I'm getting old. I used to smoke. These two things don't work well together in the lip area if you want lipsticks and glosses that stay and don't stray. Tiny little lines around the margins of my lips mean an unattractive creeping and crawling sprawl of lip product in tiny little stripes. Tiny, but quite apparent in that Crazy Cat Lady way.
Since I consider myself infinitely more sexy that nutty Aunt Louise and her slapped-on lipstick, a solution needed to be found. My beloved MAC Prep + Prime Lip holds lipstick in place (let it set before topping- that's the trick) but wasn't the solution for the creepy bleeding issue.
Did Gaia, The Non-Blonde, hold the answer to my prayers in her ever-capable hands?
Surely you can't be in suspense if you read the headline,
but in case you're confused or interested in hearing more, keep reading...
Browsing my Google Reader a few months ago, I happened upon a rave review by Gaia in which she touted the smoothing, anti-bleed properties of Chantecaille's Lip Contour Fill. In fact she actually opened her review with this bold statement: "I'm pretty sure Chantecaille Lip Contour Fill is going to end up on my Best Of 2010 list."
Now, I happen to admire Gaia and consider her taste impeccable and her advice quite worth following, so immediately Lip Contour Fill went on my "must-try" list.
Here's the scoop: You're meant to put this lip pencil on around the lip margin (though you can fill in the whole lip if you like, too) and it will stop bleeding and fill lines. Fairly simple, but that has been promised by other products before.
The pencil is chubby but not stubby, and appears to be a ruddy pink (you know, that "skintone" shade that matches no one?). When applied, the product has a nice slip - it's not waxy or dry or thick like I suspected it would be. I also was surprised to note that there is no color at all to the liner when it's on the skin.
Inside: Vegetal derived Amino Acids, Aloe Vera and Vitamin E.
My thoughts: I know I was miserable without this pencil, and I know my life has changed because of it. That sounds dramatic, right? I mean, it's not solving the problems of the world by feeding the hungry, halting injustices, or cleaning the ocean*, but it did change things for me nonetheless.
While Lip Contour Fill doesn't seem to have the slightest impact on longevity of wear, it is outstanding-stellar-thebomb-othersuperlatives at what it does: stops feathering and bleeding. A lot. And it's quite compatible with the MAC lip primer I use, so when you put them both together you have lip perfection!
I could have written this review in one sentence:
Chantecaille Lip Contour Fill prevents lip product bleeding and feathering so well that it even keeps my favorite lipgloss, a bright fuchsia called Hothouse, in place**.
A bright fuchsia that I can wear without worrying about checking in the mirror? I love this stuff.
Like Gaia, I'm pretty sure Chantecaille Lip Contour Fill will be on my Best Of 2010 list.
$28 from Chantecaille, Nordstrom, Saks, Begdorf Goodman, and Neiman Marcus.
Random notes because I'm feeling verbose!
* Chantecaille actually does help the ocean! Take a look at their philanthropic side here.
* I am delighted to say that Hothouse will be back (in special packaging!) in the Venomous Villains collection from MAC. Look for it in September.
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