A few lipsticks that really haven't bowled me over

The idea of them makes me happy, yet in terms of execution they all fell flat and have left me feeling uninspired. So much that I've been putting off writing about them. 

This blog, after all, is about the good, the bad and the downright ugly and I'd be doing you a huge disservice by not highlighting the misses I've recently come across.

The one that made me feel old: Clinique's Curviest Caramel

Clinique's Chubby Stick Intense in Curviest Caramel

Swatch of Curviest Caramel

Here we have Clinique's Chubby Stick Intense in Curviest Caramel ($35 AUS / $17 USD), it's not awe inducing, but on first swatch I thought it'd do for an everyday lipstick. I'll give Curviest Caramel props for its pigmentation and creamy texture, but I couldn't shake how much it aged me. In a moment of weakness I chopped my hair off back in January -- that cut made me look older than I felt. Applying Curviest Caramel was equivalent to pouring salt onto my self-induced wounded situation.

The one that I dread/loathe, ok hate: Napoleon Perdis' Nymphe

Napoleon Perdis' Nymphe

Swatch of Nymphe

Have you ever bought something because you saw someone else wearing it? Yeah, I did that. It was at a beauty expo held in Melbourne back in March when I regrettably picked up Napoleon Perdis' Nymphe ($35 AUS / $25 USD). If you're looking to magnify dry lips (thanks to winter) and fine lines, then pick up Nymphe - she'll knock it out of the park. Sorry V, this wasn't for me.

The one that made me uncomfortable: NARS' Schiap

NARS Schiap

Swatch of Schiap

Truth be told I'm on the fence about Schiap. It's so bright I need to wear shades -- Francois should've put a warning label on the tube.

Warning: Contents Inside Are Hot. Handle With Care.

I wore Schiap ($39 AUS / $26 USD), named for Italian couturier Elsa Schiaparelli, on Friday and I have serious misgivings about my timing or lack thereof. I'm all for wearing a bright shade of lipstick, but for whatever reason I felt a hyper degree of self-consciousness. I'm not bagging on Schiap, I just don't think I'm confident enough at this moment in time.

Currently testing: Urban Decay's Electric Pressed Pigment Palette

Urban Decay's Electric Pressed Pigment Palette

Parental Advisory: Explicit Content

Swatches of all 10 shades from left to right: Revolt, Gonzo, Slowburn, Savage, Fringe, Chaos, Jilted, Urban, Freak and Thrash

Wearing Chaos, Jilted and Urban along with several paler shades from the Naked 3 palette

Here is a preview of the look I created with Urban Decay's newest release, The Electric Pressed Pigment Palette. Currently testing longevity and wearability. 

In the look above I was gunning for Jessica Alba's recent blue eyeliner look with a twist.

Swatchophile: NARS Limited Edition Final Cut Collection

NARS Final Cut swatches from left to right: Love, Final Cut and Sex Fantasy

Earlier today I snuck over to Mecca to take a closer look at NARS' Final Cut capsule collection.

For some reason I'm a huge sucker for NARS blushes. Comes with the territory, I suppose.

Which colours intrigue you? My personal favourite is Final Cut, a soft peach/coral.

Mecca also has the following in stock:

• Illuminator in Adelaide (comes in a squeeze tube)
• Satin Lip Pencils in Descanso, Stourhead, Torres del Paine and Villa Lante. These shades are almost an exact match to the blushes. 

There's a fourth blush called New Attitude, but it was nowhere to be seen.

Nordstrom also has the Final Cut collection available for purchase.

Happy hunting :)

Edit..

So, I went back to Mecca Cosmetica and swatched the Lip Pencils and the Illuminator. I've officially fallen for Descanso and Villa Lante.

Harumph.

Swatches from top to bottom: NARS Illuminator in Adelaide and Satin Lip Pencils in Torres del Paine, Descanso, Villa Lante & Stourhead

Close up of NARS Satin Lip Pencils in Torres del Paine, Descanso, Villa Lante & Stourhead

Should you pass out while wearing YSL's Gloss Volupte you can expect someone to give you mouth-to-mouth resuscitation

YSL Gloss Volupte in 206 Fuchsia Oran (left) and 15 Grenade Pepite (right)

Or so they claim.

YSL recently released Gloss Volupte, a pleasurable, non-sticky top topcoat for your lips. This latest collection, we're talking bling-tastic shine, features twenty-three shades split amongst three finishes:

• Golden (gold glitter; shades 1-49)
• Iridescent (multi-tonal flecks; shades 101-104)
• Pure (no glitter; shades 201-209)

Kiss, kiss. 

The lip-shaped applicator, in addition to being cute, is also quite efficient at ladling enough product onto your lips. And, with a simple flick in order to flip the applicator,  the convex side works to smooth and even things out. The slit located at the centre sops up excess gloss and acts as a reservoir should you need to apply a bit more colour.

The fruity scent (think Sweet Tarts) has been somewhat controversial or more to the point off-putting for a few other bloggers and reviewers, but it doesn't really bother me as it fades fairly fast. Personally, I'm just glad YSL didn't duplicate the scent used in their Glossy Stain formula.

15 Grenade Pepite (golden) 

Grenade Pepite, loosely translated from French to English means pomegranate nugget. Translation aside, I get more of a pale pink pomegranate kernel, better yet a pink lady apple with yellow undertones and major flecks of gold glitter. The finish delivers high shine that lasts for a couple of hours, max, and then wears down to a subtle sheen thereby placing the gold glitter on display. Despite the presence of glitter in Grenade Pepite, I still found the texture to be smooth and plush-like. 

If you're not into the glitter look definitely skip shade nos. 1 thru 104. 

206 Fuchsia Oran (pure) 

Fuchsia Oran, put simply features a magenta hue (a deep pinkish red) with orange undertones. I found Fuchsia Oran to be especially dynamic for its finish. At the very peak you get crystallised berry and in the valley is where the soft, blush rose lies. Talk about enchantment.

Glossiness lasts for about three hours, during hour four is when the sheen emerges and finally, during hours five to six, Fuchsia Oran dries down to a smooth stain with some of the pigment settling into fine lines. It's nothing a little chapstick can't fix and something I'm willing to look beyond for the colour alone.

For both Grenade Pepite and Fuchsia Oran full opacity can be reached after two swipes.

Swatches of 15 Grenade Pepite (left) and 206 Fuchsia Oran (right) 

 Wearing Grenade Pepite

 Wearing Fuchsia Oran

My recent travels to Hong Kong afforded me the opportunity to see all twenty-three shades in person; if this hadn't been the case, I don't think I would've chosen as wisely or been as inclined to even make a purchase. 

As of right now Gloss Volupte is only available through their website and select international stores.

The Bagful breakdown:

Total amount for YSL's Gloss Volupte:

• $32.00 USD 

Value for money spent (performance and quality):

• 8 out of 10 bags — so far, I think the pure variant yielded the best results.

Would another purchase be on the horizon?:

• I was really hoping to purchase shade 49, because of Lindsey Wixson rockin' it in the ad and all.