Saturday, May 25th, 2013

Maybelline Infra-Red ColorSensational Vivids Lip Color
Maybelline Infra-Red ColorSensational Vivids Lip Color

Maybelline Infra-Red ColorSensational Vivids Lip Color ($7.49 for 0.15 oz.) is an orange-toned red with a glossy, luminous finish. MAC Everyday Diva is lighter.MAC Ruffian Red has gold shimmer. MAC Red Racer is more neutral. MAC Must Be Red is less bright. MAC Cockney isn’t quite as opaque but is very close in color. Guerlain Genna is slightly more orange.  See comparison swatches.

It was rich in color with opaque color coverage. The consistency is lightly creamy with some slip, so it glided across lips easily and distribued even, opaque color well. Because of the creaminess, it leaves behind a slightly glossy finish.  Despite the slip, it still wears quite well, as Infra-Red lasted six hours on me and left behind a noticeable stain that lingered for another hour and a half.  I found the formula lightly hydrating during the time I wore it.  It has a lightly fruity scent but no discernible taste.

The Glossover

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Infra-red

A+

If you love your warmer reds, definitely keep an eye out for Infra-red at your local drugstores, as it is part of Maybelline's limited edition spring/summer collection.

Product

9.5/10

Pigmentation

10/10

Texture

10/10

Longevity

10/10

Application

5/5

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Friday, May 24th, 2013

Illamasqua Posture Lipstick
Illamasqua Posture Lipstick

Illamasqua Posture Lipstick ($24.00 for 0.14 oz.) is described as a “cool mauve.” It’s a cool-toned, gray-tinted lavender with a matte finish. MAC Nocturnal Instincts is pinker, not as cool-toned/gray. MAC Fresh Amour is more opaque, cooler-toned. MAC Lavender Whip is pinker. OCC Digitalis is also pinker. See comparison swatches here.

The good news is that this wasn’t nearly as dry as ESP! It has mostly opaque color payoff, and the color applied fairly evenly and smoothly. The consistency of the formula is a bit dry and stiff, so it will tug a bit at the lip, but it doesn’t drag or catch to the point where application is really difficult or the resulting coverage is patchy. The drier texture does cling somewhat to lips, but it didn’t actually seem drying over the five and a half hours it lasted on my lips. I didn’t see this listed on Sephora’s website, so I’m not sure if it will be launching at Sephora with the rest of the Paranomal collection or not, but it is available on Illamasqua’s website.

The Glossover

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Posture

B
The texture was on the drying side in terms of feel, but it didn't dry out my lips when I wore it. It's an interesting color, so you may be more willing to work with this in exchange for the more unique coloring. I'd recommend lighting dabbing a balm on top or underneath to make it easier to wear and work with.

Product

8/10

Pigmentation

9.5/10

Texture

7/10

Longevity

9/10

Application

4/5

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Thursday, May 23rd, 2013

Illamasqua ESP Lipstick
Illamasqua ESP Lipstick

Illamasqua ESP Lipstick ($26.00 for 0.14 oz.) is described as a “vivid violet.” It’s a rich, violet purple with pink undertones and a matte finish. Nothing that I could think of seemed to come very close–this is very purple; not pink, not fuchsia, and then not ultra dark/vampy. OCC Belladonna was the closest, but it’s lighter. MAC Potent Fig and MAC Fervent are much darker, less violet. MAC Violetta and MAC Heroine are both much pinker. Illamasqua Kontrol is purpler, grayer, and quite a bit darker. See swatch comparisons here.

Though it’s a more unique color, and anyone who’s been on the hunt for a brightened purple will be tempted by ESP, the texture is very, very unforgiving. It’s incredibly dry, which made application problematic, wear uncomfortable, and the color looked dry and patchy applied. I would highly recommend laying down a smidgen of balm first–just enough to make everything smooth over better–and applying the color with a lip brush.It’s very easy to break the bullet because of how much pressure you exert just to swipe the lipstick across the lips (it tugs, drags, and pulls). It will come as no surprise but this is uncomfortable to wear, because it feels like it is clinging to the lips and is somewhat drying (but not as drying as it looks). The upside, I guess, is because it is clingy, whatever you do apply will last quite awhile (six hours for me).

The Glossover

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ESP

D+
This was one of the driest, stiffest lipsticks I've used not -- not just drying or clingy but the consistency of the lipstick was hard to work with and apply.

Product

5/10

Pigmentation

8.5/10

Texture

4/10

Longevity

10/10

Application

3/5

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Wednesday, May 22nd, 2013

Burberry Bright Plum (15) Lip Cover Lipstick
Burberry Bright Plum (15) Lip Cover Lipstick

Burberry Bright Plum (15) Lip Cover Lipstick ($30.00 for 0.12 oz.) is a deep, berry wine with cool, pink undertones and a luminous finish. MAC Rebel is more berry, less red. NARS Palais Royal is redder. NARS Valparaiso is lighter, less red. MAC Red Dwarf is lighter, pinker. MAC Endless Drama is browner. MAC What Joy is darker. Guerlain Gigolo is a bit darker, less berry-hued. Guerlain Bee is purpler, lighter. Chanel L’Impatiente is darker. See comparison swatches here.

Burberry’s lipstick formula is always a joy to test, because it’s very consistent (which always makes it easier!) in quality: long-wearing, lightly hydrating, rich color, and is comfortable to wear. Bright Plum is mostly opaque with rich, even color that applies evenly and smoothly. The consistency of the lipstick is lightly creamy, so it glides across lips without pulling or tugging, but it’s not so slippery that it will bleed or feather while it’s worn. With this shade, it lasted six and a half hours rather well, and then it started to fade and left behind a strong stain for another hour or so. It does have a slight floral scent but no discernible taste.

The Glossover

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Bright Plum (15)

A+
Burberry's lipstick formula is always a joy to test, because it's very consistent (which always makes it easier!) in quality: long-wearing, lightly hydrating, rich color, and is comfortable to wear.

Product

10/10

Pigmentation

10/10

Texture

10/10

Longevity

10/10

Application

5/5

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Monday, May 20th, 2013

Tom Ford Quiver Lip Color Shine
Tom Ford Quiver Lip Color Shine

Tom Ford Quiver Lip Color Shine ($48.00 for 0.12 oz.) is a slightly warm-toned, medium pink with a warm golden shimmer and a luminous, lightly frosted finish. Chanel Paradis doesn’t have the same golden shimmer. Chanel Flirt is lighter, less shimmery. Dior Candide is lighter, less warm-toned. Guerlain Rose Ensoleil lacks the gold shimmer. Le Metier de Beaute Fiji is a satin (no shimmer). Revlon Cotton Candy is a paler pink but has golden shimmer. NYX Stella is slightly warmer but similar in color to the base color of this shade (no gold shimmer). See comparison swatches here.

It had semi-sheer to semi-opaque color coverage when I applied to my lips; you can only see a shadow of my lip freckle, but the formula is lightly translucent so some of the natural lip color will come through. The Lip Color Shine formula is supposed to hydrate, add shine, and some color–but it isn’t an opaque formula, so the pigmentation is in line with what the brand has touted the formula as. The consistency is lightly creamy–a cross between a balm and lipstick–and glides across the lips easily without pulling or tugging while feeling comfortable to wear. Quiver lasted four hours on me, which is average for a lipstick, but it is slightly longer than formulas with similar balmy consistencies. It was very hydrating, which is probably it’s biggest selling point (at this price point). It is vanilla scented but has no discernible taste.

The Glossover

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Quiver

A
Those who find corals too often warm/orange may like how pink Quiver appears; it has a golden shimmer that makes it seem a bit more like a coral than a true pink, but the base is very pink.

Product

9.5/10

Pigmentation

9.5/10

Texture

9.5/10

Longevity

8.5/10

Application

5/5

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Saturday, May 18th, 2013

Maybelline Electric Fuchsia ColorSensational Vivids Lip Color
Maybelline Electric Fuchsia ColorSensational Vivids Lip Color

Maybelline Electric Fuchsia ColorSensational Vivids Lip Color ($7.49 for 0.15 oz.) is a bold, bright cool-toned fuchsia pink with a creamy, satiny finish. MAC Candy Yum Yum is very comparable in color. MAC Daddy’s Little Girl is not as neon, slightly more magenta. MAC Dear Diary is not quite as bright. MAC Quick Sizzle is pinker, darker. Maybelline Fuchsia Flash is less cool-toned but is very comparable (it’s not as bright, slightly lighter, not as blue-based). Maybelline Hot Plum is darker. OCC Nylon is brighter. Urban Decay Crush is muted, slightly more magenta.  See comparison swatches.

Electric Fuchsia is incredibly pigmented with rich, opaque color payoff in nearly a single stroke.  The texture is lightly creamy; just enough that it glides on evenly without tugging or pulling at the lip, but it doesn’t slip around while you wear it.  This shade lasted for six and a half hours well on my lips, and it did leave behind a light pinky-red stain.  It was lightly hydrating during the time I wore it and comfortable to wear.  It is a limited edition shade, so you’ll have to scope out your local drugstore for it.

The Glossover

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Electric Fuchsia

A

This is a great pop of neon pink for anyone in the market for one! Since it is limited edition, if you can't find it, look for it's sister, Maybelline's Fuchsia Flash, which is part of the permanent range.

Product

9.5/10

Pigmentation

10/10

Texture

9.5/10

Longevity

10/10

Application

5/5

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