1P2L: Pencil Eyeliner with Glossier Colorslide + Glossier Play Mini-Reviews

Like most beauty bloggers, I assumed Glossier was about due for a "more full-on" makeup range, and I figured Glossier Play would be it. When they launched a range that prompted some excitement and a slew of criticisms, my initial feelings toward the four new cosmetics and two new tools were relatively mild. Yes, I was excited for the highlighters, but my reaction to highlighters is as instinctual and simple as my two-year-old niece's response to french fries. The lack of professional swatches on multiple skintones--something Glossier has been relatively good about for the past few years--leads me to believe that the launch was a little rushed.

All of this said, I received a slew of Instagram messages and emails when this line was announced, so clearly there's been some hype and interest surrounding the range. And frankly, a fun, colorful cache of products I could buy with the store credit you lovely people have earned me (thanks!) couldn't have at come at a better time. Between Kirby fighting a nasty bout of shingles and me being whacked with the depression hammer, the first half of March reminded me just how important fun and relaxation are.

Now, a lot of people have complained that this launch doesn't suit the "Glossier look." I can't entirely agree. For starters, there's a reason why they're launching these products under a sub-brand: they know it's not their usual no-makeup-makeup. But more importantly, this strikes me as "cool girl" party makeup, the kind of stuff naturally pretty people slap on their faces when they go out and want to try something a little different. None of it is designed for precise cut creases or stage-worthy Instaglam looks, and in my opinion, that's very Glossier.

There's also been a lot of debate about the design and environmental impact of these products. This delightful post from Auxiliary Beauty sums up most of my feelings about this. I'll add that I thought the 1970s-as-seen-by-Y2K-teenagers fonts and boxes were very cute. They hit me right in the "oh fuck that was middle school" nostalgia. However, like most people, I think wrapping each product in an extra piece of foil, then putting in to a box, is a wee bit excessive. It's also suspicious to me that Glossier claims they spent two years preparing this brand, yet they didn't think to use biodegradable glitter. Their consumer base is almost all Gen Z and Millenials, and we're groups that tend to worry about climate change and plastic consumption. To their credit, Glossier has listened to the criticisms; they will phase out the foil packets and plan on reformulating their products with biodegradable glitter.

Since I'm ranting, may I also point out that Glossier is STILL doing that "this is so unique and there's nothing like it" marketing, and it just doesn't work for them? Colorful pencil eyeliners and glitter gel have been around for decades, but they're releasing ad copy like this:

For the millionth time: there are more marketing tactics than the appeal to novelty. Customers like me are drawn to how easy and effortless Glossier's range is, and some are drawn to the "cool factor." But I'm not seeing a single, not-a-Glossier-rep person gushing over how "new" and "original" these products are. Play to your strengths, Glossier.

Enough complaining; let's get on to the swatches, looks, and reviews!

As mentioned, Glossier Play was launched with four new makeup products and two tools. The first makeup product is Colorslide, a range of colorful eyeliners. I got five shades: Adult Swim and Disaster Class for day-to-day wear, and Early Girl, Nectar, and Jumbo for experimentation and fun. All of these shades are matte, but there are metallic colors in the range, if that's more your gig. The Colorslide pencils are $15 each.

I've also sharpened them with the Blade sharpener. I get that a sharpener isn't something most people are going to lose their shit over, but this is a pretty nice one at an agreeable $4. It comes with a purple "cleaning stick" that you can twist in the sharpener to clean out the blade.

Next, we have those not-yet-biodegradable Glitter Gelees. I have three of the four shades: Glass Bonsai, Phantasm, and Firewalk. They're all technically suspended in a clear base and are, therefore, meant to be layered or used as sparkle rather than as full-on eyeshadows. But you can see that some of the shades contain a bit more of the fine shimmer, which makes the base seem less clear; this is most obvious with Firewalk. Phantasm, meanwhile, contains no fine shimmer and is all larger, more obvious holographic glitter shapes. Glass Bonsai is somewhere in the middle as far as opacity goes.

The product I was least excited for, shocker of shockers, was the Vinylic Lip. Yes, a liquid lip product in a click pen with a spongey applicator takes me right back to my first order from ELF, I'm not gonna lie. But I'm not a huge gloss person, and I find clicky pens a bit of a pain to use. It took me 41 clicks to get product out of Pony, and a whopping 71 clicks with Baby. I also find Glossier's color descriptions a little weird: Pony is less "taupe" to me and more mauve, and "Baby" reads more like a strawberry pink than a saturated, blue-based red.

By contrast, I was beyond hyped to see that they were releasing more full-on highlighters, because...highlighters. I purchased the two lightest Niteshine shades, the yellow-based Pale Pearl and the pink-based Platinum Rose.

Here are two looks I created with my Glossier Play products. (The only one not shown here is the Glitter Gelee in Glass Bonsai.) On the left, we have my attempt at something a little more full-on. I used the Jumbo and Disaster Class liners as bases, then added Glossier Lidstar in Cub to the center of my eye and topped it with two layers of Firewalk Glitter Gelee. I lined my lower lashline with Nectar. On the whole, I enjoy the eye look:

Interestingly, neither the Colorslide pencils nor the Glitter Gelee applied the way I expected. Glossier describes Colorslide as a "technogel eye pencil," implying it has a smooth gel formula. I actually found these pencils very waxy, and they tugged at my lids a little as I applied them. Disaster Class was especially difficult to use and applied patchy when I tried to use it as a base. Also, while I was able to get some intense color out of the Colorslide pencils, it took at least two layers to reach full saturation, sometimes three. And using these all over your eyelid when they're a waxy formula that catches? This can happen:

Yeah, that's frustrating.

In short, you can use these as eyeshadow bases, but it's a real pain in the ass, and some of the shades work better than others. These also take a little more effort to transfer to your waterline as compared to a true gel or khol-type pencil. If you're going to get these, go for the more pastel, interesting shades, like Nectar and Easy Girl, which are perfectly serviceable and can be tough to get in a decent formula. As a whole, though, I don't think these eyeliners are particularly special.

I had much better luck with the Glitter Gelees. Now, some people have complained these glitter gels made a huge mess on their face and left a ton of fallout all over their cheeks. In video reviews that stated this, I noticed that the person would apply the glitter to their eyelid, then immediately start blinking and moving their eyes all over the place. A product like this needs a minute to dry, so just be patient and keep your eye as still as you can right after application. I had absolutely zero glitter fallout or movement from all three Glitter Gelee shades after they'd dried, which sort of stunned me.

For the second, more natural look, I used Easy Girl and Adult Swim on my upper lashline to create a simple, slightly winged eyeliner, then lined my upper waterline with Adult Swim and tapped a bit of Phantasm Glitter Gelee at the corner of my eye. Phantasm is the glitter most people are excited about, and I can see why; it's just really fun and pretty.

For both looks, I used their Detailer to apply the glitter. A silicone applicator is definitely the best way to apply these, since it gives you more control and limits the mess, but you don't have to buy this one. Plenty of other brands make cheap silicone applicators.

Both the Colorslides and Glitter Gelees had great staying power; there was no fallout and minimal fading/smearing throughout the day. I use baby oil and cottons to remove them. The glitter is especially tenacious and should be kept out of your plumbing as much as possible, so you'll probably want to hold the oil-soaked cotton on your skin for a while to loosen it up.

For the more dramatic look, I wanted a super-shiny, very bold, definitely red lip, but I didn't get that with the Vinylic Lip in Baby. In fact, when I tried to layer it, I got only slightly more color, but I also noticed flakes on my lips that I didn't see before--see above. And it still never became "high shine" like Glossier promised. It's a thin, lightweight, decently comfortable formula with a faint strawberry smell. Nothing terrible, nothing to write home about. Frankly, I think Glossier should have produced colored versions of their regular gloss instead, since it is far shinier and more full-on than this formula.

I'll definitely get more use out of Pony, which I used for the softer look. One layer gave me that wearable, work-appropriate mauve shade that's perfect for work.

Last, but not least, we have the Niteshine Highlighter Concentrate. In terms of payoff and shine, I'd say these are like Glossier Haloscopes and Becca Shimmering Skin Perfectors had a baby: they're shinier and more obvious than the Haloscope, but they manage to do it without being sparkly a la the SSP. It's a nice product with a thin, liquid formula that can be built up. Just make sure you blend them out fast, because they dry within seconds. I'm wearing Platinum Rose on my cheekbones in the full-on look, Pale Pearl on my cheekbones and under my brows in the more natural look.

While I really enjoy these and will get good use out of them, I have two quibbles. First, the shade range is just plain dumb. Platinum Rose and Pale Pearl are almost identical on your skin, and the two darker shades look similarly close. If you're releasing glitter gel and colorful eyeliner, and if your ads are full of disco and rave-inspired shots, you should probably come out with some more interesting colors. A lavender, for instance, would've been an on-trend option. Second, these suffer from the same packaging problems as the Lidstars: the lids are small, smooth, and difficult to turn. Anybody with limited hand mobility is going to have a rough time opening these highlighters.

When it's all said and done, I don't think this launch is as terrible as some people are making it out to be, but I also don't think it's full of products you have to rush out and buy. True, I really love the Glitter Gelees, and I'll use the Niteshine Highlighters regularly. But one of each, tops, will probably be more than enough for most people. And while the Colorslide pencils and Vinylic lips aren't dreadful, they certainly aren't worth it when you have brands like Colourpop producing better stuff at a lower price. If Glossier wants to improve this range, I suggest that they:

• Fulfill their promise to use biodegradable glitter in the Glitter Gelee,
• Improve the shade ranges for several of the products, and
• Focus on creating what their fans have actually been asking for, like a cream bronzer or a tinted moisturizer/foundation with a bit more coverage. 

PS: I'll be taking a very short break from writing this blog to focus on work. I should be back by the end of March!

PPS: WHERE IS THAT GODDAMN CANDLE YOU PROMISED, GLOSSIER?!

Note: All of these products were purchased with Glossier store credit earned via an affiliate link. I have not been paid to test, photograph, or write about anything in this post. My reviews are always honest. Actually, Glossier is probably a bit sick of sending me so much free shit, given how poorly I've rated some of their releases. Sorry, guys.

Moderate Stash: Lipsticks and Glosses

Alright, it's time for me to start breathing heavily and sweating like crazy because I sometimes feel mildly embarrassed about this. I know having almost two dozen lip products is not the average person's idea of "moderate." But to be fair, this is not the mind-boggling 100+ collection I used to have, I'm finally at a place where I feel I love everything I own, and I hold firm in my belief that allowing yourself one "go crazy" area whilst you downsize is a good idea.

And I have a weakness for bold reds and bright pinks. I can't make excuses for that. :/

But before we get too engrossed, can we take a moment to appreciate how weirdly pretty these baby wipes looked after I removed some swatches?

The stupidest things excite me, I know. Moving right along!

For reference, I am not a gloss person, so there are only a few of those. Swatches are on the top of my hand, which is about NC10-15 on a MAC scale. For full reviews of some of these products, please check the product: lipstick, product: frankenlip, or product: gloss tags; for lip swatches and photos of me wearing these, try the FOTD and Lipstick Diaries tags. My ELF Gotta Glow Lip Tint is not pictured because my mother had it with her, but you can see it on my lips here.

NUDES AND SOFT PINKS,

plus my few glosses.

GLOSSES:

• Lipstick Queen Jean Queen. A sheer, soft, glossy watermelon pink. Perfect for everyday wear and for work. Applicator is a brush tip. I often keep this in my briefcase.
• Elizabeth Arden Crystal Clear Gloss. Completely clear, very glossy, and only a little sticky, with a minty smell and taste. This is my second tube. (Not swatched for obvious reasons!)
• MAC Viva Glam Lady Gaga lipglass. A pastel pink with a creamy opaque formula. It's not as sticky as most MAC lipglasses. The sharpie line shows how far I am right now--I'm going to see how far I can get before I chuck this in to my Back 2 MAC pile in May.

NUDES AND SOFT PINKS:

• MAC Faux. Midtone beige pink in a satin finish. It's a nice nude, but not my personal favorite; however, everybody seems to love it on me.
• MAC Huggable Bare Hug. A shiny and supple gel formula that's very comfortable and smoothing on the lips. This shade looks bright coral in the tube, but it applies as a soft, slightly warm pink. 
• Urban Decay Native. Super light and slightly pastel baby pink. This is one of my go-to shades if I'm wearing darker eye makeup.
• Kismet Elope. A mid-tone beige with some hints of pink. This is a glossy liquid formula. It's probably not that flattering on me, but for some reason, I really like it.

 Natural light on top, flash on the bottom.

MORE PINKS AND SOME PLUMS,

these ones just aren't "nude."

PINKS:

• Bite Beauty Velvet. The most perfect petal pink on the face of the planet, with a creamy finish. I think I've used about half of my current tube.
• Bite Beauty Bouquet. Another "flowery" shade with a creamy finish and the perfect mix of pink and peach. One of the few "nudes" that I think looks really good on me, probably because it isn't really nude. Don't judge me.
• Dior Kiss Me fluidstick. Funky gloss/lipstick hybrid with a cushiony texture, Kiss Me is a soft, cool-toned pink. I wasn't impressed with this formula the first time I tried it, but it's grown on me. Surprisingly good staying power for a glossy product!

PLUMS:

• NARS Audacious Anna. Looks like a cool, mid-tone pink on most people, but because I'm fairer skinned, it comes off quite mauve and plummy on me. Not 100% sure if it flatters me, but I do love it. Satin finish.
• Hourglass Empress. Matte liquid lipstick that smells like paint and wears like it, too! I love this stuff, though. Empress is a perfect plum shade; I wear it a lot on nights out.
• Kismet On Point. A great everyday shade with an equal balance of pink and plum; this is Kismet's shiny liquid formula.

Natural light on top, flash on the bottom.

REDS,

they are my weakness.

ALL THE REDS:

• MAC Ruby Woo. The most traditional and chalky matte in the history of chalky mattes, Ruby Woo is a relatively neutral red (though some would say it leans a little blue). This is my second tube, so clearly it's been loved, but after I finish this one, I don't think I'll repurchase.
• NARS Audacious Charlotte. Swatches weirdly purple on my hand, but in reality is the most perfect oxblood color with a satin finish. My current favorite red.
• Stila Beso. A true red in a matte liquid formula. This stuff wears like a beast and I have next to no problems with smearing, so it's essentially replacing Ruby Woo in my collection.
• MAC Scarlet Ibis. A warm red with a soft matte finish. Makes me feel very chic and grown-up when I wear it. Technically a limited-edition shade, but MAC re-releases it from time to time.
• Bite Beauty Pomegranate. A blue-based red with a glossy finish. I purged a mini-pencil of this in the past because I had similar reds I preferred, but I got this one in a kit and I figure I'll try it out again.
• Dior Pandore fluidstick. As mentioned, this is a frankenlip formula with a glossy finish. Though it swatches pinkish on my hands, it's a warm red on my lips. I like this shade, but I won't repurchase--I don't generally go for very shiny reds.

 Natural light on top, flash on the bottom.

OTHER BRIGHTS,

from fuchsia to purple to orange.

FUCHSIA:

• NARS Audacious Michiyo. A blue-based fuchsia with a satin finish. An excellent alternative to red if you want to try something a little different in your pin-up look.
• MAC Viva Glam Miley Cyrus. A slightly warmer fuchsia with a bit of a glossy finish. This is a very comfortable and beautiful lipstick that seems to flatter me, but for some weird reason, I don't wear it a lot--I'll have to fix that!
• Kismet Flamingo. A very glossy and bright orchid pink. My mother hates it, I love it, life goes on.

PURPLE:

• Bite Beauty Lingonberry. A creamy bright purple lipstick. I don't wear it often, but when I do, I adore it.

ORANGE:

• Bite Beauty Tangerine. Technically more of a coral, but close enough! Not my favorite color, to be honest, but it's half of the Lingonberry duo, and if you mix the two shades, you get a great bright pink.
• Hourglass Riviera. As I mentioned, this stuff smells awful, feels thick, and wears for hours...and I love it. I think this is the only true orange I've found that I like on my skintone.

Natural light on top, flash on the bottom.

Natural Light vs. Flash Comparisons

Lipstick Queen Jean Queen Gloss

 

 I won't be giving this product a number rating. I'm not much of a gloss person; in fact, I generally avoid the stuff, and Jean Queen is one of just three glosses in my collection. Therefore, I don't think I'm enough of a gloss aficionado to really rate it. I am a Lipstick Queen person, however, and I'm a huge fan of the Jean Queen lipstick. So when I saw that b-glowing.com had this product on sale, 50% off, I pulled the trigger and bought a gloss.

First, let's talk about the packaging. This is something Lipstick Queen always does well! The box is just plain cute, albeit way too big for the product inside--there's a loooot of empty space inside that box. Perhaps it would have been more economical to do one of the blister packs they use for their other products...?

 

The actual tube is clear plastic, so you can see how much product you've used. The cap is metallic blue, just like the Jean Queen lipstick tube. There's a brush tip applicator, which I almost always hate in those "clicky pen" formats. There's no twist-up mechanism in this gloss, though: you squeeze the tube and it pushes product up to the brush. This makes it much easier to get your product out of the tube, but be forewarned that you only need a little bit of pressure to dispense a lot of gloss. Also, I'm not sure how well this will work when you start running out of gloss--you'll probably have to squeeze really hard to get those last dregs out.

This is a very lightweight gloss. It's not sticky or heavy, which makes it a comfortable option. However, stickiness is usually what gives gloss its staying power. The Jean Queen gloss lasts for just a couple of hours on my lips. But it doesn't feather, and because it's such a wearable, slap-it-on-and-go shade, it's no big deal for me to reapply it. After all, there's no mess to clean up.

Wait. Renee likes a gloss? Oh, my. Lipstick Queen just made Hell freeze over...again.

As you might guess, the Jean Queen gloss and lipstick are very, very similar. The lipstick is slightly more opaque, while the gloss is shinier and has more berry tones than pink when swatched on my hand. On my lips, however, they're practically identical

The best way to wear these, however, is layered. You get a tad more pigmentation when you combine the two, and of course, there's the shine factor! Here's a photo of me wearing both the Jean Queen lipstick and gloss:

So which would I recommend you buy? For most, it's going to come down to preferences about formulas: go for the gloss if you want more shine, go for the lipstick if you want more staying power. If you have very dark skin/lips, you'll probably have better luck with the lipstick because it is slightly thicker and more opaque; hence, it's more likely to show up on your lips.

To be totally honest, I'm really glad I have both. They make a great everyday pair, and while they're nice individually, the color and shine is well and truly amplified when you layer them. At around $20 each, these are great mid-end products that are definitely worth a try.

Josie Maran Slew o' Reviews!

A few months back, Sephora had their yearly VIB 20% off sale. I was a good girl (aka, somebody who doesn't make a lot of money), and I held off buying anything in the hopes that many of the winter kits and clearance items would go on a deep discount later on. Sure enough, Sephora reduced the price of many-a-sample-set AND added a 20% discount on all clearance items. I was able to get the Josie Maran Winter Dreams kit for $28, plus 20% off, instead of the original $34.

Here's the original packaging for the Winter Dreams kit. It contained the following items:

• Coconut Watercolor Eye Shadow in Rose Gold, 0.16oz (full size); retails for $18.
• Argan Black Oil mascara, 0.17oz (deluxe sample); full size is 0.27 and retails for $22.
• 100% Pure Argan Oil Light, 0.5oz (full size); retails for $16.
• Argan Illuminizer, 0.5oz (deluxe sample); full size is 1oz and retails for $28.
• Argan Infinity Lip and Cheek Oil in Limitless Pink, 0.16oz (deluxe sample); full size is 0.5oz and retails for $18, OR you can get a box of 2 deluxe samples for $16.

Straight off the bat, I think this set was great value for money. Any two of these products would equal well over the original $34 purchase cost, and considering I got this thing for roughly ~$20? Talk about a steal!

You probably noticed a ton of coconut and argan in Josie Maran's product names. This is because her line is famous for containing "nourishing oils," primarily--you guessed it--coconut oil and argan oil. In fact, the line got famous for its original Argan Oil, which a lot of people use on their skin, hair, and cuticles. I, however, am not particularly interested in Argan Oil; at the time of this posting, I actually have the bottle from this set up for sale.

The header image also includes a deluxe sample of the Infinity Lip and Cheek Oil in Timeless Coral, which is not included in this set. I actually purchased it in aforementioned deluxe sample duo several months back. (The other shade in the duo, Everlasting Honey, is part of my current giveaway prize!)

Because these products are all quite liquidy and contain oils in the base, you'll want to shake up or knead the bottles/tubes before usage. Otherwise, the pigment may separate from the rest of the formulation.

Enough of the technicalities--let's get on to the products!

Argan Illuminizer -- This is an incredibly creamy and pigmented liquid highlighter. It has a distinct gold color--compare it to the slightly pink MUFE Uplight #11 and the outright white Becca Pearl--and plenty of luminosity. Despite the fact that it looks very opaque and kind of scary in this swatch, it's actually very easy to sheer this product out: just use the tiiiiiiniest amount, or mix it with a bit of foundation. That can be a bit hard to do, however, because the pump is difficult to control, and even the half-a-pea size drop of product it produces on each pump is way too much. This is definitely a "sheeny" highlighter, with some very faint sparkle that can be detected in bright sunlight. I think it's GORGEOUS...but unfortunately, that warm gold color never looks quite right on my pale skin. :( This shade is more suited to medium to dark skintones. If they make more shades of this product, I'll definitely consider purchasing a full bottle. 5 out of 5.

Coconut Watercolor Eyeshadow in Rose Gold -- Holy crap, where have these been all my life?! Granted, I have a weakness for liquid and cream shadows, but these are particularly phenomenal. Rose Gold is more of a coppery shade on me than an actual rose gold, but it's still very beautiful, and I could see it working on a lot of skintones. The product takes about 30 seconds to set. On the bright side, this gives you time to get in there with a brush and blend out the shade. On the bad side, if you blink too soon, the product can crease. Even after drying, this product maintains a wet, foiled look that photographs never do justice to. This is a great product for people like me who like "one eyeshadow looks" and a glossy sheen. Just one word of caution: people with oily eyelids will want to use a primer. 5 out of 5.

Argan Infinity Lip and Cheek Oils in Timeless Coral and Limitless Pink -- These got a lot of bad press when they were first released. Reviewers claimed that they had zero lasting power and faded quickly from both the lips and cheeks. Some people also stated that they were incredibly greasy. I have to disagree on two of those three counts. First of all, the texture of these is really beautiful: they're similar to the newer Becca Beach Tints, but even creamier and smoother. A small dab goes a long way, and they apply to my lips and cheeks with incredible ease. I think that a lot of the initial reviewers had oilier skin types, and this is definitely a product for normal to dry skin: even though my lips and skin are even dryer than usual in the winter, these sit comfortably on my skin and maintain a bit of a glow. They do not parch my lips or emphasize the dryness of my cheeks. That being said, I get a good 6 hours of wear out of these on my cheeks...and maybe 2 hours on my lips, if I'm lucky. Bonus points, though, for being one of the few products designed for lips and cheeks that actually works for both. 4 out of 5.

Argan Black Oil mascara -- I was incredibly excited to try this mascara because it promised a creamy, pitch black formula, and that's my favorite kind of mascara. And the formula is, indeed, quite creamy and dark; it feels luxurious to apply it to my lashes, and it makes them incredibly black. I get some length and volume out of this product, and it does hold a curl. However, I think most of the volume is a bit of an optical illusion, ie, "My lashes look thicker because they're so dark." Still, it's a really beautiful look, and I'd gladly continue wearing this mascara if I could. Unfortunately, this thing flakes like crazy. I have no idea why, because it isn't a dry formulation, but the Black Oil mascara starts to flake while I'm applying it. I have to dust off the fallout with a powder brush. Within 4 hours, I have black smudges all around the corners of my eyes and plenty of dark, dark flakes. So sad. 2 out of 5.

Here's a photo of me wearing one layer of the Coconut Watercolor Eyeshadow in Rose Gold, the Lip and Cheek Oil in Limitless Pink on my lips and cheeks, the Black Oil mascara, and the Argan Illuminizer on my cheekbones and under my brow. As you can hopefully see, these products all sit very nicely on my dry skin. None of them dried me out or emphasized my parched skin, which is absolutely phenomenal. They're very effortless, natural products, the "easy" stuff I'd wear on a day-to-day basis. The only disappointment for me is the Black Oil mascara, but I have plenty of other mascaras I adore, so that's not a total loss.

I will note that I think the Josie Maran line is geared more towards dry-skinned people. This is great news for me, of course, but oily-skinned people may want to look elsewhere for their "natural look" products. (Pssst: I would suggest trying Becca or Bobbi Brown.) That being said, the liquid eyeshadows will probably impress plenty of people with their great texture and beautiful finish, and anybody who wants a glow could try out the highlighter.

Josie Maran products are available at Sephora.

REVIEW: Dior Fluid Sticks

When I first dipped my lips in to the glossy waters of Dior's new Fluid Sticks, I wasn't too impressed with what I found. Inspired by the product's rave reviews, I purchased a soft neutral pink, Kiss Me, and hoped it'd be the perfect product for my sister's wedding. I described my lackluster experience to the ladies on Makeup Alley, who were really quite appalled by what I was saying.

"What do you mean they taste like perfume?"

"How are they only lasting an hour on you?"

"No pigment? Mine are really pigmented!"

Makeup is very much a "your mileage may vary" sort of thing, so I figured I was one of the few people these newbies wouldn't work for. I resigned myself to being awfully quiet about that, too, because they're generating tons of buzz and love, and it's kinda weird being the lone voice of dissention.

Here's Kiss Me in action (full breakdown and another FOTD posted here):

It's not BAD, but it's not inspiring. You know why? Because this shade was just an ordinary pink gloss on me. It didn't have great pigmentation, it gummed up at the corners of my mouth, and it barely lasted for an hour--definitely not the "fabulous wear" and "high-impact colour" the packaging promised. To make matters worse, it absolutely REEKED of perfume, and I could taste it the entire time I wore it. This product didn't live up to its official claims, let alone the hype. To date, Dior Kiss Me is one of maybe 5 items I've returned to Sephora. That's how much I hated it.

Now, when I ordered Kiss Me, I added in the 4-shade sample packet Sephora was offering, figuring I could find another shade to purchase after I returned to work in the Fall. But when Kiss Me ended up being a major disappointment, I pushed it off to the side. Add in a rogue infection that made me sick for almost a month, and you've got a product that's WAY overdue for a re-evaluation.

I was hesitant to put a Fluid Stick near my mouth again after the Kiss Me fiasco, but I'm glad I gave them another chance.

Let's backtrack a moment and go over Dior's claims in more detail. While some bloggers and YouTubers have defined the Dior Fluid Sticks as "liquid lipsticks," Dior clearly wishes to state otherwise: most of the advertisements, sample packets, and sales associates shout, "THIS IS NOT A LIPSTICK!" But they are also not a gloss, in the sense that layering them over a lip liner or lipstick isn't all that effective or attractive. They also aren't designed to stain or soak in to the lips. What they are designed to do is look glossy, provide "coverage between a gloss and a lipstick" (huh?), feel like nada on your lips, and wear well without feathering or fading. Sounds kinda like a lipstick, right?

But Dior refuses! "THIS IS NOT A LIPSTICK!" And if it's not a gloss or a stain...well, fine, Fluid Sticks; I'm officially labeling you "Frankenlip." THAT'S WHAT YOU GET FOR BEING SO PICKY.

A full-sized frankenlip Fluid Stick retails for $35 and comes in elegant plastic packaging. The bottom is clear so you can see what color you've got. The applicator is a soft, spade-shaped sponge tip; I found it easy to control. (The sample pack came with a disposable sponge-tip applicator, which I cleaned and re-used for each application.)

Pandore, a warm pinky-red, and Wonderland, a cool fuchsia pink

The formula is, indeed, incredibly lightweight and comfortable; it has a unique gel texture that stays in place without drying out my lips. You can apply a thin layer for a more toned-down look, and most of the swatches I found online seem to be applied quite thinly. But, y'know, I'm a guady ho. So I applied these products quite liberally for opaque coverage. This can lead to some very slight gumming-up at the edges of my lips when I first apply (eek!), but if I pat it with my fingers, it smooths out and doesn't reoccur. The wear is not impacted by how much you layer on: once it's there, it's not moving unless you rub it off.

Speaking of:

Here's what Pandore looked like after I ate a Cup o' Noodles. No smearing or smudging, just some mild fading, primarily at the very inner part of my lips. This is actually more impressive than some traditional lipsticks out there, which will fade and smear as soon as you sip your morning coffee. The Fluid Sticks WILL come off if you kiss someone or rub your mouth against something; otherwise, they're decently resistant to everyday wear and tear, which is impressive for a glossy formula.

Aventure, a coral with strong orange undertones,  and Mirage, a soft peach

Also, while the perfumey-ness I detected in Kiss Me was non-existent in Pandore, Wonderland, and Aventure, it was definitely present in Mirage. Mirage didn't smell nearly as potent as Kiss Me had, and the taste faded away after about 15 minutes of wear. Still, it's strange that the fragrance is really only noticeable to me in these lighter/paler shades. Maybe it has something to do with the pigments? *pseudo-science*

While all of the shades were beautiful and performed about the same, the only shades I think I'd purchase in a full-size are Pandore (for everyday looks) and Mirage (for work). That may be confusing, considering I just raved about these products, but the truth of the matter is that glossy lip products are just Not My Thing, and I don't think most of the shades flatter me. (Hell, Mirage isn't even that flattering on me, but it's just so freaking cool!) But who knows? I could swatch a few more shades and fall absolutely in love.

And hey, I liked them enough to try preserving what was left in the sample packet for later use!

Alas, the little wells overflow shortly after you peel pack the foil. I could probably get a second or even third use out of each color, but it's gonna be a messy experience.

Personal preferences aside, the Dior Fluid Sticks are definitely some of the best new lip products out there. Their versatility and comfortable formulation make them a great choice for a wide variety of people. Just watch out for those fluke shades, like Kiss Me.

Rating: 5 out of 5

A Worshipful Ode: My Love Affair with Elizabeth Arden 8 Hour Cream

There isn't much I can say about Elizabeth Arden 8 Hour Cream that hasn't already been said. A beauty staple for makeup artists, models, and bloggers alike for over 80 years, this product--which is more like a thick jelly than a cream--has long been lauded for it's healing properties and sublime glowiness. It's also been maligned as too expensive for what it does and for reeking to high Heaven. "It's just an overpriced petroleum-based product with some other emollients mixed in to it!"

Okay, I totally see your point. There are times when I wonder if it really IS working for me, or if I'm just buying in to decades of industry hype. But...it does work for me, better than anything else I've ever used, and in so many ways. And considering most balms are just mixes of emollients (because that's sort of the point of a balm) and I've never spent more than $10 on a tube that lasts over 2 years, thanks to TJ Maxx and Marshall's, I've gotta stick with my old standby. I have two tubes of this stuff, one downstairs for after I shower and one upstairs for my pre-nap beauty treatments, and I'm always sniffing around for a mini-tube to stash in my purse. Clearly, I'm obsessed.

My #1 use for this product is as a moisturizer. I apply a generous coat of 8 Hour Cream to my lips immediately after I've exfoliated them or stepped out of the shower. It locks in moisture and keeps my lips feeling smooth and supple. It's actually not uncommon for me to dab on a very thin layer of the product, complete the rest of my skincare routine, and add a second much thicker layer of 8HC at the end. Lisa Eldridge has popularized using the product on a q-tip as a dual moisturizer and exfoliant prior to applying a strong lip. Once or twice a week, I rub a tiny bit over my eyelashes to keep them soft.

I've also used this product to heal up certain skin woes. While I won't be rubbing it on any major cuts or abrasions any time soon, it works wonders on my dry, chapped nose after I've had a cold or sinus infection. I only recently started doing this, as I was inspired by one of my Sex and the City beauty sightings: Samantha uses a thick coat of the stuff to sooth her aching skin. Normal lotion or face cream requires many applications over the course of a week to get my abused nose back in order...but after I applied a coat of 8 Hour Cream to the area twice a day for two days, I was flake-free and back to normal.

Beyond its skincare benefits, 8 Hour Cream has been touted as the world's sexiest lipgloss by a number of blogs and magazines. There's no doubt about that: the tiniest swipe of 8HC gives your lips a moist, dewy appearance, but it doesn't feel heavy or sticky, and it never looks overdone. I've even used it over drying lipstick formulations to give my lips a bit of shine and prevent them from drying out throughout the day.

Elizabeth Arden 8 Hour Cream gets plenty of love as a lip product, but some of it's other supposed uses are less popular. While makeup artists are quick to recommend it as a highlighter and brow tamer, the average reader will, in my experience, respond with doubt. "This stuff is awful wet and goopy. How the heck would I wear it as an all-over makeup product?"

The trick is to apply 8HC in major moderation. In my "hyper-glow" look, I used about a pea-sized amount of product on my lips, eyes, lashes, and cheeks to get the super dewy, glossy look popularized by magazines. But that's the thing: it's an editorial type of look. There's WAY too much product on my face for this look to function in the outside world without turning in to a gooey, sticky mess. The trick is put the tiniest dab you can on the back of your hand and apply from there. Try it as a gloss on the eyes, as a dewy cheek highlight, or as a replacement for mascara. And if you want to use it on your brows? Roll a spoolie in that barely-there smidge of product, tap it off on a tissue, and gently brush it through. I've done this in a pinch when I was sans brow gel.

Don't forget your hands and feet, either! It's not uncommon for people to use 8HC on their cuticles, but I've gone buckwild and spread a thin layer over my entire hands, then slipped on gloves. It soothes my skin as I sleep and makes it supple and smooth by morning. I even use it on my rough, wounded ankle (which will never  be photographed in full gory detail, if I can help it) prior to a big event so I can look somewhat presentable in strappy sandals.

So there you have it: the ways I use Elizabeth Arden 8 Hour Cream. It's my favorite lip balm and lash cream, my cure for chapped skin, and a multi-purpose makeup product on the fly. It's one of the few products I honestly think makes a major difference on the quality of my skin. And I'll be stunned if I'm not still using it when I'm 80.

For the record, I fully endorse most of the Eight Hour Cream line. The hand and face moisturizers are lovely, the stick balm is travel-ready, and the body cream? Oh my lord, do not even get me started on that body cream. I can hardly afford it right now, but when I can spare the change, it's the first thing in my stash I repurchase. Lush and silky and non-greasy but effective and just plain yum.

Oh, and I truly love the smell. But if you hate it? There's a relatively new fragrance-free version. Huzzah!