For 2015, Almay is finally adding more lip products to their range! The au naturale brand is known for their "smart shade" system, "taking the guesswork out of finding your perfect shade". The new Smart Shade Butter Kiss Lipstick Collection ($9.49 CAD) is of course no different, with a rich shea and coconut butter formulation, these lipsticks promises color and shine. To see some swatches, click......
So how the Smart Shade system work is that all the lip colors are divided into skintone categories and shade categories. I have here swatches of all the shades for "light" skin tone.
Packaging:
The lipsticks feature a very simple colored bullet (that matches the shade) with a clear cap. The design is sort of similar to the new Revlon Ultra HD Lipsticks (reviewed here).
Formulation:
Infused with coconut and shea butter, this lipstick definitely feels more rich and moisturizing compared to the average lipstick. In fact, they feel more like a heavy balm. The pigmentation is fairly sheer and the finishes have a natural sheen. Compared to the Revlon Lip Butters, these have a heavier formulation that's even more moisturizing. Pigmentation wise it's very similar.
These guys aren't super long lasting, to me they are more like low-maintenance tinted balms, something you can easily swipe on without a mirror or lip brush. Each skin tone has four color categories:
Berry-Light: Soft mauve-y plummy pink.
Nude-Light: Soft peach nude with soft sparkles.
Pink-Light: Pastel baby pink.
Red-Light: Sheer cherry red.
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| Berry-Light |
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| Nude-Light |
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| Pink Light |
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| Red-Light |
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| From left to right: Berry-Light, Pink-Light, Red-Light, Nude-Light. |
These are some great tinted balms! I love the rich formulation and I think the Smart Shade system is great for no-fuss makeup lovers. I would be quite interested in trying some of the shades designed for darker skin tones as well. The reds especially look so gorgeous and inviting!
Availability:
The new Almay Smart Shade Butter Kiss Lipsticks are available now at drugstores nationwide.
