Clinique Velvet Kisses & Velour Even Better Lip Colour Foundation Reviews & Swatches
Velvet Kisses (29)
Clinique Velvet Kisses (29) Even Better Pop Lip Colour Foundation ($19.50 for 0.13 oz.) is a darker, chocolaty brown with warmer, red undertones and a cream finish. It had semi-opaque color payoff in one layer, which didn’t build up too well due to the more emollient, slippery texture.
The product seemed to get pushed around and became more uneven if I tried to build up the color with a second layer. The consistency was creamy, lightweight, and comfortable to work with, but it was more slippery than most shades in the range. The color stayed on decently for five hours and felt moisturizing at least–this one might be workable for those who tend to apply lip liner.
FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).
Top Dupes
- Bite Beauty Cognac (P, $24.00) is less shimmery, lighter (95% similar).
- Kaleidos Bloodstone (P, $12.00) is less shimmery (95% similar).
- Make Up For Ever M104 (DC, $22.00) is less shimmery, cooler (90% similar).
- MAC Turn to the Left (P, $22.00) is less shimmery, lighter, cooler (90% similar).
- ColourPop Oh Behave (LE, $7.00) is less shimmery, warmer (90% similar).
- Smashbox Caffeinate (P, $24.00) is less shimmery, darker, cooler (90% similar).
- Pat McGrath She's So Deep (LE, $40.00) is less shimmery, darker, warmer (90% similar).
- ColourPop Chocolatier (LE, $10.00) is warmer, less glossy (90% similar).
- YSL Ambiguous Chestnut (216) (P, $39.00) is glossier (90% similar).
- KVD Beauty Crucifix (P, $19.00) is less shimmery, darker, cooler (90% similar).
Formula Overview
$19.50/0.13 oz. - $150.00 Per Ounce
The formula features three finishes: "Naked," "Casual," and "Glam." Where these finishes get confusing is that the classification moves as skin tone changes, despite the brand describing "Naked" shades as "softest neutral for a barely-there look" and "Casual" as "a wash of neutral color," which kind of sound more or less the same-- wash, barely-there, etc. "Glam" is described as a "bold pop of color," yet there are shades classified as "Glam" for lighter skin tones that are "Casual" for deeper skin tones.
The formula is supposed to be hydrating with color that lasts up to "eight hours," which are the most concrete claims about the product! The original Pop lipstick formula is described as "rich color plus a smoothing primer." Since the Even Better range is all about matching to one's skin tone--which is why one shade is closer to "Naked" for one skin tone and closer to "Glam" for another--I'm using the original Pop formula as the baseline for the claims here. This means I'm looking for "rich color" along with a hydrating formula that lasts "up to eight hours."
The majority of the range had semi-opaque to opaque coverage with a few shades having more medium, buildable coverage. I noticed that there were some shades that were more of a velvety-matte--felt more primer-like, more silicone-heavy--with good glide but less sheen (more in line with the Pop Matte formula), and others were more true to the original Pop formula with a creamier consistency that had some shine.
As you might have already guessed, the formula does not last eight hours and lasted between four and five hours for most shades with a few deviating from that range. There's nothing in the formula that suggests it would be particularly long-wearing, so they were quite comfortable to apply and to wear, wore down evenly, and were hydrating to wear.
They had no discernible scent or taste.
Browse all of our Clinique Even Better Pop Lip Colour Foundation swatches.
Ingredients
Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Ozokerite, Ricinus Communis (Castor) Seed Oil, Bis-Diglyceryl Polyacyladipate-2, BeeswaxCera AlbaCire D'Abeille, Triisostearyl Citrate, Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Polyethylene, Ppg-51/Smdi Copolymer, Silica, Microcrystalline WaxCera MicrocristallinaCire Microcristalline, Hibiscus Abelmoschus Extract, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil, Centella Asiatica (Hydrocotyl) Extract, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Tocopheryl Acetate, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea Butter), Lecithin, Caprylyl Glycol, Dipalmitoyl Hydroxyproline, Tribehenin, Polyglyceryl-10 Heptahydroxystearate, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Hdi/Trimethylol Hexyllactone Crosspolymer, Squalane, WaterAquaEau, Sorbitan Isostearate, Ethylene/Propylene/Styrene Copolymer, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, Alumina, Butylene/Ethylene/Styrene Copolymer, Calcium Sodium Borosilicate, Calcium Aluminum Borosilicate, Synthetic Fluorphlogopite, Tin Oxide, Phenoxyethanol, [+/- Mica, Titanium Dioxide (Ci 77891), Iron Oxides (Ci 77491), Iron Oxides (Ci 77492), Iron Oxides (Ci 77499), Yellow 5 Lake (Ci 19140), Red 7 Lake (Ci 15850), Red 33 Lake (Ci 17200), Blue 1 Lake (Ci 42090), Red 6 (Ci 15850), Yellow 6 Lake (Ci 15985), Red 22 Lake (Ci 45380), Red 30 Lake (Ci 73360), Red 27 (Ci 45410), Manganese Violet (Ci 77742), Bismuth Oxychloride (Ci 77163), Orange 5 (Ci 45370), Red 28 Lake (Ci 45410), Red 21 (Ci 45380), 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.
Velvet Kisses (29)
PPermanent. $19.50.
Velour (30)
Clinique Velour (30) Even Better Pop Lip Colour Foundation ($19.50 for 0.13 oz.) is a deep, more muted burgundy-brown with warmer undertones and a natural sheen. It had semi-opaque color coverage that could have applied more evenly, though it didn’t settle into my lip lines as badly as I anticipated (though it did to a degree).
I had issues with the color adhering to the inner area of my lip, which is where it looked the patchiest. The texture was more velvety, silicone-like, so it glided on quite readily but was thin and lightweight. It wore decently for four and a half hours and felt hydrating.
FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).
Top Dupes
- Laura Mercier Chocolat Divin (P, $32.00) is less shimmery, warmer (95% similar).
- MAC Pretty Pleats! (P, $26.00) is less shimmery, lighter (95% similar).
- KVD Beauty Crucifix (P, $19.00) is less shimmery, darker, warmer (90% similar).
- Estee Lauder Secret Life (P, $32.00) is less shimmery, darker (90% similar).
- Chanel Brun Celeste (178) (LE, $40.00) is lighter, cooler (90% similar).
- MAC Turn to the Left (P, $22.00) is less shimmery, warmer (90% similar).
- Makeup by Mario Nicole (P, $24.00) is less shimmery, warmer, less glossy (90% similar).
- ColourPop Oh Behave (LE, $7.00) is less shimmery, warmer (85% similar).
- Pat McGrath She's So Deep (LE, $40.00) is less shimmery, darker, warmer (85% similar).
- Smashbox Caffeinate (P, $24.00) is less shimmery, darker, warmer (85% similar).
Formula Overview
$19.50/0.13 oz. - $150.00 Per Ounce
The formula features three finishes: "Naked," "Casual," and "Glam." Where these finishes get confusing is that the classification moves as skin tone changes, despite the brand describing "Naked" shades as "softest neutral for a barely-there look" and "Casual" as "a wash of neutral color," which kind of sound more or less the same-- wash, barely-there, etc. "Glam" is described as a "bold pop of color," yet there are shades classified as "Glam" for lighter skin tones that are "Casual" for deeper skin tones.
The formula is supposed to be hydrating with color that lasts up to "eight hours," which are the most concrete claims about the product! The original Pop lipstick formula is described as "rich color plus a smoothing primer." Since the Even Better range is all about matching to one's skin tone--which is why one shade is closer to "Naked" for one skin tone and closer to "Glam" for another--I'm using the original Pop formula as the baseline for the claims here. This means I'm looking for "rich color" along with a hydrating formula that lasts "up to eight hours."
The majority of the range had semi-opaque to opaque coverage with a few shades having more medium, buildable coverage. I noticed that there were some shades that were more of a velvety-matte--felt more primer-like, more silicone-heavy--with good glide but less sheen (more in line with the Pop Matte formula), and others were more true to the original Pop formula with a creamier consistency that had some shine.
As you might have already guessed, the formula does not last eight hours and lasted between four and five hours for most shades with a few deviating from that range. There's nothing in the formula that suggests it would be particularly long-wearing, so they were quite comfortable to apply and to wear, wore down evenly, and were hydrating to wear.
They had no discernible scent or taste.
Browse all of our Clinique Even Better Pop Lip Colour Foundation swatches.
Ingredients
Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Ozokerite, Ricinus Communis (Castor) Seed Oil, Bis-Diglyceryl Polyacyladipate-2, BeeswaxCera AlbaCire D'Abeille, Triisostearyl Citrate, Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Polyethylene, Ppg-51/Smdi Copolymer, Silica, Microcrystalline WaxCera MicrocristallinaCire Microcristalline, Hibiscus Abelmoschus Extract, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil, Centella Asiatica (Hydrocotyl) Extract, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Tocopheryl Acetate, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea Butter), Lecithin, Caprylyl Glycol, Dipalmitoyl Hydroxyproline, Tribehenin, Polyglyceryl-10 Heptahydroxystearate, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Hdi/Trimethylol Hexyllactone Crosspolymer, Squalane, WaterAquaEau, Sorbitan Isostearate, Ethylene/Propylene/Styrene Copolymer, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, Alumina, Butylene/Ethylene/Styrene Copolymer, Calcium Sodium Borosilicate, Calcium Aluminum Borosilicate, Synthetic Fluorphlogopite, Tin Oxide, Phenoxyethanol, [+/- Mica, Titanium Dioxide (Ci 77891), Iron Oxides (Ci 77491), Iron Oxides (Ci 77492), Iron Oxides (Ci 77499), Yellow 5 Lake (Ci 19140), Red 7 Lake (Ci 15850), Red 33 Lake (Ci 17200), Blue 1 Lake (Ci 42090), Red 6 (Ci 15850), Yellow 6 Lake (Ci 15985), Red 22 Lake (Ci 45380), Red 30 Lake (Ci 73360), Red 27 (Ci 45410), Manganese Violet (Ci 77742), Bismuth Oxychloride (Ci 77163), Orange 5 (Ci 45370), Red 28 Lake (Ci 45410), Red 21 (Ci 45380), 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.
Even though I’m a sucker for these types of very deep lipstick shades, these seem to have been created more sheer for those who already have deeper pigmented lips in the first place. It would probably explain the “Foundation” part of the line’s title, I’m assuming. Almost like they are MLBB for every skintone depth.
With so many excellent lipsticks available at a very reasonable price, these are really quite average. Even though the shades are lux, the quality is just not there.