Brand: Maybelline
Range: NY Color Sensational Vivids Lip Color
Shades: Shocking Coral, Fuchsia Flash, Vivid Rose, Neo Red, Hot Plum, Pink Pop, Vibrant Mandarin, Electric Orange
Swatched by yours truly: Yishan

• Maybelline has launched their boldest and brightest lipstick range with 8 vibrant shades in the Color Sensational Vivids Lip Color
• Creamy smooth to apply, with a moderate grip and features Maybelline’s signature ingredient – honey nectar – to nourish and condition lips.
• Whilst it’s lacking in sculpting and smoothing properties, it certainly makes up for it with saturated “undilluted” pigment.
• Initially it had a fruity scent that reminds me of fruit chews – however the scent seems to have evaporated now probably because of the heat wave that’s wilting both me and my makeup collection.
• Verdict: Shocking Coral is my favourite as such a shade is hard to come by.  The most difficult shade was Pink Pop which didn’t sit well on my lips – possibly because my lips were exhausted by the end of a swatching shade.  Overall it’s a fun and bold collection that will appeal to those that like a punchy statement lip.

Click on lip swatches to enlarge images.

RRP: $16.95 AUD

These products were provided for consideration.

Brand: Maybelline
Range: NY Color Sensational High Shine Gloss
Shades: Almond Crush, Electric Shock, Plum Lustre, Iced Chocolate, Glisten Up Pink, Captivating Coral, Mirrored Mauve, One Shine Day, Gleaming Grenadine, Luminous Latte
Swatched by yours truly: Yishan

• Give your lips a luminous look with finishes that range from molten glazes through to juicy sheens.
• Wax free formula that glides incredibly smoothly, melting into lips coating them evenly without sinking into lines or sliding.
• Despite being infused with Maybelline’s signature honey nectar ingredient, I find this collection features a strong scent of fruit chews (like Starbursts).
• Available in 10 shades from petal pinks to eye popping coral.
• Verdict: It’s not everyday that I’m impressed by a high street lip gloss range, but the smooth “lip hugging” formula has captivated me.  My favourite shades are Plum Luster (which I’m saving for Autumn), Electric Shock (cool pink that sits amazingly well even on my pigmented lips) and Iced Chocolate (creamy nude).

Click on lip swatches to enlarge images

 RRP: $15.95 AUD

These products were provided for consideration.

Brand: BYS
Range: Lipstick
Shades: Pretty Little Thing, Half Time Oranges, Revenge
Swatched by yours truly: Yishan

• If the thought of drugstore lipstick brings about images of subdued colours, think again – BYS lipsticks come in a range of both sheer and subtle colours as well as pops of on trend colour.
•  Available in 24 shades, I got to try Pretty Little Thing (sheer shimmery nude), Half Time Oranges (orange glaze) and Revenge  (deep raspberry).
• The other thing about the packaging is that the lipstick tip is still visible even when it’s fully wound down.  I suppose it helps with seeing the colour through the transparent case.
• The lipstick formula is quite simple – no noticeable taste and provides even coverage with good colour pay off.  As it’s neither moisturising nor drying, I recommend applying it over lip balm for a smoother juicer finish.
• Verdict: At only $3.95 AUD you get what you pay for in packaging, but this gets a thumbs up for balancing simplicity with on-trend shades.

Swatched over Maybelline Baby Lips Lip Balm.

RRP: $3.95 AUD

Available in Australia at K-Mart, selected pharmacies and online through www.fashionaddict.com.au

These products were provided for consideration.

Brand: Bobbi Brown
Range: Creamy Matte Lip Color
Shades: Jenna, Razzbery
Swatched by yours truly: Yishan

Creamy Matte Lip Color is a revolutionary matte lipstick formula that uniquely combines the look of a classic matte lip with incredible wearability.  Creamy, moisturising and highly pigmented, it glides comfortably onto lips, but feels extremely lightweight.   Not to mention, it’s got great staying power too.

• Intense coverage in just one sweep, it’s surprisingly soft, comfortable and so moisturising that you don’t even need lip balm underneath  (provided your lips are flake free).
• The lipstick softens with the warmth of the lips and releases film formers that create a soft & comfortable canvas for the highly concentrated pigments to work their mojo.
• The moisturising properties are thanks to a blend of special emollients and soft waxes that form a conditioning barrier to lock in moisture.
• While it promises to be transfer and feather proof for up to 8 hours, I find it’s best to blot and layer for smudge-proof results.
• Available in 12 shades, Jenna is a vibrant tangerine orange and Razzberry is a gorgeous plummy berry shade.
• As the lipstick shape has a round top & is so creamy and intense, I recommend applying this with a lip brush for both precision and a longer lasting finish.
  
• Verdict: The bar has been raised with Bobbi Brown’s Creamy Matte Lip Colour.  It’s one of the most moisturising and comfortable creamy matte lipsticks that doesn’t crease or slip on lip lines or flakes.  In fact it makes lips look like they’re dressed in soft fabric.  A must-try for pigmented lippy lovers – you won’t be disappointed.

Swatched without lip balm, because this lippy doesn’t need any.
Jenna looks slightly more matte than Razzberry because it was swatched second & my lips lost some moisture when I removed Razzberry from my lips without applying any lip balm in between.  Even so I still think the results are awesome for a creamy matte formula.

RRP: $44 AUD

These products were provided for consideration.

Brand: Chanel
Range: Rouge Allure
Shade: Excentrique #96
Swatched by yours truly: Yishan

• “In 2012 Peter Philips, Creative Director of Chanel Makeup has reinvented the iconic Rouge Allure range: a new formula for added intensity and bold new colours.”
• The new Rouge Allure range has a much higher concentration of pigment, combined with moisturising and antioxidant agents to keep lips supple and protected.
• Available in 16 shades, with an incredible 6 shades of red so that you can find your signature red lip to suit every mood and complexion.

BEIGES: Evanescent, Pimpante
PINKS: Séduisante, Exaltée, Extatique
ORANGES: Enjouée, Excentrique
REDS: Incandescente, Coromandel, Pirate, Palpitante, Passion, Inimitable
BROWNS: Déterminée, Rouge Noir, Délurée

• Excentrique is a tangerine orange that’s sophisticated, bold and confident.
• The creamy formula applies flawlessly on lips – even with or without lip balm.  The pigment is so concentrated that not even a generous layer of lip balm will tone it down.  Wear it with lip balm for a juicy finish & extra moisture.  Or wear it directly on lips for a creamy demi-matte finish that feels snug on lips.
• Comes with a ”one click release” packaging so your lipstick is safe on the go.
• Unlike many pigmented creamy lipsticks, this one is surprisingly easy to apply & you don’t really need a lip brush for a flawless application.
• Verdict: There’s nothing like a sophisticated and pigmented lipstick that makes me go weak at the knees and want to surrender to more shades in the range.  The finish is absolutely flawless – concentrated colour with no accentuation of lip lines, and lips feel and look “dressed up” in just a few sweeps. Stay tuned for tomorrow’s swatch of shade “Pirate”.

This lipstick finish is flawless, with or without lip balm.
Wear it over lip balm (shown below) for a juicy finish, or directly on lips for a creamy demi-matte finish.
I used a lip brush to apply, but you can still get perfect application without it.

RRP: $50 AUD

This product was provided for consideration.