Back when I worked as a legal assistant in the city — what I like to call my cubicle days — I would take quick mental health breaks throughout the day, like whenever I overheard one of my attorneys say, “That shouldn’t take long. Karen will handle it.”
I’d hunker down behind my monitor and start applying lip gloss like a MAD WOMAN!
I think it kept me sane… Mostly, I liked my job, but it wasn’t always emotionally easy. Lip gloss helped me get through the day. 🙂
What kinds of lip gloss? It varied, of course, but I didn’t wear many high shine varieties (many were too sexy for the office). I was partial to work-friendly shades like the ones in Fusion Beauty’s Lip Fusion Collection ($40).
Blush, a sheer and creamy baby pink
It’s a limited edition holiday set with six little Lip Fusion Color Shine Glosses in a mix of basic nude, pink and bronze.
Bare, a shimmery and sheer nude
The colors look pretty work appropriate — noticeable yet subdued — and deliver medium shine.
Goddess, a shimmery golden bronze
Boca Babe, a shimmery tangerine
Crave, a shimmery golden pink
Clear (like the name implies), a shimmerless clear
Pros
- Color: With the exception of Clear, each one is richly pigmented, and together they provide a good mix of basic, work-friendly shades.
- Shine: Medium vibrancy that leans more toward professional than sexy
- Texture: Medium-weight and smooth (non-sticky); feels comfy on my lips
- Taste and scent: Taste-free, with a light orange scent that fades fast
- Moisture: Non-drying formula
- Plumping: They’re supposed to plump, but I didn’t notice anything beyond lips that were exceptionally smooth.
Cons
- The size of the tubes: I wish they were bigger. At .05-oz apiece they’re quite small.
- Tingle: Lip plumping glosses can sometimes sting (some plump by causing minor inflammation). Fusion Beauty says these glosses aren’t supposed to sting, but I did feel a tingle. At least it disappeared quickly (thank goodness!).
- Packaging: I don’t know if it was something I was doing wrong (how hard is it to close a tube of gloss, LOL?), but a couple of them oozed a little
I like the variety and richness of these colors, and their smooth texture and medium shine make them great for office jobs, but $40 seems a little expensive for what you get. Still, if you’re looking to get a bunch of work-appropriate glosses in one fell swoop, it might be worth a try. Makeup and Beauty Blog Rating: B
Um, where did 2009 go?
Can you believe it’s December? Sometimes I feel like we were just talking about the Y2K bug, and now it’s almost 2010!
How are you doing today? I’m just chugging along, looking forward to finishing my work so I can head out to get a Christmas wreath.
Hope you’re having a good one! 🙂
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
YadiQ says
December 1st, 2009 at 2:56 pmooohhh these look fantastic
i am afraid of the tingle though
Karen says
December 1st, 2009 at 3:05 pmIt’s not too tingly! It’s actually kinda pleasant, unlike some of the ones I’ve tried in the past which leave my lips feeling burnt. 🙁
Aww, look at you in your avatar! Super cute!
Rose says
December 1st, 2009 at 5:00 pmHm. The only lip glosses I used to buy were lip plumpers. My favorite was the Duwop Lip Venom. For some reason, this brand always looked too intense for me, lol! I’m not a fan of lip plumpers anymore, but I do love the Bare Escentuals Buxom glosses.
Karen says
December 1st, 2009 at 5:06 pmHi Rose,
I’ve tried those before. I didn’t really notice a big diff in the plumping department… maybe I’m just immune, LOL!
Stef says
December 1st, 2009 at 5:20 pmRose, IMO these tingle WAY less than DuWop.
I find the tingle in Lip Fusion kind of nice! DuWop practically hurts.
Karen, agreed. $40 bucks is a lot for these tiny lil’ things. But a full size tube is almost that. It’s kind of nice you get to try a few shades. Boca Babe and Crave are really, really pretty.
.-= Stef’s last blog post… Our mega giveaway – $1270 in beauty products! =-.
Karen says
December 1st, 2009 at 5:26 pmIt’s like the tingle reminds me that I’m still alive, LOL!
Sheila says
December 1st, 2009 at 9:52 pmI like Blush! But not a fan of tingly lippies =(
.-= Sheila’s last blog post… Awesome deals from Cosme-De! 45% off Guerlain! =-.
amy says
December 1st, 2009 at 10:51 pmThese look like mini fruit punch vials! I do wish they are a bit more pigmented and opaque though.
.-= amy’s last blog post… Dior Cristal Boreale Holiday 2009 Collection: Smoky Crystal #089 5 Couleurs Palette Fard À Paupières Lumières Vibrantes Review, Swatches and Product Pictures =-.
Meghan says
December 2nd, 2009 at 4:59 amOh man, I totally love lipfusion glosses! I think they do a great job plumping, but I don’t think they are too tingly; plus the colors are so pretty! I’m a total masochist for lip plumpers, I LOVE lip venom, and I have been known to pair the too faced lip injection mask (looks d/c) with lip injection EXTREME.
If I wasn’t dirt poor I would pick this up in a heartbeat. The lipfusion sets are a fantastic deal.
.-= Meghan’s last blog post… Urban Decay 24/7 Swatches =-.
Karen says
December 2nd, 2009 at 7:17 amYou go! I can’t hang with the DuWop. I tried it once and that was enough to freak me out forever, LOL!
BlovetBeauty says
December 2nd, 2009 at 5:38 amblush gives u the perfect pout!
.-= BlovetBeauty’s last blog post… Black Rimmed Eyes =-.
Karen says
December 2nd, 2009 at 7:16 amThanks!
Tavia says
December 2nd, 2009 at 11:30 amI like Blush, Crave and Clear….they are the perfect shades for me 🙂
.-= Tavia’s last blog post… Estee Lauder – Blacker Than Black – Winter 2009 Collection =-.