Shiseido Shimmering Rouge Lip Colour

I was given this as a present a year or so ago and I absolutely loved it! The only problem I had was when I went to repurchase. I couldn't find it easily and then when I saw how much they go for I was a bit disappointed. Although I love it a lot it is around $30 CAD, and for how fast I used it up I just can't justify it!

This lip colour is somewhere between a gloss and a lipstick. It has a transparent pigment that's shimmery as well as glossy. But it's not overtly either of those, it's really quite subtle actually. And I really like the texture of it. It's smooth and transfers evenly and it just feels nice. It's not sticky at all, and there's barely any weight to it. 

Unfortunately like anything with a high gloss it doesn't have a whole lot of staying power. But it's worth it for the colour it gives my lips. I'm not sure if it was just the shade I got (OR405 Sizzle) or if they all do it, but I use this when I want a more natural finish. So this is my perfect "my lips but better" product. I feel like it just enhances the colour of my lips and makes them look more polished. I wish so much I could ignore the price tag!

Shiseido Shimmering Rouge in OR405 Sizzle

Annabelle Volume Lip Plumping Gloss

I got two of these in a sales bin a few weeks back. I saw the colour and couldn't resist! I've really been liking the bright corals and neon oranges this summer. I got 840 Metro Mango and 845 So Sanguine.

Although these swatch beautifully, they just weren't what I was expecting as a lip colour. They're hard to apply because you have to squeeze the bottle as you're applying it. The texture is quite sticky and it bothers me almost as soon as I apply it. And the worst part is that my base lip colour doesn't work with the gloss colour.

I tried making my lips closer to my skin tone with concealer (Rimmel Wake Me Up Concealer, reviewed here), which actually did a really good job of making the colour better and the texture not quite as sticky. It is still hard to apply though. I use a brush, which also helps get the colour even across the lip. Quite a process for a gloss!

Swatches of Annabelle Volume Lip Plumping Gloss
Top: 845 So Sanguine 
Bottom: 840 Metro Mango