Rimmel Apocalips (plus a Giveaway)

Hey everyone!

As I'm sure you're aware, considering the buzz and the hype, last week saw the release of the new Rimmel Apocalips range. This would appear to be the drugstore answer to YSL Glossy Stains, so I popped into Boots before work and picked up four shades for myself (shhh, I couldn't help it!) Of course, I got one red, but unusually for me I also picked up three different pinks - I don't often go for a pink when I can go for a berry or a red, but these have pleasantly surprised me.

Boots are currently running a 3 for 2 on these lip lacquers - I got the shades Big Bang, Stellar, Apocaliptic and Celestial. They are £5.99 each.

You can see the packaging is kind of a love-or-hate deal. Some have called it very 90's. I personally really like it, with the sort of jewel-cut lid, and the clear packaging at the bottom allowing for easy shade identification. Inside, the applicator is a doe foot with a little well inside, that allows for product to pool, meaning that one dip is enough for your whole lips.

 As you can see, all four shades are incredibly pigmented and glossy. I actually had trouble taking photos of these because they were so colourful and shiny! Celestial is a neutral, mid-tone pink, Stellar is an almost neon red pink, Apocaliptic is a vivid, blue-based fuchsia, and Big Bang is a bright, true red.
They apply pigmented in one swipe, are fluid and do not drag, but smell a little off (very waxy). The smell does fade pretty quickly but I can imagine it bothering some people. They are very easy to apply (even with such pigmented shades, on my relatively thin lips).

 Here are the shades swatched on my lips. It looks like I've messed with the exposure or curves setting on these photos but the colours were so glossy and bright that this is how they picked up on camera. Aren't they gorgeous?
I thought Big Bang would be my easy favourite, but I'm in love with all four for varying reasons. I actually love Celestial, which I thought might be my dud shade. As you can see, all four apply without patchiness.

 Here's a full face swatch, which might show off the colours differently. It certainly highlights how much of an impact these shades make, even from a distance!
You could also say that I seem to have a drunkface going on in 3/4 of the photos.
The gloss wears off after about three (or slightly more) hours (without eating or drinking), leaving behind a stain. The stain looks like a balm-texture (midway between gloss and matte) for a while, and then fades to a natural lip texture.
Obviously, with Celestial, the stain is lighter, but it also faded the most evenly of the four, whilst Big Bang stained more obviously but less evenly. I'd say the stain lasts about six hours on the lightest shade and seven to eight on the darkest.
It's moisturising at first but as it fades it's the teensiest bit drying on me. Not enough to bug me, cause my lips to crack or flake or feel horrible uncomfortable, but it is something to keep in mind!

Overall, I give these a huge thumbs up! Wallet friendly, beautiful colours, so so glossy and they last for a good while. I cannot believe how much I love the colours I chose, and I feel like they give me almost cartoon lips!

So, in the spirit of goodwill (and because I noticed a few of these shades had sold out in store), I'll be giving away two Rimmel Apocalips! The giveaway is international, if you are below 18 you should ask your parent's permission to enter, and the giveaway will close in one week.
You can win Big Bang or Apocaliptic. Enter the shade you'd like in the space given in the Rafflecopter form below. Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

S xx