Friday, July 18, 2014

Underwhelmed: Too Faced Melted Lipstick in Melted Peony

Liquid lipsticks seem to be all the rage these days - I still remember the first liquid lipstick I've ever tried, and actually wore to my middle school prom at the tender age of 15. It was a rusty brown Avon number that I nicked from my mum, and the shade was so, so wrong on me, but I felt all grown-up and glamorous applying it. Oh the memories...
So when the liquid lipstick trend rolled back towards the end of last year, I thought that a) I must be getting on in years if I can already observe recurring beauty trends, b) it's quite cool to see brands release new products, but I don't really care if my lipstick is solid, or liquid, or gaseous - although that last one would be kind of awesome. That being said, when I received an email offer from Beauty.com for a free sample of Too Faced Melted Liquified Long Wear Lipstick in Melted Peony ($21 for 0.4 oz) with a purchase, I didn't exactly resist taking advantage of it.
The deluxe sample comes in a smaller version of the full-size packaging, which is a squeezy tube with a sponge tip applicator, much like the Clarins Lip Perfector glosses. There are five little holes in the applicator, wherein the product oozes out - I find it quite easy to control the amount this way, although the packaging gets quite messy in the process; definitely not an OCD-approved design. There's some raspberry candy (Mamba fruit chews?) type of scent to the product, but it doesn't linger too long on the lips.
The actual formula of the Too Faced Melted lipstick isn't very thick and it feels quite creamy with a bit of slip, and very little stickiness. It applies easily and evenly on the lips, and it has a standard cream finish right off the bat, just like your regular lipstick would have. So far so good.
My issues with this liquid lipstick start as soon as I'm done applying. I simply find the texture of Too Faced Melted really, really unflattering on the lips. While I can get an even layer of product that doesn't cling to dry patches too badly, the lipstick just sits heavily on the lips, exaggerating every little lip line I have, and some that I didn't even know existed - I hope you can see this in the close-up shot (and please excuse the upper lip peach fuzz). I actually find this texture very similar to the cheaper than chips NYX Round lipsticks that I now wish I'd never purchased.
In terms of wear, the Too Faced Melted Lipstick lasts okay when left alone, but drinking or, heavens forbid, an actual meal, obliterates it within minutes - again, pretty much exactly what you could expect from any mediocre lipstick. It also does not wear comfortably; my lips start feeling tight and dry pretty much right away, and are in a state of an absolute mess when I finally can't stand it no more and decide to remove the dastardly thing from my face. Why so dry?!
The shade I have (Melted Peony) also doesn't help the texture issue. On my arm, it swatches nicely enough along some of my My Lips But Better nude pink shades - it's not as brown but still quite warm, and it has a pretty vibrancy to it. On my lips however, the white base in this shade becomes a lot more apparent, and to my eyes, looks borderline pornstar pink. It's almost that universally abhorred concealer lip, just in light pink instead of beige.
L-R: Too Faced Melted Peony, NYX Tea Rose, Maybelline Color Sensational in Warm Me Up, Revlon Lip Butter in Berry Smoothie
I really wish cosmetic companies spent more time perfecting their textures and bringing out truly innovative products, instead of just going with a new gimmicky format - look, it's melted! Yeah, that's also what happens to any old lipstick if you leave it in a really hot space, Too Faced. I'm sorry, but melting a lipstick is definitely not enough to hold my attention these days. NEXT!
Have you tried any of the new liquid lipstick formulas? Are they all same old, same old, or have you found some favorites?

PS. In case you're (still) interested in giving the Too Faced Melted lipstick formula a try, there's currently a promo on Sephora for a free Melted Peony mini with $25 purchase - the code is LIPMINI.

22 comments:

  1. Those Melted lippies are all so pretty :)

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    1. Yeah, the packaging is quite pretty, Melted Peony is just not very pretty on my lips.

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  2. Hey Monika, ouch I'm so sorry to hear this is such a let-down! So far most reviews I've read are nothing but positive. I guess it's one of those things you have to try for yourself. The color is REALLY beautiful on you, and I'm glad you didn't actually purchase it! Gotta give them a thumbs-up for giving away some free minis :)

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    1. I think these light pinks always look better in photos on me then they actually do in real life :) Yeah, to me it's just another case of a massively hyped up product that at its best, is just really nothing special. That's why I rarely buy products when they're first released - let some of that excitement die down and then see what people really think. But yes, I was super happy to try the mini free! <3

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  3. I wanted to try the violet shade, but now, maybe not, haha. I love the gray shadow in your look, though - what is it?

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    1. I think the shade range is actually really pretty, formula notwithstanding. I used a UD pencil in Gunmetal on my lower lashline, and a mix of black with Gunmetal smoked out on the upper lashline - very sparkly!

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  4. I'm not crazy about liquid lipsticks, though I have a couple. There's just something so satisfying, at least for me, about applying lipstick from an old-fashioned tube. Plus, it seems like liquid lipsticks are more likely to be drying than solid ones--I wonder why that is? I'd be all over a gaseous lipstick, though! Or, I guess, it would be all over me. All over my lips. Whatever.

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  5. ...Also, that image of the lipstick dripping off the disembodied mouth looks so wrong. LIPSTICK IS NOT SUPPOSED TO DO THAT.

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    1. Hear hear! - I was also thinking that it's such a classic case of false advertising, because guess what? The Melted lipstick is actually not very glossy - nothing like in the photo! Ugh.

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  6. This actually looks really good on your lips, but I despise the packaging and sort of the brand in general. The testers are Sephora are absolutely disgusting. I can't stand the permeable sponge tips and even gave away the Clarins lip perfectors as much as I liked them due to that factor.

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  7. Oh too bad since the color is just so pretty, all of them are actually and now I'm glad they didn't call my name any louder. I still have a few of those Avon liquid lipsticks, haven't worn in a long time but the finish and wear were a little better than this one iirc.

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  8. It's pretty but if it feels like a Nyx round- it would bug me too as I'd paid too much for something I would've gotten cheaper. It does look lovely on you though. xoxo

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  9. Thanks for sharing your experience! I am loving the bourjois lip velvets, they are so matte and last through meals! The only problem I have is that the nude shade turns up pink on my lips because my lips are super pink naturally!

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    1. I've heard so many good things about the Bourjois Lip Velvets! Hmm, maybe next time I shop on Asos... or when we go to Poland for Christmas :) That's interesting about the nude shade - is the pigmentation more on the sheer side, or does it oxidize?

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  10. I always find that liquid lippies in lighter colors always seem to accentuate lip imperfections. I'll definitely be passing up this particular deluxe sample, but I'd still be interested in seeing how the other shades perform.

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    1. That's a good point - maybe the darker shades sit on the lips a bit better, but I assume the overall formula probably doesn't differ too much from shade to shade. I've also heard some folks mention that the whole range is unfortunately quite drying.

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  11. Lips aside, I love the way you did your eyes :-)

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  12. This is a great post! I've tried some of the brighter melted lipsticks and really liked them but remember also not loving this lighter shade. I do think it looks nice on your lips but if it doesn't also feel nice it's a no-go.

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  13. Oh it doesn't seem so bad in the pictures! I'm so sorry for the troubles it caused, I was tempted to try one of them out (I'm really intrigued by all these liquid lipsticks on the market), but I think I'm gonna pass on them for now!
    Giulsz // http://themakeupanthem.blogspot.it

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  14. LOL look it's melted, yeah that's what happens to any lipstick...!!! Too funny, and yes gimmicky! I think Sephora had this as a code option but after reading this I'm glad I didn't choose it. Yikes, doesn't sound like there's anything good about it except maybe the color if that's what you like!

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  15. I didnt like then texture either when I tested them out. Irks me when big name brands put out less than average performance products ( texture is also an indicator of performance IMO!), HowDoesDeeDoit

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  16. I seriously need this lipstick in my life. Its the most beautiful color I have ever seen! I hope maybe Sephora has a Black Friday seal featuring this product!

    Check out my blog?
    Krystal | Little Beauty Bug <3 & ­­Bloglovin'

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