Friday, August 03, 2007

Let's have a talk

Let's have a talk about lip gloss. Do you like it? Do you hate it? Is it pretty? Is it overdone? Is it classy? Is it tacky?

I'll go first. I used to have a gloss obsession. When I was in seventh grade, anything glossy was ok by me. Sparkles? Yes! Fluorescent colors? Bring 'em on! Pearlized swirls? Why not? By high school (or probaby, eigth grade), I had mellowed out quite a bit. I liked sheer colors, with maybe a little bit of bit of shimmer, but nothing too obnoxious. I did still like an awful lot of shine, though.

Eventually, gloss got to be too much effort. My usual gloss, pictured at left, was a nice, sheer, non-obtrusive color, but my hair would stick in it whenever I moved my head. Ick.


So, I switched to lip balm. Some, like my longtime favorite Dr. Pepper Lip Smacker, have a nice wash of color that looks natural as well as pretty. My current obsession is Burt's Bees lip balm with pomegranate oil. It does a nice job of moisturizing, and it's a faint red color as well. I got quited used to the natural look, and started avoiding gloss.

Of course, when I needed to dress up or feel pretty, I wanted a bit more color. I would always use (and still would, if I hadn't run out last week) L'Occitane lip balm in blackberry, because it had a nice, solid color, and lovely texture too. Because it was only really lightly shiny, it had a gorgeous sophisticated look. Actually, I miss it like hell and desperately need to get my hands on a new pot of the stuff. It really is fabulous.


But lately I've been wondering if I might return to gloss. I'm still very much over bright colors and annoying sparkles, but I think a little bit of shine and sheer color looks kind of youthful and sweet. Or, if I may use a shameless marketing word, it looks fresh. I bought a Bobbi Brown lip duo the other day, and I think I'm going to wear it to a party tonight. Hopefully, it won't feel like a regression to seventh grade, and hopefully, it won't feel upsettingly tacky either. But I doubt that'll be a problem.

But I'd still like to know: what do you think?

17 Comments:

Blogger Tru said...

I hate when lipgloss and hair stick together its awful. and I actually own that lip gloss. hmm anyway I usually wear covergirl lip stick in a very nice color for my skin tone (ppl always ask me if my lips are really that color or is it lips stick) and over that I either wear nothing or I put my juicy lacomne clear gloss over it.

8:08 AM  
Blogger Joy said...

I'm a fan of gloss as long as it isn't sticky and doesn't have little shiny crystals or whatever in it.

10:37 PM  
Blogger La Principessa said...

No matter how I feel about gloss, I'll always have a place in my heart for lipstick. Nothing else is as old-school glamour.

And yeah, sticky gloss is definitely the worst, forever to be banished into the realm of tacky!

11:23 AM  
Blogger Emma said...

Oh, I hate lip gloss. It makes me feel like a shiny, sticky little prostitute. And yes, I agree with tru...my hair does not like being captured by gloss.

But at one point in my life I did succumb to the Dark magic that is Bonne Bell...that sorceress.

1:11 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

i got that burts bees lip balm and its perfect

6:07 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I use the burts bee a lot, if I am going out, I *might* do something glossier but usually go gwen stefani style with some red lipstick. oh yeah I said lipstick, it's regal, like la principessa said - old school glamour.

7:00 AM  
Blogger Jaclyn said...

xI dont mind lip gloss, i love the shine! I cant stand the lip glosses that when you speak, or even open your mouth the gloss makes a long gross line of lip gloss in between your lips. Thats just gross! but i have to agree the burts bees is the best lip balm around. My problem is that i hate having nothing on my lips!

3:51 PM  
Blogger M said...

Hey I'm happy to see you're back!

I really like the Aveeno lip balm that I get at the drugstore. It's softer than most lip balms and smells nice and has sunscreen. It give a nice sheen but not really glossy.

The L'Occitane lip balm you posted looks nice. Does it give just a sheer color or quite a bit of color?

10:39 AM  
Blogger La Principessa said...

I think I tried that Aveeno lip balm, and really liked it.

The L'Occitane one can be pretty clear, but you can stack more on for intense color. It's great that way, I really, really need to buy more...

3:32 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

lip balm forever! I don't really like lip gloss, that's too sticky !

11:41 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I like to pile on the Burt's Bees with pomegranate oil over the Just Bitten lip stain I recently bought from Revlon's new Limited Edition range. It's great because with the balm I get a nice, subtle shine. And the stain I highly recommend because it applies light, but so potent. Especially if you put a few layers on.

6:40 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

the best is Kiehls. hand down AND with spf ya!
looks better than any any thing u ever saw in any 2d magazine,

10:53 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Hi
I think we all should move from lipgloss into lipstick once we finish high-school. However, I would recommend you try a hybrid, that is lipgloss effect (not the watery shine though) in a lipstick form. I use a Dior one that it's just so wonderful. You've got the shine in proportion, no whateverberry smell teenagers wear, and your hair does not stick (ok, maybe when a lot of wind comes it does). try it!

11:16 PM  
Blogger Weekly Blogette said...

I love Bert's Beeswax lip balm. So tingly on my mouth!

2:13 PM  
Blogger lauren rene, said...

I like clear lipgloss that isn't sticky. But even then I use lip balm more often.

10:34 AM  
Blogger Kasmira said...

I just bought the Benefit Sexy Gold Lip Gloss (only available at Sephora) and I LOVE it. It looks nice alone, but even better layered with red lipstick.

I don't find it too sticky, but it still lasts longer than other glosses I've tried (i.e. it doesn't slide off!)

Kasmira
whatiwore2day.blogspot.com

12:14 PM  
Blogger Mackenzie said...

i LOVE Nivea Kiss of Cherry and Kiss of Strawberry chapstick/lipgloss. Such pretty, long-lasting colors, and it really prevents chapped lips!

1:45 PM  

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