Luxuriously Cheap: Kiko Milano Luscious Cream Lipstick no. 502 Review

Lately, I've been able to gauge rather accurately my true feelings about a product I'm testing by my enthusiasm for posting about it on the blog. Case in point: this incredibly inexpensive Kiko Luscious Cream Lipstick in the shade 502 ($9 for 0.12 oz/ 3.5 g, currently on sale for $3.90 - I purchased it on sale in Poland for 15 PLN). I've had it lingering in my 'to try' pile for a couple months, and when I finally cracked it open, it promptly got transferred into another pile of stuff I like to call 'tried but not excited about'.

First things first: for your mere couple of bucks, you're getting a luxuriously packaged lipstick in metallic tube with an innovative opening/ closing design: you push from the top and the lipstick pops out on the bottom, and then you can pull it completely open. A little bit similar to the mechanism in Chanel Rouge Allures, but slightly less smooth/ easy to click in and out. The bullet itself is a bit slimmer than that of a standard lipstick, comes embossed with the KIKO logo, and smells faintly of vanilla/ cake - a bit different than MAC lipsticks, but very pleasant still.

Kiko claims that the Luscious Creams are 'creamy lipsticks with pure, intense color' and that they are enriched with 'K2 Repulp', which contains Hyaluronic Acid and has a moisturizing, plumping, revitalizing and anti-aging effect. Quite a big claim for such a small lipstick, don't you think?

Curiously, I can't see Hyaluronic Acid or Sodium Hyaluronate or anything like that in the INCI on my box.

And when it boils down to it, I think my Luscious Cream is a perfectly nice lipstick, but I'm not completely over the moon. It does have a smooth glide, and the texture is somewhat thinner than most of my cream finish lipsticks - more lightweight and less slippery on, the exact opposite of the old NYX Round lipsticks, if you've ever had one of those (which I disliked the formula of). It's also nicely pigmented, although I wouldn't call it intense, and the finish is satin (no shimmer but not as glossy as some 'cream' lipsticks). Now here comes the clou of this review: because of that thinner texture, this Kiko lipstick does nothing for my vertical lip lines. There's no plumping or 'increased fullness' (as per their website), you can clearly see all the puckering on my... uhm, pucker?

The Luscious Cream lipstick feels comfortable on my lips initially, although 2-3 hours into the wear, they start feeling a bit dry and I need another layer to get some of that creaminess back. The lipstick feels comfortable longer, and my lip lines are diminished, if I layer a lip gloss on top; in fact, it's a perfect formula for wearing alongside a lip gloss, because even with that extra shine on top, the combo still stays put and does not smear all over the face. So if you enjoy layering lipsticks with glosses, the thinness of this formula may be a big plus for you; I normally don't layer, but I enjoy it with this particular lipstick.

L-R: Kiko Luscious Cream in 502, Maybelline Warm Me Up, Red Apple Lipstick Audrey. Swatches below in the same order.

The shade 502 is a pinky nude with some mauve undertones - a fantastic nude shade for cooler skintones that compliments just about any eyeshadow look or blush shade. I don't have another lipstick that comes close - Maybelline Color Sensational in Warm Me Up is warmer and deeper (more in the 'My Lips But Better' category), Red Apple Lipstick Audrey is deeper and rosier.

I would recommend this lipstick formula if you actively dislike overly creamy lipsticks, or don't have issues with vertical lip lines/ other texture on the lips, and/ or like layering glosses on top of lipsticks - I mean, it's pretty nice, especially considering the sale price. But if you're looking for a smoothing, hydrating go-to lipstick, it may fall a bit short for you. Have you tried any lipsticks from Kiko? What is your favorite drugstore lipstick brand?

A Fine Romance with ILIA Beauty Multi-Stick*

Even though I'm a big fan of natural skincare, I have to admit that I haven't dwelved too much into green make-up products - the less expensive brands often get lukewarm reviews, and as for the more high-end of the spectrum... Well, there aren't that many reviews in the first place, and then there's the price to consider.

ILIA Beauty, a Canadian brand focused on organic and ethically-sourced ingredients, has always drawn my attention on BeautyHabit with its sleek packaging and luxurious lip products, so I was more than happy to receive their Multi-Purpose Stick in A Fine Romance* ($34 for 0.176 oz/ 5g, available on ILIA's website here, Beautylish & The Detox Market in the US and Net-A-Porter worldwide) to try and review.

ILIA's Multi-Purpose Sticks come in 6 flattering colors, contain nourishing shea butter and Vitamin E, and can be used on cheeks, lips and eyes. I'm forever skeptical when it comes to products meant for both lips & cheeks; most of the ones I've tried in the past have been either too dry to use on the lips, or too emollient to use on the cheeks, or both at the same time. However, I'm happy to report that ILIA's Stick is the first multi-use product I've ever used that actually does what it claims!

The Stick has quite a firm texture in the bullet but applies and blends easily - for my cheeks, I use a small stippling brush, and for my lips, I just apply directly from the bullet. It's not greasy or oily in any shape or form - it has a somewhat translucent, gel/ cream feel, and applies very lightweight on the face. It has a beautiful satin finish that gives a natural glow to my cheeks and a stained look to my lips - no obvious shine, no settling into lines or pores, just a fresh 'my skin but better' appearance. Even as a stand-alone cream blush, this formula rivals my favorite Canmake Cream Cheeks - except it wears nicer and more comfortably on the lips as well. There's a faint natural nutty scent to the product that's only discernible on application, but otherwise the product is completely fragrance-free.

The shade I received, A Fine Romance, is described as a berry on ILIA's website - I'd say it's somewhere between a deep rose or a light wine shade with a cool undertone, a bit more muted than a true berry shade. I often have to be careful with shades like this because they can look too dark on my fair skintone, or make me look somewhat bruised - but A Fine Romance is pure perfection. Sheered out on the cheeks, it gives me a healthy flushed look, built up on the lips, it's an everyday 'bitten' wine - and even when the product wears off (it's not very long-wearing on my lips but stays put on the cheeks all day without sliding off or fading), it leaves a nice pink stain behind.

I'm a little bit in love with ILIA's A Fine Romance - you guys, it's so, so effortlessly pretty. For me, it's the epitome of what most green make-up brands strive for in their products: something quick and easy to use that enhances your features without covering them up, while nourishing your skin at the same time. Even on my parched lips, the Multi-Purpose Stick looks even the entire wear time and actually manages to moisturize and soften dry patches. I can't wait to try more products from ILIA - I'm seriously impressed, and I have been rather critical lately when it comes to roadtesting new products. Have you tried anything from ILIA? What are your favorite green beauty make-up brands?

Disclaimer: The product featured in this post is a press sample I received from the brands' PR for review consideration. All links are non-affiliate. All opinions are 100% honest and unbiased, no matter if the products featured were purchased with my own monies or provided free of charge. All links are non-affiliate. Thank you for reading!

Liquid Matte: Bourjois Rouge Edition Velvet Lipstick in Nude-ist

I don't believe there's a beauty brand currently on the market that hasn't come out with a matte liquid lipstick product - even drugstore brands like Revlon and Maybelline have jumped on board (btw, I'm loving that the drugstore is following make-up trends more closely in the recent times!). However, the European drugstore has had their version of a liquid matte for a couple years now - it's the Bourjois Rouge Edition Velvet ($15.40 on Asos for 0.2 fl oz/ 7.7 ml). I would look longingly at the display every year when I'm in Poland, and this time I decided to pull the trigger and buy one of the most popular shades in the range, 07 Nude-ist.

I don't have a huge experience with matte liquid lipsticks because it's not a product I usually find comfortable to wear. I've tried a few stains in the past and I still own a tube of NYX Soft Matte Lip Cream in Monte Carlo (reviewed here), but I rarely reach for them - my dry lips don't really appreciate a matte finish. I have heard however that the Bourjois Rouge Edition Velvets aren't very drying and last on the lips a very long time, so I was hopeful to find a gem.

The packaging is simple enough: I like that it's exactly the size of a regular lipstick, so it fits perfectly into my lipstick organizer, and I like the shape of the doe foot applicator, because it allows me to define the contours of my lips with a lot of precision, making my lips look bigger without needing a lip liner. One thing to note is that this liquid lipstick is not scent-free; I don't think there's any added fragrance, but it has quite a strong chemical scent as you're applying it. It does dissipate though after the lipstick dries down.

I find the texture of this to be more liquid than mousse-like, as in the NYX Matte Lip Creams - I'm sure there are still silicones in this formula but I'm guessing not as much as in some other matte lip products. Nudist is a nicely pigmented shade, although I do find that it doesn't apply perfectly evenly - it looks a lot more sheer towards the inside of my lips than it does around the edges (you can see a little bit of that in the close-up photo). When freshly applied, it makes my lips look quite smooth, but unfortunately, within an hour or so it definitely accentuates all of my vertical lip lines. Instead of a sensual pout, I'm left with a mouth looking like a shrivelled raisin. Not cool. As for longevity, I have to say that I'm a bit disappointed. Even after the product sets on my lips, I still get transfer on tea cups, and it wears off quite easily even through light snacking and drinking.

L-R: Bourjois Rouge Edition Velvet in Nude-ist, YSL Rose Stiletto, Bite Rhubarb, Revlon Lip Liner in Pink

Despite the name, Nude-ist definitely isn't a nude shade on me - but I wasn't really expecting it to be. What I was however expecting was a cooler mauve shade like it appears to be in the tube; it turns out though that Nude-ist is actually a lot closer to the color represented on the cap. It pulls a warm rose with hints of brown on me; very on trend, but not a shade that suits my coloring the best. I actually found Nudist to be very comparable to Bite High Pigment Lip Pencil in Rhubarb. Both YSL Rouge Pur Couture in Rose Stilleto* (reviewed here) and Revlon Color Stay Lip Liner in Pink are a bit more pink, but still quite similar.

I think you can tell by now that I'm not completely enamored with this purchase. While I really enjoy how Bourjois Nude-ist looks when I first apply it, it's neither very comfortable or texturally flattering as the day goes on. I don't know, you guys, maybe my lips are just not cut out for this matte liquid lipstick trend. Have you jumped on the bandwagon? What is your favorite matte lipstick formula?

The Only Lip Gloss I've Ever Repurchased: Buxom Dolly

How often do you guys happen to repurchase the exact same lip product? I have to admit that I'm usually very fickle with my make-up; by the time I actually manage to use something completely up, which is not very often, I'm usually ready to move on to something different. But Buxom Full-On Lip Cream in Dolly ($19 for 0.14 oz) is my first exception to the rule - I just couldn't get enough of it.

Well, okay, I guess I'm stretching the truth a tiny bit here - I had a mini of the Lip Shine in Dolly (reviewed here) that I somewhat recently finished as part of my Project 10 Pan; Buxom's Lip Shines have varying degrees of subtle shimmer to full-on glitter, but forunately the Dolly shade had just a whisper of tiny gold dust. I also own a different Lip Cream in the shade Cherry Flip, reviewed here, which is a favorite in the summer. So I sort of combined the two favorites when I decided to purchase the Lip Cream in Dolly, which has the same gorgeous hue as the one I used up but without the shimmer.

I've discussed my feelings about the Lip Cream formula in detail in my review of Cherry Flip, and some more when I reviewed the Lip Shine in Dolly - I think both the cream and the shimmer finishes on these Buxom glosses are the same formula, albeit if you chose to purchase a Lip Shine with chunkier glitter, your experience may vary. And while regrettably I don't have anything left in my tube of the shimmery Dolly to compare with the creamy Dolly, from memory it's the exact same shade but with one tiny difference: the Lip Shine in Dolly had also a bit more of a translucent jelly finish, the Lip Cream is slightly more milky. However, once on the lips, I can't really tell a difference.

Dolly is my perfect lip perfecting gloss: the cushiony texture softens the look of vertical lip lines and dryness, while the subtle mauve shade evens out my lips' pigmentation. It's very close to my natural lip color, which makes it ideal for effortless daytime looks. It's also one of few lip gloss formulas that stay on my lips for a reasonable time, all the while feeling comfortable and moisturizing. In general, I'm not a fan of tingly plumping formulas, but I would say that Buxom glosses are more cooling than anything else, which I certainly appreciate more in the summer than in the winter, but overall don't mind all that much.

I don't have another lip gloss shade that's close to Dolly - as you can see, NYX Mega Shine in Beige is positively baby pink next to it. Out of my lipsticks, Suqqu Creamy Glow Moist in no. 3 Fuyuzakura is quite similar, but a little lighter once on the lips. Maybelline Color Sensational in Warm Me Up is darker and warmer.

L-R: Buxom Lip Cream in Cherry Flip, Buxom Lip Cream in Dolly, NYX Mega Shine in Beige, Maybelline Warm Me Up, Suqqu Creamy Glow Moist no. 3

I will be honest with you and admit that it took a lot of my willpower not to purchase one of those larger sets of Buxom's mini glosses that Sephora releases every Holiday season. I've contemplated their smaller set with two glosses and a Bold Gel lipstick, but upon swatching it in store, I decided that the Lip Shine in Gabby was way too glittery for me. I'm quite happy that I settled on Dolly in the end, because I know for sure I'll reach for it again and again, and I'm glad to have a tried and true gloss I can rely on. What is your favorite everyday lip gloss? Do you wear the same one again and again, or do you frequently rotate the ones in your stash?

The Quintessential Transforming Lipstick for Fall: Revlon Black Cherry

Yes, this post is pretty much a testament to my ever lasting love towards Revlon Superlustrous Lipstick in Black Cherry ($7.99 for 0.15 oz/ 4.2 g), which I've had in my stash for about three years now (see my previous review here). Every fall, I dig it out again, and marvel at its uncanny ability to transform any other of my lipsticks into that perfect mulberry shade that's eye-catching, but acceptable for everyday wear.

Obviously, on its own and at full strength, Black Cherry is a vampy shade that looks a bit intimidating, especially on my fair skintone. It's also not my absolute favorite formula to wear at full opacity as it can get a bit patchy and uneven. However, paired with another creamy lipstick, it performs very well. It increases the depth of any given shade and adds a purpley plummy tone, which I've been quite partial to lately. It also prolongs the wear of the other lipstick; it stains the lips when worked in really well, and layering lipsticks always makes them last better anyway. I usually put down a thin layer of Black Cherry first, patting it into my lips, and then top with a lighter shade - but I've tried it the other way round too and both work.

L-R: Revlon Black Cherry swatched heavily then blended out, Revlon Black Cherry layered under Inglot no. 58

The idea to write about Black Cherry again came about as a result of boredom and slight dissatisfaction with lipsticks in my Project Make A Dent and Project Pan. The only cold season-appropriate lipstick that I included in my Projects was Inglot Gel Lipstick no. 58, a pinky berry shades. For most of my lipstick-wearing life, I'd loved any and all shades of pink on myself, but lately I'm not really that into them. Enter Revlon Black Cherry, and I'm back to loving the Inglot lippie. I also like layering Black Cherry with Chanel Rouge Coco in Monte Carlo, a warm sheer red, that's also in my Project (that's the combo I'm wearing in the face shot).

If you've been scared of rocking your Revlon Black Cherry or any other deep vampy shade in your stash, I say give it a go layered with another shade of medium depth. It does take minimally more time and effort to use two lipsticks instead of one, but I do think it's worth it. Which lipstick shade have you guys been reaching for lately?

Plum Jam: Shiseido Lacquer Gloss in RS306

Even though the leaves in New York are still green and firmly attached to their branches, I think we all know it's time to throw some autumnal shades into the make-up mix. I have actually had this sample of Shiseido Lacquer Gloss in RS306 Plum Wine ($25 for 0.25 oz) in my lipgloss drawer since February, but after trying it once, I decided to relegate it to the fall season - so here it is.

Well, the other reason I decided to put it away is that on that after that one application, I was left feeling somewhat disappointed. Why so, Monika? Did it suck so bad? (Yes, I AM prone to one on one conversations in my head). Nope, not at all. It's just that... it was SO pigmented. After a few years of trial and error, I've established that pigmented lip glosses are definitely a no-go for me: get some of that creamy, gooey, sticky pigment on my lips, and in a couple minutes, it'll be everywhere on my face AND in my hair. Just too anxiety-inducing, you know?

But after wearing Shiseido's Lacquer Gloss a few more times, I'm actually willing to negotiate my stance on pigmented glosses. Somehow, Shiseido's gloss just grips the lips a lot better, and doesn't transfer as easily as my other lipglosses. It does feel a little sticky with a couple hours wear, but I don't mind really, and I think it just goes with the territory of a longer-wearing gloss. In terms of texture, the closest comparison would be the Maybelline Color Elixirs (click here for my review): the formula is smooth and a bit more oil-like than a traditional gloss, there's a beautiful translucency to it, so it seems to cushion the lips without pooling into vertical lip lines. There's just a hint of sweet vanilla scent, nothing noticeable. The product blurb says that these Lacquer Glosses feature 'a three-layer structure that refines lip texture, adheres to the lips with vivid color, and coats the lips with all-day moisture', and it doesn't stray too far from the truth.

RS306 Plum Wine, described on Sephora as a rosy violet, is a pinky plum leaning a bit purple - it almost looks like a blueberries and cream type of shade on my lips (YUM). In the heavy arm swatch, you can see tiny glimmers of magenta, but on the lips, the gloss has a cream finish - I can't detect any shimmers with a naked eye.

L-R (both photos): Shiseido Lacquer Gloss in RS306 (one swipe), YSL Rouge Pur Couture in Rose Stiletto no.9, Lancome Color Design in Wine Party

One downside to this gloss is the applicator (or rather the stopper): I get way too much product on the paddle-shaped doe foot when I pull out the wand, and consequently have to be very careful not too smear the product everywhere or have the gloss migrate towards the edges of my mouth. But, provided that I apply just the right amount, tie my hair back and try to be careful with my meals and drinks (is this gloss asking for too much?), I really like the look and performance of the Lacquer Gloss; it's an easy, non-intimidating way of sporting a deeper plum shade for fall.  

Have you tried any Shiseido lip product? What are your favorite lipglosses for the colder season?

An Unexpected Love: YSL Rouge Pur Couture Lipsticks in no.9 Rose Stiletto and no.19 Fuchsia

I was pretty surprised to be selected for another YSL Beauty VoxBox from Influenster, you guys (here's my invite, in case you've been wanting to take your chances). First off, I didn't absolutely swoon over the Touche Eclat Blur products in my first one, reviewed here, and secondly, I would generally say that I suck at social media. I'm not on Facebook, I don't have Snapchat, I barely Instagram and, well, I tweet, but mostly about my latest blog posts, which probably isn't all that useful for beauty brands. Yet somehow I was chosen to receive these two newly relaunched YSL Rouge Pur Couture Satin Radiance Lipsticks ($36 each for 3.8 g) in no. 9 Rose Stiletto* and no. 19 Fuchsia*, and much to my delight, I've been enjoying them tremendously!

I've tried the YSL Rouge Pur Couture formula in the past - here's my review of a Limited Edition Pink Grenadine shade. I obviously quite like the old formula as it's survived many lipstick declutters, but it's also not one of my absolute favorites; just somewhere in the middle, I guess.

You can see here that the packaging of the Rouge Pur Coutures changed quite a bit; it's still predominantly gold and, uhm, rectangular, but I'd say I like just the pure gold and black of the new tube a bit better. It's also a bit sturdier and more weighty in my hand; just what a luxury lipstick should feel like. I've tried to find some information on whether the formula changed as well, and while nothing I had come upon gave me a definite answer, I do believe these new Rouge Pur Coutures are in fact a different formulation.

Let me start by saying what has NOT changed in the Rouge Pur Couture formula. It's still an emollient and richly pigmented lipstick, meant to dress the lips in one stroke. It also has the exact same YSL lipstick smell, a bit floral and definitely different from their fruity Gloss Voluptes; more along the lines of the Glossy Stains.

In my opinion, the overall feel and performance of these lipsticks have been improved in the revamped range. To me, they seem even creamier and more opaque than the older formula (although it is possible that my older tube has just got a bit more dried out over the couple years I've had it). I believe this trend in many new product releases was started last year by the NARS Audacious line - intense pigment in a comfortable formula that just glides on the lips. However, one downside to many of these super creamy lipsticks (and something often mentioned about the YSL Rouge Voluptes) is that they're too slippery and slidey on the lips, sinking into the lines and outside the contour of your lips.

Luckily, that's not the case at all with the new Rouge Purs - they stay put very well, and even leave behind a bit of a stain. When you first apply the Rouge Purs, they seem to have a standard creamy finish (no shimmer), but in about an hour, they settle more into a satin or even a matte that wears comfortably for another 2-3 hours (that is, until the next meal, which is when I have to reapply). These don't draw attention to my vertical lip lines, and they don't dry out my drier-than-Death-Valley lips, although they're not exactly moisturizing either. For a high pigment, creamy lipstick, they feel surprisingly lightweight on the lips. All in all, big thumbs up for the formula.

L-R (both photos): Maybelline Color Sensational in Warm Me Up, MAC Viva Glam V, YSL Rouge Pur Couture in Rose Stiletto no. 9 (three swipes each)

I will admit that I was a bit worried about how the two shades selected for us would go with my fair skintone, but I'm pretty happy with both no. 9 Rose Stiletto and no. 19 Fuchsia. Rose Stiletto is described as a 'rich berry rose', and I think it's a quite an apt description. On me, it's a warm deep rose veering almost on a wine shade; it has hints of both brown and plum. It's like a less mauvey version of that MLBB that's so popular right now. I've swatched it against some of my darker nudes, but you can see it's a lot darker than that - more in the Bite High Pigment Lip Pencil in Rhubarb territory.

Rose Stiletto is a perfect everyday shade for fall and winter; it doesn't draw too much attention but on my skintone, it's a deeper option than your standard nudes. It feels like a sophisticated, grown-up shade that would work well in a professional environment.

On the other hand, Fuchsia no. 19 is the complete opposite of Rose Stiletto. Described as a 'magenta purple', it's an incredibly bright, attention-grabbing shade. I would say it's more pink than purple, but it definitely leans purple and it's the most cool-toned hot pink in my stash (hopefully you can see that in my photos). I don't see why Influenster chose this particular shade for fall, but in all honestly, if you're a fan of vivid colors, you could wear Fuchsia all year round.

L-R (both photos): Lancome Shine Lover Lipstick in Effortless Pink, Guerlain Rouge Automatique in Shalimar, YSL Rouge Pur Couture in Fuchsia no. 19

I have to admit that I haven't braved wearing Fuchsia outside of the house yet. You can somewhat see it in the face shot, but this shade looks almost neon on me - fun, but not entirely suitable for everyday wear, at least at its full strength. I'll play around with it a little bit and attempt to tame the beast by wearing it more as a stain (which would also make me less nervous about smearing it on my chin - yes, speaking from experience here).

There are currently 41 shades of the YSL Rouge Pur Coutures on the Sephora's website, and while some may be Limited Edition, that's plenty of colors to satisfy even the pickiest lipstick lover. I'm actually quite tempted to swatch a few more options next time I'm near a store, although you know I do NOT need any more lipsticks :) Have you tried these new lipsticks from YSL? What is your favorite opaque lipstick formula?

*Disclaimer: I received the two YSL products featured in this post complimentary for testing purposes from Influenster (anyone can sign up for free here, you don't need a blog or YouTube channel - just social media outlets). All opinions are 100% honest and unbiased, no matter if the products featured were purchased with my own monies or provided as free press samples. Thank you for reading!

Why So Many Raves? NYX Butter Gloss in Maple Blondie

Yet again, I'm late to the party, but do you guys remember all the raves about the NYX Butter Glosses when they first came out? And then again, when NYX launched their Intense gloss formula earlier this year. Everyone was freaking out over these, buying most of the range and touting it as the best lip gloss in the drugstore. I'd resisted the hype for a long time, but after using up some of the older glosses in my stash, I finally decided to get the NYX Butter Gloss in the shade Maple Blondie ($4.99 for 0.27 oz/ 8 ml). 

The Butter Glosses come in simple slender tubes with the cap reflecting the color of the shade, which comes in handy especially if you have quite a few glosses in your drawer. The tube is shorter than that of NYX Mega Shine glosses. They come with a standard doe foot applicator, as you can see below, but I have to mention that the first time I pulled out the wand, it was all gunked up and covered in gloss, almost like the stopper has malfunctioned or something. I tried to wipe that off, but it's still a bit messy - I'll keep my eye on that for the next couple weeks to see if it happens again, but admittedly I wasn't very happy about it.

 Online, Maple Blondie looked more like a neutral peach to me, but in person, it's quite a bright pinky peach (no shimmer) with quite a bit of a white base, giving the shade a more pastel appearance. I don't really have any similar shades in my stash, but it looks a bit like a cross between Essence Stay With Me Lip Gloss in Candy Bar and the Clarins Lip Perfector in Rose Shimmer.

L-R: NYX Butter Gloss in Maple Blondie, Essence Stay With Me in Candy Bar, Clarins Lip Perfector in Rose Shimmer (one swipe each)

On my mauvey lips, Maple Blondie pulls a bit pinker than in the tube, and right away, you can see the issue with that white/ pastel base - the gloss sinks into and exaggerates vertical lip lines immediately. It also has a tendency to form that disgusting line of gunk where your upper and lower lip meet in the middle of your mouth. Applying very sparingly seems to help that issue a bit, but to me, it's just a sign of a less than ideal formula. As the time goes on, the Butter Gloss starts to feel a bit tacky, and transfers very easily onto any kind of drinking vessel you may be using.

Not sure what I'm missing here, but to me, the Butter Glosses perform very, very similarly to the old Mega Shines, the only real difference being the improved scent (cupcake vanilla versus cherry cough syrup). In fact, I probably prefer the few Mega Shines I still have left in my stash - but then again, maybe I just had bad luck with this shade, and other Butter Glosses don't sink into lip lines as easily. Once more, I'm left feeling underwhelmed and somewhat puzzled by all the hype, which seems to have become a trend for me lately. I guess, all the more reason to stop jumping the bandwagon and start purchasing even less stuff...

By the way, originally, this review was supposed to be all about the bareMinerals Buttercream Lip Gloss in Must-Have Pink (pictured below), which I've had unopened in my stash since January, when I purchased it as part of a (Holiday?) set I got on sale at Ulta. However, as soon as I cracked the tube open for swatches, I noticed that the smell was pretty strange - I still continued with my photos nonetheless, thinking that maybe it was supposed to be like that. NOPE. It's definitely gone off. A new, properly stored, never before opened or touched gloss has gone completely rancid on me. I realize it's just a mini and it wasn't all that expensive, but that makes me pretty pissed. I highly doubt that I will purchase any glosses or lip products in general from bareMinerals range ever again - I should have just stuck to my favorite Buxom Full-On Lip Polishes & Creams, which they also make.

Anyway, back to the NYX Butter Glosses, have you guys tried any of these? Do you agree with the raves? Also, please share any of your 'make-up going bad' stories, I'm hoping this will make me feel a little better; the Buttercream incident wasn't helped by the fact that a couple days later, I also discovered a Fyrinnae Lip Lustre that's gone off in my lip drawer. Have I mentioned that I'm not buying any lip glosses or liquid lipsticks until I finish what I have? Yeah. 'Coz it needs to happen.