ETUDE HOUSE DEAR MY GLASS TINTING LIPS TALK

Spring is coming.

Etude House has released a new line of lipstick! It's very Spring appropriate as it's so candy like! Gonna quickly blog about it before it's promotion ends 31st March. Details at the end of the entry!



Described as a lipstick with vivid and clear colour, I imagine the lips turning into a delicious looking crystal candy that I find hard to resist.

DEAR MY GLASS TINTING LIPS-TALK | USD 10.40

You may have noticed the lipstick looks a little weird above. Why does it look kinda naked? Keep reading.

It comes in a whooping 20 colour variations. 20! Let's take a second to let out a "AH~" as we enjoy this collage.

click to enlarge!

It ranges from orange to fuschia, with a few beige tones as well. Wonderful!
See image below for their colour codes, and swatches of it being applied lightly and heavily.

click to enlarge!

To answer the question of the Glass Tinting Lips-Talk looking a little naked, it's because the lipstick case is sold separately, and for a good reason.

GLASS TINTING LIPS-TALK CASE | USD 5.20

There are 20 designs in total. SAY WHAT!?

click to enlarge!

I really like this idea of replaceable lipstick bullets. It can really cut down on the amount of trash in the long run! Well, I just assumed the lipstick case is reusable, but there are no information about that on its website. So maybe it's not as reusable as I thought. If you tried it you'll have to let me know!

Also, you can mix and match the lipstick cases to get funky new combinations.



Not only is it fun, but the environmental aspect (fingers crossed) of it made me so excited when I saw it on the Etude House website just now!

Etude house is currently running a promotion till 31st March.

The Glass Tinting Lips-Talk is going for 20% off (USD8.32), while the Lips-Talk case are 50% off (USD 2.60)!



If you like the colour combinations shown above you're in luck, because each of those sets are going for 30% off (lipstick case not included, USD 14.56 for 2 lipsticks!)

That's all for now!

Image credit: Etude House

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MAYBELLINE VIVID MATTE LIQUID

Another liquid matte lip colour

I just snooped around on the Maybelline Japan site and found out they're releasing a new liquid matte lip colour. I can't call it a lipstick because it's not!

Maybelline claims it is a velvety liquid lip colour that turns matte. HOWEVER, lots of review said it doesn't turn completely matte. It doesn't set like other products, so technically speaking it doesn't feel as dry. Downside to that is it's not a long wearing formula (which might be a upside to someone else with drier lips).

Liquid matte lip products have had its 15 minutes of fame after so many other brands released something like that in the previous year (NYX, Colourpop, Kylie, Anastasia beverly hill, Milani, just a few I pulled off my head). It feels like Maybelline is a little late on this train that's already leaving the station (or is liquid matte lips here to stay?).

The VIVID MATTE LIQUID was released in the USA at the end of 2015.

It has been repackaged for Asian release. I haven't visited any drugstore in a long time so I don't know if it's actually in Singapore yet or not. It might have came and gone for all I know, but I can't find any information on its official site, so I'll assume it haven't hit the shelves yet. For some reason I feel kinda deja vu when I saw it on the Japanese site. I might have seen it when I passed by Watson's a while ago!? (Brain starts to question reality)

Retails at 1500YEN, or SGD$21.90

Anyway, you can see the packaging is reminiscent of the Lip Polish. The applicator is also different from the US release - this is more angled and flatter. Should do a good job getting the product into the corners of the lips without messing it up.

click to enlarge!

The US version has 21 colours to choose from. We have a grand total of 7! (There's only 6 on the Official Maybelline Japanese site though) With that said, the selection of colours should be well loved by the majority, since they carry the shades you can wear on a daily basis.

Asia haven't caught on the nude lips trend yet, so I'm surprised to see they have included one nudish shade!

click to enlarge!

As they are numbered differently from the US version, I can't match the Asian colour code to their respective US colour codes.

If you want an affordable liquid matte lipstick that sets and stays (for at least 3 hours), you can check out the Bourjois Rouge Edition Velvet. My friend gifted me one and IT'S AMAZING.

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MAYBELLINE Lip Flush Bitten Lips Swatch

Welcome to the bitten/gradient/ombre lip trend that's already more than 3 years old.

I understand that there will be a significant time lag when western beauty brands ride on the Asian beauty trends, but this really came a little late! Considering this release is actually designed for the Asian market, I expected them to create something like this a lot sooner.

I don't think America will appreciate the bitten lips trend anytime soon, because they love the illusion of fuller lips. The bitten lip does the exact opposite, by making the lips look smaller.

Maybelline recently released 6 shades in this new product line. It retails for SGD$16.90.



Each lipstick contains three colours: a concealing colour, a blending colour, and the main colour. Designed to easily create the Korean style just bitten lips, otherwise known as ombre/gradient lips.



The colours vary from red to orange.


image via cocopsyche.

I tried to get the official swatches, but I noticed it's just digital manipulation and not the real thing. Here is a swatch I found :)

The colours seem to blend in with each other almost perfectly (except for RD01)! Ridding you of the need to manually blend the colours with your fingers. The colours also look very wearable. I'm especially delighted to see a darker colour here (RD03).

From the swatch, you can also see it has a slight sheen to it, but definitely not enough to call it glossy.

Ending thought:
I'm happy there's finally a more affordable alternative to Laneige's Two Toned Lip Bar (SGD$34). Maybelline has perfected their lipstick formula so you can be pretty sure the lipstick will be comfortable to wear on your lips. While this is not a long lasting lipstick, do expect it to feel a lot more hydrating and lip balm-y than long wearing formulas.

On a side note, I think they chose a very unflattering promotional picture of their model. She looks like she has permanent duck lips because her upper lip is so pouty naturally. Hahahahha I can't help but laugh when I saw this. Pardon me. QUACK.

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ETUDE HOUSE NEW LIPSTICK SWATCHES

Were the marketing team hungry? Chiffon.. Cake?

Etude House recently released a new line of lipsticks! They are a mix between cream and matte finish. I have no idea what "chiffon" has got anything to do with the finish. In my mind I imagine it to have a bouncy finish (my mind is clearly thinking about the chiffon cake, what a glutton!), which speaks nothing about the finish.

Stripping the marketing thing aside, it's a semi-matte lipstick that promises more moisture than a traditional matte lipstick.

DEAR MY BLOOMING LIPS TALK CHIFFON | USD 12.40

The lipstick has a brand new packaging - eyelet trim decorating one side of the lipstick. With the cap off it looks like a capital letter B. The first time I saw this lipstick I only saw an image of it with its cap off, it made me wonder why a letter B on the packaging :P

Comes in 12 whopping shades, including the rarer brownish and nude shades. Case in point, brown shades are pretty rare in Asian lipsticks.


Click to enlarge!


At a glance.

For actual swatches, check out this korean blog.

EDITOR'S NOTE:
The nude shades (BE109 and BE110) really appeal to me. The almost neon pink PK027, which it's quite common amongst Korean brands still stands out to me. RD315 looks like a beautiful wine red! I might actually hunt these down some time in the future.. :) I don't have a lot of nude lipsticks, YET.

Image credit: Etude House

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BATTLE OF THE LIP BALMS

Everyone else has a (huge) stash of lip balms too right!?

i don't know how else to justify the amount of lip balms i own.
those in the photos are just 5 that i'm currently using, i still have another 3 or more that's not opened yet.
GASPS.

"i am running out of lip balm!"
says no one ever!!!

here's a brief comparison and my thoughts on each of the lip balm.

VASELINE | PETROLEUM JELLY | ~6 SGD

vaseline is probably the best value of money out of all products here, at only 6 SGD, i get 368g of product and i am pretty sure i can NEVER finish this tub. ok, never is a strong word, so let's just say i won't run out of vaseline for another 5 years AT LEAST.

it's not sticky nor shiny, and does an awesome job preventing my lips from getting dry. layer this baby on before bed and you'll wake up to gorgeous lips. due to its viscosity, vaseline runs the risk of going on too thick, but that's a welcomed quality when i use it at night.

as it does interfere with lipstick application, i usually apply it before starting my makeup, only wiping/blotting it off just before moving on to the lipstick step.

SMITH'S | STRAWBERRY LIP BALM | 7 USD

this lip balm hands down smells the best!!! their scent is what makes this special, i guess. oh, and that lovely pink colour balm too! it doesn't tint my lips pink though.

in terms of its ability to prevent dryness, it does a rather mediocre job. it's harder than vaseline, so it's harder to get a good amount of products onto my lips. i'll need to reapply this more just to keep my lips from drying out. definitely not something i'll use overnight because i tried it and.. my lips were a little dry in the morning.

the formula is not shiny, making it an undetectable lip balm.

it contains beeswax and lanolin on top of petroleum jelly, and while it smells like a minty strawberry, it tastes nothing like strawberry. not even like the artificially strawberry flavoured pocky.

it's safe to say the only redeeming point about it is the sweet scent. is it worth 7 bucks? not in my books. and the packaging is a pain in my ass at times because it's so hard to open it.

LUCAS' | PAPAW OINTMENT | 3.25 AUD

one of the cult favourites well known for its protective capabilities, it's also known to be a "very expensive petroleum jelly" since it's mostly petroleum jelly. in my honest opinion, it is indeed very similar to my vaseline petroleum jelly, but the formulation makes all the difference between the two.

in singapore's temperature (around 30 degC year round) it's a lot softer than vaseline, more shiny for sure. the blend reacts well to my body temperature as it melts into my lips nicely and coats it thinly. it's as though the softness of the product make it incapable of layering too thick a layer (a tragedy that might happen with vaseline). when i smack my lips together, they glide across each other with ease unlike the slight friction i get after using all the other lip balms. that's a strangely satisfying sensation.

there is a slight scent to it, but almost undetectable. if any, it's a natural scent that does't put me off. i can't speak of it's power to "relieve and cleanse" to be honest. if vaseline works well on wounds, this will too! but you know, this will be a greasier version.

due to its shininess and slipperiness, i also blot it off before applying my lipstick. otherwise, it's the perfect overnight treatment for my lips.

CARMEX | SOOTHING LIP BALM | 1.59 USD

i was actually using this lip balm on my skin to soothe any irritation because of its awesome cooling sensation. with added camphor and menthol, it calms any tingles within my skin very well.

cooling lips felt amazing too! it doesn't sting, and the effect last for a few minutes at most. the scent though!!!! it took me a while to get used to it. the first time i smelled it i was really taken aback.

the formula is just as soft as the lucas' papaw ointment, it's definitely more greasy than vaseline and lucas' which might be due to the additional ingredients such as petrolatum, cocoa seed butter, mineral oil, lanolin and so on. the lip balm feels heavy even though i only used a thin layer, and the shine is real.

i haven't worn this overnight before, but it being more greasy and thick than lucas' tells me it'll work just as well as an overnight treatment.

MAYBELLINE | BABY LIPS | ~3 USD

perhaps i am too used to using softer lip balms (like vaseline and lucas' papaw ointment), i find the baby lips not meeting my high expectations after seeing how it's been raved as the most hydrating lip balm out there. those girls are missing out.

it's not as greasy or oily as what i'm used to, but the redeeming point about the baby lips is its light application, and adorable scent. the one i have smells like grape juice, and i gotta say i quite like it!

i'd say this is the perfect lip balm to wear beneath your lipstick without have the need to blot it off prior to lipstick application because it's not quite as oily as the other lip balms. the lack of shine makes this invisible on my lips, except for the slight tint that gave it away. it's also a pretty no-mess product since you don't need your fingers, nor have to worry about it melting and leaking out of the package.

definitely not my go-to lipstick for sleeping though, because it's just not enough to keep my lips from drying out. i need something heavy duty.

the other issue i have is the long list of ingredients used to formulate this lip balm. like, WAY TOO MUCH YO! but then again, do take note that i've used an one ingredient lip balm (vaseline petroleum jelly, which is 100% petroleum jelly) for years. so anything more than one is many in my opinion.

IN A NUTSHELL

there's always a lip balm for ever situation! when i need an extra layer of protection, i drift towards the oilier/softer products. when it's a little prep for makeup, i use the harder products.

personally i drift towards unscented and uncolored lip balms because i love using them on my skin too. any multi-purpose products score extra points in my heart because i just need to carry one item out instead of two! lip balms are awesome barriers to lock the moisture within our skin, so don't hesitate to use it on your skin if necessary!

i can't decide if i prefer vaseline over lucas' papaw ointment or not. both are very similar in terms of function, but lucas' makes my lips feel more lubricated, and i quite like that.

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Drugstore Matte Lipsticks: Revlon, Maybelline, L'oreal

The matte-ness is slowly growing upon me.

a small revelation here,
i have never thought of myself as a matte lipstick fan because i've always associated matte with "dryness".
plus, growing up under the influence of japanese makeup where juicy and plump lips are the desired look,
matte lips just never appealed to me,
until recently.

that's the up side of being exposed to different standards of beauty.
not only does it widen my perspectives, i learnt to appreciate a whole new range of lip products i've never laid eyes upon before.

from my lipstick collection, i picked out these 4 matte products (because the majority are still non-mattes).
they are all drugstore brands (revlon, maybelline and l'oreal) available in singapore.

from left to right: REVLON super lustrous matte / REVLON colorburst matte balm / MAYBELLINE colorsensational bold matte / L'OREAL moist matte

i feel like matte lipsticks aren't that popular in the singapore market because the selection is a lot smaller than other finishes.
but i managed to pick out a few good ones.



REVLON super lustrous matte (010 wine not) is a dark raisin colour, leaning towards a brownish/purplish shade. the lipstick is smooth on my lips and deposits a thin layer of colour that can be built up to my desired intensity in 2 swipes. settles into lip lines easily, works best with a thin layer of lip balm underneath it. not very moisturizing, but i can get 2-3 hours of comfortable wear out of this before reapplication.

REVLON colorburst matte balm (210 unapologetic) is a bright pink, it's closer to coral than hot pink. the lipstick glides extremely smoothly to deposit a generous amount of lipstick, you can probably get full intensity with just one swipe. just beware of getting too much product on as it might end up looking uneven. it doesn't feather, but the product does bunch up. doesn't feel drying, but it will sink into my lip lines after several hours. a complete removal before reapplication is recommended (to prevent overdose of product). thankfully, removing this stuff is as easy as wiping it off.

MAYBELLINE coloursensational bold matte (MAT 3 cheeky coral) is an orange! application is smooth but sheer, even after several swipes the colour fails to build up to the intensity of the bullet. probably works best as a blusher than a lipstick. it's not even a full matte as there's a slight sheen after application. feels more moisturizing than the previous 2 revlon lipsticks though!

L'OREAL moist matte (PR511 spring rosette) is dark dusty pink, even though it looks pretty dark on the swatch above it looks a lot lighter when on my lips (it's probably looking darker when compared to the white tissue) the formulation is perfect, the lipstick glides like butter and deposits just the right amount of products. highly pigmented, even, and moisturizing. it can feel dry after 4 hours and accentuate lip lines beyond that, so it's time to reapply. from memory, i can reapply straightaway without removing the remnants first.

MY FAVOURITE?

this is my ranking:

L'OREAL moist matte > REVLON colorburst matte balm > REVLON super lustrous matte > MAYBELLINE colorsensational bold matte

one thing for sure, my matte lipstick collection is only going to grow.

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MY PLUM/WINE/BURGUNDY LIPSTICKS

Just so happened that they are all from REVLON.

i have a thing for plum/wine/burgundy lipsticks, and i think my collection of such colour will grow in time to come.
it's definitely a colour i would wear any time,
not just reserved for fall or winter.
who am i kidding? there is no fall or winter in singapore!
i wear whatever makes me feel and look good.

wine shades are hard to find among drugstore brands,
this might be the reason why all three that i own belongs to revlon,
since they are the only brand (out of the drugstore brands in singapore) that releases such a colour.

i'll be comparing them against each other in terms of texture, finish, and how i like them.



the three lip products are:

1. SUPER LUSTROUS MATTE (010 WINE NOT)
2. COLORSTAY ULTIMATE SUEDE (035 BACKSTAGE)
3. COLORSTAY MOISTURE STAIN (005 PARISIAN PASSION) 

you can click on link to see more swatches and detailed review of the individual product!



swatches of the respective lipsticks on a piece of white tissue paper


COLOUR AND FINISH:
010 WINE NOT is the darkest of all, leaning on the brownish/purple side. it also has the least red in it. it's a true matte.

035 BACKSTAGE is in the middle, a little more red and less brown as compared to 010 WINE NOT. after it sets, it has a slight sheen to it but doesn't look gloss.

005 PARISIAN PASSION has the most red in it compared to the other two. the finish is downright glossy.

CONSISTENCY AND TEXTURE:
010 WINE NOT glides relatively smoothly and deposits a thin layer of colour on my bare lips with ease. requires building up to amp the intensity of the colour. the bullet is considered hard when compared to the matte balms.
 
035 BACKSTAGE glides too smoothly, resulting in a sheer layer of colour. will require more layers in between the setting time. the bullet is harder than 010 WINE NOT.

005 PARISIAN PASSION is a thick liquid that has a balmy feel, goes on evenly and easily.

MOISTURE LEVEL AND AFTER FEEL:
010 WINE NOT is hydrating for the first few hours, reapplication is necessary to re-hydrate your lips. doesn't have much of an after feel, especially when i smack my lips.
 
035 BACKSTAGE not very hydrating but it doesn't make me feel dry either. has the typical sticky feeling the ultimate suede line has.

005 PARISIAN PASSION most hydrating out of all since it's a liquid. makes my lips feel like cushion the first few hours of wear (until it dried down to nothing). lips can feel dry then.

LONGEVITY:
010 WINE NOT transfers to cups like it's supposed to be married to it. without eating, i get 4-5 hours of wear.

035 BACKSTAGE doesn't transfer to foreign objects, but they do transfer to each other when i smack my lips. without lip smacking or eating, it can last the entire day. but that's unrealistic, so i get about 2 hours of wear out of it because i can't stop smacking my lips.

005 PARISIAN PASSION might have transferred but it's not observable since the liquid just meld into each other. the gloss only stays for 2 hours at most, but the stain stays till next morning!

IN A NUTSHELL:
there're pros and cons to each lipstick. for a habitual lip smacker, i'd say the moisture stain is the best because both the matte and ultimate suede lipstick will result in some transfers between my lips. constantly worrying about whether my lipstick is even or not tires my mind out unnecessarily. but if you're not a lip smacker, you might like the lipsticks more than i do.

so in a very biased ranking, my favourite plum/wine/burgundy lip product:

MOISTURE STAIN (005 PARISIAN PASSION) > SUPER LUSTROUS MATTE (010 WINE NOT) > ULTIMATE SUEDE (035 BACKSTAGE)

HAVE YOU TRIED ANY OF THESE? HOW DO YOU LIKE THEM?

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FAUXFAYC Fauxstix Matte Liquid KULT (Swatch and Review)

Let's get down to the good and bad

FAUXFAYC is a singaporean beauty brand and they sent me the fauxstix matte liquid to try out, and here are my thoughts on the product after using for more than 2 weeks.

before i begin on the swatches, i'd like to take some time to reminisce my first impression of the product. my first impression was so bad - inconsistent number of clicks required to get an adequate amount of products (read: getting too much product), extremely uneven application if i don't do it right, that eerie sense of stickiness that was so familiar to me (think of the revlon ultimate suede). other than the lovely shade, i really couldn't find another reason to give this lipstick a second try.

first impression sucked, hard. but i gave it a second try nonetheless, since i do have to come up with a full review of it. once bitten twice shy certainly doesn't hold in my case.

well, i'm glad i did because once you get to know how to work this product, it'll be one of the best experiences you've ever encountered with a matte lipstick.



PACKAGING:

the first time i took the pen out of the paper packaging and held it in my hands, boy, it felt luxurious. the pen is weighted and feels somewhat dense in my hands. "fancy! this feels luxurious", i thought.

the liquid lipstick come housed in a clicky pen brush applicator. i don't have much successes with such packaging, especially if the product is on the viscous side. it's more like a paste than a liquid in my opinion.

to get the pen started, it took me about 30 clicks (the sound it makes when you twist the end of the pen). and that's not enough, so i lost my patience and did another round of 10 clicks. too much product came out after that. my bad i guess! need to be more patient next time!

it looks a little deeper in the pen than on my lips, and a lot redder in photos!

INGREDIENTS:

doesn't contain nearly as much stuff as the other lip products i have.

COLOUR:

102 KULT is a deep berry red shade. its official swatch looks deeper and more purplish. however on my lips, they take a brighter and redder hint. on photos, they appear even redder (might be the brightness).

source: fauxfayc website

TEXTURE AND FINISH:

the product itself is like a velvet paste when first squeezed out of the pen. it glides on smoothly and it sets into a matte finish after a minute or so.

SCENT:

slightly scented, smells like vanilla to me.

my bare lips (shiny because i exfoliated) versus 2 layers of product.

PIGMENTATION:

the product is extremely pigmented, it is completely opaque and covered my original lip colour within just one coat. getting a few more layers of product will definitely build on the colour to make it deeper and closer to what's in the pen.

simple eye look to complement the lip colour.

LONGEVITY AND WEAR:

the product claims to be a long wear product and it's true. i've worn this out and unless i eat/drink, it doesn't require much touching up at all. even if i do eat, 95% of the colour still remains. however, along the inner part of my lips, some chapping does occur so i do find myself getting rid of everything and reapplying it. i guess i should have done a better job exfoliating my lips prior to my first application. wear time can be up to 8 hours, with not much transfer of colour throughout the entire time. it also does not feather, which is a really good quality.

during my 8 hours of wear, not once did i feel that initial stickiness i experienced during my first impression. i can smack my lips together alright, and my lips doesn't feel dry or tight the entire time. however, after 8 hours of no lip balm, my lips are dry after i removed the lip colour. but you don't be able to feel it while you're still wearing it.

i've blown up the exposure of this photo, hence the lip colour look much lighter and brighter. absolutely love the pairing of a simple eye look with this lips.

in reality it looks something like this! but still i can't capture the true colour of the product very well. it's still more reddish than the official swatch in real life.

VERDICT:

this is definitely a product that requires some tender loving patience as you'll need to learn how to use it. my thoughts about it went from really bad to really good. sometimes it really pays of to try to make something work, even though the chinese saying preaches against trying too hard. i'm a rebel! what to do?

here are a few of my tips to get the fauxstix working in you favour.

1. less is more: start with just a little product and thin layers, then slowly build it up to your desired intensity. i tried a dollop of product at once and it was an uneven mess. i also believe the stickiness arose because i used too much products at one go.

2. be prepared for an explosion of products: i realize it takes some pressure build up to push the product out into the brush part of the pen, it usually takes about 5-15 clicks. i'm not sure if doing 5 clicks slowly is the same as doing it quickly, i'll report again after i tried it. in the even that too much products are deposited, get rid of them on a tissue paper because you really need to layer them up slowly. read point 1.

3. exfoliate your lips really well: this goes for all matte lipsticks. the matte finish WILL accentuate your lip lines and dry skin if you have them. do yourself a favour.

4. make sure your lips are naked: i realize the product doesn't adhere that well to my lips if i have a trace of vaseline/lip balm on my lips. make sure your lips are really naked before dressing it up in this lipstick.

5. give yourself enough time to apply this lipstick: this is definitely not one of those lipstick where you can put it on without a mirror. it took me a lot longer than when i use my usual lipsticks, but let's just say given how long lasting it is, a little more effort at the beginning is well worth the hassle.

all in all, this is a decent product, but probably not an everyday lipstick unless you are used to not applying lip balm throughout the day. i'm a lip balm addict and the texture of my lips after i remove the lipstick just doesn't float my boat very much. it's okay once in a while though ;) MODERATION!!

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GET IT BEAUTY Blind Test #3 Pink Lipstick

Top 3 Pigmented Pink Lipsticks

get it beauty is a korean beauty talk show where they invite experts from the relevant fields to share insights with beauty lovers. one of the things they do is the blind test, and it is what you think it is.

i read that they changed the format slightly this year. instead of pitting random products against each other, they now pit previous year's champion against new challengers.

here is the ranking for pigmented and buttery smooth pink lipsticks!

1. ETUDE HOUSE | DEAR MY WISH LIPSTICK | PK002 | 3.5g | 9500 won

pigmented, hugs your lips perfectly. formulated with vegetable squalane for moisture and shine.

2. LANCOME | L'ABSOLU ROUGE | 368 | 4.2g | 39,000 won 

vivid colour, creamy texture, and very moisturizing.

3. ESTEE LAUDER | PURE COLOR ENVY SHINE LIPSTICK | 480 | 3.4g | 39,000 won

designed to complement asian skin tones, the blue pigments freshens up the face.

4. NARS | AUDACIOUS LIPSTICK | NATALIE | 4.2g | 39,000 won

true to its colour in just one swipe, applies smoothly with matte finish.

5. ESPOIR | LIPSTICK NOWEAR M | PK002 N.Y. PINK | 3.7g | 19,000 won

2014 blind test #1! matte lipstick with soft texture. 

i read that the previous year champion (espoir lipstick) took last place because matte lips aren't trendy anymore. really? i've been wanted to try etude house's lipstick, this ranking just gave me one more reason to try it out.

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Maybelline ColorSensational SoNude - Rosy Rebel (Review and Swatch)

Maybelline ColorSensational SoNude - Rosy Rebel

a light pastel shade that covered my lips in just one swipe! this would be my favourite if they change one thing..

nude lips really hit me hard for a while after my radar picked them up from american makeup looks. while i love bold and vivid colours on my lips, i also see the beauty in soft nudes.

the maybelline colorsensational so nude collection is a set of milky nude colours. as they are mostly pastel shades, they work best on fair skin. if you're familar with maybelline products, the colorsensational line promises vivid colour payoff, and so far, that's true.

i'm not sure if this product line is still available in singapore. i can't seem to find it on their official website anymore. they are available in japan, but under a different name "water shiny milky so nude"


"brighten up pigments and smoothing essence" printed on the plastic sleeve that wraps the lipstick.


i got it in the shade NU34S rosy rebel. initially, i wanted NU36S because it's closer to the nude that i want - a toned down brownish beige.. but it was out of stock. :( so i picked this shade instead.

there are 4 shades in the collection. honestly, they're all so lovely, it was hard for me to choose.

just like the bold matte, none of the product name is actually printed on the outer casing. the holographic effect over the neon pink casing is quite pretty though! the inner plastic casing is the same as the bold matte. this is the first time i'm nitpicking a product for its packaging.


ingredient list! it contains a lot more polymers as compared to the bold matte lipstick, so it's no wonder they have a pretty different feel to it. (hint: i don't really like it)

pretty close to the official swatches huh?

NU34S rosy rebel is a pastel peachy pink. pigmentation is superb, as you can see it pretty much covered my lips entirely with just one layer! it's much redder than what i wanted, but that's okay.

the texture is slightly different from the bold mattes. this glided over my lips easily too, but it has a slightly slick feel to it. they may go on unevenly and requires a few more swipes to even things out.

it does hydrate my lips for the first few hours but that's it.

there is something else i observed - this lipstick seem to be formulated to be long wearing. how so? because it feels exactly the same as the revlon ultimate suede lipsticks, AND I HATE THAT! if you've used the latter, you'd know the lipstick will set and form a film over your lips. a very uncomfortable plastic film that reminds me of its presence on my lips every single time i speak or do something. on the bright side, it does cling onto my skin throughout the entire day. there was one time when i applied this lipstick on in the morning, then i went out and forgot to bring the lipstick with me so there's no way i can reapply it. i tried removing it with my tissue but it just won't work. at the end of the day, my lips had patches of the lipstick still on, and my poor lips were totally parched. :(

IMHO

i am pleasantly surprised by the pigmentation, because most pastel products usually end up sheer and thinned out. but not these. they covered my original lip colour in one setting and it definitely could have been my favourite pastel lipstick if not for the fact that it sets into that yucky plastic film. it makes smacking my lips hard, and i become self conscious about smacking my lips because i know i'll risk bunching the products together (my experience with the revlon ultimate suede. it was so sticky!!!).

to maybelline, you did a good job on the pigments, but the formulation could have been better. i'd rather it do without that "long wear" thing. i don't mind reapplying my lipsticks at all! i have to, because no lipstick can provide me with hydration for a straight 8 hours anyway.

if you love revlon's ultimate suede, these may be the thing for you. it's just not my cup of tea.

it's kind of a blessing in disguise that the NU36S was out of stock, because now i can continue my hunt for that colour. i'm looking at the loreal color riche because i love the formulation to death.

i purchased this lipstick for SGD$17.90 when it was having a one for one promotion.

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