure you would notice from the picture that two of the shades look similar but they are not that similar in real life.


Overview
I am sure everyone knows about the Rimmel Lipstick Kate Range because this range has been around for a long while now. I own a few lipsticks from the Kate range and I love the formula and packaging design. In case you are wondering, the Kate range is created by the lovely super model Kate Moss whose taste and style is so chic and she is one of my favourite models. Her signature can be found on the packaging of all the Kate range lipsticks and it adds a really personal touch to the design. The Kate Nude Lipstick was launched last month (or maybe this month) and there are five shades of lipsticks to choose from and they aim to cater to a range of skin tones. The shades don't have any names but they do have numbers and they start from -040, 042, 043, 045 and 048. Yeah, I know the numbers are not quite in sequence but maybe they plan to release more shades. Who knows? In Boots, there is a helpful chart in the Rimmel Makeup stand which is useful for choosing shades. Some of the shades have warm undertones and some have cooler undertones but nevertheless, I think you can choose whatever you wish like I did.



Packaging
Isn't the packaging the classiest thing ever? I have always loved the Rimmel Kate packaging but this creamy beige packaging is just divine. I even spied a lip balm in a similar white packaging and I know I am definitely purchasing it even though I don't need it. Well, I could use my Boots points for it instead of shelling out. I am sure many people are inclined to try this because it has a pretty packaging and of course, the lipstick is also lovely. It has the typical Kate Moss signature inscribed in white as well with a little heart. The colours of the shades and shade number can be found underneath the lipstick and I think they are quite close to the actual colour pay off of the lipstick. The best part of the packaging is that it has a click when you close the lipstick. Yes, I am one of those crazy girls obsessed with packagings that have a satisfying click. On a more serious note, packagings with clicks mean the products are secure in your handbag and there are minimal chances of any spillage or damage.



Shades I chose
It was a little difficult to choose what shades I wanted because they all looked pretty. I knew 048 (the darkest) was definitely going to suit me and 040 (the lightest) was a huge no-no so it was between the remaining three shades. There was also an offer on- I think it was 3 for 2 or maybe buy one get one free so I had to get one more lippie. I eventually settled for 043, 045 and of course, 048. I almost did not pick up the 045 because it was designed for people with cooler undertones but I still wanted it. In a way, I think it reminds me of the Kate 03 Lipstick (allegedly a dupe for MAC Velvet Teddy) but it has a pinkier hue to it. I am really pleased with the shades I purchased and I think I may just buy one nail polish when pay day arrives because the darkest Nude shade looked so lovely.



I have to mention that the way these lipsticks swatch on my hands are not the same as they look on my lips. If you can, try and get a swatch in store. It is always important to disinfect the tester, swatch it on your hand and then onto your lips. I say this because you may be surprised that it may come up differently on your lips as opposed to the swatch. Never EVER use a tester lipstick directly on your lips; it's super gross and disgusting. Generally,I go by the swatch on my lips but if I have to test it on my lips, I use a wipe (I always have one in my bag) and wipe the lipstick before swatching on my hands and transferring the swatch to my lips. It seems like too much of a hassle (which it is) but you can't return drug store products here in the UK so it's better to be safe than sorry. I would try my best to describe the shades as well as I can. Also, I used a lip liner before applying all the lipsticks but I don't think it is necessary with the 048 which is perfect for my lips.


043- I would describe this lipstick as a light brown peachy nude shade with slight  hues of pink. I really like this lipstick a lot and it reminds me of MAC's Shy Girl. It's a perfect everyday lip shade for me and I think it would work well with many skin tones particularly if you have olive skin tones or light brown skin tone. As mentioned, I always line my lips first before using this shade because it looks super ashy without using one. My favourite lip liner for this lipsticks (and all the other lipsticks in this range) is MAC Lip Liner in Cork. I absolutely enjoy it and I think it's my favourite one from this range.


045- I would describe this as a pinkish nude shade with a cool undertone. I thought I would love this more than any shade because the swatch looked amazing. However, it looks way different on my lips. It is borderline ashy on my lips which is why I have to really line my lips well but it does look lovely when I manage to sort it out. Don't get me wrong; it's not difficult to work at all. This would definitely be more suitable for anyone who has a light skin tone with cool undertones. I also think it has more of a lustre compared to the other shades which makes it stand out a little more.


048- I find this a little difficult to describe this shade because it looks different every time I wear it. I don't think this is particularly nude for me but it suits me much better than any of the shades. I would describe it as a reddish dark brown shade with warm undertones. It is the most pigmented of all the colours and I do think it looks very pretty. Although it is designed for darker skin tones, I do think it would suit other skin tones. I really like  it and I think it would be suitable for Autumn/Winter because it reminds me of  a vampy shade.



Formula/Application/Longevity
I have always liked the Rimmel Lasting Finish formulas because they apply so smoothly and they do last well. I won't say they last for 8 hours as advertised but it does wear well even when I eat or drink. I have to say the lighter nude shades (043 and 045) don't last as long as the darker shade (048) bit that's not a surprise as 048 is well pigmented. They have a slightly sweet scent (I think it's vanilla or something similar) and I love it. I heard a few people don't like it but I don't think it is overpowering or annoying. These lipsticks glide on easily and they have a slight lustre finish. I don't have to bother with a lip gloss with them although I sometimes use a lip gloss with the 043 so it looks better on my lips. If you have dry lips or cracked lips, I think you can get away with these lipsticks because they are quite forgiving on the lips.


Cost// Link
I don't think they are pricey at all at £5.49 a pop. Most drug stores like Boots and Superdrug always have offers and you would be hard pressed to actually pay full price. I know I never do even if it means getting an extra shade which is precisely what I did. I think I may have paid £10 or so for three of them which is pretty affordable if you ask me. I think they are really good value for money. If you are not fussed about the other shades, you can also pick up a matching nail polish so you have a complete Nude collection. I do really recommend trying them.


Overall Thoughts
I have really enjoyed using them especially for normal everyday wear. As mentioned earlier, I love Nude lipsticks because they always seem so classy and elegant. I am really pleased I purchased these affordable lipstick and I know I am going back to pick up at least one nail polish. Have you tried the Rimmel Kate Nude Lipsticks?...xx
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