The Spring Season: Chanel Santal Rouge Allure Laque
Chanel Santal Rouge Allure Laque ($32.00) is a glossy, shimmering shade of champagne-peach. This is one of two ultra-wearable shades of Rouge Allure Laque (the other being Ming). This is probably the one I reach for the most, because it’s particularly flattering on my warm skin tone. I love that it stays on for a good five or six hours, with the glossiness fading after two or three, but the color still lingering. I will say that it’s not quite as long-lasting as the majority of the Rouge Allure Laques, though. I’m so glad they’re permanent, though, because this is the shade I’m most likely to finish!
Is this the right peach for you? Would you wear it?
The Spring Season is a series of posts featuring my favorite soft beige, coral, and pink lipsticks and lipglosses — all perfect for the first blossom of spring — that runs through March 2010.
MAC So Sweet, So Easy Cremeblend Blush
MAC Cremeblend Blushes — Lip Swatches
Here are quick & dirty lip swatches of the four Cremeblend blushes. When applied to lips, they can have a decent amount of slip. They almost seem to sit on lips and take quite awhile to sink in. The more pigmented ones (e.g. Florida) will stain lips if left on for long enough. I put about two or three layers of product on with a lip brush to get these, then I blended with my finger.
So Sweet, So Easy looked the worst, because it came off frosty and showed off lip lines, while Joie-de-Vivre and Florida seemed to look the best. My apologies in advance for the ultra close-up of Optimistic Orange – it was the only photo that was remotely in focus, and I didn’t want to keep delaying this post so hopefully it still gives you an idea of it on lips, even if it is uber close.
The taste is borderline tasteless to slightly plastic-y. It’s not delicious by any means, and there’s no real scent, but I probably wouldn’t recommend licking your lips with it. It’s not as bad as some of MAC’s Tinted Lip Conditioners, which definitely have a sunscreen taste to them.
Julie Hewett Simone Lipstick
The Spring Season: Julie Hewett Simone Lipstick
Julie Hewett Simone Sheer Lipstick ($20.00) is a soft, lightly frosted shade of pinky-coral. This is a shade that’s definitely a YMMV (your mileage may vary) kind of shade, because even though it looks and swatches with a coral tint, on my lips, it turns rather pink. When applied, Simone brightens up my lips to a soft, petal pink shade with decent coverage, even though it’s supposed to be a sheer shade. I liked the way it turned out, but the way it looks on your lips may be different since we all have different pigmentation, and this one definitely pulled pink on me! The formula itself is semi-sheer, creamy enough to apply with ease, and a slight glossy sheen (almost a frost sheen, in my eyes). I get a good four or so hours of wear with the sheer lipsticks in Julie Hewett’s line.
Is this the right pink for you? Would you wear it?
The Spring Season is a series of posts featuring my favorite soft beige, coral, and pink lipsticks and lipglosses — all perfect for the first blossom of spring — that runs through March 2010.
Cle de Peau #2 Lipgloss
The Spring Season: Cle de Peau #2 Lip Gloss
Cle de Peau #2 Lip Gloss ($47.00) has been a favorite of mine since I first swatched it on the back of my hands at Barneys (in Vegas). I still can’t believe I plunked down the bucks for this one without even trying it on! I don’t regret it, though, because it’s such a stunning golden-peach flecked gloss. I don’t know if I’d go so far as to say it’s worth every penny by any means, but I’m happy with the purchase, even over a year out. It’s mostly non-sticky, but it doesn’t have the jelly feel that a lot of non-sticky glosses have. It’s a fairly thick gloss that has decent pigmentation (particular for this kind of shade) and really stands out amongst all the Cle de Peau Lip Glosses (IMO!). I remember swatching several shades and none of them grabbed me like this one. It has an almost duochrome nature to it; it’s peachy, gold, green, apricot… Love it. It comes with a wand applicator, has little to no scent (I didn’t notice anything myself).
The only shade I’ve found that’s truly comparable to it has been Le Metier de Beaute’s Payapa Creme ($36). Sheerer and not nearly as reflective dupes might include shades like MAC Nymphette Lipglass ($14) or NARS Orgasm Lipgloss ($22). It’s a pricey gloss, so it’s not going to be something just anyone will buy or will want to buy, and that’s fine. If you like indulgent buys or the ultra luxe, this is definitely one of my favorites.
Is this the right spring gloss for you? Would you wear it?
The Spring Season is a series of posts featuring my favorite soft beige, coral, and pink lipsticks and lipglosses — all perfect for the first blossom of spring — that runs through March 2010.
Guerlain Giulette Rouge G Lipstick
Just a Taste of Summer with Giulette
Guerlain Giulette Rouge G Lipstick (#63)
($45.00) is pretty much my biggest reason for wishing summer was a little closer right now! I originally expected to include this as part of the Spring Season, but obviously, it doesn’t fit that theme. It’s such a beautiful shade of bright pink with just a hint of coral with a golden sheen. It gives lips full-coverage, opaque color and a glossy sheen. Rouge Gs are always moisturizing and tend to look and feel really good on lips. (It is definitely one of the best formulas I’ve tried, though very pricey!) This is just one of those shades that I fell in love with as soon as I applied it to my lips. I was like, “OHH, PRETTY!” I can’t think of any great dupes at the moment — everything is too pink and doesn’t have the same hint of coral or golden sheen as this does — but I’d love to hear from others if they know of dupes!
The Spring Season: Urban Decay Rush Lipstick
Urban Decay Rush Lipstick
($22.00) is a beautiful shade of creamy, no-shimmered rosy pink. It has a glistening sheen that makes lips look a little fuller and more pout-y. It applies easily and goes opaque in about two layers. It’s a very natural, soft shade of pink, so it’s suitable for everyday wear or to complement a darker eyeshadow look. I like the way it hugs lips and looks subtle but still way better than my natural lip! I get decent wear (about four hours) with this shade, and it’s moisturizing without being thick. It smells very sweet, maybe a creme brulee or caramel kind of scent.
Is this the right pink for you? Would you wear it?
The Spring Season is a series of posts featuring my favorite soft beige, coral, and pink lipsticks and lipglosses — all perfect for the first blossom of spring — that runs through March 2010.
