LANEIGE Two Tone Tint Lip Bar Swatches and Review

LANEIGE started 2017 with the launch of 8 Two Tone Tint Lip Bars, the tinted-balm versions of their bestselling full-coverage Two Tone Lip Bars.

Over the past two years, I've pretty much tried every single shade in their line, and I love how pigmented they are. In fact, most times I'll wear them like regular lipsticks with both shades blended together. The pigmentation and texture (for me) far outweighs any fun of getting a two tone effect. They just happen to be really good lipsticks. Period.

I do occasionally find the regular Lip Bar formula just a bit drying. They're not matte, but they also won't add enough hydration when my lips are feeling a bit ragged. So it was kinda cool that the brand launched tinted balm versions.

The balm portion is made of up the same yummy berry-flavored formula as their Lip Sleeping Mask, which I use as a daily balm. (It's a huge pot, and I get 4-packs for cheaper when I travel.) 

The tips also have a V-shaped cut instead of the original slant, in order for there to be a higher proportion of the clear balm for nourishing the lips.

To call them tinted balms would be slightly inaccurate, simply because most tinted balms are super sheer. When I first swatched them I was expecting a translucent sheen, so I was quite surprised. These give significant pops of color to the lips and you actually have to blend them out a little if you want a sheerer softer look.

I received 4 shades out of the 8 to swatch in my press box, and the rest of the shades can be viewed on laneige.com. As you can see above, the colored section is pretty intense, and once you try it you'll realize that despite there being a translucent balm section, the choice of shades is on the vibrant side, so they give a bright and made-up look to the lips even when sheered.

If you are looking for "barely there" natural balm tints, these are not it. If you want something that you can smear on without a mirror, I think these may not be it either. If you are prone to messy applications, these are a bit too bright and obvious to hide that.

I will say I enjoy these for casual days when I want to wear minimal makeup and colorful lips, but am not feeling up to a more drying formula. They do feel super silky and hydrating, and you get to enjoy your favorite K-trend colors without sacrificing on lip care.

LANEIGE Two Tone Tint Lip Bars retail at $34, the same as the regular Lip Bars.

Shine Caresse CC Genius Balms

L'oreal is launching 6 shades of Shine Caresse CC Genius Balms (SG$19.90) in April in Singapore, and I haven't been able to keep my hands off these the entire week. I've been wearing them to work daily, and I'm in love with the soft medium pinks in the series.

If you've followed me for a certain amount of time you will know I am a huge lover of matte lipsticks and intense opaque formulas in general. But in the recent year or so, my lips have been feeling quite dry and prone to flaking and rashes. I get around that by wearing creamy nourishing formulas more.

I'm probably committing beauty blasphemy by saying I didn't quite like the Revlon Balmstains (except the matte ones) and Colorburst Lip Butters that were so incredibly popular a couple of years back. Somehow the many separate times I bought and tried them repeatedly, I found many of the colors a bit patchy and the formulas not really that hydrating on my lips. In fact I was probably irritated by some ingredient in them as I would mostly flake or itch after a few hours.

My favorite "swipe on and go without a mirror" lipstick in recent years was actually a Colour Riche Balm from L'oreal, which was not sold in Asia and that a friend in the US sent to me to try. So I was very excited to see that they were bringing the new Shine Caresse CC Genius Balms to Singapore.

Though there are only 6 shades available in Singapore, I have to say they are all beautiful choices. The light is a bit bright above, so you should expect the colors to be slightly deeper than they look above. My favorite is the warm candy pink 704 Statement Pink, which I had thought would look too bright and garish, but turned out quite lovely. But 713 Daydream Beige, 703 Ispahan Rose and 706 Drama Burgundy are gorgeous as well. 

I had expected 708 Fearless Red to be patchy and uneven based on the wrist swatch, but the texture of the formula smooths out easily on the lips and it really did not look patchy on me once I pressed my lips together.

These have become my current "swipe and go without a mirror" choices. 

Don't expect these to last like long-wear formulas, but they don't disappear quickly either considering the creamy balmy formula. The brighter and deeper shades cling a bit better and will provide a mild staining effect. Not a lot - just enough that the color doesn't just disappear too quickly. And they feel so plush and smoothing that I don't mind reapplying them like balms anyway.

All in all, worth checking out!