Dolce and Gabbana Passion Duo

I am a huge HOOR for glosses. This should not be late breaking news to anyone. However, what is news is that I started paying attention to lipsticks again. Especially, with Fall waiting for us this weekend I am craving something with more bite and staying power. Also, I just did some inventory on my current gloss supply - I really don't need another for a couple of years.

Lucky for me Dolce and Gabbana has introduced the Passion Duo, a gloss fusion lipstick. It's a multi-tasking product that contains gloss in the middle of the lipstick. This is like the Estee Lauder gloss/lipstick duo, Sensuous Rouge, I reviewed last week. But I think I like the D&G version a little better.

I chose the shade, Poetic, a warm toned magenta. It's very subtle, but you can see bits of fine glitter in the gloss portion. I will be wearing this with a nude eye and lots of layers of black mascara. I would guess the lipstick portion is the classic cream formula. It has a great amount of pigment - it's very creamy. I actually tested and this before going to the gym. I blotted this just to tone down the intensity. Even as a stain, I still felt moisture on my lips endure through an intense treadmill walk until an hour session of pilates. This stays moist on my lips longer than the Estee Lauder version.

I had to hold back and put down the nudes and soft pinks. I decided to go with the bold statement color.

And here it is again but this time with flash:

Here it is compared to the other bright pink and fuchsia in my current collection:

MAC Lickable, Cremesheen Formula is a cool blue toned hot pink and NYX Chloe is a red-violet fuchsia (sorry, was that redundant?).

It's a great color and but what really does it for me is the formula. As you know, I have super sensitive lips and this feels great on my lips. Sorry, but if I have to choose I'm going to have to go with this version - even though it's $6 more than EL's ($28). Plus, I love the rose scent of this lipstick - not the generic packaged rose scent you are use to but it's more like the faded scent of your Nana's sweater rubbed off on you after  spending the entire day with her.

As far as packaging - the Passion Duo tube is a bit longer and slender: I love hearing that "CLICK" when you close the lid. A sickness, I know but only the truly mad beauty addicts know what I'm talking about!

A quick note - there are a bit more ounces in the regular lipstick (.13oz) vs. 0.10oz in the Passion Duo lipstick. I will probably only pick out one more tube, because of the high price tag.

I don't think this is a limited edition - if I am wrong please correct me! There is also a total of 10 shades - I'm sure there is something for everyone!!

Purchased by yours truly at my local Saks Fifth Avenue, SF. You can also find it online if you are not anywhere near a Saks counter.

$34 USD/.10oz

NYX Round Lipsticks Satisfies My Short-Term Cravings!

So I find myself at Ulta last Monday morning (President's Day Holiday in the States) as my car is getting fitted with new tires. I guess that flat tire Saturday was truly a blessing in disguise. I love that my husband found a Firestone shop that was walking distance to Ulta - "You can walk to Ulta while you wait!"

LOVE THAT MAN!

I walk in there and who do I see? I see my sister, Kim - makeup shopping is the BEST with your sister or BFF. Husbands, Boyfriends, cranky babies - not so much.

So as she was off debating whether or not to buy the UD 24/7 glide pencil anniversary set (she held off) I was browsing the NYX collection. I was always curious about their Round Lipsticks. My sister, Tatiana shares my same lip affliction so if she tells me a lipstick is good to her lips then I'M LISTENING!! She owns a lipstick and she claimed that it felt fine on her lips.

And for just $3.99 I am all ears! I also tore out an Ulta coupon out of the latest InStyle magazine - $3.50 off a $10 purchase** (there are restrictions, of course). Recently, I spotted a $5 off a $10 purchase coupon at Ulta in the March issue of Allure. There are restrictions of course...don't forget to read that fine line!

Here's what I picked up:

L to R:
Eros, a fiery red that has a bit of a gold sheen - it looks orange in the tube.
Chloe, a cool fuchsia that leans a bit on the red side with a bluish iridescence

(NC 42 skin tone)

L to R:
Eros
Chloe

I paired Chloe w/MAC Soar lip liner to tone down the fuchsia a bit for work.

Eros manages to dress up my hooded sweatshirt. Ah the beauty of photo sessions in my bathroom!

For $3.99 it really pigmented with a lot of slip. It feels moisturizing - I get about 2.5 hours (3 if I'm not doing too much water or coffee drinking) wear time. The next morning I did feel a bit of rawness on the top line of my lips. It's okay since it's such an inexpensive buy. I will have these on reserve for date nights or girl's night out - I don't see myself wearing these to work. Also, the colors I bought were influenced by the current Spring trends I am seeing in the magazines. I know I am not going to wear these again past Summer but maybe here and there in Winter.

NYX Round Lipsticks are a great buy if you want a color that's purely seasonal or for just a special occassion. I did find some great nude pinks I can see myself pairing with a smoky eye for work. I just have to go back and pick one up. The way my lips felt after one day of wear pretty much tells me that I shouldn't invest too much to collect all the colors.

Yes, $3.99 is a great price for a great pigmented lipstick but not worth the raw, itchy peeling the next few days after wearing for a few days. But I am willing to give it another shot!

I purchased my lipsticks at my local Ulta store.
http://www.ulta.com/

or you can find NYX online:
http://www.nyxcosmetics.com/