Colourpop Ultra Matte Lips Tulle & Bumble Review

 

 

 

These two liquid lipsticks were my first order from Colourpop. I was dying to try out the liquid lipstick phenomenon that was sweeping the blogosphere but I wanted to do it as cheaply as possible. That way if I didn't like the lippies, it wouldn't be too big of a loss. 

 

They sent me this cute handwritten note which I thought was a cute note. I don't think they handwrite the notes anymore, but they're still a really adorable thing to include in a package. These liquid lipsticks retail for $6USD and the price in CDN varies with how strong our dollar is but it'll be around $7.90CDN. 

 

 

I ended up picking up Tulle and Bumble. Tulle is on the left and Bumble is on the right. Tulle is a dark burgundy brown while Bumble is a brightened terracotta rose.



 

Bumble is really bright on my skin worn straight out of the tube without a lip liner. Remarkably bright. So bright I wasn't even sure if I liked it on my skin tone. After playing with it I realized it looks really lovely with a lip liner and a small bit blended with the liner. Bumble is much more opaque then Tulle. 

 

Tulle is my favourite shade out of the two without a doubt. When I first put it on, I was in awe. It's such a beautiful colour! It's almost like a matte MLBB on my skin tone. It's gorgeous. I don't need a lip liner. Tulle is less pigmented then Bumble and I feel like I have to work a little harder (not hard at all but in comparison to Bumble) to get an even coat.

Now about the formula. These things dry quickly (after about twenty seconds) and feel very weightless on the lips so initially after I put them on, they felt so good I didn't even know I had anything on. But later on in the fifth and sixth hours my lips were feeling really parched. After eight hours I just wanted to take these off entirely because the dryness was maddening. At the same time I'm primarily used to hydrating lipsticks and glosses so going from that into one of these was tough for me. Others who have a higher threshold for dryness might find these downright comfy.

They are transfer proof once they've set which is really lovely. My lips don't stick together once they've set. They feel really smooth and soft when I touch my finger against my lips.

Taking these off is easy if you've got oil or an oil based makeup remover. These don't come off with standard cleansing facial towelettes. I appreciate the fact that they don't fade away and the fact that the colour comes off easily at the end of the day.

I do like these as matte lip colours but I'm not a big fan of how drying they are. Of course I expected them to be because that's just how liquid lipsticks are.

Likes:

1. Great range of colours
2. Sets quickly
3. Feels weightless on lips
4. Long lasting
5. Transfer proof

Dislikes:

1. Drying
2. If blending with a liner I've got to work really quickly!

A-

Blistex Soft & Lush Lip Balm Review

 

 

I was browsing Walmart as I am wont to do and I spotted this cute little tube. It called to me immediately. Maybe it was the soft cherry blossoms on the packaging, or the pearly pink tube or the fact that I promised me a "creamy smooth texture for supple, kissable lips", maybe it was all of the above.

Claims from the packaging: Blistex Soft & Lush brings lips to a deeper level of softness for the ultimate in soft, kissable lips. A smooth, rich, blend of moisturizers and conditioners for unparalleled softness. The super lush, ceramide-enhanced formula helps lips retain moisture leaving them supple and deeply hydrated. Plus SPF sun protection. This lip balm retails for about $3.67.

If you've been following my blog for some time you'll know that I abhor greasy, thin lip balms and love thick creamy lip balms. This lip balm doesn't disappoint. While it isn't as creamy as a Nivea lip butter, it's wonderfully creamy and feels so comforting on my lips.

The hydration on this lip balm is fantastic. I feel like this lip balm is sinking into my lips and hydrating them, not just sitting on the upper layer.

Soft & Lush is clear with no hints of whiteness which certainly is impressive considering the fact that this lip balm has an SPF of 15. I remember I bought Nivea's Sun Protection lip balm and that thing was like applying white lipstick to my lips, no word of a lie! So Soft & Lush certainly impressed me.

The smell of this lip balm was a surprise as well. I was expecting it to be scentless or softly floral but this balm had a totally different smell. It smells so good! Literally like a French Vanilla from Tim Hortons. Or like a coffee cake drizzled with vanilla icing. It's really a delicious smell. It's sweet and delectable without being cloying.

It tastes pretty inoffensive too if you happen to taste a little of it. It's mostly tasteless with a slight sweetness from the saccharin.

In short I really like this lip balm and I actually reach for this more then my Holy Grail Nivea Essential lip balm.

Likes:
1. Creamy, rich texture
2. Hydration
3. SPF without whiteness
4. Delicious smell
5. Affordable price

Dislikes:

None, I'd be nitpicking.

A

Burt's Bees Honey Lip Balm Review

One of my friends was extolling the virtues of Burt's Bees lip balm so I couldn't resist it anymore. I'm a major lip balm fiend, I've got to try everything so I snagged this lip balm during Target's liquidation sale and here are my thoughts.

 

I bought this lip balm for about $4 at Target but it regularly retails for $4.98. Not worth the price with the experience I've received.

Claims from the Burt's Bees Canada Website: Reward yourself with a sweet treat. Made with sweet, soothing honey, this natural lip balm moisturises and nourishes lips. Plus, it’s packed with beeswax, shea butter, almond oil, cocoa butter and lanolin to keep your lips soft and healthy-looking. Your lips will look as sweet as they taste.

Oh. My. God. There couldn't be anymore fallacies!!! This lip balm wrecked my lips. Maybe I got a bad tube or something but this lip balm was horrendous. It smelt so rank, I couldn't use it. It smelt like camphor and vinegar. There was no sweet taste to speak of. This lip balm tasted as nightmarishly as it smelt.

What I did like was how the lip balm felt. When my lips heated it up it was thick and creamy on my lips. But for the most part it was as tough as nails. I felt like I was rubbing a stick of pure beeswax onto my lips.


In addition to that, my lips broke out in a rash thanks to my test-driving this lip balm. It lasted for three days. I wouldn't touch this lip balm with a ten foot pole. I know I'm being melodramatic but I think I have a right to because of the allergic reaction I suffered at the hands of this lip balm.


I would not repurchase this lip balm ever. I do believe Burt's Bees must have some good lip balms in their arsenal if people keep talking about how good their lip balms are. So I will keep checking out the Burt's bees line.


Likes:


1. Occasional thick and creamy feel
2. All natural ingredients


Dislikes:


1. Horrific smell
2. Horrendous taste
3. Tough texture
4. Major allergic reaction

F-

 

Nivea Lip Butter Blueberry Blush Review

 

 

 I've purchased this lip balm twice now. First the Vanilla Macadamia nut flavour where I was impressed with one thing but not the other so I tossed it. I like Blueberry Blush a lot more.

Claims from the packaging: The moisturizing formula of NIVEA Lip Butter contains chea butter and almond oil and provides moisture and long-lasting care. This indulging formula with blueberry aroma restores for sensationally soft lips and leaves a soft shine of colour.

This lip balm retails for $2.82. It comes in several varieties in Canada: Original, Vanilla Macadamia, Raspberry Rose and Blueberry Blush. The lip butter comes in a pot format and comes with 16.7g in the tin so there is a lot of product.

This lip butter is wonderfully soft and creamy. Once I bought a lip balm in a tin and it was ROCK SOLID. I was thoroughly confused. I always assumed pot lip balms were always softer because they weren't waxy enough to stand in a tube, but that's not always the case. This lip butter certainly couldn't stand in a tube. It's very melty.

The lip butter is a pretty pinkish plum but ends up translating to white on my lips if I put on too much. It doesn't leave any pigment on my lips but I suppose that's because my lips are pigmented.

The scent is heavenly. It smells like a yummy blueberry smoothie. A lot like EOS blueberry smooth spheres in scent. The scent only lasts for a while on my lips before fading and I wouldn't mind if it stayed.

The moisture on this lip butter is incredible. Even after you wipe it off your lips still retain moisture. It just feels really nice and creamy on lips and I love the way that feels. Like my lips are wrapped in a hydrating blanket. And when I wipe it off my lips look very smooth, soft and plump for a hours after the lip balm is off so the claim of the moisture being long lasting is definitely accurate.

One thing I'm not big on is the fact that it's in a pot. It's not hygienic as you have to dip your finger into the product and onto your lips to apply. So generally I keep this lip balm at home or I wash my hands thoroughly before applying.

Despite that, this lip butter is a giant win in my book. I don't own a lip balm which is as thick and hydrating as this in my stash. I love it and use it daily.

Likes:

1. It's very hydrating!
2. The creamy texture is lovely
3. The blueberry scent is delectable
4. Affordable
5. It's not as white as the Vanilla Macadamia flavour

Dislikes

1. Pot format
2. Gives off a white cast

Maybelline Color Sensational Creamy Matte Lipstick Touch of Spice, Mesmerizing Magenta Review

I was super thrilled to see these lipsticks in the drugstore! I'm not too big on matte lipsticks but I love Maybelline and the sound of a creamy matte lipstick was too good for me to resist!

Claims from the Maybelline Canada Website: Only from Maybelline: The Creamy Mattes by Color Sensational deliver a red burst of bold lip color and a surge of creamy texture in 8 make-a-statement shades, for mattes your lips will love to wear! 

These retail for $7.96 at Wal-Mart. The first one I picked up was Mesmerizing Magenta (left) and I loved it so much I wanted it in a more neutral shade so I snatched up Touch of Spice (right). 

I'm bad at describing shade names but I'll try. Mesmerizing Magenta is a bold berry toned fuchsia with a touch blue. Touch of Spice is a warm terracotta rose. Both lipsticks have a creamy glide and are very pigmented, both are one swipe each! They do feel powdery and matte at once on my lips, there's no sheen to these lipsticks at all. When you mush your lips together, the lipstick does feel creamy like a satin lipstick but slightly powdery as well.

As per usual they have an awful coconut vanilla old-school lipstick smell. I wish Maybelline would just do away with this rank scent and make it unscented because that would be a thousand times more tolerable then this scent. 

These lipsticks last a considerable amount of time without fading. I had lunch with Mesmerizing Magenta on and there was a considerable amount of transfer but the colour stayed absolutely put! I love both of these shades and I'm quite pleased with both of them.

Likes:
1. Matte but not drying!
2. Gorgeous colours!
3. They just glide on.
4. Afforadable price!

Dislikes:

1. The lipstick's smell!

A

New York Colour Expert Last Lip Colour Matte in Creamy Mauve Review

 

 

 

So I popped by Wal-Mart this afternoon and I happened to see these lipsticks had finally landed in Canada. I picked up the only colour I was interested in Creamy Mauve. Usually mauves work really well on my skin tone because they tend to be deep purple-y pinks. This was entirely misleading as it wasn't a matte or a mauve.

Claims from the NYC website: The perfect balance: a mix of matte and satin! These satin matte shades are perfectly wearable in the city. From day to night this lipstick will complete your look.

This lipstick retails for $1.77 which is insanely cheap. So cheap I cannot understand why there's a security tag attached to this lipstick. Anywho the colour is actually a light-medium yellow based pink with a creamy finish.

It's got the same gross berry-candy scent the expert last lipsticks all have. It's got a very hydrating, slippery feeling on my lips. The colour stuck to every crease and flake of skin on my lips. As usual the lipstick doesn't swivel all the way down so you've got to be careful closing the lipstick so you don't slice off a chunk.

So there's the picture of the lipstick on me. As you can see it's pretty pink, no hints of purple here. In addition to that the lipstick is not matte at all! It's a straight up satin!

I definitely won't be using this lipstick ever again. I wouldn't wear it on my NW45 skin (I barely even took a picture for you guys because I knew I looked totally ridiculous). Maybe if I paired it with a lip liner but I just wouldn't wear it by itself. I think this might work better on lighter skin tones.

Likes:
1. Hydrating feel
2. Afforadable

Dislikes:

1. Smells bad
2. Not matte (and it's sold as a matte!)
3. Sinks into lip lines
4. Doesn't flatter my skin tone

C

Pixi Shea Butter Lip Balm Review

I'm really sorry I hadn't tried this lip balm earlier.

Claims from the Pixi website: Awaken lips with this super-nourishing balm. The unique formula is rich but lightweight and gives a gorgeous wash of colour to lips – it’s the perfect pick-me-up anytime! Packed full of beneficial ingredients, this balm soothes lips immediately & nourishes them long term.

Regularly this retails for $8CAD but I got it during Target Canada's liquidation sale so I got it for $6.40. I purchased Comfort Clear which is perfectly clear. The lip balm smells like warm vanilla with a soft plastic note. The smell isn't too overpowering so I don't mind how odd it smells.

The texture of the lip balm is amazing. This lip balm is creamy and just melts onto your lips. Honestly when I apply it I feel like its going to break but it doesn't and it coats my lips in pure hydration. I absolutely adore the way the lip balm feels on my lips.

I would repurchase this lip balm again, if I could! Too bad Target left, there's no way for me to get a hold of Pixi unless I cross the border or visit the UK.

Likes:

1. The moisture!
2. The melty texture!

Dislikes

1. The plastic-y smell.
2. The unavailability
3. Rather pricey for a clear lip balm. We're beginning to into Sephora level prices here.

B

Nyx Butter Lip Gloss Review

I bought my first butter gloss online last year because I wasn't even sure if Nyx was sold in Canada or where to find it. Cherry Pie was my first. After that I fell hard and bought six more in that same year. Now they're all available at Target Canada.

Claims from the Nyx website: Buttery soft and silky smooth, our scrumptious new Butter Lip Gloss tastes as sweet as a sugar cookie—and makes your lips look downright luscious. Swipe it on alone or over your favorite lipstick for creamy sheer to medium coverage that melts onto your lips and is never sticky.
Price: $8.99 at Target Canada

This gloss has no taste at all, so I don't know what Nyx is talking about with the whole "tastes as sweet as a sugar cookie" line. It does smell completely heavenly though. Coverage is medium to sheer with some shades like Sugar Cookie running sheerer while others like Cupcake are very pigmented. The gloss doesn't feel sticky on the lips at the outset but as time wears on it begins to feel a little tacky.

Right now I've got six (in the order pictured above):
1. Peaches and Cream
2. Cupcake
3. Sugar Cookie (loved it so much I bought two tubes)
4. Cherry Pie
5. Praline
6. Gingersnap
7. Devil's Food Cake

I really really love them and I'd buy them all if I could.

The formula is lovely. Very moisturizing, glides on like butter. Lasts about four hours before needing a touch up.  It smells like vanilla cupcakes! Of course the smell disspates but it's so lovely I wouldn't really care if it never disspated.

I love the packaging and the slimness of the tubes (but they still have quite a bit of product in them at 8ml each). And the cream finish on all of them makes them so easy to wear.

I've included this picture to show you how the shades compare with one another.

A slightly cool toned red with a cream finish. Fairly pigmented. My first love and one of my favourites.

A neutral chocolate brown with a cream finish. Very pigmented. Such a wonderful nude gloss for those of us women of colour. I cherish this gloss because I know Nyx is the only brand that makes a nude gloss in a colour so deep. I wanted this shade as soon as Nyx announced their new shades.

A bold, cool toned fuchsia with a touch of lilac. Is a little sheer like Cherry Pie. This shade is a great shade to just throw on and add a pretty pop of feminine colour to the lips. I love the way it looks against my skin tone. I've actually finished my first tube because this was a shade I reached for so much.

A slightly milky, very bright pink with hints of coral. It's one of the most pigmented butter glosses out there. I thought it would be a warmer version of Sugar Cookie but its definitely different. I'm not a huge fan of this shade because of how pigmented it is! Generally I prefer semi-sheer lip colours and this one is just very pigmented. Stains my lips after the gloss has worn off.

A slightly milky, cool toned pink. Doesn't apply peachy on my lips (mine at least) at all. It's a sheerer and cooler version of Cupcake. I actually like it a lot because of how subtle it can be.

A blackened red with a slight hint of plum. Super pigmented and very gorgeous. I love how vampy this gloss is! Stains the lips after the gloss has worn off.

A chocolate brown with a hint of peach. Lighter then Gingersnap. So what's the difference between Gingersnap and Praline? I can't tell the difference myself with the tubes so I have to look at the names. Praline is peachier and lighter. Out of the two I prefer Gingersnap as an everyday shade to just throw on by itself. Praline is very nude on my skin, so nude I wouldn't wear it on my NW45 skintone without a smokey eye or at least some colour on my cheeks.

Likes:
1. The delicious scent!
2. How moisturizing these feel on my lips
3. Wide variety of colours in the range
4. Budget friendly
5. Slim, portable packaging

Dislikes:
1. Cupcake is too pigmented (For those of you who love highly pigmented products, this won't be a problem at all!)

 A