Duped!: YSL Rouge Pur Couture Vernis à Lèvres Glossy Stain vs L'Oreal Paris Shine Caresse

(L-R) YSL Corail Fauve #12, L'Oreal Bella #604, L'Oreal Lolita #606, YSL Rose Vinyl #15 

This is a bit of an exciting one for me anyway. Because, not only is this a definite dupe, I'd argue it's a BETTER version of its more expensive counterpart.

I'm going to make this as detailed a review as possible so hang on to your hats!

Glossy Stain

Both these glosses have the same unique, almost magical tendencies. They go on like glosses, set to an even, silicone-like layer that continues looking glossy but is waterproof and just about kiss proof and just a little bit sticky. When they wear off they leave a pretty stain behind. Some days I even deliberately blot off the gloss and just slick lip balm over the stain. Both seem to last equally long, I usually only have to touch up after lunch. I also love that they can be used over balm, which makes them so much more comfortable!

Fall/Winter Lip: Korres Lip Butter Glaze in Raspberry

While Revlon's Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stain in Smitten is definitely my favourite Berry lip of all time there was a spate when I had an allergic reaction to something (possibly shellfish) and had peely lips. Now, peely lips and stains do not work well together, so I fell back on this tube of yumminess to keep my lips berry stained and pretty.

I was amazed at how pigmented Korres' Lip Glaze was and how long it lasted. I found that I could lay down a stain by really working it in with a brush, top off with a balm and then touch up during the day to keep it glossy. It will last through a light meal but not a greasy one.

Clarins Joli Rouge Brilliant in #07 Raspberry

For the first time in my life I've inundated myself with expensive lippies and this is one of them.

I've been looking high and low for Clarins Joli Rouge Brilliant ever since Lisa Eldridge used it in Hibiscus for her Pink Flushed look. Which is, by the way, topping my list of favourite looks of all time for spring and summer. 

Oh heck, let's pause and watch it here:

Absolutely natural: Topicrem Rouge Á Lévres Phantom

On my power whizz through a French pharmacy in Cannes, this unusual lippy stopped me dead in my tracks. Completely clear, with silver sparkles it looked like the toy plastic lipsticks I used on my Barbie dolls once upon a time.

Muddling through the French explanation I gathered that it would go on clear and morph into a natural pink shade based on my lip chemistry / heat / god knows what. 

I swiped it on my hand and it did indeed slowly morph into quite a pretty clear pink. Most importantly the silver sparkles didn't show up AT ALL. 

I impulse bought it and after a few uses was completely and utterly in luuuuurve.

Merry Berry - Loving GOSH Soft'N Shine Lip Balm

Since cold(ish) weather hit and grey skies I've been craving rich plummy berry colours. When I spotted this shade at the Gosh counter with Syen my eyes lit up. When I swatched the formula and checked the reasonable price tag (HKD75) I was SOLD.

The shade is Perfect Plum (34) and it is indeed perfect. Sheer, glossy and so moisturising I don't need to use a lip balm under it at all. Which is why I love tinted balms in the first place

Playing with Sleek Makeup's Pout Paints

We were lucky enough to receive several tubes of Sleek Makeup's Pout Paints to play with from the lovely people in London who promote this brand. And play is right, it's genuinely fun mixing and swatching these paint-like tubes.

This is more of a "first take" than a full review as swatching and removing these on my lips would leave them sore. Even on my arm I had to use a cleansing oil to get these off, so my guess is they wear a really really long time.

We were sent two colours, Pin Up (Red) and Peachy Keen (orange) and two mixers Peek-a-bloo (blue) and Cloud 9 (white). Interestingly the release said that the blue shade was to add depth and warmth. Read on for swatches!

Quick Peek: My Sleek Haul!

So my best friend, Mich, just got back from the UK (and she's making her way up Mount Kinabalu as you're reading this), and the sweet girl, bless her, hauled back some pretty Sleek stuff for me to try!


I have only just received them last night, so I really haven't had the chance to play with them yet. But click on for more photos!

(Note: Pic heavy post!)

My Sweet Lips ~

Ooh la la.

I'm not really talking about my sweet lips. More like LUSH's Sweet Lips - a yummilicious vanilla and chocolate sugar lip scrub.


And friends, it smells divine!

The Super Strawberry

Friday! *woot*

Okay, now on to business. As you would have seen here, Clinique's Chubby Stick Moisturising Lip Colour Balm is a lipstick I acquired about two weeks ago, and today I'd like to tell you more about it.


So far, I'm really reeeally loving it. No kidding.

Crazy awesome tinted lip balm: Lanolips in Apples

Calling this crazy pigmented lippy a tinted lip balm is doing it an injustice. It's more like a very moisturising lip gloss. Very moisturising!

Containing lanolin (yes it's from sheep and so isn't vegan friendly), it's thick, smooth, and glossy.It can be sheered out to give lips a natural tint, or packed on with a lip brush for evening glamour.

It won't last as long as a red lipstick of course but it's a joy to reapply. Oh and it even has SPF15. Aweesooomeee...

In case you're wondering, it's scentless and tasteless so it doesn't smell sheepy. =P

My one issue with this gloss is that it doesn't even TRY to have an applicator. I've always preferred glosses with either a brush or doe foot applicator but this one doesn't even have a slanted or rounded tip. It'a a tube's tip. Period. For sheer application I have to use my finger, and for a brilliant, true red, I use a lip brush.

It's a pressie from Eli and costs AUD$13.90 - pricey but it really is quite lovely. I'm angling to get a pretty pink shade now.

(PS: sorry ladies I wanted to upload a swatch but wretched internet not cooperating! Will do it when I can!)

An Overview: My MAC Lipsticks ~

It seems to me that it's been a while since I've talked about colours and about my lipsticks. So today, I deem it absolutely necessary to pay some attention to my lipsticks, which are screaming blue murder and neglect.

I've always had a slight fascination with MAC lipsticks. Walking into a MAC store, you seriously cannot help but be amazed at their lipstick collection. Well, in my experience, at least.

They have not 10, not 20, not even 60, but 165 (or thereabouts) lipsticks in their permanent collection alone. Yes, one.hundred.and.sixty.five. Yes I checked. Don't believe me? Go count yourself on their MAC website.

I won't profess to intimately know ALL their lipsticks. That would be madness. So instead, today, let's take a look at my humble collection of a mere nine MAC lippies, shall we?

Top row (l-r): Sandy-B (frost), Blow Dry (lustre), Pleasureseeker (glaze), Barely Lit (lustre), Giddy (lustre); Bottom row (l-r): High Tea (lustre), Hug Me (lustre), Strawbaby (lustre), Viva Glam V (lustre)

(Kindly pardon my swatching skills. Much to learn, I have.)

If you look again at the first photo at the top of the post, you'll see my lipsticks in the order as captioned in the second photo. As you can tell, most of my lipsticks are warm toned. And many belong to the coral/peach family, such as Sandy-B, Blow Dry and Pleasureseeker.

Barely Lit is a brown-based nude, High Tea is a pearly-sheer beige, and Giddy is a gooorgeous yellow based warm pink. Hug Me is a wonderful (and much loved) muted warm pink (which looks scarily brown in the swatch), while Strawbaby looks cool but swatches on as a warm berry, even if it has blue flecks. It is a really interesting shade, and a great beginner's red.

And finally, Viva Glam V, which is mauvey pink with gold shimmer. It is a hugely popular shade from MAC.

MAC has eight finishes for their lipsticks: lustre, frost, amplified creme, glaze, amplified, satin, matte and cremesheen. My favourite, if you cannot already guess, is lustre. Of all the finishes, I find this works best for me. It may have shimmer or not, but lustre lipsticks generally feel a little creamy and is easy enough to work with. Glaze, I find is similar to lustre. I love me a lipstick which is just a tad sheer, with a smooth creamy/glossy finish.

I'm not a fan of matte lipsticks, so I've never quite ventured there. Frost I find is well, too frosty for my liking these days (I think I've grown a little older in taste), and amplified is just too pigmented. If you're a fan of strong colours and pigmented lipsticks, this might work out great for you.

I've heard of friends complain that they find MAC lipsticks too drying, which I think could be true of some finishes, such as frost or matte. Granted, some lips are drier than others, but applied with a lipbalm in advance, I have no such problem.

What I also love about MAC lipsticks is the delicious vanilla scent. Like a true junkie, I can scarcely resist taking a good sniff everytime apply my lipstick. If you like vanilla as much as I do, you will love it.

In terms of staying power, I can't really say much as I tend to re-apply my lipbalm and lipsticks quite often. But in my experience, they seem to last a good few decent hours on.

MAC lipsticks cost RM63, the last time I bought one, and price wise, I'd say they fall into the mid-range category. I don't know if they've gone up in price, but the good news is, MAC also has a Back-to-MAC programme. Bring in six empty MAC cases (powder, blush etc.), and redeem a MAC lipstick for free.

Sounds really great. My only problem is, I'll need to work on finishing products quicker!

In conclusion, I really do love my MAC lipsticks. They're relatively affordable, there's a whole variety of finishes and colours to choose from, and they smell incredibly yummy. What's not to love?

Have you tried a MAC lipstick?

Review: Gal Collection Peach Vaseline

Lipbalm. More lipbalm.

Okay, so yesterday it was about Kahani's new collection of citrus-inspired lipbalms. Today, I'll be giving a short review about a very little tub of vaseline I picked up from Hong Kong. In peach.

I apologise if we seem to be going on and on about lipbalms, but it apparently is a passion we both indulge in. Although I'm starting to wonder if there's such a thing as too much lipbalm.

Anyhow, read on for my thoughts on this peachy balm.

Encased in a little tin with gorgeous artwork on top, this little tub of vaseline from Spain won me and Kahani over when we found them in Sasa during our recent Hong Kong trip.

A little sniff at the sample tin won our noses over when both of us could actually smell the delicious scent of peach. It's one of the few brands that seem to get the peach scent down pretty decently, as surprise surprise(!), peach can turn out to be so wrong. A little too sweet and it'd be like a cheap handwash, and a little too much tang and I'd hate it. (Hear hear! I'm actually attempting to describe scents!)

Anyway, this one was decent enough to pass both our noses. That counts for quite a bit, I believe.

In terms of texture, it actually holds up quite well. It's hardly as soft as Vaseline (as in the original blue-capped tubs). My room can be slightly warm in the afternoons, and it hasn't gone a-melting. Although a tad sweaty. Am I making sense?

(There isn't any shimmer in this balm, although this photo seems to suggest there is. Notice it's a little sweaty?)

The irony, though, is that I wished it was just a little more emollient. While you'd be able to feel the lipbalm on, it doesn't feel particularly moisturising. Which isn't bad, just not quite my preference.

But because of the scent, I'm quite happy slapping it on, and then adding just a wee little slick of the original Vaseline or my other love - Lucas' Papaw Ointment - to ensure that my lips are really, really well cared for.

It was going on a Buy-2-Get-1-Free promo at about HKD30+ (~RM15) a tin. Which meant I got mine for about HKD20 (~RM9) for a 15ml tin. Which is not bad at all, really.

Would I be repurchasing? With the amount of other lipbalms I have, I'm guessing not. It's a very nice to have, but that's about it.

Let's just leave it at that, shall we?

Stage's Burlesque Ball Wonderkiss Lipcrème

Ho Ho Ho everyone! Christmas is really just round the corner now isn't it? Next week! And my Christmas shopping isn't even done! *Eek*

But nevermind my shopping (I'll be running around the malls as you're reading this today *tee hee*), today I want to introduce you to two Stage Cosmetics lipsticks that I've been given to try out.

Enter Stage's Burlesque Ball Wonderkiss Lipcrème, from their holiday collection.

If you've been following our blog, you'll know that Kahani and I love lip products from Stage. From their formulas, to finishes, it's one thing they've definitely gotten down pat.


And these Wonderkiss cream lipsticks are no different. I received two shades - Swoon (left) and Amuse (right). And they come in such Christmassy red tubes too! Pretty!

Stage says: Wonderkiss Lipcrème is the ultimate lip indulgence when it comes to color, intensity and luxurious care. Wonderkiss is formulated with a unique gel formulation combined with a spherical powder pigment which provides the most intense pure color coverage. Contains hydrating Apple Seed Oil so lips are soft, smooth and pampered. Vitamin E helps defy age and prevent the appearance of fine lines.


Swoon is a cream-finish pink nude which goes on a wee bit lighter than my actual lip colour. On my lips they appear a light pink.


Amuse, on the other hand, is a slightly metallic brown-bronze shade. I didn't expect it to turn out quite so bright on my lips though! (Note: Both lipsticks were paired with Bobbi Brown's Illuminating Bronzer in Maui *glee*)


Both go on super creamy and feel really comfortable on my lips. As with their Wonderlust cousins, I really have no complaints about these two.

You can also have a look at Paris and Connie's take on the cream lippies.

So if you like what you're seeing better run to Stage while the holiday collections are still out. You can pick these up for RM50 each.

Have a great weekend girls! =D

My Favourite Things: Mentholatum Lip Pure Lipbalm

So you know I go balm crazy, right? And the Mentholatum Lip Pure (Fragrance Free) is one balm I absolutely go nuts about.

Despite having a whole stash of balms in my drawer, this is the one lipbalm I go to, day after day. And night after night.

Since I first met it when it first hit the shelves (what, a year or two back?), there has never been a time I have gone without it. You can always count on finding one in my stash.

It's that good.

So what makes this one so special? First of, it could be just me going all sentimental. This balm's formulation really reminds me of my all-time childhood holy grail of lipbalms - Ultra Ready E-honi. It came in a transparent casing, and it was one heck of a balm. There was never a chap it couldn't fix. Sadly though, it seems to have been discontinued.

Back to Lip Pure, it's made of beeswax and 100% food grade ingredients, which it claims makes it suitable for even sensitive lips . And Shea butter oil, almond oil, aloe extract and jojoba oil certainly makes for an emollient balm.


It also claims to contain no preservatives or colorant.

Frankly, it's nothing terribly fancy. No raspberry scent to boast off, no minty taste to tempt the palate. It's just an honest-to-goodness lipbalm that does its job. Of course, those of you who like citrusy scents can have that option, but me, I prefer the plain one. No citrus scents for me, thank you.

But what I do love, is its texture and finish. I always wear it under lipstick to keep my lips moist, and sometimes over the lipstick to add a little shine. It gives my lips a slightly glossy finish, which is lovely by me.


For a drugstore lipbalm, it's not exactly cheap at RM14.90 at its usual price. But what I do is to stock up during offers and promotions, where it can go for about RM10.

So, to the crux of the matter - would I repurchase? Oh yea. I can't even remember how many tubes I've run through. Just please don't ever discontinue this.

Pretty please?

Review: Australis Creme Colour Blush

I never paid much attention to Australis Cosmetics until the beginning of this year. The packaging is so teen-oriented, I always walked past their rack towards other brands. It's a little like Silkygirl in Malaysia - its not the first display you go to when you want to check out new arrivals.

Until you realise that the brand is full of undiscovered gems.

Take this blush for example. It caught my eye when I was going through a cream blush phase a few moons ago and turned me into an Australis convert since.

(Doesn't it look so pretty against my hat?)

Actually, this little pot of pink is meant for both cheeks and lips. I have tried it both ways and very much prefer using it as a blush instead of a lip colour for three reasons: first, the strong lavender scent makes me a bit wary of putting this near my mouth; second, one of the ingredients makes my lips itch; and third, I feel a bit iffy about double-dipping in pots and all that. A little odd as I ordinarily wouldn't give two hoots about hygiene issues.

It must be the lavender scent which is making me think twice.

I bought this in Dusky Rose, which as you can see from the swatch, is a pretty bright pink blush so it's easy to go overboard and look like Bozo the Clown. The best way of applying this blush is to lightly swipe the surface with your fingers and pat it onto your cheeks, before blending out lightly with a kabuki if needed.

Voila! Instant English rose pretty.

I have tried using a stippling brush but nothing quite beats using the fingers for applying this blush. I suspect that it's because this product contains quite a bit of oil and wax, which gives it a lot of 'slip' and makes it a little sticky.

This blush works best for me on bare skin, with a little bit of primer underneath. It has a tendency to wear off faster over foundation so I only take this out on days when my skin is on its best behaviour and want a bit of a pretty flush on my cheeks.

Something I realised recently is that this product is a deadringer for Bloom's Sheer Colour Cream, from the packaging and texture, right down to the lavender scent.

Australis Creme Colour Blush retails for AUD 8.95 and comes in three colours: Flirtatious Pink, Dusky Rose and Chocolate Truffle. Bloom's version costs AUD 22. Guess which one I am going for?

Review: Revlon Beyond Naturals Bronze/Blush & Liptints with SPF15

I love it when I've been eyeing a product, really wanting it, but being a good girl and not buying it... and then have those exact products land on my desk.

Not that getting the Beyond Naturals bronze/blush in peach and the lipting in berry stopped me from spending. I loved the tint so much that when I saw it on sale that evening for RM24.50 (NP RM31.90) I immediately snapped up a tube in rosy pink. And now having used the bronze/blush for awhile, I'm eyeing the one in pink! Help!

Lip Tint with SPF15
It's ironic that the main complaint for these two products is that the lip tint is too pigmented, and the blush/bronze isn't pigmented enough! If you're expecting faint colour from these lippies, you won't get it. They are quite pigmented. What makes them a lip tint and not a lipstick is the formula. Instead of laying down a thicker creamy layer, this makes it look like your lips have been stained. The finish is not glossy but it's not matte either - it just looks like your lips with a slick of lipbalm

(L-R) Berry, Rosy Pink

I love both shades I have. Berry would be awesome in autumn (wrong country I know) but I can see myself using this for days when I want my makeup to be richer. Christmas dinners perhaps paired with a gold toned dress or deep rich jewel tones.

Berry

Rosy Pink is my honest to goodness MLBB shade (pic under Bronze/Blush section). Here's how Syen and I chose ours MLBB shades from this range. We both swatched Rosy Pink and Rosy on our hands and I swear Rosy looked more orange on me than on her, while Rosy Pink looked more pink on her than on me. Our chosen shades don't just perk up our lips they flatter our skintones. Syen reports that Rosy makes her face look brighter and fresher and I can say the same for Rosy Pink. So there's your shade selection guide right there!

The berry scents make the liptints smell of jam, or of berry-flavoured candy. I adore it although some ladies may find it cloying or too juvenile. The SPF15 included makes these liptints seem so wholesome - like non-makeup, makeup. Which is partially why they're so attractive I believe. We all have days where much as we love makeup we want to be naturally lovely without it. These liptints not only let me fake the look, they let me lie to me!

Bronze / Blush in Peach

Sorry for the weird hair, it was freshly washed in the pic. When swatched, the bronze/blush in Peach is not pigmented in the least. But when applied it gives your face a glow. Not a sparkly disco-ball glow, but one that makes you look like you've had 8-hrs sleep and a lovely walk in the park under a sunny sky. Sunkissed and happy. I find myself slightly addicted to it, and if I wasn't almost absolutely sure that the Pink shade would look precisely the same on my cheeks, and these duos didn't cost RM53 a pop, I would run out a buy another.

The bronzer is pigmented enough to contour and the blush bright enough to highlight and give your cheeks a pop. But neither are pigmented enough to make you look clownish. Fabulous, no?

I often use just the bronzer under my cheek bones, swirl both colours together and blend it into my cheeks as a blush, and apply only the peach shade on my apples for a pop. Perfect faking it. I rather wish they'd bring in the eye palette I KNOW I'd love it. Natural fuss-free browns in finger-friendly formula (for days when coffee has no effect and brushes require more IQ than you have alert braincells for). I can see myself bringing the collection on a holiday and being happy as a bug in a rug.

Conclusion
Revlon has hit the nail on the head with their Beyond Naturals collection. Great no-makeup, makeup they make you look like a prettier you. Even for makeup junkies like myself, that's sometimes all I really want.

Sweet stains: Etude House Dear Darling Lip Tint in Shade 01

Yes, I spent a nice amount of time mocking the ridiculous name and admiring the pretty packaging. But what really tempted me was the price - at RM22.90 it is by far the most affordable tint I've ever come across.

So, how does it compare?

The best description I can give is that it seems to be a more intense version of The Body Shop's lip & cheek stain. More pigmented and with a thicker gel formula, even it's taste and scent is similar but stronger. Euch! Like strong chemically sweet cough mixture. Not pleasant, but you get over it.

Colour
This shade is the coolest red out of 3 choices. It is a blue, rosy, almost pinky red. Shade 02 is the most neutral red, and shade 03 is scarily orange.

On the lips it is very pigmented:

One Coat

Two Coats

As you can see this is not a colour I'd recommend for girls still terrified by reds!

Wear
One thing I like about this stain is that it's thick formula makes it feel more moisturising than other stains. Plus, it doesn't settle as much into lip-lines making it very lip-friendly.

As it's not formulated for cheeks, and because it is so pigmented I've never had the guts to try it on my cheeks. If anyone has, do share!

Overall, this stain is very long-lasting, but becuase it's so pigmented it doesn't fade evenly and you can see that the centre of your lips is lighter than the rest after a meal. Not really a look a favour! Fortunately it's easy to tote around and touch up.

It also washes off fairly easily with soap and water - it's the middle swatch in the photo above.

Conclusion
At the price it's worth checking out for a portable, BRIGHT lipstain. Also if you're interested in other colours, this stain does have three different shades, and I believe Etude has a few other stains in different packaging. I think I've seen a bright pink one in Benetint-like packaging. But once again, if you're not into brightly stained lips, better give this one a miss.

Channeling Star Trek with the help of Silk Naturals Kisser Slicker in Bloom

When I first swiped on Silk Natural's Kisser Slicker in Bloom I was actually really disappointed. The colour that looked so pretty on the tube, was a very cool very very light pink on me. So light I didn't know how I was to use it.

Until I watched the latest Star Trek film that is. I was BLOWN away by the incredible dialogue, story-line, screenplay, cast... and the updated 60's-inspired feel to everything. From the ship-design to the actor's makeup the movie never missed a beat. It managed to be authentic, and 60's without for a moment being outdated or old-fogey. Awesome.

I was particularly taken with the makeup sported by Nyota Uhura, played by Zoe Saldana. I loved the clean yet feminine look created by her winged eyeliner and cool pink (but not frosty!) lipstick. So I had the black eyeliner... where was I to get the cool pink... ahhhh... *lightbulb appears with a ting!*

Bloom lipstick is perfect for an updated 60's inspired look. It's glossy not frosty, very very cool pale pink that's pigmented enough to cover up my lip's natural colour.

Swatches courtesy of Silk Naturals

I chose a very very light dusting of my coolest pink blush (I think it was Silk Naturals Mineral Blush in Charming) coupled with some contouring with Daiso's Nose Shadow under my cheekbones.

The one fly in my honey was my winged eyeliner - or lack of it. I have GOT to work on the flick. I'm also unsure if there's any point to it. Since any flicks I did, however enthusiastic (ok I made sure I stopped short of Amy Winehouse) were hidden by my Chinese eyes. Arrrgh! Nevermind if at first you don't succeed.... go for bigger wings.

So what do you girls think? And any tip on achieving the coveted winged eyeliner on scrunched up eyes?

For a great interview with the makeup aritist behind Star Trek, Mindy Hall (and for picture credit, I stole her pic), go here! I read it, and now I really want the Shiseido liner, maybe it will help me flick! I also feel better that even the makeup artists had difficulty achieving that perfect eyeliner on everyone.

Sweet Stains: The Body Shop Lip & Cheek Stain

Of all the stains I have this is at present, the closest in shade and nature to Benetint as it is a rosy sheer red that functions both as a lip & cheek stain. Although many (including me) have regarded this as a cheaper version of Benetint, I'd like to point out that the Lip & Cheek Stain in shade 01 (it's the ONLY non LE shade) is very affordable in Malaysia at only RM39 for 8ml while Benetint (if you buy it online) is RM100 for 12.5 ml making TBS RM3 cheaper per ml than Benetint. It's also very wonderfully portable and I prefer its doe-foot applicator to Benetint's rather tickly brush.

Colour
It is more pigmented than Benetint as I swiped it only once on my hand below, and I swiped Benetint twice. In undertones it is also cooler than Benetint, although the difference is slight, I do believe that this makes it a little less friendly to warmer-toned girls. On me (I'm cool-toned), it's more brightening than Benetint but at the same time, less natural.

So since the one-coat, two-coat lip routine worked so well in the Benetint post...

One Coat

Two Coats

I'm sorry the pics are so darned washed out. I found a setting that's great for faces lousy for lips - and only just realised it. If enough people complain I'll redo the pics...*grumble grumble*

See what I mean about good for faces? It doesn't give that awful flashed-out effect.

On Cheeks and Lips

Formula
This is more gel-like than Benetint, and therefore doesn't seem to sink as easily into the lines on my lips - making it a better option.

On the cheeks I find Benetint lasts longer, but TBS is easier to blend in. However, Benetint is sheerer so it's harder to overdo. TBS well... two dots too many and you're in Clown City. No fear, just grab the powder foundation and blend blend blen to nudge yourself back over the city border.

And oh yes, in my previous review, I forgot to mention Benetint smells of roses. A scent that I prefer greatly to TBS's stain. This one smells like sickly sweet cough syrup. Euch! Thank goodness it fades away really fast.

Wear
On my hand below it's the second from right, and well it doesn't hold up to soap and water very well.
]
But I wore it about all day and it lasted with minimal fading through a light meal, drinks, and a hot sweaty day. So yay!

Conclusion
If you're a cool toned girl, this is definitely a great option to Benetint. Especially when you can buy it at any TBS store as opposed to having to ship it over from the US. For everyday base-wear though I still tend towards Benetint as this is twice as pigmented and less natural a red.

Sweet Stains: Benefit's Benetint

Ahh the legendary Benetint - the tint that began all tints! What's not to love about a product that, legend has it, was originally created to tint the nipples of burlesque dancers a rosy pink?

How to use Benetint is a mystery for many, and here's hoping this blogpost will unravel it for you. First off though I'd like to recommend that you only buy Benetint off their US site, and not from the Malaysian Benetint distributors as they sell it at a large markup I've even heard that they plan on raising the prices even higher. And in this ecnomy too. Shame on them!

Read ParisB's post on the subject here, it has everything you need to know.

Now, read on to learn why this product is a must-have HG for me, and a staple in my beauty collection.

Lips
Compared to the other tints, Benetint is really the sheerest of the lot. Yes it looks crazy zany red, but to get it to the colour it is in the swatch below, I had to swatch it twice. Everything else was swatched only once.

Application - Lips
I do find the nail-polish like brush provided for use with Benetint really really annoying. It's so flimsy that it tickles my upper lip when I try to apply it there. So now rather than try I apply a generous but even layer to my bottom lip and carefully moosh the lips together.

One coat looks like this...
Two coats...
And with clear lip balm on top...

See how much more even it looks once the lip balm is slathered on?

And that's another secret to stain application - apply it on dry bare lips. Yes it feels drying but once it's set you can slather balm over and it will last and last. However, don't use Vaseline or balms that are oily instead of waxy (like Palmer's Cocoa Butter lipbalms in a tube. Reviews here and here) as these will also dissolve and remove the stain.

I often use one coat under reddish lipstick or gloss as a base colour, so when I eat or drink and the lipstick or gloss colour fades, I still have some tint to my face and am not wandering around looking like a washed-out zombie.

To tone the colour down, and get some use out of that lipgloss or lipstick you have that makes you look like a corpse because it's too nude - just use it over the stain. Voila, perfect, and versatile!

Cheeks
Although many ladies have trouble using stains on the cheek, I really don't. I love using Benetint as a blush and here's how:
Liquid Foundation
Before applying powder, dot three to four small dots along one the cheek bone of one side of your face, and quickly blend it out with a patting motion using either a stippling brush, foundation brush, or your fingers. I personally prefer the foundation brush for this as it's faster and allows me to spread it better.

Less is more here, you can always go back and apply. So until you know exactly what works for you, apply with caution!

Let it set, and then dust powder on as usual. If you'd like to top up with a powder blush, making it peachier or more shimmery, now's the time.

Mineral / Powder foundations
No matter how heavy a coverage you use a foundation is always slightly translucent - especially mineral and powder formulations. If you use a cream concealer, use that first.

Then generously dot Benetint on. Don't forget to do one side of your face at a time. And in this case feel free to slap it on as you're going for a look that's far brighter than you normally would use. This also allows for less margin for error.

Blend out with a brush or fingers in a pat-pat motion so you don't disturb the concealer underneath.

Now apply your foundation over the blush as you normally would. The heavier blush should glow through the foundation naturally. This really gives you a lit-from-within, rosy-cheeked look which I love.

Again, if you want a peachier blush or more shimmery finish, just dust it over the foundation now. And if your blush fades, as quite a few powder / mineral blushes do when used over a powder/ mineral base, the tint won't. So you get to avoid people asking you "why are you so pale and tired" towards the end of the day. Unless that's how you get your boss to let you go home - in which case maybe this method isn't for you.

Wear
As you can see, Benetint (second stripe from left) lasted through soap and water washing really well! To get it off at the end of the day, you may have to resort to an eye & lip makeup remover.

Benetint won't kiss off, won't leave marks on anything, and doesn't taste or feel of anything. So girls who have boyfriends who hate the taste and feel of lipsticks or lipglosses, this is your solution!

It will last through most meals, but not an uber-greasy lip-smacking long one. Come on. Nothing lasts through that!

Conclusion
After a year of almost-daily use, my jar of Benetint looks all worn out as the print has faded off. Boo! And I've used about 3/4 of it. So how much do I love it? I have a new, unopened bottle waiting to be used! When I had a chance to buy it on discount through a friend I just snapped it up to stockpile, because I refuse to be without my Benetint. Ever. It's pricey but it's gorgeous, it works, and a jar lasts over a year with almost-daily, and at least weekly use.

Online, Benetint retails at US$28 (RM100.40 at current conversion rates) compared to the RM139 you'd pay at the counter here. Benefit often offers free shipping when you spend over US$115 so get a few friends together and haul away!