Blonde Buy

Priceline recently had their 40% off cosmetics sale and I only really wanted to buy NYX Lip Lingerie in Bedtime Flirt after reading this article. It was out of stock everywhere I looked (though of course was back in stock right after the sale) so I settled for this el cheapo brow gel from Essence that I recall KathleenLights talk about. She described Make Me Brow as "the same as Benefit Gimme Brow", so how could I go wrong? Plus it was next to nothing at $3.06 after discount.

First mistake I made was my total ignorance at the 2 shades they offer: Blondy Brows (01) and Browny Brows (02). I thought they only had one colour so I didn't even bother checking what shade I picked up. Turned out to be Blondy Brows which was a fail on my part since it is way too light for my colouring.

The only other brow mascara I have is the L'Oréal Brow Artist Plumper in Medium/Dark (also bought during a previous Priceline 40% off sale), which I've been reaching for lately any time I want a more complete makeup look. I used to never care about brows (when writing this post, I realised I don't even have a brow tag on the blog), but increasingly I'm discovering the merit of brow products, especially for occasions where I know I'll be photographed.

Despite purchasing the Medium/Dark shade in the L'Oréal Brow Artist Plumper, I remember trying Light/Medium in the store and quite liking the effect. It completely changed the colour of my brows (it was like I had dyed them a lighter, warmer brown) and in turn, altered the appearance of my whole face. I was hoping that Essence Blondy Brows would be similar, but it's a much lighter, cool-toned ashy blonde than a warm chestnut brown like L'Oréal Light/Medium.

Essence Blondy Brows, L'Oréal Medium/Dark

The wand on the Essence is tiny tiny (much smaller than the L'Oréal Brow Artist Plumper) and there's small fibres that are meant to give more body to your brows. I have pretty full brows already, so the small fibres don't do that much. The minimal difference could be more the wrong shade though. Because of the size of the wand, it distributes less product than the L'Oréal, which may be a good or bad thing depending on your preferences. All in all, it's a much quieter, subdued product.

Bare brow

With Blondy Brows

You can see the product doesn't really make much of a difference. If there is any, it's extremely subtle. There's just a bit more colouring overall and the tip of the brow has a touch more definition.

I haven't tried Benefit Gimme Brow but Essence Make Me Brow does seem like a nearly identical offering at literally a fraction of the price. I definitely am curious about the darker Browny Brows shade and feel it would do a much better job at filling in small gaps in my brows and giving a more defined, polished look than Blondy Brows. Having said that, if L'Oréal could make a shade in between Light/Medium and Medium/Dark, and shrink the size of their wand, I'd have my perfect brow mascara.

Actually 'Wearable' Lip Colours

I have a gazillion lipsticks yet rarely wear any of them. It's probably a combination of not liking the feeling of something on my lips, not liking having something on my lips when I need to eat/drink, and not feeling the occasion warrants wearing lipstick. The other night, I went through most of my lipstick collection, trying on each lipstick with a bare face, and I set aside those I deemed acceptable to put into a daily rotation. I suppose you could describe them as the more "wearable", everyday colours that were more flattering than unflattering. Not too opaque, relatively comfortable on the lips, fuss-free and easy to throw on. What emerged were fairly similar colours and textures — warm pinks and rosy nudes in sheerer, glossier formulas.

l-r: L'Oréal Shiny Grapefruit, Revlon Pink in the Afternoon, Australis Jive, Face of Australia Sundae, Face of Australia Cupcake, Revlon Rose Nectar, Lancome Blush Classique

What I pulled out of my collection:

• L’Oréal NutriShine by Colour Riche Lipstick in Shiny Grapefruit
• Revlon Super Lustrous Lipstick in Pink in the Afternoon (415)
• Australis Colour Inject Mineral Lipstick in Jive
• Face of Australia Sheer Gloss Lip Crayon in Sundae
• Face of Australia Sheer Gloss Lip Crayon in Cupcake
• Revlon ColorBurst Lipstick in Rose Nectar (028)
• Lancome L'Absolu Rouge in Blush Classique (337)

The most amusing thing to emerge from all this is I've swatched and mentioned each of these before in separate posts (links are above). I guess lipstick is a favourite topic to feature, photograph and write about, just not actually wear.

Bottom to top: L'Oréal Shiny Grapefruit, Revlon Pink in the Afternoon, Australis Jive, Face of Australia Sundae, Face of Australia Cupcake, Revlon Rose Nectar, Lancome Blush Classique

l-r: L'Oréal Shiny Grapefruit, Revlon Pink in the Afternoon, Australis Jive, Face of Australia Sundae, Face of Australia Cupcake, Revlon Rose Nectar, Lancome Blush Classique

L'Oréal Shiny Grapefruit is a warm rosy pink with subtle silver shimmer. Revlon Pink in the Afternoon is a semi-matte medium warm pink, similar to the L'Oréal but a touch darker. Australis Jive is a dusty, retroish, slightly cool-toned medium pink. Face of Australia Sundae is a "my lips but better" sheer rosy nude. Face of Australia Cupcake is similar to Jive, but sheerer and glossier, slightly darker and more cool-toned. Revlon Rose Nectar is a coral pink with prominent gold shimmer. It has a jelly texture — lightweight, translucent and glossy. Lancome Blush Classique is even glossier than Rose Nectar, almost wet look. It's a brighter strawberry pink.

Will I actually wear these now I've picked them out individually? Well, that's the goal. Though the couple of lip products I've kept in my makeup bag that I bring to work have barely seen the light of day. I don't know about you, but these days, work is one of the last places I feel like wearing lipstick to. Unlike the rest of my makeup (foundation, eyes, cheek colour), lipstick to me is purely for the fun of it. It's that extra, finishing step that makes your entire look just that bit fancier and more polished, or becomes the focal point of your whole makeup (as in the case of a bright, dark, or unusual statement lip). These 7 shades I've picked out are more to enhance one's natural lip colour and to add a non-threatening, natural, plumping tint. Beginner's shades for those that prefer their lip colours to be conservative and unassuming. If I need something easygoing and foolproof on the lips that will complement whatever other makeup I have going on, I know what to reach for.

Priceline 40% Off Cosmetics Haul #7

By my standards, I haven't bought makeup in a while. My last string of purchases was around the tail end of 2015 and I've been positively restrained since. So when Priceline's biannual 40% off cosmetics sale rolled around last Wednesday and Thursday, I sort of went for it. I was once again excited to get my hands on some new makeup to play around with, plus stock up on a few essentials. And for those curious, you can take a peek at my previous Priceline 40% off makeup hauls in April 2013, March 2014, November 2014, March 2015 and November 2015 (I did also buy up a storm in November 2013, but probably was too ashamed to document my excesses or something, since no post exists though I did make a few passing references to items I purchased).

The damage this time 'round, with after discount prices:

• L'Oréal Color Riche La Palette Nude in Beige ($17.97)
• L'Oréal Color Riche La Palette Nude in Rose ($17.97)
• Essie Grow Stronger Base Coat ($10.77)
• Essence Quick & Easy Sponge Nail Polish Remover ($3.69)
• Rimmel Magnif'Eyes Double Ended Shadow + Liner in Kissed by a Rose Gold ($10.17)
• Essence Studio Nails Nail Polish Corrector Pen ($3.33)
• Essence Eyeliner Pen Extra Longlasting ($3.06)
• Models Prefer Brow Highlighter ($5.99)

Total: $72.95

In my mind, it was either this whole bunch of stuff, or the Too Faced Peanut Butter and Jelly Palette (notwithstanding the fact the Too Faced is $58 at Mecca Maxima and therefore a good $15 cheaper, plus basically impossible to get). I still mentally settled for having more "drugstore" products than one high end item.

Let's start off with the two most exciting additions ... the L'Oréal Color Riche La Palette Nude eyeshadow palettes in Beige and Rose. It was definitely an indulgence to have bought both, but it was more of an all or nothing situation. I didn't need either and while I would have opted for Rose if forced to pick between the two, at 40% off, I thought ... why not. I didn't want to buy one, be happy with it, then become fixated on hunting down the other palette the next day, unsatisfied until I had both.

It actually took me a while to realise these weren't the same palettes released in the US that I've heard many an American YouTuber rave about. The shades are completely different. It's super confusing. Over there, they're known by the same name (Color Riche La Palette Nude), but they're numbered 1 (the more beige option) and 2 (the pinker one). The palettes are made in the US and contain a whopping 17.5 grams of product across 10 pans. The packaging is also different — it's bigger and there's a clear window at the front so you can see the shades. The European version, released in the UK and also in Australia, has vastly streamlined packaging. It's a pretty compact unit. There's only 7 grams of product (but still 10 shades) and the palettes are made in China. I don't have the US version so I can't comment on quality/pigmentation differences, but just from online swatches and reviews, it does seem the eyeshadows in the US version have more colour payoff and vibrancy.

Onto the swatches:

L'Oréal Color Riche La Palette Nude in Beige (first half of palette)

L'Oréal Color Riche La Palette Nude in Beige (second half of palette)

L'Oréal Color Riche La Palette Nude in Rose (first half of palette)

L'Oréal Color Riche La Palette Nude in Rose (second half of palette)

Generally, the pigmentation is decent but not amazing. The Rose one is better than the Beige. Better colour selection, better pigmentation. Seriously, if you had to get just one, go with the Rose — especially if you already have Urban Decay Naked 1 or Maybelline The Nudes. I only really love the shimmery bronze in the Beige (the 8th colour across), but it's so common that I'm sure if I had a proper dig around my collection, I could find 5 dupes (or 50). The first half of the Beige palette is very light and not that pigmented, so I question how much use I'll get out of it. I also actively dislike the pale yellow gold (the fifth shade), as it's so watered down and sheer and unflattering that I can't see myself ever wanting to reach for it. It had so much potential to add something special to the palette if it were darker, more molten and reflective, or ultra sparkly with a warmer base colour.

The defining feature of these palettes are the texture of the eyeshadows and the way they apply. It's a drier texture so there's minimal fall out, which is a good thing, despite the sacrifice in colour payoff. It's not that they're not pigmented, it's that they give a more subtle, softer, hazy effect. They're hard to overdo unless you apply layers and layers and really build up the pigmentation. I suppose on occasion, extremely pigmented eyeshadows can be trickier to deal with since they require more work with blending, and can be a little too loud and OTT for the daytime. These L'Oréal palettes offer an alternative. I especially like the mattes since they're smooth, easy to blend and give an even, seamless wash of colour over the lid.

I also bought a couple of nail things. Another base coat from Essie (I'm almost done with my First Base which I was very happy with, but I wanted to try something different) and a nail polish remover pot from Essence (I was planning to get the Maybelline one again, but I figured the Essence was a third cheaper and couldn't be that much different). Out of sheer curiosity, and because it was so affordable, I purchased the Essence Studio Nails Nail Polish Corrector Pen. I've never used anything like it before, but I'm excited to try it next time I paint my nails since my existing method of cleaning up areas I've overpainted involving a toothpick and hand cream is tedious to say the least and desperately inefficient.

Finally, some more eye products. I completely disregarded everything else in this haul. No base, no cheeks, no lips. Just eyes and nails. I couldn't resist getting another Essence eyeliner (I'm using the waterproof version at the moment as detailed in my current makeup menu and learning to get along with it), because at $3, how could I go wrong. I also bought Rimmel Magnif'Eyes Double Ended Shadow + Liner in Kissed by a Rose Gold. Their ScandalEyes Shadow Stick in Bad Girl Bronze is basically one of my favourite products of all time, so I had high confidence in how good it would be. I bought it even without a tester and wasn't disappointed. This shiz is pigmented, man.

Rimmel Magnif'Eyes Double Ended Shadow + Liner in Kissed by a Rose Gold (002)

I mean, just look at it. Absolutely magnificent.

I'm becoming super lazy with my eyeshadow and heavily reliant on eyeshadow crayons/sticks to do the job, so another high performing addition is undoubtedly welcome. Especially when it's double ended with two shades — one for the lid/inner corner, one to add definition and line.

Models Prefer Brow Highlighter

I've been eyeing the Models Prefer Brow Highlighter ever since I started watching Jordan Liberty's videos a few months ago. I noticed he regularly uses Benefit High Brow to highlight the brow bone, bridge of the nose and cupid's bow. Every time he applied it on the model, it looked out-of-this-world ethereal. The Models Prefer seemed like a fairly blatant attempt to dupe High Brow, so I gave it a shot. It looks like the colour of the Models Prefer is darker and more shimmery than High Brow, which is matte and whiter/lighter. Still, I don't think I have anything like it in my whole collection, even if I have something similar colour-wise. I appreciate the ease of use, control and precision of a pencil, and the pearlescent pink gives a girly, angelic touch.

Two US Drugstore Buys

Last day of the year, why not squeeze in a (hopefully) quickie post about the two products I bought from the "drugstore" when in the US in September. One of the things I most look forward to while in the States is of course, the makeup shopping, especially when it comes to permanent products or limited edition releases not available in Australia. Which is precisely why I bought Maybelline Leather Color Tattoo in Creamy Beige and L'Oréal Infallible Eyeshadow in Amber Rush. The former is a matte shade, said to be a dupe of MAC Paint Pot in Groundwork, that hasn't been released in Australia (doubtful whether it ever will be), while the latter is a shade that is missing from the permanent line up here.

l-r: Maybelline Creamy Beige, L'Oréal Amber Rush

Both are excellent eyeshadows in terms of texture, pigmentation and application/performance. I do find that the Maybelline Color Tattoos dry out over time (unlike other cream shadows like MAC Paint Pots or Benefit Creaseless Cream Shadow), which is one major downside to them. But when they're fresh, they work brilliantly. Good colour pay off, easy to apply with the fingers, blend nicely, non-patchy, can be built up in pigmentation, long wear time. The L'Oréal Infallible eyeshadows are arguably even more exceptional. They're truly some of the most pigmented, ultra metallic eyeshadows on the market — high or low end. They're frequently compared with and described as a dupe for the Giorgio Armani Eyes To Kill Eyeshadows, especially since L'Oréal owns Giorgio Armani Beauty. However, my experience with them has been mixed (see reviews on the first five I bought, plus Tender Caramel, Bronzed Goddess and Metallic Lilac, Bronzed Taupe).

Assuming an eyeshadow meets the minimum quality requirements we now expect all eyeshadows to meet, the only factor between love and indifference is the shade itself. A tiny bit cooler-toned, or frostier in finish, a tinge more grey than brown, slightly darker or lighter, can make or break an eyeshadow. Since you can't really try out an eyeshadow on your lids at the store, more often than not, it's a process of trial and error; a long, arduous journey littered with disappointment, but punctuated by rare moments of triumph and redemption. Sadly, in the case of both Creamy Beige and Amber Rush, there was no spark.

Put simply, Creamy Beige applies too cool-toned on my lids — a bit too greyish and muddy against my complexion, not as medium neutral brown as I'd hoped (especially if it was meant to be a dupe for MAC Groundwork). It's a common complaint that if you've been reading me for a while, wouldn't come as a surprise. It's not completely terrible (like Rimmel ScandalEyes Shadow Stick in Trespassing Taupe, or even the Maybelline Color Tattoo in Tough as Taupe, which was unwearable for me), but it's still significantly off.

l-r: Urban Decay Trick, L'Oréal Amber Rush, Makeup Geek Grandstand, Urban Decay Chopper, Max Factor Auburn Envy

The problem with L'Oréal Amber Rush is IT IS WAY TOO SHIMMERY. Just look at it beside similar shades. It's practically white in comparison because of how frosty the finish is. I would've preferred if the metallic finish of the shadow was more in line with the coppery-orange base colour, rather than simply silvery/white. I just don't like how it looks on my lids ... too much mirror shine, not enough actual colour. Even if the extremely pronounced frost finish was toned down, the colour itself is something I have multiple approximations of, so the inclusion of it in my stash was wholly redundant. I do think the quality of the Infallible shadows is undeniable, and for that reason I continue to buy them (my collection is probably around 8-9), but there's not a single one I'm infatuated with. Because, as we know, it's all about the shade.

Superfluous Seven

So ... more haulage. Evidently, I've been shopping too much. In my defence (not that there's any), Priceline was having another one of their 40% off cosmetics sales, and I did buy less than last time. I also did write down a list beforehand of products to get and largely stuck to the list, with a couple of exceptions. If anything, I also wrote down a few other products I didn't buy (Rimmel Exaggerate Automatic Lip Liner in East End Snob, Max Factor Excess Shimmer Eyeshadow in Copper, Bourjois Rouge Edition Velvet in Pink Pong, Essence lip liners), so really, it could've been worse. (Or so I tell myself.)

But seriously, I should stop buying more makeup. I did recently reorganise my stash and threw out/donated some stuff (including finally binning both my Bourjois Healthy Mix Serum Gel Foundations in 52 and 53 which I'd stored in the bottom drawer of my Keji office organisers for more than a year, not using as I was acutely aware they were expired, but not wanting to throw away just in case they were still usable), and surprisingly didn't feel like my makeup collection was out of hand. Despite having a lot of makeup, I know what's there. And I'm happy with the majority of it. The part I'm not overly thrilled with, I'm comfortable keeping because I still see the merits in not getting rid of it. When said merits no longer justify keeping the product, it goes. I'm a lot more active in periodically editing my makeup than any other aspect of my life, despite the volume of items. I do feel lipstick is probably one area that I should exercise more ruthlessness over (Liz's Lipstick Survivor is the standard), but for now, I'm not overly concerned with having about 35 more pink lipsticks, all largely unused, than what's good for me.

Back to the Priceline haul. Here's what I purchased this time, with the discounted prices:

• Savvy by DB Soft Glide Eyeliner in Shimmering Slate ($4.79)
• Essence I Love Extreme Crazy Volume Mascara ($3.45)
• Models Prefer Customised Eye Shadow Quad in Hook Me Up ($6.59)
• Models Prefer Professional Airbrush Concealer Brush ($7.79)
• L'Oréal Brow Artist Plumper in Medium/Dark ($11.39)
• Revlon ColorBurst Matte Balm in Sultry ($10.77)
• Rimmel Magnif'Eyes Mono Eyeshadow in Millionaire ($6.57)

Total: $51.35

Unlike the last Priceline 40% off cosmetics sale, I actually purchased some eyeshadows. I saw Rimmel Magnif'Eyes Mono Eyeshadow in Millionaire featured in this Pixiwoo video, and instantly it shot up my "to buy" list. The Models Prefer Customised Eye Shadow Quad in Hook Me Up was regularly featured on Oz Product Junkie's Instagram and I finally caved. I'd swatched the quad a long time ago and found it awfully tempting, but resisted because I had so many similar shades already. At $6.59 for 4 shades though, I was prepared to risk duplication in case it exceeded my expectations.

The L'Oréal Brow Artist Plumper in Medium/Dark was a total impulse buy, along with the Models Prefer Professional Airbrush Concealer Brush. If you've noticed, I rarely (if ever) feature brow products on the blog. Just like the hair on my head, I don't do the hair on my face (well, except plucking). I have relatively full brows already and can't be bothered putting any product in them on a daily basis. I did try the Light/Medium tester in the store and found it fascinating how it completely transformed the colour of my brows, and the effect that change had on my face and the way my makeup looked. It was an entirely wrong match for the natural colour of my brows (being a relatively warm, lightened yellow brown), so I opted for Medium/Dark instead, hoping it wouldn't be too severe. I can't put the product all over my brows since it makes them look too caterpillar-like, but just a light touch over select sparser areas (especially the tail end) works nicely to achieve a more consistent, polished and fuller brow. I'm guessing Brow Artist Plumper is the "drugstore" version of something like Benefit Gimme Brow, with its microfibres, small brush head, and almost hairspray-like finish. It's a little uncomfortable adjusting to the feeling of product through my brows since I'm not used to it, but after a while, it's not an issue.

I was mainly drawn to the Models Prefer brush due to its similarity in appearance to the Sephora Collection Pro brushes, namely the Airbrush Concealer Brush #57. The latter is $29 in Australia, so $7.79 for a close alternative seemed a good deal. I don't have anything quite like this brush, though the Zoeva Concealer Buffer from the Rose Golden Luxury Set is probably the most similar. The Models Prefer option is not as dense and flares out more than the Zoeva, which is significantly smaller and more a hard nub. I've tried the brush to blend out concealer under the eyes, around the nose, corners of the mouth and over blemishes, as well as for powder highlighter, and it worked brilliantly for both.

The Essence I Love Extreme Crazy Volume Mascara was another Oz Product Junkie-enabled purchase. I've never tried any Essence mascaras, but they're so cheap that I didn't think twice in buying one to test out. I need to finish one of my existing mascaras first before I crack open this one though. The Savvy by DB Soft Glide Eyeliner in Shimmering Slate was a repurchase of an absolute favourite pencil eyeliner. The Soft Glide liners look to be repackaged/renamed Luxury Liners, though they retained the original shade name. I truly haven't come across a better pencil liner from any brand. It's so black, so smooth, so pigmented, soft but not too melty, long lasting and doesn't move. I reach for it when I can't be bothered with the precision of liquid liner, which is literally almost every weekend and every holiday.

Finally, we have Revlon ColorBurst Matte Balm in Sultry. I saw it on Daphne and kind of had it get it based on how good it looked on her. I've purchased 4 Matte Balms, but overlooked Sultry initially. These kinds of shades seem to be gaining popularity recently, so I thought I'd permit myself to purchase it (despite my informal lip product ban) since it at least wasn't pink or peach. On me, Sultry appears like a brightened brick red. It's not too purple or brown on me, but more a deep, vintage-looking, dusty rose. Think Revlon ColorBurst Lipstick in Soft Rose. I wish it were more distinctly purple-tinged on me, but it does lean more conventionally reddish pink. I see Sultry being paired with golden/bronzy eyeshadows and a nude blush for a striking (albeit typical) autumnal look. The Matte Balms have an excellent formula and aren't at all drying on the lips.

l-r: Revlon Sultry, Models Prefer Hook Me Up (Crease, Corner, Lid, Base), Rimmel Millionaire

Bottom to top: Revlon Sultry, Models Prefer Hook Me Up (Crease, Corner, Lid, Base), Rimmel Millionaire

Overall, at just over $50 for 7 products, I'm fairly happy with my new additions. It's hard to isolate my favourite purchases of the haul since they're all so superfluous and unnecessary, but if forced to pick, I'd say the Models Prefer brush and quad are the standouts in terms of value for money. Having said that, I'm sure I could easily find dupes of all the eyeshadows (including Rimmel Millionaire) in my existing collection (e.g. the Lid shade of the Hook Me Up quad is totally Makeup Geek Glamorous/Clinique At Dusk/Too Faced Caramel). Ditto Revlon Matte Balm in Sultry, which is just a slightly darker, more berry, less glossy Revlon ColorBurst Lipstick in Soft Rose. At least I restocked on the best pencil liner I know, tried out a tinted microfibre brow gel, and scored a mascara for less than the price of a coffee that I'm excited to try.

Pouting Pink

As mentioned in my last lipstick post, my newest lipstick additions didn't stop at two She lipsticks. Yet again, I was swayed by a buy one, get one free offer. This time it was the L'Oréal Colour Riche line. L'Oréal lipsticks are a ridiculous $21.95 each in Australia, so the BOGOF placed them at a much more reasonable price point. Initially, I contemplated one of the celebrity-endorsed nude lipsticks ("Collection Exclusive Nudes"), specifically Eva, but I found the formula to be drying. The colour also wasn't anything amazing — it reminded me of a less pigmented, more beige Colour Riche Extraordinaire in Nude Vibrato. I then spotted the Colour Riche Moisture Matte range and began swatching the shades on display. Sakura Petal (P501), a bright but pale, yellow-based pink, immediately drew me in.

l-r: Sakura Petal, Cherry Crush

L'Oréal Colour Riche Moisture Matte Lipstick in Sakura Petal (P501)

Let me tell you something about yellow-based pinks. I'm always on the lookout for them. I find them to be the rarest breed of pink at the "drugstore". There are many, many, cool-toned pinks, from your milky lavender/sheer baby pinks, to mid-tone purplish pinks, to fuchsia/hot pinks and deep berry/plummy shades. But I don't see warm pinks around very often, unless they're vibrant coral pinks like Revlon Matte Lipstick in Pink About It or Sportsgirl Rosie Posie.

The only drugstore yellow-based pinks I can recall are the limited edition Revlon Matte Lipstick in Sky Pink (one of the very first lipsticks I purchased at the start of my makeup obsession — at an obscene $21.95 too), Revlon Super Lustrous Lipstick in Pink in the Afternoon and Revlon ColorBurst Matte Balm in Elusive. Along with MAC Viva Glam Nicki, those are probably the only yellow-based pinks I have. It doesn't help that the natural pigmentation of my lips turns almost any pink more blueish and cool-toned, especially if the formula is sheer.

When it comes to lipstick, I'm all about brights and the novelty of the colour itself. Sakura Petal is one of those crazy grandma shades in that it's both old-fashioned and clownish. It also makes my teeth look frightfully yellow. But I don't care. It's magic.

l-r: L'Oréal Sakura Petal, Revlon Sky Pink, Revlon Pink Lemonade, Sportsgirl Beauty Queen, MAC Creme Cup

Revlon Matte Lipstick in Sky Pink is close to Sakura Petal but lighter. Sportsgirl Beauty Queen looks similar but due to its sheerness doesn't translate as very yellow-toned on the lips. MAC Creme Cup is more pastel and dusty, not as neon as Sakura Petal. Revlon ColorBurst Lip Butter in Pink Lemonade is much paler and more of a milky peach.

Speaking of coral pinks, I tried on Cherry Crush (P502) from the same Moisture Matte line and was sold. What was happening — two warm pinks?! The texture is a lot smoother and it's more forgiving on the lips than the drier, patchier Sakura Petal which requires a perfectly primed pout.

l-r: L'Oréal Cherry Blossom, Revlon Pink in the Afternoon, Maybelline Vivid Rose, Sportsgirl Rosie Posie, MAC Chatterbox

Annddddd I think we've found our "drugstore" MAC Chatterbox dupe. Chatterbox might be a touch more pastel, but we're splitting hairs. Of course, the finish is entirely different — Chatterbox is creamier, with a satin rather than matte finish. Revlon Super Lustrous Lipstick in Pink in the Afternoon is more peachy nude in comparison. Maybelline ColorSensational Vivids Lipstick in Vivid Rose, which I thought would be similar, is hugely more neon and saturated in high-intensity pigment. Sportsgirl Rosie Posie is more orange/coral, less dark pink.

Now that we're done with that, it's evident I need to consider a serious pink lipstick ban. I was going to say lipstick ban period, but let's not be overly ambitious. Baby steps.