Once I’ve photographed and swatched products, I put them in clear containers to test. So, I go to those containers and pick out what I hope will work somewhat well together or will reach for items that are more time-sensitive and need to be reviewed right away.

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Maybelline Cool Crush 24HR Color Tattoo Eyeshadow

Maybelline Cool Crush 24HR Color Tattoo Eyeshadow ($5.99 for 0.14 oz.) is a shimmering, bluish-silver with a frosted, metallic finish. It had semi-sheer to semi-opaque color payoff. Because it’s on the sheerer side, it may be better as a base underneath your favorite powder eyeshadows than as a standalone color. The consistency is thinner and has more slip than the permanent range of Color Tattoos. The lasting power on me wasn’t as good as the permanent range; there was some faint creasing after ten hours (no primer). Sephora Sweet Dreams is bluer, powder. Maybelline Icy Mint is bluer, not as cool-toned. Bobbi Brown Iced Blue is slightly bluer. Urban Decay Strip is darker, bluer, and a powder. MAC Water & Ice #1 is more silvered and a powder. MAC Free as Air is darker, bluer. Giorgio Armani #12 is more silver and a powder. Benefit Blue My Mind isn’t as cool-toned. Bobbi Brown Iced Blue is lighter, less blue, and a powder. See comparison swatches here.

Maybelline Seashore Frosts 24HR Color Tattoo Eyeshadow ($5.99 for 0.14 oz.) is a muted, grayish-blue with gold and pink shimmer–it is a very interesting and complex shade. It applies with semi-opaque color in a single layer, and for me, it does best with one layer–more than one, and it just clumps up and becomes uneven. The texture was thin and slippery, so it was easy to apply and blends out best with fingertips. I saw light creasing after ten hours (no primer) with this shade. Clinique Big Blue is a bit darker, not as nuanced. Make Up For Ever #940 isn’t blue, but it has a very similar duochrome/sheen to it (so you could use it layered over a blue for a similar effect). L’Oreal Infinite Sky is bluer, not as muted, no sheen/shimmer like Seashore Frosts. Chanel Destination lacks the golden shimmer/sheen. See comparison swatches here.

I feel like Maybelline should have branded these differently, like they did with the Metals. Maybe Iridescent Color Tattoo or Luminous Color Tattoo, and then gone with a different description of the formula, like “to be used layered with your favorite Color Tattoo” or “for a sheer wash of shimmering color.”  They share little in common with the original formula (described as ”longest-lasting,” “super-saturated color, “vibrant color that does not fade”), but the shades I’ve tried from the latest limited edition set have all been similar in texture, payoff, and wear.

The Glossover

LE	Cool Crush C+
	Product 8/10 Pigmentation 8/10 Texture 8.5/10 Longevity 6.5/10 Application 4/5
	Where to Buy
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LE	Seashore Frosts B-
	Seashore Frosts is one that is unique enough to still be worth considering, despite the wear and pigmentation.
	Product 8.5/10 Pigmentation 8.5/10 Texture 8.5/10 Longevity 6.5/10 Application 4/5
	Where to Buy

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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

P	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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Guerlain Gemma Vernis Nail Lacquer

Guerlain Gemma Vernis Nail Lacquer ($23.00 for 0.34 fl. oz.) is a warm, yellow-toned medium pink with white pearl. OCC Femme is a bit lighter. MAC Snob is a cream. MAC Silly is lighter, not as warm-toned, no shimmer. MAC Comic Cute is darker, no shimmer. MAC Angel is a cream. See comparison swatches.

Gemma was opaque in two coats, and it applied evenly and smoothly without bubbling or streaking. The consistency wasn’t too thick or too thin, so it spread out well. It has an almost metallic-like shimmer, but it’s not a strong metallic. You can see faint threads of the shimmer in the polish, and I noticed very, very faint brush strokes that were visible at certain angles with a lot of light, and only if I held my nails close to my face could I actually see them. It dried to a high gloss finish, and you could skip a top coat as a result. I’ve been getting a week of wear out of Guerlain’s formula without chipping and only very minor tip wear.

The Glossover

P	Gemma A
	It's one of the better-applying metallic finished polishes I've come across, as the brush strokes are very, very faint. I think the wider brush helps the application, as you can get better one-pass color so you maneuver the brush less across the nail.
	Product 9.5/10 Pigmentation 10/10 Texture 9.5/10 Longevity 9.5/10 Application 4.5/5
	Where to Buy
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