theNotice: a beauty blog

This round of Lipstick Bandit posts came with the challenge of the starter lipstick: your very first (for those of us who still remember what our first shade was), or a lipstick that would make a good gateway drug into a full-fledged lipstick addiction.

The lipstick I chose to feature wasn’t my very first lipstick, but it was one of the first that I really fell in love with. I hope you will, too!

The product: Lancome Color Fever lipstick in Rose Tempest

I feel a little guilty about featuring this one, seeing as it’s long since been discontinued, but, well – what can you do, right? It was “the one,” and memories don’t exactly grow on trees. (Though it would be fabulous if they did, wouldn’t it?)

Rose Tempest is an interesting shade; a rather plain-Jane my lips but better sort, but there’s something just so about it. Imagine if you crossed a yellow-based pink with an olive-brown nude, gave it a lovely satin-creme formula, and scented it lightly with rose petals and bright, juicy berries. You’d get Rose Tempest exactly; the perfect daytime lipstick, with an unexpected edge of versatility and luxury. (This would look brilliant on so many different skintones that it’s not even funny, and have you seen that tube?)

A single swipe of Rose Tempest

bare lips

One layer of Rose Tempest on lips

For a dupe, try something like Maybelline Warm Me Up or MAC Modesty. They’re not exact copies (I much prefer the Color Fever formula and scent to both, though of course it isn’t without its flaws), but the shades are almost spot-on.

The Maybelline is great if you’re on a budget, but I’m not fond of scent, and the formula feels much heavier on my lips; on the other hand, I’ve never been a huge fan of MAC lipsticks (I find most of their formulas too drying), and I prefer lip products that are lightly fruity than ones that smell like vanilla.

I don’t get a ton of wear out of Rose Tempest, because I’m rather afraid of what I’ll do when I run out, but, well. If either of these dupes are even half as lovely – you’re going to adore them.

Keep reading! »

I’m feeling like the colour of leaves in autumn. Like the 40′s. Like Essie Very Structured. Like Joan Holloway. Like Slow Dancing Society’s The Warm Familiar Sound of September.

Eyes

Maybe it’s something in the air, the light, the era – I don’t know, but I’m head over heels for desaturated greens, burnt sienna, tan, and a mix of mink browns to balance everything out.

It’s strange: I usually fall into a rut of brown and berry in the fall, but I’m just crazy for sienna this year. I mean, sienna; what absurdity! It looks terrible on me, which more or less explains why I couldn’t stand it. Perhaps I’ll have to find it in a handbag or pair of gloves, yeah?

Swatches from left to right: 1. Marcelle Waterproof Eyeliner in Metal Green, 2. Lancome Colour Design Eye Shadow in Mochaccino, 3. Annabelle 4Show Eyeshadow quad in Tiger Eye, 4. Marcelle Wet & Dry Eyeshadow in Coco Chic, and 5. FaceFront Steel Finish Artistic Pigment in Lost in Nishitama.

Lips and Cheeks

Plum lips, of course. Perhaps with a mix of cranberry. And, strangely enough, burnt corals and bronzes on the cheeks – preferably matte. Tons of contouring; no colour whatsoever some days.

Swatched from left to right: Clarins Blush Prodige in Sunset Coral, MAC Lipliner in Plum, Clarins Colour Quench Lip Balm in 05 Delicious Plum.

More product photos and swatches »

It’s becoming quite a thing, isn’t it? These little mini-films that accompany launches. Well; I’m certainly not complaining!

Lancome Trésor Midnight Rose

I was really quite looking forward to the Trésor Midnight Rose film with Emma Watson, but I don’t know – now that it’s out, I’m not really feeling it. It’s gorgeous, of course, but it just seems too… expected. Girl meets boy, boy loses girl, boy miraculously runs into girl again in a big city, girl and boy falls in love.

Because that hasn’t been in a the ad copy for a hundred fragrances before.

But, I do like the slightly edge to the vibe of the film, and Emma looks amazing (as always)! Thoughts? (Is it maybe a little too violet? I don’t think I’ve ever said that before – but this one feels a little too violet! Or perhaps it’s just the fuchsia undertones that are getting to me.)

Dior J’Adore

Another much-anticipated recent release was the new Dior J’Adore spot, with Charlize Theron. And it did not disappoint! It’s just as riveting and glamorous as their first commercial together, and the CG in the clip is absolutely flawless – not to mention, it’s absolutely ingenious.

It’s easy to do the expected with fragrance trailers, but I honestly think this one is spot-on. I mean, I, for one, totally didn’t see it coming – and love it all the more for that.

Bottega Veneta

Finally, we’ve got a clip that I wasn’t really expecting; wasn’t really waiting for. The new Bottega Veneta films quietly appeared online, without a lot of anticipation beforehand. I didn’t love the first one, but this one – okay, the start’s a little slow, but the visuals are absolutely gorgeous, the bottle is glowing, and the colour palette is breathtaking. I’d love to hear what you ladies think of it!

The product: Lancome Color Design lipstick in The New Pink (sheen)

There are three things that I can’t stand in a lip product: heavy scents, colour that moves around, and chunky glitter. This lipstick does a stellar job of the first two, delivering semi-opaque, slip-free, scent-free colour, but fails the third category miserably. Despite the gorgeous, perfect-for-summer shade (Lancome calls it a “perfect, not-too-bright medium pink,” and I have to agree), the amount of glitter loaded into this lipstick turns me off it completely.

For those who like a shimmery lip, though, this would be a great product to go with. It’s a very flattering pink, and the formula is divine – lightweight, smooth, and moisturizing. I’d say the coverage is medium but layerable, but the finish is quite glossy for a lipstick )so even if it’s applied opaquely, you’re never going to end up with a really heavy, overly made up lip).

All in all, I’m left a bit heartbroken by this one. The formula feels great and wears really well, and the colour is gorgeous, but the amount of silver shimmer (which, yes, I can feel on my lips) ruins it for me.

Lancome Color Design lipsticks come in five finishes (cream, sheen, shimmer, metallic, and matte) and retail for $22 US/$27 CAD, though shades that are often featured as gifts with purchase (like this one) can be easily found for $10 or less online.

(Ingredients and additional swatches…)

It’s already February; can you believe it?! (Hint: I cannot.) Anyhow, with this realization, it hit me that I should probably get crackin’ on our Spring series, so today we have Smashbox, Lancome, and Laura Mercier (whose collection I am completely enamoured with, albeit only through photos). Enjoy!

How the widgets work: just click – it’s that simple. These should be set up so that when you click on a specific product, it’ll take you to that product’s page. (If it doesn’t seem to be working, well, let me know!)

• Part one: Dior, Estee Lauder, and Guerlain
• Part two: Urban Decay, Benefit, and LORAC