rinnah's consumer views|a straight talking, tell-it-as-it-is consumer lifestyle blog

If there’s one thing about my consumerist habits, it is that I can never bring myself to pay full retail prices for anything if possible (see my previous post on Getting The Best Deal as an example). That’s why I always have a ‘Recommended retail price’ for each product I review.

So, when I swung by duty free at Changi International Airport on my way to Hong Kong in July, I couldn’t resist nabbing Revlon’s Colorburst lipgloss in Rose Pearl at only SGD 11.90. I know, I know, who goes to duty free and picks up a cheapie product? I should be spending on all the other, more expensive products, right?

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Anyway, that’s enough about my shopping habits. Revlon promises that this lipgloss will deliver weightless color with a vivid, mirror-like shine. Did it deliver?

I’d say yes! This gloss is rather pigmented and thick but thankfully not sticky. Just one very light layer of this lipgloss is enough to bring out the color on my lips. It is very, very shimmery in my opinion though because I can see the shimmery bits when I look in the mirror. So if you’re not into shimmer, this might not be the gloss for you.

I find Rose Pearl to be a very work-friendly color for me as it gives me a polished look everytime without fail. I was caught unawares with a meeting that I had to attend last week – got in to the office and saw an email informing me that I had to attend an external meeting in 45mins – so I whipped out this lipgloss and swiped it on for a confidence boost. After all, when you have to deal with lawyers, every extra bit of confidence helps!

As for its lasting effects, a single layer wore off after about 3 hours of normal wear plus drinking water. I haven’t layered it on so I would say it has pretty average staying power. Your mileage may vary though, as I find most lipsticks and lipglosses stay put on me like a lipstain until I use make-up remover at the end of the day. Oh, and remember the shimmery bit? Even after the color had worn off naturally after a meal, I could still see shimmer on my lips.

Did I mention that I like the packaging too? Love the black criss-cross pattern on the applicator handle. Makes it feel more luxe than just a regular lipgloss from the drugstore, doncha think? And on another personal note, I find it so much easier to apply my lipglosses when they come with a doe-foot applicator, so this of course got a thumbs up from me.

Yes factors : Gorgeous color, reasonable price, nice packaging
No factors : A bit too shimmery

Recommended retail price : MYR 36.00 or SGD 19.90

Read other blogger reviews here :
Beetrice
Nikki
Paris B – here and here
Tine

Ah Hong Kong! How I miss shopping there already… and I’ve only been back for a week.

Being a total newbie (it was my maiden trip to HK), I was totally unprepared for the bright lights and myriad stores. But I was lost the moment Kahani introduced me to Bonjour.

When she showed me the section on sample/travel sized products, I was completely sold on the concept and there was no turning back. The majority of the stuff you see in the picture below is from Bonjour, with a purchase each from Sasa, Harvey Nichols Beauty Hall and duty-free at Changi Terminal.

In no particular order, I came back with :
1. Revlon Colorburst Lipgloss in Rose Perle
2. Steam Cream
3. Lanvin Marry Me perfume miniature
4. Talika Lipocils Expert eyelash serum
5. Lancome Hydra Zen Neocalm detoxifying moisturising multi-relief anti-stress gel essence
6. Lancome Hydra Zen extreme soothing moisturising cream-gel
7. Lancome Genifique Youth Activator serum
8. Estee Lauder Advanced Night Repair Synchronized Recovery Complex serum
9. Estee Lauder Hydrationist Moisture Barrier Fortifier ultra-hydration serum
10. Dior Capture Totale One Essential skin boosting super serum
11. Diorsnow White Reveal essence
12. Shu Uemura UV Armor high protection face cream SPF 50
13. Shu Uemura Deepsea Hydrability moisturizing gel cream
14. Clarins Beauty Flash Balm
15. Kiehl’s Ultra Facial micro serum
16. Laniege Water Sleeping Pack_Ex
17. Guerlain Orchidee Imperiale exceptional complete care serum
18. Clinique Take The Day Off makeup remover

Whew! That’s a lot of miniature stuff, methinks!

And did you notice anything about the list above? It’s mostly skincare with a heavy slant towards hydrating stuff and anti-aging stuff.

I’ve been lemming quite a number of these serums for some time now, so yes, I am one very happy camper. Let’s hope that my sensitive/problematic skin takes kindly to me experimenting in the next few months!

How I wish I had access to these miniature pretties in Singapore or Malaysia all the time…

Read other blogger notes on shopping in Hong Kong here :
Kahani
Paris B

I may be living under a rock as I’d never heard of Too Faced Cosmetics’ Mood Swing Lip Gloss until I stumbled over this MSNBC.com article asking if it really worked. Whattaheck is it?

It’s a lip gloss that is activated by your body heat and changes color according to your mood. Supposedly it will tell if your current mood is Totally Zen or Slightly Smitten or Feeling Frisky or having Dirty Thoughts or Hot & Bothered or Basking In The Afterglow by changing color from clear white to various shades of pink/fuschia/red.

Mmhmm, the names for the various shades/stages are rather *ahem* suggestive. I have a feeling that this would be a nice lipgloss to fool around with under the right circumstances with the right guy. Hehe.

I don’t think we get Too Faced Cosmetics in Malaysia, so if ever I want to get my paws on this I’ll have to look online or elsewhere. Boo.

Too Faced Cosmetics Mood Swing Lip Gloss retails for USD 18.50 online here.