Lush It Started With A Kiss Lip Tint

Lip tints and stains aren't usually my thing because they're too drying  and tend to enhance imperfections. Most of them are more focused on staying power than on being kind to one's lips and it shows. Lush is attempting to revolutionize this with their It Started With A Kiss red lip tint. The element that sold me on this was the use of shea butter and coconut oil- this meant that Kiss would not be too drying, and indeed, the texture right of the tin is quite waxy. It melts on touch (hence the recommendation not to order it online during the hot months) and spreads easily giving the lips a coat of color.

The reddish color stays put nicely. It survives drinks and a snack and some of the stain is even dinner resistant though I'd rather reapply. I'm not very fond of the plumping tingle courtesy of cinnamon oil, and I know some people are especially sensitive to it, so take it into account. Thankfully it passes quickly. While I wouldn't say Kiss is as moisturizing as a lip treatment or a good balm, it is kind on the lips and doesn't dry them at all. As long as one's skin is in good condition, i.e. exfoliated and moisturized, the results are quite good.

The pinkish red shade (more cerise than apple) is not really my color. It would look better against fair skin. I use it under darker glosses with plum hues, so I get both the nice finish and adjust the color to suit me better. The scent, by the way, is a lot nicer than I expected (several Lush fragrant products make me jump out of my skin). It's on the yummy side, naturally, with white chocolate, cinnamon and apple. I'm not always in the mood for a big fat dessert on my lips, but I have to admit it's fun and has been growing on me with use.

More colors and a stick version (so one doesn't need to stick her finger in the tin) would have made it a favorite.

Bottom Line: Not really for me but very cute.

Lush It Started With A Kiss Lip Tint ($6.95) is available from Lush boutiques all over the world and online. A press sample was sent to me by the company.

All photos are mine.

Serge Lutens Water Lip Color (Encre Pour Les Levres)

It looked like a good idea at the time.

After all, long before Serge Lutens has created his perfumes, he became famous for the innovative makeup looks he developed for Dior and Shiseido. I've been fawning over his makeup line for a while (and briefly tested the eye shadows. Liked them a lot), so when the Water Lip Colors came out I had to get one.

The choice was easy, as there are only two colors: Chardon (a berry/purple grape) and Safrané (a fiery orange). I went with the former.

The packaging didn't disappoint. An elegant Lutens box in black and tan, holding the sleek tube with the slanted applicator. I liked the wand and found it efficient in reaching the corners and curves, which is quite important when dealing with a lip stain (unlike a regular gloss that tends to be more forgiving).

Unlike too many lips stains on the market, the Lutens goes on much more evenly and isn't blotchy when first applied (attention: foreshadowing). It's completely sheer and takes the concept of "your lips, but better" into new heights. The finish is matte and there's absolutely no goop or residue, so it doesn't even look like makeup. Color intensity is somewhat buildable. I've found that three coats give me exactly the right look.

But nothing is perfect.

It takes a little practice to paint within the lines. Using a lip liner would completely ruin the look here, so you need to make sure not even a speck of color lands outside the desired area. I also discovered that any imperfection on the lip, like my tiny scar, absorb more tint than desired. I have to use a thin brush and fill the scar with a lip balm (or an eye cream... works just as well), so the product doesn't pool in it. Once I got the hang of it, initial application was great. The problem is with the way the lip stain wears. Blotches appear towards the inside of the mouth after about an hour or once you drink the first cup of tea, whichever comes first. Since the color doesn't wear off evenly, I end up looking as though I've just eaten a grape popsicle. Not exactly something you want when paying $65 for the most stylish lip product around.

Serge Lutens makeup in the USA is exclusive to Barneys (in Europe it can be ordered directly from the Salons du Palais Royal). I ordered it online, but at the moment it seems they're out of stock.

Photos: mine (as apparent from the poor quality). Model: Gracie

rms Beauty Cream Eye Shadow And Lip2Cheek

I first read about rms Beauty on the monthly One Lucky Duck newsletter I get from Pure Food & Wine, one of my favorite vegan/raw restaurants in NYC. The place, for those not familiar with the scene, is much more upscale and completely lacking the homespun crunchy granola vibe one would expect. I've been a fan for years, so hearing about a raw organic makeup line endorsed by PF&W's beautiful owner, Sarma Melngailis (who is the best advertisement for the lifestyle and anything else she touches), has definitely sparked some serious curiosity.

rms Beauty (lower case in names annoy me to no end) is not the first makeup line promising skin benefits (29 Cosmetics is all about grape seed and anti-aging), but I liked the idea of a small, local brand, created by a makeup artist (Rose-Marie Swift) which only uses organic ingredients and is committed to healthy living. And the colors looked nice, modern and very elegant.

I ordered one eye shadow and one lip/cheek tint. Both products come in a little pot, which is not my favorite form of makeup packaging. The whole thing about repeatedly sticking your finger (or even a brush) into the open tin is not the most sanitary, and you end up having to scrub the color from your finger before you touch something that shouldn't be tinted. But I was still eager to try.

The metallic cream eye shadow in Magnetic looked promising. It's a taupe mauve, very neutral, but I would have liked it better one shade darker. It's very metallic and provides some serious shine, a bit out of my comfort zone, but unquestionably pretty. The big issue, though, is staying power. It's supposed to act as a moisturizer, so you should avoid using an eye cream underneath. A primer is a must, unless your lids are extremely dry, because without it there's some serious creasing. even with a thoroughly prepped canvas, the eye shadow creased and like most cream products, set into the skin's texture which looks wrinkly and messy. Very disappointing and definitely not worth the price.

I also ordered the lip2cheek color in Rapture. It's a brown based red, and probably the most flattering one I have. It's way too dark for me as a cheek color and requires a lot of work and expertise to get it right and avoid a clown face, but on the lips it's perfect. Before using it, you must exfoliate the lips and use a good (but not greasy) balm. Benefit Smooch is my holy grail in this department. You also need to use a lip liner to make sure everything stays in place. The color is buildable and you can stain just enough for a sexy but mellow look, or go all the way.It's the one matte lip color that doesn't feel or look weird on me, so I'm completely in love. I'm still experimenting with gloss on top (not necessary), but one to stay away is that YSL black gloss. It usually works for me on true reds, but not in this case. I think I also need the one in Illusive, which is a rosy plum color.

rms beauty cream eye shadow and lip2cheek ($36 each) are available from rmsbeauty.com and oneluckyduck.com (I purchased mine from the latter).