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Base Makeup Estee Edit

The Estée Edit Skin Glowing Balm Makeup with Pink Peony

August 3, 2016

Today’s post wraps up my reviews of what I’ve been testing from the Estée Edit line. The Skin Glowing Balm Makeup with Pink Peony ($36 for 1 fl oz/30 ml) is described as a tinted moisturizer that gives a hint of coverage for naturally glowing skin. It comes in 12 shades right now and I have all 12 swatched to share today. The finish is very sheer and feels like a moisturizer balm with a very very tiny hint of color. It’s described as being good for dry to normal skin. I found it lightly hydrating on my normal to combination skin. Since it is very sheer I would say this is best for those who don’t need any coverage and just want a natural glow to let your skin show through. If you have teen or college age daughters or nieces who are getting into makeup and you want to treat them to a nice base product that is natural and youthful looking I think this is a great option. For me I need noticeable coverage, even if it’s natural. The most natural I can go is with the NARS Pure Radiant Tinted Moisturizer, NARS Velvet Matte Skin Tint or Becca Aqua Luminous Foundations. The Estée Edit Skin Glowing Balm is too sheer for me, even as just a base. Since it is so sheer the colors are forgiving on the skin. I could get away with wearing three of the shades.

These come in the same packaging with a pump as the Flash Illuminators. For the Skin Glowing Balms if you look closely at the bottles you will see a natural sheen and shimmer in the product. These have a slightly sweet makeup smell, almost like vintage lipstick, but it’s not strong or overpowering. After a few minutes the scent fades.

I tested a few colors and found it acted like a natural looking moisturizer. It didn’t get greasy as the day progressed but since the product is so sheer I couldn’t really tell if it faded or stayed put color-wise. Even though these are like moisturizers I do think you need a regular moisturizer or serum on the skin first, it didn’t blend well on my bare skin. If you’re worried about the moisturizer on top of moisturizer being too heavy, you don’t need to with this one. It’s pretty lightweight even though you can feel the hydration.

A look at all the shades, swatched in numerical order from light to dark:

With a flash:

Without flash:

The three shades I could get away with, swatched heavy and then blended, my best match is 300 Wheat but all three disappear completely on my skin once blended:

Some swatch comparisons to other foundations (you can click for larger viewing):

For me they’re too sheer. My skin is nowhere near perfect. I have a lot of acne scars that are fading but still product to cover up. If you have near perfect skin and like that barely there glow and just need a bit of evening out then you’ll like these. Or if you have dry skin and like to layer products this will work as a base for medium to full coverage products. In any event I at least hope the swatches help you find a shade match if this has been something on your radar!
On a foundation/base note few of you have asked for a shade update on the Hourglass Vanish Foundation Stick – I picked up Nude as one shade darker than Warm Ivory and I’m in between shades (Sand was way too dark). I’ll have my current foundation and base roundup for warm weather in the next week now that I’ve finished my testing for the season (at least for now).

You can find the Estee Edit Skin Glowing Balms online and in stores at Sephora. A few of my readers have noted that the line is also available in the UK at Selfridges. Have you tried anything from the Estée Edit line yet?

Skin Glowing Balms were provided for review consideration.
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Highlighters

The Estée Edit Flash Illuminators

August 2, 2016

There are five shades creamy liquid highlighters from the Estée Edit called Flash Illuminators ($28 each for 0.85 fl oz/25 ml). They come in a pump dispenser and are multi-purpose kinds of liquids that you can use on top of the skin, as a base or mixed in with any foundation. They give the skin a soft glow that isn’t overly frosted. Finish is sheer but blendable to a natural finish with a creamy texture. My personal favorite is Morning Light which is a pale yellow creamy color that I like to use as a base under foundation – it gives the most beautiful flawless glow I’ve ever seen, however I will say that I feel it’s better suited for special occasions or date nights rather than for everyday all over as a base. As a spot highlighter over foundation/powder – these give a very natural glow that isn’t too dewy or shimmery. I purchased two in Morning Light and Day Light shown below months ago but I never got around to reviewing them even though they had been on my to-do list for a long time. Then much to my surprised a package of all the shades arrived, so I re-photographed and re-swatched everything and I’m thrilled to be able to feature all five shades for you today.

The five shades include:
  • Spot Light which is a pearly white
  • Morning Light a yellow gold beige
  • Sun Light a peachy with orange undertones
  • Day Light a soft pinky peach
  • Night Light a subtle bronze shimmery glow

These are products you have to swatch and play with in person to really truly see how they give the skin a diffused glow. Once blended the color disappears into a soft wash of shimmer. They do not have any added scent. It’s visible on the skin and face but on camera very subtle. Swatched below heavy and then blended. They have reflective particles so do look a bit metallic with a flash:

Different lighting and also swatched next to the liquid portions of the Estee Edit Beam Team and Beam Team Bronze (both reviewed and swatched here). By comparison the Beam Team products are a lot more dewy in finish and they have the hydrating element so are more moisturizing. For my normal-combination skin, the Flash Illuminators are better to use all over the face under foundation.

 

Two sets of swatch comparisons:

Bronzey comparisons:

These are great for a luminous glow without the frost. They have a similar effect to that of Becca Shimmering Skin Perfectors but the ones from the Estee Edit have a less emollient finish and texture. I like that the Flash Illuminators are unscented, relatively weightless once blended and non-sticky. They do have a thicker creamy texture, almost like a balm, but don’t feel heavy. I also like that they included a light and deep shade so for those who are very fair or have deep skin tones and want something as a base won’t feel left out if you want a subtle glow product or something to mix in with a foundation. Given the vast number of highlighters I own, I don’t know that I would call any of these a must-have. I did really end up loving the color and texture of Morning Light. If you’re looking for a subtle highlighter to add a nice glow these are definitely worth checking out. In terms of lasting power – I find like with most liquids they are prone to getting dewy mid-afternoon.
You can find the Estée Edit Flash Illuminators exclusively online and in stores at Sephora. Have you tried these yet? What’s your favorite highlighter of the season? It can be powder, cream or liquid – let me know in the comments!

Two shades purchased by me, three provided for review consideration.

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Highlighters

The Estée Edit Barest Bronzer in Medium-Deep and Flash Illuminator Fluid Powder in Heat

July 27, 2016

I’m working my way through reviews of the Estée Edit line. In today’s review includes thoughts and swatches of The Barest Bronzer in Medium-Deep ($32 for .56 oz) and Flash Illuminator Fluid Powder in Heat ($32 for .27 oz). Both are exclusive to Sephora and are smooth finish pressed powders that come with an embossed surface. The textures are very soft and finely milled for flawless and streak-free application. 

The Barest Bronzer
comes in two shades, Light-Medium and Medium-Deep. I was sent a press
sample of the shade Medium-Deep which is one of the darkest bronzers
I’ve tried so tan to deep skin toned girls will rejoice! On my
complexion it’s too deep and warm for my preference. There’s a
shimmering gold design on the surface but it’s only overspray. I suspect
the Light-Medium would be the better option for me, but given the
extensive number of bronzers I already own (summer favorites in this post here),
I did not venture to test it out. The finish is smooth and blends in
seamlessly with the skin so it looks very natural in terms of
texture/finish. Pigment is medium to rich but easy to blend out on the
skin.

The Flash Illuminator Fluid Powder in Heat is a gorgeous highlighter. In the compact it looks like a champagne but it’s got a peachy undertone to give it some warmth. It’s on the shimmery side but unlike most highlighters this is one that smooths the skin, doesn’t emphasize imperfections, doesn’t make the pores look big and also doesn’t look overly frosted. Those who love a good glow but think most of the popular highlighters on the market right now are too shimmery will love this one. It blends in beautifully with the skin and I highly recommend it. You can use it on the eyes or cheeks – anywhere you want a pretty sheen. I’m not sure why it’s called a fluid because it’s definitely a powder without any creamy feeling.
Both lasted all day on my cheeks from morning to late afternoon. The Barest Bronzer did warm up on my skin but it didn’t oxidize too much.

Swatched on bare skin below:

Comparisons below:

Bronzer comparisons below:

I think both are solid beauty launches. The texture is smooth, well pigmented and super easy to blend on the skin. The Barest Bronzer in Medium-Deep is too dark for me, but I can appreciate the good quality and texture. I think it will be something tan to deep skin beauty lovers will like. The Flash Illuminator Fluid Powder is something I absolutely love. It gives a pretty sheen to the skin and as you can see in the comparison swatches it has enough warmth in it that makes it better suited for my skin tone compared to other super pale highlighters.

You can find both The Barest Bronzer and Flash Illuminator Fluid Powder exclusively at Sephora. If you’ve tried these or any of the other cheek products from The Estée Edit let me know in the comments!

Both items provided for review consideration.

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The Estée Edit Cocobalms Review

July 25, 2016

Estée Lauder launched a new line earlier this year called The Estée Edit. It’s a line of makeup and some skincare items that are exclusive to Sephora online and in stores designed for a younger edgier kind of look compared to the more traditional classic Estée Lauder line. I’ve been testing out a few items from the line and up first is a review of the Cocobalm ($22 each for 0.34 oz) which comes in five colors and are packaged in some seriously cute round squeeze pods.

These are hydrating balms with coconut oil and actually smell like coconut too. They’re described as a lightweight liquid online but in my testing experience it’s on the medium-thick side and definitely balm-like versus liquid – which isn’t a bad thing, just a bit different than what the online description says. By comparison to other squeeze tube balms, these Estée Edit Cocobalms have a bit more pigment compared to the Clarins Instant Light Natural Lip Perfectors but not quite as much as the MAC Tendertalk Balms. In terms of texture for a liquid balm, the most liquid kind of lip treatments I’ve tried include the Clarins Instant Light Lip Oils and Fresh Tinted Sugar Shine Lip Treatments.

The packaging of the Cocobalms is one of the most unique I’ve seen. I did worry about functionality when I first popped open the top but they are easy to apply on the lips with a beveled dispenser. Since they are on the slightly thick side I prefer to apply with a brush so I don’t get my fingers messy. They cover the lip nicely with a cushion of moisture. It’s not lightweight or weightless by any means but at the same time they’re not overly thick or tacky. You do have to blend with a finger or brush to smooth out the color.
There are five colors total, pigment is similar across all shades which is sheer to medium. They do give a noticeable tint to my super pigmented lips but the effect is natural like most balms are:
  • Coco White is a sheer smooth milky white (it does look white on the lips, it’s not clear)
  • Coco Peach is a soft light peach color
  • Coco Blush is the perfect medium pink shade
  • Coco Berry is a pretty soft mauve purple plum (my fav!)
  • Coco Currant is a deep brown but transforms into a true plum on my lips

For a sheer wash of color and hydration I like these a lot more than I expected. When I first saw them I thought there might be a chance I would like the packaging more than the product but was pleasantly surprised. My top two picks are the Coco Blush and Coco Berry shades. They offer long lasting hydration (I tested on bare lips) and stayed put for hours. As with almost every lip product there will be color or product transfer if you touch anything to your lips but they stayed put relatively well even in humid heat without melting or feeling like they were sliding off my face. 

If you need lots pigment and color you probably will find these too sheer in which case I’d recommend you opt for the Chanel Rouge Coco Stylos if you haven’t tried them yet. Those are the best in terms of pigment and hydration that I’ve tried to date. If you don’t like any feeling of product on your lips but want hydration and a soft hint of color opt for the Clarins Instant Light Natural Lip Perfectors instead. The Estee Edit Cocobalms aren’t heavy but aren’t weightless if that makes sense.
Bottom line is I am a fan. Here’s a peek at other items I’ll be reviewing from the line which includes The Barest Bronzer in Medium/Deep, Flash Illuminator Fluid Powder in Heat, Beam Team Hydrate and Glow, Beam Team Hydrate and Glow Bronze, Pore Vanishing Stick, Flash Illuminators (all shades) and the Skin Glowing Balm.
There will be another post this afternoon so stay tuned to see what’s next!
More details to follow on each item I’ve tested from the Estée Edit. So far the Cocobalms are my favorite item out of the line especially since I’m a lip balm junkie and adore the packaging. The coconut scent is to die for and I do think they’re worth a try. You can find the Estée Edit Cocobalms for $22 each, exclusively at Sephora.

Have you tested anything from the Estée Edit yet? What did you think?
Estée Edit items provided courtesy of the team for review consideration.

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Becca Bronzer + Blush Highlighters

Becca x Jaclyn Hill Champagne Collection

May 26, 2016

 

The Becca x Jaclyn Hill Champagne Collection launches today online at Sephora and everything is beautiful. The collection features items focused on creating the ultimate glow for the complexion, eyes and cheeks. The original Champagne Pop Shimmering Skin Perfector Pressed Powder (reviewed here) has been extended into two other formulas. In addition two palettes created by Becca and Jaclyn Hill have launched as limited-edition pieces. The collection launches online today 5/26 at Sephora and will be in stores 6/16:

 

A closer look at each item starting with the Champagne Collection Face Palette which comes a large sturdy mirrored compact. The two palettes have gold reflective packaging so if you see that they look different on other blogs or on social – it’s because of the highly reflective nature of the surface. The Champagne Collection Face Palette has three blushes and two highlighters. All the colors in this palette are extremely pigmented but easy to blend – in testing this I found it best to use with a light hand. There is one shade of Luminous Blush called Rosé Spritz which is a very shimmer pink gold finish. There are two shades of Mineral Blush which are more on the satiny side and more natural-looking in Amaretto which is a medium tan and Pamplemousse which is a pink grapefruit color. You can use shades individually or mix to create different looks. I found I liked the look best when I used either of the mineral blushes first before layering any of the shimmery shades on top.

 

There are two highlighters – both of which are extremely shimmery and very glowy. I have and adore the original Champagne Pop (originally reviewed here and compared to Anastasia That Glow here). The Champagne Pop in the palette is identical in color but for some reason to my eye both highlighters in the palette seem to be a couple notches up in terms of glitz and shimmer. Both are still wearable if you apply with a light hand. Prosecco Pop is the more yellow gold option which usually isn’t a flattering color on my olive yellow-based skin. I can wear Prosecco Pop with a very light hand, but I still prefer Champagne Pop by far. A closer look:

 

 

Swatched below with a medium hand, you can blend to sheer out or apply with a denser brush for more intensity. Pigment is so rich I suspect these colors will show up on a wide range of skin tones. The overall effect is very glowy but still wearable for conservative makeup lovers:

 

 

A look at the palette without sunlight or flash:

 

Next up is the Champagne Collection Eye palette which has two shimmers and three mattes. The overall undertone is warm. It has Chardonnay which is a pale white gold frost, Champagne Toast which is a warm tan copper frost, Cordial which is the prettiest mauve matte, Cognac a very warm toasted brown matte and Bordeaux a soft plum matte. The shimmers offer rich high pigment color while the mattes have a softer medium finish. Textures are soft making them easy to blend on the eyes but I do recommend using a creamy base (I like using the Shimmering Skin Perfector Liquid or Poured Creme on the lids, but I think I’m the only one I know who does not have oily lids). For me the colors did take a bit of experimenting and blending because I cannot wear reds or warm shades like this easily. I swatched it next to Ombre Rouge which I just ordered (have not tried yet) for reference. Here in direct sunlight:

 

 

 

Another shot of the Becca Champagne Collection Eye Palette – because the packaging is gold it looks different depending on what is reflecting in the compact:

 

Last but not least are the three Champagne Pop complexion items. The Shimmering Perfector Liquid offers the most natural finish. It’s very natural on the skin and on the medium-sheer side. The color almost matches my skin exactly so it adds a naturally dewy sheen. It does look luminous so if you have oily skin you may find it will look more luminous as the day progresses. The Shimmering Perfector Poured Creme has a more visible finish compared to the Liquid but still looks very natural. Out of the three Champagne Pops this finish and color is my favorite. Then you have the classic Champagne Pop Shimmering Skin Perfector Pressed – for those who love highlighters there is a different formula for multiple colors in the Becca line so you can pick the finish that works best for you.

 

 

Below the Champagne Pop formulas swatched along with a few other Becca colors:

 

 

 

I’ve only been playing around with the collection for a few days but first impressions are that I really love all three Champagne Pop formulas. I did think there might be a chance that having Champagne Pop in three formats would be overdoing it but after testing them I think they are different enough to justify all three if you love highlighter. If you want to limit yourself to 1, my favorite is the Poured Creme because it has the perfect in between finish (powder being the most shimmery and liquid being the most natural).

 

For the Face Palette – I had already ordered it when it launched as a very brief preview and was able to test this one for a few more days. I tried this a number of ways and found it to be extremely pigmented and very glowy – but the colors are easy to blend for a wearable look and the blending does not require a lot of extra effort which is nice for me since I’m more conservative in the makeup I wear. The colors are naturally flattering for and the warm undertones brighten the complexion. Since the colors are pigmented I prefer to apply with a lighter hand. The Champagne Pop highlighter in the palette does seem to be more glowy and shimmery compared to the individual version (Prosecco Pop is exclusive to the palette). If you prefer a more natural glow or softer color this may be too shimmery or too pigmented for you.

 

The Eye Shadow Palette is all kinds of gorgeous but very warm. I have been experimenting with warmer shades recently though and the palette from Becca is really stunning. I start with the medium matte mauve shade, then layer the ivory and gold, then use the deeper shades to contour – the effect is very pretty and soft without being too warm. Pigment for shimmers is rich while the mattes have a sheerer more natural finish but still offer smooth easy to blend coverage.
Bottom line everything is beautiful and worth checking out. The Becca Face Palette may be too glowy for some in which case I’d recommend you opt for the Tom Ford Afternooner which has a much softer effect but similar warm color scheme.

 

You can find the Becca x Jaclyn Hill Champagne Collection exclusively at Sephora. It launched online today 5/26 but everything is scheduled to launch in store by 6/16.

 

The Champagne Collection Face Palette and Shimmering Skin Perfector Pressed were already purchased by me, however Becca also sent the entire collection for review consideration.

 

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Play! by Sephora – May 2016 Box

May 22, 2016

I signed up for the Play! by Sephora wait list several months ago and just received my first box for May 2016. For those not familiar with these boxes, Sephora launched a monthly subscription service and for $10 per month you will receive a box that has:
  • 5 deluxe samples plus a fragrance bonus
  • a pamphlet they call Play! Book which has information on the box contents + tips and tricks 
  • a card called Play! Pass which allows you to redeem a free one-on-one tutorial + bonus points with any product purchase during the same store visit
  • collectible makeup bag
Right now you can only subscribe online at Sephora.com/play – they have you sign up for a waitlist and once a spot opens they will send you an e-mail to claim a spot and join.
 
I have a first impressions look at the May 2016 Box contents as it just arrived in the mail a few days ago – eight sample-sized products come wrapped in a super cute drawstring pouch. It’s photographed above on my desktop to show the scale and size relative to other items.

A look at the contents below, as of right now I haven’t had a chance to try the items with the exception of the colors and perfume. I’m in the process of testing some other skincare items but once that is finished I’ll be diving into the samples from this box. Inside the May 2016 Box:
  • Korres Wild Rose Advanced Brightening Sleeping Facial (0.34 fl oz/10 ml)
  • Bite Beauty Amuse Bouche Lipstick in Kimchi (0.05 oz/1.55 g, swatched on lips here)
  • Origins Maskimizer Skin-Optimizing Mask Primer (0.05 fl oz/1.5 ml)
  • Origins Clear Improvement Mask Packet (0.1 fl oz/3 ml)
  • Origins Drink Up Intensive Overnight Mask (0.1 fl oz/3 ml)
  • Briogio Don’t Despair Repair Deep Conditioning Mask (1 oz/29 ml)
  • Tarteist Lip Crayon in Latergram (0.04 g)
  • Atelier Cologne Orange Sanguine (no size listed, but it’s a tiny vial)

My beauty friend Café Makeup has a post on the same box and many of my thoughts are similar to hers. I think it’s a fun low-investment kind of beauty buy and at $10 per month I think the cost is relatively low and considering the cost of shipping (which they do not charge you extra for). Based on the May Box I think Sephora sent out a good selection of decent sized samples for that price. Even though the sizes of the samples are small enough that you should be able to get for free at the counter I have found samples to be scarce when shopping in store at larger retailers. Of course there are exceptions and building a good relationship with a sales associate does help. However as Amy mentioned in her post I agree it seems like a few years ago you could shop at a store and counters were much more generous with samples. These days they seem to be scarce.

I’m happy with my first Play! by Sephora Box. I think it’s fun to get a surprise box of samples and it offers some things I would have never thought to try so the exploration part is fun. At this time I plan on keeping my subscription to see how it goes.

If you haven’t subscribed for these you can add your name to the wait list online at sephora.com/play – right now the only way to purchase a subscription is online. I’m not sure how long the wait is. I think I entered in my e-mail early in the year and received an e-mail that I was off the wait list in April. There’s a full page of FAQs here in case you have more questions.

I hope you enjoyed this first look at the Play! by Sephora Box 🙂 Have you signed up for it? If you were able to join earlier and have already received a few months of boxes what do you think? Would love to hear your thoughts!
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Buxom Wildly Whipped Lightweight Liquid Lipsticks

May 13, 2016

Buxom Cosmetics launched a new liquid lipstick formula called the Wildly Whipped Lightweight Liquid Lipsticks ($21 each for5 ml/0.18 fl oz). These are indeed very lightweight in feel with a whipped texture that has a soft velvety matte finish. Unlike most matte finish lip products though, it doesn’t feel matte at all, but rather has a cushiony soft moisturizing feel almost like a balm. I personally do not like matte finish lipsticks or matte liquid lipsticks because I find them drying in formula, make the lips look wrinkled because of the intense pigment and the colors usually darken or look dusty once they’ve dried. There are few exceptions with really good matte formulas I am willing to wear including Charlotte Tilbury Matte Revolution, Louboutin Matte Lipstick and Tatcha Kyoto Red – the Buxom Wildly Whipped formula also now falls into that category.

There are 12 shades total that come in a wide range from neutrals, to reds, corals, plums and pinks. All the shades offer full coverage with a single stroke although to cover the entire lip and get application precise around the edges I like to swipe a few times to apply. The tips come with a beveled sponge which makes application easy (I really appreciate well-designed applicators). They do have a plumping formula to make the lips look full, but they don’t tingle like the Full On Lip Polishes or Lip Creams (several shades swatched here). I liked that they did not dry out my lips and the days after swatching and test wear – my lips did not show any signs of peeling or flaking. Lasting power is medium – I would say they last for a few hours as long as you don’t snack, drink or touch your lips. There will be color transfer if your lips touch anything – but other than that they do stay fresh looking for a relatively long time.

A closer look at all the shades and swatches:

Descriptions:
Nudist is a light nude
Centerfold is a warm nude
Instigator is a fig neutral
Devious Dolly is a warm rose mauve
Wandress is a medium pink
Lover is a bright rose pink
Moonlighter is a bright pink-red
Flaunter is a bright warm orange
Dominatrix is a deep red
Exhibitionist is a bright fuschia pink
Criminal is a deep purple plum
Swinger is a medium lavender purple
Swatches with flash:

Swatches in natural light without flash:

Lip swatches of all shades on bare lips, for skintone reference I’m wearing Becca Aqualuminous Foundation in Beige in some photos while others I’m wearing the Make Up For Ever Foundation Stick in 123 + translucent powder. These are all matte in finish – the sheen in the photos is due to the camera flash/lighting.

Most of the shades have very smooth streak-free coverage. I found the darkest shade Criminal to be very patchy but dark shades can be hard for me to wear because the contrast makes it where if any of my natural lip shows through – it really shows through. As soon as I saw all the corals reds I thought they would all look the same, but after swatching them I really do see the difference in undertone. Some are deeper or brighter, others have more pink or orange undertone. If you like reds – there are quite a few options to choose from.

My top picks and favorites are Devious Dolly, Instigator, Centerfold and Lover. They’re all on the bold side but I like that there are wearable shades mixed in for the neutral lip lover. I’ve been reaching for Devious Dolly a lot because I think it’s conservative enough for everyday wear but has enough color and pigment in it that makes it more fun than the everyday pink nude or neutral.

I give the formula a thumbs up – it’s really quite unique compared to anything else I’ve tried. I like that they don’t dry down like a traditional matte – they have a soft cushiony feel with a very very slight sheen which makes them look more natural as it catches the light. I would call the finish a soft matte that has a slightly diffused finish. If you look through other photos and swatches @buxomcosmetics or search #buxombabe you can see how these look on others to get a better idea of the finish.

Bottom line – I highly recommend you try one. You can find the Buxom Wildly Whipped Lightweight Liquid Lipsticks at Sephora and Ulta. They retail for $21 each.

Wildly Whipped Lipsticks provided courtesy of Buxom Cosmetics.
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