Givenchy Gloss Poetique Lip Gloss in Poetique Rose

Givenchy Gloss Poetique Lip Gloss in Poetique Rose ($45.00 for 0.14 oz.) is a lightweight, non-sticky, lightly tinted lip balm released with Givenchy’s Les Poetiques Collection for the fall season.

The product does everything it is supposed to do: truly enhances your natural lip color to a slightly flushed, just-kissed glossy pucker. It’s not sticky in the least bit, and it feels a bit like a lip jelly than a lip balm. It is also incredibly hydrating on lips and keeps them feeling soft and smooth for hours. The product itself doesn’t actually tint your lips like a lip stain, but it does seem to bring out the natural hues in your lips.

My lips tend to look a bit dull and corpse-ish when left alone, but with this glossed on, my lips had a pretty rosy look to them that wasn’t really colored so much as enhanced. It looked very natural and as if I was wearing clear gloss (though I definitely wasn’t!).

Like Givenchy packaging typically it is, it is both pretty and functional with the logo on the cover. Inside is a mirror, and underneath the gloss are three applicators — two bristled brushes and one sponge-tipped applicator. They’re useable, though just a bit stiff. Interesting enough, the gloss looks like there’s a design of the Givenchy emblem, but it’s actually printed at the bottom of the pan, so you don’t disturb it whatsoever. The lip balm has kind of a perfume-y strawberry scent, which I like, but some may find too artificial to enjoy.

I’m not really going to get into value — the price tag is steep, and they don’t give you a tub of it to really merit such a splurge. But if you like it, enjoy it, and don’t worry about the price tag so long as it’s within your budget!

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

Recommendation: Looks incredibly lovely on lips–totally enhances your natural lip color and makes it the best it can be, but for a price!

Availability: Sephora

See swatches…

Poetique Rose (right)

Givenchy Gloss Poetique

Givenchy Poetique Blues Prismissime Eyes

Givenchy Poetique Blues Prismissime Eyes ($53.00 for 0.12 oz.) is one of two eyeshadow palettes released with Givenchy’s Les Poetiques Collection for fall. It features nine different marbled/splattered eyeshadows.

Here’s a quick rundown of the colors, row by row, left to right:

• Top row: a pale, icy pink; a bluish-gray with a purple cast; an icy silvery white
• Middle row: a pale bright silver-white; a light champagne-beige; an icy, light purple
• Bottom row: a warm-toned pale peach-champagne; a dirty champagne taupe; a dark purple

This is one of the more pigmented Givenchy palettes I’ve played with, so I’m happy to see they increased the pigmentation level in the latest limited edition palettes. There’s also a good assortment of shades, though two of them are close to another two within the palette, so that’s a bit of a downer. If you’re not a fan of shimmers and frost finishes, you’re not going to like this palette (or most other Givenchy palettes for that matter).

Givenchy always excels at making packaging functional and sleek, and this fall is no exception. The eyeshadows themselves look funky (in a good way!) and the outside casing is pretty. They do include three different sized sponge-tipped brushes underneath the eyeshadows, though I’d never use them unless in a pinch (use real brushes if you can!).

Even though Givenchy is a high-end, closer-to-luxury brand of cosmetics, its eyeshadow palettes are extraordinarily priced. Normally, palettes are less expensive (by the ounce) than single eyeshadows, but with Givenchy, you’d be getting more for your money by buying single eyeshadows! (For reference, the palette is $441.67/oz. vs. single eyeshadow at $383.33/oz.)

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

Recommendation: One of the nicest Givenchy palettes this year with better color pay off and a good assortment of shades perfect for fall (and winter, too!)… it’s just on the pricey side and doesn’t come cheap.

Availability:  Sephora

See swatches…

Givenchy Les Poetiques Collection for Fall 2009

Limited Edition

• Gloss Poetique in Poetique Rose
• Prismissime Eyes in Poetique Browns, Poetique Blues
• Base de Teint in Poetique Tulip
• Poudre Libre in Poetique Orchid
• Phenomen’Eyes in Poetique Grey Lavender
• Parad’Eyes Liner in Poetique Lavender
• Rouge Interdit Shine in Poetique Iris, Poetique Camelia
• Le Vernis in Poetique Lily

Permanent

• Photo’perfexion in Perfect Vanilla
• Mister Light in Mister Milk
• Mister Bright in Dawn Light
• Lip Liner in Lip Litchi and Lip Pink
• Eyebrow Show in Brunette Show

Availability: August 2009

See more photos!