Phew! That was a doozey – I’ve been down for a whopping 12-13 days and it’s definitely taken a toll on this aging bodeh. I’m finally back at work and getting back into the swing of thangs -sorry for the hiatus guys, please don’t stop loving meeee :D
I’m currently a ghastly 50 shades of gray (depending on the angle you see me from), so I’m doing all I can to brighten up the skin tone. A fail-proof method is always a brightly-coloured lippie, but because my body is rather messed up from not one, not two, but three courses of antiobiotics, they’re slightly dry too, so I’m gravitating towards the hydrating ones.
The Face Shop Ink Lipquid
I say…
The Packaging: It comes in a longish 10cm tube-shaped container with a stopper-like top. It’s lightweight and encased in plastic, but is not the sort to stand on its own (i.e. lipsticks can stand on their own). The twist-out top is attached to the sponge applicator which is shaped like a little scoop that helps pick up a suitable amount of product. Now I love that the sponge tip applicator is particularly soft and non-abrasive – in fact, it’s so soft that I actually find it ticklish when I apply it to my lips :D The shape is great for applying a precise line.
The Scent: It smells so wonderful! Kinda floral and fruity and instantly perks up the mood.
The Texture: It’s mostly liquid and watery, but with really intense color tint as well as a high hydration level. In fact, it’s said to last for 12 hours with its serum base moisture that maintains moisture on lips with 70% water base (*Clinical test complete). I love that it applies very smoothly – kinda like poster color painting – and is easy to blend and set into the lips. The color payoff is mostly similar to what you see – perhaps a slightly 10% dilution based on your natural lip colour, but you’ll be getting most of the color you see.
The Finish: Now even though it’s an extremely hydrating lip tint, the finish isn’t a glossy one. It’s a very pigmented lip color (it’s said to draw its color from natural derivatives such as berries and herbs!), and the finish is a good mix of gloss-matte (eventually settles into a mostly matte finish). Now note that those with drier lips will see some slightly flaking and chapping (lip flakes will be tinted pink/red/coral for sure). However, the color intensity doesn’t fade that much, so what I do is to apply some Vaseline / lip balm to touch up and revive the color instead – once you do that, you’ll get a nice glossy finish again.
The Verdict: Great color payoff, easy application, good texture and finish – there’s really not much not to like about this range of products which comes in 12 awesome shades! This is defo something I’m carrying around these days to add a pop of color to my look :D
