I can’t wear most liquid lipsticks, and I’ve been dying for lip gloss to make a comeback. Though liquid matte lipsticks are still going strong, lip gloss is seeming to have a moment.
Several months ago, I bought my first lip gloss from Anastasia Beverly Hills, the shade Caramel, and it was love at first use. Here’s my original review. I laughed because I called it “a must for freezing temperatures”. It’s finally over 90 here, and I still love Caramel regardless of the temperature. It’s opaque, not sticky, so hydrating, and for a lip gloss it’s fairly long-lasting. The color – a pink/brown mix – is so flattering, and great for neutral lovers or for everyday.
Because I love Caramel so much, I decided to buy another shade during Ulta’s recent 20% off coupon event. I was hoping to buy a red opaque gloss, but ABH’s Lip Gloss line that is sold at Ulta is mostly neutrals, especially shades of brown, with a couple of purples thrown in. Disappointing. I should have checked the ABH website where there are 51 highly varied shades, and I should have waited till they had a sale. Oh well.
From the choices on Ulta.com, I thought Metallic Rose (on the top) might suit me best and might be the most different from Caramel.
It arrived last week along with the rest of my Ulta haul, mainly staples that I needed to replace: Rituals Sakura Hand Cream, Joico K-Pak Color Lock Hair Treatment, Vitabath Heavenly Coconut Creme Body Wash, and Benefit Bad Gal Bang Mascara. The ABH Metallic Rose Lip Gloss was supposed to be the fun makeup product in the mix.
Unfortunately, I was really disappointed in Metallic Rose that ABH describes as “shimmery dusty rose”. I expected it to be opaque like Caramel, and it’s not. It’s translucent color as you can see from the swatch.
The shade is a nice light pink that doesn’t really look dusty rose to me. Plus it turns out to be not particularly metallic, IMHO. It’s slightly sparkly on my arm, but not so much on my lips. And because it’s translucent, on me, it’s at best a MLBB shade. I think it would be an OK gloss topper, but certainly not a wow.
It has the same flat easy to use applicator and the same vanilla scent as Caramel and the rest of the line. It’s priced at $16 for 0.16 oz.
Because I’m underwhelmed by Metallic Rose, I think I’m going to return it to Ulta. I’ll check out the other shades and see if I like any of them enough and if I do, I’ll exchange it. Or else I’ll get my money back and wait to buy a red on the ABH website.
Nevertheless, I still strongly recommend ABH Lip Gloss if you’re a lip gloss fan. I’d just stay away from the metallic or iridescent ones unless relatively sheer, somewhat sparkly glosses are your thing. 🙂
Have you tried ABH Lip Gloss? Do you have a shade you love?
Shame that the different finishes lead to such huge difference in pigmentation! Have you tried the new Bite Beauty French gloss?
I haven’t been to Sephora in so long, Shireen, that I have totally missed out on what’s new with Bite Beauty. I didn’t know they had a gloss, but I will definitely look. I like BB lippies.
Oh no! Was hoping you would love it. I would love to find a lip gloss in a pretty rose opaque shade that is NOT sticky. Every lip gloss I have tried is way too sticky and so I have stopped buying them.
I’m going to return it tomorrow, Sandy, and I’m hoping I’ll find another shade that I like. If not, I’ll wait for a sale on the ABH website or check out the selection at Sephora. The ABH website has soooooo many choices, there may be an actual opaque rose!
I’m not a lip gloss girl but when I do wear it, I prefer the highly pigmented ones like those!
Funny timing, I recently dug out & have been enjoying a metallic red Rimmel lip gloss from a few years ago that looks like this one. Is the Anastasia gloss sticky? I’m a weirdo, I prefer sticky gloss because it stays on longer.
Also, have you tried Kokie liquid lipstick? It’s not that drying, especially if I wear a thin layer of (yep) sticky gloss underneath. Good coverage & longevity.
I have heard of Kokie, Linny! I have to look it up. Maybe they’ll have an opaque gloss I’ll like?? Honestly, liquid lipstick just doesn’t do it for me. I can wear I Want Jesse’s Girl liquid lipstick and Sephora liquid lipstick with lip balm underneath as long as I don’t wear them very often. I’m much more a regular lipstick or gloss fan because my lips are naturally dry.
I saw a new cosmetics display going up in my Rite Aid & stalked the store until they unveiled Kokie. I bought the shade Duchess, which is similar to the nude pinky browns you like. I’ve also bought eyeliner pencil & nail polish (thumbs up), a brush (didn’t like/will return) and an eyeshadow palette (meh).
Oh, Rite Aid! My local RA has a rather small beauty section, but I will try a few of the Rite Aid’s around here and see if I can find Kokie. Yes, you’re right, Linny, I love those pinky-browns for every day, so I’ll be on the lookout for Duchess. I’ll check out the eyeliner pencils especially if they have grey or navy or deep purple or green. I’ll let you know if I find it! Thanks, Linny <3
Linny, Anastasia Lip Gloss is stickyish but not super sticky, ie my hair isn’t stuck to my mouth all the time. But as far as lip gloss goes, ABH is rather long lasting, for me at least!
I’m sorry you were disappointed since the color is pretty. But you are smart to check elsewhere to find exactly what you want.
Sorry about that. I prefer more color in my lipsticks and glosses too.
Yes, give me opaque lipstick and gloss. I returned ABH Metallic Rose today.
I am a total lip gloss girl, and I like light washes of color– so this would work for me, and I think that it is quite pretty on you. That said, it doesn’t appear very metallic, and since it isn’t opaque– it seems like a bit of a miss for you.
I’m glad you’re a lip gloss fan, too, Helen. Maybe if enough of us band together, other brands will also start to bring back gloss! I returned ABH Metallic Rose today since I knew I wouldn’t wear it. “Light washes of color” describe this shade very well! I think you’d like it especially since it isn’t really metallic or sparkly.
Such a pretty shade on you! Delicate and rosy!