Declutter - Lip Things (AKA How I Failed At Getting Rid Of Goo)

And so it goes.

One thing I've realized doing this de-clutter: I have a wildly inaccurate perception of my reviewing capacity. I've pulled out so many items that I purchased (often in multiple shades) with the sole intention of reviewing - and they're still sealed, mocking my intentions with their plastic-coated goodness.

This is the pile of assorted lip products (glosses, stains, lipsticks) that are exiting my collection. I posted it on Instagram and got some lovely comments from people, very encouraging and congratulatory. Which I really appreciated, since I was depressed about how much time and money I've wasted.

But...that pile is still barely a dent. I have a serious lip goo problem. Here's what's left...

First up - the lip balm and stain drawer. Grouped roughly by cruelty-free (the three trays to the right) and not (pretty much everything else), so when it comes time for Round Two of the decluttering process I can focus on the non-CF side more easily. (That's assuming I don't wind up drinking wine under my desk by the end of this, Sherbatsky-style.)

Side note: those Fresh balms are my favourite, and have been for years, but Fresh is not currently CF. I welcome suggestions for an alternative, since balm is one of those staples that I will have to replace eventually.

Next up is the lip crayon drawer. I pulled out all the Revlon ones that had yet to be used....and kinda threw in the towel after that. These things are so damn easy to use and carry around. I need moral fortitude to give more of them up. (Again grouped by CF/not CF, with the Revlon/Rimmel and Clinique/MAC being the only non CF ones.)

Oh god, the lipgloss. This is some serious goo, here. At least this was easy to parse out. Anything that was still sealed went into the potential sale/giveaway pile. A few things that were open but still new - and that didn't evoke a need to clutch it to my chest protectively - went into the "give it to my mom" pile.

Then there where all the ones that earned a sketchy look during the smell test. Those went into the "toss it" red bag in the picture up top.

And so I'm left with the CF drawer...

And the non CF drawer.

LISTEN, I KNOW. But it only gets worse. Following the same strategy as above...

....the CF lipsticks.

And the non-CF lipsticks.

(And yes, I know the Clinique ones are still boxed. I just bought them before I started this whole thing, and I can't make myself let go of them just yet. Because....reasons.)

WHY DO I HAVE SO MANY OF YOU?? WHY MUST YOU BE SO ADORABLE IN YOUR LITTLE BULLETS AND PRETTY COLOURS?

Also, is it time for wine?

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.)

Revlon Pacific Coast Collection (Spring 2013) - Sea Mist Quad, Lip Butters in Sorbet, Lollipop, Wild Watermelon, Juicy Papaya

I'm a sucker for Emma Stone (Biggest. Girl Crush. EVER.), I dream of living in California, and I love the Revlon Lip Butter formula, so snagging the Pacific Coast spring collection by Gucci Westman was a no-brainer. Oceanic shades for the eyes and neon-ish lip shades? So terribly 80s in the wrong hands, but I had faith in Ms. Westman.

The collection features four lip butters, two quads, two blush sticks and four nail polishes, though I availed myself only of the Sea Mist quad and the Lip Butters.

The quad is a lovely selection of shades that seem geared toward creating a jewel-toned eye look: a pale peach, a misty turquoise, and smoky variants on a forest green and purple. They're an interesting set of colours in the pan, and the texture is nice enough, though not noteworthy. They are soft but not buttery, and not powdery either. They blend out without problems, though the purple does go a bit grey as it sheers out with blending.

Applied to bare skin.

They all have a shimmer finish, with sheer-to-medium pigmentation. The purple and green are the sheerest, especially when applied on bare skin. Over a creamy base, they can be built up quite nicely. (I used the green to layer over a black kohl liner in this review.) If you're wary of wearing non-neutral colours, this might be a good palette for you, as the sheerer payoff but good blendability means they can be worked into an overall design without becoming overwhelming or too difficult to manage. I can't say this is a palette that I would reach for on a regular basis, though I do think the turquoise is lovely.

I was overall much happier with the Lip Butters, as I found they took the classic, balmy formula and tweaked the pigment up a notch for a stained glass effect - high pigment in a sheer formula. Like several other brands have done recently, this makes a bright punch of colour eminently wearable. I can't remember the last time I wore a bright fuchsia without benefit of lipliner and meticulous application, but  these are SO easy. Just swipe or dab on and go out the door. DONE.

Left to right: Sorbet, Lollipop, Wild Watermelon, Juicy Papaya

Sorbet and Lollipop are the most vibrant of the four, with the strongest layer of pigment visible on the lips. Lollipop leans more strongly blue, but on my lips, and because of the overall sheerness of the formula, they tend to look quite similar.

Wild Watermelon is a pink-based red that makes for a nice summer alternative to a defined red lip, and Juicy Papaya barely registers as a colour on my lips, just brings the natural coolness down a bit.

As with the regular collection Lip Butters, these have a balm-like feel and a hydrating quality. The wear is closer to a gloss than a lipstick on me, though the brighter colours leave a faint stain behind.

Availability: Check local drugstores and Wal-mart, as it varies by area. Prices vary as well, but the quad averages between 12-15$ CAD, and the Lip Butters tend to be around 9-10$ CAD at regular price.

Pros: The quad has some lovely colours, and can be a nice option for the colour-wary, as they have the kind of texture that makes blending fuss-free. The lip butters are all hydrating, the potential to be worn very softly or blown out to something very vibrant, yet are incredibly easy to wear.

Cons: The quad is definitely not the palette to get if you like your eyeshadows to have serious payoff. I don't really have anything negative about the Lip Butters, though the shade you prefer will depend on how much brightness you want and how much your lip tone tends to influence the overall colour of your lip product, as these ARE sheer, despite the vivid pigment.

(I purchase these items from Jean Coutu.)

YSL Rouge Volupté Shine - #9 Nude in Private

I love the gloss-lipsticks hybrids that are currently dominating the market, especially the ones that are an even mix of bright pigmentation and transcluscent shine. They are such a great option for when you want to wear something really punchy, but without the fuss of precise application. The YSL Rouge Volupté Shine lipsticks are the latest contender in this increasingly saturated market.

I was sent one of the more demure shades to try out - #9 Nude in Private - which is billed as a "spicy warm beige" on the Sephora site.

The packaging is the same as that of the regular Rouge Volupté, which is ten kinds of fancy. There's just something about the detail of the interlocking logo letters and how they feel under your thumb that feels ultra-glam. It makes the price tag a little easier to swallow when there are similar products available from YSL's drugstore cousins in the l'Oreal family.

The formula is lovely - it feels hydrating going on, and the hyaluronic acid (seriously, what doesn't have this ingredient these days?) helps to achieve that smooth, plumped look. Though it is glossy initially, it fades to a soft, healthy shine as it's worn, and it doesn't travel or bleed. Compared to the Rouge Volupté formula, which can feel quite slippy, this feels lightly balmy. It's less thick than the Revlon Lip Butters, and not as creamy as the Dior Nude collection. It's not an innovative product, but it is a very well executed version.

I don't find this emphasized lines or settled, and it lasted a couple of hours before it started to fade, which is around the ballpark for these kinds of lipsticks. It does have a fruity scent, something like watermelon, which is not overpowering but definitely noticeable.

The shade itself is more pink than I anticipated from the description, though with enough of a beige undertone to register as a My Lips But Better shade. It pulls even rosier on my lips, but looks so completely natural, in a heightened way. Like an airbrushed, fantasy version of my actual lips.

I really love this for an everyday, super-wearable lipstick that doubles as a light balm. I'm definitely going to snag some of the brighter, on-trend shades on the range, like #5 Fuchsia in Excess. (Nudes and hot pinks, what else? Ha!)

Have you guys tried any of the shades yet? What do you think of the formula?

Availability: At Sephora, Nordstrom, the Bay. Price is 34$ USD and 39$ CAD.

Pros: Hydrating formula, translucent yet pigmented, feels smooth and lightly balmy. This shade in particular is very easy to wear.

Cons: Fragrance may not be to your taste.

(The item was sent to me by the brand to consider for review. This post is not sponsored or compensated.)

Lipstick Queen Medieval Tinted Treatment

It takes a special kind of gumption for a young girl of 18 to start her own lipstick line because she is unsatisfied with the options around her. And that's exactly what Poppy King did in 1992 when she created her original, eponymous line.

Fast forward 20 years to the modern incarnation of that same spirit: Lipstick Queen. If you're not familiar with the brand, you should know that you won't find an eyeshadow or a concealer anywhere in the line. Poppy's passion is lips and you will find all nature of lip glosses, lipsticks, and lip balms to suit your every fancy. Her most well-known creation is the two-pronged selection of lipsticks, each shade available as a Saint (with 10% pigment for a sheer application) or Sinner (with 90% pigment for all the opaque drama you could want).

But the item that drew me initially was Medieval Lip Treatment. I have a minor in History with a focus on the Middles Ages, and will happily geek out over anything related. So a lipstick billed as the perfect universal shade that comes packaged as gorgeously as this? I'M THERE.

(If you go to the LQ website, you can learn a little bit about the image used by scrolling over it. )

I can't vouch for this being the perfect shade for everyone, but it IS very sheer and despite the colour of the bullet, not particularly red. It is truly a lip balm rather than a lipstick.

It is extremely wearable. I found that applying it straight on and trying to build intensity resulted in a glossier look than I liked, with the pigment sliding into the lines of my lips. My preferred way of wearing this is to apply it like a balm, let it sink in a bit for the treatment it provides, and then tapping most of it off until all that's left is a faintly shiny, pinkish stain.

It is quite hydrating - loaded with shea butter, mango butter, sunflower and meadow foam seed oil - so the effect is of plumped, naturally flushed lips. It has a comparable feel to something between a Revlon Lip Butter and the Fresh Sugar Lip Treatment, though it is not as moisturizing as the latter.

Medieval veers slightly to the cooler range, but because it's so sheer I do think that it will suit a wider variety of skin tones that something more intense might. It is a "your lips but better" shade.

Natural light.

Applied straight from the tube.

Blotted for stain effect.

Availability: Nordstrom, Beauty.com, Space NK in the US. Price is 20$ USD. It is available in Canada from Saltridges, for 22$ CAD.

Pros: Beautiful, evocative packaging. Nicely hydrating. Super sheer, quite possibly universally flattering colour.

Cons: Balmy texture can turn slippy and bleed or collect in lines on or around the lips.

(I purchased this item from Beauty.com)

Clarins Instant Light Lip Perfector - Rose Câlins

For the past few years, Clarins has teamed with Rythme FM and Jean Coutu drugstores for a fundraising event called "Le Mois des Câlins de l’Hopital Sainte-Justine". The goal is to raise money for the Ste-Justine Pediatric Hospital of Montreal, so that they can continue to provide care and aid to children with rare and aggressive diseases.

To that end, Clarins has created a limited shade of their Instant Light Lip Perfector, to be sold exclusively at Jean Coutu's Quebec locations. This year's shade is called "Rose Câlins". (For the non-francophones, "câlins" translates as "hugs" or "cuddles".)

For every tube of gloss sold, Clarins and Jean Coutu will jointly donate 10$ to Ste-Justine Hospital. Considering that the selling price is 20$, that 10$ is not a token amount. It's a beauty splurge well worth considering, and I would urge you to give it a look if you're in a Jean Coutu (but do so soon, my local counter was down to their last batch and they didn't expect it to last the week).

I'm not going to do my usual review here, but I want to give you an idea of what to expect.

The Lip Perfector formula is both a gloss and a lip balm treatment. It provides a gorgeous shine and just a hint of creamy pink colour with tiny golden shimmer, and is wonderfully hydrating to the lips. This is actually the first Lip Perfector I have purchased (hey, it was a great reason to get it!) and I am really pleased with the softening effect.

My lips also appear to look a little fuller, both due to the gloss and the hydration as the little dry lines get filled out. It also has the most delicious vanilla scent.

Have any of you picked this one up? What do you think of it?

I have to say that I really respect a company (in this case, both Jean Coutu and Clarins) for making a substantial contribution to an organization that directly benefits people in our extended community.

(I purchased this item at Jean Coutu.)

L'Oréal Caresse by Colour Riche Lipsticks

By now the lipstick/lip balm hybrids are almost omnipresent - and for good reason. More hydrating than the average lipstick, packing more colour punch than the average lip balm, they are a no-fuss option for a lady with 99 things to do and not enough time in the day.

The l'Oréal Caresse version are a great variation on the theme. They claim to have a "feather-light finish that's never sticky or heavy", and that's the truth. I was super excited to find them at Ulta during a trip to the States, and then again more recently here in Montreal. (As per my haul videos here and here.)

They look sleek and elegant, with packaging that reminds me a bit of the YSL lipsticks, though of course not as weighty and minus the detailing. 

Sheer Linen, Rose Taffeta, Pink Cashmere, Velvety Fuchsia, Blushing Sequin.

The texture is thinner than that of the Revlon Lip Butters, closer to the feel of the Dior Nude collection, though perhaps not as plumping. They apply incredibly well, and look wonderfully glossy, almost juicy. Eventually they take on more of a satin finish as the oils in them evaporate.

They can be worn sheer with one quick layer, built up with multiple layers and even blotted down for a stain effect. They have a fair amount of slip, so you may find them migrating slightly outside the border of the lipline if you're not careful. That slip gives them a hydrating feel initially, making them comfortable to wear.

Sheer Linen, Rose Taffeta, Pink Cashmere, Velvety Fuchsia, Blushing Sequin.
Indirect light.

Sheer Linen, Rose Taffeta, Pink Cashmere, Velvety Fuchsia, Blushing Sequin.
Sunlight.

The line has 12 shades (in Canada, though Ulta lists 16 shades), and on very pigmented lips like mine, some of them can look more similar than different. My personal favourites are Velvety Fuchsia (you know me and my love of hot pinks) and Rose Taffeta. 

Sheer Linen. Beige nude. 

I was actually pretty impressed by how much it toned down the natural pigment in my lips, despite how sheer it looked in the swatch.

Rose Taffeta. Warm, soft rose-pink.

This is exceptionally flattering, and the ideal My Lips But Better Shade. A sophisticated nude that doesn't drain the skin.

Pink Cashmere. Candy pink. 

This was a touch too cool for me, and for some reason it emphasized dryness in my lips and caked slightly in the lines.

Blushing Sequin. Coral pink.

My lips are a plummy shade naturally, so this pulled a lot more pink than coral on me.

Velvety Fuchsia. Hot, blue-toned pink.

Love, love, love. This has a lot of opacity for a lip product of this nature. It's beautiful as a sheer wash, maxed out or worn as a stain.

Availability: Most drugstores, including Pharmparix/SDM and Jean Coutu. Prices vary, but usually between 10.99$ and 12.99$ CAD.

Pros: Super lightweight, soft-feeling, can be applied sheerly or colour-saturated with layering and blotting. Easy way to wear what would otherwise be an intimidating colour.

Cons: The colour variation is less distinct on more pigmented lips. Pink Cashmere can pick up on dryness, but YMMV.

(I purchased these from Ulta and Pharmaprix.)