Swear.

Let me know if you've tried these and how you like it. What other cheap lip products do you like?

Touting inclusivity in its makeup with its genderless approach and with a wide range of shades suiting almost all skin tones in the Philippines (unheard of as most locally available brands only release 2-4 shades in base products) at really friendly prices- this brand has cemented itself as the standard in catering to shades darker than 'light, vanilla, beige and/or cream'.

So why don't I like it?

These Kiss Sticks by Careline that are actually a the local answer to the ColourPop Lippie Stix -if I'm not mistaken.




Like I mentioned, in previous posts, old 'established' beauty brands are wanting, in the shade department. Most of these shades cannot work on darker skintones, medium skin has a tiny more option but as always, light to fair skin tones have the lion's share of suitable shades...anyway.

PINCH - Berry mauve

LUCID - Warm rosey-mauve

JUST BETTER - Beige pink-nude



These Kiss Sticks have been around for years now and I haven't written anything on them yet and despite these 3 shades being the only ones that I feel work on me, I'm quite pleased with them.

Priced at less than Php 200, these lippies fall into the cheap or rather, extremely affordable range. With the twist-up packaging and sharpener at the bottom of each stick, it feels reminiscent of school days - but not treading the juvenile category. It feels 'young' & 'hip' while not quite looking like a child's art supply.



As I've mentioned these 3 shades are the only ones I can confidently wear as an everyday lip look. I had two more shades that I wanted that would work, but they were almost always out of stock so I let it go.

Just better is something I do mix with other lippies in my stash -to lighten or do the 'blurred lip' look which it does well.

Lucid and Pinch, I just wear on their own most of the time. So you might ask, how well do they mix with other products?



These are very creamy. While not slippery and/or emollient, these blend out and glide on as well as can be. They aren't moisturizing at all nor do they tout that claim - so exfoliate, moisturize and stay hydrated because these emphasize your cracks, crevices, demons and dry lips.

The finish is your traditional creamy satin, not matte thankfully, but not full on glossy either. 



Despite emphasizing my parched-mummy-lips to high heaven, I still reach for these from time to time because they're: 

Fuss free - The narrow lip color makes for cleaner and nicer application compared to the standard lip bullets tubes. The sharpener at the bottom, keeps it nice and precise when you want it to.

Slim and sleek - The cap fits closely and has a satisfying snap on the body of the stick, so there's no chance of it drawing inside your makeup bag or purse. It doesn't take up much space, especially if the rest of your makeup kit contains 'stick'-like packaging as well (very schoolastic cute).



This doesn't have any particular scent or any additional fragrances like the usual vanilla or candy-like sweetness other lip products tend to have. 



While I personally prefer soft creamy cloud-like matte formulas ala Sunnies Face lip dips and fluff mattes, these are something worth mentioning. It did got me thinking though, if Careline released this or reformulated this but with something similar to Sunnies fluff mattes texture....ooooh can you imagine? I would for sure check that out. I hope they do create it, but with more universally flattering shades across all skintones.

I confess, I'm a fan of BLK. After first trying out their Travels All-day Intense Matte Lipstick reviewed here, I decided to venture more into their brand which tout 'uncomplicated beauty' regarding their products. A very alluring tagline for makeup newbies and makeup aficionados alike.

blk All-day Matte Powder Foundation

Touching the powder itself- it feels fine and smooth. It's not dry or chalky and has the faintest smell of typical talc powders. It feels lightweight on the skin and the finish is quite natural. Application-wise, I typically use a fluffy brush and lightly apply this on top of my base whether that be sunscreen or on top of the blk skin tint. The result is a soft matte finish and yes, skin-like. I wouldn't say this is a powder foundation in the original sense of the word, this feel most like a typical pressed powder with sheer-light coverage. Something to set the makeup, keep the oil at bay or touch up with.

While I do like the texture and the small amount of coverage it gives, I have a tiny problem with the shades. This only comes in a whopping TWO shades. Light beige and this one. I would feel a little bit better if they release a translucent one and maybe 2 more shades that have an olive or yellow undertone. Because after a while, this leans a smidge orangey on me- which makes me look off. Which brings me to the their other product...

No this can't be made to full coverage no matter how much you put on, just needed to get that one out there. It does look skin-like and natural but at most it can be built up to a semi-medium (if you push it) without sacrificing the nice natural finish it gives. 

Right off the bat, I like the runny texture. It gives you the idea that 'I am just a tint with some moisture nothing more' and I love it. On the skin it feels like an emollient moisturizer but not heavy or extremely tacky. It's not a matte finish, more of a slightly dewy natural one. The component (tube) is something I like as well, as it provides a more precise dispensing of product. And the bottle is small and sleek (everything from this whole line looks perfection btw love the 'neutral/skin' minimalist packaging) making it an easy addition to any a makeup kit/area. 

I feel like their darkest, Chestnut would work better in terms of undertone, but it's just too dark on me when I tested on the counter. So I decided on Vanilla, despite being obviously pink-beige. I felt like this is easier to work on as it is only a 'tint'. The undertone is prominent with being as light coverage as it is. I find that most of the shades in the skin tint are prominently red/pink in their shade. ----WHY IS THAT. I'm not saying no one in the Philippines has that undertone, but why not release some more extra shades that are more blue/green, heck I'll take a yellow undertone over this pink.

And this is why I like Vice cosmetics better in terms of shades. They have a wider array than most locally available cosmetics brands with most of them being yellow and/or golden in undertone. While I don't particularly like their extreme oxidation on me (turns at least 2 shades darker) I applaud the idea behind the release of more than the 'standard' 4 shades from the get-go.

I really really like these two products -don't get me wrong. The price-point is very fair.  They're cruelty-free! The packaging looks good. The components of the products are sturdy. I love their matte lipstick formula. Their philosophy is nice...

but the shades. Man the shades. I think they have to work on that. They have to release more colours for warm and olive skinned individuals and really make their products uncomplicated. Because if I have to use extra products to counter the mismatch of shades, then how uncomplicated is it really?

Lip tints are the ultimate versatile beauty product. Most tints in the market today can be used on the eyes, lips and even cheeks. They're also decidedly more welcoming to makeup newbies than the standard bullet lipstick and liquid lip.

Enter Colourette Cosmetics. Ever since their conception they've continuously produced products that are not only affordable to beauty enthusiasts but are at par with other local and even international contenders.

Housed in this quirky nail polish-like tube the Colourtint's ...well tint is suspended in oil that has to be shaken vigorously prior to use.

 
The shades in my vanity : (left to right) Lola, Kira, Thalia (and Old Thalia) and Liv.



One thing unique for me about this tint is the brush applicator and the nail polish-like tube. It's different and kitschy especially the fun stares you get when they think you're putting on nail polish on your lips.



Sadly, it's not as travel-friendly as one would like. There have been issues with the tint spilling due to screwing it too tight or not enough. So the best way is to just keep it always upright and don't screw on the lid tightly.



Consistency | Finish

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As I've mentioned, you have to shake this vigoruously before using to mix the powder pigment and oil togethe or else they'll be just chunks of powder patchily on your lips.

The Colourtint line has two finishes, fresh and matte. The original line only had matte finishes, following its success Colurette released a new 'lighter' 'mlbb-finish' under the Fresh line.

Liv, is the only one I have in the Matte line.


Both variants of our Colourtints include beeswax and argan oil.

The finish for both Fresh and Matte though, on my lips tend to be the same as I have perpetually dry lips. So always exfoliate and moisturize before using regardless of the finish you purchase.



Longevity | Pigmentation

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Despite being suspended in oil, it doesn't give you that 'lechon-lips' or lip gloss poppin look. These hug the lips more (if lips are properly prepped and hydrated). As advertised, the colours are vibrant and true-to-color on the tube.

These are definitely blendable and extremely pigmented so a little does go a very long way. Be careful when applying to areas other than your lips, as one tiny drop tends to be more than enough for the cheeks and even less for the eyes.



As for longevity, yes it does last long. 100% but there will be bleeding and transfer when you eat something, oily or not. That being said, the pigment is strong enough to stain your lips barely taking pigment off, unless you really try.



Do I Recommend?

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As a convert from most drying Korean lip tints (I SEE YOU TONY MOLY and ETUDE), these are better in terms of texture and finish. Supporting a local Philippine made brand by a very young entrepreneur is always a plus. Their whole branding of conventional and unconventional Filipina beauty, breaking the 'beauty standards' and their staunch support of makeup being for literally everyone - what isn't to love?

Yes, traveling will always be daunting because of potential spillage BUT the pros outweigh the cons in my book.


Have you tried this brand or their tints? Let me know!


xx,
CJ

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Following my previous liquid lipstick review here , I'm coming at you with another liquid lipstick review. This time from Ever Bilena.

If you're a beauty lover you'd probably have or have owned an EB Matte Lipstick at least once. You know those OG squarish black-tubed lipsticks that smelled like wax (and sort-of like 'old lady' makeup) from their main line. They were truly matte and CHEAP.

I had one in Mauvey and well...Mauvey. I felt like that was the safest 'blind-buy' colour before, but that was before my obsession with deep dark wine, reds, warm nudes and roses came in to play.

So take that well beloved OG lipstick and put them in the preferred formula today( liquid format) ét voila. We have the EB Liquid Matte Lipsticks.

Read on for my thoughts and swatches about this DELICIOUS smelling, LIGHT-as-a-feather and SUPERBLY pigmented liquid lipstick.


Here it is dried down. The colour dried-down has darkened very slightly.

I purchased five colours that I know would work well for me and that I can actually wear on more than one occasion.


Bare lips.

Packaging | Consistency | Application

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Right off the bat, I like that it's just a simple clear tube so you can see the inside and the standard doe-foot applicator. Having tags of the shade on the top of the tube as well as the bottom is a great touch.

As you open the tube you do get a whiff of something sweet but not overpoweringly so. Something like cupcakes? Pulling the wand you can immediately tell it's very liquid-ey. As such the application is smooth and tug-free leaving an even application of colour. Some colours like the Vamp Red, need at least two swipes to make the colour on your lips even. Matte lovers rejoice because this dries to a powdery matte finish that's transfer-proof.


Sexy Nude a peachy salmon colour.


Siennas as an warm light orangey brick.

Wear time | Formula

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If you wet your lips with water (anything non oily) it does get slightly tacky and very slightly separates. I've noticed that while using Careline's formula as well. But it didn't crumble and my lips didn't look like the Sahara desert. It was still comfortable enough for me to wear all throughout the day.

Plus I didn't have to worry about it bleeding, moving around and crumbling like I have colored polvoron on my lips.


Toast of New York a warm milk chocolate with red tones.


Vamp Red - A cool-toned red.

Price : 195
Net Weight : 5. 5ML

Ingredients : Isododecane, Hydrogenated styrene/isoprene copolymer, talc, ,trimethylsiloxysilicate, phenoxyethanol, ethylhexyglycerin, fragrance, may contain tintanium dioxide, red iron oxide, yellow iron oxide, black iron oxide, d&c red 6, d&c red 7, fd&c blue 1


Dusk is a deep dark red with purple tones.



Once dry it's quite a challenge to remove. So you have to use oil-based removers. I used Simple's Micellar water (not oil based) and had to rub hard multiple times for it to come off. The good news is that they won't transfer (unless you eat  or put on something oily).



I noticed that since the consistency reminds me of Colourpop Satin Lips and some of the shades from EB are from the same colour family I decided to put them side by side for comparison. (Plus Careline's Gotta Go)



Siennas, Sexy Nude and Echo Park are close to each other. Sexy Nude is lighter and more pink, Echo Park is darker with more brown in it, Siennas is darker then Sexy Nude and has more red.


Final thoughts?

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