Welcome to the bitten/gradient/ombre lip trend that's already more than 3 years old.

I understand that there will be a significant time lag when western beauty brands ride on the Asian beauty trends, but this really came a little late! Considering this release is actually designed for the Asian market, I expected them to create something like this a lot sooner.

I don't think America will appreciate the bitten lips trend anytime soon, because they love the illusion of fuller lips. The bitten lip does the exact opposite, by making the lips look smaller.

Maybelline recently released 6 shades in this new product line. It retails for SGD$16.90.



Each lipstick contains three colours: a concealing colour, a blending colour, and the main colour. Designed to easily create the Korean style just bitten lips, otherwise known as ombre/gradient lips.



The colours vary from red to orange.


image via cocopsyche.

I tried to get the official swatches, but I noticed it's just digital manipulation and not the real thing. Here is a swatch I found :)

The colours seem to blend in with each other almost perfectly (except for RD01)! Ridding you of the need to manually blend the colours with your fingers. The colours also look very wearable. I'm especially delighted to see a darker colour here (RD03).

From the swatch, you can also see it has a slight sheen to it, but definitely not enough to call it glossy.

Ending thought:
I'm happy there's finally a more affordable alternative to Laneige's Two Toned Lip Bar (SGD$34). Maybelline has perfected their lipstick formula so you can be pretty sure the lipstick will be comfortable to wear on your lips. While this is not a long lasting lipstick, do expect it to feel a lot more hydrating and lip balm-y than long wearing formulas.

On a side note, I think they chose a very unflattering promotional picture of their model. She looks like she has permanent duck lips because her upper lip is so pouty naturally. Hahahahha I can't help but laugh when I saw this. Pardon me. QUACK.

Sheer is in!

Visee is release two brand new products this fall, both emphasizing becoming of age as a woman. It's a small collection!

The keyword for this collection is probably sheer and translucent, since both products is designed to achieve that effect for a more subtle and mature look.

Both products will be released on 21st August in Japan.

FOGGY ON CHEEKS | 1500 YEN

A pigmented blush that has a sheer and soft finish, it can be built up for a more vivid colour. The baked blush will gently hug your skin for a natural look. Formulated with emollients to keep your skin hydrated and supple.

Available in 5 colours.

GLOSSY LIP JELLY | 1300 YEN

A gloss that adds dimension and shape to your lips, it goes on smooth without the stickiness one would commonly associate with lip glosses. Formulated with squalane for moisture, it acts like a lip balm to keep your lips pouty all day long. The colours are designed to blend into your original lip colour to enhance your natural beauty.

Available in 8 colours.

Ending Notes

I quite like the direction Visee is going - translucent. It just gives off an air of effortless beauty. Strong colours might sometimes come off as trying too hard, or makeup mishaps. Giving your skin the ability to shine through means others still get to see your natural beauty, enhanced and not covered.

This is mildly exciting!

Canmake don't usually release a themed collection, and this time it's the same. It's a handful of random products, some are new, some are just new colour additions to the existing line.

That's not to say it's not exciting though! I don't really care too much about having an over arching theme, neither do I look for an over arching connection between all the new products. As long as the products are awesome, you got my attention.

This fall, Canmake is releasing mostly lip products.

LIP TINT JAM | 650 YEN

A clear lip tint that develops color over time. The longer you wear, the stronger the stain. Available in three colours (03 is limited edition).

It differs from their popular LIP TINT SYRUP - the packaging is a clear plastic instead of an opaque one. Other than that I'm not too sure about its consistency since I can't find any description of it on the internet. But it should be a little more firm than the syrup? Since it's called a jam?

LIP AND CHEEK GEL | 600 YEN

Melts on the skin to impart a natural colour for the healthy glow. Can be used on the lips as well, making it convenient to achieve colour harmony on the face.

This is a new colour, but Maquia didn't publish the colour code of this. It's too new and even the Canmake official site haven't been updated yet. 

YOU LIPS ONLY BALM | 650 YEN

A colour changing lip balm that adjusts to your moisture level. Formulated with an SPF of 15 and PA++ to protect your delicate lips from UV rays.

It's a balm form of the YOUR LIPS ONLY GLOSS! It might be up your alley if you want something less glossy!

VOLUME LIP LADY GLOSS | 700 YEN

A honey like gloss, volume up your lips with this lip gloss that can functions both as a bottom and top coat. Also formulated with and SPF of 15, PA ++.

From the swatch it looks a little pearlescent? Either way, Canmake make awesome lip glosses and I can personally attest to that.

Image credit: Maquia

Underwhelmed is an understatement.

Kate is finally releasing new products for fall! About time!

I know they usually release a new palette every season even though the colour variation is similar to previous products. I thought this would be similar to all the other releases but I'm wrong!

Apart from the eyeshadow, the other products really didn't wow me. Canmake and Visee both made something similar, so I feel that there isn't much Kate has to offer in terms of innovation here. Just a rehash on products that's already out there in the market.

COLOUR SENSOR LIP TINT | 1400 YEN

A lip tint that changes colour according to your chemistry! The difference is just slight, I find it very gimmicky so I'd do without the swatches. If you're interested, you can click here to see them on their official site. It is available in 7 colour variations.

The only one that will really show a huge difference would be the shade BK-1, turning from a greyish tint to a pinkish tint. But Canmake already released something exactly the same before, so pardon the lack of enthusiasm here. Everything that's colour changing is just too gimmicky for my liking.

The only redeeming quality is perhaps the applicator, it's designed to be used perpendicular to your lips so you can coat the top and bottom lip at the same time! Hopefully this make it easier to achieve gradient lips.

DARK NIGHT GLOW | 1600 YEN

A new eyeshadow quad, containing one cream base and 3 powder eyeshadow, the colours are muted and look very wearable. I was going to say it's a rehash of older series, but truth be told, the colours are actually new. Even though it's the same colour combination (it's meant for daily wear, so you really can't get too creative with the colour combination or it'd end up looking too impractical), it's the first time I see such muted colours.

The eyeshadow base helps the later eyeshadow adhere better, and allows their colour to be more vibrant. You'll get a frosty/metallic shade and two darker shades to define your eyes to make it pop. I must say I'm in love with that metallic sheen that imparts so much dimension to the eyes! Literally make your eyes look like headlights!

Available in 5 colour variations.

CC LIP AND CHEEK CREAM | 850 YEN

Riding on the success of their CC lip balms, they now come in a bigger packaging so you can use it as a cheek cream too! The formula aims to give you natural looking colours. It's also hydrating and protects your lips from UV rays.

Available in 2 shades.

You know what? I'd tell you to save your money and get the 480 YEN CC lip cream instead. They're basically the same thing, just packaged differently.

As a Kate fan, I'm not overly excited by this release. But then again, how much newness an you bring into the market given the ton of competition around? I can only hope their quality stand out from the rest :)

Image credit: Kate and @cosme.