REVIEW: L'Oreal Color Riche Intense Lipstick in Pink Carat 383

It's been quite a while since I've purchased a L'Oreal lipstick....even longer since I've purchased anything from the Color Riche line.

I do remember my mom used to love this line because it was quite moisturizing and of course, I'd "borrow" a tube to try out.

During the last L'Oreal warehouse sale, the "Intense" label on this tube of Color Riche called out to me. The color looked to be a coral-pink with shimmer. If it looked as good as it did in the tube, it'd be a great color for the summertime.

That "Intense" sticker is great advertising idea. If I saw similar words like "Bright" or "Pop of Color" or "Bold" I'd totally cave and buy a few tubes, too!

I really like how the label at the bottom is a similar color and even finish (shimmery) as the actual lipstick. Of course, it'd be even better if the top of the lid was clear (like the Revlon lipsticks!) so you can see the actual lipstick but this is better than nothing and also quite cute.

This particular lipstick is as moisturizing as I remember the Color Riche line being. It's more hydrating and feels lighter on the lips than Revlon's Super Lustrous but not as much as Revlon's lip butters.

The color itself is a coral pink with gold shimmer. There is minute grittiness to the texture due to the shimmer but I think you would only notice this if you are really sensitive to such things. I am NC35 and on my skin it's a very easy color to wear, although not particularly interesting.

I have no problems with the texture or staying power of the lipstick (lasts approx. 2-3 hours, which to me is a long time for a moisturizing lip product) but I'm sorely disappointed by the "Intense" claim. The swatch you see above is actually from swiping the lipstick back and forth with a heavy hand 3-4 times. A single swipe would give you a sheer application, not unlike the Color Riche Lip Balms or some of the lighter shades from the Revlon Lip Butter line.

I was expecting something more along the type of bright summer lipcolors the likes of NARS, MAC, and Urban Decay excel at.

So all in all this lipstick is just....okay. It's nothing special and I think this is going back to mom, who likes this line and thinks hot pink lips are a little cuckoo.

L'Oreal Color Riche Lipstick is available at drugstores and discount department stores for $10-12CDN although it goes on sale regularly for $7-8CDN.

REVIEW: Revlon Colorburst Lip Butter (Part 2)

This will be a quick one since I've already reviewed the Revlon Colorburst Lip Butters (click here for review).

Just to recap, Revlon describes the Lip Butters as:

- Buttery balm with beautiful shiny color to give you baby soft, healthy glowing lips 94% of women felt lips were softer, smoother, and instantly hydrated.
- Hydrating mango, shea and coconut butter formula boosts lip moisture by 156%
- Pampering gel formula provides super charged hydration and glides on lips buttery smooth
- Sheer to medium color

A month or so ago Shopper's Drug Mart had a crazy deal on these. It was only $3.99 when the regular price is $9.50. Since the Lip Butters are pretty amazing, I had to add to my collection.

I tried to pick shades that are still wearable for me (the others were either too brown or too pale) but different from what I already had. The end result was Tutti Frutti, Berry Smoothie, and Sugar Plum.







Swatches from left to right:

Sugar Plum is a beautiful mauve. This may look a little purple to some (my photo is a little more red than IRL) but once on the lips, it's very natural. The pink and brown dominate so you are safe from purple alien lips. And its pink enough not to wash you out with the brown but brown enough to be muted enough to be a MLBB for some and the perfect color for more
conservative settings.

Berry Smoothie is another super wearable color. This one is less purple-berry and more rosy pink although it is on the cooler side of things. It's a color that's very versatile and goes great with a silvers and golds if you're looking for eyeshadow or lip gloss ideas.

Tutti Frutti is a beautiful coral. It looks quite bold in the tube and after a few coats on the lips, it can be. But those for whom this is just a little too bold or orange? A lighter application with a clear or shimmery gloss overtop would look beautiful for the summer.

I'll be keeping an eye out for Cherry Tart and after that? I think I'm done with the current line. I would absolutely love it if they came out with more finishes. Currently the line is more creams with a few shimmers but I'd like to see pearly and glittery ones, too. Perhaps not as wearable but I think it would add variety to the line up.

How many do you have? Which colors are your favourites?

Revlon Colorburst Lip Butters are available wherever Revlon is sold - mainly drugstores and discount department stores. It retails for approx. $7.50US/9.50CDN.

EMPTIES 2: December 2011

I felt such a sense of accomplishment after my first EMPTIES post in November that I immediately started looking forwards to the next month.

Then other things got in the way and now I find myself at the end of January doing my December round up. Please forgive me!

On a more positive note...I'm going to give myself a little pat on the shoulder for completing yet another handful of products. Granted, I was a little out of control with the beauty purchases in December but hey, at least I put a little (microscopic) dent in my collection, right?

DECEMBER EMPTIES LIST:
Daisy by Marc Jacobs EDT 100ml/3.4oz size
Balea Waterproof Eye Makeup Remover
Feria Conditioner (from hair-dye kit)
Nioxin 4 Conditioner for Fine/Thinning Chemically Treated Hair 500ml size
Bath and Body Works Body Lotion Preview Size
Sample spray vial of Chloe by Chloe EDP
Revlon Nail Polish in Coral Me Wild
MAC Nail Polish in Gee Whiz

TALLY:
Total Empties: 8
Full Sized Empties: 3
Sample Sized Empties: 3
Expired: 2
Others: 0



Nioxin 4 Conditioner for Fine/Thinning Chemically Treated Hair - I first came across this line when I purchased the scalp treatment. It's a foaming liquid that you apply at the roots. I noticed a difference after usage so I decided to buy the conditioner and shampoo. Unfortunately, either the shampoo/conditioner isn't as concentrated as the serum or my hair has built up an immunity to it. It took a LONG time to get through all 500ml of this (this is the bulk size) but now I can finally move on!

Sample of Chloe by Chloe EDP - I absolutely love this smell. It is so distinct and different. So feminine but with a slight kick. According to Sephora, "top notes of pink peony, freesia, and lychee embody subtle freshness. At the heart, midnotes of magnolia flower, lily of the valley, and rose rise to sublimated femininity. A base of velvety elegance comes to fruition through cedarwood, amber, and honey." Doesn't that sound amazing?! I'm definitely going to buy a larger size of this. I was delighted to see that Sephora offers a rollerball version as I've come to realize I'd never get through even a 30ml bottle of anything, with the perfume collection I've now amassed.



Daisy by Marc Jacobs - My mother-in-law purchased this for my birthday over two years ago. Perfume is a risky gift. Fortunately, she totally got me. This is my daily perfume and I may have veered off course every once in a while but I never went longer than a week without a few sprays of Daisy. It's sweet but not cloying, fresh but not green (ew grass smells!), light but not fleeing. It doesn't last as long as I would like it to but honestly, I have yet to find a perfume that lasts all day without having an overly strong initial spray. This Christmas she gave me another bottle! I don't know HOW she knew but I had literally JUST finished it a few days earlier. It's kind of crazy how I actually managed to finish an entire 100ml size bottle. HOLY MOLY!!

Balea Waterproof Eye Makeup Remover - This is by Shopper's house brand and comes in a bottle almost identical to it's L'Oreal counterpart. I've tried the L'Oreal one and find that this one works just as well. However, the price is about the same (one or the other is always on sale and ends up around $7-8). So far with eye makeup remover, I've just go with whatever is on sale when I need another bottle.

Feria Conditioner (from hair-dye kit) - I used to love this and it was one of the reasons I bought the Feria kit instead of other brands. The tube is also so generous, I could use it for quite a few washes. However, this time it didn't seem to be as moisturizing as it used it. It came out of the tube a little drier and pasty than I remember it.



Revlon Nail Polish in Coral Me Wild - I love this color. It's a bright pink coral and seriously so much fun for the summer! Love it on my fingers and toes. Looks great with silver or gold sandals and jewelry. Unfortunately, it dried up and polish thinner didn't help.

MAC Nail Polish in Gee Whiz - Again, another one of my favourites. Unfortunately it too dried up. I've given up on polish thinner....it never goes back to exact how the polish was, brand new. Not to worry, I have another brand new bottle waiting to be opened!

Bath and Body Works Preview Size Body Lotion in Into The Wild Passion Primitive - Everytime B&BW comes out with a new scent, they offer these 59ml preview bottles for just a $1! They're usually either at the front of the store as part of the new scent display or by the cash. I always pick one up as they're a wonderful size for anywhere and it's a great way to try a new scent without committing. Usually by the time I'm finished a bottle, I'm ready to try something new so this is a great deal all around.

So there you are! My round up for December 2011. January 2012's pile is quite pathetic but expect a post in the next week or so anyway. It's alright, a slow but steady start but I am confident I'll pick up speak as the months go by!

REVIEW: Revlon Colorburst Lip Butter

I first heard about the Revlon Colorburst Lip Butters from Danielle's blog, Bloomin' Beauty.

If you couldn't guess from my various Colorburst reviews, this is one of my favourite drugstore lines. The Colorburst lipstick and lipglosses come in beautiful shades with great pigmentation and a smooth application. But these really caught my eye because it seemed like the best of both worlds.

I was sorely disappointed to learn that they were not available in Canada, at least at the time of Danielle's review. However, this past Friday I encountered them at Rexall Pharmaplus! I was ecstatic, especially because Rexall was having a Buy One Get One Free sale on all lip colors, including new arrivals!

Like a maniac, I hovered over the display for a good long while and finally emerged from behind my hair triumphantly holding 6 tubes of glorious new lippies!

Here's the official description from Revlon:

- Buttery balm with beautiful shiny color to give you baby soft, healthy glowing lips 94% of women felt lips were softer, smoother, and instantly hydrated.
- Hydrating mango, shea and coconut butter formula boosts lip moisture by 156%
- Pampering gel formula provides super charged hydration and glides on lips buttery smooth
- Sheer to medium color





The packaging of these lip butters are just beautiful! The quilting matches the existing Colorburst lipsticks and lipglosses but the translucent plastic appropriately reflects the sheerer lipbalm-like formula and pigmentation.

The clear top was very helpful when picking out the colors. There were only 4 tester colors and I only liked one, so begin able to see the actual color from the top of the tube was very helpful. I was even more delighted to discover that the lip butter when applied is true to the color it its solid state. This isn't always the case!



I picked Red Velvet, Candy Apple, Raspberry Pie, Lollipop, Pink Truffle, and Peach Parfait

Red Velvet is a cream darker red with a warmer tone.

Candy Apple is a cream bright red with a slight orange tinge.

Raspberry Pie is a cream reddish-pink berry tone.

Lolliop is a slightly shimmery cool-toned fuschia with barely noticeable specks of silver.

Pink Truffle is cream brownish pink rose shade. For those with medium-colored lips, this is definitely a your-lips-but-better shade.

Peach Parfait is a shimmer peach with noticeable but micro specks of gold. This is the lightest of the 6 shades I picked and also the sheerest. It is most similar to a tinted lip balm.









These lipsticks are very similar to releases from premium brands like the Dior Addict High Shine Lipsticks, Chanel Rouge Coco Shine, and Yves Saint Laurent Volupté Sheer Candy in both packaging and formula.

All are sheer-to-medium pigmentation, come in light and demure to bright and fun shades, and are a moisturizing formula similar to lipstick with the coverage of a light swipe of lipstick.




From left to right: Red Velvet, Candy Apple, Raspberry Pie, Lollipop, Pink Truffle, and Peach Parfait

I AM IN LOVE WITH THESE! At the risk of becoming a hoarder, I am considering going back for a handful of other shades.

My lips are incredibly dry in the winter and I always have a lip balm by my side even if I have a lipstick. These truly are like lip balm and lip stick mashed together. My lips are medium-pigmented so the darker shades stay pretty intense and true to their actual colors, like lipstick. At the same time, they are moisturizing and truly do have a buttery-soft application, like lipbalm.

The above swatches were taken in natural lighting but are a tinge more yellow than in reality, due to my skin tone.

If you are a A) lipbalm or lipgloss wearer B) want to try more dramatic shades but are afraid C) are too lazy to carry a lipbalm and lipstick or D) all of the above and then some.....HUNT THESE BABIES DOWN PRONTO!!

You will not regret it!

These were officially set to release in October 2011 in the US and January 2012 in Canada but there have been a number of sightings reported at Rexall and Shopper's Drug Mart locations across the country.

They retail approximately $9.50 and are now available at selected drugstores. I imagine they will be more widely available next month.

PS: If you didn't bother to read my entire review - the Cole's Notes version is...BUY THEM. YOU'LL LIKE THEM.

REVIEW: Revlon ColorBurst Lipstick in Peach

I can't get enough of the Revlon Colorburst line! I'm loving both the lipsticks and lipglosses. I just wish they came out with more colors in both versions or better yet, more colors and corresponding lipstick/lipgloss pairs.

The application of every single lipstick and lipgloss in this line - both dark and light colors, cremes and frosts, have been a creamy smooth consistency with great color payoff . It is also very moisturizing and those without dry lips during the winter can definitely go without a lipbalm.

In the lipstick version, I currently have Petal, Mauve, and Rosy Nude so I was looking for something different. I tend to stay away from anything with even a hint of orange because it's usually unflattering for my medium Asian skin tone. However, this particular shade called "Peach" caught my eye as its not heavy on the orange - this seemed to be the perfect blend of orange, pink, and brown.









The color payoff is not as good as the other shades, not in terms of opacity but more so, similarity between swatched color and product color in its solid state. This particular one reminds me of the MAC Slimshine a little! I was expecting something slightly bolder but it really does come off as a light peachy color.

The color is slightly more intense and redder than in the photo but not by much. (the lighting at the time made things look all dream like for some reason. I tried to photoshop it out but just ended up giving up!)

I still need to get used to the hints of orange in this color. It's almost too orange for my tastes but I suspect I may be the only one who thinks that - I'm just not used to peach or corals...much more of a brownish pink kind of gal.

Here's the color swatched in natural indirect light:



Isn't it beautiful? I think it would look just gawjus with a lighter complexion and strawberry blond hair. It is however, still quite wearable on ladies with darker skin tones.

Revlon ColorBurst Lipstick retails for approx. $9-11CDN and can be found at all the usual suspects - discount department stores like Walmart and Zellers as well as drugstores like Shoppers Drug Mart, Rexall, London Drug, etc. You can often find them on sale, too.

I would never pay retail but that's only because I know drugstore cosmetics are almost always on sale somewhere or another so why pay retail? But if these line was carried by a more premium brand, I wouldn't notice the difference.

REVIEW: Revlon ColorBurst Lipgloss in Fire, Sienna Sparkle, and Papaya

I tend to go with non-drugstore brands for eye shadows because I find drugstore brand eyeshadows (Rimmel, Maybelline, Covergirl, etc.) tend to be coarser, too powdery, less pigmented, etc. There's been a few gems here and there but I'm willing to pay a bit more to try the formula before I buy.

For lips however, I only go with higher end brands for their color and sometimes the fabulously pretty packaging. I find that most drugstore brand formulas (with the exception of those $1-2 ELF, NYC, or Wet 'n' Wild lipsticks which are totally hit or miss) work just as well as their designer sisters.

One of my favourite drugstore brands for lip color is Revlon. Maybelline and L`Oreal have really stepped up their game recently with their respective Color Sensational and Infalliable lines, but I just love the look of Revlon's black and silver packaging on their Matte and ColorBurst lines, especially the quilting on the latter.

The product inside does not disappoint. Replace "Revlon" on the packaging and I'm not sure you would really notice a difference between it and some of the more expensive department and boutique brands. The pigmentation in their ColorBurst lipsticks are great (read my review here) and the same can be said of the lipglosses.

I reviewed the gloss in Strawberry back in June and loved it so much (read my review here) that I recently picked up 3 more colors: Fire, Sienna Sparkle, and Papaya.

Fire is a creamy bright red. It is very pigmented and can be built into a opaque high gloss - think sexy red heels! I would wear a very sheer layer for the office and apply with a heavier hand for night.

Sienna Sparkle is a plummy brown with gold shimmer. This is a beautiful shade but might be a little too dark and brown for pale blondes but for those with more pigmented lips or darker skin, this is a beautiful your-lips-but-better color with shimmer.

Papaya is a peachy coral with a slight hint of shimmer. This one is semi-opaque and the most wearable, I think. This color would be too pale and Nicki Minaj-esque in a lipstick version so I'm glad there's this gloss alternative.













I love the applicators on these glosses. They pick up just enough product and really hug your lips. And the fuzzy part feels so soft! I do wish the plastic "spatula" was just a tad stiffer.





Here's a size comparison of the ColorBurst lipgloss beside a classic Revlon lipstick.



These glosses are not very sticky. I imagine on someone who didn't lick their lips often (I must be one of those women who eats 5 pounds of lipstick a year or whatever the statistic is) this would last a few hours...perhaps the darker/brighter colors a bit more so.

If you're familiar with MAC, I would say they last about the same as Creamsheen or Dazzleglasses.....less than Lipglasses but more than Lipgelees.

I`m really impressed with Revlon and in particular, the entire ColorBurst line. Both the lipstick and gloss are soft and moisturizing yet pack a good wallop of color. And the color selection is great - very fashion forward shades. No frosty pinks or pearly browns here!

The Revlon ColorBurst Lipglosses are available at all the usual suspects in Canada - Shopper's, Rexall, Zellers, Wal-Mart, etc. for $10-11CDN. The lowest price I have seen is $4.99 at Rexall and I give myself a little kick for missing that sale.

Revlon Colorburst Lipgloss in Strawberry

When I saw this tube of lipgloss, I made a beeline right to it. The color just called to me, as if it were holding a giant sign reading "Summer Time".

Revlon calls this color Strawberry and if we were talking ice cream flavors, I would say aptly named. But I think of this shade more as watermelon, a perfect blend of red and pink with a warm undertone. Not too red and dramatic, not too pink and cutesy. The gloss is semi-opaque and shimmers with pink, silver, and I believe a bit of gold, micro glitter. I LOVE this color and have been adding similar shades to my collection of not only lip colors but blush, nail polish, and even clothes. In the words of the Black Eyed Peas...."I just can't get enough."

The Colorburst lipglosses are supposed to provide excellent color payoff and five times the shine in a weightless and moisturizing formula. I'm not sure how exactly you measure "five times" the shine but the formula is quite glossy and the color as vivid as advertised. These feel thicker than the MAC lip jellies but lighter than their lipglasses. They're really the perfect consistency if you're looking for shine without the stickiness.

The applicator curves to the lips and makes application easier. Whereas most sponge-tip applicators are cylindrical, this one is almost like a spatula but thick and velvety enough to prevent bending and maintain comfort. (Rimmel has a lipgloss with a plastic spatula applicator and it's quite aweful!)

As with the Revlon ColorBurst lipsticks, I quite like the chic black quilted packaging and this slim tube is very similar to the Chanel Glossimers. If you're on a budget and looking for an alternative, I really recommend these. The colors they have come out with so far (about 15) are all very wearable but most also very "on trend". If you want to try out the bold lips that have come back this past year but too conservative to wear the lipstick, try this gloss. One coat will give you a nice translucent color but the formula is buildable enough to allow for a bolder look.

REVIEW: Revlon Colorburst Lipsticks

It was just the other day that I said I was a sucker for pretty packaging and I did not lie.

The elegant quilted packaging is what caught my eye at first. I tried a few colors on my hand but didn't buy. I have tons of lip and eye colors lying dormant under my sinkl the victims of impulse purchasing. I'm less hasty these days and prefer to check online for reviews and swatches first.

If you haven't already heard of this line, you might as well know now! They've received a lot of hype on the makeup community as the perfect cream lipstick - excellent color payoff, moisturizing, and long lasting.







I ended up with Mauve, Petal, and Rosy Nude. Mauve is purplish pink that would work for all skin tones. Unlike Lilac, which was quite purple and cool toned, Mauve seems both cool and warmed toned in different lighting. Petal is a shimmery light peach that's perfect for summer. Reminds me of NARS Orgasm lipgloss but lighter and less orange. Rosy Nude is just as its name implies, a your-lips-but-better shade for more pigmented lips. For pale girls, it's a brownish rose. True nudes give me 'concealer lips' so I need something slightly darker and warmer and this shade is the winner.

The lipstick goes on with the consistency of a lipbalm and remains moist during its stay on your lips. I think the name "Colorburst" is a little misleading. Colorbuild would be a much more accurate description. This lipstick is very light but buildable. With a light swipe, it's similar to a tinted lipbalm (especially in the lighter colors) but with another coat or two it turns opaque.

I highly recommend this lipstick, especially if you're not used to wearing bolder colors (like me!) and want to work your way up to something more dramatic. As well, if you work in an office environment (again like me!) this is a space and time saver. A light swipe during the day for a professional look and a heavier application after work if you're going out.

**My apologies, my photos are not the most accurate. I find all my lights are quite yellow. One of those "natural light" bulbs is definitely on the to-buy list.**