Chanel Jalousie Glossimer Review, Photos and Swatches!

Chanel Jalousie Glossimer 

When you're looking for a picker upper, what's better than indulging in sparkly and needless material things? Or maybe taking a stroll through Godiva or See's Candy for a piece of ridiculously overpriced, yet completely delicious chocolate. I like browsing the Chanel counter, and that's how I came across this little gem. Absolutely necessary? Absolutely not. Gorgeous? You bet.

Chanel Jalousie Glossimer ($29.50) is a vibrant pink with a purple pearl. You could also call it a glistening fuchsia. (Jalousie means Jealousy in French, btw!) This shade launched in the Roses Ultimes De Chanel Collection earlier in the year. As far as I know, it's limited edition, but is still available online.

If I was rolling in money bags, I'd love to own every shade of this angelic gloss, but for now I only own a few, and I don't wear them daily because they are just that precious.

Glossimers differ in terms of color payoff, some are sheer, but Jalousie is opaque with one swipe. As it wears down, the color sheers up slightly, but it still provides full on color.

It of course looks great on it's own, and it pairs really well with other pink lipsticks to make them a little brighter and pinker. You could also layer it over a similar fuchsia lipstick, such as MAC Lickable Lipstick or MAC Girl About Town for an intense pink lip. 

Chanel Jalousie Glossimer on my lips.

Glossimers are slightly thick, but due to their texture, they last really well on the lips in comparison to other lipglosses. With one layer they are very comfortable, but if you build it a few layers, it tends to feel a little heavy on the lips.

The formula is really smooth and moisturizing - even after several hours my lips remain soft.

It lasts at least three hours on my lips before I need a touch up, which I think is great for a gloss. Most glosses are gone after a maximum of two hours.

A single swatch of Chanel Jalousie Glossimer

Have you tried Chanel Glossimers? Do you like them? If so, which is your favorite?

The Round-Up

Pros:

• Opaque color
• Doesn't accentuate dryness
• Creamy and smooth on the lips
• Moisturizing 

Cons:

• Can feel heavy and a bit thick and uncomfortable on the lips if too much is applied.

Price: $29.50, Chanel, Macy's, Bloomingdales.

NYX Nude Pink Megashine Lip Gloss Review, Photos and Swatches!

NYX Nude Pink Megashine Lip Gloss

NYX Nude Pink Megashine Lip Gloss ($5.50) is a creamy, soft neutral pink. The color is soft on my lips, but it's not really what I'd describe as "nude". It's light, but it doesn't wash me out. It's pigmented enough to wear alone, and it looks amazing when paired with any pink lipstick.

NYX Megashine Lipglosses are one of my favorite, if not my favorite line of drugstore lip glosses for several reasons - there is a huge selection of pretty every day colors, the formula is pigmented (although some shades can be sheerer than others), they are non-sticky, feel great on the lips and are inexpensive.

One of the downsides about NYX Megashine Lipglosses are that the tube can sometimes get messy. I've owned several Megashine Lipglosses, and I've had some overflow. You can see in the main photo how much gloss has gathered around the top of the tube. I like to clean the inside handle of the wand applicator with a q-tip once I notice a lot of product gathering and it helps.

Also, they are scented like cherries. Some love it, some hate it. I don't really mind it. Kinda wish it was scent-free, but it doesn't stop me from purchasing them.

NYX Nude Pink on my lips

The Round-Up

Pros:

• Great color and pigmentation
• Doesn't wash me out like some nudes can
• Creamy, non-sticky texture that is comfortable on the lips
• Large slanted applicator that I love! Puts the perfect amount of product on the lips.
• Shiny finish

Cons:

• Artificial Cherry scent might be bothersome to some
• Lasting power could be better
• Tube can get messy, as product seems to gather up under the lid.

Price: $5.50, Ulta, NYX & Cherry Culture. (Currently NYX is 40% off at ULTA)

NYX Absolute Red Xtreme Lip Cream Review & Photos!

NYX Absolute Red Xtreme Lip Cream

NYX Absolute Red Xtreme Lip Cream ($5.99) is an opaque cherry/blood red lip color with a glossy finish. NYX Xtreme Lip Creams are a lipgloss/lipstick hybrid as the product is completely opaque with one coat, yet it has the texture and shine of a gloss. I'd compare the pigmentation to OCC Lip Tars, though these are much more moisturizing.

Absolute Red is such a perfect, sexy shade of red, and I can't imagine it looking bad on anyone. It looks like a "Snow White" red with one coat and if I blot my lips with a tissue, it takes on a bright raspberry color (which is essentially what it fades to on me). With two coats, it takes on a deeper red-wine shade. It's kind of like a chameleon..

The first ingredient in this gloss is Castor Oil, so if you're familiar with it, you can imagine the consistency. It's thick and moisturizing, yet it's completely non-sticky/tacky or greasy. Also, if you're familiar with the scent of Castor Oil, that's what the gloss smells like - kind of woody/plastic-like, but I don't even notice it anymore.

The lasting power is just as really good - the red in particular is still on my lips after several hours (although it will fade slightly).

NYX Absolute Red on my lips.

I am obsessed with NYX Xtreme Lip Creams and I'm thinking about purchasing the whole collection because I am that crazy! My favorite color for every day is the color Nude Peach Fuzz.

If you haven't tried these out, I urge you to check them out if you have access to NYX products near you. Currently NYX is 40% off at ULTA!

The Round-Up

Pros:

• The perfect red (can vary with different skin tones)
• Extremely pigmented color 
• Isn't sticky - comfortable on the lips
• Great lasting power - better than standard lipglosses
• Inexpensive

Cons: 

• Yucky smell of Castor Oil - which may only be bothersome to those sensitive to scents in lip products.

Price: $5.99, Ulta, NYX & Cherry Culture.

OCC Lip Tars Now Available at Sephora.com!

OCC Lip Tars Now @ Sephora.com

OCC at Sephora!? What a lovely surprise! And what is that pictured next to the tube? A lip brush? Sweet!

For all of you Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics lovers out there, starting at the beginning of this week, Sephora is now carrying the full line of Lip Tars on the Sephora website and in-store at select Sephora locations. Now you can gain some Beauty Insider points each time you purchase a Lip Tar!

For those of you that don't know what Lip Tars are, they are the most pigmented lip colors on the market. They combine the color and longevity of a lipstick with the application of a gloss. They dry down to a matte finish (which I find a bit drying, so I always mix them with some clear gloss). They are highly popular among the online makeup community as well as makeup artists all over the world.

OCC Lip Tars have come a long way since their original launch a few years back in 2009 starting out with a range of 12 fairly basic colors, to the now selection of 40 amazing shades.

OCC Lip Tars have had a few packaging makeovers over the years, and a price increase along with them. Originally, the lip tars were 10 ml for $12.50. Then the tubes were downsized to 8 ml with the same $12.50 price tag, then they increased slightly to $13, and now with their new packaging design they are back to the original 10 ml, but are now $16 each.

I see that on the Sephora website, you receive a small lip brush and plastic pouch, which is awesome! Since a little goes a long way with Lip Tars, you have to apply them with a lip brush, and it's nice that now one is included! Also, to keep your lip brush from getting dirty, you can keep it in the small plastic pouch and toss it in your makeup bag.

I own four lip tars as of right now - Cha Cha, Trick, Divine and Hush, and I love them all!

Image Credit: Flickr

To view all shades visit the Sephora website.

Price: $16 each

Sleek Milkshake and Minx Pout Paint Review, Swatches and Comparison to OCC Lip Tars!

Sleek Milkshake & Minx Pout Paint

Sleek Pout Paint ($6.49) is an intense lip pigment, with the consistency of a lipgloss, and the pigmentation and finish of a lipstick.

Sleek Pout Paints are available in (11) shades: Minx, Cloud 9, Mauve Over, Lava, Peachy Keen, Rosette, Port, Pinkini, Milkshake, Peek-a-Bloo and Pin up.

I got my hands on two of the shades; Milkshake and Minx. Milkshake is a vibrant coral-pink and Minx is a neutral beige-pink.

Sleek Pout Paints launched at around this time last year, and I remember when everyone was talking about them and comparing them to the very similar OCC Lip Tars. I love my OCC Lip Tars, but admittedly, I reach for my traditional lipsticks before my lip tars because they are more convenient to use.

Sleek Pout Paints and OCC Lip Tars alike need to be applied with a lip brush because the color is so opaque, you only need a small drop to coat your lips. If you don't own a lip brush, you can use any small brush (concealer brush, etc) or the wand of one of your lipglosses.

The product literally does apply like paint, as with one coat, the color is completely opaque. Less is more with these especially with the lighter shades, because the color will completely block out your lip color, and the product can look thick on the lips. When the right amount of product is applied, they look perfect!

The product dries down to a semi-matte finish, which I find a bit dull, so I usually layer a lip gloss on top.

Of the two shades I have, Minx is much more natural and is a great nude lip color, and with a touch of pink lipgloss, it looks great for every day. Milkshake on the other hand is very bright (neon) and looks crazy alone, but it looks beautiful when a tiny dot is added to a pink lipgloss.

Like OCC Lip Tars, I find them to be drying on my lips, so a moisturizing lip balm is very necessary prior to application.

The only difference I noticed between the two is that the Sleek Pout Paints are a bit more dense, which leads to less mess. My OCC Lip Tars tend to leak, but the Pout Paints don't. Hooray!

Comparisons:

From left to right: Sleek Milkshake Pout Paint, OCC Divine Lip Tar, Sleek Minx Pout Paint and OCC Hush Lip Tar.

 Sleek Milkshake Pout Paint

Sleek Minx Pout Paint

Overall, these Pout Paints are fun to play around with, and they are a fantastic alternative to OCC Lip Tars. Although they may not be practical for everyone, they are great to keep in your kit if you're a makeup artist, and they are great if you love intense lip colors.

The Round-Up
Pros:

• Great alternative to OCC Lip Tars which perform the same, for half of the price
• Incredibly pigmented
• Will last a long time because you only need such a small amount each time
• Fun colors

Cons:

• Have to use with a lip brush - inconvenient for touch-ups
• Can be drying
• Can look thick and unnatural if too much is applied

Price: $6.49, Sleek website. For a store locator for UK residents, click here.

Milani Quick Flash Haute Flash Full Coverage Shimmer Lipgloss Review!

Milani Quick Flash Haute Flash Lipgloss

Milani Haute Flash Lipgloss ($7.49) is a new lipgloss range from Milani providing full coverage color with an extra shiny finish. It's non-tacky and won't won't feather; meaning, it will stay on your lips and won't travel outside your lip line.

There are six (6) shades available: Hot Flash, Flashy, In a Flash, Star Flash, Golden Flash and Quick Flash. A couple of the shades caught my eye, but I was the most drawn to Quick Flash.

Quick Flash is a light-med pink (I can't decide whether it's a warm or cool pink, it's somewhere in between) filled with a mixture of white and pink shimmer. If you don't like shimmer, steer clear because these contain lots of shimmer.

Some of the shades in this range are more pigmented than others, and Quick Flash happens to be the sheerest. I was a bit disappointed because with the claims of being "full coverage", I was expecting a liquid lipstick type of gloss, and it just didn't deliver. It's very buildable though, and with two coats, it provides a nice medium coverage on my rosy lips.

Milani Quick Flash on my lips.

The gloss itself feels comfortable on the lips. There is a slight grit because of all of the shimmer, but the gloss itself is thick and moisturizing that it doesn't bother me. The consistency reminds me a bit of the Revlon Mineral Lipglazes; slightly thick, non-sticky, non-drying. I can see that's why these won't feather, because for a lipgloss, they aren't at all runny.

I love the way the gloss looks on my lips, and I feel like the formula and shimmer actually makes my lips look a little fuller. 

One thing I figured is worth a mention, for some reason after I've applied the gloss to my lips I feel a slight tingling-heat for the first couple of minutes - almost like it's a mild plumper? It's very subtle and goes away, but I'm assuming it's a very mild reaction to an ingredient in the gloss. I've had no side effects (such as dried out lips, swelling, or anything of the sort). I haven't read that anyone else experienced this, as results will vary from person to person with any cosmetic product.

Overall though, I'm pretty pleased with this gloss and I think it's an awesome every-day pink that can be worn alone, or tossed over top any pink lipstick.

The Round-Up
Pros:

• A great every day color that can be worn alone or over top any pink lipstick
• Keeps my lips moisturized - doesn't dry them out
• Makes my lips very shiny and appear fuller
• Good lasting power - it's still there after a few hours

Cons:

• Feels slightly gritty at first, but goes away shortly after
• Isn't full coverage like the claims

Price: $7.49, CVS, ULTA or your local store that carries Milani.

NYX Natural Xtreme Lip Cream Review!

NYX Natural Xtreme Lip Cream

NYX Xtreme Lip Cream ($5.99) is a "liquid lipstick" - it has the coverage of an opaque lipstick, but in a creamy lipgloss form. It delivers intense, long-lasting color with a shiny finish.

I just reviewed Nude Peach Fuzz in the previous post, and now I'll be talking about the other color I have, which is the shade Natural.

Natural is a light, pinky-beige nude. It's a shade that'd work best on light to light-medium and medium skin tones. It may look too pastel on darker skin tones, but those with darker skin tones may like this lip gloss to mix/tone down dark and/or bright lip colors. For reference, it's not as light as MAC Myth Lipstick - it's much more wearable. I'm around MAC NC25 right now, and it's not lighter than my skin. (See swatch at the end of the post) In my opinion, a must-have if you're a fan of the nude lip.

NYX Natural Xtreme Lip Cream on my lips

Swatches from left to right: NYX Xtreme Lip Cream in Natural, NYX Xtreme Lip Cream in Nude Peach Fuzz and OCC Lip Tar in Hush for comparison. I'm currently around the MAC NC25 coloring.

I still have to prep my lips with my favorite lip balm - Smith's Rosebud Salve to prevent any dryness from occurring, because it's not a moisturizing formula, but it's not particularly drying either. It's also not sticky.

It doesn't contain any weird fragrance, but it's not completely scent free. The first ingredient in this lip gloss is castor oil, and that's exactly what it smells like - slightly woody/plastic-y? (and if you are familiar with cold pressed/cold processed castor oil, you can imagine the consistency).

The product feels comfortable on my lips and because of the thick, opaque formula, the lasting power is much better than a standard lip gloss.

If I had to choose Nude Peach Fuzz or Natural? I prefer Nude Peach Fuzz over Natural for my particular coloring, as it seems to add a little more color to my face.

I'll be picking up additional shades soon!

The Round-Up

Pros:

• Doesn't wash out my light-medium skintone
• Applies evenly - non streaky
• Extremely pigmented color
• Isn't sticky - comfortable on the lips
• Shiny finish
• Great lasting power - better than standard lipglosses
• Inexpensive

Cons:

• Yucky smell of Castor Oil - which may only be bothersome to those sensitive to scents in cosmetics
• Might not be a flattering shade on medium-tan and deeper skintones, but like mentioned earlier, can work well to tone down other lip colors/mixing

Price: $5.99, ULTA. (Currently BOGO 50% off)

NYX Nude Peach Fuzz Xtreme Lip Cream Review! My FAVORITE lip product right now!

NYX Nude Peach Fuzz Xtreme Lip Cream 

If I could leap in the air and click my heels without falling flat on my face, I'd do it right now in salutation of one of my new favorite lip products! Wait... What? What is that? Is that the sound of angels?

I've gone through so many lip products that it takes a lot to woo me nowadays, but this lip cream sure makes me swoon.

NYX Xtreme Lip Cream ($5.99) is a "liquid lipstick" - it has the coverage of an opaque lipstick, but in a creamy lipgloss form. It delivers intense, long-lasting color with a shiny finish.

There are eleven (11) shades to choose from: Dolly Girl, Candy Land, Spicy, Buttery Nude, Bonfire, Pinky Nude, Absolute Red, Skin Tone, Strawberry Jam, Natural and Nude Peach Fuzz.

Nude Peach Fuzz is a warm, light peach tinged pink. If you generally like peachy-pinks, watermelon/flamingo pinks, coral-pinks - all that jazz, you'll like this one. I like the fact that the peach tone isn't overbearing, so there isn't a trace of orange on my lips. Even though the color is light, it doesn't wash me out - it actually brightens up my face. It reminds me a bit of a lighter and brighter version of MAC Kinda Sexy Lipstick.

NYX Nude Peach Fuzz on my lips

For my coloring, I find it to be a great every-day shade. It will work best on warm complexions with light to medium skintones, but because it isn't overly warm, it's possible that it can work on cool skin as well. I usually pair it with a nude lip liner, and I'm good to go for hours.

The consistency is.. I'm trying to find another word for thick, because "thick" can sound a little.. scary. It's like a condensed cream that applies full coverage color with one swipe. I want to almost compare the formula to OCC Lip Tars, but the NYX Xtreme Creams are more emollient and a tad thicker. Also, with OCC Lip Tars, you almost need a lip gloss on top because they're a bit drying, but you don't need anything on top of these.

Swatches from left to right: NYX Xtreme Lip Cream in Natural, NYX Xtreme Lip Cream in Nude Peach Fuzz and OCC Lip Tar in Hush for comparison. I'm currently around the MAC NC25 coloring.

I still have to prep my lips with my favorite lip balm - Smith's Rosebud Salve to prevent any dryness from occurring, because it's not a moisturizing formula, but it's not particularly drying either. It's also not sticky.

It doesn't contain any weird fragrance, but it's not completely scent free. The first ingredient in this lip gloss is castor oil, and that's exactly what it smells like - slightly woody/plastic-y? (and if you are familiar with cold pressed/cold processed castor oil, you can imagine the consistency).

The product feels comfortable on my lips and because of the thick, opaque formula, the lasting power is much better than a standard lip gloss.

Overall, I love this lip product and it'd be darn near perfect if it wasn't for the smell. Lately, I've been choosing it over anything else in my stash and I've already purchased a back-up! I can't wait to try some of the other shades! (See below)

Swatches from left to right: Dolly Girl, Candy Land, Spicy, Buttery Nude, Bonfire, Pinky Nude, Absolute Red, Skin Tone, Strawberry Jam, Natural and Nude Peach Fuzz. Swatched on Karen's MAC NC42 (medium-tan) skin. (Image credit: MakeupandBeautyBlog)

The Round-Up

Pros:

• Available in a variety of pretty, trendy colors (lots of pink - yay!)
• Extremely pigmented color 
• Isn't sticky - comfortable on the lips
• Great lasting power - better than standard lipglosses
• Inexpensive

Cons:

• Yucky smell of Castor Oil - which may only be bothersome to those sensitive to scents in cosmetics

Price: $5.99, ULTA. (Currently BOGO 50% off)

NYX Nude Peach Mega Shine Lip Gloss Review! Love this gloss!

NYX Nude Peach Mega Shine Lip Gloss

NYX Mega Shine Lip Glosses ($5.49) are ultra creamy lipglosses that deliver loads of color and shine. There is zero stickiness, and the formula doesn't leave your lips begging for hydration. You'll be sure to find a color you like, as there are 50 shades to choose from! 

I've owned a few of these glosses in the past, with the shade 'Smokey Look' being one of my favorites. Well, I've found a new favorite, and that is a little gem by the name of 'Nude Peach'.

Nude Peach is a vibrant melon pink with subtle shimmer. If you like warm pinks and pinky-corals, there's no doubt in my mind that you won't like this gloss. It's especially nice on warm and tan skintones. When I'm tan, I always opt for shades like this. When I'm a bit lighter, I gravitate towards slightly cooler pinks.

I like wearing this lipgloss alone, or layered on top of any pink lipstick. I like wearing it over MAC Viva Glam Nicki, Shygirl or Creme Cup. It adds a little vibrancy to the color.

NYX Nude Peach Mega Shine Lip Gloss on my lips

These lipglosses have an artificial cherry scent - The older I become, I grow less tolerant to scented lip products (specifically cheaper, fruity, artificial scents). The scent of these glosses doesn't bother me, as it doesn't seem to linger too long and it's not sickly sweet.

I really like the large, slanted applicator, as it picks up a good amount of product to coat my lips without having to double dip.

I am very prone to chapped lips, and thankfully these glosses don't cause any additional dryness. They feel good on the lips, but they aren't moisturizing enough for me to wear without lip balm (I have to wear lip balm with most lip products, though).

The lasting power isn't exceptionally well when worn solo, they seem to last a little longer when applied over a lipstick. Nevertheless, I don't mind re-applying every once in a while.

NYX products are a little difficult to come across, so most of the NYX I own, I've purchased online. The only store I know that sells NYX near me is ULTA, and although they carry a good quantity of the line, they don't stock every shade of lipgloss, etc. If you do come across a NYX display, I'd definitely recommend checking these out for an affordable gloss you can toss in your bag.

The Round-Up

Pros:

• Inexpensive
• Great Color and Pigmentation
• Creamy (non-sticky) texture that is comfortable on the lips
• Shiny Finish

Cons:

• Artificial Cherry scent might be bothersome to some
• Lasting power could be better

Price: $5.49, Ulta.

Have you tried these lipglosses? Which is your favorite?