Lipstick week

A handful of my recent purchases

Apologies for my recent absence. Between my post-holiday crash and burn, and my return to work my mind increasingly became muddled, overwhelmed, and unable to grasp ahold of the words.

The words, why do you escape me?

This week let's take a closer look at some of the lip products I picked up during my trip to Hawaii.

C'est Si Bon! Dior Addict Fluid Stick

Dior Addict Fluid Sticks

Dior first released these back in February and I didn't really give them much thought. "Meh, another lipstick, but I'm not biting." Once Dior dropped them in the US, my intrigue bloomed tenfold as the reviews trickled in. It's funny how the blogging community can simultaneously help and hinder my makeup addiction.

When I mulled the description of the Dior Addict Fluid Stick over in my mind, I couldn't help but picture Easy Spirit's ad -- looks like a pump, feels like a sneaker. The lipstick cross gloss is the fanciest mutt I've ever seen. From the sleek, sterile, syringe-like lucite tube to the glimpse of colour cradled tightly within the bullet shaped mould, this dose of lipstick is just what the doctor ordered.

Dior Addict Fluid Sticks (from top to bottom): Mirage, Vertigo and Kiss Me

Soft gloss wrapped in vanilla melts onto the lips, the slick then dries down to a sheen and finally the stain fades leaving you just where you started less than five hours prior. The cilia-laden applicator sweeps product across the lips with delicacy and efficiency -- I really love me some multi-tasking applicators.

The texture is slippery, never sticky. In saying that, I did notice the colour pooled on my lower lip, close to the centre. As a result I had to perform a small amount of clean up. Dior's newest formula doesn't dry out the lips, however it will hug flakes close like a long lost relative if you fail to exfoliate prior to application.

Swatches from left to right: Mirage, Vertigo and Kiss Me

Dior Addict Fluid Stick in Mirage

Mirage is a tangerine blush muted down with brown undertones. Average wear time is around four hours.

Wearing Dior Addict Fluid Stick in Mirage

Dior Addict Fluid Stick in Vertigo

Vertigo is a raspberry pink leaning red and perhaps my favourite of the three reviewed here. Average wear time for Vertigo clocks in around five hours.

Wearing Dior Addict Fluid Stick in Vertigo

Dior Addict Fluid Stick in Kiss Me

Kiss Me is a greyish light pink that surprised me, because I normally steer clear of powder puff pink. Kiss Me's longevity is comparable to Mirage. 

Wearing Dior Addict Fluid Stick in Kiss Me

The testing of all three colours has been rigorous to say the least since being placed in my hot little hands almost four weeks ago. Dior Addict Fluid Stick delivers true colour in the form of lip gloss with lipstick attitude.

The Bagful breakdown:

Total amount for Dior Addict Fluid Stick:

• $50.00 AUS / $35.00 USD

Value for money spent (performance and quality):

• 9 out of 10 bags — Next to Burberry, this is my second fave lipstick formula.

Would another purchase be on the horizon?:

• 'Tis expensive, but I just snapped up Wonderland and Pandore. This girl's always gotta have options.

Beauty in a tick: Diorshow Fusion Mono in Chimere

Diorshow Fusion Mono

For me Chimere almost embodies two of the best and basic MAC Pro Longwear Paint Pots, Bare Study and Painterly. However, Chimere is a touch more transformative without being too in your face. To boot, I manage to avoid having to fiddle about with two cream eyeshadows. Trust me when I tell you it's my least favourite thing to do when it comes to applying makeup.

Chimere illuminated by daylight

Swatch of Chimere

According to Urban Dictionary, Chimere is defined as "a dream that you cannot touch." Dior's version of Chimere (a metallic tinged pink) delivers a touch of Chandon Rose without even having to take a swig of champagne; but, if you're offering please do hand me a flute -- sparkling wine will even do.

Chimere looks lovely on its own and even plays well with other eyeshadow formulas.

Wearing Chimere on my eyes

And daydreaming about cookies

To create the look above I first applied a chocolate brown shade from Le Metier De Beaute's Silk Road Kaleidoscope Eye Kit to the outer half of my eyelid with an angled eyeshadow brush (I swear this particular brush cuts my work in half). I then blended out the hard lines and carried excess eyeshadow into my crease to create depth. Finally, I dabbed on Chimere with MAC's 239 on the inner half of my eyelids and lined the lower lash line with Chimere as well.

Black mascara and brown eyeliner (tight lined) tied the rest of this look together.

On my lips I'm wearing Dior Addict Fluid Stick in Mirage. Perhaps, my favourite lip formula ATM.

Chimere isn't a creeper, it stays put like a good eyeshadow should.

The Bagful breakdown:

Total amount for Diorshow Fusion Mono in Chimere:

• $50.00 AUS / $30.00 USD

Value for money spent (performance and quality):

• 9 out of 10 bags — Easy like Sunday morning.

Would another purchase be on the horizon?:

• Working on building up my Fluid Stick collection.

Addicted to Dior Addict Fluid Sticks

Dior Addict Fluid Sticks (from top to bottom) in Mirage, Vertigo and Kiss Me

All three are being put through their paces. Dior Addict Fluid Sticks aren't your typical lip gloss formula -- lightweight, non-sticky and unscented.

I'm in love. Review and swatches to follow.