Here’s something new from the Maybelline stable – Water Shine Elixir Lipstick. I saw it in Watsons yesterday, retailing for about RM29.80. It might be a promotional price for this is a new item.
I played around with the testers on display and got a pretty good idea of what the product is like.
Continue Reading
My friend loved this lipgloss by Shiseido Integrate so much that she sent me this as a gift. Integrate is another brand under the Shiseido umbrella and its presently only available in Japan. Some stores in Hong Kong or Taiwan may stock some of the items or colours, but in the main, this is a Japan only brand. Pity really, as this looks like an interesting brand.
The Integrate Glamourous Rouge lipgloss comes in the shape of a pen with a clear body where you can see the colour of your gloss. However, the amount is very little. That bit of colour you see is about all you’ll get.
Initially, I thought that it was similar to the Stila Lip Glazes, where there’s a brush as an applicator. However, when I opened up the cap, I was surprised to see that there was no brush at the end, but a silicone spatula. Very odd.
You twist the bottom of the pen and the colour will ooze out the middle bit of the applicator. You then dab the colour on your lip and spread it out using the spatula. As its made of silicone, its pretty flexible. However, I found myself scraping off the colour rather than spreading it. That was until I pretended it was a butter knife and applied it that way. Then, I got it to spread nicely.
When you are done, just twist the bottom in the opposite direction and the excess colour will be sucked back into the tube so you don’t get a mess. Clever!
The colour looks scary in the pen, but when applied, its a cool sheer pink without much shimmer. Its not sticky and in fact, feels very comfortable on. Its not super shiny either. Just a nice sheer gloss with a tint of colour. The colour stays on quite long too, for a gloss. However, what puts me off a little, is the scent. When you apply the gloss, there is a sweet scent that lingers for a bit. I found it a tad cloying.
I’m not sure of the price, it being a gift, but I think Integrate ranks slightly below Maquillage, so I don’t expect it came cheap. In fact, they use Angelina Jolie as their spokes model. She can’t come cheap!
I’m not sure if or when this line will be released overseas. If you’d like to try it, there are some limited items from this brand in Adambeauty. I haven’t tried buying from them, so you are on your own there!
Pros: Long lasting for a gloss, sheer glossy colour, innovative design
Cons: Sweet scent, not much product
[rating:3.5/5]
I tried this once, when I was suffering from dry lips. I happened to be in The Natural Source store in Midvalley Megamall and in a fit of desperation, bought this. 
Oh dear! I’m sorry, but I’m sad to say, this was a totally bum product for me.
According to the official website, this is what its supposed to do. In gist:
First of all, the texture. This product is a white colour cream. It feels rather waxy and goes on your lips white. So, you look rather ill for a while, until you rub it in. Even then, the waxy and pale look doesn’t go away. However, I noticed that it has a pink tint in it that is apparent if you wipe your fingers on a piece of tissue paper after that. Its odd that even though there’s a pink tint, it shows up as white on the lips.
Secondly, it does not feel nice. As I have mentioned before, it feels waxy and like a coating over my lips. I don’t like that.
Thirdly, it did nothing for my dry lips. It didn’t make it drier, but it didn’t make it more moisturised either. My lips just stayed as dry and flakey as ever. There was no plumping effect and my lips look the same now as it did before I used it. I even loyally used it twice a day, morning and night to no avail. Every morning, I’d still wake up to dry flakey lips.
Finally, the price. Its an astronomical RM125 for a little 30ml tube. Yes yes… I was suckered. But you don’t have to be!
[rating:0/5]
Some time ago when the Clinique Buttershine lipsticks were first launched, I gave them a go at the Clinique counter. My first impression was a bad one, as my lips felt dry after applying this lipstick.
Now, I know this lipstick is more like a solid gloss. It is supposed to go on like butter and has a shine, hence the name. However, it felt dry to me and so I avoided this one for a long long time.
Then, a couple of weeks back, I stumbled on one for cheap, so I bought it on a whim to try. The colour is Berry Blush.
The case of this lipstick is very nice. Its a solid shiny metal with a bamboo design. Very appropriate for the coming Chinese New Year, I thought. The cover fits very well, so once its covered you can’t even tell which way is up! It just looks like a piece of solid metal bamboo which is really cool.
The texture of this lipstick is pretty much like gloss. It goes on smoothly and sheer and glossy. I found it melts a little if left in the heat for too long e.g. if you are travelling in a hot car. It maybe to do with the texture as my other lipsticks in the same bag did not melt as much.
There is no scent like all other Clinique products. This time, when I applied the lipstick, I did not feel any dryness. My lips felt moist, in fact, which is great!
The colour I got is Berry Blush. Its a nude berry shade which on my pigmented lips, hardly shows up. Its great for me because its my original lip colour, but better! My lips don’t look like I have thick lipstick on, and it looks natural, but shiny and smooth. The perfect my-lips-but-better look. If you like colour then this lipstick might not be for you because its very sheer. All it does is put a hint of colour on your lips. The darker or brighter shades may show up more but even then, its mostly sheer. Great for those days when you want some colour but don’t want to look too made up. And it lasts longer than a gloss too!
I don’t know how much this retails for, but I’d hazard a guess at about RM60 or so. Its available at all Clinique counters. I’m rather tempted to get more colours now!
Pros: Sheer, glossy, no scent, nice packaging
Cons: Sheer, melts easily
[rating:5/5]
