Riding the wave of my lip gloss frenzy and armed with a recent Sephora discount code, I decided to splurge on the new
Yves Saint Laurent Gloss Volupté in the shade 203 Corail Gandoura ($32 for 0.2 oz/ 6ml), which I had previously swatched at a counter and swooned over the lush texture. But you know guys, this is the tale of how sometimes it's not enough to check things out in person before purchase to avoid being just very slightly disappointed (btw, sorry for being such a critical make-up lover recently!). I just... didn't quite love it. Would you like to hear why?
First things first, I actually did very much enjoy the packaging: I found it to be on the more tasteful side for YSL, and the top actually screwed shut with a very satisfying click. Oh, and that applicator everyone's been talking about: the weird, bent diamond-shaped doe foot with a hole in the middle that somehow perfectly hugs your lips and dispenses just the right amount of product. Yes, I loved that part!
Also, still no complaints about the texture. As you can hopefully see in my swatches, this 'Pure' shade (all the shades in the 200 range are smooth, shimmer-free finish) does actually contain the smallest shimmer particles that are pretty much invisible once on the lips - meaning, my favorite type of finish. The texture feels slightly denser than many of my lip glosses, and glides over vertical lip lines and dry patches - the closest I could compare it to is probably the Clarins Instant Light Shimmering Lip Perfectors. It does look lusciously shiny on the lips at first, but I found that wore off after an hour or two; this gloss definitely isn't any more longwearing than other glosses I own. Also, while not quite moisturizing, the lip gloss wears comfortably and doesn't dry out my dessicated lips.
Where this Gloss Volupté completely failed me was the scent and the shade, the latter being obviously my own fault as that's what I chose to purchase. When I first swatched these glosses on my hand at the counter, I actually thought the fruity scent was quite fresh and pleasant, and I'm usually not sensitive to lip product scents in general - so it shouldn't have been a problem, right? However, once I tried my newly acquired gloss at home, I could not get past the artificial strawberry/melon candy fragrance that lingered... and lingered... and lingered, probably longer than the actual color did on my lips. Worst of all, it was so strong that I felt like I could actually taste it all the time I was wearing the gloss, and I just couldn't. Just couldn't.
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| L-R: YSL Gloss Volupte in 203 Corail Gandoura, Revlon Super Lustrous Lip Gloss in Coral Reef, NYX Mega Shine Lip Gloss in Beige |
Corail Gandoura, the shade I opted for, is a pretty, light peach shade, quite perfect for spring and summer. Unfortunately, on my lips it comes across very, very faint - more like a veil of peachy nude. I can see a lot of women going absolutely gaga over this (and if you enjoy subtly nude glosses, go swatch it by all means), but it's not for me; I feel that my pale face needs a slightly brighter and bolder shade. On me, I felt that Corail Gandourra just looked a little too beige on beige, you know what I mean?
So ultimately, I sent it back (thank God for Sephora's awesome return policy!). You see, it's not so much that this is a bad or disappointing product; it just wasn't quite there for me. I'm at a point in my make-up buying habits where I don't want to keep something if I'm not absolutely in love with it - and the more I try, the more critical I become of products; or perhaps I just know my preferences that much better, and won't put up with something that doesn't fully suit me.
Do you return make-up you're not 100% happy with? How do you decide what's worth keeping and what needs to go?
First things first, I actually did very much enjoy the packaging: I found it to be on the more tasteful side for YSL, and the top actually screwed shut with a very satisfying click. Oh, and that applicator everyone's been talking about: the weird, bent diamond-shaped doe foot with a hole in the middle that somehow perfectly hugs your lips and dispenses just the right amount of product. Yes, I loved that part!
So ultimately, I sent it back (thank God for Sephora's awesome return policy!). You see, it's not so much that this is a bad or disappointing product; it just wasn't quite there for me. I'm at a point in my make-up buying habits where I don't want to keep something if I'm not absolutely in love with it - and the more I try, the more critical I become of products; or perhaps I just know my preferences that much better, and won't put up with something that doesn't fully suit me. Do you return make-up you're not 100% happy with? How do you decide what's worth keeping and what needs to go?
mmm thats too bad that the scent actually makes it feel like you're tasting it. thats sort of icky. i havne't given these a sniff in stores yet but the fruity smell would have been appealing had you not stated that. i would defs return things if i'm not in love. why waste the money right? the worst is drugstore stuff though. in Canada, we can't return that if we open it.
ReplyDeleteand can we give points to the eye situation going on in the photo! awesome look! what are you wearing?!
Yes, I'm really glad that here in the States we can return most things, even in drugstores! The scent seemed nice to me at first, but I couldn't stand it on my lips :( The eyeshadow I used for the lid shade in this look is coming to the blog very soon, so keep an eye out! :)
DeleteHey Monika, I'm sorry to hear this is not love for you! It looks so promising, but I can definitely see your point. We can't return ANYTHING here, so we have to be really super ultra cautious when we buy stuff!
ReplyDeleteI know this is a post about lip gloss but your eye makeup looks amazing in that photo! I'd love to know what you used for that eye look if you have time to share.
ReplyDeleteMeghan
www.todaysbeautyobsession.com
Hi Meghan, thank you! I used a new eyeshadow for the lid that I'll be blogging about very soon, and Rouge Bunny Rouge Eclipse Eagle in the outer corner/crease :)
DeleteOh, it's a pretty nude, but not as peachy as your swatch - back it goes! I don't think I'd buy another one, either - I only like mine because it's orange, lol.
ReplyDeleteMine smells like the usual YSL mango. Is yours different? I wish they wouldn't scent them, lol. It's really annoying.
Yup I return stuff if I'm not happy with it. I'm glad Sephora has that return policy. Too bad as it is a gorgeous shade on you! I don't get why companies put such strong, fruity scents in gloss. Especially YSL-I mean cripes their stuff is so $$$$ which means only older beauty junkies(well, not young teens if you know what I mean) will buy it. And us older chicks DON'T want to taste and smell fruit punch all day long!
ReplyDeleteI had high hopes for these glosses, so I'm not sure what to think. The colour looks completely different on the lips, so that's a bit of a downer. In the end, you're very lucky to be able to return makeup, I wish we had the same customer service here as well. Opened or unopened, it doesn't make a difference, there is a strict no return policy :(
ReplyDeleteAw, that's too bad it didn't turn out the way you wanted! I usually have no problem with scents but color is an issue! I have heard the formula is lovely though!
ReplyDeleteI return stuff Im not 100% in love with either. For the price that we pay, I always expect perfection, and I try to test stuff out before buying too, so as to minimize the returns. I like the colour in the tube but its barely visible on your lips. And your eye-makeup, excellent.
ReplyDeleteLast year I started to return items I wasn't in love with. Never used to do this before but Sephora has made this super easy. Too bad this one didn't work for you, it looks so pretty but you're right, it's a little too sheer, I soo get what you mean about the scent/taste. I just can't stand strong ones anymore. I don't mind so much on application but it has to go after 20 min or so otherwise it gets to me, even the nice ones. :(
ReplyDeleteI agree with everyone, stunning eye make-up! I need to teach myself to go ahead and return things if I don't like them. Mostly, I make up some funky logic and end up keeping the products. I absolutely can not stand lip products with strong taste/smell. For some reason, the smell of Milani lipsticks happens to be too strong for my liking-a pity, considering that their lipsticks have such bright, lovely hues! I only have one of their lipsticks-lovely shade, terrible taste (that lingers on, like, forever).
ReplyDeleteI think returning this gloss is a good decision. First of all, I don't like trying on gloss, yuck! so it's not something that you can try out at the counter. Second of all, I also cannot stand strong taste/smell in lip products and you cannot tell just by trying it (IF you decided to try it on the counter) if the smell will go away quickly, etc. since testers are exposed to air for quite sometime.
ReplyDeleteIn general, I hate returning stuffs and haven't been for a long time, but I think it is because I am very conscientious on what I buy lately that even if I came across a dud, I'll try to make it work. My last resort lately is donation: it gives a finite ending to a journey of "stuff," at least from my part.
I don't return a product unless I have a bad reaction to it or it is flawed/damaged. I'd never consider returning a product simply because I didn't like the color or because I decided I didn't really like it after all. I saw it, I swatched it, I bought it, and so shame on me if I decide later that I don't want it. I'm very selective when I make purchases, but on the rare occasions that I misjudge, if the product can be sanitized, I donate it to a local women's shelter. (BTW, I donate my GWP's to the shelter where they're greatly appreciated) The only exception I'd make regarding color is if I purchased online and the color representations were off. My reluctance to return products stems from the fact that I began wearing makeup back when cosmetic returns were strictly forbidden. Old habits die hard and even when I have an excellent reason for returning something, I always feel apologetic.
ReplyDeleteIt saddens me to know that there are people who will spend hundreds of dollars on a haul only to return most of it within a few days. They're basically addicted to shopping and the sense of immediate gratification and fulfillment that they get when making purchases. Unfortunately, the glow wears off quickly and so the products get returned. Then there are some bloggers who purchase with wild abandon, photograph and review, and then return. They're exploiting return policies for their own benefit and it is easy to understand why retailers dislike them. Then there are those people who buy products for a special occasion with every intention of returning them after they've gotten their use out of them. That is dishonest; a kind of theft. That simply wouldn't happen in many countries because, like the US back in the "old days", returns aren't permitted.
I definitely understand where you're coming from - I used to work in retail and frequently had to deal with customers exploiting the return policy, or even plainly trying to scam; my favorite story was a customer trying to return an empty product that was also bought from a different store :) And I do feel apologetic for returning things because I realize it could have been avoided, and in most cases the returned product (sometimes used or not) will ultimately be damaged out.
DeleteBut when I realize almost right away that even the carefully researched (and tested at a counter!) product doesn't meet my expectations, I prefer to return it where possible instead of regretting the purchase. With online shopping, the more flexible return policies are often another incentive to get people to purchase in the first place - it's a marketing tool. Anyway, that's my take on returning cosmetics - kudos to you for being such a smart shopper and being able to avoid returning most of the time!
Darn about this not working out, but it's great you are willing to let it go rather than forcing it to work somehow. I'm finding the items I've tried to make work are the ones that I ignore because they require too much elbow grease. And I'm right there with you when you said the more you try the more critical you become...I'm finding I'm like that too!
ReplyDelete