Friday, August 21st, 2009


On Display Lipglass

MAC Makeup Art Cosmetics Collection: Lipstick & Lipglass Lip Swatches

As I promised, here are lip swatches for all of the lipsticks and lipglasses released with MAC’s latest collection. I have to say that I don’t like any of the lipsticks on me! I don’t think they’re suitable to my coloring, or else the shades are just too blah. Front Lit is like Bubbles lipstick – lots of shimmer, and it’s one of those shades you use more for layering than to wear alone or to add color (instead, it adds shimmer). The lipglasses were definitely better, but my favorites remain as On Display and New Spirit lipglasses.

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Thursday, August 20th, 2009


Front Lit, High Strung, Hold the Pose, Lovin’ It, Full Body Lipsticks

MAC Makeup Art Cosmetics Collection:  Lipsticks

Five different lipstick shades are available with the MAC Makeup Art Cosmetics Collection: Front Lit, High Strung, Hold the Pose, Lovin’ It, and Full Body. None of the new lipsticks really called out to me–they were a bit too blah, I suppose. I actually found Front Lit the one that intrigued me most, just because it has a very pretty shimmer to it, but it’s certainly not a must-have. Lip swatches will be posted tomorrow :)

Lipstick ($14.00)

  • Front Lit is a sheer, frosty gold shimmer shade. It doesn’t add much color, but it does add a lot of shimmer.
  • High Strung is a sheer brassy rose with golden shimmer with a frosty finish. This is a permanent shade.
  • Hold the Pose is a sheer brown-plummy shade with soft golden shimmer and a bit of glossiness. It has a lustre finish, which is why I was expecting it to be sheer. It gives my lips a bit of a rosy plum look, but otherwise, it doesn’t add much to my lips.
  • Lovin’ It is a neutral brownish-coral with a light frosty sheen. It’s a lustre finish, so it applies sheerly.
  • Full Body is a semi-sheer, dark plummy shade with red tones. Also a lustre, this particular shade does pack a bit more color than the average lustre finish.

  • Product: 8/10
  • Value: 8/10
  • Ease of Use: 7/10
  • Packaging: 8/10

Recommendation: Muted, fall tones reign supreme in this collection–if you love the lustre finish, then definitely check these out!

Availability: MACCosmetics.com

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Thursday, August 20th, 2009


On Display, Personal Taste, New Spirit, Young Thing Lipglasses

MAC Makeup Art Cosmetics Collection: Lipglass

Four shades of lipglass debuted from the MAC Makeup Art Cosmetics Collection today: On Display, Personal Taste, New Spirit, and Young Thing. Lipglass has a sticky/tacky texture and can be sheer to opaque, depending on the shade. Lip swatches will be posted tomorrow! :)

Lipglass ($14.00)

  • On Display is a stunning deep burgundy-wine with gold shimmer. This one is absolutely stunning both swatched and on the lips. I haven’t been this pulled by a lip color by MAC in what feels like way too long. I like this one so much I’m considering a back up…
  • Personal Taste is a purply-rosy pink with golden shimmer. It’s semi-sheer, providing just a smidgen of color on the lips, but mostly just brightening up the natural lip color and adding shimmer.
  • New Spirit is a light orange-y coral with soft golden shimmer. I was reminded of a more orange version of Orangedescence lipglass (limited edition from quite awhilea go). I liked it, and I liked the way it gave my lips a brighter look and the shimmer was noticeable.
  • Young Thing is a warmed up creamy beige with peachy-gold shimmer. It’s similar to C-Thru, but it has shimmer, and it’s not quite as cool/neutral toned.

  • Product: 9/10
  • Value: 8/10
  • Ease of Use: 8/10
  • Packaging: 8/10

Recommendation: I’ve always been a fan of MAC’s Lipglass, just because it’s available in so many fantastic shades, and the sticky-factor makes it long-wearing. I found On Display and New Spirit to be my new must-haves from the new glosses.

Availability: MACCosmetics.com

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Wednesday, August 19th, 2009


Givenchy Velvet Purple, Glamorous Fuchsia, Lilac Confession, Capricious Pink

Givenchy’s Latest Lip Gloss Launch

Givenchy Gloss Interdit Ultra-Shiny Color Plumping Effect ($24.50 for 0.21 oz.) is a new product launch by Givenchy which features twelve shades of the new lip gloss.  I tried out four of those twelve shades, and I gotta say, I like the new formula!

  • Velvet Purple is a semi-sheer berry-burgundy shade with subtle shimmer and lots of glossy sheen.
  • Glamorous Fuchsia is a semi-opaque, medium bubblegum pink that goes on more creamy in finish and look but still has lots of glossiness.
  • Lilac Confession is a semi-opaque, medium pink laced with lightly cooled lilac with a frosty shimmer finish.
  • Capricious Pink is semi-sheer, light shimmery pinky-beige shade that goes on more sheerly and more of a muted, light pink, which is a bit different compared to the swatch (which is more of a bright pinky-coral).

The gloss does lightly plump up lips, but there is no noticeable burn/tingle that is often associated with lip plumping products.  (Trust me, I am no fan of that lip plumping tingle.)  It’s a medium-thick, non-sticky gloss that can be semi-sheer to more opaque, depending on the shade chosen.  Glamorous Fuchsia and Lilac Confession both had good pigmentation, while Velvet Purple was most certainly noticeable, it still appeared as more of a sheer gloss.  Capricious Pink had the least color pay off of the four, but that is the nature of lighter lip glosses.

I find that these wear for four or five hours with minimal fading, and they don’t leave behind any residue when they do fade away after eating/drinking.  They’re also moisturizing and feel really lovely on your lips–lightweight and not thick or tacky.  They’re a bit pricey relative to other brands’ lipglosses, but the price is right in line with what I’d expect from Givenchy.

  • Product: 8/10
  • Value: 8/10
  • Ease of Use: 8/10
  • Packaging: 7/10

Recommendation:  Lipgloss lovers will likely enjoy this new formula, and if you want some fuller lips… even better.  The way the gloss looks helps to further amp up your natural lip shape, too.  A wee bit pricey for some, but if it’s within your budget or you feel like splurging… not a bad choice!

Availability: Sephora

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Monday, August 17th, 2009


Korres #52 Red Cherry Lipgloss

Real Lip Gloss Color & Shine with Korres Cherry Full Color Gloss

Korres Cherry Full Color Gloss ($16.00 for 0.20 oz.) is a richly pigmented, glossy lip gloss formula. It is available in thirteen shade varieties from light pinks to beiges to reds.

I tried #52 Red Pink, which is described as a sheer cherry red by Sephora, though I’d completely disagree! It’s more of a semi-opaque, glossy red doused with pink to tone it down and laced with just a smidgen of gold shimmer. The gloss formula is moisturizing, non-sticky, and it has a bit of a cherry scent to it. I wouldn’t call this a particularly long-wearing lipgloss, but I get around three to four hours of wear without the product fading or migrating.

Again, much like Korres’ Eyeshadow pricing, the lipgloss comes in as an affordable high-end brand. For comparison, MAC Lipglass goes for $14.00 for 0.17 oz.; Benefit Lip Gloss goes for $18.00 for 0.17 oz.; Guerlain KissKiss Gloss goes for $29.00 for 0.20 oz.; and Smashbox’s Limitless Long Wear Lip Gloss goes for $21.00 for 0.10 oz. As far as I can tell, Korres Cherry Full Color Gloss comes in as a great budget-friendly way to buy high-end without breaking the bank.

  • Product: 9/10
  • Value: 8/10
  • Ease of Use: 8/10
  • Packaging: 7/10

Recommendation: If a small but varied range of lipgloss that’s moisturizing and non-sticky is up your alley, check out Korres’ Cherry Full Color Gloss. If you like them sheer, be sure to research the shade or check it out in store to be sure it’s not too pigmented.

Availability: Sephora

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Monday, August 17th, 2009

Korres Guava Lipsticks: Gorgeous, but are they worth it?

Korres Guava Lipstick ($22.00 for 0.06 oz.) is a slim-sized lipstick with carnauba wax, beeswax, and shea to keep your lips hydrated as you wear the lipstick color. It’s currently available in ten different shades ranging from nude to red. I tried #17 Pink and #55 Red.

  • #17 Pink is a shimmery shade of rosy pink with no real shimmer so much as just a silver frosty sheen. It went on fairly pigmented, though I’d describe it as semi-opaque. It was smooth and creamy, and it definitely felt moisturizing on the lips.
  • #55 Red is a semi-opaque shade of vibrant blue-based red with a subtle sheen. This one was a bit more pigmented and intense compared to #17 Pink, but it is also red, so I was expecting a little more pay off with this shade.

I actually really loved the feel of these–very soft and silky. I felt like these wore well, too, and they gave me about four hours of wear with minimal fading. Though they made my lips feel hydrated, they’re not ultra creamy or glossy–I don’t think they’d give chapped lips enough hydration to quench their thirst, but for normal lips, they do quite well.

My biggest complaint was the price of the lipstick, particularly relative to how much product you get. To put it in perspective, a MAC lipstick goes for $14.00 for 0.10 oz.; a Guerlain lipstick goes for $30.00 for 0.12 oz.; Cargo’s PlantLove lipstickgoes for $20.00 for 0.14 oz.; and a Urban Decay lipstick goes for $22.00 for 0.13 oz.

I’d be more comfortable paying $22.00 if I was getting a decent amount of product. Korres’ Mango Butter Lipsticks are $18.00 for 0.12 oz. product, so while the Guava Lipstick may have fancier ingredients, it still felt and looked like a lipstick on me, so the extra $6 for half the product is hard to swallow.  Next time, I’m going to look into their regular lipsticks instead.

  • Product: 8/10
  • Value: 6/10
  • Ease of Use: 8/10
  • Packaging: 7/10

Recommendation: Love pigmented lipsticks? Korres give just the right amount of pigmentation for a nice lip color. The packaging is slim and compact, but the price is not nearly as palatable. At $22 a pop, it’s a bit more than a treat for some. From Korres, I’d expect a price a bit lower (probably around $18) or else double the product. One of the major reasons I love Korres is that they’re an affordable and consistent brand.  The Guava Lipsticks are a great product, but they’re certainly a bit of a splurge!

Availability: Sephora

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