Product Review: L'Oreal Colour Juice Sticks

Finally! A proper review! I mean, I'm sure that reading about my various reality TV obsessions is terribly interesting and everything. But I can hear you all thinking in the backs of your minds: "Talk about some damn lipstick already!"

Ok, fine, I will. Except it's not exactly lipstick... this time, it's all about these new Colour Juice Sticks from L'Oreal. Although I don't see it on their website, I'm pretty sure the in-store display advertised these as "lipgloss in a stick!", which basically means that I HAD to buy one. Or three.

These lipsticks are supposed to give sheer, light, buildable colour that is "never opaque, never fake". I think they're supposed to be sort of the drug-store version of the Clinique Butter Shines, although at $10 a pop, they're not exactly super cheap. However, the sleek, slender tube with the mirror-like finish does look quite high-end.




The Colour Juice Sticks felt very smooth upon application, and they smell fruity and sweet, like Trident Triple-Berry gum. They give a nice glossy finish, although those looking for serious patent-leather shine will be disappointed. This lipcolour was more moisturizing than most -- I could get by without putting on lipbalm underneath, which is a plus for those harried mornings when I'm flinging the contents of my make-up bag across the bathroom in an attempt to get out the door in time*. However, they don't quite beat Maybelline's Moisture Extreme lipsticks in moisturizing power. Moisture Extreme feels even creamier going on, and the buttery feel seems to last a bit longer than the Colour Juice Sticks. Sadly, I find a lot of the Moisture Extreme shades a bit too dense and flat for my liking (except for Red Dawn, which is an awesome shade, but is a titch too warm for everyday use for me). And so this totally justifies my buying yet another similar-yet-pricier lipstick. Right?

I first picked up Strawberry Fields (pictured), a light, sheer-looking mauvey-pink that is infused with a silver shimmer. This is a great grab-and-go shade... with sunny, bronzed summer makeup, this gives a pretty, natural lip look. With paler skin, candy pink blush and light, shimmering eyes, this shade takes on an ethereal, almost baby-doll vibe, all without going into tacky bubble-gum territory. Groovy!

So of course I had to go grab 2 more shades to try! Berry Spritzer is a rich plum/berry colour that looks really glittery in the tube. On the lips, it is actually quite natural looking, although you can see the micro-glitter if you look closely. So yeah, this might not be the best choice for work if you are employed by a Very Conservative Company, but I can totally see this shade with a tropical-coloured sundress, drinking sangria on a balmy patio at dusk**.

Cherry Freeze is KAPOW RED! in the tube, but again is more subdued than you might think on the lips (no glitter this time). This very cool red has half a foot in the fuschia category, but its sheerness makes it pretty easy to pull off. It's certainly not a quiet colour, but it would look elegant with a white shirt, pulled back hair, and minimal makeup on the face. I am definitely hanging on to this one for fall, because red lips are forcasted as a hot fall trend for 2006***, and a sheer glossy finish is my favourite way to wear a red lip. For some reason, Cherry Freeze goes on a bit unevenly if my lips are not smooth, which isn't a problem with the other 2 shades I've tried. It may be just because it's a more noticeable colour. Regardless, it's probably best to swipe on a bit of lip balm before applying this shade.

With the darker shades, even after the sheen has worn off, a hint of colour still remains, leaving the lips with an attractive stain. In terms of lasting power, these seem to be hybrids in the truest sense --they stay on better than a gloss, but you'll still have to reapply more often than with a lipstick. Because the product feels so light and the colours are so buildable, it's very easy to blend 2 shades together, if that's your thing. Their sheerness make them very wearable -- testers should be available for all colours, so do try out the shades even if they look scary in the tube.

$10 is still pretty spendy for a drugstore lipstick, and the colour selection is not the widest right now, but L'Oreal Colour Juice Sticks do live up to their claims. I got all 3 of mine for about $7 each (sale, plus $1 off coupon which I found next to the display). So if you love the feel of Maybelline Moisture Extreme lipsticks, but find their shades less than thrilling, give these Sticks a shot!



* Roommate might attest that this is apx. 87% of my mornings. This is not quite true... most mornings are actually quite relaxed. I'm just the type to drop things ALL THE TIME, which makes it sound like I am super frantic, when I am in fact just super klutz.

** You know you need to get out more when you anthropomorphize your cosmetics and they lead a more exciting life than you do.

*** Ok, so I made that up. But you KNOW it's gonna happen. When was the last time it didn't happen? And how do beauty editors get off saying that a "classic" red lip is a "hot trend" for a season? Aren't the 2 sort of mutually exclusive???