In the recent present, vegan and cruelty-free beauty have become a trend – and I do not take issue with this movement. The real question remains; sans harsh (yet effective) chemicals and harmful testing practices by larger, mainstream companies, do these products provide the same desirable outcomes while maintaining their penchant for natural, no-animals-were-harmed-in-the-making-of-this-product beauty? Let’s compare.
Before I delve, let me first say that I am a rather pale, freckle-faced female of Irish decent. I don’t become a bronzed goddess via the sun’s rays, thus my makeup regiment tends to be on the more subtle side, accenting either lips or eyes, but never really both. One is bold, while the other is earth-toned. Otherwise, I’d end up literally looking like a clown.
When it comes to lips, I often prefer boldness. When I first sampled the 100% Pure Fruit Pigmented Lip Butter in Pomegranate, I naively tested it on the assumption that a fruit-based balm would likely require several coats to achieve the level of “whapow!” that I usually go for. Much to my surprise, the Pomegranate “flavor” is surprisingly bright. Not to mention my index finger turned a similarly deep magenta color upon application – kind of like when you cut a fresh red onion and your fingers are a little purple until you wash your hands. My quick-fix for tinted index fingers is an application brush, either Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics Lip Brush (http://occmakeup.com/collections/professional-brushes/products/brush-010-precision-lip-brush) or Sugarpill’s Vegan Cosmetics Lip Brush (http://www.sugarpillshop.com/products/lip-brush). Needless to say, two applications of lip butter on the top and bottom lip, respectively, yielded a beautiful purple-maroon color, which achieves the “pop” that I strive for.
I was overly pleased when it didn’t mush all over my lips as I was trying to maintain the contours of my Cupid’s Bow and Vermillion Border (the tough parts of the top and bottom lip to place color on effectively – especially when you’re as impatient as I am). As far as the gloss vs. matte question: this balm is naturally iridescent, providing an effortless shine to lips and not requiring any additional products to highlight the color. It’s an all-in-one, folks.
In terms of length and duration of wear, I’ve typically been applying this lip butter twice a day. I would not categorize this product a stain, but it does adhere and hold to your lips much in the same way you might find freshly cut fruits can stain your kitchen counter. The idea is the same; it has a definite hold that tends to fade based on how active your lips are. In my world, that means several cups of coffee and water throughout my morning grind. Somewhere around lunchtime, I find myself reapplying to give that bolder color, but the color has not faded off entirely from the morning application. On those nights that require outfits, libations, and a social circle, I would give my lips one more coating before leaving the house. As an aside, I’ve had this product for about a month and I’ve barely begun to find the middle of the jar, which leads me to believe I get a lot of bang for my buck.
Overall, I’d recommend this product for ladies of all skin tones, assuming you prefer a bolder lip. I haven’t sampled the other pigments yet, but I would repurchase this product in a heartbeat. And this balm’s price is on point. I have scoured the aisles of pharmacies, groceries, and big name beauty stores – this jar runs about the same price as those chemical-pumped balms, sticks, and glosses you’ll find on the shelves – retail is $15.. For someone like me, who prefers the longevity of a good product, this balm makes the cut and I still have plenty left to carry into the Fall fashion season.
Comments