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.
- Benefit I’m With the Band Lipgloss
- Benefit Zone Out Lipgloss
- Chanel Pinup Glossimer
- Cle de Peau #2 Gloss
- Dolce & Gabbana Sunset Lipgloss
- Korres #25 Natural Purple Lipgloss
- Le Metier de Beaute Apricot Creme Gloss
- MAC Nymphette Lipglass
- Maybelline Sandstone Shimmer Lip Gloss
- NARS Belize Lipgloss
- NARS Orgasm Lipgloss
- NP Set Mauritius Lipgloss
- NYX Chandelier Lipgloss
- Shiseido PK 406 Lipgloss
- YSL Golden Peony (#10) Golden Gloss
The Spring Season: NARS Orgasm Lip Gloss
NARS Orgasm Lip Gloss ($24.00) is a sheer peachy-pink with gold shimmer. I really like this lipgloss worn over nudes and light pinks for added glossiness and shimmer, because it doesn’t effect color very much (if at all!) – just adds a little more pop. One of the reasons that NARS Lip Glosses are popular is they’re non-sticky without being drying, and they last a particularly long time–at least for a gloss. I personally see wear time around four hours, whereupon the glossiness does tend to fade, but the shimmer sticks around for a little longer after that.
The gloss formula is fairly thin, and the doe-footed applicator doesn’t get too much out per application, which may or may not be what you’d like–you just can’t glob it on, so you’re neither wasteful and it forces you to be a little more precise in your application. I guess those are good things! 
I do wish they’d improve the smell a bit; some seem almost scent-free, but other times, it’s more of a chemical/plastic-y scent that’s harder to ignore.
Is this glossy peach-pink the one 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.
Colorful Makeup: Green, Teal, & Blue
I envisioned a green, teal, and blue combination, and I really went from there for this look. I’m also trying to work on using permanent or recently released products in my looks, so, even though it was unplanned and totally coincidental, this look is very much like the theme of Build-a-Quad: “The Tropics.”
Happy Monday! I usually love Mondays, but it’s my first day back at school since I’ve been on winter break for the past two weeks… sigh. It’s so hard to get back into the swing of things, you know? Boo school!
You will need the following…
- Eyes: MAC Teal Pigment (teal base), MAC Juxt Eyeshadow (soft spring-y green), MAC Shimmermoss Eyeshadow (teal), MAC Freshwater Eyeshadow (blue), MAC Deep Truth Eyeshadow (dark blue), MAC Gorgeous Gold Eyeshadow (green-toned gold), MAC Femme-fi Eyeshadow (neutral highlighter), Urban Decay El Dorado 24/7 Liner (gold), Chanel Exceptionnel Mascara (black)
- Face: Kiehl’s Tinted Moisturizer (medium)
- Cheeks: Benefit Sugarbomb Powder (peachy-pink)
- Lips: MAC Freckletone Lipstick (peach-toned nude), NARS Orgasm Lipgloss (sheer peachy-pink shimmer)
- Brushes: 266 (firm, angled brush), 226 (fluffy crease brush), 217 (fluffy blending brush), 219 (pointed crease brush), 214 (smudge brush), 249 (flat, firm brush), 239 (fluffy shadow brush), 116 (dense blush brush)
- Substitutes: Femme-fi = Shroom
For eyes, start by putting a drop of water-based mixing medium (or water) on your brush, then apply Teal pigment as your eyeshadow base all over the lid with the 249. Using the 239, apply Juxt eyeshadow on the inner third of the eyelid. Next, apply Shimmermoss eyeeshadow on the middle third of the eyelid and lightly blend with the inner corner. Darken the outer third of the lid with Freshwater eyeshadow with the 239, gently brushing it into the lower crease. Next, define the crease by applying Deep Truth eyeshadow with the 226. Lightly tap and brush Gorgeous Gold eyeshadow directly above the crease to soften. With the 217, gently apply Gorgeous Gold eyeshadow above the innerlid and towards the brow bone. To finish the eyeshadow look, sweep Femme-fi eyeshadow as a highlighter on the brow bone. Bring everything together by applying El Dorado Liner on the lower lash line and sweeping lashes with Exceptionnel mascara.
For cheeks, apply Sugarbomb to the apples of the cheeks and sweep upwards towards the temple with the 116.
For lips, apply Freckletone lipstick first, and then layer Orgasm lipgloss for a glossy lip look.
NARS Deep Throat Blush
During Sephora’s
Friends & Family Sale last November, I picked up two NARS blushes and Orgasm Lip Gloss. I opted for Deep Throat, even though I’ve owned it before, because I wanted to give it another shot. People say for those who don’t LOVE NARS Orgasm Blush to give Deep Throat a try instead. I don’t have Orgasm blush, but I do have Super Orgasm blush, which does work really well for me. I don’t find it too glittery at all! Dolce Vita caught my eye mostly for its name (some are suckers for packaging, I’m a sucker for product names, sigh!). I also bought Orgasm Lip Gloss, because so many of you recommended it to me–especially because it was similar to Cle de Peau’s #2 Lip Gloss.
Can you believe I’ve only worn Deep Throat blush once? And Dolce Vita has gotten a lil’ more love with two or three uses. They’re in my blush containers, which I so rarely access with all of the newer cheek products that come out lately (MAC, I’m looking at you!). Deep Throat is a darker, deeper pink with peachy-gold shimmer (and it isn’t the chunky shimmer like Super Orgasm, for those wondering). Dolce Vita looks surprisingly good on my skin tone; I was quite worried it would be too pigmented and more muddy than pretty on my cheeks. It would make a nice everyday blush for me, actually. It doesn’t have any shimmer (that I could tell), which is a bonus for those who are hunting for shimmer-free cheek colors!
Orgasm Lip Gloss is not quite a dupe for Cle de Peau’s #2 Lip Gloss, which is not to say that it isn’t a pretty color, though! I find the luxe lip gloss to be much more shimmery and golden-toned with just a slight pink-peach base, whereas Orgasm Lip Gloss has a darker gloss base and less noticeable shimmer. They’re both fantastic glosses, and Orgasm Lip Gloss is a nice way to get close to Cle de Peau for half the price.
Photos and swatches… Continue reading →
