The Makeup Box

YSL Rouge Pur Couture Varnis a Levres Glossy Stains (Swatches, Review)

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With Chanel’s Rouge Allure Laque being out of stock globally, this seemed like the next best thing, especially as it’s a rather innovative formula designed to be transfer-resistant.

Long-wearing glosses tend to be stickier, thicker and generally more uncomfortable to wear than regular glosses. Plus, they do still kiss off on anything and everything, so I never really got the point aside from the fact that some formulas marry high pigmentation with shine.

YSL Rouge Pur Couture Glossy Stains are a new breed of glosses that promise to be something different, and I must admit a line of lightweight, pigmented glosses that actually stay on and feel comfortable on the lips sounded a bit too good to be true.

So on my recent trip to the States, I picked up a couple of shades at Sephora.

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Verdict? 

These are great, and I would pick these over Chanel Laques (or ANY other high-end gloss currently on the market) in a heartbeat. Unfortunately, YSL Beaute is not readily available in many countries.

The texture is very interesting because it’s like jello; extremely light and cool to the touch when applied. If you’ve ever used Make Up For Ever Face and Body foundation, you’ll know what I mean about a gel-like  product that thins out into a watery texture during application. 

The best thing is how comfortable it is to wear. I don’t get gloopy bits congealing in the corners of my mouth, and it doesn’t feel heavy.

This product will “set” after application, but NOT completely, so while the color and shine can survive a full meal and drinks quite well, you can still wipe everything off with a tissue and some pressure. The color does seep into lines a little, so I don’t suggest applying more than 2 coats or it will start to get very patchy and uneven-looking.

The pigmentation is medium, so you’re not going to get opaque coverage but the color will definitely be strong.

I’ve been able to wear this for half a day without any touch-ups until after a big meal, so while this is really expensive, I expect one tube will last you quite awhile unless you keep reapplying.

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The 2 shades I bought were the two medium pinks; 15 Rose Vinyl (warm petal-pink) and 17 Encre Rose (light mauve-pink). All available shades are non-shimmery.

One note when you’re shopping in the stores though; the colors do stain your lips a little, so the product will wear a tone or two deeper than they look straight from the tube. 

The packaging is pretty lightweight as it’s actually plastic, but the window helps you identify shades quickly, and watch your product levels. The only problem is they’re a little square and bulky if you want to stuff them into a slim little pouch to bring around.

These go for US$32 and are available in select Sephoras and DFS’s around the world.

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P.S. Maybelline Super Stay 24 Hr Gloss Stains are NOT the same thing though they sound like they might be. The color range and performance is very different, although they are both gloss stains. If you are on a tight budget and like non-sticky glosses, those are ok to pick up, but you won’t find lighter, creamier colors (they all go on quite deep) and they also don’t stay on very well compared to these.

Lip Gloss for the Lipstick Girl? (Lime Crime Carousel Gloss Swatches and Review)

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[Carousel Glosses: (L-to-R) Loop-de-Loop, Kaleidoscope, Candy Apple, Cherry on Top, and Golden Ticket]

I used to be a gloss lover before I got into blogging. I loved it for the same reason most girls love lip glosses. The versatility and low maintenance, and how it juices up your pout with subtle color and shimmer.

Well, there-in lies the problem which I discovered the MOMENT I tried to do lip swatches for a blog post. In stronger lighting and zoom, half of them looked like a smattering of barely-there shimmer over clear gloss. The difference was quite minimal, and I finally understood why “signature lip colors” are mostly lipsticks. In real life, with most of the generic shades around, nobody else can really tell one pink gloss from the other on your lips (or a peach one to tell the truth). 

So in the past year, I’ve pretty much stopped using colored glosses on their own.

*IMPORTANT NOTE BEFORE READING FURTHER: Now, a lot of people seem to have misinterpreted what I meant by “single-coat”. I mean I did not wear liner, and I did not blot and apply a second layer of gloss on top of the first. (I have a tutorial for how to do that as well.) I have never said OR meant to mislead anyone into thinking I applied such a thick coat of gloss using a couple of simple swipes with the brushes included, which I do mention I don’t really like. It was probably my fault for the choice of words and not being a lot more specific.

And I feel the need to clarify the point considering LC seems to inspire so much targeted anger among some members of the net community, and there are so many people who are overly eager to villify anyone who doesn’t share a very negative opinion of the company.

[Lime Crime Carousel Gloss, boxed. Reminds me of European chocolate pastilles!]

Dear all, I was so wrong. 

[Carousel Lip Gloss swatches: (L-to-R) Loop-de-Loop, Kaleidoscope, Candy Apple, Cherry on Top, and Golden Ticket]

I tried to capture the sheen, intensity, opacity and texture of the glosses as best as I could here. And yes, honey, they do go on that strong, but you need to really pack on the product in order to get some of the dark shades to look even, which might be a little impractical if you need to talk, eat, drink.

The closer comparison would probably be to MAC’s Dare to Wear Lipglasses from 2010 in more outlandish shades, but I don’t own any of those so I can’t really compare.

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General ease of use:

This is not the type of lip gloss you smear on half-drunk in a club toilet with shaky hands and no mirror. They come with smaller, firmer, short-bristle brushes as you need a lot of precision as ANY slips and smears will show up against your skin.

I was disappointed that 2 of the 5 brush applicators came “splayed” when brush hairs were pushed up the wrong way during the packing process. (As you know, those stragglers are impossible to bend back into shape, so I ended up using cuticle scissors to cut off the renegade strands, and they work fine now.) Would prefer maybe a flexible silicone spatula if the brushes can’t go in properly, but that’s just me! If you need more control than the small brush gives, just apply a lot of gloss in the center of you lips and then spread and smooth it out with your own lip brush.

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Texture:

These glosses are very thick, which is probably necessary if you want to combine high sheen and high pigmentation. In fact, they’re more like liquid lipsticks than real glosses. You’ll have to be your own judge whether these are “sticky” though, since the term is so subjective and different for everyone. I find them less sticky than MAC Clear Lipglass or Dazzleglasses, but definitely thicker than the runnier Cremesheen Glasses.

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Now the fun part: How do these look on the lips?

Lip swatch: Single coat* Loop-de-Loop worn over bare lips. 

The dark horse for me was Loop-de-Loop. I figured there was no way blue lip gloss could look good on me but this deep, metallic royal-blue shade has turned out to be surprisingly charming and flattering on my yellow-based skin. But then this is totally not a color I would normally wear at all. No staining experienced.

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Lip swatch: Single coat* of Golden Ticket over bare lips.

As expected, Golden Ticket is one of the most fun and interesting shades in the collection. It actually goes on a deeper than it appears in the tube, as it’s a warm bronze base with a yellow-gold sheen, rather than a pure gold. Like Loop-de-Loop, it’s pretty but extremely outlandish compared to normal lip colors. No staining experienced.

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Lip swatch: Single coat* of Kaleidoscope worn over bare lips.

If I had to, I’d say this is probably my least favorite of the Carousel glosses. It’s not a bad shade at all, but it takes a bit more work than the other 4 shades as the color goes on a little less evenly and areas of your lips will look more plum, and others more violet. But that’s really being critical, as you can get around that simply by wearing a deep purple or plum liner beneath, to get a gorgeous deep purple shade. No staining experienced.

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Lip swatch: Single coat* of Cherry on Top worn over bare lips, with flash.

Bright fuchsia-red without any metallic pigments, so it’s more of a dense, hot-pink, jelly base with micro-flecks shot through. This is definitely warm-toned, and looks like a maraschino cherry color when worn on the lips. I initially thought I’d like Candy Apple the best, but Cherry on Top has turned out to be much more wearable for day time, and I’ve been giving it a bit of love.

Try if you don’t want to wear a straight red, but don’t like pinks! Stains lips pink.

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Lip swatch: Single coat* of Candy Apple on top of bare lips

I’ll probably have to do a separate post on this particular one because the camera is just not doing it justice! This is a rich red-on-red-on-red gloss with plenty of sparkle which is just not showing up here. Think of Dorothy’s shoes in Wizard of Oz. It’s extremely flattering to wear but much more dramatic-looking in real life. Stains lips a deep pink/red.

To get the effect in Lime Crime’s promotional images though, you will probably need to layer this over a deep red lipstick or liner as it does not go on that dark over pink/beige lips.

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Carousel Glosses are available until end of February at Limecrimemakeup.com.

The New “It” Lip: Tangerine Lipstick

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According to Allure magazine, the new “It” shade for lips in Spring/Summer 2012 is Tangerine. 

Well, let me just say first that orange is not a color I ever liked on its own. But it somehow looks so gorgeous and so much more bold on the lips than red or coral! 

Sometimes, you just want something loud, but nice. 

ONE WORD OF CAUTION!

Please trim your beards, ladies. 

This shade can make any hairs or blue-based discolorations around your lips look more obvious, so make sure you check (even if you don’t think you have a visible mustache). If you have genetic discolorations around your lips, you may have to use a peach-toned corrector under your powder or concealer.

[Arielle Vandenberg in tangerine lipstick]

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Options:

For drugstore ranges, there is L’oreal Volanic Lipstick (which I’ve read about but never seen in stores. If you can get hold of one, swatch it and reply to this post please!) There’s also Milani 42 Mandarina which is quite close to MAC Morange but maybe a touch redder.

From the higher end brands, there is the ever-fabulous MAC Morange, as well as the more daring My Beautiful Rocket from Lime Crime. Both have quite a similar creamy texture and are highly pigmented.

In the lip swatch photo (NC25 skin), you can see the differences in the 2 shades. These are definitely not “just coral”. They are really and truly orange. Morange has a bit more coral thrown in, so it’s good for those who have more red/pink in their skin tones, or are a bit new to this whole “tangerine lip” thing and don’t quite dare to go all-out yet.

My Beautiful Rocket is the more unapologetic orange, and more of a statement lip because it’s noticeably less red than most other orange lipsticks on the market. If you want lips like below, a more red-toned alternative is just not going to cut it.

Either way, put either of these shades on and watch everyone’s eyes pop when they catch sight of your face!

Tips and Tricks for wearing dark berry/plum lipsticks

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Someone messaged me to ask about how to wear dark berry/plum/purple-toned lipsticks, specifically NYX Very Berry and NYX Eggplant. NYX Eggplant is quite an odd and unique shade (pearlescent deep purple with grey tones), so I’ll break this post into 3 parts.

1. Eyeshadows to wear with a dark creme berry/brown (NYX Very Berry)

2. Eyeshadows to wear with a dusky grey purple (NYX Eggplant)

3. General Application options

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Eyeshadows

Since most people will usually go for a rich prune shade like Very Berry, I did a “swatch flower” using Revlon Raisin Rage, which is very similar to Very Berry which I don’t own. You can more easily check how a shade looks against the color in the center.

(I’m not going to list neutral beige-browns and black because those go with pretty much any lip color, so I’m going to just list alternatives to those.)

Starting from the top, and running clock-wise.

1. A pale duochrome ivory-gold: This looks beautiful contrasted with a dark lip. It brigtens up your eye area without overpowering or taking attention away from the lip. Options: MAC Vanilla pigment (not shadow), Lime Crime Nymph, The Body Shop Eye Shimmer #02 Gold.
2. A soft champagne beige: Slightly less low-key. This is the kind of shade that will allow you to rock that dark lip in more conservative environments. (Well, I would anyway.) You can get this color ANYWHERE, so just run down to the nearest drugstore. If you want to check out alternatives, try: I Nuovi Metallogy in Champagne, NYX Champagne, or MAC Jest
3. Rich copper sparkle: I don’t like wearing bright coppers usually because I feel it makes my eyes look swollen, but this is the one product that I DO like. MAC Copper Sparkle pigment is not really an eyeshadow pigment. It comes in tiny flecks like crushed metal foil, so you need to use a base and clean off any fallouts, but once it’s on, it’s gorgeous.
4. Soft Silver/Ash: A touch more dramatic than a pale yellow gold, because silver contrasts more with the deep prune-brown. Good if you want a more noticeable look, but don’t want to go overboard with the eyes. MAC Cyber from the Metal X Collection is a true silver, while Palladium (swatched here) will look good if silver is too stark on you and you want more warmth.
5. True Purple: If you really want more drama, I personally prefer purple in combination with a dark brown/plum-toned lip. This in no way means you can’t wear other bright colors, but it might feel like a bit too much for some people. Try Urban Decay Ecstasy (shimmery rich purple-plum), MAC Vibrant Grape (deeper low-sheen purple) or for max drama, Lime Crime Empress (strong, incandescent royal-purple)

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NYX Eggplant Lipstick

Eggplant is a shimmery, sheer dusky purple with grey undertones, so it’s not a commonly-worn color. The fun and foolproof way is to pick an eye shadow that has matching tones such as NYX Eggplant eye shadow and to make sure you darken your lashes with liner and/or mascara.

If you want a more dramatic look, I have a tutorial for another purple-grey lipstick, Lime Crime Chinchilla, which would work for Eggplant, but this is a more dramatic eye since Chinchilla is paler and more grey than Eggplant, so leave out Step 4 if you try this! (Tip: The deeper the lipstick, the “smaller” the eye makeup.)

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General Lipstick Application Options:

This applies for both a creme shade like NYX Very Berry, as well as a shimmery lip like NYX Eggplant.

I always suggest starting by first “cleaning up” the edges of your lip with flesh-colored lip primer, some concealer or foundation that matches your skin tone. This covers any discolorations some of us have around the lip line. Just make sure to smooth away any excess product and leave the thinnest layer on the lips, or it could mix with your lipstick and change the color.

1. Full-on: Apply a layer of lipstick, kiss a sheet of tissue, then go in with a matching dark berry/plum liner to really define the edges clearly. Then go back in with another layer of lipstick. At this point, you can decide to leave it or apply a layer of clear gloss for more drama.
2. “Ripe”/Stained: Apply a layer of lipstick, kiss a sheet of tissue, apply clear lip balm or gloss, and then go in with the lipstick just in the center of the lips, and press your lips together to blend out a little. This takes more work to touch up and maintain though!

Barry M 62 Vibrant Pink Review and Swatches: Lime Crime Countessa Fluorescent Dupe!

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I’ve always considered Lime Crime’s Countessa Fluorescent the Queen of Barbie Pinks. It’s different from hot electric pinks and fuchsias like MAC’s Candy Yum Yum in that it is a truer pink (as opposed to blue-based), not as deep, and almost highlighter-bright on the lips. 

Imagine my delight when my Barry M package included one that was extremely similar in shade. 
 Meet Barry M Vibrant Pink (left) and Lime Crime Countessa Fluorescent (right).
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Barry M Vibrant Pink is something of a satin finish (similar to MAC Pink Nouveau), which means it is opaque and tacky, with a muted sheen - which I love. This is my favorite texture of all MAC lipsticks because it imparts great color, lasts really long, but doesn’t feel as dry as a full matte lipstick.

Swatch comparison; Lime Crime Countessa Fluorescent (left) and Barry M 62 Vibrant Pink (right)

The right side of my hand is a little more shaded, or the two swatches would look even more similar. I was quite surprised to realize the Barry M was actually more opaque and intense than the Lime Crime, which is more of a creamy Amplified finish. If you like demi-matte finishes that last a long while, get Barry M Vibrant Pink. If you want a bit more moisture, get Lime Crime Countessa Fluorescent.

The other difference is also that if you want to be really picky about it, the Barry M is just a hint deeper and more cool-toned. But just worn on the lips individually, the difference is not visible at all.

Barbie Pink vs Hot Pink: Barry M Lip Paints in 62 Vibrant Pink (left) and 52 Shocking Pink (right).

Just for purposes of comparison, here is Barry M’s Vibrant Pink swatched against Barry M  Shocking Pink, the widely-acknowledged Candy Yum Yum dupe. As you can see, Vibrant Pink is more lustrous and reflective, whereas Shocking Pink is a deeper, cooler-based, more intense matte-pink. 


Do note that all the neon pinks do stain the lips, without exception. (If you’ve found any of these neon pinks that don’t stain, let me know!) I believe it’s the nature of the liquid dyes needed to get that intense highlighter-pink effect, as more subdued pinks I own, like MAC Pink Nouveau, do not do this.
 
The main drawback for this lip shade? It can make teeth look dull and yellow, so watch out there!

Barry M Vibrant Pink can be purchased internationally on Barrym.com for £4.49 each.