Kooky For Korres

My love affair with Korres Lip Butter began when I saw Pomegranate in my friend's makeup bag. I'd never heard of or seen these little pots of buttery lip balm goodness before, and something about the impeccable packaging immediately hooked me. As Sarah Jessica Parker feverishly whispered in her Covet perfume ad, I had to have it. At first the only place that I knew sold them was Mecca Cosmetica at Myer for $18.95 each. If they weren't available anywhere else, I still think they're worth the price, but thankfully I found them on ASOS for a much more palatable $10-$11. Then came an amazing offer on StrawberryNet where a pack of 3 (Pomegranate, Wild Rose and Jasmine) were being sold for around $12. It was never to be repeated, but thankfully I snapped one up in time. There's currently still another Lip Saver set (of Guava, Pomegranate and Mango) on StrawberryNet for a very nice $19.50. Right now, I have all the shades except Quince and Plum. I'm not too keen on Plum, as from swatches I've seen, it very closely resembles Wild Rose, but the collector/hoarder in me really wants Quince to complete my set.

l-r: Guava, Jasmine, Mango, Pomegranate, Wild Rose

l-r (first row, then second row): Jasmine, Mango, Pomegranate, Wild Rose

Pomegranate on cheeks (with NYX Taupe as contour)

Out of the ones I have, I find Jasmine to clearly be the most moisturising and buttery. Pomegranate and Wild Rose, in comparison, are slightly less emollient, though much more pigmented. Guava and Jasmine appear more or less the same on my lips, with Guava having more of a whitish tint and Jasmine more of a pinkish nude. Mango and Pomegranate are also very similar when applied, with Mango more a straightforward orange (like Revlon Lip Butter in Tutti Frutti) and Pomegranate more red/coral. Wild Rose is the darkest colour, a blue-toned berry red which for me, is a bit too heavy for daytime wear. I prefer this blotted on my lips, or as a cheek tint.

What I love about these Korres Lip Butters is the darker colours can be substituted for cream blush. I thought I was the only weird one that used them for that purpose, but when I inspected more closely the packaging on the Lip Saver set, there was an actual note on there that they could be used on the cheeks for a natural tint. I've dabbed and blended Pomegranate on the apples of my cheeks to freshen up and add some colour to my face many nights when I've been out but didn't have anything else in my bag. A small amount goes a long way and properly blended in, doesn't feel noticeably sticky or greasy.

Each pot has its own distinctive scent matching its name. Guava reminds me a bit of the scent of preserved plums. Jasmine doesn't really smell like anything particular to me, it's sweet in a milk candy kind of way. Pomegranate is quite tart, but also mellow. Wild Rose is the most unique in that it's neither sweet nor fruity. It has this understated, slightly musky rose scent without being syrupy sweet or artificial.

Bit of trivia. Cameron Diaz uses the Korres Lip Butter while talking to herself in an aeroplane toilet in Knight and Day. I'm sure that couldn't possibly be intentional product placement, so I'm choosing to think that Cameron Diaz had that in her purse and did a bit of improv.