RSSNever Buy Lipliner Again
November 15, 2008
On October 17th, I told you about my purchases from Paula’s Choice 50% Sale page (Friday’s Gift Better Be Good). It seems the company is shifting its position more closely to its original mission of producing the finest skin care products at the fairest price. I think it’s a good plan. The beauty business must be tough enough, let alone doing it over the internet.
I didn’t buy many of the makeup items because I’ve been scared off by so many unhappy purchases from Avon, where you can’t handle the real product before you buy. Samples are helpful but add another step to the purchase process, and by then you’ve found the product elsewhere. Returns from Canada are always a pain.
Anyhow, I did buy the Toffee lipliner. It is GREAT! A light flesh-tone a la Kevyn Aucoin that goes on with good opacity, and disappears into lips. Do you know the wonder of Aucoin’s work? You can read more about him in the article Kevyn Aucoin : Anything is Possible. Words cannot describe the fine man and makeup artist that he was.
Have you ever looked at Aucoin’s makeup and colors in a store? They look a little strange in the display but freakishly couture on the skin. It shows a masterful undertstanding of makeup and skin coloration which I completely aspire to. I’d be lying if I said I come close to grasping it, but W-O-W.
Other colors look spineless by comparison, but I understand why that is. The consumer is the mass market, not a population of makeup artists, so colors and textures have to be blander or women like me wouldn’t know how to use the product. Have you ever seen Kevyn’s Sensual Skin Enhancer? I am dying to buy some but cannot figure out which color to buy. It looks a bit like glistening putty.
Kevyn Aucoin Sensual Skin Enhancer
To assist us, we have the cosmetician. Her makeup has a Tammy Faye resemblance, like a thick yellow layer on her face that seems to magnify every pore. It makes it hard to concentrate on anything else. If you scraped your thumbnail along her cheek, you’d have a big gob of rainbow gunk to wipe off. There are 2 smears of blush right across the cheekbones upon which rest the mandatory magenta rectangular glasses with jewels embedded in the bars. The lipliner, which is probably scented, is present in abundance. There is lots of gold, most notably in the form of a chain you could use to drag a tree stump out of a ditch. You know the obligatory Chanel bag is stashed back there somewhere.
Oh my. This individual is not coming from my imagination. In her defense, she quickly and correctly identified me as being from another planet, wished me fun, and left me to play. I left without the SSE.
My apologies, I always seem to digress…
The Toffee lipliner (not scented) stays put for 2-3 hours, even with gloss over top, a cup of green tea, and a morning of non-stop appointments. The color is quite shockingly neutral, not at all pink or orange. I may reapply the gloss or lipstick, but the liner is still doing its job. Among lipliner’s duties, one of the most important is to not draw attention to itself and this product does that admirably. Check out this fantastic color.
L to R, Clarins 03 Naturel-Just Nude, L'Oreal The Sexy Beiges, Paula's Choice Toffee
Same colors, L to R, as picture above.
You can sample this, but even if you don’t, you’re only out $3.98 (and remember there’s a colorless option (not on sale)).
I ordered 8 of them. Shut up, did I really? Oh, yes I did. And everything’s 10% off in November. I’ve decided I need more moisture, so I bought the Skin Recovery and Moisture Boost Toners, as well as the jumbo bottles of Skin Recovery and Skin Balancing Normal/Dry Cleansers. Every winter, my skin feels drier. This year, I’m doing something about it.
Comments
6 Responses to “Never Buy Lipliner Again”
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A Greener Tea
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Where can you buy Kevyn Aucoin here in Canada (Toronto/Mississauga)? I have only been able to find it in the USA and on line at Sephora. His products are amazing! Thanks……I DO love Paula’s line of pretty much everything!
Hi, Jody,
I don’t know if you can buy it here. It nags at me that there was one place that carried it but I can’t pull it into my head. You could contact them at the site directly. Actually, I think I’ll do that.
There are many online places to buy, even with free shipping, but you really have to know what you want.
I saw the products in Michigan. I’d love to own more/review the products but I don’t get there often and it’s at the upscale malls, where I don’t hang out.
Paula does indeed have some very very nice things.
I’ll let you know if there is a Canadian retailer.
From Kevyn Aucoin Beauty,
http://kevynaucoin.com/store.php
All in Western Canada. BC has 4 places to buy!! Sheesh. What is that?
Thanks Christine! With our climate and changing weather, our skin color is always in a state of flux. It’s hard to know if you still use the same color makeup you used 6 months ago! I will continue to try and find a Canadian source as well…..Good luck to both of us,or my sister is going shopping for me where she lives in South Carolina, yet again.
Jody
Jody,
For the last few years, I’ve used a different product ( foundation) in summer and winter. I actually blend the 2 in whatever proportions seem right.
I agree with you. Both the color AND texture of skin are completely different in summer/winter, at least in Canada. I don’t know why I waited so long to change my skin care routine but I’m glad I did. My skin feels noticeably calmer and happier.
I was disappointed that Paula is discontinuing the makeup—I had purchased a few “color” items and really liked them. But as you pointed out, makeup is a ferociously competitive area, and tough to sell online.
However, if she stops making the concealers and pressed powders with SPF 15 I will break down into sobs. Her concealers are the best I’ve ever used–period. ( Haven’t tried the foundation yet.)
Guess it’s back to the ole Clinique counter for color. Bought Delovely lipstick yesterday btw—-really liking it.