WHAT I THINK OF THE NEEK COSMETICS VEGAN LIPSTICKS.

As time goes by and we become increasingly aware of what is/isn’t good for us and where our food and drink is sourced from, the number of people choosing to adopt a vegan lifestyle is rising dramatically. And while being vegan was once considered a very restrictive way of life, we are suddenly learning that in actual fact, there are many amazing vegan substitutes available to us.

And it’s not just the food market that’s now catering to vegans - vegan cosmetics are becoming incredibly popular too. When you get a moment, make sure you check out Cosmopolitan's article '11 Vegan Makeup Brands You Need To Know About' - some of the brands will really surprise you!

Unlike vegetarianism, being vegan is so much more than just eating differently. It’s an entirely different way of life and in order to confirm to this lifestyle in a strict way, the consumption of any animal produce is prohibited. So that means no leather handbags or shoes, no makeup or skincare products that have been tested on animals and so on. 

And while I myself am not a vegan, I have to admit, I’m all for anyone that does choose to live this way and I think it’s great that so many people are learning more about veganism. I find it amazing that there are so many vegan alternatives out there right now and of course, as a beauty blogger, the cosmetics side of things really does excite me. 

So, when the lovely team at Fuel PR offered me the chance to sample lipsticks from NEEK Skin Organics - an entirely vegan makeup brand that's already been featured in the likes of Elle, OK! and The Daily Mail - I grasped the opportunity with both hands and waited patiently for the goodies to arrive.

Left Lipstick: Bittersweet & to the right, 'Mystify'

As you all know, lipsticks are my ultimate cosmetic weakness and something that, if I were to become vegan, I would find incredibly difficult to give up. So, I had my fingers crossed tightly that these cruelty-free lippies would be just as great as I’d hoped... 

And you know what? While I have to admit that the texture and pigment-side of these lipsticks is different than what I’m used to, I really do like the NEEK Cosmetics formula. 

To look at, the lipsticks are gorgeous. The packaging is beautiful and I love how the canisters are made from wood as opposed to plastic - this gives the products a really natural, earthy feel. And then the lovely, shiny, beautifully coloured lipsticks themselves are equally easy on the eye.

In terms of how the lipsticks apply and how they compare to the likes of MAC and NARS (the brands I usually rely on for my lipsticks), I’d say that there is definitely a big difference - but not necessarily in a bad way. 

As most of you will probably already know, I do tend to prefer a more sheer formula when it comes to lipsticks. Heavy mattes just don’t do it for me at all, and while the NEEK Skin Organics lipsticks - which cost £15.99 each - aren’t especially shiny or glossy, the coverage is relatively sheer - which I love - and you can build up the colour easily by swiping a few times, as opposed to just the once. 

The ‘Bittersweet’ shade terrified me when I first opened the canister up, but actually, I’m learning that the formula is quite light and buildable, I really surprised myself with this one. Normally, I’d steer clear of anything with a metallic sheen, especially if it’s a red tone, but as the colour isn’t dark, dramatic or heavy in any way, I actually found it really beautiful and a colour I would definitely wear. 

‘Mystify’, the other shade I was sent, is a colour that I probably would be more likely to choose. The brown/nude tone is really pretty and one I imagine would work well on a range of different skin tones. Just like the Bittersweet lipstick Mystify boasts a lovely, bailable coverage and a nice, sheer finish. It’s gorgeous. 

Had to have a little swatch! The top shade is 'Mystify' and the bottom is 'Bittersweet'

In terms of longevity and whether or not the lipsticks stood the test of time, again, I was pleasantly surprised. I think the fact that the coverage with these lipsticks is sheer means that these lipsticks fade evenly and don't show any obvious signs of smudging etc. I found that when over-lined with some lip liner, the lipstick stayed really well and the liner helped accentuate the colour a little, too.

All in all, I’m incredibly impressed with these lipsticks and trying out these vegan cosmetic products has definitely encouraged me to try more. 

Have you ever used vegan cosmetic products? Which brands have you tried, and what did you think of them? 

I really hope you enjoyed this blog post everyone, and I can’t wait to share more with you very soon. In the meantime, be sure to check out my post 'What Are The 5 Best Mac Lipsticks' for more lipstick-related gossip!

Lots of love & Happy Weekend, 

Grace x