Question/Thoughts: Dior Addict Lip Glow/Addict Ultra-Gloss Reflect/DiorKiss - Summer 09; Powder Eye Shadow & Brush Care; Makeup Usage

Question: (Snipped) Could you please do a review on the dior addict lip glow?? been dying to know how that item fares. (...snipped)



I was planning to do a review on all the lip products from Dior Summer Collection 2009. However, after I went to the counter to try out the items included in this collection, I realized that it was no point for me to write a whole post to bitch about them. (So you know that I wasn't too impressed.)


I want to clarify some factors with my readers first. Dior is fantastic in creating (recycling) colours and names for its products (especially lip products!) in different countries (or even different department stores in the same country!) Therefore, what you are getting in your country can be entirely different from what we get here. But frat not, because our limited edition colours for this season may be coming to your way soon or have been released under different names in the past in your part of the world!


Confused much? Well, I'd say just swatch the colours or look at the pictures of swatches (if you have no access) and decide if it's a colour for you. Forget about it's a limited edition or whatever exclusive!


So please look at the swacthes I have done in this picture. I've only tested Lip Glow and Lip Glosses this time.

Lip Product Swatches, Dior Summer 2009

I thought Dior Addict Lip Glow was a joke. It was a just a tinted lip balm. And it didn't show well on me after I swatched, swatched and swatched. The sales assistant wasn't very happy with me doing that repeatedly. (She commented that there wasn't much product left in that tube!) And that darn thing cost a whoopy 88MYR/$28USD! If I wanted a coloured lip balm, I'd go for Clarins Colour Quench Lip Balm instead because they are far more pigmented! So what if it is "a color-awakening lip balm with SPF 10"? If I really wanted a tinted lip balm with SPF, I'd rather find a drugstore alternative. There are better ways to spend $$$.





As I have never tried Addict Ultra-Gloss Reflect nor DiorKiss Luscious Lip-Plumping Gloss, I decided to test the 4 colours from this season to see how they get on.


The two Addict Ultra-Gloss Reflect (88MYR/25.50USD) shades we get for this summer are 377 Nylon Pink (Limited Edition) and 647 Vinyl Coral. The name REFLECT is rather misleading as not all colours from this line (inculding the ones released before this collection) are shimmery and sparkling. You can see very well that 647 Vinyl Coral is only glossy while 377 Nylon Pink is ultra sparkling with reflects. The texture is smooth and the colour distributes evenly. It is not runny nor sticky. I'd say it's just the right consistency for gloss. Unfortunately, I don't find either colour unique and I am sure I have similar colours in my stash already.





DiorKiss Luscious Lip-Plumping Glosses were a major disappointment...


These are the reasons:


1. I didn't like the packaging one bit. I had a big problem pulling the cap off. I kept trying to unscrew it open when there was nothing for me to do so! I couldn't believe Dior made a gloss with a cap that's just placed on top of the tube. It's a point to ponder...


2. The texture was awful. It's not smooth and the pigments weren't evenly distributed or it's just the terrible packaging design that made it difficult to dispense the gloss properly. Either way, the glosses looked lumpy when swatched. This was particularly obvious with 851 Strawberry Smoothie. You can easily see how gooey in some parts and weak in others. NOT my cup of tea!


3. I am not a fan of a gloss that smells like food and DiorKisses are exactly that. 541 Tangerine Jet (Limited Edition) smells like an unripened tangerine while 851 Strawberry Smoothie is the smell of sweet strawberry. I am too old for this crap! I consider them as the expensive version of a teenager's first makeup items. (68MYR/20USD)


I rest my case...





Question: Hi, I just bought the eye seal (...snipped) & the make up artist at the store said the eye seal will actually ruin the eyeshadow & he suggested to only dip the brush in a corner...& I wondering if it'll damage the brushes as well? & will the MAC brush cleanser clean the eye seal off the brushes properly? How did u manage to clean ur brush after using it? Cuz I don't wanna risk spoiling brushes that i paid so much for...



Any powder eye shadow used wet will certainly shorten its lifespan. Therefore, it is always a good practice to only use an assigned corner for wet application. And that's exactly what I do with all my powder eye shadows. A very good example is the Make Up For Ever Diamond Shadow 307 Diamond Black, which I mix with Eye Seal as an eyeliner regularly. I have always stick to just one corner for this purpose. You can see it clearly in this following picture.

And that Anna Sui Liner Brush has been used wet over and again. I have always cleaned it with Eucerin Face & Body Wash and it has never incurred shedding nor has the bristles become rough. I guess if you want to use MAC Brush Cleanser, you can do that by all means. Please remember just one thing. Always wash the brush thoroughly immediately after it's been used wet with a sealant. This is particularly true for Eye Seal. If you wait it out, the bristles will be cemented together and become very hard and stiff. Thus, it will be extremely difficult to clean the brush and could cause damage to the bristles.





Question: (Snipped) I wonder if you ever finish any products because you try so much makeup. (... snipped)



I wonder about that myself too! :) And yes, I do finish products. My secret is that I don't keep what I don't use. Therefore, if it's in my collection, it will surely be used! Ha! Anyway, I took a picture of few items that have been used up quite a bit to show you. A picture says a thousand words!

I could have also shown you a few more items such as the jar of H2O+ Face Oasis Hydrating Treatment that's down to less than 5% left. But since it's a skincare product, I decided to leave it out because it's easier to use up a skincare product than a coloured makeup item. (It was a product that I tested for H2O+ and has become a HG material since. As a result, I have purchased a second jar! The first jar was free of course... Darn it for testing products!)


Anyway, even the Make Up For Ever Diamond Shadow 397 Diamond Black (shown above) has been used up a lot more than what it shows in that old picture. It's safe to say that's about nearly half gone! :)


However, I have to be honest that most of my Pigments are still looking rather new even if I use them regularly. Well, I just have too many of those!






Related Posts:

Reviews: Clarins Colour Quench Lip Balm

Review: Make Up For Ever Diamond Shadow

Review: Make Up For Ever EYE SEAL - Waterproof Liquid Converter

Review: Eucerin Sensitive Skin pH5 Washlotion for body and face

Review: H2O+ Face Oasis™ Hydrating Treatment (Oil-Free)



My Colouring:

MUFE Full Cover Extreme Camouflage Cream #4, Lift Concealer #3, Duo Mat Powder Foundation #202, Face & Body #20, High Definition Foundation #125, Liquid Lift Foundation #2, Clarins Instant Smooth Foundation #1.5, Pupa Professionals Triple Action Powder Foundation #02 (when tanned)

Light Asian skin (obvious brown spots on cheekbones, slightly dry & doesn't break out easily), dark brown eyes, jet black hair, medium pigmented lips.

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