Estee Lauder Pure Color Crystal Lipstick in Hibiscus

It's my first time diving into Estee Lauder lipstick -- this comes from their Pure Color Line. 

The cap feels flimsy, but I do like the crystal base. 

I'd say this is a medium based pink and is quite flattering on most skin tones. I'm not so fond of the shimmers and fragrance though. 

It's really quite sheer, but can be built up. Above, about four swatches. 

The long ingredients list shocks me. I personally prefer a more simple formulation. 

This also gives slight irritation to the area outside my lip line, most likely from the fragrance and shimmer bits. Overall, not so impressed. Their Signature lipstick line may be a better bet.

Revlon Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stain in Redezvous, Cherish, and Smitten

It must have been the packaging. Part of what draws me into beauty products are how they are designed. In the case of Revlon's Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stains, this propensity proved to be right. 

They come in Crayola-like twist-up tubes. The outer packaging mimics the color of the Balm Stain. 

Rendezvous, Cherish, Smitten. 

Draw your inspiration. 

Rendezvous translates the most flattering on my lips, aside from it being the most moisturizing. Cherish gives a pale pink look, while Smitten borders on a trashy deep pink shade and is also drying on the lips. I am also not a fan of the minty scent these sticks give off. Overall, I am not convinced of this series -- however for those who like to create "makeup looks," these balm stains offer a wide range of color options and also provide long-lasting wear. 

Coffret D'Or Lip Concelear Base + Elizabeth Nude Bon Bon Lipgloss

There are times when the occasion calls for nude lips. It can be at work, a casual day, or a deliberate attempt to tone down a strong makeup. However, not everyone is endowed with a naturally pale pucker. I would say that most people have a natural reddish tinge sans any lip product.

The remedy for this is covering the lips with concealers or applying light beige lip colors. The Coffret D'Or Lip Concealer Base (one shade only) comes in a slim tube-type twist up case. It is a fairly basic packaging. I chanced upon this on adambeauty years ago. Also bought from the same website, Nude Bon Bon Lipgloss in 04, is the most pigmented nude among the nude series lineup (4 colors in all). This range was in the Japanese top 3 lip gloss ranking in cosme.com some years ago.

The Nude Bon Bon on the left comes off as a milky color, andcan be layered easily to cover redness on the lips, yet is also not too beige or ashy that it washes out the complexion. I would guess that the slight red and orange undertone in this lip gloss helps in that respect. Coffet D'Or Lip Concealer Base, on the other hand, is a very dry stick. It is an absolute must to moisturize the lips before applying this concealer. It is not ultra pigmented so layering is still necessary with this one. I wouldn't call this a true nude, because there is a detectable orange tinge in the product. It covers the lips fairly well though, and is a good product to use for making other lip colors apply true to their shades on the tube.

Japanese description on CD'Or Lip Concealer Base

Chanel Rouge Coco + Shu Uemura Rouge Unlimited

Two lipsticks belonging to the world's most famous brands caught me by surprise as I usually partake a dubious view on what is considered holy and great by many. 

My very first Chanel lipstick (thank you SS) is Rouge Coco in 05 Mademoiselle. Although I remember using a Chanel Hydrabase (?) in a lovely galactic pink shade for my senior prom, courtesy of my sister's bf, little did I know that after x years I would be in possession of an iconic lipstick, and surprisingly I do not regret it. Shu Uemura Rouge Unlimited in BG 945 was a gift from my mom's friend and was passed on to me because she didn't like the shade. The packaging of both brands appeals to completely opposite tastes. Chanel is favored by some for its classy, timeless appeal. Shu Uemura is often criticized as looking like cheap cosmetics. I love both equally. 

Chanel definitely weighs more and therefore feels the more expensive. Its traditional black and gold combination coupled with the famous double C logo, instantly gives its high fashion pedigree away. I guess its appeal lies in the fact that its value is so pronounced and easy to spot. I particularly like the extra "click" sound the cap makes when it is closed shut. Shu Uemura's packaging in my opinion, is just as worthy of praise. To give it its due, it was the first department store cosmetic brand that adopted the concept of clean lines and simplicity. (Now we have other such brands - RMK, another beloved line - comes to mind). It reflects a sort of elegance, and is not lacking in quality at all. There is something seductive about the completely see-through packaging. I dropped my BG 945 once and surprisingly it didn't crack or form blurry patches. The cap and body fell apart and I was able to easily assemble the mechanism back with the lipstick intact. It looks fragile but in fact it is really well-made. 

At first glance, the shades look almost identical, belonging to the same rosewood family.

Above, Chanel Rouge Coco in Mademoiselle swatched once; Shu Uemura Rouge Unlimited in BG 945 swatched twice~thrice.

Swatched on the left, Mademoiselle looks like it has a lot more warm orange undertone. To the right, BG 945 is a lot cooler and pinker. Honestly I would never have pointed out the difference had I not put them side by side on bare skin. I always wondered how they are both similar and yet at the same time not quite so when worn on the lips. Rouge Coco is quite pigmented and has a more velvety texture compared to Rouge Unlimited. The effect is stronger also. As I mentioned before, Japanese lipsticks tend to be sheerer and produce a beautiful watery finish. This is also the case with Rouge Unlimited. 

Essentially, both are rosy colors bordering on natural lip tones. Their top-notch textures are a real treat. They are both great for "my lips but better" (MLBB) days because both shades brighten up the skin tone while maintaining a neutral look at the same time.

Dior x 2(Maquillage) Lips

I grew up accustomed to seeing my mother use branded cosmetics, and Dior was one of her staple lipsticks. In one of her rare moments to share ideas that would genuinely do someone good, she disclosed that Estee Lauder and Christian Dior make the best lipsticks in the market. Of course, this was during her time, and though it is still true today, many other brands can now hold their own in terms of lipstick quality. Among Japanese brands, Shiseido Maquillage is widely regarded as the lipstick connoisseur.

Seen here from left to right are Rouge Dior in Pink Scene 568, Maquillage Moisture Rouge (Color On Type) in BE231, and Maquillage Lasting Climax Rouge in RS208.

Among the three, Dior feels the most luxurious with its sturdy and heavy packaging. The dark blue quilted design also adds to its chicness and elegance. Both Maquillage lipsticks have bejeweled caps on top, but the Moisture Rouge is made of the flimsiest material. The Lasting Climax Rouge has a sleek, solid feel to it, which I quite like. These Maquillage lipsticks were all released two or three years ago, but I believe the ranges are still sold on adambeauty.

Shades of mauve, beige, and pink. 

Rouge Dior (on the left) applies so easily, like velvet coating the lips with rich color right away. The above color was swatched only once. Pink Scene is a rosy mauve veering on violet speckled with gold. I wouldn't say this is an every day lipstick. It is a more dramatic color therefore I would usually wear it for evening affairs paired with a dress in the purple/black family. I also like that this is a moisturizing lipstick. 

In the middle, Maquillage M Rouge in BE231, is my go-to lipstick for a pale look. The nude in it is balanced with a peachy orange so it does not wash out the complexion. Japanese lipsticks are more often sheerer than their Western counterparts. This was swatched around four times. It can be drying on the lips, that is why I always apply a lip balm before hand. 

Lasting Climax Rouge in RS208 on the right is a very cool toned pink/rose lipstick. It is great for a rosy pale look. This one is moisturizing, but the color applies on the sheer side. It was swatched four to five times. 

These aren't no-brainer lipsticks. I would say they're more "occasion" lipsticks that need to be paired with a look or an outfit properly. For their price and quality, I think they are well worth to have in one's collection. Both brands have a wide range of colors to choose from which can cater to most tastes and needs.

M.A.C. Russian Red

I would say Lancome Juicy Tubes was my first "grown-up" cosmetics, but receiving a MAC Paints eyeshadow (now discontinued) for my 17th birthday was the bomb that kick-started my passion for makeup. It is for this reason that most of my makeup firsts were from MAC - blushes, eyeliners, powders, eyeshadows, lipsticks, brushes, strangely, but never any of their famous foundations. However, as I delved deeper into makeup, I have since abandoned the brand except for its range of brushes, which to me are one of the best in the market. I have only a few MAC items left in my vanity, and one of them is this lipstick in Russian Red. 

I got it through the Back2MAC program. It is one of the famous reds under MAC's matte formula. Even though I have only worn this shade out once, I love everything about it.

Russian Red leans on the cooler side of reds (perhaps of the cold winters in Russia?). In all honesty, this shade is hard to pull off without fault on my yellow-based skin. However, it reminds me so much of the "Red" shade in my childhood Crayola set - a dark, vibrant red. When I look at this MAC tube, I see my red crayon and I truly like the interpretation. 

It is a household name among makeup devotees for the long time it has been in MAC's permanent collection. For those who love reds, this classic will do you no wrong.