For summer, OCC has six new shades of Stained Gloss ($18.00 for 0.33 fl. oz.) now available. All are permanent except for Dune, which is limited edition. The Stained Gloss formula is supposed to be “highly pigmented with a translucent finish.” I don’t think any of these really live up to the concept of the Stained Gloss formula, and in general, they’re very different in look and feel from the original shades released. As a general lip color product, shades like Aurora and Concubine still work fine, but they’re not really as described.

OCC Aurora Stained Gloss ($18.00 for 0.33 fl. oz.) is described as a “pink-toned coral.” It’s a brightened, medium pink with warm, yellow undertones and a soft shine. It seemed less glossy compared to other Stained Glosses I’ve tried, and the pigmentation was opaque but looked heavier–it didn’t really have that “translucent finish” that seems associated with the formula in general. It lasted four and a half hours on me, and this one stained just slightly after that. This shade totally screams “summer is here!” to me, though. It’s neither hydrating nor drying on me while worn. MAC Go for Girlie (LE, $20.00) is slightly warmer, less glossy. MAC Viva Glam Nicki (LE, $15.00) is glossier. Bite Beauty Damask (LE, $28.00) is darker. Sephora Collection Flamingo (LE, $12.50) is more matte, darker. Bite Beauty Sweety (LE, $24.00) is darker, more matte. YSL Opera Rose (29) (P, $34.00) is very similar. Givenchy Rose Taffetas (201) (P, $36.00) is darker. See comparison swatches / view dupes.

OCC Concubine Stained Gloss ($18.00 for 0.33 fl. oz.) is described as a “warm plum neutral.” It’s a muted, pink-coral with warm undertones and a soft shine. It had full color coverage, but it completely lacked that “translucency” of Stained Gloss–it looks like regular Lip Tar with a bit of shine, but it doesn’t have that really wet, glossy, stained glass-effect that the original Stained Glosses had. This shade didn’t stain at all but lasted for three and a half hours on me. Dior Tiny Pink (269) (P, $35.00) is glossier, slightly pinker. Too Faced Melted Peony (P, $21.00) is lighter, pinker, matte. NARS Tasmania (P, $26.00) is sheerer. NARS Belize (P, $26.00) is a touch darker. Estee Lauder Potent (P, $30.00) is lighter. YSL Corail Jalouse (32) (P, $34.00) is pinker, lighter. Tom Ford Beauty Summer Fling (04) (LE, $49.00) is similar. Maybelline Caramel Infused (065) (P, $8.99) is darker, glossier. Urban Decay Naked (P, $22.00) is darker. NYX Blush (P, $4.00) is darker. MAC Flamingo (P, $16.00) is darker. See comparison swatches / view dupes.

OCC Dune Stained Gloss ($18.00 for 0.33 fl. oz.) is described as a “champagne gold shimmer.” It’s a gold-shimmered beige with a heavy dose of very fine, metallic gold shimmer. This was semi-sheer, so the natural lip color comes through quite noticeably, and on my lips, it lightens the natural lip color slightly and adds the gold shimmer. It doesn’t look even, though, and there’s only a soft shine–not true glossiness. This one needed a “sheer” descriptor, because it doesn’t live up to the “highly pigmented with a translucent finish” concept. This one lasted an hour and a half on me–just slips away so quickly!–and was neither drying nor hydrating over time. It was best mixed in with other shades. MAC Gold Mirror (LE, $15.00) is more shimmery, glossier. MAC Playland (LE, $16.00) is more metallic, more pigmented, less shiny. Bobbi Brown Candlelight (LE, $24.00) is sheerer, glossier. MAC You’ve Got It (LE, $16.00) is less glossy. Bobbi Brown Canary (P, $24.00) is glossier, larger sparkle. See comparison swatches / view dupes.

OCC Aurora Stained Gloss

OCC Aurora Stained Gloss

OCC Aurora Stained Gloss

OCC Aurora Stained Gloss

OCC Aurora Stained Gloss

OCC Aurora Stained Gloss

OCC Concubine Stained Gloss

OCC Concubine Stained Gloss

OCC Concubine Stained Gloss

OCC Concubine Stained Gloss

OCC Concubine Stained Gloss

OCC Concubine Stained Gloss

OCC Dune Stained Gloss

OCC Dune Stained Gloss

OCC Dune Stained Gloss

OCC Dune Stained Gloss

OCC Dune Stained Gloss

OCC Dune Stained Gloss