Audrey Dao » HE Lipgloss

Smith’s Rosebud Salve in a Tube Review

Audrey Dao — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 13:57:43 +0000

Rosebud Salve in a Tube ($6) A cult-favorite, multitasking miracle balm in a convenient tube format. This beloved multi-purpose essential not only moisturizes and soothes dry lips; it also calms and heals irritation, soothes the sting of minor burns, helps heal cuts, tames mangled cuticles, helps fix ashy elbows and knees, and minimizes diaper rash.

My Thoughts:

I know Smith’s Rosebud Salve is a cult favorite and almost everybody raves about it, but I might be one of the few people who didn’t find it all that great and just an average balm. I think I ended up disappointed because (1) the cost of the balm and (2) so many people raved and hyped it up. The Rosebud Salve reminded me of Vaseline, except tinted. I didn’t notice a very strong rose smell (which is good for me!) nor was it sticky or overly glossy. To me, this balm wasn’t all that moisturizing. I kept having to reapply more often than I would have liked. I think it lasted about a couple of hours before I had to reapply. I also didn’t notice an improvement in the conditions of my lips. It could be though that my lips weren’t in bad condition to start off with. Overall, Smith’s Rosebud Salve was a disappointment to me. I felt like it was overpriced Vaseline. There are definitely a lot of cheaper and better options available.

Philosophy Supernatural Superglossy Lipgloss SPF 15 in Reflect A Little Review, Photos, and Swatch

Audrey Dao — Tue, 07 Jun 2011 14:07:10 +0000

Philosophy Supernatural Superglossy Lipgloss SPF 15 in Reflect A Little ($16.50) This sheer liquid lip gloss moisturizes and conditions lips while delivering the ultimate shine—sans the stickiness. It’s formulated with SPF 15, providing broad-spectrum sun protection for sensitive lips, and is packed with antioxidants to keep lips looking young and healthy.

My Thoughts:

I was very surprised at how much I really like Philosophy Supernatural Superglossy Lipgloss SPF 15 in Reflect A Little. What I really like about the lipgloss is that it isn’t sticky at all. Even though the lipgloss has a thin texture, it’s very moisturizing and packs a lot of shine! Don’t forget it has SPF 15 too! The gloss didn’t have super staying power. It lasted a couple of hours before I had to reapply (typical of a gloss). I noticed a light minty scent and taste that didn’t bother me at all. The only downside of the Philosophy Supernatural Superglossy Lipgloss is the sheerness of the color.

Reflect A Little is a soft sheer pink. When I applied it my lips, it was really difficult to see any color. It just looked like I applied clear gloss. Of course, I should mention that I have pigmented lips and sheer glosses usually don’t show up on my lips. People with lightly pigmented lips will really like the Reflect A Little shade. It will be perfect for summer.

Check out more the swatch for Philosophy Supernatural Superglossy Lipgloss SPF 15 in Reflect A Little and more photos!

MAC Viva Glam Gaga 2 Lipstick and Lipgloss Photos and Swatch Comparison

Audrey Dao — Mon, 28 Feb 2011 18:12:51 +0000

MAC Viva Glam Gaga 2 Lipstick ($14.50) and MAC Viva Glam Gaga 2 Lipglass ($14.50)

My Thoughts:

If I had pick between the two, I would have to pick the lipglass. It has a warmer tone and has more color. That’s if I had to pick between the two. In reality, I wouldn’t pick either one. It’s just too pale of a color. There’s barely any color to it. To me, it looked nothing like how it appeared in the ad:

Image Source

On Lady Gaga, it looks like a gorgeous peachy, orange shade. On me? It looks like I applied concealer and forgot to add lip color. I don’t want to regret getting Gaga 2. I hope I find a way to make it work.

Check out swatches and more photos!

MAC Viva Glam Gaga 2 Lipglass Review, Photos, and Swatches

Audrey Dao — Mon, 28 Feb 2011 15:49:38 +0000

MAC Viva Glam Gaga 2 Lipglass ($14.50) The Lady Gaga lovefest continues with the debut of this seductively pale milky-beige VIVAGLAM Lipglass. Wear it alone or with its Lipstick namesake. All monies raised go the M∙A∙C AIDS Fund to help support people living with HIV/AIDS. Limited edition.

My Thoughts:

I’m not a fan of the Viva Glam Gaga 2 Lipglass. It was not the color I was expecting. It showed up too nude on my lips. The color looked like glossy concealer. The shade is just too beige to wear on its own. I looked as if I had been hiding the sun. I think if the shade had a bit more of a peachy, orange color like it did in the ad, it would look a lot better. Besides being greatly disappointed with the shade, I did like the quality of the lipgloss. It was a bit sticky, but it wasn’t watery thin. It lasted about 3-4 hours before I had to reapply. If you’re looking for a true nude color gloss, this could be it.

Check out swatches and more photos!

Clinique Vitamin C Lip Smoothie Antioxidant Lip Colour Review

Audrey Dao — Mon, 20 Dec 2010 14:45:18 +0000

Clinique Vitamin C Lip Smoothie Antioxidant Lip Colour ($17.50) We’ve squeezed in the best ingredients, like Vitamin C, and powered up antioxidants so lips look and feel their healthy best. Your recommended daily dose of lusciousness. Brushes on luscious colour and shine in juicy, moisture-rich blends.

Coverage: Sheer to Moderate
Benefits: Antioxidant protection, Moisturizes, Smoothes lips

My Thoughts:

Truthfully, I got suckered into buying Clinique Vitamin C Lip Smoothie Antioxidant Lip Colour (wow! that’s a long name!) because of the names of the shades. I mean come on now. How clever is Raisin The Bar, Nude-tritious, Pink Me Up, Goodness Grapecious, and Running Latte? The colors are very nice, and it’s very moisturizing. It keeps your lips moisturized for hours. Also, there is no strong smell or taste. The lipcolor is a tad on the sheer side, and I don’t find it too sticky. So if you want the color show up, you’re going to have to layer a bit. I do have a couple of complaints. The first complaint is the click-pen packaging. If you used a click pen before you know how annoying it can be when you twist and twist and no product comes out. So what do you do? You twist the pen some more. Bad idea. The product comes spewing out and there is no way stop it. My second complaint is the price. I think the amount you pay doesn’t equal the amount of product you get. If you use it daily, it’s not going to last you a very long time at all. I feel a tad ripped-off.

MAC Lip Erase Review

Audrey Dao — Tue, 08 Jun 2010 13:39:47 +0000

MAC Lip Erase ($16) A flesh-toned balm that visually neutralizes and erases natural colour from the lip. Shine- and texture-free. Available in a choice of two shades for use on light to medium skin tones.

My Thoughts:

This is a product everyone must have. It does what it claims to do: erases lips. No more using foundation or concealer to minimize the natural color of your lips. By “erasing” your natural lip color, it allows for lipgloss or lipstick to show up true to color. Finally! No more wondering whether the lipcolor you just bought will appear the same on your lips. Also, if you want that perfect nude lip color, all you have to do is apply Lip Erase and some clear gloss and you’ve got the perfect nude lip color. Lip erase is a balm-like texture that can be a tad bit drying, but that problem can easily be solved by exfoliating and moisturizing beforehand. It is a MAC Pro product so you can only get it off the MAC Pro site if you have their card. If you don’t have their card, you can still get it by visiting a MAC Pro store. It is available in two colors: Dim and Pale. I suggest you get it in “Dim” unless you are really truly pale then get it in “Pale.”

Tarina Tarantino Gem Gloss Review

Audrey Dao — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 14:13:37 +0000

Tarina Tarantino Gem Gloss ($19) What it is:
An ultralight, high-shine, low-tack gloss that delivers true, even color.

What it does:
Achieve a full-bodied lip look with medium-intensity pigment suspended in this silky, hydrating formula. Special emollients encapsulate water to keep lips supple while plumping spheres work to draw water into lips for a smooth, voluminous effect. An infusion of exfoliant enhances cell turnover to promote fresh softness.

My Thoughts:

I was was not impressed with this gloss. The gloss is quite sheer and thin, and I had to layer on so much for the color to be the same as it is in the tube. I don’t like the wand/applicator either. It’s flexible so it was more difficult to apply. What I liked about the Gem Gloss is it’s non-sticky and the colors offered are so gorgeously different. I wouldn’t recommend Gem Gloss to anyone. There are drugstore glosses that are better quality. The poor performance was unexpected from a high end brand.

I used Tarina Tarantino Gem Gloss in my Spring Time Look: Bold Blue Eyes. I had to layer on at least 3 layers to get the color I achieved.

MAC Magic Mirth and Mischief She-Zam Dazzleglass Review

Audrey Dao — Sun, 18 Oct 2009 23:53:55 +0000

MAC Magic Mirth and Mischief She-Zam Dazzleglass ($18) Lipcolour that dazzles with light and shine to bring an exciting dimensional pop to your lips. Large particle pearls reflect and refract light to mimic the brilliance of quartz and opal crystal. Provides exceptional shine with a crystalline iridescence. Non-sticky, non-tacky, lightweight and moisturizing. Glides on. Wear alone, or layer over lipstick or Lipglass for dramatic effect. Features our signature M·A·C vanilla aroma.

My Thoughts:

Out of all the lipglosses that were part of the MAC Magic Mirth and Mischief Collection, I only picked up She-Zam. It is a silvery gloss with flecks of pink and silver shimmer. I admit it looks a little daunting and intimidating at first, but I figured what the heck. Give it a try. I am so glad I did! It looks so wonderful over a dark or light lipcolor. It is similar to a clear gloss, but this adds a bit more oomph than clear gloss. I can’t quite describe it. It just looks awesome! I feel this is the only worth while gloss of all the glosses offered part of the MAC Magic Mirth and Mischief Collection.

MAC Magic, Mirth, and Mischief Lip Bag Reviews

Audrey Dao — Sun, 18 Oct 2009 23:32:08 +0000

MAC Magic, Mirth, and Mischief Put a Spell On You Pink Lip Bag ($36) Pink puts a spell on you, and with its trio of Dream Lipstick, Dervish Lip Pencil and Baby Sparks Dazzleglass, this lip kit is no different. Comes in a small, stylish rectangular makeup bag of polished silvery-pewter vinyl, the zip adorned with a round bead and grosgrain ribbon detail. Limited edition.

My Thoughts:

I love pink lip color. The lipstick, Dream, is a glaze lipstick. The color is more of a sheer, color and it provides a sheen/shine. It reminds me of dark, dusty rose color. Baby Sparks Dazzleglass has a lot of sparkle. A lot. It certainly gave my lips a lot of “bling” and gave the illusion of fuller lips. I love the sheer pink color. It’s perfect for all year round use. Dervish lip pencil is a pink mauve color that gave my lips a perk of color. It’s like a YLBB (Your Lips But Better) color. Out of the 2 lip bags, this is the one I got, because this is goes perfectly with a smoky eye.

MAC Magic, Mirth, and Mischief House of Mirth Deep Lip Bag ($36) Deep and mirthfully rich, this lip kit features Fantasia Lipstick, Cedar Lip Pencil and Get Rich Quick Dazzleglass. Comes in a small, stylish rectangular makeup bag of polished silvery-pewter vinyl, the zip adorned with a round bead and grosgrain ribbon detail. Limited edition.

My Thoughts:

I actually didn’t get this because I tend to shy away from dark lip colors. I’m not bold enough to rock dark lips even though I want to. When I tried it, it wasn’t as dark as I expected. Fantasia, the lipstick, was a deep rosy color. I felt this lipstick was more pigmented and not as sheer as the lipstick in the Put a Spell On You Pink Lip Bag. If I wasn’t so scared of dark lip colors, I would have gotten this too.

(Photos from Temptalia)

MAC Magic Mirth and Mischief Lip Kit Review

Audrey Dao — Sun, 18 Oct 2009 23:30:31 +0000

(Photos from Makeup For Life)

(top to bottom)

MAC Magic Mirth and Mischief Heavenly Dish Neutral Lip Kit ($22.50)

Two new pink-toned Lipsticks and Lip Gloss: Floating Lightly, Heavenly Dish and Barely Visible in a sleek square silvery-pewter compact decorated with a whimsical pattern of coloured dots on the lid, each one representing a shade from the compact’s palette. Limited edition.

MAC Magic Mirth and Mischief Possessed By Pink Lip Kit ($22.50)

Two new neutral-toned Lipsticks and Lip Gloss: Tickled, Laugh A Lot and Sweet Smile in a sleek, square silvery-pewter compact decorated with a whimsical pattern of coloured dots on the lid, each one representing a shade from the compact’s palette. Limited edition.

My Thoughts:

For both the lip kits, the lip colors only gave a hint of color to my lips. They are rather sheer. With that being said, I only picked up the Possessed By Pink Lip Kit. Even though it appears dark, out of the 2 lips kits, this one actually showed up on my pigmented lips. Also because the lipcolors are pretty sheer, it didn’t show up dark on my lips at all. Perfect for me! The Heavnely Dish Neutral Lip Kit looks very pretty in person, but on my lips it was almost invisible. Possessed By Pink Lip Kit will be a great item to toss into my bag for traveling or when I’m in rush.