SMASHBOX Always On Liquid Lipstick shade - BIG SPENDER

Hello readers,

Today I am going to review another product bought on impulsion. Smashbox is very popular brand having great reviews online so on my last visit to Sephora I purchased a liquid lipstick in a shade Big spender. I wasn't quite sure about this shade but since there were very few shades and I wanted to try badly I chose this among the available ones. The other shades like Baja Bound, Babe Alert, Bang-Bang and Bawse, were either too orangy or bright for my complexion.

Smash box Always on Liquid Lipstick

Smash box Always on Liquid Lipstick ingredients

Smash box Always on Liquid Lipstick Shade - Big Spender

Price: CAD 28

Quantity: 4ml/ .13 fl. oz

Ingredients:

Isododecane, Dimethicone, Trimethylsiloxysilicate, Polybutene, Petrolatum, Cyclohexasiloxane, Kaolin, Disteardimonium Rectorate Beeswax, Silica Dimethyl Silicate Glyceryl Behenate/Eicosadioate, Tocopherol Acetate, Propylene Carbonate, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil, Prunus Armeniaca (Apricot) Kernel Oil, Simmondsia Chinesis (Jojoba) Seed Oil, Cyclopentasiloxane, Flavor, Caprylyl Glycol, Hexylene Glycol, Phenoxyethanol, [+/- Blue 1 Lake (CI 42090), Carmine (CI 75470), Iron Oxides (CI 77491), Iron Oxides (CI 77492), Iron Oxides (CI 77499), Mica, Red 6 (CI 15850), Red 7 Lake (CI 15850), Red 22 Lake (CI 45380), Red 28 (CI 45410), Red 28 Lake (CI 45410), Red 30 (CI 73360), Red 30 Lake (CI 73360), Red 33 Lake (CI 17200), Titanium Dioxide (CI 77891), Yellow 5 Lake (CI 19140), Yellow 6 Lake (CI 15895)

What Product Claims:

• An 8-hour, liquid matte lipstick that’s specifically formulated to be comfortable and not dry out your lips. 
• 
  
• Delivers bold, lightweight color with a liquid matte finish 
• Advanced Polymer Technology makes lip color last up to 8 hours 
• Won’t smudge, budge or feather 
• Infused with Primer Oil complex to condition lips
• Precision tip applicator lines and fills 
• Range of vibrant, highly pigmented matte & metallic matte shades 
• Cruelty-free

My views you can use:

Easy and smoothe application, doesn't tug. The shape of the applicator makes it easy to apply on the outer corner of lips. Smashbox always on liquid lipstick doesn't dry out or adds moisture to the lips.  However, it does accentuate the fine lines on the lips making it appear bit dull. This one smells very chemically and artificial. Wear is long but not 8-hour. I think it is around 6 hours and after that if you eat or drink it feathers little bit specially if you have dry lips.
The shade Big Splender is muddy pink with brownish hue.

Overall score: 💗💗💕/💚💚💚💚💚
I really like the tip applicator. Considering the price, it isn't worth all the hype! I will not repurchase it again. Next time, I might try HUDA beauty lipsticks.

Organika Coenzyme Q10 Moisturising Lip balm review

Fall is in the air and with that comes winter dryness and dry lips. So this season I was at T&T and among the millions of Chinese, Japanese and Korean products I noticed this product with fairly clean ingredient list. Read on to know more on this.

Price: CAD ~5

Quantity: 4.2 g/ 0.15 oz

Ingredients: Lanolin, Beeswax, Menthe Piperita, Tocopherol, Ubiquinone

My views you can use:
First I was hesitant to buy this balm because of peppermint in it. I don't like the tingling sensation balms with mint gives. Although this product has it, it doesn't smell or feels like peppermint at all, which is what I like. As far as moisturisation is concerned, it is an average product. Organic lip balm can't be used as a base beneath lipstick as it make the lipstick easily transferable. 
Although the ingredient list is free from chemicals, the ingredient lanolin is unsafe if it is derived from Sheep treated with pesticides or insecticides. Lanolin is a waxy substance produced by sheep to keep wool waxy for winter protection and water resistant.

I don't know if the lanolin in this balm is derived from sheep treated with pesticides or not. The pack mentions nothing.

Overall score: 💗💗/💚💚💚💚💚

An average product, doesn't cure chapped lips. It only provides temporary relief. Being a lip balm it has to be free from anything with harsh chemical or contamination. I am unsure if it is safe and cause no adverse effects if goes into the system through mouth.

~Ren

Burt's Bee Ultra Conditioning Lip Balm with Kokum Butter

Ultra Conditioning Lip Balm with Kokum Butter

Here is my review on Burts bee ultra hydrating lip conditioner (Kokum), pending since long time. To begin with, I did not buy this purposely. I was actually looking for Burt’s Bee original lip balm for quite a long time and was not able to find it in the store. Every time I visit, there were some with random fancy flavours. But because I was in desperate need, I bought this as I saw it is labelled ultra hydrating and has kokum butter in its ingredient list. Kokum butter is rich in essential fatty acids and has been traditionally used in India for dry skin issues. So, let’s see how the product performed on my expectation.

Burt's Bee Ultra Conditioning Lip Balm with Kokum Butter

Price: $ 4.98

Ingredients: 

cocos nucifera (coconut) oil, olea europaea (olive) fruit oil, helianthus annuus (sunflower) seed oil, helianthus annuus (sunflower) seed wax, persea gratissima (avocado) oil, olus (vegetable oil, huile vegetale), cera alba (beeswax, cire d'abeille), sclerocarya birrea seed oil, soybean glycerides, theobroma cacao (cocoa) seed butter, garcinia indica seed butter*, butyrospermum parkii (shea) butter, butyrospermum parkii (shea butter) unsaponifiables, cymbopogon martini oil, citrus aurantium dulcis (orange) oil, salvia sclarea (clary) oil, tocopherol, myroxylon pereirae (balsam peru) oil, vanilla planifolia fruit extract, illicium verum (anise) fruit/seed oil, cananga odorata flower oil, glycine soja (soybean) oil, citric acid, geraniol, linalool, benzyl benzoate. *Kokum Butter

What product claims:

Kiss dry lips goodbye. Clinically proven to offer 4 hours of long-lasting moisturisation, this ultra-hydrating lip conditioner is infused with rich Kokum, Shea, and Cocoa Butters. Giving you more butters and less wax than other balms, so your lips will be left soft and super smooth. It also lovingly replenishes your skin with no added flavors or fragrances. It’s hydration at its very highest.

Clinically proven to moisturise for 4 hours with 1 application

Hypo-allergenic with no added flavors or fragrances

Replenishes skin with Kokum, Cocoa and Shea Butters that melt on lips

My views you can use:

The consistency is very smooth, hydrating and buttery. Feels so perfect on skin. So far, of all my lip balms to tackle the winter woes, this gives the best light feel to the lips. I wanted to say good things but this lip balm is of no use. Within minutes of application it makes my lip drier and chapped. This has no staying power. Four hour moisturisation claim is false as you need to reapply it often. I still think Burt's Bee original lip balm is the best.

Overall score:💗❤❤❤❤

All Fired Up (Retro Matte Lipstick)~ Mac

Ok, I like myself all fired up :) 💓 that’s the reason I bought this one from Mac 😂 😜 . This is such a gorgeous color 😍. One swipe and yeah!!!...Happy and ready to go. Great for summers.

All Fired Up ~ Retro Matte by Mac

My views you can use:

This is a bold hot pink color with cool undertone. If you think Mac Ruby Woo is the matte a lipstick can get, you haven’t met Mac All fired Up. Like Ruby woo, this is super dry. It is actually its cousin as far as texture is concerned. All Fired Up has to be worn on a well moisturised exfoliated lips otherwise it will accentuate fine lines. This looks really flattering on my warm dusky complexion. I am obsessed with this color. I believe, it will look good on all complexion because it’s a vibrant color with cool undertone, which is not overwhelming.

Staying power??? It can pretty much last an entire day!!! 😌 Trust me, I have actually tried and tested this. The reason I did not show swatch image is because it’s of no use. It somehow looks different on my hand swatch than on my lips and in pics too. This can be because my skin tone on hand and lip differ. My face is darker than my body. Weird!!! 😕 Anyway, this is a lovely color so do wear it on lips to check the exact color. I am sure you will love it.😊

Overall score: 💗💗💗💗

Yes, I will purchase this again unless I find an exact lip color with better moisturising ability.

~Ren

L'Oreal Paris Color Riche Moist Matte Lipstick ~ Raspberry Syrup

L'Oreal Paris Color Riche Moist Matte Lipstick ~ R517 Raspberry Syrup

I got L'Oreal Paris Color Riche Moist in shade raspberry syrup around two years back, but look at it 👇looks as fresh as a new one! 😛 Ever since I started using Mac, my usage of lipsticks from any other brand has significantly gone down and so is the money wastage. When I started buying lipstick umpteen times I bought worthless crappy ones or wrong shade, which would not complement my complexion.

Here is my opinion on L'Oreal Paris Color Riche Moist Matte Lipstick.

R517 Raspberry Syrup

Absolutely amazing color!

Product claims:

Matte has never been so rich! 
Color Riche Moist Mat, with pure pigments delivers intense luscious color for 6 hours in 12 irresistible shades. It consists of Jojoba oil that provides absolute hydration for up to 4 hours.


Moist Mat has pure pigments and is enriched with new Light Illium complex for a rich matte effect with velvet fusion capsules and Ultra Gliding Shine Oils.

Quantity: 4.2 grams

Price:  ~INR 950

My views you can use:

When I hear the word raspberry syrup, the color that instantly pops into my mind is berry pink color. So is the color of this lipstick! However, color looks different when swatched on hand versus the lip. Lip undertone can make a lipstick look completely different on you than it looks on someone else. Similarly, how it shows up on hand swatch can't decide how it will look on your lips. This lipstick is a classic case of such anomaly. If you look at the image of lipstick and swatch, it’s such a lovely berry color. I simply love this color, absolutely gorgeous😍. I wish it were equally mesmerising on my lips.😞But on lips, it has strong blue undertone making it look like a close relative of fuchsia. I strongly advice against buying this based on hand swatches.

The texture is velvety soft and moisturising so it doesn’t dry out lips or settle in fine lines. Moist matte is the perfect word to describe the finish ~ somewhere between matte and glossy. Owing to its buttery texture, it is easily transferable. Transferability is a big deal for me. The whole thought of a lipstick content getting into my system along with snacks and drinks freaks me out. If this isn’t a concern to you, you might actually like it. The staying power is pretty decent too (~4 hours).

L'Oreal Paris Color Riche Moist Matte Lipstick is highly pigmented, one swipe gives effective color and instantly brighten up the complexion. This makes it a good choice for pigmented lips. I have noticed on two or more swipes, it gives intense blue undertone which might make it look less flattering on warm skin beauties. 

Overall score: 💗💗💕

Remember, one swipe gives nice color, two swipes might ruin the color. Don't go heavy on this. 

~Ren

Pure Rouge (Freida Pinto) Lipstick ~ L'Oreal Paris Star Collection

Pure Rouge (Freida Pinto) Lipstick ~ L'Oreal Paris Star Collection 

Product claims:

The Color Riche Pure Reds Collection is created with a revolutionary and innovative formula that delivers bold, luscious color that lasts for a full 6 hours, making it the ultimate beauty indulgence. Pure pigments deliver intense color and Jojoba oil gives perfect hydration up to 4 hours. The range includes 7 exquisite matte shades.

The range is enriched with new Light Illum complex that delivers a rich matte effect. The Velvet Fusion capsules and Ultra Gliding Shine Oils provide smooth and silky application leaving a matte effect!

Quantity: 4.2g

Price: Rs 1025

My views you can use:

This lipstick, a kajal or an eyeliner and I am good to go. My first and yea😊…certainly the best! I did so much research before purchasing this one that chances of it going wrong was minimal. First time I wore this lipstick (just the lipstick, no kajal/ eyeliner on my bare face) to a bank and the lady there showered me with compliments. Pure Rouge is a not true red, it is a red lipstick with blue undertone. The colour pay off is really good, which makes it suitable for pigmented lips.

L'Oreal Pure Rouge is often looked at as a Mac Ruby Woo dupe. So is it one??? Let’s find out. I have used both occasionally for around a year. 

• Ruby Woo is matte, put it on your lips and forget it. It stays unless you wipe it, while Pure rouge(L'Oreal) is not glossy but quite creamy. This creaminess makes it transferable and it does fades evenly after few hours.
• If you have dusky completion (wheatish/indian/brown😆) and looking for a red lipstick, you can blindly choose one among these or both. None of these lip colour tug, but if have dry lips, you may not like ruby woo. With ruby woo you feel a drag on application, it is that dry. I absolutely love it but this is just to remind readers that with dry lips, you might prefer L'Oreal Paris Pure Rouge to Ruby woo.
• Ruby Woo is little brighter than L'Oreal Pure rouge.

So, is it a dupe? Yes, it is very close to Ruby Woo - color-wise. But, texture and feel of Mac is different. In all honesty, if I have to buy a red lipstick I would go for ruby woo. It is my HG lipstick.

~Ren