MAC Huggable Lipcolour in Play It Soft

The new MAC Huggable Lipcolours ($24) are huggable, kissable and loveable. Like the In Extra Dimension Eyeshadows the MAC Huggable Lipcolours are back by popular demand (though the huggables are limited edition). 

So what does "huggable" mean? According to MAC, the Huggable Lipcolour is inspired by Asian trends - a lipstick formulation that "hugs" (sculpts) the lips with a lasting, glossy finish. There are 12 shades in the limited edition line. 

Funnily enough, the MAC Huggable Lipcolour does remind me a lot of the one and only Asian lipstick in my collection (the Etude House My Jelly Lips Talk in Plum). The Huggable Lip Colour is more pigmented, less glossy/slippery and longer wearing than the My Jelly Lips Talk but I can see the similarities. 

I'd best describe Play It Soft as a pinky coral with a cream finish (I believe all the Huggables are cream finish). The shade range seems to lean towards more summer appropriate hues - reds and pinks, a few orange-leaning shades, and some pinky nudes. 

The MAC Huggable Lipcolours are semi-opaque and buildable, glossy (but not to the point of looking vinyl) and have typical wear time for glossy lipsticks (~4 hours on my lips). The wear time is a bit lacking but this is expected from something more glossy. That being said, it's hydrating, comfortable, and smooths over the lips nicely. While sheer coloured lipsticks with a glossy finish might not be for everyone, the MAC Huggable Lipcolour is right up my alley. 

Have you tried the MAC Huggables Lipcolours? 

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essence Longlasting Lipsticks in Natural Beauty, Barely There & I Am Yours

You can't beat lipsticks $3.49, especially when they're actually really good. I received a few of the the essence Longlasting Lipsticks (exclusively at Shoppers Drug Mart) at an essence event. There are a few new shades being launched for Spring/Summer 2015, but the only new one shown here is I Am Yours. 

The essence Longlasting Lipsticks are your one-swipe type of pigmented. They have a creamy finish and last about 4 hours on my lips with eating and drinking. Given the price, I don't find them to be at all drying, just really smooth. I wouldn't go as far as saying that they're hydrating, but they're very comfortable on the lips and don't exaggerate lip lines or dry areas. Since all three of these colours are variations on a pink/nude/mauve, they're perfect for everyday at the office. 

Barely There

Natural Beauty

I Am Yours

Have you tried any lipsticks from essence? 

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Mary Kay at Play Lip & Cheek Sticks in Peach Pop and Razzleberry

New season = new, fun things from the Mary Kay At Play Collection. The At Play collection seems to be the younger, edgier side of Mary Kay. The Mary Kay Lip & Cheek Stick ($12 each, available May 16th) colourful duos for a "glowing blush and picture-perfect pout".

Peach Pop

Razzleberry

Mary Kay's colour game is on point. Both Peach Pop and Razzleberry are extremely pigmented and very, very flattering flushes on the cheeks and lips. The product is soft and creamy, easily workable into the skin and to sheer out on the lips. The blush/lipstick duo lasts 3 hours on the lips leaving a light stain and 5-6 hours on the cheeks. Pretty good but by no means amazing. 

The chubby stick packaging of the Mary Kay At Play Lip & Cheek Stick is great for covering large areas of the cheeks but not so great for precision application on the lips. To curb this issue, I prefer applying the stick with a brush or with fingers, which is an extra step that I'm often to lazy to take. Thus, I prefer the product on the cheeks. 

What do you think of the Mary Kay At Play Lip & Cheek Sticks? 

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NYX Butter Gloss in Cupcake (BLG18)

What amazes me most about the NYX Butter Gloss in Cupcake is that it actually smells like cupcakes (?) Late last year, I acquired the NYX Butter Gloss in Cupcake (~$4.99) via Jenn of A Beautiful Zen's kind friend Tian at IMATS. Here's the little advert blurb: 

Get that creamy medium coverage on your lips without that sticky sensation. It's perfect for every sweet tooth! Softens and conditions lips while giving a hint of color and gloss.

Indeed the NYX Butter Glosses are quite sweet. If you're not into flavoured lip products, you might want to skip out on this, as the smell could be borderline overwhelming to some. Personally, I love sweet smelling things and the scent fades away as time goes on, so it's not a problem. 

The NYX Butter Glosses are everything that you'd want in a lip gloss. A hint of colour, a lot of shine, and a lot of moisture. It's a slippy gloss not a sticky gloss, so it glides over the lips like ... ahem... butter. While I haven't heard a single bad thing about the NYX Butter Glosses, the product does have its faults. If I wear a slippy balm underneath the Butter Gloss, the Butter Gloss doesn't adhere well to the centre of the lips. Furthermore, lasting power is... meh (less than 2 hours)... but it doesn't matter because it feels so nice to apply throughout the day. 

Cupcake is a neon pink shade and the sheerness of the colour makes it appropriate for any occasion. Overall, a very good gloss. I wouldn't say it's mindblowing or life changing but it's a good gloss that caters to my likes - hints of colour, lots of gloss, and a bit of hydration. Yes, indeed, I would purchase another colour. 

Have you tried the NYX Butter Glosses? 

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Clinique Pop Lip Colour and Primer in Poppy Pop

Now that I'm a fairly *seasoned* blogger following beauty launches is a thing. And it has occurred to me that Clinique’s beauty launch game has been on point in the last year. First, the Clinique Cheek Pop Blushes (and the release of some new shades this year), and now the Clinique Pop Lip Colour and Primers ($21 CAD each) are taking over my Instagram and Twitter feeds. 

I received the shade Poppy Pop in a goodie bag at a Shoppers Drug Mart Beauty Boutique Event at the gorgeous Shoppers Drug Mart Runnymede Theatre on Bloor Street West. Imagine an art deco theatre with makeup counters instead of orchestra seats and shelves of drugstore products on the second floor balcony. So yes, the Clinique Pop Lip Colour and Primers are available at Shoppers Drug Mart, as well as Sephora and Clinique counters. 

What Clinique says about their Pop Lip Colour and Primers: Luxurious yet weightless formula merges bold, saturated colour with a smoothing primer. Glides on effortlessly to a modern-velvet finish. Colour stays true, keeps lips comfortably moisturized for 8 hours. Allergy Tested. 100% Fragrance Free.

A total of 15 shades in the range – divided into 4 colour families. 

1// Tawnies & Corals – Melon Pop, Cherry Pop, Poppy Pop, Passion Pop

2// Violets – Grape Pop, Love Pop, Plum Pop, Berry Pop

3// Nudes - Nude Pop, Bare Pop, Beige Pop

4// Pinks – Fab Pop, Sweet Pop, Wow Pop, Punch Pop

All of the shades appear to be fairly wearable. There are some brights and purple-ish shades but no black or blues in sight, which is not surprising given Clinique’s aesthetic as a brand. Speaking of aesthetic, I am in love with the silver square packaging with coloured plastic co-ordinating to the shade of the lipstick inside. I imagine having all 15 shades stored together in a neat 3 x 5 rectangle (rounded lipsticks are annoying and take up a lot of space). I wish all lipsticks were in square packaging!

In terms of colour, Poppy Pop is a vibrant orange-leaning red. Clinique says all of the colours are of a demi-matte finish. I would agree. They’re not glossy or flat out matte but they do have a slight sheen, which makes my lips appear healthy and full without looking fake. True to its claims, the Clinique Pop Lip Colour + Primer is comfortable to wear and true to colour. The colour lasts around 4-5 hours leaving a decent stain that doesn’t look or feel dry. 

Overall, it’s a very beautiful lipstick formulation. I won’t say it’s very different from other lipsticks at the same price point but I will say I am going to pick up one of the nude or lilac shades because of the square packaging. 

Have you tried the Clinique Pop Lip Colour + Primers? 

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stila Aqua Glow Watercolor Blush in Water Poppy & Stay All Day Liquid Lipstick in Como // SEA, SUN, AND SPLASH Summer 2015

I'd say don't wear makeup to the beach, but the stila Summer 2015 collection makes me want to frolic in the sun with my purple lipstick on. Dubbed SEA, SUN, AND SPLASH , the collection is a ray of sunshine - 10 shades of sunshine to be exact. There are 5 shades of the new stila Aqua Glow Watercolor Blush ($34 each) and 5 of the stila Stay All Day Liquid Lipsticks ($29 each). 

stila Stay All Day Liquid Lipstick in Como

Shades available: Rosa, Como, Bella, Venezia, Amalfi

UGHHH. PURPLE...Not at all office appropriate, but surprisingly wearable/flattering on my skin. The colour is incredibly saturated, as one coat of the product yields full lip coverage. Upon application, the product feels rich and almost hydrating but dries and tightens up to a matte finish. stila says the All Day Liquid Lipstick lasts up to hours, and I would agree. Additionally, it's transfer-proof and kiss-proof, so no funky purple stains clothes (or boyfriend). 

stila Aqua Glow Watercolor Blush in Water Poppy

Shades available: Rosewater, Water Blossom, Shimmering Lotus, Water Poppy, Water Lily

A new launch from stila, the Aqua Glow Watercolor Blushes are meant to be a weightless sheer wash of colour. And so it is. The product is intimidatingly bright when you dip your brush/finger in it but after a little blending, you get a sheer wash of colour with a tough of a dewy finish. After about an hour, the glow diminishes but the colour lasts about 6 hours on my cheeks. Water Poppy is a red-orange with no shimmer. Bonus - it also has a slight wet/cooling sensation upon application. So if you get a little hot in the summer, just apply blush. 

Overall, a colourful collection that's suitable for summer and beyond. I'd be so down to pick up more of the Aqua Glow Watercolor Blushes. 

What do you think of these pieces from the stila Summer 2015 Collection? 

In Canada, the still Sea, Sun & Splash Summer Collection 2015 is available for limited time at select Shoppers Drug Mart and Murale locations and Murale.ca as of June 2015.

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Lined, Smoothed and Glossed Over with Arbonne Cosmetics

New to me is Arbonne – a direct-sales cosmetics line (similar to Mary Kay and Avon). Part of Arbonne’s new product launches are moisturizing lip liners, lipsticks and lip glosses. I was sent a few things to review (in summery colours!). Here are my thoughts:

Arbonne Cosmetics Lip Liner in Peach

Available in six shades, Arbonne Cosmetics says its Lip Liner ($28) “defines lip shape, extends wear of lipstick and keeps lip colour from bleeding.” Peach is a no-fuss nude shade that’s slightly lighter than my natural lip colour. I find most lip liners a little stiff and so is this one. It's not particularly flattering on its own but but it does a great job of adding a couple hours to my usual 3-4 hour lipstick wear. 

Arbonne Cosmetics Smoothed Over Lipstick in Dream 

The Arbonne Cosmetics Smoothed Over Lipstick ($33) has the colour of a cream finish lipstick with the smoothness of a balm. It picks up on dry patches, so exfoliation pre-application is necessary. Dream is a gorgeous colour in the tube but quite garish on my skin colouring, almost fluorescent. Luckily, there are 15 other shades including some neutrals and deep colours. 

Arbonne Cosmetics Glossed Over Lip Gloss in Mimosa 

Arbonne Cosmetics Glossed Over Lip Gloss in Primrose 

My favourite of the three lip products is the Arbonne Cosmetics Glossed Over Lip Gloss ($29). The glosses are semi-opaque and easy to apply with the brush tip applicator. They have light wash of colour that covers the lips in one swipe. They’re super shiny but also quite smooth and not overly sticky. Given the lack of stickiness, like most glosses the Glossed Over Lip Glosses last no longer than a couple hours but all the while feels comfortable and hydrating. Mimosa is a peachy orange, while Primrose is a light (but not too light) milky pink. 

All in all, I’m happy with all four of the Arbonne Cosmetics lip products I’ve tried. They’re moisturizing and natural looking, and easy to wear for everyday (with the exception of the lipstick in Dream). If I had to recommend one thing, I’d say go for the gloss in Mimosa – a comfortable lip product in a very summer-appropriate colour.  

Have you tried anything from Arbonne? 

P.S. There’s quite a bit of controversy surrounding Arbonne’s business practices and legitimacy as a natural/botanical brand. If this is something that concerns you, just do a simple search on the interwebs and make your own judgements.  In this post, I’ve just focused on the products and product performance and am in no way affiliated with the brand. 

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Feel-Good Gloss // Mary Kay Beauty That Counts NouriShine Plus Lip Gloss in Create Change and In Harmony

For every sale of the limited edition Beauty That Counts Mary Kay NouriShine Plus Lip Glosses, $1 will be donated to benefit the Mary Kay Ash Charitable Foundation for two purposes - firstly, to support the Look Good Feel Better program in efforts to improve the lives of women living with cancer and secondly, to help end violence against women by providing grants to shelters and community outreach programs

Create Change

In Harmony

The Mary Kay NouriShine Plus Lip Glosses in In Harmony and Create Change ($18 each, available May 16th) are swirled combinations of the NouriShine Plus Lip Glosses from Mary Kay's regular line. The Mary Kay NouriShine Plus Lip Gloss in Create Change is a combination of Cafe Au Lait and Cream & Sugar. The Mary Kay NouriShine Plus Lip Gloss in In Harmony is a combination of Pink Sateen and Berry Tart. 

I've already reviewed a few of the Mary Kay NouriShine Plus Lip Glosses (here) and a previous edition of the Beauty That Counts NouriShine Plus Lip Gloss in Celebrate (here). They're comfortable, very moisturizing, non-sticky and lightweight. Get a gloss and contribute to a great cause. 

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NYC CityProof Twistable Lip Crayon in Ballroom Blush

Lip crayon lovers rejoice! The New York Color CityProof Twistable Lip Crayon ($2.99) is a very, very budget-friendly lip product option. Shown below is Ballroom Blush (a deep, rosy pink). 

The NYC CityProof Twistable Lip Crayons are also available in 11 other colours from deep plums to bright oranges - Nolita Neutral, Brooklyn Brownstone, Riverside Rose, Parsons Pink, Fulton Street Fuchsia, Metropolitan Mauve, Gramercy Park Plum, Park Slope Peach, Canal Street Coral, Roosevelt Island Red, South Ferry Berry. 

The NYC CityProof Twistable Lip Crayon in Ballroom Blush is lipstick in crayon form. The colour is pleasantly saturated and the formula is impressively smooth and hydrating. Lasting power of Ballroom Brush wowed me at 5 hours without peeling or getting all over my face. As Ballroom Blush is quite bold, it leaves a soft stain as the subtle shine begins to wear away. 

At $2.99, the intense colour of the New York Color City Proof Twistable Lip Crayon Ballroom Blush makes me a very happy camper. If and when I ever run out of lip colours, I'll definitely be picking up the plum colour in this line. 

Have you tried the NYC CityProof Twistable Lip Crayons? 

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Estee Lauder Pure Color Envy Shine Sculpting Lipstick in Discreet

Holding the Estee Lauder Pure Color Envy Shine Sculpting Lipstick in Discreet ($34) makes me feel like a grown up. There's something special about the weighty packaging with a magnetic closure and Estee Lauder etched at the top. 

Discreet is the perfect work-appropriate "adult" lipstick. The sheer, shiny nude has a slight but unnoticeable shimmer running through it that sculpts the lips to appear curvaceous. Being a nude, it does require fully moisturized lips for perfect application. The Pure Color Envy Shine formulation is very moisturizing. I can't tell how long wearing it is (I suppose it could be about 3 hours) because it almost looks like nothing (in a good way!) and wears away into nothingness without leaving a trace of flaky lips and I don't feel like a child pulling the bullet out of my purse to reapply. 

Do you have any lipsticks that make you feel all grown up?

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CoverGirl Lip Perfection Jumbo Gloss Balm in Blush Twist, Cupcake Twist and Coral Twist

Are gloss/stain/balm lip crayons still a thing? The CoverGirl Lip Perfection Jumbo Gloss Balms ($7.99) in Blush Twist, Cupcake Twist, and Coral Twist are three more of those. The Balms are available in 16 colours, all glossy with varying degrees of pigmentation and shimmer particles. 

Blush Twist (medium pink with gold shimmer)

Cupcake Twist (warm pink with gold shimmer)

Coral Twist (sheer orange coral)

CoverGirl's rendition of the jumbo lip crayon is quite sheer with a gloss-like sheen. It's not vinyl, just a natural looking shine. They're just a lipstick/lip gloss hybrid with no staining properties, as the product lasts a decent 3 hours on the lips. 

It's important to note that the CoverGirl Lip Perfection Jumbo Gloss Balms are no consistent shade-to-shade. The shades with shimmer particles pull slightly at my lips. I'm not a fan of Blush Twist or Cupcake Twist, as they both contain shimmer that catches onto dry areas and seeps into the lines of my lips. Coral Twist is more my speed. There's no glitters in sight and it smooths over the lips nicely. 

If you're in the market for yet another gloss/crayon thing, then consider the CoverGirl Lip Perfection Jumbo Gloss Balms a viable option (just avoid the ones with glitter/shimmer). 

Have you tried the CoverGirl Lip Perfection Jumbo Gloss Balms? 

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Maybelline Color Sensational Rebel Bloom Lipstick in 705 Blushing Bud

Oh boy, I haven't tried a Maybelline lipstick since the 2013 Vivids Collection. Every season I see collection after collection launch, always seeing colours that I'm really into (but I remind myself I already own 60+ lipsticks) and I wonder if the formula is still the same. I received the Maybelline Color Sensational Rebel Bloom Lipstick in 705 Blushing Bud ($7.49) at World MasterCard Fashion Week and was super excited to try it...

...and my thoughts on the lipstick formula are still the same. Creamy with a slight sheen, very pigmented, slightly drying and wears up to 4 hours. 

The base colour of Blushing Bud bears a very similar tone to that of the Make Up For Ever Rouge Artist Intense in #54 Pearly Golden Pink, but Maybelline has (thankfully) skipped out on the shimmer. While the cream formula is nice, I don't think this shade of pink suits me but I'd be so down to try out any of the brighter colours (Rose Rush or Orchid Ecstasy). 

Do you like Maybelline lipsticks? 

Received in as a freebie at the Maybelline booth at World MasterCard Fashion Week

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MAKE UP FOR EVER Artist Plexi-Gloss in 101, 209, 304 & 403 #MyPlexiLips

High shine and vivid colour. Now that the warmer weather is back, glossy lips are in and the new MAKE UP FOR EVER Artist Plexi-Glosses ($23, exclusively at Sephora) are the perfect product to help you achieve the glossy lip look. Available in 35 shades in cream and pearl finishes, MAKE UP FOR EVER says their Plexi-Gloss is non-sticky and provides up to 5 hours of colour impact.

Yes, yes, yes. The MUFE Artist Plexi-Glosses are very vivid in colour, at least the ones that I received for review (101, 2019, 304, 403). Since the 35 colour range is quite wide, I suspect the transparent and some of the light pearly colours might be a bit more sheer. Within the new line, there's also some interesting colours like 501 Purple, 502P Beetle, and 503 Black. 

The MUFE Artist Plexi-gloss features a different kind of doe foot applicator. It has a slit on one of the sides and this flexibility allows the applicator to pick up enough product for one layer and contour the shape of the lip with more precision than your typical gloss applicator.

In general, I feel like the tip is cool in theory but hard to work with in practice. The soft doe foot makes the gloss apply a bit patchy (especially the nude) on the first coat but I can easily smooth out the patchiness with a finger.

As for the formulation, it is stick but it's not. The flappy tip makes the gloss a bit finicky to apply but upon rubbing the lips together there's not a lot of stickiness. It's a bit of a thick gloss but feels moisturizing rather than weighty. And with ALL glosses, your hair will most definitely stick to your mouth on a windy day. 

You can wear the gloss on its own, as it takes an impressive 2 coats for full pigmentation of the colours shown below. You could also wear the glosses over a liner or lipstick. On its own, it lasts 3 hours on my lips. 

101 - Nude Beige 

209 - Fuchsia Pink

304 - Orange Red

403 - Red

Overall, if you want glossy lips then the MAKE UP FOR EVER Artist Plexi-Gloss is a definite must-have for a bold vinyl lip look. The applicator is a bit different from your usual gloss and takes some time to get used to but if you can deal with it, I suggest you check these out! 

Are you a gloss girl? 

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Yazbukey for Shu Uemura Rouge Unlimited Supreme Matte Lipsticks in Sunshine Orange & Noble Pink // Summer 2015

French jewelry designer meets Japanese beauty brand and what do you get? A fun, sophisti-pop-art inspired collection launching available in Canada as of May 2015. As one of the largest Shu designer collaborations, there's no surprise that there are a few lipsticks involved. The Yazbukey for Shu Uemura Rouge Unlimited Supreme Matte Lipsticks in Sunshine Orange and Noble Pink ($36, at select Hudson's Bay, Sephora, Holt Renfrew locations and shuuemura.ca) combine a signature Shu Uemura formula with shades hand-picked by Yaz Bukey. 

Shu Uemura Rouge Unlimted Supreme Matte in Sunshine Orange and Noble Pink

There are 4 limited edition shades in the line, each corresponding to one of four friends who are all falling for the same man... Mr. Shu Shu - Sexy Yaz, Smart Lola, Romantic Betty, and Daring Tina. Shown here are Romantic Betty's Sunshine Orange and Smart Lola's Noble Pink. In addition, there is Yaz Bukey's Sexy Yaz Red and Daring Tina's Daring Violet. 

While I'm not typically a fan of matte lipsticks, the Shu Uemura Rouge Unlimited Supreme Mattes are a formula that I can get along with. For one, they're actually matte. There's not even a bit of sheen. That being said, the matte formula is ultra-pigmented and glides on the lips feeling luxurious and smooth with without tugging. It's super matte, so it will definitely pick up on dry areas. Thus, it's important to exfoliate and moisturize before applying the lipstick. Noble Pink is very pale, so it tends to catch onto the fine lines of my lips. I don't have this issue with Sunshine Orange. Staying power is about 4-5 hours for both shades and throughout the 4-5 hours, the lipstick is neither moisturizing nor drying. In general, this is probably my favourite matte lipstick formula. 

Sunshine Orange

Noble Pink

While I don't think that Noble Pink is particularly flattering on my colouring, I'm head over heels for Sunshine Orange, especially with the weather warming up! 

Have you tried the Shu Uemura Rouge Unlimited Supreme Mattes? Which colour do you prefer? 

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