Ciate Flash & Apollo Glitter Storm Lipsticks Review & Swatches
Flash
Ciate Flash Glitter Storm Lipstick ($22.00 for 0.12 oz.) is a medium-darkk, coppery red with warm undertones and multi-colored pearl and sparkle. It had a smooth, emollient texture that didn’t feel overtly glittery/sparkly as it glided across my lips, though it definitely had shine, shimmer, and glitz–but it was more metallic than full-on glitter in its finish. The pigmentation was semi-opaque in one layer, and it built up a bit, but there was enough slip that it didn’t build up to full coverage readily. This shade stayed on nicely for five hours and was lightly moisturizing over time.
FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).
Top Dupes
- ColourPop Kween (LE, $6.00) is less shimmery, darker, warmer (90% similar).
- Tom Ford Beauty Synthetica (P, $56.00) is lighter, warmer (90% similar).
- Lancome Coquette (326) (P, $32.00) is less shimmery, lighter (85% similar).
- Tom Ford Beauty Stunner (LE, $56.00) is darker, cooler (85% similar).
- Lancome Sienna Ultime (120) (P, $32.00) is less shimmery, lighter, warmer (85% similar).
- UOMA Beauty On Fire (P, $26.00) is less shimmery, darker, brighter (85% similar).
- MAC Show Off (LE, $24.00) is more shimmery, warmer, glossier (85% similar).
- Sephora Sun Stone (106) (P, $14.00) is more shimmery, warmer, less glossy (85% similar).
- Tom Ford Beauty Destroy (P, $56.00) is more shimmery, darker, brighter (85% similar).
- Fenty Beauty Pretty Penny (LE, ) is less shimmery, warmer (80% similar).
Formula Overview
$22.00/0.12 oz. - $183.33 Per Ounce
The formula is supposed to have a "full-color base" with "star-like pigments" that give "three-dimensional shine and shimmer." The pigmentation ranged from medium to opaque, depending on the shade, though I'd say most were fairly pigmented. The consistency was lightweight, creamy without being heavy or thick, and the color went on fairly evenly. In general, I felt like they could have applied a bit more evenly overall but the high-shine, sparkly/metallic finish often camouflaged imperfections in the application when seen at a normal viewing distance. I could feel the glittery texture in two shades as I applied--Cosmic and Elektra--but the other shades were very smooth and cream-like; even with Cosmic and Elektra, it was just "this is a glittery lipstick" in level of feel, by no means rough or painful to use! They lasted between four and six hours and were lightly hydrating over time.
Browse all of our Ciate Glitter Storm Lipstick swatches.
Ingredients
Polybutene, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Calcium Sodium Borosilicate, Polyethylene, Mica, Microcrystalline Wax, Synthetic Fluorphlogopite, Silica, Dipentaerythrityl Hexahydroxystearate, Octyldodecanol, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Alcohol, Tin Oxide, Ethyl Vanillin, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-t-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, Water, Dicalcium Phosphate, BHT, Titanium Dioxide (Ci 77891), Iron Oxides (Ci 77491), Carmine (Ci 75470).
Disclaimer: Ingredient lists are as available by the brand (or retailer) at the time of publishing. Please always check product packaging, if it exists, for the ingredient list applicable to the product you're purchasing, or the brand or retailer's website for the most up-to-date ingredient list.
Flash
PPermanent. $22.00.
Apollo
Ciate Apollo Glitter Storm Lipstick ($22.00 for 0.12 oz.) is a muted, medium-dark plum with subtle, warm undertones and flecks of gold and violet shimmer and micro-glitter. It had semi-opaque pigmentation that applied fairly evenly across my lips in a smooth, fluid motion. The consistency was lightweight, creamy with light slip–enough to glide but not enough to slide around while worn–that was comfortable and dense enough to mask the texture of the sparkle. It wore well for five hours and was lightly hydrating while worn.
FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).
Top Dupes
- Tom Ford Beauty Seadragon (06) (LE, $53.00) is darker, cooler, less glossy (90% similar).
- MAC On and On (P, $19.00) is more shimmery, cooler (90% similar).
- Too Faced That Girl (LE, $22.00) is darker, warmer (90% similar).
- UOMA Beauty Poise (P, $26.00) is darker (90% similar).
- Bite Beauty Mauve Marzipan (P, $24.00) is warmer (90% similar).
- NYX Modern Maven (P, $7.50) is more shimmery, darker, cooler (90% similar).
- Pat McGrath Love Train (P, $40.00) is less shimmery, lighter, warmer (85% similar).
- Urban Decay Fast Talk (DC, $18.00) is lighter, cooler, less glossy (85% similar).
- Bite Beauty Spiced Plum (LE, $26.00) is darker, warmer (85% similar).
- UOMA Beauty Mother (P, $26.00) is more shimmery, darker, cooler (85% similar).
Formula Overview
$22.00/0.12 oz. - $183.33 Per Ounce
The formula is supposed to have a "full-color base" with "star-like pigments" that give "three-dimensional shine and shimmer." The pigmentation ranged from medium to opaque, depending on the shade, though I'd say most were fairly pigmented. The consistency was lightweight, creamy without being heavy or thick, and the color went on fairly evenly. In general, I felt like they could have applied a bit more evenly overall but the high-shine, sparkly/metallic finish often camouflaged imperfections in the application when seen at a normal viewing distance. I could feel the glittery texture in two shades as I applied--Cosmic and Elektra--but the other shades were very smooth and cream-like; even with Cosmic and Elektra, it was just "this is a glittery lipstick" in level of feel, by no means rough or painful to use! They lasted between four and six hours and were lightly hydrating over time.
Browse all of our Ciate Glitter Storm Lipstick swatches.
Ingredients
Polybutene, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Calcium Sodium Borosilicate, Polyethylene, Synthetic Fluorphlogopite, Microcrystalline Wax, Silica, Dipentaerythrityl Hexahydroxystearate, Octyldodecanol, Mica, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Alcohol, Tin Oxide, Ethyl Vanillin, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-t-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate ,Water, Dicalcium Phosphate, BHT, Calcium Titanium Borosilicate, Titanium Dioxide (Ci 77891), Iron Oxides (Ci 77491, Ci 77499), Red 7 Lake (Ci 15850), Red 28 Lake (Ci 45410), Blue 1 Lake (Ci 42090), Yellow 5 Lake (Ci 19140).
Disclaimer: Ingredient lists are as available by the brand (or retailer) at the time of publishing. Please always check product packaging, if it exists, for the ingredient list applicable to the product you're purchasing, or the brand or retailer's website for the most up-to-date ingredient list.
Apollo is lovely on the lips, but I’m rather put off by the weird grid pattern on the bullets. I noticed it in the Jessica Rabbit one, too… so strange.
I’m very hesitant to buy anything from them, honestly, after the whole caviar manicure debacle. It seems like they want to be seen as trendy and at the forefront of fashion but without actually innovating in any meaningful way.
I wonder how these compare to the Rani Cosmetics lipsticks?
Those close-up shots are seriously satisfying! I would buy one of these lipsticks and never use it just to take in it’s beauty lol
The instant I saw it applied, I just knew that Apollo and TF Seadragon were dupes! Although Apollo is far more glittery, I feel like I’m good with my much loved tube of Seadragon over here, haha!
Leading to Flash…oy vey, because of my longstanding plan to buy EL Tiger Eye and also PMG Electra, I’m not sure? I mean, while both are listed as dupes, I’m a little confounded by that. Tiger Eye is wayyy lighter and more orange, and Electra is a whole nuther color. I guess the algorithm got confused by the glitter!
Hi Nancy,
Dupes are not picked by the algorithm – I enter them. Tiger Eye is listed as an 80% dupe, so they are similar but not 100% dupes.
It’s interesting that Lisa Eldridge’s velvet bullet has already been ripped off. I would’ve thought it was going to take longer to do so.
I’m excited to see more finishes and colors and this style of bullet though. Apollo looks so pretty as a lipstick bullet (though the payoff leaves something to be desired.)
Ciate announced the Glitter Storm lipsticks in early November (just before Lise Eldridge, which was in mid-November, I believe) – I am late to the party on reviewing these. If anything, they came out around the same time!
Oh wow, I didn’t realize! My mistake then, thanks for the insight.
I’m glad the finishes between the two brands are so different though. It’s a really interesting presentation!
Both colors look great, and I love the sparkle. Apollo is my favorite of the two!
These look so pretty, especially Apollo! I love the textured look of the bullet…so interesting! But I’ve had a bad experience in the past with glittery lipstick sparkles getting all over my face and being hard to wash off. Does that happen with these?
I don’t notice any issues with that!
OK, so now I’m tempted… 🙂
At least the lipsticks are not duds, compared to the eyeshadow palette (which, I think, will go into your list of Most Disappointing Products for 2019). The shades are pretty and they look lovely.
These are beautiful and I love the texture on the bullets. Just wow.
I love both of these. I have a few of the dupes for Apollo, but not Flash.
Apollo is really beautiful, but I wish it hand ended up looking more like the flat portion of the bullet when worn — moody and magical!
I haven’t liked a single shade of these for my skin tone and preferences, but they are sooo beautiful in the bullet and packaging I might have to get one anyway.