Is Stunning… Stunning?

Chanel Stunning Rouge Coco Lipstick ($30.00 for 0.12 oz.) is a pearly peach-beige with subtle champagne shimmer and a rather glossy sheen.   It applied smoothly and pretty evenly, and it felt more moisturizing than other Rouge Cocos I’ve tried in the past.  It’s comfortable to wear, and this lighter shade lasted beautifully  under a glossimer (over seven hours). It’s a very lovely barely-there shade, and I think it will flatter all skin tones.  Though it’s soft in color and a little sheer, it is versatile; it can be worn on its own for an everyday look or layered underneath a more pigmented gloss to add some oomph.

I think the name sort of gave me high hopes, but the color itself was a bit of a let down. I think with a name like “Stunning,” a bolder, really show-stopping kind of shade was in order.   Instead, it’s much more of a my-lips-but-better hue. I’m not sold on it, even though it looks nice on, just because it’s not my cup of tea.  I can see why this sold out, though!

I would say it’s similar to Chanel Chintz (pinker), Chanel Mythic (a bit lighter), Guerlain Gabrielle (pinker), Urban Decay Peroxide (frostier, pinker), and Smashbox Charming (peachier).

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• Product: 29/30
• Value: 8/10
• Ease of Use: 4/5
• Packaging: 4/5

RECOMMENDATION: Well, if you’re able to track it down and you like subtle shades that are similar to your lip color, you may enjoy Stunning. If you’re more into opaque lip colors, I would skip.

AVAILABILITY: Sold out!

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Chanel Stunning Rouge Coco Lipstick

Chanel Stunning Rouge Coco Lipstick

Chanel Stunt Rouge Allure Laque

Chanel SoHo Story: Stunt

First, I must warn you: I LOVE ROUGE ALLURE LAQUES. I received a few to review when they first came onto the market, and I literally ran out the next day and bought four more. (I’ve reviewed all shades to date here.) I get four to six hours of wear with the formula, which I find rich in color, lightweight, and comfortable to wear; they’re moisturizing enough to keep my lips in good shape whenever I wear ‘em.

Chanel Stunt Rouge Allure Laque ($32.00 for .20 oz.) is a pink-kissed plum with a very creamy look, slight glossiness, and rich, opaque color. LOVE! This is a flattering shade on both cooler and warmer skin tone. It is also such a needed shade to the Rouge Allure Laque range, which makes it a real shame that it’s a limited edition color. Stunt is such a wearable shade of pink/plum that’s not too light or dark, nor is it bright pink like Phoenix.  So happy I bought it–now, if only Chanel would add about eight more shades to the range and make those all permanent…

If you want to know more about how products are evaluated, read out Rating System FAQ!

• Product: 29/30
• Value: 8/10
• Ease of Use: 5/5
• Packaging: 4/5

RECOMMENDATION: If you like opaque lip color that feels lightweight and never sticky, you might like Rouge Allure Laques.

AVAILABILITY: Chanel

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Chanel Stunt Rouge Allure Laque

Chanel Stunt Rouge Allure Laque

Chanel Imperial (73) Rouge Allure Lacque

The Sultry Season: Chanel Imperial (73) Rouge Allure Laque

Chanel Imperial (73) Rouge Allure Laque ($32.00 for 0.20 oz.) is a rich shade of rusted red with just a touch of berry.  Rusted berry sounds weird, but perhaps that’s a more apt description than rusted red!  It has subtle pink and gold micro-shimmer.  It’s completely opaque, and it makes lips look lush — it has the color payoff of a lipstick with the shine of a gloss.  Rouge Allure Laques are one of my favorite products, and I’m reminded of that every time I put one on.   I get around four to five hours of wear with shade in particular–plus a residual stain.

Is this the right berry for you? Would you wear it?

The Sultry Season is a series of posts featuring deep, rich shades of brown, berry, plum, and wine lipsticks and lipglosses — just right for autumn — that runs through October 2010.

See photos and swatches…

Sneak Peek: Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics Fall Lip Tars

Just in time for fall, OCC will launch six new shades of Lip Tars ($12.50 for oz.) on August 27th. The shades include: Trick (blank slate), Trollop (cranberry-infused coral), Harlot (ultimate fiery, cool-toned red), Stalker (truest red), Strutter (mahogany-toned classic red), and Strumpet (deep plum-toned red).

• Trick is a browned peach nude. This is definitely a shade that’s better worn with a more dramatic eye than alone–by itself, it is a little light.
• Trollop is a bright watermelon pink coral. It practically glows, because it’s almost neon–very, very bright!
• Harlot is a bright, blood red. This seems like an orange-based red to me, even though it’s described as a cool-toned shade. For an orange-based red, it’s certainly one of the least warm shades I’ve tried, though–but it still pulls orange on me.
• Stalker is a dark, blood red. It’s darker and more blue-based than Harlot.
• Strutter is a deep browned red. I like that it’s not ultra dark, so it doesn’t lose its red edge.

It’s been quite awhile since I initially reviewed Lip Tars (actually, just over a year!), and it’s kind of exciting to see how much the line has grown. A year ago, there were only thirteen shades to review, and today, there are thirty-two shades available. One of areas of improvement I wanted to see was for a fuller range of colors–shades that were just as intensely pigmented but wearable right out of the tube, because not everybody wants to mix shades (or buy five or six shades so they can get their mixology on).

Lip Tars are incredibly pigmented and you need very little to get full-color coverage–I’m totally serious: squeeze lightly! They’re pretty easy to apply just using the slanted squeeze-tube that they come out of, but if you want true precision, a lip brush will work wonders. If you use just the barest amount, they will dry down to a satin finish, but if you add a little more, it gives a slightly glossier look. These will wear four to five hours without trouble, and even nude shades like Trick stained a little (so darker shades most definitely stain)–even after a few minutes! They smell like peppermint (from the peppermint oil), but they are fragrance-free. They don’t really taste like much to me personally.

If you want to know more about how products are evaluated, read out Rating System FAQ!

• Product: 29/30
• Value: 9/10
• Ease of Use: 4/5
• Packaging: 4/5

RECOMMENDATION: If you want opaque color that doesn’t feel heavy and wears well, Lip Tars are definitely that. Now, you can get your hands on some excellent colors that work straight outta the tube–no more mixing required!

AVAILABILITY: OCC Makeup

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Lip Tars: Trick, Trollop, Harlot, Stalker, Strutter

OCC Trick Lip Tar

OCC Trick Lip Tar

OCC Trick Lip Tar

OCC Trollop Lip Tar

OCC Trollop Lip Tar

OCC Trollop Lip Tar

OCC Harlot Lip Tar

OCC Harlot Lip Tar

OCC Harlot Lip Tar

OCC Stalker Lip Tar

OCC Stalker Lip Tar

OCC Stalker Lip Tar

OCC Strutter Lip Tar

OCC Strutter Lip Tar

OCC Strutter Lip Tar

Chanel Phoenix Rouge Allure Lacque

The Summer Season: Chanel Phoenix Rouge Allure Laque

Chanel Phoenix (#78) Rouge Allure Laque
($32.00) is a brightened, dark pink with a glossy sheen and very subtle pink shimmer. I love Rouge Allure Laques (I don’t think I’ve kept that a secret!), and Phoenix is gorgeous. It’s this beautiful strawberry-esque pink that’s bold and bright without being electric. I love the full-color coverage, too–totally and utterly opaque on my lips (see, covers my freckle!). Love, love the feel of it as well. It applies evenly and smoothly with ease in what is, essentially, a liquid lipstick formula.  On my lips, I get about three to four hours on average, with the gloss fading around hour two or three and the color lingering for a solid four to five hours. (The deeper Rouge Allure Laques have more lingering colors than the lighter shades, like Ming and Santal.) I hope Chanel is listening, ’cause I want MORE Rouge Allure Laques this year! Another eight? Yes, please!

Is this the right bright pink lipstick for you? Would you wear it?

The Summer Season is a series of posts featuring bright, vibrant shades of coral, orange, and pink lipsticks and lipglosses — all perfect for a summer of fun — that runs through July 2010.

See photos and swatches…

Illamasqua Indulge Intense Lipgloss

The Summer Season: Illamasqua Indulge Intense Lipgloss

Illamasqua Indulge Intense Lipgloss ($19.00) is a brightened, vibrant shade of neon pink with a liquid patent, glossy shine and no noticeable shimmer. (There is flat, red flecks in the formula, but they’re not really visible when worn.)

I was so impressed with Frenzy, I just had to try a few more of Illamasqua’s Intense Lipglosses (I will also be featuring Fierce, Petulant, and Move soon!). They totally scream, “TEMPTALIA!” since they’re glossy but wickedly pigmented. Indulge didn’t disappoint me either–it’s bright, richly pigmented, and applies beautifully. Even better is that these glosses last a good three to four hours on me before a little fading occurs, which is quite good for a lipgloss! These feel like a cross between lipstick and lipgloss, but they’re definitely more on the lipgloss side of the equation.

Is this the right pink lipstick for you? Would you wear it?

The Summer Season is a series of posts featuring bright, vibrant shades of coral, orange, and pink lipsticks and lipglosses — all perfect for a summer of fun — that runs through July 2010.

See photos and swatches…