Dose Of Colors Liquid Matte Lipstick in Truffle

Dose of Colors is hands down the brand I have wanted to try for the longest time, but it has been pretty challenging to get in Europe. Now this has changed as Beautybay started carrying it. I initially wanted to pick up the liquid matte lipstick in Stone, but that shade seems to be sold out all the time everywhere. I was lucky enough though to snatch Truffle, which has been on my radar as well. I have tried quite a few liquid lipstick formulas and I wanted to see how this one compares. To find out just that keep on reading!

The reason why I got interested in the brand is because it's vegan and cruelty-free, plus it's still a rather niche brand. I personally like to support niche and indie brands. The product comes in a really nice cardboard packaging which is colour coded. The liquid lipstick tube has a frosted-glass effect that is very sleek and modern looking. I personally think the packaging and overall presentation is on point. Besides being vegan and cruelty-free the Dose of Colors liquid matte lipsticks are formulated without parabens and gluten. That is why the shelf life is only 6 months before the product goes bad. 

The applicator is quite unique. It's not your traditional doe foot. It has a slight dent which allows for more precise application and control. I never mess up when using this product. It's much more user friendly compared to others I have tested. In terms of formula it doesn't disappoint. It's opaque with one swipe and doesn't dry too fast, which means you can still perfect your application if need be. As it's a matte liquid lipstick it will be drying, but it's not as drying as for instance La Splash, Sleek and Stila. I noticed that I start feeling like I want to apply lip balm when I have worn it for about 3-4 hours. I think that's pretty good for a matte lipstick. Usually with other similar products within an hour or so I start feeling like it's crusty and super drying. 

Dose of Colors Liquid Matte Lipstick in Truffle

When it comes to longevity it performs really well. If I eat salad or something non-greasy during the day it can easily last the whole day. It doesn't wear off ugly like some matte liquid lipsticks tend to do. This can be due to the formula but also the shade. It's very close to my natural lip colour therefore you can't really see distinctively where it has worn off. In terms of shade I would describe Truffle as a darker pinky-nude. It's in the same colour family as for example Mac Velvet Teddy. Below, I have swatched it next to the Sleek Matte Me Lip Cream in Birthday Suit. They are quite similar, but Sleek's Birthday Suit is more rosy. Sleek is also a cruelty-free brand but I have been put off when I noticed that the shelf life of it's Matte Me Lip Cream in Birthday Suit is 36 months! 

L-R: Sleek Matte Me Lip Cream in Birthday Suit and Dose of Colors Liquid Matte Lipstick in Truffle

Overall, I am very pleased with the Dose of Colors Liquid Matte Lipstick in Truffle. In the future I would like to try other colours such as Stone and Cork, but for now I am pretty satisfied with what I have. If you are looking for a cheaper alternative of similar shade, Sleek's Birthday Suit is a good one (as long as you are not bothered by an insanely long shelf life for a liquid product).  

I hope you found this useful. Let me know if you have tried any of the Dose of Colors liquid lipsticks and what are your favourite shades!

Cheers,
Muffy

Kjaer Weis Cream Blush in Embrace

I am not a fan of cream blushes. When I think about cream blush I can't help but feel like it's messy, will slide off my face and leave a greasy residue. But recently I came across a new brand of makeup called Kjaer Weis. Her cream blushes seem to get exceptional reviews and I decided to give it a go. I picked up the lightest shade in the collection called Embrace.

Kjaer Weis cream blush in Embrace

Kjaer Weis is an organic luxury brand. Her products come in a modern yet sophisticated packaging which is refillable. I highly appreciate the brand's zero-waste packaging ideology. As I already have a few z-palettes I opted for a refill option just to see how I get along - plus it's cheaper. I do wish to get a proper compact eventually. 

Now let's talk a bit about the actual blush. It's a nude-pink colour which would look stunning on fair to light-medium skin tones. On me it looks more pink as I have a light-medium complexion but, for instance, on my friend who is paler it pulls more nude. It's made in Italy from certified organic ingredients including castor seed oil, beeswax, jojoba seed oil, rosa rubiginosa seed oil and gardenia florida fruit extract. It doesn't contain coconut oil which makes it suitable for sensitive skins prone to breakouts.  It's free from  gluten, petroleum, parabens, artificial colouring and fragrance. It has a shelf life of 12 months after opening.

Kjaer Weis cream blush in Embrace

In regards to performance I can't say enough good things about this blush. It's highly pigmented, easy to apply and lasts on my cheeks for a good 8 hours. It doesn't leave a greasy residue but rather sets to a demi-matte finish. It blends effortlessly and is foolproof. You can apply this blush with your fingers or a synthetic brush. I use the Makeup Geek Angled Stippling Brush and it gets the job done. Since this is a cream product it doubles up nicely as a lipstick. I am not a fan of such pale colours on my lips but I can totally see myself using the more darker colours from the range.

Kjaer Weis cream blush in Embrace swatch from the pan

Kjaer Weis cream blush in Embrace slightly blended

Overall I am very happy with this purchase. It has fast become my go to blush and I will keep getting a lot of use from it especially during Spring and Summer months. In Finland you can purchase Kjaer Weis products from Jolie. If you have been unsure about cream blushes, this would be a good place to start. If not for yourself I think Kjaer Weis products would make great gifts especially for someone in your life that appreciates niche brands, design and makeup. 

Let me know if you have tried any other products from the Kjaer Weis makeup range, I'd love to know!

Cheers,
Muffy