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: 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: L’Oreal Paris
Range: Shine Caresse Lip Colour
Shades: Lolita 101, Romy 102, Marilyn 103, Princess 200, Juliet 300, Eve 400, Milady 402, Bonnie 501.
Swatched by yours truly: Yishan

• L’Oreal Paris Shine Caresse Lip Colours have an ultra-light fluid texture, that is a unique formulation of 30% water and 60% oil that boosts lip hydration and is comfortable to wear.
• The foam applicator has a hole in the centre, specially designed to remove any excess colour leaving a veil-like lustruous finish.
• The formula takes a while to set, making it easy to fix bloopers while it is still wet.
• Sheer buildable coverage – 2 layers is perfect for my pigmented lips, but for some shades I needed around as many as 3 layers for photography purposes.
• Available in 8 shades – Lolita, Romy, Marilyn, Princess, Juliet, Eve, Milady and Bonnie.

Are these dupes of YSL Glossy Stain?

• Both have lightweight fluid textures that have a non-sticky but slightly tacky finish.
• Both are long lasting and fade gracefully into a light stain, but YSL lasted slightly longer whilst L’Oreal left more of a stain.
• YSL sets quicker than L’Oreal where you’re left with that oil/water film that takes just a few more seconds to set.
• YSL has a more vibrant colour range & is richer in pigment but it’s offset by a water colour finish. Except for a few, most shades from L’Oreal are more subdued and need several layers to build coverage.
• YSL’s taste is noticeably synthetic, whereas L’Oreal has sweetened theirs slightly in an attempt to mask the synthetic taste – but I can still taste it.
• YSL does a better job at reviving tired dry lips & camouflaging lip flaws than L’Oreal, which only looks best on healthy lips.

Verdict: With both lip stains coming from the same umbrella company (YSL Beauty is owned by L’Oreal), it’s tempting to draw conclusions that they are dupes for each other.  I’d say that L’Oreal offers very impressive & similar results to YSL but I wouldn’t go as far as saying that one is replaceable for the other.  Where L’Oreal stands out from YSL is how easy it is to control just the right amount & it stains better than YSL if that’s what you like in a lip product.  Even though YSL has more sophisticated pigments, L’Oreal’s finish (once set) is more polished than the water colour finish of YSL that I find messy when combined with shades such as red & coral  hence why I only own one shade from YSL Glossy Stain).

Click on the lip swatches to view enlarged images.

Click on the lip swatches to view enlarged images.

RRP: $23.95 AUD

These products were provided for consideration.

Brand: Dior
Range: Dior Addict Be Iconic Gloss
Shade: Delice, Diablotine, Spring Ball, Princess
Swatched by yours truly: Yishan

• The new Dior Addict Gloss gives lips a mirror-like shine, with a gel formula enriched with hyaluronic acid spheres that plump and moisturise lips for a voluminous effect.
• Available in a carrousel of 24 new colours in 3 finishes – Shimmering, Pearly and Pure.
• I was sent 4 shimmery shades to feature – Delice (peach), Diablotine (coral), Spring Ball (milky peach) and Princess (baby pink).
• Feels very comforting and instantly soothes lips, effortlessly conceals lip flaws transforming them into a soft plump pout.
• The gel finish is really pliable and glides on easily making it really tempting to over apply, but you only really need one application to achieve a mouth-watering glossy lip.
• Verdict: If you love the popsicle finish of the new Dior Addict Be Iconic lipsticks but find that it lacks oopmh, you’ll love the juicy finish that this gloss adds to your pout.  The iridescent finish in the shimmer range glimmers in all angles, making your lips ultra dimensional.    Diablotine was the most pigmented out of the 4 shades I received, and compliments pigmented lips to give a juicy coral finish.   I’d recommend Delice, Spring Ball and Spring Ball only to those with fair lip tones, or are looking for a finishing gloss on a nude lip.

RRP: $49 AUD

This product was sent for consideration.

Brand: KANEBO Coffret D’or
Range: BU Rouge
Shade: PK 262
Swatched by yours truly: Yishan

• A creamy liquid lipstick that glides on smoothly & instantly moisturises lips into a plump glossy pout.
• Smoothes lip lines and evens out my lip tone giving it a translucent yet medium coverage.
• Its texture is unlike anything you expect – it doesn’t feels like a gloss, or the usual tackiness you often find in a liquid lipstick.  It simply feels like a creamy liquid on lips.
• Supposedly brightens your complexion, but I’m struggling to see the effects.
• PK262 is a peachy beige with golden shimmers.  It does an amazing job at concealing my lip tones without looking like a mask, giving my lips a moist nude finish.
• Tasteless & scentless!
• Verdict: I recommend it to those who like a translucent finish, and like the idea of a texture that’s weightless with absolutely no tackiness whatsoever.  The finished is so effortless, making it a great choice for weekends or work.  The only drawback is the limited shade range that seems to revolve around peach and beige!
• If you’re after something more pigmented try L’Oreal Shine Caresse; for a water colour finish try YSL Glossy Stain, and for an ultra creamy finish try Shiseido Lacquer Rouge.
  

I purchased this product from Adam Beauty.