OCC Meta Lip Tar Stained Gloss ($18.00 for 0.33 fl. oz.) is described as a “red orange shellac.” It’s a bold, brightened orange-toned red with a luminous sheen. Dior Ceremony Red is bluer-based and shimmery. Chanel Exces is sheerer but similar in color (not as bright). OCC Harlot is similar in color (but a true Lip Tar). Illamasqua Fume isn’t quite as warm-toned.
It has a really lightweight feel and thin texture, and for the first three to four hours, there’s a natural sheen–not full-on glossy shine but still rather luminous. After, it has a subtler sheen and looks like a lip stain. The color coverage is much like a stained glass window; translucent enough that the natural lip color comes through somewhat but still a lot of color density. Meta lasts for six and a half hours well, and the stain lingers for another hour or so. It’s neither hydrating nor drying.
Sometimes products are discontinued or limited edition, which means that a product may no longer be available at one or more retailers so you may need to shop around for those hard-to-find shades! We try to update products as they become discontinued, and if you discover a product has been discontinued, please help us help others by letting us know.
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Essie In the Cab-ana Nail Lacquer ($8.00 for 0.50 fl. oz.) is described as a “self-assured aqua azure.” It’s a brightened, light-medium blue with a hint of aqua in it with a cream finish. The color reminds me of swimming pools! OCC Pool Boy is bluer but was the only possible dupe I could think of.
This was a little streaky on the initial coat, and the second covered and smoothed out the majority of the polish, but there were a couple places I could see issues with at a distance. It was mostly opaque after two coats, except where the streaks were not covered entirely. The polish itself was somewhat thick, so it was a bit harder to control the thickness to get even coats of the shade. The drying time was slightly longer than average due to the thicker consistency. I typically get a week of wear out of Essie’s formula with minor tip wear but no chipping.
P.S. — And if my bottle looks tiny, it’s because I bought the mini version since you and I both know I’ll never finish a full-sized bottle so I thought the minis would suffice for review purposes!
This was a little streaky on the initial coat, and the second covered and smoothed out the majority of the polish, but there were a couple places I could see issues with at a distance.
Product
8.5/10
Pigmentation
9.5/10
Texture
7.5/10
Longevity
9/10
Application
4/5
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Where to Buy
This product can be purchased at the following retailers:
Sometimes products are discontinued or limited edition, which means that a product may no longer be available at one or more retailers so you may need to shop around for those hard-to-find shades! We try to update products as they become discontinued, and if you discover a product has been discontinued, please help us help others by letting us know.
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What’s the best beauty tip/trick you’ve learned from a beauty counter? Share
To trust them! One of the best things that can come from a makeover or demo at a counter is having someone else see your face and show you what they think would work for you – it’s a great way to see another perspective!
MAC Golden Elixir Strobe Liquid ($31.00 for 1.7 fl. oz.) is described as a “golden shimmer.” It’s a warm-toned, bronze and gold-shimmered tan brown. I don’t know of any specific dupes, as I’m not as familiar with the liquid illuminator category, so I haven’t reviewed many products previously. NARS Maldives is somewhat similar, but it is more pigmented and in stick-form, but NARS does have a liquid illuminator range, so my guess would be that this would be somewhat similar to Laguna. The thing with illuminators like this, though, is that they are very subtle once applied so while Tom Ford Fire Lust doesn’t look similar when swatched, when applied, they seemed to both offer the same effect.
The formula is described as a thin liquid that “produces a soft, radiant light on the skin … by providing a natural-looking glow.” It’s supposed to spread smoothly and absorb quickly. MAC has Strobe Liquid (the original) available year-round, while this is a bronzy take on the formula. This type of product can be applied in many ways (and as with any beauty product, apply however you wish! the possibilities are endless!), but the common ways are mixed with moisturizer, foundation, and patted along the high planes of the face. The consistency is thin, almost water-like, and it seemed sheerer and thinner than even original Strobe Liquid (but it’s been a long time since I’ve used it, so I might be remembering incorrectly).
Golden Elixir seemed to add a smidgen of warmth to my skin while giving it a radiant finish, which some might find too dewy that it looks oily, and I think on camera, it can look too reflective, but in person, it’s quite lovely and natural-looking. A light dusting of setting powder will bring it down and make it photo-ready, though. I didn’t have any trouble with it interfering with the wear of my foundation when I wore it mixed with it (I used Guerlain’s Lingerie de Peau as my base). When I wore it as a spot highlighter, it lasted six hours well and then seemed to slide around a bit.
Golden Elixir seemed to add a smidgen of warmth to my skin while giving it a radiant finish, which some might find too dewy that it looks oily, and I think on camera, it can look too reflective, but in person, it's quite lovely and natural-looking.
Product
9/10
Pigmentation
10/10
Texture
9/10
Longevity
8.5/10
Application
5/5
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Where to Buy
This product can be purchased at the following retailers:
Sometimes products are discontinued or limited edition, which means that a product may no longer be available at one or more retailers so you may need to shop around for those hard-to-find shades! We try to update products as they become discontinued, and if you discover a product has been discontinued, please help us help others by letting us know.
Disclosure: Temptalia uses affiliate links, which give us a small commission when you make a purchase (given to us by the retailer, at no cost to you). Your purchases help to support the site!
It was such a happy moment to apply this shade, because it’s a very opaque Glossimer, and I feel like we haven’t seen enough of these in recent history (to balance out all of the ultra sheer shades). It’s also an interesting shade as it has no shimmer, just semi-opaque color with a high shine finish. The consistency is lightweight, medium in thickness, and applies incredibly evenly for something this deep. There is very faint settling of the color into lip lines, but at a distance, it is hardly noticeable. Crushed Cherry wore for five and a half hours for me, and it was lightly hydrating during that time.
It was such a happy moment to apply this shade, because it's a very opaque Glossimer, and I feel like we haven't seen enough of these in recent history (to balance out all of the ultra sheer shades). It's also an interesting shade as it has no shimmer, just semi-opaque color with a high shine finish.
Product
9/10
Pigmentation
10/10
Texture
9/10
Longevity
9/10
Application
4.5/5
Login or Register to be able to add this to your Vanity or Wishlist! Plus rate and review!
Where to Buy
This product can be purchased at the following retailers:
Sometimes products are discontinued or limited edition, which means that a product may no longer be available at one or more retailers so you may need to shop around for those hard-to-find shades! We try to update products as they become discontinued, and if you discover a product has been discontinued, please help us help others by letting us know.
Disclosure: Temptalia uses affiliate links, which give us a small commission when you make a purchase (given to us by the retailer, at no cost to you). Your purchases help to support the site!
Share: Tell us what you love and hate about Cheek Stains!
my answer: When they work well, they can be amazing, but when they don’t, they can be such a mess/pain in the butt to deal with. They don’t always play well with foundation/base makeup, either.
To trust them! One of the best things that can come from a makeover or demo at a counter is having someone else see your face and show you what they think would work for you – it’s a great way to see another perspective!
