Red Lippie Series

This review is not sponsored in any way.  All products were bought with my own funds.

Hello!  I have been ill with the flu recently, and have only just gotten back to participating in everyday life.  I thought I'd start with another segment of the red lip series I started a while back.
Here today is one of Revlon's Lip Butters, which were reviewed to death when they originally came out a year or so ago.  If you're not familiar with the concept, these products are supposed to be pigmented (like lipstick), but moisturizing (like lip balm).  I'm happy to say that, though my chronically dry lips will always need lip balm, this lippie is indeed both pigmented and moisturizing.

The packaging is pretty, with the cap color-coordinated to eliminate guesswork when getting ready.

Each color is named after a dessert.  Red velvet cake just happens to be one of my favorites.

As you can see, Red Velvet is a deep, cool red.  The finish is very glossy, and the color glides on like the butter is was named for.  However, it is a little sheerer than traditional lipstick, and you might need a few swipes to get the color you want.  Plus, the drawback to moisturizing formulas is that they wear off very quickly.  Eating, drinking or even talking too much will eradicate the color.  As a final note, the super-soft product will settle into any dryness you may have, so be sure to exfoliate before wearing this product.

Overall, I give this a four out of five; if you like your reds hotter, Revlon also puts out a bright, warm red Lip Butter called Candy Apple.  These retail for about $6-$8.

All opinions are my own, and I was not solicited to do this review.

A New Series...

This review is not sponsored in any way.  All products were bought with my own funds.

Hello, everyone, and welcome to a series of posts which may or may not interest you, but stem from a phenomenon I discovered in my makeup bag.  Red lipstick is an absolute classic, and can evoke an image of anything from sweet, fresh vintage 40's makeup to sexy night-out looks to mysterious, vampy Gothic makeup (which do you think is my favorite....).  I have managed to accumulate quite a few red lipsticks, mostly because a) there have to be 20,000,000 different shades of red and b) I always buy a new red lipstick when I'm about to run out of the one(s) I already have, and then the other tube(s) never get fully used up.  I thought it might be neat to run through the lipsticks I have, which are from various drugstore-available brands, and let you know how they are in terms of color, texture, wear length, and effect on the overall health of your lips.

The first lipstick on my list is a new one that I mentioned in an earlier post: Certainly Red by Revlon's Super Lustrous line.

Here is the stick itself all exposed in natural light.

This is a cream finish lipstick, not matte but entirely without sparkle, shimmer or frost.  It's a very classic, super-strong blue-toned red.

Lips in direct sunlight.

Lips in the shade.

I love Revlon lipsticks (the cream finishes, anyway) because they are smooth, soft without being prone to breakage, and fairly well pigmented.  The pigmentation level does depend on the individual color, but Certainly Red does not lack in pigment whatsoever.

I have chronically dry skin and chapped lips, so the drying potential of a lipstick is a large factor in whether I like it or not.  While this lipstick will not soothe and heal a badly chapped lip, it will not exacerbate it or emphasize dryness or lip lines.  Also, being a red lipstick, the staining power of this lipstick is pretty good and keeps lips looking powerfully red for hours.  Personally, though, I like to reapply or touch up after drinking or whenever I feel that my lip has lost most of the product; I'm probably just one of those oddballs who actually likes the feel of lipstick on the lips.

If you're curious, this is what I paired my red lip with on this fine Veteran's Day:

This is Milani Runway eye shadow in 11 Beach Sand with some Detrivore Vulture in the crease; my regular eyebrows and eyelashes (Jordana) with my L'Oreal Infallible gel liner in 172 Navy in the waterline.  No blush today...I was lazy.

Full face!

All right, that's all I have for now.  Have a wonder-filled day!

All opinions are my own, and I was not solicited to do this review.

Marketing Wearable Sex

Ha, got you, didn't I?  I was just thinking about a little tidbit I picked up from Women's Health Magazine.  Yes, I know Women's Health isn't even close to being alternative and is full of leggy bronze women and perfume ads.  I subscribe to the magazine for the exercise and diet tips, which I definitely need.  Anyway, in the November 2012 issue the mag stated that women are more likely to buy a lipstick that has a romantic or provocative color name rather than the exact same product with, say, a number or actual color (like mauve, ick) as the name.  That idea floated down into the back of my mind and hid in the shadows until I started researching new red lipsticks today.  Yes, I am nerdy enough to actually research makeup before I buy it, especially color photos of it on.  During this process I started to notice that all the lipsticks I put on my wishlist (except for a couple of older colors) have some pretty insinuating names.

For instance, I love the Covergirl Lip Perfection lipsticks, though I managed to try out the formula by accidentally buying colors I almost never wear (hence the research...).  The three colors I am now interested in are called Hot, Burn (ooh, la la) and Enamor.  Hmmm.

The lovely Temptalia's swatch of Hot

Temptalia's swatch of Burn.

Temptalia wearing Enamor.

I also like Revlon very much, but their color titles are pretty tame, such as Certainly Red, Wine With Everything, Black Cherry and so on.

Certainly Red from Revlon, swatched by Abbey Karson

Honestly, I think it depends on the particular slant the company wants to take with their product.  For instance, Goth-directed brands like Manic Panic and Morgana's Crypt, formerly known as Morgana Cryptoria (which I want to try someday; they're supposed to be fantastic) have color names like Raven, Blood Red, and Hell's Bell's (Manic Panic) or Twist of Fate, Love-Lies-Bleeding, and Medusa (Morgana's Crypt).  I couldn't use any pictures of Morgana's Crypt lipstick (you'll just have to look it up :) ).

Apparently nobody takes pictures of themselves actually wearing Manic Panic lipstick, but this is a pic of Blood Red in tube. Amazon.

Have any thoughts on the subject?  Don't be afraid to leave a comment and start a conversation.  Have a wonder-filled day.