Why I've been loving The Body Shop Lip & Cheek Stain in Rose Pink !!

So, do you remember my The Body Shop haul that was a gift from me to myself, for International Women’s Day? I decided to try out some products that were otherwise pricier & have been on my wish list for a while. One of the things (and the only makeup product) I purchased was the Lip & Cheek stain in the shade Rose Pink (01). These lip & cheek stains are available in 3 shades and Rose Pink is the only one that doesn't have any glitter, the glitter in the other two are OTT. Let me tell you right away that I have been so addicted to this stain ever since I started using it back in March.

My experience with The Body Shop Lip & Cheek Stain Rose Pink (01)

PACKAGING ~ It comes in the kind of tube a lip gloss comes in. I wish it had a brush instead of a sponge tipped doe foot applicator though; a brush is more hygienic because its easier to clean. The tube is the same size as a lip gloss tube as well. Another thing that bugs me is that the stain, which is very runny, easily gets all over applicator and the inside of the lid, especially when the tube is kept horizontal.

COLOR vs. SKIN TONE ~Rose Pink is a very deep pink color in the tube. However, it is sheer when blended into the skin, and looks just like a neutral rosy pink shade. If you apply too much of it, it will make your cheeks like they are punched :P The color will look good on all skin tones as it can be applied to look very sheer and very deep easily.

on the left: one swipe, on the right: one swipe blended out

COLOR vs. STYLE ~ The Body Shop Lip & Cheek Stain is great for natural looks. When the right amount is applied, it looks beautifully natural on the cheeks, and mimics what my cheeks look like when post exercise! On the lips, after two sheer layers it still looks quite natural. I very have pigmented lips and this isn’t the best product to use for my kind of lips.

APPLICATION & AFTER ~ The Rose Pink Lip & Cheek Stain is very pigmented and easy to use, I definitely recommend it to beginners. I use the applicator in 3 ways; either I directly dot my cheeks with the sponge tip or I use my fingers to transfer the product from the body of the applicator to my cheeks. The consistency is very watery so the product easily gets all over the applicator and I recommend cleaning up the sides (or making use of the product there!) &  the mouth of the tube frequently.

 For a month or so I applied it using the latter technique only, then I tried it on my lips a couple of times and realized that I prefer using it for cheeks only, so I switched to the former technique (i.e. using the sponge tip directly on my cheeks). This stain really stains your fingers and dries moderately fast, once you dot it on your cheeks you have a couple of seconds to blend it out. I usually apply 4 dots to each cheek and blend it out, I do this 2-3 times on each cheek till I get a good flush of color!

PRODUCT vs. DURABILITY ~ The Body Shop Lip & Cheek Stain in Rose Pink lasts for a really long time, I’ve worn it for straight 8 hours & it only slightly faded by then. If you apply more layers the color will last longer. For 2-3 layers, nearly 8 hrs weartime is pretty good IMO!

PRODUCT vs. PRICE ~ The Body Shop Lip & Cheek Stain retails for Rs.850($13.6) for 8ml(0.27oz) which is pricey, however, The Body Shop website runs sales frequently so you can get it for cheaper online or even at the store during the sale period. Another thing is, you need a small quantity of it when used as a blush or a lip stain, so it will last you a long time. The Lip & Cheek Stain is available in one more color Coral(03) on the website but it has a lot of obvious glitter.

REMOVAL ~ I need a makeup remover to completely clean it off from the cheeks. I don’t apply more than two sheer layers on my lips and that easily comes off.

Overall verdict: 5/5 

I really love The Body Shop Lip & Cheek Stain in the shade Rose Pink, I definitely recommend it to everyone, even beginners will enjoy using it. Its very easy to use & lasts for a long time, making it pretty much perfect for everyday wear to office and even summer season. 

L'Oreal Shine Caresse Lip Color Bella (604) - Review and Swatch

I’m a huge fan of the L'Oreal Paris Shine Caresse Lip Color in the shade Milady (603) and while purchasing that I couldn’t resist picking up one more because the shades and packaging are very pretty and quite unique. I’ll be reviewing the shade Bella (604) today, its a popular shade and I can see why!

PACKAGING ~ The Shine Caresse lip colors are housed in a shiny gold tube with a little transparent band that allows a glimpse of the color within. If you plan to own many of these tubes, you can easily locate a shade without having to read the cap for the name. The applicator has a sponge tip which is bud shaped, the centre has a little dip so that it can hold the product. The sponge tip of the applicator is the same color as the lip color, the applicator is easy to use and precisely deposits color on the lips. It’s a beauty, you will love having this pretty tube in your collection!

L'Oreal Paris Shine Caresse Lip Color in India in shade Milady(603) - Review, swatches, photos

Remember when I blogged about the latest beauty trends and launches here? I had mentioned lipstick-lipgloss hybrids launched in India. The L’Oreal Shine Caresse Lip Colors are the hottest hybrids at the moment! Why? Well just take a look at them! They will make the most stern shopper go weak kneed! Not only does it look like the ultimate lip accessory to have, its supposed to be a dupe of the YSL Glossy Stains. Now tell me you aren’t jumping up and down and yelling ‘take my money already!’ :P And yes, I’m absolutely guilty of falling head over heels for these beauties! I immediately picked up two of them and let me tell you it was hard deciding between the colors although the L’Oreal counter had just four shades. In the end I went for a vibrant pink and a lovely orchid color, although the orange one was tempting me(maybe next time you will be mine :P).

What L'Oreal Paris says:

Discover a stain that thinks it’s a gloss. Now hydration & shine meet lasting, lightweight color. Shine Caresse combines the power of a lip stain with lip-gloss luster. This next generation lip stain, formulated with a blend of light hydrating oils & concentrated pigments, delivers lasting color with a glossy finish. Packed with 30% water, Shine Caresse leaves lips soft, comfortable and hydrated for up to 6 hours.

Available in 7 shades in India.

Price: Rs.499

Qty: 6ml

Available at Nykaa, Amazon, Jabong
See my shopping experience with Nykaa HERE and Jabong HERE

Are these lip colors just pretty packaging or something more? Read on to find out!

The shades I purchased are Milady(603) and Bella(604) and today I will be reviewing Milady.

My take on L’Oreal Shine Caresse Lip Color in ‘Milady (603)’

The Packaging:

The Shine Caresse lip color is housed in a shiny gold tube with a little transparent band that allows a glimpse of the color within. It’s a beauty, you will love having this pretty tube in your collection! If you plan to own many of these tubes, you can easily locate a shade without having to read the cap for the name. 

The applicator is the cutest thing ever! The sponge tip is bud shaped, the centre has a little dip so that it can hold the product. The sponge tip of the applicator is the same color as the lip color, which is another small detail that L’Oreal has paid attention to. Its not just impressive looks here, the applicator is easy to use and precisely deposits color on the lips.