'B' Cocktail Lipstick Collection

It was with great sadness that I recently learned that Lush's make-up dedicated, sister company, B Never Too Busy To Be Beautiful (officially the longest brand-name in history), was to cease trading after six colourful, glittery years. That means no more bright pigments, lustrous glitters, or ornate hand-made packaging in a 100% ethical, and often vegan guise. Sob.

But, in true 'B' style, the company are going out with a bang, and have some wonderful Christmas products for us to hoarde like make-up loving squirrels, including their wonderful range of cocktail lipsticks. 

Following the positive response they got from serving cocktails with their 'B Bar' make-overs, launched this time last year, they have created 5 vibrant lipsticks, which are not only inspired by cocktails, but contain them. That's right, alongside lip nouorishing ingredients such as jojoba oil, shea butter, murumuru butter, and Faire Trade coconut oil, the lipsticks are laced with all manner of cocktail ingredients including rum, Cointreau and even Champagne.

They only range from 0.5%-2.5% alcohol, so you're hardly going to get a night out on licking your lips, but the unusual ingredients do add a nice flavour to the products (especially Red Russian's Cointreau), and it's a nice quirky touch that only 'B' can get away with.

Here's the Cocktail range at a glance:

Containing super-conditioning cold pressed Moroccan argan oil and Brazil nut oil, the lipstick glides on easily and prevents the lips from drying out whilst wearing. The pinky-purple shade fits right into this season's purple lip trend, but is also really wearable. I wore this one out on Saturday daytime with a neat flick of black eyeliner and mascara, and got so many compliments. Cinnamon leaf and vanilla absolute, taken from the cocktail that inspired this shade lend the product a pleasantly sweet and spicy flavour.

The deeper of the two red shades in the range, Lady Macbeth, inspired by Champagne cocktails is perfect for a sultry, vampy look. Laced with port, Champagne and sweet orange oil, the flavour of the product is sweet and decadant, while shea butter and jojoba oil make for a rich, creamy finish. Often, my lips dry out beneath bright lipsticks, making for a very unsexy, flaky look, but Lady Macbeth kept them supple and nourished.

If you are after a brighter, striking red, Red Russian, spiked of course, with Vodka, is your man. This tomato red lipstick would look great against tanned skin, or worn on any skin-tone mixed with a sheer gloss for a subtler daytime look. As with the rest of the range, the formular is nourishing and hydrating, this time thanks to murumuru butter and plum oil.

Inspired by Japanese Sake, Sakatini, a lightly shimmery, nude shade is the most natural of the bunch.  Distilled lime gives it a light, fresh flavour, while Sake and dry gin make it nice and boozy! Inkeeping with the Japanese theme, rice bran oil and green tea seed oil provide the nourishing moisturisers in this one.

If you fancy a subtler purple than Voodoo Lady, the soft berry shade of Raspberry Rasta is perfect. Inspired by the Caribbean cocktail of the same name, there is only one spirit that this lipstick could contain: rum. As well as providing plenty of moisture, the cupuacu butter in this one is also great for keeping lips plump.

Stock up on B Never Too Busy To Be Beautiful products online until the end of December.