Smashbox Lip Tech (Sangria, Peony, Maple)

If I remember correctly, I ordered the three Lip Tech colors from Smashbox minutes after I saw them in an email newsletter. The shades, the packaging, the applicator and the new formula were too appealing to pass. I don't have too many matte lipsticks because  dry textures rarely look good on me. But the promise of Vitamin E, emollients and a cushiony feel captured my attention.

Now, matte is matte and will never be really balmy or cushiony, but these Lip Tech are definitely comfortable and not drying, and as a result my lips look good when wearing them and there's no flaking or pooling in the natural lip texture. You still need to make sure your lips are in great condition- exfoliate, moisturize- the works. But that's always true, right?

Every Lip Tech pan comes with a silicone applicator hidden in an inside compartment in the compact. I absolutely love them- these tiny applicators are grab the perfect amount of color, glide and coat easily and keep everything nice and clean. You know I'm not a fan of fingers in my lip products, so this is the perfect solution and saves on toting around a lip brush. Why don't other brands have silicone applicators for lip color?  Actually, I'd buy them in packets of ten at the drugstore if they were available.

I got three of the four colors Smashbox offered. Sangria is a rosy plum, Peony is a warm brownish pink and Maple is very similar withe extra brown. You can see how close the last two really are in the swatches, and I can tell you that on my lips they look practically the same. Actually, since my lips are quite pigmented, in natural indoors light Sangria looks like a slightly darker and a bit more purple version of the other two- they are much more sheer than you'd think. Strong light helps to show the difference, though, and if your lips are pale you'll get the full effect.

Bottom Line: I really really like it.

Smashbox Lip Tech lipsticks ($24 each) are available from smashbox.com.

All photos are mine.

Ellis Faas Creamy Lips L101 Ellis Red

Ellis Faas makeup line is modern and dramatic from the innovative packaging to the range of colors. And nothing is more drama than a very red lipstick, which is Ellis Faas' signature item. Creamy Lips is a liquid lipstick in a sleek pen with a sponge applicator. The formula is long-lasting and can act as a lip stain or a full coverage lipstick, depending on the amount you apply. But that's not the whole story- the texture is also extremely soft and moisturizing: it makes lips look and feel good for hours.

I've been playing with my Creamy Lips- applying straight from the pen, using a lip brush, blending with a balm to dilute the color or use over a lip primer. no matter what I do, it always looks good and leaves enough pigment for many hours. The lipstick's effect is still evident even after lunch or a  drink. While some of the color and finish transfers to the cup, my lips still look painted and feel soft and smooth. That alone is pretty amazing.

Ellis Red (L101) is the signature color of this collection and can be found in all three lipstick ranges (Creamy, Glazed and Milky). It was developed to look as close to "blood red" as possible, and you can tell from my somewhat disturbing swatch photo that this goal was fully achieved. Wearing Ellis Red makes your lip the focal point of your face, so make sure they're in top shape. Another thing to consider about the shade is that it brings out any redness and/or skin issue. So if you plan on wearing L101, take the time to do the works and cover any hint of imperfection. Use a good primer (preferably one that tones down any redness), a medium-to-full-coverage foundation, dab and blend concealers and highlighters where necessary and set everything with the finest powder you own. It's high maintenance, for sure, but absolutely necessary when wearing an Oscar night worthy red lipstick.

Bottom line: A must try for any red lip addict.

Ellis Faas Creamy Lips ($35) is exclusive to Bergdorf Goodman and Liberty London(€25.00). I recieved mine at a Bergdorf media event.

All photos are mine.

Lorac Breakthrough Performance Lipstick (Ingenue & Leading Lady)

Lorac is one of those brands that are often unjustly overlooked. I don't know if it's because the creator, celebrity makeup artist Carol Shaw, doesn't have the knack for Bobbi Brown-like PR, or the fact the products are sold at Sephora but not at the department stores fabulousity shrines. In any case, the coordinated palettes are among the best you can find, and now there's also an excellent lipstick, Breakthrough Performance with SPF 15.

First, there's the sleek, creamy texture. It glides on like a gel, feels soft and comfortable, and even though the pigment is very rich and the coverage very close to full, it doesn't sink into the scar on my bottom lip. While the almost glossy shine doesn't survive lunch, some of the pigment stays longer. You still need to reapply for the SPF and any other antiaging benefits.

The colors I chose (for now. I see a couple more in my future) are the dramatic red Leading Lady and the dark rose Ingenue. Leading Lady is a Hollywood red, perfectly balanced in undertones- not too blue or too orange. It's a bit darker than watermelon red and is a perfect accompaniment to that little black dress. Ingenue is the kind of rose I think of as my signature lipstick color. It enhances my natural pigment, works well with my skin tone and makes a perfect everyday shade. If you're pale you can probably still pull it off- Ingenue would make a lovely evening shade for a fair complexion that looks good in rose and berry.

Lorac Breakthrough Performance Lipstick ($22) is available from Sephora. I ordered them online as my local store was (as always) out of stock.

Photos by me.

Le Metier de Beaute Kaleidoscope Lip Kit And Creme Lip Gloss

Le Metier de Beaute lip products are exactly what you'd expect them to be- beautiful and luxurious.

The Lip Kaleidoscope Kit is a palette of four gel-like liquid lipsticks. The colors are intense and can be used separately, but like most Le Metier de Beaute products, they are meant to be mixed and customized according to your preference and mood, and the texture makes blending very easy. They apply smoothly, feel light and soft and stay on relatively well (there's still some color left after lunch). The one you see here is Red Rapture, a limited edition. Last time I was at Bergdorf they still had a couple of them stashed under the counter.




The Creme Lip Gloss is exactly what you see- shiny and shimmery. The one I have, Cocoa Creme, is a warm, light bronze. I got it as PR freebie, so I didn't get to choose the color (I'd probably get the Framboise Creme), but somehow it became my go-to gloss on many summer nights. I wore it on its own, but I've also been experimenting with it over several lipsticks and it adds a lot of depth to them.

The custard-like scent seems very attractive to cats. I've had more than one feline of unusual size get in my face and try to lick the gloss. It's quite cute, except for the tuna-breath issue.

Bottom line: Top notch quality. What's not to love (other than the price)?

Le Metier de Beaute Kaleidoscope Lip Kit ($95) and Creme Lip Gloss ($36) are available from Neiman Marcus and Bergdorf Goodman on my side of the world, and Liberty in the UK.

All photos are mine.

Chanel Rouge Allure Lip Laque

Chanel is having a brilliant season. Most of the new products and colors are sensational and there's a lot of positive buzz around them. The Rouge Allure Lip Laque, a series of eight liquid lipsticks with a glossy shine, has been out in Europe for nearly six months before arriving here, but I forgot my resentment about it soon after I started testing.

Liquid lipsticks can be high maintenance and have an annoying tendency to end up on one's teeth, but it seems Chanel has found the perfect texture for the Rouge Allure Laque. The sponge applicator picks the right amount of product, spreads it easily and quickly coats the lips. There's no excess goop to wipe and blot. The initial feel is that of a gloss, but the pigment is very rich and deep and the staying power is phenomenal- four or five hours, a snack and two drinks, it's still on. The shine fades, but the color stays on. The best part is how it feels: weightless. Most long lasting lip products are drying and make me want dive lips first into a pot of lip balm. And also cry. Not Rouge Allure, and that alone buys the laquers a place in my makeup drawer.

My colors of choice are Imperial (#73) and Dynastie (#74). Both can be described as rosy reds, and as you can see they look different in full sun and in the shade. Imperial is warmer and more red when actually worn on the lips, while Dynastie has more pink. Imperial has a bigger personality.

Bottom line: Big love.

Chanel Rouge Allure Lip Laque ($32) are available from every decent department store and chanel.com.

All photos are mine.

Dior Creme de Gloss

Dior offers so many lip products it's not so easy to keep them straight. Still, Crème de Gloss deserves a lot more attention and hype, as it just might be the best Dior lip gloss.

Crème de Gloss is a hybrid: something between a liquid lipstick and lip gloss. The coverage and pigment intensity are lipstick-like, but the texture is super light, moisturizing and glossy. Amazingly enough, it's not sticky. Unlike most liquid lipsticks, there are no goop and migration issues- Crème de Gloss stays where you put it (and application is easy and accurate. The slanted sponge wand is perfect for this texture) and never tries to meet your teeth. It feels great on the lips and the moisture holds up nicely, though the staying power is similar to any light gloss and requires reapplying after your first cup of tea.

The color range is impressive and full of great shades. The one I picked from Sephora is Creamy Burgundy (735) which actually looked darker at the store, so when I opened it at home I wondered if I made a mistake. The color looked a bit too warm and I wasn't sure I liked it. Until I put it on. Creamy Burgundy is a medium red that makes my face come alive. It's incredibly flattering and doesn't compete for attention with the rest of my makeup. It would be appropriate for day/office on most, unless you're extremely fair and keep red lip colors for evening only.

Creamy Burgundy has a luminous finish- somewhere between pearly and shimmery. It's delicate- not glittery or porn star-frosted. Other colors have a satin finish and I'm planning to check Plum Elixir and Creamy Rose next time I'm at the Dior counter.

Dior Crème de Gloss ($26) is available from most decent department stores and Sephora.

Photos: Mine

Kevyn Aucoin - Liquid Patent Lip

Kevyn Aucoin's Liquid Patent Lip in Infernelle is a beautiful rich burgundy liquid lipstick that gives full coverage and lots of shine. The issue, like with many liquid lipsticks, is applying just the right amount and not a drop more, otherwise you end up quickly blotting the mess and wiping your teeth.

The pen tends to dispense more goop than you need for one application, so I prefer to dip a separate lipstick brush in the color on the built-in brush and apply a smaller amount as needed. But you can also make it work as is, just pay attention and use a good lip liner. The color is great and the lasting power somewhere between a thick gloss and a sheer lipstick.

Kevyn Aucoin Liquid Patent Lip ($27) is available at Bergdorf Goodman (in store) and beauty.com.

All photos are mine.