OCC Lip Tars ($13.00 for 0.27 fl. oz.) see the addition of six new shades with the Pretty Boy Collection on September 6th. I reviewed Butch previously (blue can’t help but be an individual, y’know), so this post includes these five: Banjee (freshly sliced mango), Femme (pale flamingo pink), Narcissus (creamy pink/lavender), Pretty Boy (deep, true fuchsia), and Queen (screaming neon red).
If you have any experience with Lip Tars, the best advice anyone can give is: a little goes a very, very long way. You really need much less than you’d think. It’s also much easier to use a lighter hand and add more as needed. You can apply straight from the tube (and the angled applicator works well to maneuver around the natural curves of the lips) or with a lip brush (OCC recommends their #009 brush).
Banjee is a vibrant, light-medium orange with opaque color and a subtly glossy sheen. I couldn’t think of any similar shades (you would think with all of these orange lipsticks, there would be something!) because this is lighter and less of a dark orange or true orange–there is a yellowness to Banjee.
Narcissus is a medium, fuchsia-lavender with a subtle sheen. It delivers opaque color coverage. It is lighter and pinker than MAC Love Forever, very similar to MAC Asian Flower, and lighter but similar in color to MAC Petals & Peacocks.
Pretty Boy is a dark, blue-based fuchsia pink with a subtle shine and opaque color coverage. It’s cooler toned than NARS Carthage, which leans redder. Illamasqua Welt is similar in coolness but lighter overall.
Queen is a neon pink-red with a soft shine and really rich, opaque color. Guerlain Shalimar is pinker, while MAC Insanely It has fuchsia shimmer and is less vibrant. MAC Gesina is similar, a touch redder and less neon.
Femme is one of the nicer pastel pinks I’ve seen on me, which is due, in part, to the opacity as well as the subtle blue-base–so if you’re warm-toned and have always wanted a pastel pink, this one might work better for you than many of the alternatives. There are some similarities with MAC’s recently released Sheen Supreme lipsticks (Azalea Blossom and Asian Flower), but I think OCC does them better–the texture and formula are more flattering to the lips and give them a more even appearance.
Lip Tars are very creamy; they’re very much a liquid lipstick, and as such, they’re extremely rich in pigment. As stated earlier, you only need a tiny dab for total coverage. They can be mixed with other Lip Tars for your own custom combination (which is how the Lip Tars were initially, but now they have many shades that are great as-is). The richness in color makes these long-wearing, too–I usually get six hours, sometimes as long as eight. Shades like Pretty Boy and Queen do stain over time, so sometimes they wear even longer than eight.
They are mint-scented (from the inclusion of peppermint oil), and I don’t find them drying, but if I wear one color for eight hours, I do need to pat on some lip balm, because I don’t find these very moisturizing on their own. I don’t have issues with these bleeding, but it will happen if you apply a thicker layer, so you may want to wear a lip liner with some of the darker shades.
These shades are great to wear as-is; they're more "normal" colors than others in OCC's Lip Tar range, but this doesn't mean they can't still be mixed! You may even find these colors inspire you to mix Lip Tars you already own to see what you might come up with.
Product
9/10
Pigmentation
10/10
Texture
9.5/10
Longevity
10/10
Application
4/5
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Where to Buy
This product can be purchased at the following retailers:
Sometimes products are discontinued or limited edition, which means that a product may no longer be available at one or more retailers so you may need to shop around for those hard-to-find shades! We try to update products as they become discontinued, and if you discover a product has been discontinued, please help us help others by letting us know.
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bareMinerals Ready Eyeshadow Duos: The Perfect Storm
bareMinerals The Perfect Storm Eyeshadow Duo ($20.00 for 0.10 oz.) contains two shades: Cumulus and Tempest. This duo launches in October, and it’s touted as a solid eyeshadow with SeaNutritive Mineral Complex that is “creamy, silky smooth” with “seamless blendability” and “stay-true color” that is long-wearing when worn alone without creasing or budging. When worn alone, I was able to wear several of the new duos for 10 hours without an eyeshadow primer. For more details on packaging, please read my original review.
Cumulus is a subtly, cool-toned white with a soft, frosted shimmer finish. It’s very opaque, and the texture is dense and buttery. It ends up a bit like Inglot #351 but whiter. Inglot #373 is closer but cooler.
Tempest is a gray-casted taupe with a near-matte finish. It’s that mix of gray and brown that creates taupe, but it leans more on the gray side. The matte texture is really workable here–it’s soft, smooth, and nicely pigmented. The softness makes it easy to blend when applied. The shade is reminiscent of Chanel Prelude without the shimmer. It’s very similar but slightly grayer compared to Burberry Taupe Brown.
This duo would make for an excellent smoky eye with a neutral kick to it, because it's not your typical mix of gray/black. I do think this will tend to work best on lighter, cooler skin tones, though.
Product
9.5/10
Pigmentation
10/10
Texture
9.5/10
Longevity
10/10
Application
5/5
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Where to Buy
This product can be purchased at the following retailers:
October 2011 at Bare Escentuals, Sephora, $20
Sometimes products are discontinued or limited edition, which means that a product may no longer be available at one or more retailers so you may need to shop around for those hard-to-find shades! We try to update products as they become discontinued, and if you discover a product has been discontinued, please help us help others by letting us know.
Disclosure: Temptalia uses affiliate links, which give us a small commission when you make a purchase (given to us by the retailer, at no cost to you). Your purchases help to support the site!
bareMinerals The Vision Eyeshadow Duo ($20.00 for 0.10 oz.) contains two shades: Illusion and Mirage. The duo will debut in October, and it’s touted as a solid eyeshadow with SeaNutritive Mineral Complex that is “creamy, silky smooth” with “seamless blendability” and “stay-true color” that is long-wearing when worn alone without creasing or budging. When worn alone, I was able to wear several of the new duos for 10 hours without an eyeshadow primer. For more details on packaging, please read my original review.
Illusion is a pale, sky blue with a near matte finish. It’s very, light and pastel, but it’s not at all chalky–which is hard to do in a shade this light–and the color payoff is excellent. There is no dryness here, just really soft, smooth color. If I want to be nit picky, there is the faintest amount of powderiness when used heavily, but it doesn’t translate during application, and there is no residual fall out when worn. It’s a touch lighter but more opaque than MAC Sky Blue, more opaque and less metallic than Giorgio Armani Airy Jade, lighter and brighter than Inglot #367, less shimmered (and more opaque) than Cle de Peau #112, and a touch lighter than Make Up For Ever #150.
Mirage is a subtly red-toned brown with an pale, bluish-teal iridescent sheen. It’s smooth to apply and opaque in color. It’s more subdued than the shades that are, inevitably, still quite similar: Wet ‘n’ Wild Comfort Zone, MAC Double Feature #7 (and also MAC Club, MAC Blue Brown), and Urban Decay Lounge. Mirage is less red-based and comes off grayer in contrast. Overall, it appears darker and more muted, but it is still similar to the aforementioned shades.
The duo works well together--the lightness of the blue complements the sheen of the darker shade--and the quality of both shades is amazing. Those with a lot of eyeshadows already may find this particular duo very dupeable, though.
Product
9.5/10
Pigmentation
10/10
Texture
9.5/10
Longevity
10/10
Application
5/5
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Where to Buy
This product can be purchased at the following retailers:
October 2011 at Bare Escentuals, Sephora, $20
Sometimes products are discontinued or limited edition, which means that a product may no longer be available at one or more retailers so you may need to shop around for those hard-to-find shades! We try to update products as they become discontinued, and if you discover a product has been discontinued, please help us help others by letting us know.
Disclosure: Temptalia uses affiliate links, which give us a small commission when you make a purchase (given to us by the retailer, at no cost to you). Your purchases help to support the site!
Debuting in October, has a new line of bareMinerals Ready Eyeshadow — and it’s nothing like their current line-up of mineral eyeshadow. Ready is a solid eyeshadow, but the brand states that they still include the SeaNutritive Mineral Complex (which includes sea minerals with antioxidants, cold-pressed borage oil, caffeine, and cucumber) that deliver “anti-aging benefits for a softer, smoother, revitalized eye area.” The new solid eyeshadow is described as “creamy, silky smooth” with “seamless blendability” with “stay-true color” that can be worn alone and is long-wearing and “won’t smudge or run.” This review is not evaluating the anti-aging claim, because to truly test to that, one would have to wear these eyeshadows for 6-8 weeks everyday.
They will be available in duos as well as quads–and I’ll be reviewing all of them in the coming weeks. There are 15 duos and four quads that will be available. Each duo (Ready 2.0) will retail for $20.00 and contains 0.10 oz., while the quad (Ready 4.0) will retail for $30.00 and contain 0.17 oz. I’m still waiting to get confirmation of the quantity in each duo (the packaging I have does not have official labeling). I loved that each duo/quad has a name but also each individual eyeshadow has its own name, too (and everything goes with its theme). I would love to see future adaptations that might allow for mixing and matching of your favorites, so it could be a more customizable system.
The first duo I wanted to share was The Showstopper, which includes two shades: Bravo and Encore. I almost thought this duo was a dupe for NARS Demon Lover, but it’s much lighter–it’s similar in concept, with a cool-toned, blue with a hint of purple matched with a purpler shade, but they are quite different.
Bravo is a pale, periwinkle blue with a white, frosted finish. Inglot #429 is bluer and darker.
Encore is a medium-dark purple that doesn’t lean too red, but it’s not a cool-toned purple either, with a softened frost finish. It is several shades lighter than Giorgio Armani #3, a touch darker and more opaque than Milani Purr-fect Purple, and most similar to theBalm All the Way Annie.
The texture of these eyeshadows is amazing–silky to the touch, smooths out beautifully, and applies easily to the lid with excellent blendability and staying power. I’ve worn a few of the duos alone, and I’ve achieved 10 hours of wear without an eyeshadow primer. Both Bravo and Encore were true-to-color and delivered rich, opaque color. If I had to be nit picky, Bravo was the tiniest bit powdery if you were heavy-handed with a brush in the pan, but it melts against skin and there is no fall out when used.
Each duo is packaged in a black, rubberized compact with a mirror inside and an applicator (none of mine came with an applicator, so I’m not sure if it’s sponge-tipped or not, but I would expect that it is). If you’re familiar with NARS’ packaging, this is similar. I like the rubberized surface, because it allows for better grip and is more forgiving when dropped on a hard surface (it absorbs the impact better than hard plastic, but not as well as cardboard).
These eyeshadows are a much welcome addition, because pressed eyeshadows can be so much more convenient. Showstopper contains shades that complement each other, and the quality is top notch.
Product
9.5/10
Pigmentation
10/10
Texture
9.5/10
Longevity
10/10
Application
5/5
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Where to Buy
This product can be purchased at the following retailers:
October 2011, $20
Sometimes products are discontinued or limited edition, which means that a product may no longer be available at one or more retailers so you may need to shop around for those hard-to-find shades! We try to update products as they become discontinued, and if you discover a product has been discontinued, please help us help others by letting us know.
Disclosure: Temptalia uses affiliate links, which give us a small commission when you make a purchase (given to us by the retailer, at no cost to you). Your purchases help to support the site!
Cle de Peau #207 Eye Color Quad ($55.00 for refill of 0.17 oz., $25.00 for case) is a decadent option for eyeshadow. The formula is “resistant to smudging, creasing, and fading” while “Argan Tree Oil provides smooth application and wear” as well as it contains “moisturizing Hydro-Wrap Complex.”
The product itself is embossed with muted, plum-pink iterations of their logo, and these are just an overlay, as they disappear after a use or two. I made sure to remove them from mine before swatching the colors themselves to ensure nothing altered the actual underlying colors!
My first reaction was: “WHAT ON EARTH IS THIS SILKINESS?” I felt like I had touched silk dipped in butter, because it was so soft, so smooth, and creamy (but it is a powder). I’ve tried Cle de Peau’s eyeshadow singles, and some are nice, others are so-so–but the product, while soft, felt nothing like this palette. I just stared at the compact dumbfounded when I first swatched it. I’m not easily impressed, but this really caught my attention. It was the softest eyeshadow I had ever used. The formula is soft like silk, but smooth and creamy like butter that glides across the skin and melts into it. When I wore these alone (without primer), they lasted a full ten hours without creasing, fading, or fall out.
The first shade is a sparkling pink champagne with silvery-white micro-glitter. It’s similar to Giorgio Armani #7, which has a more metallic finish. This shade is soft but does apply opaque–though it can be sheered out with ease. I thought it would have fall out, but I didn’t experience any when I wore it. The texture is almost like Urban Decay’s Stardust Eyeshadows but smoother.
The second shade is a softened, peach-beige with a bright, metallic sheen. It’s more opaque than NARS Delphes, but it is shade or so lighter and warmer than Inglot #397. This has great color payoff and an ultra-smooth texture.
The third shade is a gray-casted purple with a hint of blue. The finish is part shimmer, part sheen. I couldn’t think of any dupes for this one, though I looked through the blue, gray, and purple eyeshadow galleries. It has good color payoff (could be a little more rich in color), but it applied beautifully.
The last shade is a warm, soft gray with a shimmery finish. The only shade I could think of that was even remotely similar was theBalm Come Hither Heather, which is many shades darker. It has the same really smooth texture with a soft feel, and the pigmentation is good.
For those who might find Cle de Peau a bit out of their price range, consider purchasing the refill and storing it inside a more affordable compact (maybe a Z-palette or the like), as the pan of eyeshadows is $55, while the case is sold separately at $25. The refill makes it much more in line with Chanel, Dior, and Guerlain and may make the product more . The case is sturdy but ultimately made out of plastic. It has a large mirror inside as well as two brushes. This is what I’ll be doing–I’m not willing to shell out $25 per compact, but I liked the quality and texture of this palette so much, I purchased two refill quads after I finished testing this one, which I’ll be sure to review once I’ve received and tested those.
I can't fathom why the compact is so costly, but the product itself stands out in texture. The colors are softer, so they are not always opaque, but those who prefer subtler looks would likely enjoy Cle de Peau's take on them. I do appreciate and like that you can purchase the product separate from the case--at least you aren't paying for packaging!
Product
9/10
Pigmentation
8.5/10
Texture
10/10
Longevity
10/10
Application
5/5
Login or Register to be able to add this to your Vanity or Wishlist! Plus rate and review!
Where to Buy
This product can be purchased at the following retailers:
Sometimes products are discontinued or limited edition, which means that a product may no longer be available at one or more retailers so you may need to shop around for those hard-to-find shades! We try to update products as they become discontinued, and if you discover a product has been discontinued, please help us help others by letting us know.
Disclosure: Temptalia uses affiliate links, which give us a small commission when you make a purchase (given to us by the retailer, at no cost to you). Your purchases help to support the site!
NARS Galion Nail Lacquer ($17.00 for 0.50 fl. oz.) is described as a “stormy grey.” It’s a rich, creamy navy-tinged, blackened gray. I achieved opaque color in just two coats, and there was no streaking, bubbling, or difficulty in applying the shade onto my nails. The formula flowed evenly without being too thick or thin. This shade looks really crisp on the nails, and despite my nails being too long, it still seems to work on me. I typically get a week of wear with NARS’ nail polishes.
It’s a little bluer-based (but still very similar) to China Glaze Concrete Catwalk. The way it looks is reminiscent of Zoya Kelly, but they are not dupes–Kelly is much lighter but of the same hue.
Sometimes products are discontinued or limited edition, which means that a product may no longer be available at one or more retailers so you may need to shop around for those hard-to-find shades! We try to update products as they become discontinued, and if you discover a product has been discontinued, please help us help others by letting us know.
Disclosure: Temptalia uses affiliate links, which give us a small commission when you make a purchase (given to us by the retailer, at no cost to you). Your purchases help to support the site!
