I'm always looking for an excuse for a blog post (inspiration is lacking a bit at the moment) and so as I've got both, I offered to do some swatches.
The picture below was taken this morning, so its in daylight without flash. To give you an idea of what the shades are really like, I'm a MAC NW15 that doesn't tan at all. I'm not quite deathly pale, but I'm not far from it!
Top to bottom you've got Dior Lip Glow Colour Reviving Balm, Smashbox O Gloss, then Smashbox O Glow.
The idea behind all three products is that they work with your skin to make the perfect colour for your complexion.
Do I buy that? Mmm. No. I think they work with heat, a bit like the old mood lipsticks that looked green in the tube but went on pink that seemed so magical when you had them as a kid.
That's not to say that I don't like the products, but I just don't believe the "perfect colour" business if for no other reason than i ended up with the Smashbox O Gloss because my friend Charlotte bought it and it didn't look right on her. Surely it should look right on anyone if it matches your skintone?
That little rant aside, I quite like all three products. The two Smashbox products are slightly more blue based pinks than the Dior, which is more of a warm pink. I'm happy to wear either, although I do love how a blue based pink helps make your teeth look brighter. Smashbox actually make a Smile Brightening Lip Gloss for this very purpose but thats another review for another day!
Its quite hard to do a like for like comparison on the lip products because they're different types. The Dior is a balm and the O Gloss is (funnily enough) a gloss.
As glosses go, O Gloss isn't massively sticky which I like. It turns a nice shade of pink, but I wouldn't expect it to be massively noticeable. Its more a subtle flush than "POW" pink. I don't find that the glossy element has massive staying power, but really what gloss does?
The Dior Lip Glow, being a balm, is much more moisturising than the O Gloss. As a personal preference, I like this texture much better as I like to feel my beauty goodies doing something more than looking nice. The other major plus point for the Dior product is the packaging, which is just gorgeous and girly:
The nice thing about the "O" products - and this is especially nice in the O Glow as its a cheek colour - is that they do leave a stain of colour. I did these swatches before I got in the shower at around 7:30am today. The swatch of the O Glow was on my arm all day, until I scrubbed it off in the bath at 8pm! The downer to that is when you apply the O Glow it stains your fingers pink...and it really is the shade of pink on the tube too!
Overall, I'm a huge Smashbox fan and I've really never been disappointed with anything I've had from the range (which, due to my lack of self control is quite a lot) and the "O" products are the same. even if they do only react with heat, its a lovely shade of pink that lifts your skintone and makes you look that bit brighter and that's what you want in a blusher isn't it?
As for the Lip Glow, its the only Dior item I own and I wasn't disappointed at all. The only thing that lets it down is the price - around £20!
So, what about you? Do you like the idea of something that turns your "perfect" shade of pink? If you've tried any of these products I'd love to know what you think of them..
P.S. - Lee, thank you for the post inspiration!
5 comments:
Beth, thank you so much for doing this post. I have heard so many mixed reviews of the products through my Twitter question that I think I need to bite the bullet and find out for myself :) xx
Ooh, I've been wanting to try the two Smashbox products for a while now, but was wondering how much of a gimmick they were so this was really useful for me (particularly given that I'm a fellow pale person!). Sounds like they're probably worth trying on next time I make it to a Sephora - I do like the idea of them, but share your skepticism about the "perfect" shade!
@ Lee No problem at all! I think products like these are a bit tricky to assess without trying them for yourself. If you can I'd say try it at a counter, or better yet get them from QVC. They've got a 30 day no questions returns policy and so if it doesn't work for you, you can return it.
@ Amber The two Smashbox ones are definitely worth a go. I'm a huge fan of the Dior one, though. Almost obsessively so. The whole product is just so pretty - next time you're nead a Dior counter give it a go. I think they do a gloss too.
xx
Worryingly, I have two of these and have considered purchasing the third. Step away from the colour changing make up clair, you are not 10.
@Clair It not colour changing makeup, its science, see? At least thats the principle I'm working on.
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