The Spring Season: Lipgloss Wrap-up

Did you know that it’s easier to swatch multiple lipsticks at once than lipglosses? Who knew! Let’s take a look back at the lipglosses featured in the Spring Season…

The closest dupe to #4 (Cle de Peau #2) is #3 (Chanel Pin-up), but it’s not quite as pigmented or as golden-peach; #1 (Benefit I’m With the Band) also comes close, but it’s a good deal pinker.    However, #12 (NP Set Mauritius) is the closest in the “feel” of #4–but it’s milkier, creamier–has a very obvious nude base but gives the same sheen/effect.  #12 is also similar to #7 (Le Metier de Beaute Apricot Creme).

Predictably, #1 (Benefit I’m With the Band), #3 (Chanel Pinup), #4 (Cle de Peau #2), #8 (MAC Nymphette), and #11 (NARS Orgasm) are all in the same family.  I often hear comments comparing these shades to NARS Orgasm, but I have to tell you, on my lips, Orgasm is the sheerest and least impressive.  Cle de Peau #2 is the best, but it’s also the priciest.  I think a good affordable version is either Benefit’s I’m With the Band or MAC Nymphette.  For something even closer, I think Chanel’s Pinup does the trick.  I still love Cle de Peau #2 the best and would buy it again in  a heartbeat.

1. Benefit I’m With the Band Lipgloss
2. Benefit Zone Out Lipgloss
3. Chanel Pinup Glossimer
4. Cle de Peau #2 Gloss
5. Dolce & Gabbana Sunset Lipgloss
6. Korres #25 Natural Purple Lipgloss
7. Le Metier de Beaute Apricot Creme Gloss
8. MAC Nymphette Lipglass
9. Maybelline Sandstone Shimmer Lip Gloss
10. NARS Belize Lipgloss
11. NARS Orgasm Lipgloss
12. NP Set Mauritius Lipgloss
13. NYX Chandelier Lipgloss
14. Shiseido PK 406 Lipgloss
15. YSL Golden Peony (#10) Golden Gloss

Benefit Zone Out Lipgloss

The Spring Season: Benefit Zone Out Lipgloss

Benefit Cosmetics Lip Gloss Zone Out ($18.00) is an ultra sheer shimmering champagne with a touch of gold. This is really a gloss that’s best to enhance another lipstick or worn alone for a quick, everyday kind of lip that just sparkles a bit. It doesn’t actually add or change-up my normal lip color, so that’s why I like to pair it with a flatter lipstick to enhance the undertones of my lip color instead. Benefit Lip Gloss is a non-sticky, thinner gloss with a springy doe-foot applicator and no real noticeable scent from what I could sniff out!

More Benefit Lip Gloss Reviews…

• Almost Famous
  
• Fresh Squeezed
  
• I’m With the Band

Is this the perfect 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.

See photos and swatches…

Bright Makeup: Lotsa Teals

Here’s a quick look I did using two of the new Benefit eyeshadows, plus one of Urban Decay’s new Stardust eyeshadows (to be reviewed in full later). Really loving the way Dolce & Gabbana Nude Blush looks, though. Pain in the behind to photograph a swatch of it, but boy is it gorgeous on.

Is it really only Tuesday? I feel like it should be Friday. Not that I want time to go by that quickly, but it’s been a tiring week… and it’s only Tuesday!

You will need the following…

• Eyes: MAC Soft Ochre Paint Pot (neutral beige base), MAC Teal Pigment (teal), Benefit Shamrocker Eyeshadow (mint), Benefit Mermaid Eyeshadow (green-teal with gold), Urban Decay Atmosphere Eyeshadow (teal), MAC Gorgeous Gold Eyeshadow (green-gold), MAC Femme-fi Eyeshadow (neutral highlighter), Urban Decay Binge 24/7 Liner (dark blue), MAC Plushlash Mascara (black)
• Face:  Bobbi Brown Extra Tinted Moisturizing Balm (Light-to-Medium Tint)
• Cheeks: Dolce & Gabbana Nude Blush (soft beige-pink)
• Lips: Cle de Peau #26 Lipstick (coral), Benefit Zone Out Lip Gloss (sheer gold)
• Brushes: 226 (fluffy crease brush), 219 (pointed crease brush), 249 (flat, firm brush), 239 (fluffy shadow brush), 116 (dense blush brush)
• Substitutes: N/A

For eyes, start by applying Soft Ochre paint pot as your eyeshadow base all over the eye area with the 249. With the 239 and water-based mixing medium (or water), apply Teal pigment all over the lid area. Using the 239, apply Shamrocker eyeshadow on the inner third of the eyelid. Next, apply Mermaid eyeshadow on the middle third of the eyelid and lightly blend with the inner corner. Darken the outer third of the lid with Atmosphere eyeshadow with the 239, gently brushing it into the lower crease. Lightly blend Atmosphere eyeshadow, with the 239, on the outer corner and lid. Lightly tap and brush Gorgeous Gold eyeshadow directly above the crease to soften. To finish the eyeshadow look, sweep Femme-fi eyeshadow as a highlighter on the brow bone. Bring everything together by applying Binge eyeliner on the lower lash line and Gorgeous Gold eyeshadow lightly patted below the lower lash line with the 219 brush. Finish by sweeping lashes with Plushlash mascara.

For cheeks, apply Nude blush to the apples of the cheeks and sweep upwards towards the temple with the 116.

For lips, apply #26 lipstick first, and then layer Zone Out lipgloss for a complementing lip.

Check out more photos!

Benefit Lip Gloss: Review, Photos, Swatches

Benefit Lip Gloss ($18.00 for 0.17 fl. oz.) is available in eight shades from copper to berry to gold. Each is scented with an apricot-lychee scent with a non-sticky, slick-feeling texture. They’re fairly glossy with lots of shimmer.

• Almost Famous is a sheer rosy-bronze with amber bronze glitter throughout. This one felt a little glittery to me.
• Fresh Squeezed is a pinky-coral with smoother, more shimmer-esque multicolored shimmer.
• Zone Out is a sheer nude gloss with golden shimmer to add some sparkle.

These glosses wear about average (four hours), and they don’t dry out lips but don’t feel extra hydrating either. I like them, but I don’t love them. Both Fresh Squeezed and Zone Out felt nice on my lips, but Almost Famous has a gritty glittery texture that I didn’t appreciate. (Luckily, neither Fresh Squeezed or Zone Out felt like that!)

These lip glosses are slightly pricier (by the ounce) compared to Make Up For Ever and NARS, but they’re a better value than Dior and Chanel. At $18, I’d probably opt for a NARS gloss instead (though these smell much, much better).

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

Recommendation: If you sheer, shimmery lipgloss, you may want to snoop at the Benefit counter for these!

Availability: Benefit

See more photos and swatches…

Benefit Lipglosses: Almost Famous, Fresh Squeezed, Zone Out

Benefit Lipglosses: Almost Famous, Fresh Squeezed, Zone Out

Benefit Almost Famous Lipgloss

Benefit Fresh Squeezed Lipgloss

Benefit Zone Out Lipgloss