A Budget-Friendly Sparkling Red Gloss for the Holidays

L’Oreal Sparkle Frenzy Infallible Lipgloss ($9.99 for 0.21 fl. oz.) is a bright red with gold and ruby red shimmer and sparkle. The underlying color is blue-based, but the addition of fiery gold shimmer makes it appear almost orange-toned at times. Dior Ceremony Red is bluer-based. MAC Ready to Roam is redder. MAC Totally Fab is more orange-toned. YSL Golden Red is similar but more orange-toned.

This is a new and limited edition shade for the holidays, which I grabbed at my local CVS a couple of weeks ago. I have a love/hate relationship with L’Oreal’s Infallible Lipglosses, because initially, I love, love them. They’re delightfully sparkly and pretty on, but they’re thin and have a tendency to feel gritty because of the thinness and high sparkle content. I feel like I fuss with my lips a bit more whenever I test one of these. There’s also this medicinal smell that sometimes reads “something sweet and fruity” or like menthol (honestly, it gives me an Icy/Hot kind of vibe, just more muted).

Sparkle Frenzy is semi-opaque and went on fairly evenly.  The tapered applicator holds a lot of product and allows for precision along the edges of the lip and the cupid’s bow.  This shade wore well for six hours, and it was in need of a touch-up after seven hours.  It can handle some drinking, but it won’t make it through a meal.  I love the way it looks, but I’m not keen on how it feels on: gritty, sticky, and a bit drying. While it wears well compared to the average gloss, L’Oreal advertises these as having eight-hour wear.

L’Oreal Sparkle Frenzy Infallible Lipgloss

L’Oreal Sparkle Frenzy Infallible Lipgloss

L’Oreal Sparkle Frenzy Infallible Lipgloss

L’Oreal Sparkle Frenzy Infallible Lipgloss

L’Oreal Sparkle Frenzy Infallible Lipgloss

L’Oreal Sparkle Frenzy Infallible Lipgloss