Review: RMK Gloss Lips 35 Translucent Shiny Pink

This review has been a long time coming!! :X Sorry! But I've finally gotten around to it, so let's begin.

When I was in Tokyo's Narita Airport, I was wandering around the duty free and came upon RMK gloss lips. I had been meaning to check it out while in Taiwan, but the counters were always missing testers and they never had a GWP to tempt me with. But now, seeing the range in the duty free section, I immediately wandered over to see the colors.

I have been wanting a pink gloss for awhile now, and since I had heard Gloss Lips are sheer I tried to pick up a darker color. I ended up with 35, a color from the Spring collection [full name 35 Translucent Shiny Pink]. It's indeed pretty and totally lives up to its name.

Here's a terrible picture of how it looks on lips [it actually doesn't look so peach, more pink and MUCH shinier, like a mirror shine]. I bought this gloss duty free for 20USD.
Anyways, more about the gloss. It comes in a nicely sized tube with a silver handle/wand that looks very classy. You get 6.8 grams for your money, but wait! Look! I've used this about 3-4x and the product level has already gone down!

As much as I hate how the product gets used up so quickly, I LOVE the super shine. [I wish I could post a pic, but they won't come out right! FuzKittie has some pics of Gloss Lips on her lips if you want to get an idea :)].

This isn't really pigmented at all! It's definetly just for the shine. It gives only a bit of color, which is to be expected considering that the Japanese favor that kind of light translucent look. The formula is also sort of slick, not too tacky and thick like MAC's but it does last awhile.

Last of all, I LOVE the brush! It's such a nice applicator, I think Western brands should definetly adopt it [Bobbi Brown, this is what your brush should look like, thanks :D]. It's not too stiff, flexible enough to deposit enough color and to get it everywhere you want.

I would love this even more if there were a bit more pigmentation, but I like it alright. Would I rebuy it? Probably not. It's a great gloss, but not for this pigmented lip'ed girl.

Your thoughts?

Review: Etude Glassade Lipgloss

Ah, OK I'm back with another review! This is from the brand Etude [of which the more popular Etude House is derived from] from Korea, which made waves through the blogosphere after several blogs reviewed items from it.

I jumped when I saw the counter in Taiwan! I had been looking for it earlier but Etude [House] seems to have left Kaohsiung and so I couldn't find it, and had given up. But I found a small, picked over selection of Etude at Hanshin [and am now regretting not getting their makeup base. Damn!]

But anyways, I picked up this gloss for around 12 USD [400NTD, with a buy one get one free of equal or lesser value....so I also got a brush. But that's another review!].

From a rough translation, this lipgloss is enriched with moisterizing essences and shimer; the liquid texture wraps your lips in delicate shine.

Let's see how it really is!

Here it is:
Cute packaging right? It actually holds 5 grams, which I probably won't EVER finish but it seems like less than my other brands because I've only used it a few times and there's a bit of space at the top now. The wand handle is pretty tall and is a pinky silver, and a nice heart motif on the top. Cute, but not too overly princessy, which I like. [Yes, there can be too much of a good thing!]

Anyways, I think this comes in 10 colors, of which I have number 2, Apple Jelly, a bright reddish pink. The range comes in a nice selection from bright pinks to lighter ones, peaches and even clear and gold ones.

The picture seems to give the impression that this color is a 'jelly' finish--slightly translucent creme. It isn't, there's quite a bit of shimmer that my camera couldn't pick up.
It's actually not that pigmented on lips. It gives a slight tint, but a very glossy finish. I would like it if it didn't cost 12 bucks! I'd pay like 5 dollars for it. It's a good thing it lasts quite awhile without being overly sticky!

I notice a very very slight fruity scent but its so light that I can't discern what it is. Whatever it is, it dissipates very quickly upon application.


Okay, whats the bad thing about this? The wand. I never thought that there could be a bad lipgloss wand--I've never met a bad one! The bad thing about this wand [a standard doefoot] is that it doesn't pick up enough gloss. WTF? But I have to redip the wand to have enough for my whole lips. Turnoff!!!

The consensus? Save your money from something better from Etude [House]. You don't need this!

Swatches: Mish-mash of random items

Today's post is just a chance to pull out all those random swatches I've accumulated...so, here goes.



Shu uemura White Recovery EX+ Instand Spot Brightener: 45$

That's all for today :)

Comparision: Berry Lipgloss

When MAC Quick Tease came out in the Brunette Blonde Redhead collection, everyone was saying that it was a dupe for the hot seller Jampacked [Cult of Cherry]. I didn't have Jampacked at the time, so I couldn't verify that, but now I do!

MAC Quick Tease on the bottom, Jampacked on the top [first pic




The last one shows the differences more accurately; Jampacked is more red and pigmented while Quick Tease is more wearable and has gold shimmer. Hope that helps!

Review: Bath & Body Works Liplicious Tasty Lip Gloss Raspberry Jam

This is probably my most used lipgloss to date. I mean, what does it not have going for it? It lasts for quite some time but isn't sticky--but it still makes your hair stick to it if caught on your lips--gorgeous color and amazing smell, and really cheap!

Best lipgloss ever.

Let's start with the price. Normally, it's 6$ for .47 fl oz (14 ml). Buut, during the summer and holiday sales, the Liplicious glosses are 3 for 15! I've had my tube for about 2 years and it's only half gone! Great value for the money! And if you don't like the color of Raspberry Jam, there are 7 other colors, ranging from medium pink, clear with golden shimmer to currant. Now, I've checked on their site, and Raspberry Jam isn't on there and the rest seem to be on clearance. I hope this doesn't mean that it's going to be discontinued as I remember there were aLOT of other colors!

[EDIT: OMG. I've found out that this color has been DC'ED EVER SINCE JULY! *cry* I need to go stock up now!!!!]

The formula on these is really nice! Raspberry Jam [and a few others like Dipped Strawberry] is nicely pigmented, thick without being overly tacky and doesn't so much taste as smell good. Compared with MAC, it's about as thick, pigmentation slightly sheerer and definetly not as sticky!







I also like that the packaging has a slant tip applicator --my preferred method of application--and that the cap has a stick that prevents excess gloss from leaking out. Yay for wastage preventation!

The color is an amazing pinked red with golden shimmer. It makes my look look finished without being overly so. It's the gloss that got me into reds!

All in all, I'm going out ASAP to hunt down some tubes of this! I shake my fist at you Bath and Body Works for discontinuing this amazing lipgloss.

P.S.
This is totally guy approved. All the guys that have smelled it [loong story!] give it "two thumbs up!". As if you needed any more incentive to track one of these down!

LOTD: Ways to use Jill Stuart Lip Luster 08

I decided that I wasn't using this lip gloss enough, so made it a priority this weekend. So, in all these pics, I am indeed using Jill Stuart Lip Luster 08 Sugar Rose!

MAC Lightly Ripe w/ Sugar Rose on top:


MAC High Tea topped with Sugar Rose:

Shu Rouge Unlimited BG936 (or just 936, described as muted plum pink)

As you can see, Sugar Rose indeed turns everything more rosey and gold-ish. I like the effect though! What do you think?

Review: MAC Quick Tease Lipglass

This would be the other end of my MAC Brunette Blonde Redhead 1/09 haul! Quick Tease is from the Brunette end of the collection. As I said in my Strawberry Blonde lipglass review, I love the idea of colors inspired by hair colors, but found that these two were the only ones worth picking up.

When swatches first arose, many people were eager to get Quick Tease because it was supposed to be the sister to Jampacked of Cult of Cherry, the lipglass that sold out incredibly quickly.

Well, I'm sorry, but it's not. However, it's a lighter, slightly sheerer, more wearable version of Jampacked. I think, what MAC had in mind for this color, if Jampacked was for full on gothic girl, Quick Tease would be for the timid sister tentatively testing it out.

It's a dark plum with a reddish tint. Super pretty, and gives my pigmented lips a darker, more sexy-esque look. However, for some reason this is sheerer than the permanent line of MAC lipglosses for some reason--maybe to keep with the 'timid sister' influence?



Unfortunately, MAC didn’t release special packaging for Brunette Blonde Redhead—which is to be expected as they don’t do special packaging for every collection. It would have been nicer than the normal gunmetal grey though.

The wand included with lipglasses is the typical doefoot wand, which dispenses color evenly and well!

MAC lip products do have a faint vanilla scent that I love, but scent-phobics beware!
Note: Both of the lipglasses were slightly separated at the top, near the base of the wand when it was BRAND NEW. I don’t know why that is, but it’s not smelling off, so I assume it’s fine.

This costs 14$ at maccosmetics.com or MAC locations near you. Great buy, and I don't recommend missing it!

Review: MAC Strawberry Blonde Lipglass

These two lipglasses are both from the MAC January 2009 Brunette Blonde Redhead collection. Strawberry Blonde is from the Blonde part of the collection, and Quick Tease is from the Brunette part of the collection. Honestly, I love the idea of colors inspired by hair colors, but these two items are the only things I aspired to actually buy.

Strawberry Blonde caused quite the stir when rumours of Brunette Blonde Redhead first surfaced—many thought it would be the return of the fabled Strawberry Blonde lipstick. But alas, no. However, I do still love this color!

It’s a reddish rosey color, and when you apply it, it brightens your face right up. It’s almost my lip but better, but…well, better than that! I really like this color, as MAC doesn’t seem to release similar ones often. However, a good dupe might be Rich and Ripe, from the August 2008 Cult of Cherry collection.

The texture is the same as any MAC lipglass—tacky, and thick. Personally I love this type of texture as it ensures that it lasts! And last it does, for at least 4 hours before I chew it off.

The pigmentation is also great—seems like this is the only one that is ‘normally’ pigmented in the BBR collection. The rest of the colors seem to be sheerer than normal—I can attest to this with Quick Tease (but that is another review).

Unfortunately, MAC didn’t release special packaging for Brunette Blonde Redhead—which is to be expected as they don’t do special packaging for every collection. It would have been nicer than the normal gunmetal grey though.

The wand included with lipglasses is the typical doefoot wand, which dispenses color evenly and well!

MAC lip products do have a faint vanilla scent that I love, but scent-phobias beware!

Note: Both of the lipglasses were slightly separated at the top, near the base of the wand when it was BRAND NEW. I don’t know why that is, but it’s not smelling off, so I assume it’s fine.

Pics:

Haul: MAC Brunette Blonde Redhead

So, after the Brunette Blonde Redhead release on Friday, I made my way to the nearest Nordstroms as fast as I could. This is what I picked up, Quick Tease and Strawberry Blonde lipglasses.

In the picture of me wearing Quick Tease, it's not as purple as it is in real life. Likewise, Strawberry blonde looks less warm than it is in real life. I curse this winter light, making every color look off!

I might also mention that if you have either Rich & Ripe or Lightly Ripe gloss and lipstick respectively, you probably don't need Strawberry Blonde. But I do love this sort of color, like a brighter my lip but better.

And, if you have Jampacked, you probably don't need Quick Tease. From comparisions, I think Jampacked is darker and more pigmented.





Strawberry Blonde:



Quick Tease:

Review: Jill Stuart Lip Luster

The Jill Stuart line is produced by Kose in Japan, where it was sold there exclusively till March 2008, when two counters in nearby Taipei Taiwan were opened. It retails for about 26USD (rounding up), 800NTD and 2,800 Japanese yen for 7.6 ml, .24oz.

Lip Luster is touted as 'pure lip color with crystal sparkle'. It's pigmented and, indeed, very sparkly. The formula is nice and thick and feels good upon lips. However, due to the sparkliness, there are some small particles of glitter than you can feel once you rub your lips together long enough. Also, like all Jill Stuart products this is rose fragranced. It doesn't bother me, but is kind of strong but fades(or you get used to it) after about ten minutes.

The color I have (pictured below) is 08 sugar rose. It is indeed a rosy color, the shimmer golden bronze and with lots of small glitters scattered throughout.

Packaging for this, like all Jill Stuart products is beautiful and princessy. oming in a light pink box with a mirrored cap and lacy designs on it, it's gorgeous. It feels so luxe when you pull it out to apply :]






Available from ichibankao.com for 36.50USD (jacked up!) in an array of 21 permanent colors and 3 for Fall/Winter 2008. It's a great gloss, but honestly, is it worth the price tag? If I had to pay above 25$ for this I'd say forget it! However, I am neither a collector or big slurger on makeup. If you have the chance to pay retail (25$ for a department store gloss isn't too bad!) jump on it!

Mini Haul: Jill Stuart and Clinique freebie!

My friend recently came back from Taiwan and CP'ed for me a Jill Stuart lip luster in 08 Sugar Rose, and gave me a Clinique eye shadow duo in 309 Champagne Kisses since she doesn't wear makeup. Having said that..here are some pics!! Expect reviews soon!

Clinique Duo:



Jill Stuart:





The Clinique duo retails for 17.50$ and the Jill Stuart Lip Luster for 26USD$(800NTD) (rounded up). You can find Clinique at Sephora, any department store and online at Clinique.com and Jill Stuart at Ichibankao.com.

Shu Uemura Gloss Unlimited Swatches

The shu uemura (I've been blogging lots about them lately hm?) lipgloss that retails for 22USD finally has some swatches! Comes with a sponge tip applicator in an array of 14 shades. Available online at the shuuemura-usa.com site or at select Nordstroms, as well as the Neiman Marcus and Nordie's sites.





Thoughts? Will you be getting a gloss unlimited?