MAC Powder Kiss Lipstick Review + Swatch

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Hello everyone!

I’ve been wanting to try the new Powder Kiss formula for a while now and finally picked one up a few weeks ago.

I really like the look of matte lipsticks but it can be difficult to wear when you have dry lips. Matte formulas tend to stick to and emphasize dry patches, really dehydrate your lips after an hour or two of wear however, this formula does neither! It feels surprisingly moisturizing and the formula is a bit hard to describe if you haven’t swatched or applied it. It feels like a moisturizing powder that is extremely lightweight and glides on seamlessly.

MAC Powder Kiss Lipstick 021 Sultry Move. One swatch on bottom and built up on top.

You can apply a bit and blend it out for a subtle look or build it up to full coverage on the lips. There is a slight drawback; the formula is not as long wearing as Mac’s usual matte formulas. It does wear away after a while and especially if you eat. The formula is so forgiving on dry lips that I can easily reapply after eating and not worry about using a lip balm first.

I also wish that they would come out with more shades because I want a nice nude shade but haven’t liked any that they have; it’s either too white-based nude or too cool toned. I would definitely purchase more when/if they do come out with more shades. For now, I really like this warm rose color that I currently own.

Have you guys tried the powder kiss formula? Let me know down below!

Click here to purchase.

MAC Retro Matte Liquid Lipcolour Review + Swatches

Happy Monday everyone!

I really don’t reach for liquid lipsticks at all anymore because they dry out my already-dry lips and they crumple, flake and wear horribly throughout the day. However, this formula by MAC is definitely worth a try if your like me and avoid liquid lipsticks at all costs!

Excuse the out-of-focus picture above but I wanted to show you the shape of the applicator. It is super easy to get a nice sharp edge with it and I’m able to over-line my lips, which I slightly do everyday without going in with a lip liner! The applicator makes applying this super fast and easy. The formula itself feels like nothing on your lips and I’m not exaggerating! It’s feather light; that you forget that you have lipstick on and that’s amazing for a matte liquid lipstick. It’s also much more forgiving on dry patches than other formulas I’ve tried; it doesn’t exaggerate and cling to it.

This lipstick fades away nicely; it doesn’t crumble but rather fades evenly throughout the day and after eating. It’s transfer-proof just like most other liquid lipstick formulas and is removable with oil.

MAC Retro Matte Liquid Lipcolour in shade: Cafe Au Chic
Fresh application on top, dried down on bottom

As you can see from the swatches above; this formula dries down much darker so beware of that. It takes a minute or two to fully dry down. I really like this formula and will definitely get other shades!

What do you guys think about liquid lipsticks? Are you over them?

Click here to purchase.

Clinique Pop Lip Shadow Review + Swatches

Hello everyone!

I remember these powder lipsticks being really popular about two years ago and even though there are some brands that are currently offering them, they’ve mostly died down now.

This product is kind of a let down for me, similar to the review I did on the Clinique Pop Liquid Matte Lip Color, which you can view here. It simply isn’t the formula and effect that I go to on a daily basis – this requires much more maintenance. The packaging is not my favourite; the lip wand is super long and pointed and it’s faulty. The lid doesn’t properly screw into place and pops open randomly so I don’t trust that it will remain closed in my bag. Secondly the applicator does not allow for precision work, it isn’t too bad but you can’t get a clean line with it.

The product itself is hard to work with – it is dry and can cake up very easily. If you use the smallest amount and smudge it, it’s fine but as soon as you apply a little too much it will look patchy, dry and very cakey on the lips. The way that the product wears off over time is also very unflattering, super patchy because it grips onto dry patches but rubs off on some parts. It also transfers which is weird because you want a matte powder lip formula because you hope that it will not wear off easily.

Clinique Pop Lip Shadow 01 Dune Pop.
Applied a very small amount and rubbed it in.

Clinique Pop Lip Shadow 01 Dune Pop.
What using too much product will look like.

As you can see from the pictures above the product starts to ball and patch up when layered or if you apply too much. When I use a little amount it glides on and feels like a dry cream which is really cool!

Overall, the idea of this product really intrigued me and the color of this lip powder is gorgeous, but the formula is too hard to work with and can quickly look unflattering. This product may be discontinued because I can’t see it listed on Clinique’s website anymore, I do see it on Nordstrom though. If it is then I’m excited to see what they come out with to replace this!

Have you guys tried this or any other lip powders? Let me know in the comments section!

Click here to visit website.

Etude House Honey Cera Lip Oil Review

Hello everyone!

As I’m writing this review we are having major snow/freezing rain in Canada! On that note, I thought that a lip oil review would be suitable for today’s post.

I have wanted to try a lip oil for a while now and had my eye on the Clarins’ one and was about to purchase until I stumbled upon this one by Etude House on eBay. The packaging looks almost identical and the name ‘honey’ made me think of a sweet nourishing formula. I decided to give this one a try and at only $10 CAD (Clarins’ lip oil is $25 CAD) I really wasn’t going to lose much if I didn’t enjoy it.

Upon applying the product I noticed the applicator and again, this looks identical to the Clarins’ applicator. It picks up a good amount of product and allows for quick even application. This has a pleasant sweet scent and it feels great on the lips! Not heavy; but a nice light-weight oil that has a gorgeous shine (as oils do!). I have applied this on top of lipstick and lip liner however, that was not a good idea because oil tends to rub off any traces of makeup however the shine is so gorgeous and long wearing while still comfortable that I wanted it to work. Now, I will mostly use this at night or on no makeup days or at least no lipstick days.

All in all, this is a good product and I currently have used most of it up and plan to finish and repurchase for next winter. Item contains 7ml of product and contains expiry date on bottom which I appreciate.

What do you think about lip oils? What is your favourite one?

Click here to purchase.

Clinique Pop Liquid Matte Lip Colour + Primer Review + Swatches

Hello again!

As you may have already known from my previous reviews; I love Clinique skin care however, this “liquid lipstick” wasn’t what I was expecting.

As always starting off with packaging; I think this is really cute – it’s short and rectangular shaped with a pretty mirrored cap and see-through frosted plastic. This has a chubby round applicator which isn’t the best for precise application and therefore using this product with a lip liner is a must.

The product itself, does not have a pleasant scent but it isn’t over-powering and you can not smell it after it’s on your lips. This product is crazy pigmented and with just one swipe I get an opaque layer that feels extremely light on my lips. However, I would not call this product a liquid lipstick just because it isn’t a traditional liquid lipstick that dries down and is transfer-proof. This product slides around and will definitely bleed if not used with a lip liner. It doesn’t ever dry down – just sets to a shiny suede finish which will transfer when eating/drinking. In fact when I press my lips on the back of my hand to test it’s transfer-ability a full opaque layer of my lip print comes off which is definitely not ideal when it comes to a long wearing lip color. This does stain the lips and some color will remain by the end of the day but it is somewhat patchy.

Clinique Pop Liquid Matte Lip Colour + Primer 03 Candied Apple Pop

Would I reach for this again? Probably not because this formula isn’t exactly what I like to wear on a daily basis however, the color is gorgeous.

Have you tried this Formula? What is your favourite Clinique Lip product?

Click here to purchase.

Bite Beauty Amuse Bouche Liquified Lipstick Review + Swatches

Hi everyone,

I have been loving glossy/high shine lipsticks for a while now and was very excited to try these out seeing that they aren’t the traditional liquid lipstick that dry down but an actual liquified lipstick. I have reviewed Bite Beauty’s Amuse Bouche lipsticks and lipliners in the past; if you haven’t seen that click here.

These have such a nice soft touch packaging similar to NARS packaging. It has a little window at the bottom to make it easier when picking a shade from your collection. These have a fairly strong scent which is hard to explain but it does smell nice – just a bit too strong for my liking.

The brush picks up just enough product to give your lips a full coat without double dipping. This product is very pigmented and glides on without tugging on my lips. This isn’t sticky but it does have a heavy feel to it when it’s on the lips. The staying power is decent but I did have to reapply throughout the day after talking/drinking and definitely after eating. It didn’t fully wipe away after eating and drinking but did fade quite a bit.

Swatches top to bottom: Eclair, Flambe, and Demi-Glace.

The Line & Define Lip Primer definitely helped the product last much longer and stopped it from feathering/bleeding outside of my lip line. It has a nice minty scent to it and hydrated my lips; no need for a lip balm.

I liked the formula of these liquified lipsticks I just wish that the scent was a bit toned down and the formula didn’t feel so heavy on the lips. Other than that, I love the pigmentation/rich color and the finish of the product is gorgeous. I liked the Lip Primer as well; definitely noticed a difference when layering it underneath any lip product.

Have you tried these new Liquified Lipsticks by Bite Beauty?

Click here to view product.

Disclaimer: I received these products from Influenster for reviewing purposes. All of my reviews are my honest opinion whether I bought the product(s) or it was sent to me.

MAC Zac Posen Collection Lipstick Review + Swatch

Hello again!

Today I’m doing a review on this lipstick from the Spring 2016 MAC X Zac Posen collection. I have seen these limited edition products being sold online (eBay, Amazon) and in store (warehouse sales) and so I thought that a review might be helpful if you happen to spot this somewhere.

Firstly, the packaging of this lipstick is a bit bulky but I like the shape and feel of it. This has a very sweet cupcake scent which I enjoy; I don’t feel that it is over powering. The formula is very similar to that of a lip balm as it glides on the lips and feels moisturizing. It lasts for a few hours if you do not eat or drink but it isn’t at all long wearing.

Swatched on my hand below; the iridescence that this shade has is not detectable in the photo below but this lipstick has a beautiful pink/gold shine to it that would suit every skin tone. This shade really doesn’t have much color at all; just a nice shine so it can be used as a lipstick or lipliner topper.

Would I recommend this for the full price? – No, but if you happen to find this on sale somewhere and you need something like this then yes, I would recommend it.

Have you tried anything from this collection?

Click here to purchase from eBay.

Serpentine Beauty Lipsticks (Entire Collection) Review + Swatches

Hello everyone!

I’m so excited to review & swatch these lipsticks for you today – it’s what I have been wearing on my lips since I received them!

I really like the packaging of these lipsticks – they come in a gorgeous gold bullet with a deep purple lid which won’t come off in your purse since it has a push-button top which releases the cap. The lipsticks have a very light vanilla scent which is extremely similar to MAC lipsticks but much fainter than their Bold Lip Glazes which you can read my review on here.

These lipsticks are fairly long wearing because of their extremely pigmented formula it sticks to lips but isn’t slippery or tacky in texture. This is my favourite lipstick formula because it sits nicely on the lips without moving around or gathering in the lip lines but at the same time doesn’t feel heavy or thick on the lips. The finish of the entire collection is described as a creamy velvet finish and I would say that’s about right – it is a creamy almost-matte finish.

Left to right: Pirouette, Nude Awakening, and Cheeky Minx.

Left to right: Vanity, Koukla, and Whiplash.

Left to right: Red Viper, Code Red, and Red Reaper.

I really like the variety of the nude and red shades; they have different undertones to flatter different skin tones which is great to see in a collection as a whole. I have no complaints about these lipsticks and feel that Serpentine Beauty definitely hit the mark when it comes to the formula and packaging. My only wish would be if they could include some mauve/ muted berry tones since I know that I like to reach for a mauve lipstick quite frequently. This is a Canadian brand and their products are cruelty-free and non comedogenic.

What is your favourite shade?

Click here to purchase. They are currently offering 30% off and FREE shipping!

Disclaimer: I received these products for reviewing purposes. All my reviews are my honest opinion whether I bought the product(s) or it was sent to me.

Essence Longlasting Lipstick (On the Catwalk) Review + Swatch

Hello again!

This isn’t my first time trying out the Essence Long Lasting Lipsticks – I have a review on another shade here. They have an amazing formulation – I was very excited to receive this other shade to review for you guys!

The unique thing about this line is that the formula is extremely creamy and moisturizing but they aren’t slippery or greasy feeling. I always put on a lip balm before any lip product so that they don’t drag on my lips or accentuate dry patches but with these you could definitely skip the lip balm. They glide on very nicely while staying put and not bleeding outside of the lip line.

Essence Long Lasting Lipstick “04 On the Catwalk”

This is a very unique shade – kind of hard for me to describe. It’s a muted dark pink/soft red with a mauve-ish undertone that is very flattering for all skin tones I would imagine. It isn’t bright nor is it too washed out – it’s the perfect medium.

Like I mentioned in my other review these lipsticks aren’t terribly pigmented but they can be built up rather quickly without feeling like you have too much product on your lips. Also, similar to the other lipstick shade these are decent in longevity seeing that they aren’t matte but a nice satin finish. They last about 5 hours but will wear off completely after a meal. They leave a light stain which I don’t mind because it’s uniform and not patchy like some other lipsticks.

I would recommend these lipsticks seeing as they perform very well and are very affordable!

Disclaimer: I received this product for reviewing purposes. All my reviews are my honest opinion whether I bought the product(s) or it was sent to me.

MAC Mineralize Rich Lipstick Labradorable Review + Swatches

Hi everyone!

I was super curious to try a different formula of lipstick from MAC and this looked interesting because it is a mineral lipstick that claims to be super moisturizing.

I love the packaging; it is a bit bulky but it has a magnetic closure and looks sleek with the matte and shiny black. I also love wearing deep purple/wine shades in the winter and wanted something moisturizing that wouldn’t suck the life out of my lips in the colder months.

The lipstick itself feels extremely balmy and is very soft and creamy however, the pigment is underwhelming. In one swipe (see picture below) I get a very light uneven pigmentation; there is a lot of product on my hand but it’s a clear balm. However it can be built up to a nice shade but the amount of product on the bottom swatch is crazy it would feel so weird on the lips and not to mention bleed outside of the lines at the first movement.

I do like the feeling of this and perhaps this formula doesn’t work well with such a dark shade. I could see this working much better with a nude shade. It claims to be long lasting but this formula doesn’t stay on very long, however this dark shade does leave a nice pink stain.

Unfortunately this formula in this shade was a let-down for me; I was expecting much more. e.l.f. has great mineral lipsticks that are super pigmented and moisturizing and not to mention only $3.00!

What is your favourite mineral lipstick?

Click here to purchase.