Revlon Lacquer Balm

My Go-To Spring/Summer “Lipsticks”

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I really should know myself well enough by now that expecting to easily be able to narrow down my favourite lip products to five would be a arduous and somewhat impossible task but I led myself into the misguided belief that it would be easy. Five or six lists later, I’ve narrowed myself down to eight staple summer lip products and believe it or not, this required a good amount of contemplation and deliberation; at first I had ten bold shades as well as ten everyday shades so this is a pared-down list in my mind, regardless of how it may appear to others.

Revlon Colorburst Lacquer Balm in Demure ($9-10 CDN)

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I figured I would start from the most muted and sheer of shades and work myself up in intensity and brightness and this one is the most muted and close to my natural lip colour. The forgiving hydrating balm crayon is almost a dead-ringer for my go-to sheer my-lips-but-better hue MAC Patisserie and I’ve been going for the more affordable option in its place. It may lean slightly more pink but it remains a sheer warm-pink glossy hue with some subtle brown undertones that keep it wearable. For me, this is that shade that I can slap on without a mirror and not have to worry about the state of my lips when I’m applying it — if you’re a sufferer of chapped lips, this formula is excellent. It’s balmy formula isn’t particularly long wearing, lasting on the lips for three hours or so but it’s low-fuss so I don’t tend to mind.

MAC Kinda Sexy Lipstick ($19 CDN)

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I’ve you’ve read any of my posts in the last couple of days, I’m sure you are aware of the instant love that I felt for this flattering matte lipstick. Although I do tend to find the expression moderately off-putting, this is another my-lips-but-better shade on my pale lips but in comparison to the former the formula is much more opaque and leans much peachier and a little bit darker. The shade remains in the nude family but adds some colour to my lips and is just dark enough to stain my lips for hours on end without leaving any problems traditionally associated with matte lipsticks. This one has impressive longevity for such a muted shade and can withstand mild to moderate eating and drinking. This shade might be new to me but my love for it is so strong that I couldn’t leave it out.

Revlon Colorstay Moisture Stain in Milan Moment ($14-16 CDN)

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When you’re someone who frequently suffers with irritated chapped lips, the word “stain” in the name of a lip product can easily leave you running for the hills but I’m pleased to report that this isn’t one to run from with it’s balmy formula. The neutral muted-tangerine hue first comes out sheer but is easily buildable, gliding over dry patches with a moisturizing feel but then after the non-sticky glossy sensation wears off, a subtle stain remains. Not only do I love the easy formula (and lovely applicator) of this one, the shade straddles the line of neutral and bright, adding some colour to the face without being overwhelming or dramatic in the slightest.

L’Oreal Colour Caresse in Sunset Angora ($11-12 CDN)

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I’ve said it before and I’m sure countless others have done so before me but nevertheless, the formula of this one is an improved more-balmy-less-waxy version of the ever-popular Revlon Lip Butters. The shade is a flattering sheer-but-buildable pink-tinged coral that I find instantly brightens the complexion. The hydrating balmy formula is effortless but can still pack a punch of colour. The only thing that would improve this balm-lipstick hybrid product would be the elimination of that floral scent – and perhaps a slightly lower pricetag. I apologize for the state of the tube of this one, by the way.

MAC Sweet & Sour Lipstick ($19 CDN)

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I might not love the cremesheen formula of this one – but I don’t detest it either — but I adore this almost pastel-toned corally salmon pink hue. It’s not the most flattering colour if you’re trying to make your teeth look whiter and its not the most forgiving but this is one of those fun and exciting shades that are appropriate for everyday and it does last for a good amount of time without drying out the lips.

Fresh Sugar Tinted Lip Treatment in Cherry ($26 CDN)

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There aren’t many “tinted balms” that actually serve to hydrate and nourish the lips whilst providing colour but this one does all that and a bag of chips. The true Cherry hue is flattering, starting out sheer but easily building in opacity and can work even on the driest of lips. This shade  is a perfect one for when you’re not wearing loads of makeup as it instantly makes it look like you tried- and doesn’t sweat off, either.

Rimmel Apocalips Lip Lacquer in Stellar ($8 CDN)

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For such an easy comfortable formula that applies easily with the wand and lasts for ages on the lips — six hours! — whilst providing impressively opaque payoff, the colour range is rather disappointing in these, however my favourite bold non-red lip has to be this punchy pink-coral. It may not be a shade that I reach for the most frequently but Stellar is my favourite bold but flattering fun shade. This is one of those dramatic shades that instantly perks up my face, flattering my warm undertones and doesn’t require much effort – plus it’s flattering enough that I don’t feel that I have to work up the courage to wear it with any sort of confidence. I have been known to wear this one in the dead of winter as well and that shows some adoration on my part; punchy corals don’t exactly scream winter, if you catch my drift…

Rimmel Kate Moss Lasting Finish Matte Lipstick in 110 Kiss of Life ($7-8 CDN)

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I’m a red lipstick girl, through and through, so I couldn’t resist putting in a true vibrant one and this one has to be my favourite. It’s almost a neutral red, bright in the same way as the lovely-but-uber-drying MAC Ruby Woo, but with a slight hint of orange to it. It lasts a good five or six hours through moderate eating and drinking, ranking along with the best of the best but the formula is easier to apply and it neither highlights dry patches or wreaks any sort of havoc on my generally roughed-up lips. Speaking of Ruby Woo, it’s quite similar at a fraction of the price, if you’re asking me. This isn’t a strictly summer shade and eight staple products may seem a bit excessive but I couldn’t write this post without the inclusion of this one.

I’d love to know your favourite warm-weather lip products, so oblige me – PLEASE!
Maggie, x.

 

The Beauty Bargain: The Revlon Colorburst Lacquer Balms

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This might be surprising but as far as I’m aware, I haven’t given the Revlon Colorburst Lacquer Balms ($9-10) the credit (through rambling form, of course) that they deserve; I mean I’ve mentioned before that I love them but they really are among the best of the best formulas in my opinion and I wear them constantly. Of all three of the Revlon lip pencils, they are easily the most moisturizing and forgiving on the lips along with having the most subtle mint-induced tingly sensation on the lips that can irritate some. The formula of these strikes me as a slightly amped-up version of the MAC Lustre’s in pigment with the same general characteristics — buildable pigmentation, actual hydrating quality on the lips and forgiving texture. The darker shades of the Revlon offering might have more longevity than the MAC options as well and they tend to be much more pigmented to boot! The brighter/deeper shades that I have do tend to stain the lips slightly and wear for a good 4-5 hours through some light drinking but nothing too strenuous the lighter shade that I have wears more at the 3-4 hour range but this doesn’t bother me as these lip products are so low-maintenance and fuss-free.

Others seem to complain about the visible shimmer/glitter found in these shades, especially as the colour of the product wears off, but I only notice the flecks in my lightest shade, 105 Demure, and even then I don’t find the flecks to be overly noticeable or problematic. Being one of the paler shades in the lineup, this one has the least pigmentation — beginning with sheer payoff but buildable to medium opacity — but at the same time it’s one of those foolproof natural-looking hues. It reminds me a great deal of my lipstick love, MAC Patisserie, but it has slightly more pink in it and a bit less brown but it doesn’t lean pink in the slightest, allowing those like me who cannot pull of pink usually to wear it in a flattering way.

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120 Vivacious is a stunning punchy fuschia shade with some corally undertones to it but in all honesty I wear it the least because it’s such a statement lip on me – It pulls bolder than Ruby Woo on me! — but it is a stunning one and doesn’t resemble a cool-toned pink in the slightest. Along with the next shade, there is no sheerness to the opacity in this one by any means – without compromising its balmy texture, the lip crayon gives off vibrant payoff.

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150 Enticing is easily the shade I’ve talked the most about as it was the one that was my gateway into the formula and I’ve had it since last year and this isn’t just by chance; it’s a neutral-toned deep red that seems to suit my colouring to a t. Because it’s a deeper hue, it doesn’t have the same dramatic punch that brighter shades do without stepping into vampy kind of territory and it seems to be that effortless dark lip. It’s certainly more of a Fall/Winter kind of shade but I’m known to wear it throughout other seasons…

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Have you tried any of these – what were your thoughts?
Maggie, x.

 

Lip Product Addict Tag

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I was certainly not tagged to do this tag and I’m aware that it was originally created as a video by the lovely Estee (of essiebutton) and Amelia (of Liana Beauty) so I’m taking a few liberties here but after reading/watching more than a few of these, I couldn’t resist doing this one so here goes:

1. Favourite balm or treatment?

Although it’s not strictly a balm intended for use on chapped lips, the best repairing treatment for my chapped sensitive lips is easily the La Roche-Posay Cicaplast Baume B5($16 CDN), which is a thick cream-textured product that aims to soothe sensitized, irritated and itchy skin all over the body (lips included) and works the best to soothe chapped flaky lips than anything else I’ve tried. It’s not something that has the ideal texture etc. for putting on before lipstick as it’s a cream and looks white on the lips but it’s definitely worth the impracticality- and it contains more than emollient ingredients, formulated with anti-bacterial ingredients and concentrated vitamin B5.

2. Best eye-catching red?

With its abundant praise in recent years, the uber-drying vibrant scarlet-red lipstick with slight blue undertones, MAC Ruby Woo($19 CDN)has been rewarded status as the bog-standard classic red but despite that it is my absolute favourite when I’m going for that bright red statement lip. When paired with some simple liner and standard shadow and mascara, the bold lip offering looks stunning and compliments my warm-toned fair skin. I’m not normally a fan of drying lipsticks but this one lasts like no other and does not slide around whilst not highlighting lip imperfections. In my opinion, this is a stunning red especially if you have yellow or olive undertones — I’m certainly not olive but my friend is and it looks stunning on her as well!

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3. Best luxury and drugstore?

My lipstick hoarding problem or obsession of sorts is actually a fairly recent one and in light of this, I don’t own too many truly luxury  lip products — MAC excluded — but I do love the Fresh Sugar Lip Treatment in Cherry ($26 CDN), as it provides impressive colour payoff, legitimate nourishment, texture and longevity. Although these are marketed as glorified tinted lip balms, this one actually provides the hydration of a balm whilst delivering pretty-much opaque payoff that lasts on the lips for hours. I need more of these in the interest of research of course…

I’ve had many more drugstore lip product discoveries in my lipstick hoarding life so this was a more difficult choice to make but when it came down to it, the Revlon Lacquer Balm in Enticing($9-10 CDN) comes out on top on all fronts — the deep-red with neutral undertones, a rather autumnal or wintry shade, provides impressive pigmentation and longevity while being effortless to use and not only comfortable on the lips but also slightly hydrating. If you’re someone who suffers with dry flaky lips like yours truly, I highly recommend giving these a go.

I now realize that the two look similar so I’ll clarify: the Fresh is on the left and the Revlon is on the right below:

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4. Best MAC Lipstick?

Ugh, this is such a difficult one as MAC’s lipsticks are truly among the most loved in my collection but this one had to go to MAC Patisserie Lipstick($19 CDN)as it is that no-fuss perfect everyday shade that I can slap on without a mirror (or any sort of thinking capacity) and always looks good. The lustre formula ensures that it is actually hydrating on the lips and has a sheerness to it and shade-wise it can only be described as a warm-toned dark pink-nude with some brown undertones to it. It’s that cliched my-lips-but-better shade on me and for this I adore it.

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5. Most disappointing?

Although I wouldn’t describe the Revlon Lip Butters as a necessarily bad product – in fact, I like a couple of them – but I do not believe that they hold up to the hype that surrounds them. I don’t find that they feel lightweight on the lips and offer moisture like a balm. While they aren’t particularly drying on the lips, these are lacking in terms of hydration on the lips and have a waxy consistency that can actually highlight dry patches and texture on the lips.

6. Liner?

I don’t have much experience on the liner front and the ones that I have tried thus far have failed to impress me so I would have to stick with precision lip brush application to master the shape when I’m bothered or am applying a bold lip.

7. Best Gloss?

I really really detest lip gloss as a whole — in fact, it’s why I wasn’t crazy about lip products in the past. I hated that whole heavy sticky feeling of lip gloss so much that I was put off but I have to say that I do like the L’Oreal L’Extraordinaire Liquid Lipstick in Nude Ballet ($12 CDN). The lipstick-gloss hybrid feels lightweight on the lips and is somewhat nourishing, gliding easily over uneven texture on the lips. Nude Ballet is a gorgeous nude with warm pink-brown undertones, in the same vein of Patisserie that offers rather impressive pigmentation. Too bad about the typical L’Oreal scent if you know what I mean…

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8. Something extra!

I couldn’t write this post without giving a mention to the Rimmel Kate Moss Lasting Finish Lipsticks after mentioning the Revlon Lacquer Balms above but as much as I like the formula of the matte offerings, I actually have come to prefer the original Rimmel Kate Moss Lasting Finish Lipstick in 08 ($7-8 CDN),housed in the black packaging despite the rather brown and ‘mature’ feel to the hue. For one, this formula is extremely comfortable to wear and forgiving on the lips, lasts a good while and the scent is much more appealing — rather than having that candy-smell that Rimmel stays true to, there’s vanilla thrown into the mix with this one. I love the formula so I have to try more of these but I have been enjoying this shade when applied with a lip brush as it doesn’t come out as masking and brown but rather as a flattering neutral shade that is slightly darker than my natural lip.

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I probably shouldn’t be as surprised as I am by how wording this post is but I doubt you’ve come to expect anything else. If you’ve done this tag or plan on doing so, I would love it if you commented the link below so I could check it out!

Maggie, x.

Revlon Lip Crayons

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I was counting on putting up a monthly roundup post yesterday but things have gotten out of hand and I wanted to catch up on a review kind of post that I’ve been hinting at and meaning to get around to for longer than it should have taken to get up- a roundup post will happen in the next few days if you were wondering, though.

With all of the buzz lately surrounding the new Revlon Matte and Lacquer Balms – the matte ones especially – we tend to forget about Revlon’s original lip crayon, the Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stains that have been out for a year or two. I certainly did, that’s for sure.

The Revlon Balm Stain in Romantic was not the first somewhat bold lipstick in my stash because I had already purchased the MAC Sail La Vie orange-red shade for prom but this was my first somewhat bold lip love and I don’t know why it hasn’t appeared here before. The minty smell and sensation of the product comes from Menthol and this doesn’t cause issues for me unless my sensitive lips are in an awful state – menthol is an irritating on the lips, if you weren’t aware. Out of the three, this one is neither the least or the most irritating and it’s my second favourite of the formulas. Although the payoff at first is sheerer, it builds up on the lips and lasts impressively well with it’s staining power through moderate eating and drinking while being comfortable on the lips and not drying them out in the least. I have the shade Romantic which was the most obviously red kind of shade, but with a warm brick lean to it that becomes more pronounced when applied. I can get a good five hours out of this one unless I’m eating something ridiculously oily or greasy, which is impressive considering the little maintenance that the lip crayon offers – I’ve rediscovered my love for this product recently, if you couldn’t tell.

Despite what my blog might suggest, I’m not usually one to go against the pack for the sake of being different but the Matte Balms that seem to be everyone’s favourite are my least favourite of the three but are a really nice lip product nevertheless. The matte formula isn’t that matte, it’s comfortable to wear but they have more of that irritating tingly sensation from the mint than either of the others and can emphasize the dry patches and flakes in the lips. The shade I have is Mischievous, and I can’t speak for the rest of the shades, but in this tangerine shade at least, there is opaque pigmentation and impressive four hours of wear, on average.

Although it has the worst longevity of the three, 4 hours for the dark staining shade (but I would expect 3-4 for the line as a whole), the Revlon Lacquer Balms are my favourite formula of the three. The shade I have is Enticing,a deep red with neutral undertones, for reference. The pigmentation is as good as the matte balms but they do not emphasize lip imperfections, they wear evenly on the lips and are actually hydrating on the lips. Although these have the least minty feeling out of the balms, I can feel it on my lips and I wonder if it could possibly be slightly irritating over time but the minty-ness isn’t particularly bothersome overall. I’ve had this shade since November and I can say that it’s gotten lots of wear since. It feels slightly balmier on the lips than both of the other offerings but I do like all three, all in all. For $9-10 CDN, these low-maintenance lip colours cannot be beaten.

Revlon Kissable Balm Stain in Enticing
Revlon Kissable Balm Stain in Romantic
Revlon Lacquer Balm in Enticing
Revlon Lacquer Balm in Enticing
Revlon Matte Balm in Mischevious
Revlon Matte Balm in Mischevious

What are your thoughts on these crayons? Which formula is your favourite?

Maggie, x.