For Fall 2014, Smashbox has released a line of long-wearing hybrid lip lacquer/lip stains that applies glossy and settles into an alluring stain after the shine wears off. The Be Legendary Long Wear Lip Lacquers ($28 CAD) come in twenty different shades and today I have a very vampy blackened plum called "After Dark" to swatch and review for you, to read more, click......
What it is:
Formulated with vitamin E, this long-lasting gloss/stain hybrid applies glossy and leaves lips stained for up to eight hours.
Packaging:
The Lip Lacquer comes in a short rectangular lip gloss tube with a matte back cap. The applicator is a flat, hourglass-shaped doe-foot.
Formulation & Pigmentation:
"After Dark" is a very dark plummy maroon with a subtle shimmer. Because the color is so dark, there was quite a bit of patchiness because the formulation is not very opaque. I had a lot of trouble trying to smooth out the colors so there is an even coloration on my lips.
In terms of formulation, the product feels like a nice, lightweight, and non-sticky gloss. The shine worn off after about two hours and the lips were stained for about three more hours. I am not a fan of this particular shade but I am very confident that many of the other shades in the line will perform much better.
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| The lighting in this swatch is a bit deceiving, the shade is darker and vampier in person. |
Overall:
This is a nice staining gloss with a light-weight and moisturizing formulation. The shade "After Dark" is a bit patchy and it's not an easy color to pull off, but if you love dark plums, this could definitely work for you, especially if paired with an equally dark lipstick underneath.
Availability:
Smashbox is available in stores and online at Sephora.
