Product Review: Estee Lauder Pure Color Lipstick

Ok, so the first time I've tried anything from Estee Lauder was back in college when a tita from Japan sent over some lipstick. I wasn't really brand conscious back then so I just use them all the same without comparing so I can vaguely recall what I had liked about their lipsticks. I wouldn't really have the chance to try anything from Estee again though (because I'm such a practical cheapskate who would think spending 1,000 or more Pesos for a tube of lipstick is just too much) until I took a chance and joined Nikki's (AskMeWhats) and Estee Lauder's  "What's your mood today?" giveaway. I was so ecstatic to see my name on Nikki's site as the winner. Wow! Wow! Wow! Initially the prize included just EL's skincare line but Ms. Liz Aguire was kind enough to have included a tube of the Pure Color lipstick in Pink Lolita. Another sweet gesture included was a handwritten card from Estee Lauder---Thank You! :D

Anyways, They've given me the chance to review the much talked about lipstick  so, here it is...

According to the Estee Lauder Website :

Color so incredible, it leaves your lips wanting more.
True Vision™ technology takes ordinary color and makes it extraordinary.
In a seductive spectrum of shades, from sublime to vivid.

TRUE VISION™ COLOR

• Maximized color impact
• Magnified vibrancy, clarity and dimension
• Amplified brilliance

INDULGES YOUR LIPS
In 2 seductive finishes:

• Satin, Lasting Creme
• Lustrous, Lasting Shimmer

Medium-to-full, buildable coverage.

• Long-lasting wear
• Fade-resistant

Enriched with lip-loving ingredients, including apricot kernel, shea butter and murumuru butter that leave lips soft and creamy smooth.

"Lipstick makes a woman sensual, powerful and kissable."
-Tom Pecheux, Estée Lauder Creative Makeup Director



Pink Lolita, the color I got, is a very girly, candy pink. I don't normally would pick this shade when buying lipsticks as I tend to gravitate more into the barely there, nude-pink colors. But for some reason, just like before, when I had my "red lippy phase", this time, I wanted to tap into my feminine side and venture into trying out pinks as far out as those really intense fuchsia shades. In other words, getting this lipstick was very timely! :D

I've been reading rave reviews on this and true enough, it is rave worthy. The formula glides on smoothly onto my lips and is very moisturizing. The pigment's intensity last for hours and it is indeed long lasting. It has a scent though which EL likes to call "fig". It didn't really bothered me much and actually found the scent growing on me each time I use this lipstick. I don't have much negative opinion on this product except for the fact that it is really costly for a tube of lipstick. Retails for about P1,350 at the Estee Lauder counters. Here's a swatch of the lippy on my lips:

without flash

with flash

And an LOTD to give you the full idea ladies :D

Have you tried Estee Lauder's New Pure Color Lipstick? Which one is your favorite shade? :D

Product Review: OCC Lip Tar and swatches

Okay, so I had this product for quite some time now. I bought it even before I started blogging just 'cause I was so intrigued by it and I was looking for a lipstick that would not fade easily on me. I first saw this on Suesh and HD cosmetics' multiply site and, being a color addict that I am, were automatically drawn to the pretty colors of these babies. Some were even outrageous to even use on their own but were pretty none the less.. :D So, here is my official review:

photo credits to www.suesh.com

According to the OCC website...

A stunning new innovation in lip color, OCC Lip Tar combines the longevity of a lipstick, with the ease of application of a gloss. Goes on slick and moist, and dries down to a satin finish. Ultra-saturated in color, Lip Tar contains an unprecedented amount of pigment - a little goes a very, very long way! An intense yet featherweight layer of color that stands up to the scrutiny of Hi-Def Video and Digital Photography, without ever looking (or feeling!) heavy. Meant to be mixed, Lip Tar comes in concise array of colors for a limitless selection of shades made by you!

Like all of our products, OCC Lip Tar is 100% Vegan and Cruelty-Free, and is also free of parabens and other harsh preservatives. A simple, elegant formula that contains Hemp Oil, Peppermint Oil and Vitamin E, OCC Lip Tar feels as good on the lips as it looks!

OCC Lip tars retail for P850 a piece on Suesh's multiply site. I got three and decided to stop even before I got addicted, because 1.)it's not a cheap addiction and 2.) 1 tube will last me a lifetime so having so many in one's stash isn't so practical. 

  

I got Melange which is a deep and spicy terracota neutral color, NSFW (or Not Suitable For Work) because it's just a crazy true primary red shade that pops out on your lips, and Hush which is a perfect bridal pink color.

It has a slanted spout that reminds you of your regular lip gloss tube.

  

But don't let this similarity fool you. This is so pigmented that you could not actually apply this like your normal lip gloss straight from the tube, otherwise you'd end up with too much product on your lips that would more likely bleed or feather out. To show you how pigmented it is, I picked up just a tiny bit of the lip tar using my Suesh lip brush (yes, I love this brush see why at the end of this post! :D)

that tiny bit could already cover my entire lip! This is Melange by the way.

Before applying though, you should make sure you moisturize your lips first just like you would before using a matte lipstick. Put on a bit of your favorite lip balm, let stay for a few seconds and pat with a 1-ply tissue to remove excess (too much lip balm underneath will tend to make this slide off of your lips). I did, however, like patting on a bit of my Clinique DDMG moisturizer over my lips before applying lip balm just to make sure. Upon first application, this may seem a bit shiny but will dry to a semi-matte appearance after a while.

For the brighter and more vibrant shades such as the NSFW, I suggest you line up your lips first with a good nude lip liner to prevent this from feathering later on in the day.

NSFW

After letting the lip tar dry and adhere to your lips, it would stay there for quite some time even after you've drank and eaten (except of course, if you've had a very oily lunch or dinner! :D)

Hush upon first application

Hush after I've eaten lunch!

See? some definitely came off but the color is definitely still there. If you would purse your lips together, it will be good as new! You could also apply a bit of your favorite lip gloss on top if you feel like your lips are drying out.

Another great thing about this product is that you could easily mix two colors to come up with a totally different shade! It's like watercolor or oil paint for your lips. :)

After putting on NSFW, I applied Hush over and mix both together and this is what I came up with.

NSFW alone

The lip tar, indeed is an intriguing innovation. But like any other product, It has its Pros and Cons...

Pros

• Very pigmented. A little goes a long way.
• Long wearing if applied properly.
• 100% Vegan product. So no harsh ingredient for your lips.

Cons

• Pricey at P850.00 a pop.
• Could dry your lips.
• Will bleed/feather if applied too generously over the lips.

Oh, just to complete my LOTD on this post, here's one with me wearing Hush ;)

And as I've said, I'll show you why I love that Suesh lip brush you saw.

It is very small and compact ( if you've been following my blog, you'd know that I'm a sucker for travel-sized brushes)

It has a cap so you could store it in your purse without worrying about staining your precious makeup kit.

But...the cap could also be attached to the lip brush itself to make the handle longer, thus, getting a better grip! Yep, I love this brush! :D

So, have you already tried the much talked about OCC lip tars? which shade do you own at the moment?

OIL of OLAY COLORMOIST LIPSTICK-285 BLUSH

Who knew Oil of Olay manufactures lipsticks? Yup, I was also taken aback by this during my daily ebay window shopping (or monitor shopping?). I did a double take on this particular product while I was browsing through the makeup section. As usual, I was curious to try it out. The price is affordable and is on sale for 5%OFF so yeah, I had to get it.

Oil of Olay Colormoist Lipstick-285 Blush

Price: P252.50 (approx. $6)

Place bought: Ebay.ph

The original Olay trademark can be found on the front part of the cap

Hence, the name of the shade, blush, this lipstick falls into the "natural" category that when you put it on, it hardly is noticeable and will just enhance your natural lip color. The formula itself could be a little waxy but completely okay. I have to admit I liked it the very first time I swept it on my lips but hated it a few hours later. It was an on and off relationship with this one :D But when I went back to this tube and started using it again, I did a complete 360. I used it on one of my night outs and what made me love this again is that I noticed it didn't dry out my lips after having it on for so many hours. And, when I passed by mirrors inside the mall, I liked the pinkish hue it gave to my lips...not bad. Another good thing about this lipstick is that it has SPF15 UVA/UVB Sunscreen properties so everything you need is already in one package you no longer need a separate lib balm to protect you from the sun's harmful rays (yep, I'm an SPF addict. better safe than sorry..). They also said that this is a rare find. Not too many people know about this so you could feel extra  "special" having this in your stash..haha!! Here's a picture of me wearing the Oil of Olay colormoist lipstick...

So, have you stumbled upon a rare find lately? I'd like to know! please share it with us :D