Showing posts with label LIPSTICK. Show all posts
Showing posts with label LIPSTICK. Show all posts

Tuesday, September 12, 2017

Kokie Professional Cosmetics | Demo,💋 Swatches, & Review

Story time!
Hello, everyone! I know I have been MIA. I apologize for my absence, but it was for genuine reasons. I appreciate that y’all have been patient with me. I was not in my element to film, but now I am back. I hope y'all connect with me on my Instagram page @strawberryheartschocolatedarts, where I post on a daily basis. Today on the Chai Time menu: Kokie Professional Cosmetics.   


I first discovered the brand Kokie Cosmetics through posts on Instagram that showcased the brand’s beautiful nail polish selection. I started following the brand on Instagram and learned that their nail polishes – a select variety - are sold in select Bed, Bad, and Beyond Harmon’s stores.  So I ventured out to my local BBB Harmon’s to check the Kokie Cosmetics nail polishes, but the colors that I was interested in were not available at the locations near me.  This took Kokie Cosmetics off my radar until this past Spring when the brand announced on Instagram that they not only have nail polishes, but makeup and brushes too, which would soon be releasing in select Walmart locations. Soon after their announcement, Kokie Cosmetics displays were spotted at Walmart stores. Hence, my hunt commenced! 

To find out if a Walmart near you carries Kokie, visit the Kokie Cosmetics website, select the Walmart tab, and enter your zip code.  This is how I searched for a display near me rather than hopping from store to store, wasting my time.  I really appreciate that Kokie Cosmetics has this locator feature on their website because unfortunately Walmart is so disorganized in my opinion.  I am a Target gal, no ifs or buts about it!

Now let us circle back to today’s video.  I was able to find a display right after it had been freshly set up.  For those of you familiar with the chaos that is Walmart –especially its makeup isles, which sometimes look like a storm has passed through – will appreciate the sanctity of a fresh untouched display.  I got to the apples first y’all, fresh and juicy for the picking.

Although I would have liked to try several products, I limited myself to just the liquid lipsticks.  I am not much of a base wearer nor do I like to switch it up much – I stick to what works.  The color products, like the eye shadows and blushes, didn’t speak to me because they appeared better suited for lighter, fairer skin-tones.  Also, I am a fledgling beauty blogger and invest my own money in purchasing products to test and review so I cannot get carried away.  Basically, I am a lipstick gal and that’s what triggered my love for makeup artistry and blogging.  So let us take a look at what I picked up, shall we?

Demo & Swatches

Review
Kokie Cosmetics has two formulations of liquid lipsticks: the Kissable Liquid Lipstick and the Lip Poudre. 

·      Kissable Liquid Lipstick claims – “love the matte look but not desert-dry lips? Never fear, Kokie Cosmetics is here with our Kissable Matte Lip Gloss! These liquid lipsticks glide on like velvet and dry into a soft, kissable matte … Comfortable, transfer-proof… “ (Kokie Professional website)

·      Lip Poudre claims – “our formula provides water-resistant, intensely pigmented, weightless color that wont flake or dry out lips. Plus, it’s reapplication-friendly! Glides on as a cream and dries to a feather-light, velvety soft, matte lipstick.” (Kokie Professional website)

Let me give it to y’all straight, if you have dry lips, despite your efforts to keep them hydrated, and most (like 99%) matte liquid lipsticks do not suit you, then the Kissable Liquid Lipstick formula is ideal for you. The Kissable formula has a gel-cream hybrid texture.  It’s gel-like characteristic is what makes it adhere well to the lips so initially it has that slight tackiness of a gloss and you can feel it on your lips.  It takes a few minutes to set to a semi-matte finish.  Although it is very comfortable as Kokie Cosmetics claims, it is not transfer-proof.  If you don’t like your lipsticks to have sheen and prefer that they set completely matte, then you will not be a fan of the Kissable formula. 

The Lip Poudre formula is difficult to explain. In fact, it is somewhat “powdery” as its name implies.  It has a thinner, more of a liquid-cream consistency in comparison to the Kissable formula.  However, once it sets, it felt and looked gritty and enhanced every nook and cranny of my lips.  I loved the Lip Poudre color Duchess, but despite being such a pigmented mid-tone plummy mauve shade, it looked dry, but not dry in the sense that it set fully matte. It still had dimension to it, but appeared so textured.  I think the Lip Poudre might work for someone who has really hydrated and naturally plump lips, which a good half of us don’t.  I don’t have dry lips, but I do have natural lip lines, which I was just born with, and medium sized lips, so this kind of powdery formula just doesn’t fit the bill for me. 

Between the Kissable and Lip Poudre formulas, I prefer the Kissable formula even though I like my liquid lipsticks to set to a smooth, velvety matte, sheen-less finish.  There are comfortable fully matte liquid lipsticks out there in the market, especially because every beauty brand is coming out with their version of a matte liquid lipstick. 
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 Yours Truly,
The Lipsticks-Ninja
Meesha 

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Wednesday, January 25, 2017

Bare Minerals Gen Nude Matte Liquid Lip Colors | ChaiTimewithMeesha



If the "liquid to ultra-matte" liquid lipsticks are not for you, then you must try out the new Bare Minerals Gen Nude Liquid Lipcolors line.  Not only does this line focus on wearable neutral aka "nude" lip shades for all skin-tones, but a comfortable semi-matte liquid lipstick formula.  These lipsticks dry down to a semi-matte finish once they have been on the lips for a good few minutes and maintain a smooth and creamy feeling on the lips.  If you prefer a true matte liquid lipstick, then this is definitely not your cup of tea. 

They do transfer, very slightly, especially when freshly applied. These are easy to reapply and layer because they're indeed weightless.  These do take longer than the average matte liquid lipsticks to dry down so initially you will notice a sheen for sometime. These shades did wear off a bit after I eating. I wish there were more deeper shade options than the shade Scandal, but perhaps the brand will expand the shade range in the future. 

If y'all are looking for a comfortable liquid lipstick that is available in subtle, everyday-no-fuss kind-of-shades, then I would recommend these Gen Nude matte liquid lipcolors. One does not necessarily need all or even several of the shades because the line consists of only nudes - geared for different skin-tones/under-tones - thus far. As an added bonus, these smell delicious... like a sweet warm freshly baked dessert.  If you like your lipsticks to smell like brownies, cupcakes, cookies, or the like, then you will be sold on these at first sniff. Honestly, don't judge me, but that was a major attraction for me personally. 

Please view my video above for demo-application and lip-swatches. Thank you! 

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 Yours Truly,
The Lipsticks-Ninja
Meesha 

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Sunday, September 25, 2016

Anastasia Beverly Hills Liquid Lipsticks (swatches and review of the latest colors) | ChaiTimewithMeesha


Swatches


Review
Availability and Price
The Anastasia Beverly Hills liquid lipsticks are available on the ABH website as well other retailers – Macy’s, Ulta, and Sephora (online and in-stores).  In my opinion, the most convenient way to buy these is online because the popular colors (like those swatched in my video above) are usually out of stock in stores.  These liquid lipsticks retail for $20 (11 oz.) a pop.

The colors that I am reviewing today are Stripped, Crush, Dusty Rose, Kathryn, Madison, Ashton, Sepia, Veronica, and Trust Issues.  I want to point out an observation – I think Anastasia Beverly Hills has released its liquid lipsticks in three batches thus far (Spring 2015, Summer 2015, and Spring 2016) and with each batch the formula of the liquid lipsticks has changed.  If you’re interested in swatches and review of any of the liquid lipsticks from the very first release (Spring 2015), you can find that on my channel as well.  In today’s video, we will focus on the colors from the second (Summer 2015 -these were out of stock for the longest time and were recently restocked) and third (Spring 2016) releases.  As for the Summer 2015 shades that were recently restocked, I am not sure if the formula changed with the restock. I’m assuming the formula did change with the restock because these colors came back in stock after over a year. 

Stripped (Spring ‘16)
Crush (Spring ‘16)
Dusty Rose (Summer ’15, re-released/re-stocked with Spring ’16 collection release)
Kathryn (Spring ‘16)
Madison (Spring ‘16)
Ashton (Spring ‘16)
Sepia (Summer ’15, re-stocked recently)
Veronica (Summer ’15, re-stocked recently)
Trust Issues (Summer ’15, re-stocked recently)

I know this “mumbo-jumbo” might sound overwhelming/confusing, but I have to include all of the details in order to give y’all a proper review. 

Pigmentation
All of these colors are fabulously pigmented and appear opaque in one coat.  The pigmentation remains consistently excellent despite the changes in the formula. 

I have the older version of Sepia, Veronica, and Trust Issues, so with these three colors I prefer taking some product off of my applicator and then adding more, specifically to the center portion of the bottom lip.  These three shades are thicker, creamier, and take longer to dry/set, especially in the center portion of the bottom lip. 

Application, Texture, & Comfort 
I am only going to discuss the application and texture of the latest release.  Overall, the latest ABH liquid lipstick formula is ultra-matte (a fully dry matte).  I invested in a MAC Prep and Prime Lip - a lipstick base - to wear underneath these liquid lipsticks.  I first moisturize my lips with Jack Black’s lip balm and then follow up with MAC’s Prep and Prime Lip before I apply these liquid lipsticks. Despite applying a lip balm and a lip base, these liquid lipsticks set fairly quickly (and very quickly on bare lips).  

I would not recommend layering more than a second coat even though the latest formula is thinner (thin yet creamy, not runny) than the prior two formulations.  The colors Stripped and Crush did not suit my skin-tone and natural lip color and shape.  I don’t suffer from chapped lips, but my lips are naturally wrinkly/pouty. I don’t have plump and smooth lips so I have to be careful with lighter shades, especially lighter shades in a super dry/matte formula.  Both Stripped and Crush settled into my lip lines and made my lips look very parched and powdery. 

Honestly, I like the ABH liquid lipsticks more for the color selection than the formula. The formula (latest one) on its own is not comfortable and I have to wear a lip balm and priming base underneath to make them suitable for my lips.  As I mentioned above, I don’t have abnormally dry lips (unless I’m feeling unwell or de-hydrated or am sunburned) and I do exfoliate and moisturize my lips regularly.

Longevity
The ABH liquid lipsticks have good staying power.  As you saw in the video, I rubbed my lips and kissed my hand and there was no noticeable transfer.  However, if you eat something that is very wet, liquid in consistency, or greasy (oil-based), then these will definitely wear off, especially in the center portion of the bottom lip. I do appreciate that these liquid lipsticks don’t wear off in a messy way, like transferring onto your chin or teeth. 

Overall, the truth is that I am a fan of the colors here.  For instance, Madison is my absolute favorite purple lip color in the whole wide world.  The only caveat is that you must be an avid enthusiast of the ultra-matte lips trend and willing to put in the extra prep. 

Please like, comment, share, follow, and subscribe! 

Yours Truly,
The Lipsticks-Ninja
Meesha 

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Friday, July 17, 2015

L'Oreal Star Matte Red Lipsticks | Swatches, Demos, & Review | ChaiTimewithMeesha

Hi Lipstick-Lover-Peeps! Well, this one is especially for my Red Lipstick Lovers - my review of the L'Oreal "Star Matte Red" lipsticks is posted on my channel ChaiTimewithMeesha.  The "Star Matte Reds" is a new collection from L'Oreal, which includes a gradient of "special" red lipsticks and nail polishes.  Each shade is named after a celebrity ambassador of L'Oreal. The concept behind this collection is that L'Oreal has a diverse collection of reds for women of different skin tones and colors from all around the world.   

Hope y'all will like my picks and enjoy the video.  Bisou! Bisou! 


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♥ Yours Truly,
The Lipsticks-Ninja
Meesha 

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Wednesday, November 5, 2014

Lipstick Queen Sinner Lipstick Natural

Many actresses, whether in real-life or in the world of drama, wear a trademark lip color that we associate them with.  Taylor Swift is known for wearing a creamy, bright, fire engine red lipstick.  Jennifer Lopez is known for wearing a glossy, warm-toned, golden-beige lip color.  Drew Barrymore is known for the wine-red tinted lips.  Victoria Grayson and her daughter Charlotte from Revenge as well as Gloria Delgado from the Modern Family always have on a bold burgundy or deep wine-red lip color.  Where am I going with this? We all watch television and drool over celebrity fashion trends, but that is not my point here.  

I think to myself as I reflect upon my unreasonably extensive lipstick collection, do I have a signature lip color? I have reviewed a few lipsticks in the past, which I have deemed as the one and only lip color that I could survive with for the rest of my life.  Disclaimer - if you are not that passionate about makeup and wearing makeup is just something like brushing your teeth, then you will find this post overly dramatic.  I must admit that I am not very loyal to any single lip color I own.  

Obviously I am not a celebrity or actress, so I feel that my signature lip color cannot be a bright red or a bold burgundy.  I have also struggled to find my ideal n*de lipstick.  Because of my olive-beige skin-tone and more pigmented lips, n*de lip colors look patchy, streaky, and dry on me.  So I have to settle for the "my lips but better" shades that fall in the mix of pink-brown-rosy-mauve family or currently better known as the "Kylie lip" or "90s lip."  

I am making my point! Be patient! Last week ULTA (e)mailed out a 20% off (no exclusions) coupon. I rarely, unless there is a special occasion, purchase high-end (or even drug-store) makeup without a promotion or coupon or sale or bargain.  High-end makeup is rarely discounted.  Rarely!  Gifts with purchase deals don't really entice me because the quality of the "gifts" is not always up to par as the makeup you are buying.  However,  I do appreciate samples or deluxe samples of permanent products because as a blogger, I am always curious to try new products.  Anyway,  I had a fixed list of what I wanted to purchase with my coupon.  Fortunately for the funds, it was a modest one too.  The last time I received a coupon from ULTA was back in April (these coupons circulate every late fall, mid-spring).  Since then I refrained from buying anything high-end in anticipation for the next coupon and instead maintained a shopping-list here on my blog.  

Lipstick Queen was not on my list, but I am attracted to the brand for some unknown reason.  I think it is the name because I have ordained myself a lipstick queen.  In addition to the lipstick, which I am reviewing at present, I only own one other lipstick from Lipstick Queen called Jungle Queen.  Although I always glance at this brand in ULTA, none of the lip products with the exception of Jungle Queen has impressed me.  By chance I decided to try the shade Natural from the Sinner collection of Lipstick Queen lip products.  I presumed I would not like this color, but I decided to try it anyway.  

I fell in love with this shade the moment I tried it.  It was a "I have to have you" shade.  I admired it on myself, bordering narcissism. Why do I love this particular lipstick so much?  First, I had presumed it would be a boring, mid-tone pink-rose shade.  Secondly, these sort of "my lips but better" shades just seem to get lost on my face as if I just have a lip balm on.  Lastly, I had heard that the Sinner collection of lipsticks can be drying and I like to stay far far far away from dry formulas.  However, this lipstick proved me wrong.  

This lipstick is not hydrating, but it is not drying either.  When my lips are dry to begin with and  I apply this lipstick without getting rid of the chapped dead skin, I can see the flakiness, but only if I look very closely.  I think because this shade is deep and opaque it does not appear dry despite the satin-matte formula.  

The main reason I am so fond of Lipstick Queen Sinner Natural is that it wears true to the color of the bullet.  You get what you see with this one.  Most rosy-brown shades show up much lighter on my skin-tone than they do on women fairer than me.  It seems natural to desire what we do not have and  take for granted what we do have. Women with fairer skin-tones tan, while women who are tan protect themselves from the sun with umbrellas and complexion-lightening creams.  My point is I am a fan of a deep rosy red lip, which looks very natural.  This shade reminds of a lip color I associate with women from the medieval era or homely milk-maids.  I told my fiancé that this is the type of color I could wear if I were acting in the Game of Thrones.  As you can tell from my elaborate explanation, this shade was a special find.  So, what was my point ultimately?  Well, I feel like this shade could possibly be my signature shade.  This shade is exactly the kind of red shade that I can wear to the courtroom... don't you think so?  

I am saving the best news till the end.  During this particular trip to ULTA I made a new sweet friend!  I love making friends out of the blue, when I am least expecting it.  Obviously we all fall into social circumstances in the classroom or the office, but to make a friend in an unexpected way is truly memorable.  I am a very shy person, but when I feel a connection with someone, the shyness disappears.  My new friend is a makeup artist and what makeup-loving blogger would not be more than happy to find another makeup-loving confidant.  She happened to be working at ULTA the day I decided to go there.  It is one of my current points of positivity and just thought I should share.  Sometimes in this mechanical material world we must take a moment to cherish random occurrences that we so often take for granted - like making a new friend.  If the Omnipotent Being sends along a person who puts a smile on your face, while allowing you to be in your element, and does not make you feel obliged is worth that which words cannot justify.  I always make it a point to express to my close friends how much they mean to me.  Give your friend a call! 
I hope this post was informative and helpful. Your friendly comments are much appreciated.  Come back soon. Please follow, like, share, connect, and subscribe. Thank you!

Thursday, October 23, 2014

NARS Audacious Lipstick Collection (Jane, Dominique, Anita, Vanessa, Anna, Geraldine, Olivia, Leslie, Deborah, Sylvia, Barbara, Catherine, and Lana) | Video | Swatches | Demo | Review

*Visual Demo on "ChaiTimewithMeesha"*

*Review*
My friend Megan gifted me the NARS Audacious lipstick in the shade Jane.  A few weeks back she and I were having lunch together at Bravo on a rainy afternoon and she asked me, "if you could have any lipstick today at this moment which one would it be?" I responded, without giving it a second thought, "NARS Audacious Jane." After lunch we walked into the mall to do some window-shopping and a return at Sephora.  Later on as we drove home, I asked her why she was asking me about lipsticks that I want as if she had a trick up her sleeve.  I reminded her not to buy anything from Sephora until the VIB sale.  She, being my twin, could no longer contain the surprise and told me that she bought the lipstick for me as a just-because gift.  In that moment I was fighting back tears of happiness.  I felt so overwhelmed and had no words to express how special her gesture made me feel.  I am no social butterfly and sometimes I feel really sad about being far from my few close friends, but I sure am lucky to have such a special place in their hearts.  Megan's gift was extremely thoughtful, genuine, self-less, and generous.  

When I first saw pictures of the new NARS Audacious lipsticks collection on the Temptalia blog, the only shade in the collection that drew my attention was Jane.  Although Jane may look like a very subdued or rather boring shade when considering the color depicted by the bullet, once applied it comes off bright.  By "bright" I do not mean to imply neon bright, but more vibrant, not dulled down by a heavy brown base.  I have heard other beauty bloggers, with a lighter skin-tone than mine, describe Jane as a terra-cotta shade, but I would not describe it as that.  In my opinion, Jane is a muted coral-orange with a extremely light wash of a warm rosy-brown base.  It is not at all deep or muddy or yellowish or rusty like terra-cotta.  If you are an admirer of the current orange lip color trend, but desire something less loud and clown-like and work-appropriate, then Jane is the shade for you.  This may sound very silly, but Jane from Drop Dead Diva needs to discover this shade.  I imagine it would be one she would like to rock, especially because it has her name.  Ah, wouldn't it be cool if one of the NARS Audacious lipsticks had your name as its name?  Then who needs a souvenir keychain or magnet with your name on it when you can get a lipstick!  Well, maybe some gentlemen would not appreciate this gesture.

Once I began seeing / reading several positive reviews of the NARS Audacious lipsticks, I added a few more shades to my wish-list, such as Barbara (brown-nude), Anita (rosy-pink nude), Vanessa (mauve-pink nude), Catherine (tangerine), Geraldine (orange), Charlotte (wine-red), and Deborah (reddish brown).  I am patiently awaiting the Sephora VIB sale in November to purchase the other shades.  

The NARS Audacious lipsticks cost $32 each, which comes close to the price point of brands like Chanel, Dior, and YSL.  This price point is quite a bit higher than its other lip products, which cost about $25 per lip product.  The high price point comes as a surprise to consumers, who I suppose associate NARS as more of a mid-range high-end brand.  However, after trying a NARS Audacious lipstick myself and liking it more than any of the Chanel, Dior, and YSL lipsticks I own as well as observing that the quality of the NARS Audacious lipsticks far exceeds that of its older permanent lip product lines.  

The NARS Audacious lipsticks are available everywhere NARS is sold, like Sephora and Nordstrom.  There are a few shades (Dominique (dusty lilac), Vanessa (mauve-pink nude), Carmen (red) to name a few... ) that are exclusive to Barney's New York and NARS (stand-alone) stores.  I purchased Dominique last week, but am planning to return it because sadly this shade did not suit me at all.  

I say every lipstick wearer needs at least one NARS Audacious lipstick. Yes, needs! So, why does one need a NARS Audacious lipstick? This is the only lipstick amongst the lipsticks I own that I can assure you with extreme confidence that it is indeed a long-wearing lipstick, which is not a staining lipstick and will not kill the hydration in your lips.  This lipstick stayed on my lips through two solid meals and brushing my teeth before going to sleep at night.  In addition to its exceptional staying power, the pigmentation and formula are excellent as well.  There are no compromises here!  You are not compromising opaque color or staying power for a comfortable formula.  The NARS Audacious lipsticks provide it all.  The formula is the perfect amount of creamy and not overly emollient, making the application smooth, yet not slippery.  One does not need to apply more than a single swipe for full color impact.  

Overall, I am so pleased by the quality NARS Audacious lipsticks.  Their new and superb formula has influenced the quality I desire from lip products, making me even more of a lipstick snob than I already am.  NARS Audacious lipsticks are feel creamy during and after application applied, yet set to a comfortable semi-matte finish.  Lastly, these lipsticks provide rich pigmentation and excellent staying-power without actually staining your lips.  So, the product comes off easily without requiring you to scrub your lips harshly.

I highly recommend Jane as this shade would flatter so many skin tones.  Dominique on the other hand is an acquired taste.  Thus far no one amongst my confidants, mom, Mr. Beau, and one of my close friends (Alexandria - you know I'm talking about you), has liked the appearance of Dominique on me.  Of course I did not want to experiment with it too much because sadly at first glance I decided to send it back.  I have heard that Anna is a wearable version of Dominique, so I plan to purchase that shade in the future.  Update: I have decided to keep Dominique.  Something about it has drawn me from the beginning and I ultimately decided to keep it because it is a truly unique shade to my collection. Yes, that is how amazing these lipsticks are!  Thanks to Megan for the vote of confidence to rock this shade.

*Swatches* 
Jane


Dominique
Barbara 
Catherine
Lana
I hope this post was informative and helpful. Your friendly comments are much appreciated.  Come back soon. Please follow, like, share, connect, and subscribe. Thank you!

Thursday, April 24, 2014

MAC PROENZA SCHOULER LIPSTICK MANGROVE (LIMITED EDITION COLLECTION 2014)

Hey y'all! I am dying of excitement to share my review of a brand new lipstick I bought this morning.  In fact my excitement is bouncing off the walls in my mind to the extent that I am not able to write a proper review. I have never posted a review along with pictures and swatches on the very same day as purchasing the product. I like to test out a product for a while before sharing my thoughts on it.  For this reason I am often too late in sharing my review of limited edition products.  

It seems like every time I blink my eyes, MAC releases a new limited edition collection.  I do not own very many MAC limited edition cosmetics.  These collections are difficult to keep up with - practically and financially.  Even though I adore the packaging of most MAC limited edition items, the actual product itself might not always be my cup of tea.  I cannot justify purchasing makeup for packaging alone. I purchased a lipstick and a blush from the Winter 2013 Divine Nights collection. More recently I purchased three lipsticks from the Huggables collection. This is the extent of my MAC limited edition makeup. 

Yesterday, Mr. Beau asked me what time I was going to wake up in the morning.  I told him bright and early. He asked me why. I told him that MAC Proenza Schouler collection is coming out.  He didn't understand. So, I explained to him that every time MAC releases a collection, it is like Black Friday at Walmart. Hyper women chasing after hyped makeup. 

I have never done this before. I reached the mall at exactly 9:50 a.m.  I was the first customer inside the Belk store. Honestly, I was a little let down that I didn't have to fight a crowd or stand in a line of women huffing and puffing, waiting to get their hands on the good stuff. I had imagined it to be a crazy experience. I had seen a preview of the collection on Temptalia, so I had my eyes set on the vivd coral-red lipstick called Mangrove. I paid about $24 and some change for this lipstick.  It costs a bit more than the permanent MAC lipsticks.  

Okay enough of sharing my experience. Let us move on to the actual review. I love this lipstick! I loved it before I even applied it.  In fact, I was hesitant to apply it at first because I didn't want to ruin the perfect hot coral-red-orange bullet. Personally, I think this is the best feature out of the entire collection.  I highly recommend this lipstick.  Although Temptalia mentioned that Mangrove is the most "dupable" shade out of the whole collection, I find that Mangrove is a very unique shade and a must-have.  

I have been searching high and low for vivid, bright, hot coral red-orange.  The formula is matte, but it feels nothing like a true-matte. I would describe it as a semi-matte because it feels much more comfortable and less rigid than the matte and satin formulas of MAC permanent lipsticks.  It glides on smoothly like a creme formula, yet does not have the slip of such an emollient formula. It is non-drying and does not emphasize lip lines or crevices. I hate matte formula that soak up all of the moisture and natural youthful look of lips, instead making lips appear parched and wrinkly. 

This is not such a matte.  This lipstick could not be any better - it is perfection as is! I have tried quite a few bright lipsticks, but was unimpressed by all because they appeared patchy, streaky, and stark on my lips as if I was trying to wear neon color mousse.  One swipe across the lips is enough for intense, opaque color.  All day today I have been thinking about purchasing a back up of Mangrove, which implies a lot because I don't have back ups of any products I use, except maybe shampoo and conditioner.  

I think the name of this lipstick is cute too.  Mangrove sounds tropical to me and makes me think of an area where colorful tropical fruits grow, like mangoes, pineapples, and papayas. As for the staying power, I would like to wear this lipstick a bit more and then report back.  The packaging is sort of tropical and festive too - reminds me of Mardi Gras beads, lush greenery, plantains, and a sunset on the beach. Can y'all tell by now that I am very happy with this purchase? 

Keep in touch with me via Instagram, where I post previews of upcoming reviews, hauls, and makeup looks. 


I hope this post was informative and helpful. Your friendly comments are much appreciated.  Come back soon. Thanks!
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