Laritzy Undressed Liquid Lip Stain Review

On me the colour is closer to the tube than
the swatch

A big thanks to Topbox for introducing me to my new favourite lip product: Laritzy's Undressed Liquid Lip Stain in Pebble. I've been wearing this item almost daily for the past weeks and I'll thrilled with how it looks, how easy it is to apply and how I can easily transform it.

Until this year, I'd never heard of Laritzy. It turns out that it's a recently launched, US-based cosmetic company that, "...uses the highest quality skin-loving ingredients that moisturize and condition your skin at the same time." All of its products are, "cruelty-free, vegan-friendly" and "...free of parabens, BHT, BHA and phthalates."

Topbox initially sent me a lip liner from them, which I haven't really gotten around to trying. Then in July I received this lip stain. That box arrived just before I was headed out on vacation so I've only recently gotten to know my new favorite lip colour.

Make Up For Ever Artist Liquid Matte Lipstick Review

A couple months ago photos of Make Up For Ever's new Artist Liquid Matte Lipstick started popping up in my Instagram feed. While I usually go for glossy lip products since I have pencil-thin mouth, I couldn't help but be captivated by the results this product was creating: They were so different and so pretty. When MUFE gave me the chance to try out three, free Artist Liquid Matte lipsticks I immediately jumped at the chance.

According to MUFE, this lipstick is, "A long wearing & transfer-proof matte liquid lip colour that provides high coverage with a comfortable texture." While I didn't find this product to be 100 per cent transfer-proof, the rest of this sentence is completely accurate.

Smashbox Always On Lipstick Review

"Sure," I thought sarcastically as I read the product description for Smashbox's Always On lipstick, "This item will leave me looking '...as fresh and flawless as your first swipe—for up to 8 hours'." Containing "Advanced Polymer Technology," this line is supposedly,  "...smudge-proof, budge-proof and non-feathering."

I was very skeptical but then I applied this lipstick and became a believer. Well, mostly a believer. There were a handful of times when this lipstick ended up on a glass and then there was that time I applied too much and the excess kept getting on my teeth. But for the most part, this product stayed firmly on my lips for hours, even through eating, drinking and my terrible cuticle chewing habit. And while I wouldn't say it was "budge-proof," it never feathered on me and I didn't have any issues with it smudging.

Make Up For Ever Artist Rouge Creme Lipstick Review

C502 & C506

Earlier this week I reviewed Make Up For Ever's Water Blend foundation and commented on how its sheerness and lightness make it ideal for makeup newbies. My free bottle of Water Blend was accompanied by two free tubes of Artist Rouge Creme Lipstick, items that, unlike the foundation, I quickly discovered aren't for makeup amateurs.

One lipstick was in Taupe Violet (C502) and the other in Dark Purple (C506). These shades were randomly picked for me and when I first saw them, I was more than a little intimidated because these are some intense colours. But then I thought, "They'll probably look much lighter on my lips."

I was wrong. MUFE boosts that this line's "...high-precision colour is ultra-pigmented and radiant..." and provides "...bold, vivid coverage" in a "silky-smooth, creamy finish." None of this is an exaggeration as these lipsticks are packed with colour and the finish is indeed soft and creamy.

bareMinerals Marvelous Moxie Lipstick Review

This is strange. I received my sample of bareMineral's Marvelous Moxie lipstick in my July Topbox. Usually items included in a Topbox are either recently released products or are one of a brand's signature or beloved items. But this doesn't seem to be the case this time. While the bareMinerals' website does have several results for its Marvelous Moxie lip gloss, there is only one result for the lipstick and it's for a specific colour.

I can find this product for sale over on Sephora's site so I don't believe that the Marvelous Moxie lipstick is a discounted product. But Sephora doesn't list the shade I received, a brownish pink called Get Ready. Instead, it displays results for twelve other colours. Lovely colours, all very practical, but none are exactly what I received.

bellápierre Cosmetics Waterproof Gel Lip Liner Review

This is going to be a shorter than usual review because unfortunately, I can't find my bellápierre Cosmetics Waterproof Gel Lip Liner. I swear I had put it in one particular bag but I can't it in there and that's a real shame because this might be the first ever lip liner that I actually like.

I received this item as a bonus in my July Topbox and at first I was like, "Hmmm... Another lip liner? I still haven't reviewed the other lip liner they sent me." But I liked the colour so I decided to give it a shot.

Prior to receiving this liner, I'd never heard of bellápierre Cosmetics. It turns out that it's a US company that "...is one of the fastest growing mineral makeup companies in the world." Personally, I'm indifferent to mineral makeup but some people swear by it. If you're one of those people, you probably want to take a closer look at this brand.

Joe Fresh Fresh Glass Lip Gloss Review

A couple of weeks ago I reviewed Joe Fresh's Lash Define Mascara. I was not impressed. Because of that experience, I didn't have high hopes for the brand's Fresh Glass lip gloss. But since I was getting a tube for free as a member of Shopper Drug Mart's VIB club, I decided to give it a shot. It turns out that this gloss is a fantastic product and one that I've quickly incorporated into my daily routine.

Fresh Glass is available in 10 shades that range from clear to various shades of pink to a trendy brown. I went with Rosetta, a subtle shade of pink that looks terrific on me. The colour is flattering and it has a shimmery finish that manages to be eye-catching without being flashy. That finish makes this product more interesting than your typical gloss but it's not over the top; it can just as easily be worn in the office as on a date.

Unfortunately this gloss isn't food or drink proof but it is a breeze to apply so that flaw isn't a major one. You can easily put on this product without a mirror or even a steady hand.

Teeez Read My Lips Lipstick Review

"Highly pigmented" is one of those terms that makeup brands love to use. Unfortunately, how "high" is "highly" really varies. Sometimes "highly" seems more like "mediocre." But then a product like Teeez's Read My Lips pops and "highly pigmented" turns out to be an understatement.

My shade, Roulette Red, provided me with an intense burgundy colour that made my lips pop. I usually prefer lip products that are glossy as shine makes my skinny lips look plumper, but this lipstick managed to achieve that even though it has a "satin, matte finish."

NARS Satin Lip Pencil

This year's Sephora VIB birthday was two deluxe size samples of NARS' Lip Pencil. When I first heard that, back at the start of the year, I felt a touch disappointed because I don't really need anymore lip products. Then summer rolled around and I received my sample box, which contained one Satin Lip Pencil in Rikugien (a "rose-pink")  and one in Velvet Lip Pencil in Cruella (a "scarlet red").

While I haven't gotten much use out of the Velvet Lip Pencil, as the colour is bit intense for my pasty skin (and so this review is not about it), I absolutely love the Satin Lip Pencil. As per NARS' own suggestion, I use it as an "all-over lip color" (though it can also be used as a lip liner or paired with another lip product). The pencil's "rich, color-bright pigments" are a slightly darker, more vivid version of my natural lip colour and because of that, this shade is very flattering on me. It's pretty much the perfect day-colour for my complexion and because of that, I consider it a "must-have."

ModelCo Shine Ultra Lip Gloss

One of the main reasons that I subscribe to Topbox is to discover new brands and in my August box, I was introduced to ModelCo. It's an Australia company that produces "...innovative, quick-fix, multipurpose beauty solutions" that are also cruelty-free. Sounds great to me.

My Topbox contained Shine Ultra Lip Gloss, which ModelCo describes as a, "... reflective, shimmering gloss (that) ends a luxe touch to your beauty look, and glides on smoothly for a non-sticky, long-lasting finish."

Available in eight shades, I received the one called Striptease. But despite its racy name, this colour is completely suitable for daytime wear and the office. It's a pale, almost neutral pink that's didn't really change my lip colour, at least not a first.

Bobbi Brown High Shimmer Lip Gloss

Meet Bare Sparkle

This has been a great couple of weeks for new products. On Wednesday, I wrote about an easy-to-use spray that gave me beachy waves. Today, the star is Bobbi Brown's High Shimmer Lip Gloss, which I received in my July Topbox.

My deluxe-size sample was in Bare Sparkle, which is described as being "a champagne with pearl" coloured product. Personally I found the shade to be closer to an sheer, even clear, gloss that is packed with shine and even sparkle. A look at the overall product description tells me that my description isn't completely wrong. Bobbi Brown describes this line as being, "a high-shine gloss with a special mix of pearls in a clear base (for a super reflective effect)." But whatever words you want to use, there is no disputing the visual results: The product brings a ton of shine that essentially blings out lips.

Tarte LipSurgence Lip Gloss

I am in morning. Two weeks ago, my new favourite lip gloss disappeared. At first I was hopeful that it would reappear, maybe in the pockets of a pair of pants. But nope, it appears to be gone.

Because of that, this review of Tarte’s LipSurgence lip gloss is going to be a little incomplete since I don’t remember every little detail about this product. I do however remember that it was a great looking gloss that was a dream to apply.

According to Tarte, this product is a “glossy addition to the LipSurgence family” that “will perfect your pout with a brightening pop of color and lasting shine.” I agree with all of this. This gloss brings tons of shine that lasts for hours, as long as you don’t eat a full meal (nibbling, light kissing and drinking is fine though).

Elizabeth Arden Beautiful Color Moisturizing Lipstick

While aren’t I special. According to Elizabeth Arden, “94% of women saw an improvement in lip softness and smoothness after just one use” of its Beautiful Color Moisturizing Lipstick. If I had been one of the 30 (such a big sample size!) in that study, I would be in the 6% that didn’t notice an improvement. If anything, this lipstick, and I tried three different shades so I don’t think I had a bad batch, left my lips feeling a bit dry.

Elizabeth Arden says that this product, “Keep lips moisturized all day with a single swipe of long-lasting, high pigment color that’s comfortable to wear and sumptuously soft.”

LAQA & CO Bees Knees Sheer Lip Lube Pencil

When I first saw the LAQA & CO Bees Knees Lip Lube pencil in my August Topbox, I had two thoughts. The first was, “Another sheer lip product?” while the second was, “It’s called ‘Lip Lube?’ Really?”

Then I started using this product and found myself quite pleased with how it performed. According to LAQA & CO, “Lip Lube is a light and glossy hydrating lip balm - perfect for everyday wear. The peppermint-shea butter formula delivers an oh-so addictive hit of mint and moisture, with each application.” I agree with almost all of this.

Burt’s Bees Tinted Lip Balm

I’m always thrilled when I find a product that does pretty much exactly what it says it’ll do. Burt Bee’s Tinted Lip Balm is one of the rare products that falls into that category. (And no, I’m not just saying that because I received this product for free from a member of the Burt’s Bees street team.)

Burt Bee’s says that this product delivers “a whole lot of conditioning” and I completely agree. I can apply this balm and two, even three hours later, my lips still feel soft, hydrated and very happy. According to Burt’s Bees, this balm delivers all that moisture thanks to its inclusion of shea butter and botanical waxes.

Unfortunately the colour provided by this product doesn’t last two-to-three hours but then Burt’s Bees doesn’t make any claims about that. Instead, it says that this balm “adds a hint of natural colour” and again, I agree.

Benefit Benetint

A couple weeks ago I reviewed Stila’s Convertible Color Dual Lip & Cheek Cream. My verdict on that two-in-one product is that it’s an excellent blush but, for me, a poor lip product as the colour just didn’t work on my face. But while that item didn’t quite work out for me, I decided to give another two-in-one lip/blush product a shot: Benefit’s Benetint, which I received in my January 2014 Topbox.

This is a rather odd-looking product. While most lip/blush products are creams or gels, this one is a liquid and a very thin, watery liquid at that. It’s also got quite the story behind it. According to Benefit, this “rose-tinted stain” was originally created for an exotic dancer back in the 1970s.

But since then, this product “has soared to cult fave status” and is now “loved by celebs, makeup artists and gals around the world,” says Benefit. And why do they love it? Because this “is kiss-proof, see-through color for lips and cheeks that lasts for hours. Naturally sheer and sexy on all complexions...it’s innocent yet provocative.”

Stila Convertible Color Dual Lip & Cheek Cream

Any beauty product addict knows that many items can do double-duty. Using lipstick as blush is one of the better-known tricks and it’s this one that Stila’s used to create its Convertible Color Dual Lip & Cheek Cream.

According to the write-up that accompanied my free sample (thanks Sephora!) of this product, “Stila’s multi-tasking convertible color is creamy, sheer tint that adds an inherent glow to the cheeks, while lips bloom with fresh, radiant color.” This “winner of numerous beauty awards” also contains vitamin E, is supposedly non-greasy and somehow provides color that is both “rich” and “translucent.”

New York Color Big Bold Mascara & Big Bold Plumping Lip Gloss

Influenster has been emailing me, asking me to write about the #MapleVoxBox sample box it sent me at the start of December so I’ve decided to make 2014’s first reviews about two of the items found in my #MapleVoxBox.

Just like with the two Skinny Cow products that I received in the box, the two New York Color makeup items I got can be classified as good and not-so-good. Let’s start with the latter product.

New York Color Big Bold Mascara retails for under $5 but I wouldn’t spend one dollar on it.  To put it coarsely, I found this to be a crap mascara that left my lashes clumpy, spider-y and just yucky looking.

Revlon Colorburst Lacquer Balm

Now, don’t get me wrong, I love getting free stuff to try out. But I really wish that whenever I received free products, whether directly from a company or in a swag bag, that there was some accompanying literature that at minimum, contained a suggested retail price and a link to where I can find out more details about a product.

Case in point: The Revlon Colorburst Lacquer Balm crayon I received in my Spark Sessions gift bag. While that bag was packed with great stuff, didn’t contain any info on the products I was given, which is kind of annoying because some products, like this Revlon lip balm don’t have their own web page.

Lise Watier Power Kiss Gloss

In September, I was contacted by Lise Watier and asked to give a new – and unnamed – serum/moisturizer duo a try for exactly one week. As a thank-you for my feedback, I was then sent a nail lacquer and a lipgloss. That former item will be getting a review later this week – I need to see how while it wears first – so up today is Lise Watier’s Power Kiss Gloss.

This is an undeniably a great-looking product. The packaging is a durable, high-quality plastic that shows off the colour inside as well as some pretty, silver decor. The lid easily screws off and reveals a simple, but effective sponge-tipped wand that grabs just the right amount of gloss.

And just like its packaging, the gloss itself is pretty, practical and appealing. Described as a “…translucent coral-pink… “ it’s an ideal day gloss. It’s got some, but not too much shine, while the light colour adds just a touch of cheery pink. It’s a colour that, on me anyway, is flattering and versatile.

Lise Watier also describes this gloss as having a, “…comfortable, non-sticky, long-lasting formula.” Personally, I did find it to be a bit sticky but not uncomfortably so. It also didn’t feel chunky or overly slick.