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.)

Nars Guy Bourdin Collections - Promiscuous and Fling Lip Sets, Combodia Eyeshadow, Goodbye Emmanuelle Lipstick

Sometimes the days just get away from you. December was like that for me. (Also November. And, well, most of Januaury, but that was time lost to a much needed vacation.) As a result, I'm a little backlogged on posts.  >.<

This post - for the few items I picked up from the Nars Guy Bourdin collection - is one such straggler. Reviews have been out since the dawn of time for this collection, but since it is still available to purchase (from Murale and Hudson's Bay) and it's entirely possible some folks are still on the fence, I figured adding my voice to the fray wouldn't hurt.

(Note: I'm well aware of the controversy regarding Guy Bourdin and his approach to women in both his personal life and in his art. Far smarter people than I have spoken with greater eloquence than I can manage on the problematic nature of that art, and whether we have a moral responsibility in consuming products that capitalize on it. My personal feelings aside, I've opted to purchase and consider these products on their own merits rather than by their association with the artist.)

These two are the only limited edition shades I picked up from the collection: Cinematic Eyeshadow in Cambodia, and Cinematic Lipstick in Goodbye Emmanuelle. None of the other individual items really spoke to me.

Nars Guy Bourdin Cinematic Eyeshadow in Cambodia and Lipstick in Goodbye Emmanuelle

Nars Guy Bourdin Cinematic Lipstick in Goodbye Emmanuelle

You know I had to get this. A softer, more pastel version of the fuchsias I'm drawn to, Goodbye Emmanuelle is an incredibly pure, cool-leaning medium-toned pink. It's also rich and creamy-looking, with a fair bit of sheen, and instantly opaque. I think I had a Barbie with high heels that were this exact shade.

Despite the sumptuous look, the texture is not particularly thick, but it does feel hydrating on the lips. It wears for an average length of time, and progressively loses some of that sheen. 

I'm not generally a fan of buying single eyeshadows at this price point (28$ CAD), but I was completely seduced by the colour and texture of the Cinematic Eyeshadow in Cambodia.

Nars Guy Bourdin Cinematic Eyeshadow in Cambodia

Cambodia is a gorgeous, incredibly pigmented red-bronze, with a frosted, almost metallic finish. It is dense and buttery, but also a little soft and almost crumbly. The payoff is amazing, but it's almost better when it's buffed in with a fluffier brush rather than patted on with a lay down brush.

In the pictures below, you can see the effect when applied straight on versus blended out.

One of the sets in this collection is the Fling Lip Set (55$ CAD, 49$ USD) - which is still available for purchase from Murale.

Nars Guy Bourdin Fling Lip Set

I have to admit the giant red lips alarmed me more than a little. Technically it's a hard plastic cosmetics case that can be used to store makeup or trinkets. In reality, it haunts my dreams, some weird Andy Warhol/Rocky Horror Picture Show mash-up that just gives me the jeebies.

The stuff inside, however, cannot be faulted. At 55$, that breaks down to 13.75$ per full-sized lipsticks and just slightly smaller lip pencil. (Regular prices are 30-32$.) Even considering the slightly smaller sizes of the pencils, that's still about half the price for each item! That's a really great way to try out four shades that are part of the regular collection.

Nars Guy Bourdin Fling Lip Set

Top: Lipstick in Roman Holiday and Damage
Bottom: Velvet Matte Lip Pencil in Dolce Vita, and Velvet Gloss Lip Pencil in Baroque

Left to right: Dolce Vita, Baroque, Roman Holiday, Damage

The lipsticks are both listed as having a "sheer" formulation, and that's very accurate. The finish is glossy, with enough tint to alter the colour of the lip but not enough to cover it. Wear time is a couple of hours at most, and these do feel more hydrating that the formulation of Goodbye Emmanuelle, though not balm-like.

Top to bottom: Nars Lipstick in Damage and Roman Holiday

Damage is described as a "sheer muted grape" but I would consider it more of a plum that appears more mauve on my lips.

Damage

Roman Holiday is described as "sheer delicate pastel pink", which is correct. It leans a bit cool when swatched on my skin, but picks up more warmth on my lips. Colors like this can sometimes look a little chalky, but I actually love the way this looks on me - a clean baby pink with no ashiness.

Roman Holiday 

Left to right: Velvet Gloss in Baroque, Velvet Matte in Dolce Vita

Baroque is described as "raspberry sorbet". To me this has a much stronger reddish-brown undertone than I would expect from something called raspberry, though I would still place it in the plum family.
The texture is quite glossy, even a touch buttery, with a nice amount of slip. Lasting power is comparable to a lip gloss, though it does have a slight staining effect (possibly due to the shade) and a moderate level of sheerness.

Baroque

Dolce Vita is described as a "dusty rose". To me it's a warm-leaning, slightly peachy rose, strongly muted. It's a nice everyday shade, especially if you're looking for something a little deeper than a nude, with a warmer cast. The pigmentation is medium, meaning it can take a few swipes for full opacity.

I have to say I'm not wild about the texture. It's the kind of matte that can feel drying, and will pick up on flakiness. Definitely one that I need to wear over lip balm. Worn alone, it lasts several hours, though not through a meal.

Dolce Vita

Regarding the size - end even though they look smaller, some of that is due to the cap on the end extending the length rather than a substantial difference in size. Here is a comparison with a full-sized Satin Lip Pencil, which is 0.07 oz (or 2.2 grams), compared to the 'mini' sizes of .08oz (2.5 grams) for the Velvet Gloss Lip Pencil, and 0.06 oz (1.8 grams) for the Velvet Matte Lip Pencil. I don't have full-sized versions of these formulations, but the weights listed online are 0.09 oz for the Velvet Gloss and 0.086 oz for the Velvet Matte.

Size comparison.

I developped a MASSIVE lemming for the Promiscuous Lip Set after watching Ania's Sephora VIB Haul video. Of course, it was sold out on Sephora and everywhere else. I stalked it non-stop for days and when it finally popped up back in stock (for like, five minutes) I snagged it faster than you can say "Crazy Lipstick Hoarder".

I feel a little unkind even writing about it now, since it is completely sold out everywhere, but at least all the items contained within are permanently available, so the only you're missing is the packaging and the makeup bag. And of course the satisfaction of acquiring said shades for 50$ CAD (45$ USD) - 10$ per pencil! Weee! (And slightly less giddiness upon realizing  that one of them, Dolce Vita, is a repeat from the Fling set. But that's still 12.50$ per new pencil!)

Nars Guy Bourdin Promiscuous Lip Set

The packaging is also way less frightening to me, though still kinda tacky. What can I say, big blue lips just aren't my thing.

Nars Guy Bourdin Promiscuous Lip Set

The colours here include one Velvet Gloss (New Lover), with the others being Velvet Mattes - strangely, with somewhat varying degrees of matte-ness.

Left to right: Velvet Gloss in New Lover, Velvet Matte in Sex Machine, Dolve Vita, Never Say Never, Cruella

Left to right: New Lover, Dolce Vita (again), Cruella

New Lover is apparently a "gold infused strawberry pink". The gold is less obvious when applied, more of a faint shimmer. The base shade is muted pink with a slight peach undertone, and a sheer, glossy texture concordant with the Velvet Gloss formula. Lasting power is similar to Baroque's, though without the latter's staining effect.

New Lover

Cruella is described as a "scarlet red" and....yup. A true, medium-toned red, it's actually a touch deeper in real life than it photographed here. This is classic red, and one that applies beautifully. The formulation is, for some reason, creamier and more opaque than the other Velvet Matte lip pencils in this set. It will still pick up a bit on dryness, but it feels a lot smoother going on and needs no re-swiping to achieve colour saturation.

Cruella

Lasting power is fantastic. It didn't make it through a meal, leaving a lipliner ring where the oils in my meal didn't eat away the pigment. In the interest of accurate reviewing, I left it in place to see how the remaining colour would last. (Classy - it's how I roll for you guys.) Shockingly, it made it through the rest of the night, a tooth-brushing, AND a full night of sleep! I assume that if I opt to subsist on a diet of air, Cruella will last forever. (Oh, how aptly named.)

As a note of caution: long-lasting and matte does NOT equal smudge proof.

Top to bottom: Sex Machine and Never Say Never

Sex Machine is described as "pink mauve", and on me this pulls very mauve, so cool-leaning and dusty that it looks almost grey.

I have to say that this one is NOT for me. The colour is singularly unflattering on me, but if you have a cooler complexion this might pick up more of that pink and look pretty. The texture, however, leaves something to be desired. Out of all the Velvet Mattes, this was the most drying, and emphasized all the texture in my lips, be it lines or dry patches.

Sex Machine

Never Say Never is described as a "lilac rose". When I see "lilac" I think pale purple, which...this is not. It is, however, a very lovely cool, raspberry-ish rose. It's super pretty and English Rose-esque, and I was equally pleased with the formula here.

It's softer, smoother and far more forgiving to any texture on the lips, though perhaps not as smooth as Cruella. Lasting power is good, several hours until eroding significantly during a meal.

Overall I am quite pleased with both the single items and the sets, as the latter are a really fantastic way of trying out a variety of colours and (to a lesser extent) finishes from the brand.

Did you guys nab anything from this collection? Was it love? Do you regret anything?

(I purchased all the items. This post is not sponsored or compensated, all opinions are my own.)