Product Review: Laura Geller Lip Shiner

Arrgh! Is there anything more frustrating (at least in the world of makeup) than finding your perfect shade of something, only to see it discontinued? Especially when that item is crucial to the classic look that is the Nude Lip. I'm talking, of course, about my favourite nude lip gloss, Beige Théoric by Bourjois (aka: The Gloss That Cured My Nude Lip Phobia). I was finally running out of my little purse-sized version, so I decided to pop into Sephora to pick up a full-sized gloss. But to my (astonished) chagrin, they were discontinuing the Bourjois line! I couldn't believe it... Bourjois seemed to be well-liked brand, and at a pretty reasonable price-point. What gives???



Anyway, I immediately began swatching like a crazy person, looking for a duplicate shade. Sadly, nothing matched exactly. Oh there were close ones: Vincent Longo's Perfect Shine Lip Gloss in Dolce was lovely, with a great texture, but didn't have enough warmth or pink. Stila's Lip Glaze Mocha was too cool and dark. The darker shade of Soho in Cargo's Lipgloss Duo was also close, but I'd heard not-great things about the lasting power, plus the tin was bound to get super goopy in my purse.

Sephora's Ultra-Shine Lip Gloss in Beige (#20) had nearly the same effect as Beige Theoric -- even though it was a few shades paler, it was also much sheerer, so the end result was similar. But, I hesitated to spend $17 on a gloss with such a low colour payoff. I allllmost went for Lorac's Plumping Gloss in Missie -- the shade was almost dead on (a teeeeny bit too peach/brown, but whatevs), but at the last minute decided against it due to all the sparkle and the plumping factor (it seemed to irritate a little, but that could have been because I'd been rubbing gloss on and off my lips for the past hour).

Okay, yes, I know, high maintenance much? But I swear, there's a happy ending here. While I didn't end up finding an exact dupe of Beige Theoric, I did come across a totally fantastic gloss. Remember the Creme de Gloss by Christian Dior that I practically faintned over? Well, Laura Gellers Lip Shiners totally mimic the texture and look of those glosses, at about half the price!




The gel-based formula feels super creamy and moist, just like Creme de Gloss. It's maybe just the slightest bit tackier, but leaps and bounds better than most glosses. And just like Creme de Gloss, it leaves a nice amount of pigment, and the shine comes from the super-fine shimmer in the formula, rather than entirely from the gloss itself. This means that even after your morning cup of coffee, you'll still have a bit of nice gleam on your kisser.

I could probably do without the burnt-caramel scent in the gloss ... it's not really unpleasant; sort of like crème brûlée. It's just not really my thing. Fortunately, the scent disappears pretty much immediately, so it's not bothersome at all. Most of the shades are all shimmery, but not frosty (they also have a clear shade), and there are 9 easy-going colours to choose from. I ended up grabbing Bermuda Sand, which is a gorgeous golden/bronzed pink shade. No, it's not the same as Beige Théoric, but it's awesome. It's not quite a nude shade for me, but it tones down my pigmented lips, and would bring a bit of fresh colour to the typical smokey-eye/nude lip look.

And the best part? At just $17 CAD a pop, I can afford to indulge in several chic tubes of this plush gloss without massive amounts of spendy guilt. Which is more than I can say about anything by Christian Dior.

Oh, and as for the saga for My Perfect Nude Gloss... I ended up hopping online to to buy my coveted and endangered gloss. Strawberrynet.com has a whole bunch of Bourjois goodies in stock (some discounted!), and will ship anywhere for free. Naturally, I stockpiled a bit, just in case. If you prefer to do your bargain shopping IRL, I found that L'Oreal's Made For Me Naturals in Dune, Maybelline's Moisture Extreme in Nude Blush, and Annabelle's Le Gloss Stick in the nude shade (sorry, can't remember the name) are all decent.

So I guess the moral of the story is that a: Laura Geller's Lip Shiners totally rock, and b: there really is a nude lipcolour out there for everyone. I should know... I've tried them all!

Product Review: Dior Crème de Gloss

Run... RUN, do not walk, to your nearest Sephora or Christian Dior counter. Because Dior's latest lipgloss is worth the workout.




Dior's Crème de Gloss is touted as a creamy lipstick in a gloss. The description from the Dior website, which is obviously and charmingly translated from French to English:

"Its soft and gentle texture as a cream, with the lightness and freshness of a gloss, gives to your lips a "cocooning effect", and offers, with its new ultra flexible applicator, a smooth comfortable film without sticky effect.

With all the wealth of a nectar, Crème de Gloss offers an absolute comfort, thanks to a concentrate of ultra-nourishing ingredients. Immediately smoothed, the smile is durably cared and shaped for perfect lips. Ultimate exploit, 6 hours after application, the hydration of your lips increases by 25%."


This creamy gloss is absolutely gorgeous. It feels AMAZING. (And yes, I have tried other Dior glosses and they're fine, but this knocks them out of the park.) It's a doe-foot applicator, but it's extra bendy, which makes it feel softer on the skin. The gloss is silky and luxurious, without even a suggestion of stickiness. I put it on when my lips were feeling kind of dry, and to my amazement, it felt nicer than some lip balms. A gloss that actually improved the condition of my lips. I couldn't stop smushing my lips together, it felt so good. (Oh yes, quite the sight in Sephora I was.)

I tried on Creamy Almond, the lightest shade, which is a somewhat frosty cool pink. Normally, a colour like that would go on chalky or streaky on me, but this applied like a dream. Crème de Gloss comes in 8 different shades, and they all look elegant and lovely. I'm in lust. I'm in love. Dare I say it? This is the BEST gloss I've ever put on my lips!

The price? Not so best. A cool $31 CAD. But I must have a "smile that is durably cared and shaped for perfect lips"! I simply must! Of course, I can't comment on staying power, but you can bet that I'll update this review as soon as I find that $30 Sephora gift card I have somewhere (xoxo, Ex-Roomie!). I've held on to that baby since last January, and clearly this is the sign I've been waiting for. Cha-ching!



Seriously, why are you still sitting there? Run! Run now! RUN!