MAC Cremesheen in Creme Cup

Last year was all about bold, hot, pink lipsticks for me. Talk about NARS Schiap and MAC Pink Nouveau as my daily power lipstick. I just adore how it brightens my face even without any other makeup involved. But after awhile, I kinda got tired of my Barbie pink lippies so I looked for something pale. And so I learned about MAC Cremesheen in Creme Cup (Rustans, Php 1000).

 

 

It was my first time to try a MAC Cremesheen lipstick and I must say I am loving it. It is not matte nor glossy, just somewhere in between, thus, it isn't drying but still has good staying power. MAC's Pink Nouveau has a Satin finish and it has a nice amount of moisture when you apply it. But mid-day I noticed that it tends to clump on my lips, making it look cracked. That's not the case with MAC Creme Cup. It feels like a lip balm with a nice color payoff.

 

 

Pros:

Nice pale pink color perfect for daily use, or to pair with bold or smokey eyeshadows

Good staying power. I reapply after 4 hours or after eating

Not drying

Nice smell

Cons:

Can look too washed-out when worn alone. Ideally, it should be worn with a statement blush or bold/smokey eye makeup

Price can turn some off (not me, definitely!)

 

lip swatch under flourescent lighting

hand swatch

With my satisfaction with MAC Creme Cup, I am now eyeing MAC Shy Girl or Ravishing as my next lippie haul. Help me choose please! I am NC30. =)

Avon Shine Attract Lipstick in Guava

I've been seeing Anne Curtis' ad on the walls of Ayala Avenue's underpass - the one with her signature red luscious lips - and so when I saw Avon's Shine Attract Lipstick on my neighbor's brochure, I ordered one just to give to it a try. I got the one in Guava, a natural-looking apricot shade.

The formula (or presentation) is quite unique, as it is a mousse lipstick on the center, surrounded by clear lipgloss on the side. 

Pros:

Nice nude-apricot shade

Moisturizing

Sleek packaging

Cons:

Color payoff is so-so

Not longwearing

Hard to apply

I am just thankful I didn't get the red one, as I am pretty sure it is harder to apply. I use this now on top of my Avon Simply Pretty Lip and Cheek Tint, the way I use a lip balm before.

Product Spotlight: Colour Collection Colour Intense Lipstick in Salmon

The latest addiction to my lipstick collex is Colour Collection Colour Intense Lipstick in Salmon. As many have predicted, orange, tangerine and coral are the colors of the year 2012. So, I am currently on the lookout for the best orange and coral lipstick that will ignite me like MAC Pink Nouveau. Yes, I somehow need (or rather want) an orange or coral POWER LIPSTICK. I read MAC Morange is nice, but am still saving up for this. =)

Without further ado, here is Colour Collection Colour Intense Lipstick in Salmon. 

This is a nice neutral salmon shade that's orangey and brownish at the same time. It is near Maybelline's Cozy Tangerine, but a lot creamier and longlasting. For best results, use with a nude lipliner to hide lip pigmentation. I like the formula because it is not drying and not too glossy as well.

NYX Round Lipsticks in Hot Pink and Muse

I stopped buying makeup a few months ago because I was too focused on travelling and travel blogging. When hubby gave me the traincase, my interest in makeup artistry was reignited. So I started browsing the beauty thread on Girltalk to revisit threads on my favorite brands like NARS, NYX, MAC and others. I came across Shen's blog and saw swatches of NYX RLS in Hot Pink and I was instantly enticed to buy one. I visited the Hyphen Store in Prosperity Bazaar in Ayala Ave. (Beside Smart Bldg.) and asked if they have that shade. To my delight, not only did they have the shade that I want, they also have a clearance sale of their NYX  round lipsticks.

Here's NYX RLS in Hot Pink. It's brighter than NYX RLS in Paris but not as stunning as MAC Pink  Noveau. What I like about this NYX haul is that I did not smell anything weird with these lipsticks this time. I remember my NYX Paris smells and tastes like perfume or soap or something floral, which kinda turned me off.

NYX  RLS in Muse reminds me of NARS Lip Lacquer in Baby Doll. It's a very nice frosted nude shade that's perfect for bridal makeup or can perfectly match smokey eyes.

I haven't got the chance to take swatch photos of these but I will soon.

NARS Sheer Lipstick and Lipgloss in Dolce Vita

I have been reading raves about these lippies as one of bestselling ‘My Lips But Better” from NARS. As NARS website described it, it is a dusty rose sheer lipstick that flatters practically all skin tones. And I must agree, it is a very safe shade of lippie. Lately, I find myself grabbing this one more than my MAC Viva Glam VI lippie. Luckily, the one that I got comes with a lipgloss in the same shade. When I use the lipstick and lipgloss together, the staying power is uber longlasting. I use it in the morning, eat snacks by 10:30 am then lunch at 1pm, still the color is there, only the gloss was wiped away. But when I use just the lipstick, the staying power is good but there’s a need for retouch after eating. I came to realize then that it lipgloss version is more pigmented as the color stays longer when I use it without the lipstick. But the gloss is way way stickier than the lipstick, or than any other lipgloss for that matter. Perhaps that attributes to its long staying power, it sticks to your lips much.

I read in the website that Dolce Vita has the Velvet matte Lipliner version,too! I’ve tried Velvet Matte Lip Liner in Bahama, and the staying power is nice too. I think i should try Velvet Matte Lip Liner in Dolce Vita too to see if this is an equivalent of the Dolce Vita lipstick plus lipgloss in one tube.

MAC Viva Glam VI

There came a time last month when I felt tired of my old pink Dior lipgloss and Burt’s Bees lip balm. It is as if one day, I woke up and suddenly I missed the warm nude lippie look. When I went out for an official business ( I work fulltime in the corporate world), I was able to pass by Marionnaud (this is my fave MAC store among others) and I asked the SA what nude lippie could she recommend. Something that I can wear everyday. She gave me the famous nude lippie “Hug Me”. I tried it and find it too light for my liking. I want something that will make my complexion look a little warm, even without using a bronzer on my cheeks. She let me try “Taupe” but I find too matte, though I know that it has nice staying power because of its pigment. Then she remembered she still has stocks of Viva Glam Series. I tried Viva Glam VI and I was inloved at it right away.

Viva Glam VI is a little warmer than Hug Me. It belongs to the “lustre’ family so it is not too opaque nor too sheer for me. It does not cracks my lips too because it has good hydrating powers! Since it is a “luster” lippie, staying power is good but not as longwearing as matte lippies. Overall, I think I will be able to finish this tube as it becomes my staple lippie. I want to try Viva Glam I (red) too but I am not sure if it is still available in Marionnaud. I hope MAC Viva Glam VI lippie will be retained in their regular line, for all eternity. =)