Tag Archives: swatches

CHANEL | Arabesque Harmonies Lèvres, La Perle de CHANEL Collection

March 2, 2015

Press sample provided for my unbiased consideration

CHANEL’s Arabesque Harmonie Lèvres (Limited Edition, CAN $75.00) released as part of the La Perle de CHANEL Collection, is a grouping of 5 complementary lip shades in one convenient compact. Inspired by the beauty of the ballet, these 5 rose-hued lip shades (2 glosses, 3 lipsticks) can be worn individually or mixed & matched to create plenty of interesting and personalized layering combinations.

Other items from La Perle de CHANEL Collection previously reviewed, include:

CHANEL | Arabesque Harmonie Lèvres, La Perle de CHANEL Collection

Arabesque Harmonie Lèvres, Limited Edition | A selection of five lip shades in one palette, consisting of 2 glosses (the lightest hues) and 3 lipsticks. The compact bears a large mirror on the inner lid (convenient for on-the-go touch ups) and includes 2 dual-ended & slant-headed lip brushes that are surprisingly well made, enabling you to apply each shade with ease. Fragranced with CHANEL’s signature rose scent (relatively undetectable when applied) it’s still worth noting for those with sensitivities.

Both glosses are non-sticky in feel and come in a slightly thicker formula than what you’d typically find in the brand’s tube glosses, bearing CHANEL’s patented extra-fine shimmer that feels ultra-smooth upon the lips. With regards to staying power, the glosses wear typically about 2-3 hours on me and always leave my lips feeling well nourished. The three lipstick shades need a bit of work initially to build up the colour (most noticeable when the palette is new, not an issue with continued use) and are unique in that the colour seems to almost intensify once applied (or so it appears to me), becoming fully pigmented upon the lips and with a finish that is less than a gloss, but more than satin. I’m able to get between 5-6 hours wear out of the lipstick shades, with a light stain left behind on the lips once the majority of colour has worn off and a well hydrated sensation upon the lips throughout the wearing, as well as after the colour has faded.

Arabesque 1 – pale peach-tinted pink gloss with a ultra-fine silver shimmer (non-gritty)
Arabesque 2 – warm rose gloss with fine sparser silver shimmer (non-gritty)
Arabesque 3 – true rose-pink, warm leaning, pigmented, no shimmer, gloss/satin finish
Arabesque 4 – bright pink, cooler-leaning, pigmented, no shimmer, gloss/satin finish
Arabesque 5 – rosewood pink, both cool & warm leaning, ultra-fine shimmer (detectable more in the pan than on the lips), lighter pigmentation, gloss/satin finish

In the past, I’ve tended to pass on lip palettes for a variety of reasons, whether that was because not all shades drew me in, or the fact that they have the potential to become rather messy with use. That being said, there is something so lovely about Arabesque, that resisting its allure becomes pointless. Factor in that every shade is easily wearable by a wide variety of complexions and the excellent texture of each individual colour, and you have a winner. Another advantage to Arabesque, is in its versatility; rather than carrying around a bevy of lip products, these five hues can literally take you from day/work to evening with just a quick change-up. To round things off, there’s the numerous layering possibilities of these shades, where creating a unique customized lip colour is basically in the palm of your had.

CHANEL | Arabesque Harmonie Lèvres, La Perle de CHANEL Collection

CHANEL | Arabesque 1 swatch Harmonie Lèvres

CHANEL | Arabesque 2 swatch Harmonie Lèvres

CHANEL | Arabesque 3 swatch Harmonie Lèvres

CHANEL | Arabesque 4 swatch Harmonie Lèvres

CHANEL | Arabesque 5 swatch Harmonie Lèvres

CHANEL | Arabesque 1 & 5 swatch Harmonie Lèvres

CHANEL | Arabesque 2 & 4 swatch Harmonie Lèvres

CHANEL | Arabesque Harmonie Lèvres swatches (in sunlight)

CHANEL | Arabesque Harmonie Lèvres swatches (alternate lighting)

I don’t own many lip palettes (apart from 1 from MAC, I actually own 3 from CHANEL that were released about 20 years ago – and they have surprisingly lasted rancid-free to now), and I confess to being skeptical about Arabesque at first – both in terms of usefulness and suitability. I’m so happy to to say that every shade I apply impresses me, both in terms of feel and how it appears against my skin tone. There’s something fresh and modern about these rose hues, and they add a gorgeous brightness to my completed makeup look (at least, the lipstick shades do – the glosses have their own unique brilliant beauty), while the layering possibilities make this one of the most versatile pieces you can own in your beauty arsenal. The only downside, is the steep price, although you might say that it’s offset by getting 5 totally wearable shades in 1 compact. Regardless, I’m absolutely loving these colours (and I never wear pink/rose hues, so that says it all).

Available now for a limited time. Find more information via chanel.com

YSL Beauté | La Laque Couture 58 Nuit Blanche & 59 Nuit Noire

February 27, 2015

Shimmering like sequins upon the nails, La Laque Couture 58 Nuit Blanche and 59 Nuit Noire (CAN $27.00/Limited Edition), part of the Yves Saint Laurent Beauté Désir de Jour Collection for Spring 2015 (Lumière de Jour Palette previously reviewed), draw their inspiration from the duality found within each woman, although the complex nature of each shade seems to blur that line even more. Feminine charm, rebel spirit or a little bit of both?

Note that each bottle has a removable outer cap with the inner cap ridged for ease of use. The brush is well proportioned to pick up the right amount of product, while the bristles have an excellent flexibility and splay, making the whole application process relatively goof-proof. Newly reformulated, all La Laque Couture polishes now include Rose Oil to help strengthen the nails.

YSL Beauté | La Laque Couture 58 Nuit Blanche & 59 Nuit Noire

La Laque Couture 58 Nuit Blanche | A clear base filled with ultra-fine prismatic glitter as well as irregularly shaped mylar flakes. The formula falls on the thick side although still makes for an easy application, enabling the polish to stay exactly where placed without any pooling or migrating into surrounding skin.

Worn alone, there’s decent coverage with 2 coats (especially on shorter nails – there will still be visible nail line apparent on longer nails) giving off an icy, snowflake-like effect with an absolutely gorgeous iridescence. Layering Nuit Blanche – in particular over a dark shade – will bring out its twilight nature, displaying more of a blue/purple flash (as seen in the last swatches). Relatively smooth to the touch with a layer of top coat, be prepared for a bit of glitter dispersal upon removal (easily cleaned up with a second pass of your remover). Coats applied: 2, plus top coat

YSL Beauté | La Laque Couture 58 Nuit Blanche

La Laque Couture 59 Nuit Noire | A semi-sheer charcoal base that is filled with fine black and silver glitter pieces in a formula that is somewhat thinner than that of Nuit Blanche. There is a good amount of glitter per brushstroke – no ‘fishing’ required, and while dark, you’ll still see a light translucency upon the nails even with two coats, which I actually prefer as it keeps the look fresh & modern this way. Another unique feature of Nuit Noire, is the light moiré pattern that almost appears to be under the glitter but still at the surface level of the polish – elusive, mysterious and hard to capture in pictures, but you can just barely see it here. Coats applied: 2, plus top coat

With 1 coat of Nuit Blanche layered over 2 coats of Nuit Noire (as on the last three swatches shown below), you achieve what I call ‘accidental galaxy nails’. This combination looks even more spectacular in person, as you can clearly appreciate every single nuance and prismatic flash. The depth of tone achieved from layering these two, is nothing short of hypnotic to behold – I need to stop here, because I’ve run out of superlatives. No more words for the love (also, this combo is smooth to the touch with a layer of top coat).

YSL Beauté | La Laque Couture 59 Nuit Noire

YSL Beauté | La Laque Couture 58 Nuit Blanche over 59 Nuit Noire

Black & White – a theme that transcends time and fashion, and yet YSL Beauté manages to reinvent these two standard shades with the addition of glitter and flakes. Nuit Blanche is one of those lacquers that will leave you mesmerized simply holding the bottle in your hand (the snow globe effect), and I guarantee that you’ll want to layer it over EVERYTHING just to see the colour shift it gives. Nuit Noire has a quieter presence, until the light catches on the glitter pieces and just like that, it morphs into something elegant and feral at the same time. Verdict? Both are just spectacular and so well worth picking up.

Available at Yves Saint Laurent Beauté counters across Canada (Holt Renfrew, The Bay)

Press samples provided for my unbiased consideration

Benefit | Roller Lash Mascara

February 25, 2015

Mascara, with its rapid-fire transformative power, can rev up your look with just a few quick swipes – no special skill set needed. Benefit, the brand at the top of the retro-packaging game (that is simultaneously kitschy + addictive … and way too much fun to look at), is taking things up a notch with their new Roller Lash Mascara (CAN $29.00 launching on February 27th) that aims to not only give you mile-long lashes, but also eliminate the need for any pre-curling via its 12-hour innovative setting formula.

PS: My press kit arrived with Roller Lash tucked cozily inside this adorable little makeup bag, which also held 3 vintage-style rollers. The crazy part? I actually remember using these exact rollers back in the day.

Benefit | Roller Lash Mascara

Benefit’s new Roller Lash is a black mascara that claims to hook, lift, and curl your lashes via a unique Hook ‘N’ Roll Brush (patent-pending) and an innovative 12-hour setting formula, free of parabens, sulfates, and phthalates.

My eyelashes are relatively long (blonder tips give the illusion of a slightly shorter length) with a decent enough thickness and natural curl. As a self-professed mascara fiend, my standards for what constitutes a good mascara are rather demanding and high; for starters, I want my mascara to be easily buildable, flake-proof, and smudge free (all non-negotiable), with a preference for the formula to fall on the wetter side. Why wet? Mainly because it takes a few seconds longer to dry/set which gives you a bit of play time as far as separating/combing through the lashes is concerned, and will most likely not dry out in the tube as fast as other mascaras. Another deal-breaker is crunchy lashes — although clumps I can live with (easily removed with a lash comb, or camouflaged with other makeup). My favourite mascaras, are those that give me both volume and length, and having curl hold is something I’ve always considered a bonus.

Results: First things first, Roller Lash while not 100% odourless, has a very mild and inoffensive scent – points scored for this. Secondly, the tube fits comfortably in one’s hand with the rubberized & ridged feel of the cap making for a solid grip. Lately, I’ve been getting more into curved mascara brush heads, and the one found on Roller Lash seems to be angled just right for getting down to the nitty-gritty roots of lashes. The brush also sports bristles of varying lengths, with the shortest being on the inner part of the curve – which has this interesting ‘hooking’ effect (and that totally remind me of the little barbs on a cat’s tongue) that do a good job of gripping lash hairs for easy product deposit. Lastly, I really appreciate that the brush doesn’t come out of the tube loaded up with product; in fact, you almost don’t need to wipe off any excess at all.

As far as actual results go, the swatch photos below (note that I did NOT use a lash curler at all) make my going into detail rather redundant, but in a nutshell: you get separation, length, and curl that holds throughout the wearing, and while there’s enough body given to the lashes even with the first coat, do not expect high-impact volume. That aside, Roller Lash is an amazing mascara that definitely delivers on its promises. Not the blackest mascara I own, but dark enough nevertheless (50 Shades of Black?). I experience no ‘crescent-moon’ smudging (those annoying shadows under the eyes – as if one actually desires to look punched), and barring a couple of ultra-fine flakes, the wear is excellent until removed. Which brings me to the last ‘benefit’ (couldn’t resist) – removal is effortlessly accomplished with your go-to remover (my Holy Grail is the dual-phase one by Neutrogena), without the need for excessive force, tugging or pulling on that most precious of commodities, your lashes. Some nutshell this was, lol!

Benefit | Roller Lash Mascara

Ingredients

Water, Paraffin, Cera Alba (Beeswax), Polybutene, Bis-Diglyceryl Polyacyladipate-2, Palmatic Acid, Stearic Acid, Triethanolamine, Vp/ Eiosene Copolymer, Acacia Senegalgum, Copernicia Cerifrea (Carnauba Wax), Euphorbia Cerifera (Candeulla) Wax, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Silica, Phenoxyethanol, Panthenol, Butylene Glycol, Caprylyl Glycol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Align Serine, Bht. [+/-: Cl 19140 (Yellow 5,Yellow 5 Lake) Cl 42090 (Blue 1 Lake) Cl 77007 (Ultramarines), Cl 77163 (Bismuth Oxychloride)), Cl 77288 (Chromium Oxide Greens) Cl 772889 ((Chromium Hydroxide Green) Cl 77491, Cl 77492, Cl 77499 (Iron Oxides), Cl 77510 (Ferric Ferrocyanide, Ferric Ammonium Ferrocyanide), Cl 77742 (Manganese Violet), Cl 77891 (Titanium Dioxide)]

{Bare lashes}

Benefit | Roller Lash Mascara, with 1 coat applied

Benefit | Roller Lash Mascara, with 2 coats applied

Benefit | Roller Lash Mascara

Never having tried every mascara that Benefit has ever produced, Roller Lash has impressed me enough to land a spot in my go-to drawer of products. I would have liked to see a little more in the volume department (another option is a mascara cocktail – using Roller Lash for length and curl, and a thicker formula for volume. Works like a charm), but that aside, I love the length and separation this gives me. I put Roller Lash head to head up against pre-curled lashes, and it still seemed to magically give the appearance of more – and continued – lift. Verdict: totally worth it.

Available as of February 27th at all Benefit counters across Canada, Sephora and Sephora.ca

Press sample provided for my unbiased consideration

Maybelline | Color Sensational Creamy Mattes

February 24, 2015

The matte lip trend continues to show no sign of letting up, and cosmetics giant Maybelline has thrown the gauntlet down to all other mass-market brands (including several department store brands, for that matter), with their Color Sensational® Creamy Matte range of lipsticks (CAN $9.99 available in 8 shades, 10 in the US).

Previously, the mere mention of ‘matte’ and ‘lipstick’ in a sentence, usually implied a flat-looking lip product with all the moisturizing properties of the Sahara desert; these new Creamy Mattes take things in a novel direction with their pigment-rich appearance that have added oils for a nourishing feel, as well as a finish that lays down with the sheen of velvet, as opposed to a true matte.

The no-nonsense packaging design is colour-labelled on the bottom of each tube, very convenient for grabbing the shade you want from amongst the multitude of lipsticks we all tend to carry around. The scent reminds me of Play-Doh (and brings me right back to critter-creating fun with my daughter) but doesn’t seem to linger past initial application, and while I have no issue with it, it’s worth noting for those with sensitivities. The texture is where these lipsticks come into their own: very creamy (and exactly as named), almost gliding buttery-soft along the lips, with absolutely no tugging or pulling. One swipe is basically enough for solid coverage, although some of the lighter shades can use an extra pass.

In order to see how accurately the Creamy Mattes perform, all swatches shown below have been applied directly from the bullet, without the use of lip liner or blotting. With regards to staying power, the paler shades last the least (averaging about 3-4 hours) with the deeper hues ranging anywhere from 5-8 hours, not factoring in eating or drinking. The deepest shades also leave a light stain behind on the lips after the majority of colour has worn off, and while I can’t say that my lips are left feeling hydrated with this formula, neither do I experience any drying issues.

Ingredients

Isononyl Isononanoate, Octyldodecanol, Oleyl Erucate, Silica, Cera Alba/Beeswax/Cire Dabeille, Phenyl Trimethicone, Cera Microcristallina/Microcrystalline Wax/Cire Microcristalline, Synthetic Wax, Sesamum Indicum Oil/Sesame Seed Oil, Peg-45/Dodecyl Glycol Copolymer, Kaolin, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Dimethicone, Tocopheryl Acetate, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, Alumina, Benzyl Alcohol, Mel/Honey/Miel, Parfum/Fragrance, (May Contain / Peut Contenir, Mica, Ci 77891/Titanium Dioxide, Ci 77491, Ci 77499/Iron Oxides, Ci 15850/Red 7, Ci 45410/ Red 28 Lake, Ci 45380/ Red 22 Lake, Ci 15985/Yellow 6 Lake, Ci 42090/Blue 1 Lake).

Maybelline | Color Sensational® Creamy Matte Lipsticks

Maybelline | Color Sensational® Creamy Matte Lipstick swatches

#655 Daringly Nude | A rose-tinted nude shade that leans more warm than cool. Of the eight, this was one of two that gave me application issues, as it had a tendency to pull away from the inner lip area. Two ways around this, are by either applying a neutral lip liner all over the lips first topped by a coat of lipstick, or blotting between layers of lipstick for more even coverage. It’s worth the extra effort, as this is a very wearable shade that will suit a broad range of skin tones.

Maybelline | #655 Daringly Nude swatch

#660 Touch of Spice | A rich raisin hue with hints of berry in the base to warm it up, opaque at just one swipe and absolutely gorgeous. In my opinion, this is the most easy-to-wear colour of the bunch and will look fabulous on everyone (the perfect vampy shade for super fair complexions, or a great neutral for deep skin tones). Love this. Love.

Maybelline | #660 Touch of Spice swatch

#665 Lust for Blush | A lilac hue with pink undertones, in a formula that is definitely less colour-saturated than the rest, but which gives surprisingly good coverage by the first swipe. I suspect that its cooler nature will make it more suitable for those with fair to light complexions – against my skin tone, I felt the colour looked rather washed out ∗shrugs∗

Maybelline | #665 Lust for Blush swatch

#670 Ravishing Rose | A true pink hue that somehow manages to lean both cool and warm at once. This was the second of the 8 to give me a spot of trouble, as once more I had to work at it to get the even coverage seen here. Pink is a very difficult colour for me to pull off, so I was surprised to find that this shade actually doesn’t clash with my skin tone. Not my favourite of the group, but a great hue for pink-lovers.

Maybelline | #670 Ravishing Rose swatch

#675 Faint for Fuchsia | Ummmm….WOW. Almost verging on neon territory, this shade took me by total surprise with its vibrancy. Perfect application, perfect coverage, perfect intensity. As I prefer either nudes or reds, this is somewhat of a scary shade for me to wear, but I can totally see this working with a tan.

Maybelline | #675 Faint for Fuchsia swatch

#680 Mesmerizing Magenta | A rich magenta hue that appears to have blueish undertones in the base (which would normally make this a cooler-leaning shade, but somehow manages to work well against warmer skin tones as well) in a formula & application that is bang-on. Gives such life to the face; all you need is a bit of face powder, a few swipes of mascara and you’re done. Absolutely GORGEOUS.

Maybelline | #680 Mesmerizing Magenta swatch

#685 Craving Coral | A vivid tangerine hue with high-voltage intensity, in a formula that certainly lives up to its creamy name and which applies with 100% opacity by the first swipe. I never wear orange, but the non-shiny finish of this shade turns what would usually be a rather garish colour (at least, on me) into something fun, edgy and even chic.

Maybelline | #685 Craving Coral swatch

#690 Siren in Scarlet | An intensely red hue with blue undertones in the base and densely colour rich by the first swipe along the lips. As with the shade above, care needs to be taken for application (definitely not a swipe-and-go kind of shade), but what’s a few minutes when your lips can look this amazing?

Maybelline | #690 Siren in Scarlet swatch

Colour me impressed … well done, Maybelline; these new Creamy Mattes certainly live up to their name and are well worth hunting down. As far as mass-market brands go, the formula can rival that of higher-priced versions and I hope the brand releases more shades in the range (speaking of, I don’t understand why only 8 of the 10 colours were released in Canada). Of favourites, I’m most drawn to Touch of Spice, Mesmerizing Magenta and Siren in Scarlet, although Craving Coral is making quite a strong case for itself as well. I mean, just look at it.

Available now at all mass-market retailers. Find more information on maybelline.ca

Press samples provided for my unbiased consideration

Yves Saint Laurent Beauté | Volupté Tint-In-Oil

February 11, 2015

A few weeks ago, I was invited to take part in the YSL x Google Glass experience (you can read about it here) and while that in itself was pretty amazing, for a beauty aficionado like myself, seeing the YSL Spring 2015 Collection up close and personal, was an even bigger thrill. The latest innovation from YSL Beauté and the first of its kind in the beauty world, is Volupté Tint-In-Oil (CAN $35.00, available in 8 shades), a unique new lip oil that is infused with tint that provides all the nourishing benefits of a balm, but with the beautifying effects of colour.

Housed in sleek chrome tubes belted with the YSL ‘Cassandre’ logo (this band also displays the colour of each individual shade for your convenience), the contents are kept cocooned away from light in order to preserve their integrity. The ‘bouche à bouche’ diamond-shaped & angled applicator with its soft texture and mini-reservoir at the centre, has been designed to help dispense a perfect hit of product in one simple swipe, almost making it intuitive in terms of application ease – no mirror required. Adding to the sensorial experience, is a delicious mango scent (although it reminds me more of watermelon candies), which is so uplifting mood-wise.

According to the brand, there are two facets to this unique new formula:

COLOUR LINK INF– USER

Although oil and tint naturally repel each other, YSL Beauté has conceived of a way for opposites to attract – compelling these two ingredients to work effectively as one. COLOUR LINK INF– USER is an ultra-stabilizing technology developed by YSL Beauté for its ability to disperse and homogeneously solubilize colour particles in oil to create a hybrid formula. The colour pigments are captured within the oils to dispense an ever-evolving burst of liquid lip colour. The oils slowly disappear but the pop of colour stays true.

5 PRECIOUS OILS

Apricot Kernel Oil, Macadamia Seed Oil, Coriander Fruit Oil, Jojoba Seed Oil, Passion Flower Oil

The precious Passion Flower has been well-documented as having invaluable nutritive properties. Historically cultivated in the Majorelle Garden in Morocco (a place so dear to M. Yves saint Laurent’s heart and one of his prime sources of inspiration), this flower blooms only in daylight and fades by nightfall, waiting for the energizing light of the sun to come again.

Another interesting feature of the Volupté Tint-In-Oil, is the ‘bitten-lips/stain’ effect they leave behind, a colour that will be unique to each and every user. The colour tint that is parcelled within the oils, awakens on contact with the lips and then proceeds to interact the the lip tone, in effect creating one’s own bespoke colour finish. The tint itself evolves with the wearing, becoming more vibrant minutes after initial application, enhancing your lips with a natural glow.

Yves Saint Laurent Beauté | Volupté Tint-In-Oil

From start to finish, it’s LOVE; to begin with, the packaging is über-elegant and just begs to be taken out in public. The applicator truly is goof-proof and as the Tint-In-Oil formula is not colour saturated, you really don’t need a mirror for application (as well, the tint of each shade does not stain surrounding skin, in the event you ‘colour outside the lines’, so to speak). The magic begins immediately upon application, starting with a rich nourishing sensation of the oil upon the lips, a feeling that’s neither oily, too slick, or sticky – just ultra comfortable and hydrating, and one that seems to fill in lip lines as well (my lips are quite lined, and I was amazed to see how diminished said lines appear). Within a few minutes, you can see and feel a few other changes; there’s a slight tingling I sense which is not unpleasant for me (anyone with sensitivities, should definitely test these out at a counter first) and then the colour begins intensifying. Lasting power is on par for a gloss (I get between 2.5 – 3.5 hours), although that is also affected by food, drink, etc. and even when the glossiness has faded, I am still left with a slight stain on my lips (intensity of stain will vary with each individual shade), along with a completely hydrated feel.

N°2 Oh So Gold – the lightest of the 3 shown, warm-leaning with a light apricot tint and iridescent gold shimmer (non-gritty)

N°4 I Rose You – carnation pink, perfect mix of cool & warm undertones making it wearable by a broad range of skintones, iridescent pink shimmer

N°5 Cherry My Chérie – lush true pink, the most intense of the 3, leaves behind a hint of shimmer along with tint upon the lips. According to my press sheet, this is the ‘Star Shade’ of this collection, iridescent pink shimmer

“Volupté Tint-In-Oil is ultra-comfortable with a soothing feeling on the lips. It’s more like a liquid lip balm than a gloss or a stain. It creates volume and erases texture on the lips with a beautiful shine.

It’s great for people who might be afraid of colour, as it’s super natural. Balms, glosses and stains generally tend to achieve only one effect rather than several effects together. Volupté Tint-In-Oil perfectly combines colour, shine, and absolute comfort”

Lloyd Simmonds, Creative Director Makeup YSL Beauté

Yves Saint Laurent Beauté | Volupté Tint-In-Oil swatches

Yves Saint Laurent Beauté | Volupté Tint-In-Oil, swatches after 10 minutes of wear (*Please note that the above swatch at left should be N°2 and not N°1)

Yves Saint Laurent Beauté | Volupté Tint-In-Oil N°2 Oh So Gold swatch

Yves Saint Laurent Beauté | Volupté Tint-In-Oil N°4 I Rose You swatch

Yves Saint Laurent Beauté | Volupté Tint-In-Oil N°5 Cherry My Chérie swatch

Yves Saint Laurent Beauté | Volupté Tint-In-Oil N°5 Cherry My Chérie swatch after 10 minutes of wear

Mark my words, you’re going to start seeing all brands – from luxury to mass market – begin releasing their own version of YSL Beauté’s Volupté Tint-In-Oil, although I sincerely doubt anyone can match the utter gorgeousness seen here. In general, I enjoy the convenience of using lipgloss, but reapplication is a chore and more often than not, my lips wind up feeling parched after it’s worn off. That being said, I experience none of these issues with any of these Tint-In-Oil shades, although N°2 Oh So Gold only left a mere whisper of a stain to my lips – perfect for fans of a more natural looking mouth. As pink lip shades fall out of my comfort zone, I was stunned by how much I loved the look of N°5 Cherry My Cherie; both upon application, and again with the stain it left behind – reminded me of the way my lips would look after devouring a pink PopSicle. Come to think of it, one reason I used to love those treats, was exactly because of the way they stained my lips – early signs of a budding beauty fiend, perhaps?

How perfect are these for Valentine’s Day? Even the applicator seems to be in on the theme! ♥

Available now at Sephora, Sephora.ca and The Bay stores throughout Canada.