Brand: AYA Cosmetics
Range: Lipstick
Shade: In the Buff, Naturally Nude, Just Peachy, Particular Pink
Swatched by yours truly: Yishan

• AYA Cosmetics lipsticks are vegan, free of lead and provide rich, creamy colour without any toxic dyes or animal by-products.
• The lipstick packaging is also eco friendly – made from all-recyclable materials.
• Available in 4 shades – In the Buff, Naturally Nude, Just Peachy and Particular Pink.
• Applies creamy smooth & feels moisturising initially, but the ingredients absorb quickly settling into a satin finish.
• Ingredients: Cocoa Butter, Candelilla Wax, Castor Oil, Organic Meadowfoam Seed Oil, Sesame Oil, Avocado Butter, Macadamia Nut Oil, Vitamin E, Rosemary Oil, Grapefruit Seed Extract. May contain: Mica, Iron Oxides, Titanium Dioxide, Manganese Violet.
• Verdict: I had to wear lip balm while swatching these, but this lipstick actually works best directly on lips without any lip balm.  It grips better, creating a more opaque finish that will appeal to those that like an ultra-nude lip.  Just Peachy was the most suitable shade against my pigmented lip tone, but for all other shades I recommend them only if you like that “ultra nude” opaque finish and if you have a pale lip tone & complexion.

I applied a sheer layer over lip balm to make it work for my pigmented lips. Coverage is buildable into a more opaque finish.

 RRP: $16.95 AUD available online at AYA Cosmetics

This product was provided for consideration.

Brand: Revlon
Range: Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stain
Shades: Romantic, Smitten, Sweetheart, Cherish, Darling
Swatched by yours truly: Yishan

• Revlon Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stain’s are a lightweight lipstain with a pigmented flush of colour that’s long lasting and exceptional staining power that lasts for hours and hours.
• No lip balm required beforehand – the smooth gel formula glides on smoothly & softens lips for a supple, conditioned and moistured finish that looks fuller.
• Comes in a retractable chubby crayon applicator – no sharpening required.
• Available in 10 shades – Honey, Darling, Cherish, Lovesick, Sweetheart, Smitten, Charm, Romantic, Precious and Adore.
• Light peppermint fragrance.
• Tip: Make sure your lips are well exfoliated beforehand, otherwise this balm will stain in uneven patches.
• Verdict: As a testament to how amazing the staying power is, I had to photograph the lip swatches over 2 days (well spaced apart) and in a strategic sequence starting with the lightest to the darkest shade to make sure the stains from the previous swatch doesn’t interfere with the next shade.  I’m also amazed by how pigmented & moisturising they are without the need for any lip balm.   If you decide to change your lip colour just as soon as you applied it, the best makeup remover for taking off this stain is Clinique Take the Day Make Up Remover for Lids, Lashes & Lips.

Swatched without any lip balm.
Click below to view enlarged image

Darling & Cherish are better suited to pale lip tones as it contrasts against pigmented lips. That said, I liked the sweet pink stain that Cherish left on my lips as opposed to the red/fuchsia stains from the other shades.

The pink shades may look deceptively similar on my arm, but as you can see they are strikingly different on lips.

RRP: $17.95 AUD

This product was provided for consideration.

Brand: Carmex
Range: Moisture Plus
Shade: Peach Sheer Tint
Swatched by yours truly: Yishan

• Further to my previous review of the Carmex Moisture Plus Ultra in “Clear”, today I have the “Peach Sheer Tint” for you.  It’s also available in a “Pink Sheer Tint”.
• Ultra hydrating with the nourishing properties of the hallmark ingredients of the Carmex Moisture Plus range -  Shea Butter, Vitamin E, Aloe and SPF15.
• Comes in a sleek, slant tipped slim stick that’s easy to pop in your bag & apply on the go.
• Not quite minty, but the menthol and camphor ingredients do give a cooling sensation.
• Leaves lips with a silky peach healthy sheen
• In Australia this is available in clear, sheer pink & sheer peach.
• Verdict: I have a habit of leaving 2 lip products in every handbag – a lip balm & a peachy lip gloss – so I’m never caught without my lip products when switching bags during the weekend.  Peach Sheer Tint is the perfect fusion of both products, giving my lips a dose of moisture & a healthy MLBB flush of colour which means I only need to carry just one product instead of two.  I know people have mixed experiences with Carmex and SPF, but it works well for me as a weekend lip balm that provides a quick dose of moisture on the go.

RRP: $8.99 AUD available at selected pharmacies

This product was sent for consideration.

Brand: Rimmel
Range: Kate Moss Lasting Finish Matte Lipstick
Shades: 107, 111, 113
Swatched by yours truly: Yishan

• Further to my other Kate Moss Lasting Finish lipstick swatches (Part 1 and Part 2), today I have the Matte Lipstick which comes in a total 6 matte shades in a new matte red packaging.
• Formulated with Ruby Powder, the velvety matte finish is incredibly lightweight and flexible, making it comfortable to wear.  It does grip well to the lip surface, which means you get a richly pigmented seamless coverage, but the “character” of your lips stays visible with no particular smoothing effects other than the diffused matte finish.
• Out of the 6 shades available I received 3 shades – 107 (deep red), 111 (rich red) and 113 (nude).  In real life, shade 111 (rich red) is a richer red closer to how it looks on the tube, as opposed to a bright red which the swatches suggest.
• The formula is non-drying & looks much softer when applied on moisturised lips, or on top of a moisturising lip stain.   I only swatched 2 shades as I wasn’t so lucky with the nude shade 113, which clashed with my lip tone & accentuated every little lip flaw, even flakes I didn’t even know I had.  Therefore I only recommend the nude shade if you have a pale lip tone & no issues with dry lips.
• Long lasting rich pigments that fade gracefully
  
• Verdict: The matte red lip trend is here to stay, so if you’re looking to add a matte shade or two to your lipstick wardrobe that won’t break your wallet I recommend trying Rimmel Kate Moss’s matte lipstick range.  It’s pigmented enough that you only need a lip brush – no lip liner required.

Swatched over a layer of Nivea Lip Butter.

RRP: $12.95 AUD

These products were provided for consideration.

Brand: Yves Saint Laurent
Range: Rouge Volupte Shine
Shade: Fuchsia in Excess #5
Swatched by yours truly: Yishan

• YSL’s new Rouge Volupte Shine are a comforting lipstick with a luminous shine, and rich in fruit extracts (vitamins & antioxidants) that leave lips visibly softer and smoother with up to 8 hours of hydration.
• Melts on application, providing instant hydration (comparable with a lip balm), and is richly pigmented to give lips a wash of vibrant colour.
• Contains pomegranate and rosemary to reduces fine lines, and hyaluronic acid spheres to hydrate and soften lips.  The candellila resin forms a thin protective layer to seal in moisture and magnify shine.
• Whilst it’s excellent at hydrating lips, it doesn’t give any sculpting or line smoothing effects.
• Fuchsia in Excess is described as a “bright luminous pink”.  It looks like a berry red in the tube but sets on lips into a soft fuchsia  after a few minutes.  Once the moisture is absorbed it leaves lips with a stained effect that’s moderate in lasting power.
• Verdict: If you are contemplating between this and YSL Volupte Sheer Candy Gloss, I recommend hands down the Rouge Volupte Shine.  Despite being so similar in ingredients, Rouge Volupte Shine wins by a mile in both hydration and pigment.  On its own the sheerness makes the edges look diffused making it perfect for days you want your makeup to look vibrant but not overly done up.

RRP: $55 AUD

This product was provided for consideration.