L'Oreal Shine Caresse Stains: Princess & Juliet.

Swatched: Princess, Juliet.

I believe the true name for these glossy lip stains is 'L'Oreal Colour Caresse Wet Shine Stains', which is fucking ridiculous. The direction the industry is headed will see the worth and value of a product measured by the yardstick of ALL THE WORDS. 

Riding on the coat-tails of the hype surrounding the YSL glossy stains, L'Oreal tricked me into casting my moral objection for the brand* aside (again). Ok, so while I may not have been coerced into purchasing, a 3-for-2 deal and my designs on their Telescopic Mascara (waterproof) sealed the deal. Shame on me.

However, let me redeem myself. These glossy lip stains pack a decent punch, smell deliciously of raspberries and feel oddly cooling to the lips, just not in the horrid peppermint plumping product way. Who doesn't want bright orange or red-ish/purple-ish stained lips that smell of summer berries? WHO?

The texture is near indescribable, I would need to possess a much more spectacular vernacular. So let's stick with: gel-like but not gel-like at the same time. It's both wonderful and unsettling, and once the glossy layer is gone, you're left with such a beautiful, effortless stain.

The gold, plastic packaging isn't my aesthetic. I want artsy with a little bit of fartsy, not a tube I'd feel shame whipping out to reapply at an organic breakfast cafe. Think a pot of Korres lip butter, or Nuxe Reve de Miel, or some other European brand. My fig and fennel sprouted toast deserves more of a follow-up.

Plus, I will admit to wrestling with the wrong end of the tube a number of times. Logic.

Overall, packaging and policies aside, I like the product. No, I love it. I'll just have to excuse myself to the privacy of the bathroom for my post-breakfast touch-up.

*L'Oreal is notorious for their animal testing policy.