Shu Uemura Brave Beauty - Green and Orange Eye Palettes

(Press samples. Affiliate links.)

I don't know if Shu Uemura has made better palettes than the Brave Beauty ones. I think sometimes the concepts behind the Shu collection don't always translate to an immediately accessible product...and that's cool. That's sort of to be expected with a brand that is grounded in both makeup artistry and the art world in general. I like that there's a brand on the makeup field that's in it for the risks and the high concept and the artistic vision. (Much in the same way that I appreciate the existence of Prince.)

And when all that comes together with great performance and top-notch execution? Perfection.

The packaging is the classic hard plastic casing with an abstract print that somehow looks vaguely botanical. I personally love the packaging, because it is sleek, simple, and practical. It's also completely convertible, as the pans can actually be removed by pulling on the piece on the left side of the palette. Each pan then slides out and can be added to a z-palette or what have you. (You can also theoretically mix and match your shades in these palettes if you so choose.)

Exteriors aside, it's all about those colours.

It all starts with the incredible evergreen matte shade in the Green Eye Palette.

I have a vast and varied collection, but I can honestly say that I don't own anything that comes close to the intense and utterly gorgeous depths of that green. I'm a bit of a dramatic gasper by nature, but when I opened this palette I think I knocked myself back by a pace or two. 

The texture is firm and almost a touch dry feeling, but it puts out the pigment like nobody's business. Due to the opacity it can be a bit tricky to work with in terms of blending out, but no more so than the mattes in the Lorac Pro 2, for example. 

The olive shimmer right next to it is actually my second favourite, and it has the kind of rich, smooth texture that immediately telegraphs both high-quality formulation and artist-friendly functionality. Very lovely to work with, and great payoff as well. The third colour is a interesting variation on the classic shimmery beige, with that slight khaki undertone. Smooth and soft, slightly sheerer but easily built up. The very pale, slightly minty frost is also dense, with a high-gleam intensity. The chartreuse and forest green shades have a more subdued shimmer, and a similarly smooth, easy texture with great pigmentation.

The Orange Eye Palette is no less awesome, and includes an incredibly vivid tangerine orange. I like that they went with complimentary shades of coral and plum rather than more orange tones (as they did with the Green palette), because it can take some serious stones to rock a blazing orange eye. This palette actually winds up being the more versatile one, strangely enough.

The orange has that same matte finish as the evergreen, and can build up to equally amazing pigmentation - but best represented over a primer. Otherwise it can look dusty.

The mahogany shimmer is gorgeous, and also follows along with the formula of the olive in the Green palette - smooth, dense, rich, easy to blend. The beige shimmer and champagne frost are similarly textured, though the beige is more sheer and can apply a bit flaky. The light coral pink satin is very smooth, though also a bit sheerer. The plum shimmer at the end reiterates the texture and pigmentation of the mahogany, and actually leans almost metallic. It's definitely my favourite from the palette.

Compared to the wondrousness that is the palettes, the Lasting Gel Pencil Eye Liners do, unfortunately, feel like a bit of an afterthought. The formula is waterproof and smudge proof (though not quite the 12 hours claimed, at least not on me), but I find the pencil doesn't apply all that smoothly or opaquely. It requires several passes and still looks a little feeble, yet the formula is firm enough to make that a little uncomfortable, especially on the waterline. If you're a completist and want to have the eyeliners to go with the palettes, then by all means - but I think if you're in the market for a long-wearing eye pencil there are more impressive options out there.

Top to bottom: Lasting Gel Pencil Eye Liner M Green and M Violet

Top to bottom: Lasting Gel Pencil Eye Liner M Green and M Violet

Availability: Currently on the shuuemura.ca site, as well as at Shu counters. The palettes are 90$ CAD, and the eye pencils are 36$ CAD.

In all honestly, my jaw did drop a little when I saw the price for the palettes. The individual eyeshadow pans available on the site are 19$, so the palette is 24$ less than buying six pans would be (plus the cost of the empty case). Still that's not an insignificant amount of money, certainly placing it in the realm of extra-fancy for a lot of people, me included. If I splurge, I tend to go for a top-notch formula in conjunction with the kind of packaging that could knock someone's teeth out. As lovely and practical as the Shu casing is, it doesn't fall into that latter category, so I'm left wondering if I would spend that much money on the eyeshadows alone. If I consider the great balance of textures and colours in each palette (especially those incredible mattes), and weigh it against the cost of each pan (12-15$ each, depending whether you take the cost of the case into account), then I definitely think the value is worth the price, despite the initial sticker shock. (Though I do recommend signing up for the newsletter, as there are the occasional promo codes that can lessen the sting.)

(These items were provided by the brand/PR to be considered for review. All opinions are my own, this post is not sponsored or compensated. Contains affiliate link.)

Shu Uemura Ready To Wear Palette (Pink Hues) and Drawing Pencils (M Black 01, M Grey 05, M Earthy Brown 82, ME Green 51)

(Affiliate links.)

Shu Uemura recently revamped their eyeliners 9 dubbed Drawing Pencils - and introduced four new eyeshadow palettes, each featuring a monochromatic colour scheme.

Side note: As the name of the pencils suggest, I immediately took to doodling with them. :P

Although I love a good plummy eye, I can't say I'm usually drawn to a full-on pink look. With my olive-leaning skin and brown eyes, it can look like I've lost ten rounds with my pillow. The Ready To Wear Palette in Pink Hues palette was just so PRETTY though, that I put my hesitation aside and committed to trying it out in a variety of permutations.

Overall, I was really pleased by the performance of the shadows in this palette. The matte grape wasn't impressive upon swatching, with a firm, smooth and slightly dry texture that appeared a little sheer and patchy when dabbed on the arm. However, when it was applied with a brush to the eyelid, the pigment transferred without an issue. This is not the kind of colour that goes on with full-blast intensity right away, but with a dark shade like this, I can't say that's a bad thing. It was easy enough to build up to greater depth, and it blended well. It's perfect for adding deepness to the outer corner, or building up a hazy smoky eye.

The soft matte pink had a softer texture than the grape, swatched more opaquely and applied to the lid smoothly. It's definitely a shade I need to use sparingly with my colouring, but I have no complaints about texture or performance. I actually don't have this kind of colour in my collection, so once I got over that bit of shock, I was happy to have it in potential rotation.

The "wet" sparkle of the third pink from the left makes it a fantastic layering shade. The hot pink base is quite sheer, so what you get is this glistening effect that looks incredibly when dabbed to the centre of the eyelid. Applied like that over the grape (heavily built up into a smoky eye) looks intense and totally unexpected.

The pale pink and pale peachy-pink shimmers are smooth, creamy and dense, with intense pigmentation. They apply beautifully, but look virtually indistinguishable from each other once on, so I do wish there had been some greater variation. That said, they are both completely lovely.

The matte beige has a similar texture to the matte pink, and is that rare near-white colour that doesn't look chalky. Perfect brow bone highlight, especially if you're going with an otherwise shimmer/sparkle heavy look.

For 85$ CAD, I do think this is a pricy little set, especially considering the monochromatic theme. It's definitely not a palette that stands by itself, though the quality of each shadow ranges from good to great, so there is no doubt they would each get their use in combination with other products.

And the Drawing Pencils. These are meant to be blend able and waterproof, with 21 different shades to choose from, and 4 different textures.

The M Black 01 and M Grey 05 are probably the best performing of the four. They apply smoothly, with very rich pigmentation and a creamy texture.

The M Earthy Brown 82 actually has to be built up a bit as the first layer is sheer, and rather than feeling creamy it's more oily/waxy. I have to say, the colour reads a little off to me as well, and looks a little dirty around my eye. It's my least favourite of the four, both in terms of texture and actual colour.

The ME Green 51 is GORGEOUS. A perfect teal with incredible golden sparkle, it's also sheerer at first swipe.

These had more of a learning curve than I'm used when it comes to eyeliners. With the shades that required a second swipe for full opacity, I found that I needed to let them dry, or the product wound up coming up with that second pass. It was a little frustrating until I figured that out. Fortunately, they dry down incredibly fast, so waiting to do a second layer wasn't a hardship. Un-fortunately though, that über-quick dry down time means that you have to work incredibly fast if you want to smudge these. Even at that, I don't think they blend out all that well, as they just wind up looking a little patchy and washed out more than anything. As the name suggest, I do think these are best suited for creating strongly graphic lines, which they do very, very well.

Because of their intense creaminess, they're also best when sharpened to a good point, and applied almost laid down on their side, with the length of the exposed "lead" along the lash line. They tended to skip or crumble along the lash line for me when applied in the usual, point-first manner.

I can attest to the waterproof claim, but I can't say that they're epically long-wearing, as I got fading and a bit of crumbing/cracking in the line after 6 or so hours. They contain a combination of a rigid and flexible silicon polymer, which together are supposed to provide good adhesion and flexibility. On my eyes, I suspect the rigid ingredient just doesn't hold up, either because of the natural oils on my lid or that way my eye moves/is shaped. I suspect that if you have problems with eyeliner wearing off, you'll either love or hate the Drawing Pencils, depending on how your personal skin chemistry reacts with the polymers and other waterproofing ingredients.

While I do love the colour range, the waterproofness and the intensity that can be achieved, they are spendy, especially considering the potential application issues.

Have you guys tried any of the newness from Shu? I get the feeling that it's a very cult-y kind of brand. I know a lot of MUAs who adore it, but I tend to get a lot of blank looks when I chat with the average makeup lover about them.

Availability: At certain Holt Renfrew and Sephora locations, as well as online at www.shuuemura.ca. Price is 85$ CAD (65$ USD) for the Ready To Wear palettes, and 28$ CAD (25$ USD) for the Drawing Pencils.

(These items were provided by the brand/PR. All opinions are my own. This post is not sponsored or compensated. Contains affiliate link.)

Make Up For Ever Aqua Matic Waterproof Glide-On Eye Shadow

(Contains one press sample. Affiliate links.)

If there's one thing I trust Make Up For Ever to nail - every single time - is the waterproof claim. When those guys say something is waterproof, it's enough to last through a deluge. (There's a reason MUFE is heavily favoured by both folks who do water ballet and makeup artists who do bridal.)

The Aqua Matic Waterproof Glide-On Eye Shadows are no exception.

The Aqua Matics are not only waterproof, they're very nearly indestructible. They refuse to rub off, and easily make it through tears, sweat, and showers. Micellar waters make a dent only with significant elbow grease, so I had to rely on my trusty oil cleanser at the end of the night. (No rubbing-induced wrinkles for me, thank you!)

I've read that some people find them to be drying, and that wasn't the case for me, but the way they set does create a particular sensation on the lid. It feels almost like a bit of a light film? The closest comparison would be the way your skin feels immediately after applying a setting spray. It doesn't feel unpleasant or drying to me, but I can see how it might.

Aside from the waterproof qualities, I think these pencils are generally very long lasting. They really resist wear and tear, and last 10-plus hours on me. They're a little firmer and less creamy than other eyeshadow pencils I've tried, but not so much that they're uncomfortable to use. The packaging is also really practical, with a twist-up function and a sharpener built into the bottom of the pencil casing.

They can be worn alone or as a base, and depending on the shade you choose, the base option might be better. The I-30 (Iridescent Lime Green), I-22 (Iridescent Electric Blue) and ME-50 (Metallic Golden Taupe) all have great pigmentation, build up to complete opacity without a problem and apply smoothly. The D-10 (Diamond Black) is sheerer to begin with, and doesn't really look opaque on the lid, no matter how much it's built up. It does have an interesting oil-slick sort of look, however, so for a lived in, "greasy" look smoky eye that actually doesn't rely on greasepaint, it's a neat option. (Probably more editorial than the casual consumer would like.)

I do find that the Aqua Matics are best for an intense, graphic eye look if you're using them as eyeshadow. (The blue is particularly stunning applied all over the lid, with an exaggerated wing and smoky crease - if I have time, I'll do a video with this look.)

I tried applying these shades as more subtle washes, and they just end up looking patchy and odd. They're also difficult to blend out, because they set literally in seconds. If you want to buff the edges out, you have to work in small increments. For a more natural look, the neutral shades are best, because you can apply them all over the lid without sheering them out, and then layer a shimmer or satin powder eyeshadow over them for a softened effect. If you do want to try applying them as washes, I would suggest dabbing a little on with your finger instead of going straight from the pencil, as the body heat will make it a little easier.

If you want to use one of the vivid shades without committing to a bold eye look, they are excellent used as eyeliners, or accent shades in smaller placements (especially if you're prone to water-based wear along your lash line or inner corner, for example).

I don't think these are as user-friendly for the average consumer as similar eyeshadow pencils from other brands, but if you're looking for something waterproof and long-wearing with a lot of intensity, then these are exactly what you need.

Availability: At Sephora stores and www.sephora.com. Also available from Naimie's and Nigel Beauty Emporium, via phone order. Price is 21$ USD and 25$ CAD.

Have you guys given this a try? How does it stack up to other eyeshadow pencils you have?

(Shade D-10 was provided by the brand/PR to be considered for review. I purchased the other shades. All opinions are my own, this review is not sponsored or compensated. Affiliate links.)

Lise Watier Eden Tropical Collection - Summer 2014

I know the Lise Watier Eden Tropical Collection has been out for a little while now, but to be honest I wasn't inspired to use it until fairly recently. With the spate of blisteringly hot summer weather a few weeks ago, though, the tropical theme felt very appropriate.

This is a pretty massive collection, with mostly limited edition items, but it also includes some premiering additions to the regular line-up, as well as a limited item that feels like it might be a test run.

The major set piece is, of course, the Palette Eden Tropical (43$ CAD).This guy really is a stunner, from the vibrant and bold aesthetic of the packaging to the actual shades included within.

All the colours are evocative of tropical flora: a super-pale mint, a green that shifts between sage and forest, a lovely violet-pink, a burnished antique gold, a slightly "dirty" bronze, and a rich turquoise.

On the surface, this looks like a somewhat difficult palette to work with - the finish on every shadow is frosty, verging on metallic, with really only one true neutral included. (I wouldn't term the antique gold a neutral, especially with the highly reflective finish it boasts.) This is definitely not the kind of palette you can tuck into your travel bag to cover your basic needs. That said, you're not limited to cobbling together some crazy Bird of Paradise eye look either, especially if you combine them with those workhorse "transition" shades in your collection.

The texture is fairly uniform on these, with an almost cream-like consistency that applies with medium pigmentation but is super malleable - you can sheer out, build or blend as you wish. You do have to be careful not to over-blend, but in this case it's not because the texture is so powdery that it wisps away. The longevity is good too, but not ironclad unless you use a primer. (I found a bit of creasing after 6 hours otherwise.) Out of all the shades, the mint-white and the violet-pink had the softest pigmentation.

This collection also introduces a new (and, for now, limited) product, the 24 hrs Gel Liner (25$ CAD). It's curious that Lise Watier hasn't had this in their repertoire until now, actually. It's a nice formula, a matte black that reads rich but not too intense, applies very smoothly, and dries to a smudge proof finish after about a minute of playtime. I do get a bit of separation in the corner of my eye, but that's usual for me due to the war my eye creases. If you're prone to that with gel/cream liners, I would suggest passing on this and sticking to liquid, otherwise this should be exactly as expected.

I have to say I was a little less wowed by the new addition to the Ombre Soufflé Suprême range. One of four new shades, Sortilège (24$ CAD) looks like a gorgeous gold-flecked bronze in the pot, but applied to my eyes it reads a little murky and dirty. Applied more thickly, I get more of that pretty colour, but the whipped-mousse formula doesn't play too well on my eyes when applied heavily - it tends to crease and slide off. (Though applied over a primer, or as a base for powder eyeshadow, it fares much better.) If you have drier lids, it may be the perfect formula, especially now that it has the added antioxidant benefits of Labrador Tea extract.

The other major piece in the collection is the Eden Tropical Bronzing Powder (38$ CAD). It's a totally gorgeous looking bronzer with a raised leaf motif and a peach blush at its heart.

Both the bronzer and the blush have a very flattering satin finish, but both have a lighter pigmentation than I would expect. The bronzer is a dainty, yellow-toned gold, and the peach is barely perceptible on my skin. I really had to squish my brush in there to get any payoff, and I don't imagine it would be visible on any but the fairest skin. When they're swirled together, the effect is a gentle hint of sun on the skin. I personally wouldn't use this as either a bronzer or a blush, but I do like it for adding some warmth to overly cool blushes, or for a faintly sun-kissed effect across my face. If you're especially pale, this may actually work very well as a bronzer, without looking overly strong or muddy.

This collection also has two limited edition cream blushes - the Blush Creme Satin in Rose Eden and Coral Paradise (24$ CAD). I have the Coral Paradise, which is actually more of a warm pink than coral on me.

The formula is silicone heavy, going on dewy and drying down to a seamless, but not powdery, finish. It has a ton of slip, feeling almost greasy when you first your finger across it. It blends super easily, and is perfect for fingertip application. The colour can be built up, but it sheers easily for a natural look. The lasting power average for a product of this type, looking faded on me after about 8 hours or so.

The Hydra Kiss Colour Balms (22$ CAD) included in this collection are perhaps my favourite, surprisingly. These have a translucent, glossy finish that is perfect for the season, and look wonderfully juicy and fresh on the lips. They're nicely hydrating, and, of course, completely not long-lasting. That's ok, though, as the sheerness and pencil format makes them a breeze to re-apply. The shade I have is Rose Eden, which is cool-toned pink.

Though not part of the collection as such, the Rouge Gourmand Velours Lipsticks (22$ CAD) debuted alongside, and are an EXCELLENT addition to the permanent collection. They are ridiculously pigmented and opaque in one swipe, with a modern matte finish that still feels comfortable and rich on the lips. Compared with certain other matte lipsticks I've recently tried, the formula actually seems to soften lip lines instead of emphasizing them. The claim is that these will visibly increase the volume of your lips - I don't know about that, but between the show-stopping punch of the pigment and the smoothing effect, it can certainly create the appearance of a fuller mouth. My shade here is Cassis, an intense blue-based red, with an almost berry slant.

Overall, I think there are some excellent products that bear checking out, before the Fall collections start rolling in. From the permanent collection, I highly recommend taking a look at the new Rouge Gourmand Velours lipsticks. From the limited items, the major standouts for me are the Hydra Kiss balms and the eyeshadow palette. If you are pale, leaning towards a warmer skin tone and in search of a bronzer, the one here might be worth a look as well.

PS - I will have a video coming up shortly, featuring most of the items from this collection! Here is a preview of the look:

(This collection was provided to me by the brand/PR to be considered for review. All opinions are my own, this post is not sponsored or compensated.)

Benefit They're Real! Push-Up Liner

To paraphrase the guy, sometimes a gimmick is just a gimmick.

Benefit is a brand I generally enjoy. I'm a fan of their boxed blushes, their eyeshadows and their foundation, and I usually find their faux-vintage vibe very appealing. They've come up with innovative products that really stand out as iconic - their liquid blushes, for example - and are the masters of the uber-cute sampler sets.

Which is why I so wanted the They'reReal! Push-Up Liner to be everything it promised. I mean, a cream liner formula in a convenient pen format that would make it foolproof to achieve a precise, lash-hugging line? A flexible, angled dispensing tip that would facilitate a neat wing? I was ready and willing to be converted, and doubly delighted when a deluxe preview sample of the liner found its way into my Sephora bag.

And yet.

I'll start with the positives, because there are indeed some really strong points here.

The actual formula is an incredibly pigmented, matte black. It goes on rich and velvety, and it wears like iron. It is waterproof, rub-proof, and generally ready to have a tangle with anything you throw at it. It's one of the only things that wears well on my waterline. (And despite reviews claiming that the only thing that gets it off is the They'reReal! Remover, I had no issues getting it off with a Bioderma-soaked cotton pad, pressed to the eye for 10 seconds and gently wiped away.)

Conceptually, the pen idea is also quite brilliant. It turns the usually cumbersome cream liner and brush duo into something that can be tucked away in a purse, perfect for adding some drama for a post-work cinq à sept. It's also a neat option for travel. The angled silicone tip is also great for precise lining, though still too thick for creating a really sharp point on a wing.

So if the formula is nice and the applicator is great, what's the issue? Simply put - they shouldn't be together. The product inevitably smears over the side and tip of the applicator as you use it, creating balled up product that needs to be wiped off or risk a gunky line. I tried eking out as little as possible, but that made the application patchy, as there was not enough product to work with, leading to skipping and weird "fraying" at the edge of the line. This required going over it a few times, which actually ended up being more of a problem, as the formula dries incredibly quickly - and the result was more crumbling.

Left to right: Clean line achieved with careful wiping,
thicker smeared line used as is, patchy line when using smaller amount.

You can see in the picture below that there is some patchiness evident in the inner corner, where I tried to use less product, and then again some of that on the wing and along the top edge where I tried to go over areas that had crumbled. The point is also not as sharp as I'd like it to be. From a distance it's probably fine, but close up it's just not the clean, flawless line I can usually get.

On the other hand, it's a nice, deep black, and it's kind of incredible for tightlining the waterline (if you click on the picture you can see in full size). That said, I would still need to follow up with a brush to get some of that black into the base of my lashes to get rid of any visible skin, as the silicone tip doesn't let me do that.

(Warning: Eyeball pic ahead.)

Yup. Kinda shitty.

And then there's just the sheer amount of product trashed, as it crumbles around and needs to be wiped off the tip. Considering that there's only 0.04 ounces (for 29$ CAD) compared to, for example, 0.17 ounces for a pot of Clinique Cream liner (at 17$ CAD), the waste is extra outrageous.

Product that needed to be wiped off, to achieve the liner in the pic above.

The formula, for this kind of application, really needs to be a little softer, but then I have to wonder if that would make the silicone tip problematic, as it would likely cut though the product it was setting down? I also assume that the quick dry time is also due to whatever it is that makes it so hardy, which is a point in its favour, at least for me.

I think if you're good at working with liner already and you want something tidy to carry and that will wear well, then you'll probably be able to forgive the application woes in favour of the indestructible formula and convenience. Personally, the time and energy (and wasted product) needed to achieve the same cat-eye effect I can get with a brush and a pot of my favourite cream liner just doesn't balance out. (And if you're a lining novice looking to execute a perfect wing, I would recommend starting out with a liquid pen liner. Same concept, but with a better applicator/formula match.)

That said, I do like this a lot for using in my waterline, and for that alone I might consider purchasing it.

Have you guys tried this yet? What do you think of it? (Tracy, I know you love it ever so much. :P)

(This was a gift with purchase at Sephora, and you can use code PUSHUP to get one if you place an order for 25$ USD/35$ CAD.)

Lorac Summer 2014 Collection - SummerGLO Palette, Alter Ego Lipsticks, 3D Lustre/Liners

When you love a brand, you really want to give every one of their products a fair shake. Lorac is one of those brands for me. Their palettes have consistently hit the top tier of favoured products, and I've collected them since I started getting into makeup. Their eyeshadow formula is consistently terrific.

Which is why I was sad that the items I picked up from their Summer releases didn't wow me like I had expected.

First out, the SummerGLO Eyeshadow Palette (24$ USD).

From the packaging to the shade selection, this looks like a great little summertime palette. It's sleek, small enough to be portable, but with a nice range of neutral and vibrant pastel colours.

The Good:

In terms of performance, the neutral shades are the best of the bunch. They have a smooth, silky texture that applies smoothly and blends out well. They also have a faint sheen that puts them somewhere between a matte and a satin - they read matte, but not flat. The coral peach shade is slightly sheerer, but has a similarly good performance.

The Meh:

The shimmery golden beige in the middle of the palette has a bit of a thicker texture, so it's not as smooth to apply or blend. The light brown with micro glitter really doesn't adhere well to the brush, and the glitters tends to go everywhere. The purple is beautiful, with a slight duochrome finish, but is much sheerer and needs to be packed on. The teal has tiny glitters that don't really transfer, and a more powdery texture.

The biggest problem for me with this palette was the way the eyeshadows blended, in that they did so really, really easily. Lorac eyeshadows are known for being easy to blend out, but they generally also have a fairly buttery texture that allows them to still adhere well to the lid. The texture with these is less buttery, more silky smooth, and it seems like they have less grip. I had to be careful to not over blend, or risk them disappearing altogether. The matte(ish) neutrals generally held up better, while the shimmer shades needed to be packed on to a sticky base on order to show up vibrantly, and they tended to fade out really easily. The teal shade was the worst, possibly because of that more powdery texture. As soon as my crease brush touched it, it blew away, and it wandered above my crease throughout the day as my eyelid moved, doing its usual eyelid-y things.

Overall, I think it's a decent, workable palette with some good shades, but it's one that requires some careful  application and help from a primer or cream base. It's just not what I expected based on previous experience.

Lorac also debuted their new range of reformulated lipsticks - Alter Ego (16$ USD) - and all I can say is....why?

These are a total misfire. I can't fathom how a brand that's been in the game for this long - with an MUA at the helm, no less - thought that this formula was a good idea. I can understand when a brand like MAC slips up something in RnD, since they release eleven billion collections a month, but if you're specifically revamping your signature lipsticks, why would you engineer them to be this unflattering? I suspect they were so focused on getting intense pigment (which these can definitely claim), that they didn't balance it adequately with comfort of wear and texture.

Alter Ego lipstick: Goddess, Nymph, Girl Next Door

Alter Ego lipstick: Goddess, Nymph, Girl Next Door

The Alter Ego lipsticks have a silicone-heavy matte finish. These are not only not hydrating, they give me troll mouth - desiccated, wrinkly, flaky. If you're determined to wear them, arm yourself with an exfoliating scrub and a ton of lip balm, then dab the product on and blend in as best you can. Maybe light a candle and offer up a prayer. (Ok, not that bad, but still. With all the fabulous products out there, why spend good money on a product that requires significant effort?)

I think the pale ones are especially problematic, as their chalky finish exacerbates the textural issues. The deeper shade I tried, Goddess, was better overall, so potentially the deeper shades in the line are worth investigating. The way my lips felt dried out after wearing these, however, doesn't incline me to trying more of them out.

On the plus side, the colours I've tried are really pretty.

Alter Ego lipstick: Goddess, Nymph, Girl Next Door

They look nice swatched, right?

LIES. HORRIBLE, HORRIBLE LIES.

Not so Nymph-y.

Goddess is the better one. And yet my lips still look like I've been sucking on the bitterness of life.

And onto a product that is merely a little problematic as opposed to cringe-inducing - the 3D Lustre/Liners (19$ USD).

These are a two-in-one liquid liner, with one side featuring a near-black shade, the other a metallic shimmer shade in a light, complimentary colour.

3D Lustre/Liners: Copper Lustre/Black Cherry Liner and Amethyst Lustre/Black Berry Liner

3D Lustre/Liners: Amethyst Lustre/Black Berry Liner and Copper Lustre/Black Cherry Liner

The Liner portion is great! The brush applicator is thin, flexible but firm enough for excellent control and the ability to create a fine point. The formula is lovely as well, long-wearing and smudge-proof, yet not a pain to remove at the end of the day. The finish is somewhat glossy, and a little shimmery. I also like the different undertones (purple and burgundy here) which are a nice option to pure black.

The Lustre ends are less of a hit, as the texture is thicker, which makes getting a precise line more difficult. They tended to going patchy upon application, requiring a few passes and then sometimes balling up upon further application. (You can see in the swatch above of the Amethyst Lustre.) They work better dabbed over the eyelid with a finger than used strictly as a liner. Applied like that, they are beautifully sparkly and iridescent, and I do like them used this way. As a measure of how they are packaged and meant to be applied, though, I think they fall short of the liner end.

So.

Overall, a little disappointed, but I'm still keeping my fingers crossed that the Pro Palette 2 will be return to the fine form of previous Lorac releases.

If you're curious, I also have a video review here:



Have you guys tried any of these? What do you think? (They're hard to get here in Canada, though www.naimies.com will ship to us.)

(I purchased these items.)