REVIEW: ColourPop Ultra Matte Lip Liquid Lipsticks – Trap, Kapow, Bumble, Limbo, Beeper & Clueless

September 17, 2015May 11, 2016 / Fiona Seah / 38 Comments

Hey everyone!

Indie brand ColourPop has been all the rage in the social media scene lately because of its dirt cheap cosmetics (I’m talking about US$5 on average for every item) and honestly, even as a MAC loyalist I found it hard to resist the temptation to lay hands on their products.

colourpop

For those not in the know, ColourPop is a rather new online-only American beauty brand that offers mainly single eye shadows, lipsticks (like, literally retractable long lip sticks), liquid lipsticks, blush, bronzer and highlighter. I am particularly interested in their matte liquid lipsticks because public reception of it has been mainly positive and I was enticed by the promising swatches on Instagram.

Using a freight forwarder (because it’s cheaper that way), I placed my first order with ColourPop early last month when new shades were launched for its matte liquid lipstick range. However, due to high volume of orders being received during that period, my order took a whole 6 business days (as opposed to the usual 3-5 days) to be processed and shipped and another 10 days for it to arrive at my doorstep. That’s 16 days of agonizing wait and also the longest I’ve experienced so far. But as anxious as I was, my excitement soon took over when the delivery man came knocking on my door!

Product packaging and a handwritten note from the folks at ColourPop which read: “Hey Fiona. A wise man once said only fools rush in. He clearly was not referring to makeup. xoxo ColourPop”

Packed in a white sturdy paper envelope, the white slim boxes containing the liquid lipsticks had “ULTRA MATTE LIP” printed in holographic silver. The flaps on both ends of every box were left open, suggesting that the tubes were manually inserted into the boxes in a haste. What stood out for me was the handwritten note that came in the parcel. Although the main body text were obviously mass-written, it was still a nice gesture which added a personal touch to the order.

ColourPop Ultra Matte Lip at US$6 each

ColourPop Ultra Matte Lip

Among the list of items in my order were 3 new shades: Beeper, Clueless and Kapow. The rest have been around since June this year. From the above picture, you can somewhat tell the rate at which the different shades turn matte.

#1 Trap

Trap is a dusty greyed out beige with a matte finish (US$6)

Trap is a dusty greyed out beige with matte finish (US$6)

Trap

One of the major concerns I get about matte liquid lipsticks is that they are extremely drying. Trap being matte would definitely be drying to a certain extent but it didn’t leave my lips feeling parched or stiff. In fact, it actually felt lightweight and sat pretty well on my lips. Unfortunately, Trap seemed to crack quite a bit for me. Although not very obvious from afar, it still annoyed me a great deal and I had to keep reapplying to mend the gaps. It also flaked quite badly when I wiped my mouth with a napkin. Apart from the nice colour, I honestly can’t think of other reasons to have it.

#2 Kapow

Kapow is a muted grey taupe with matte finish (US$6)

Kapow

Kapow (true to this colour)

Kapow

I understand that all lip products would tend to appear slightly different on the lips than the colour perceived on the packaging, depending on the natural lip colour. But I didn’t expect the disparity in Kapow to be that dramatic 😐 That aside, Kapow is the contrary of Trap. It didn’t ball up on my lips nor flake. It’s extremely velvety, and it doesn’t emphasise the lip texture and lines that much. It dries down very quickly so you have to be really quick to even it out.

Kapow swatch comparison with lipsticks

I don’t have any other matte liquid lipsticks to do a fair comparison for my haul but here’s one for Kapow, just to show you how consistent and pigmented it is as compared to some greyish-taupe lipsticks.

#3 Bumble

Bumble is a dusty warm terracotta with matte finish (US$6)

Bumble

Never thought I would say this but Bumble, a muted reddish-brown, is actually my favourite shade from this purchase. It’s a lovely everyday colour (perfect for fall) that doesn’t come across as too loud. It applies very evenly, has a better consistency than Kapow and is definitely a lot stronger in the longevity department.

#4 Limbo

Limbo is a deep chocolate brown with matte finish (US$6)

Limbo

Like the darker shades I’ve reviewed, this retro brown shade gives a luscious and intense colour payoff while providing full coverage. It glides on smoothly with a single swipe with no need for a second coat. It’s a colour that will complement dark skin tones really well. However, it does leave hairline cracks (not sure why but they are silver) on my lips upon application and flake over time.

#5 Beeper

Beeper is a warm mid-tone taupe with matte finish (US$6)

Beeper

If you’re looking for a nice mid-toned brown liquid lipstick, here it is! It has a creamy and highly pigmented texture but sadly, there would be visible signs of cracks on your lips if you don’t smile which would rub off a bit when you blot them.

#6 Clueless

Clueless is a dusty mauve pink with matte finish (US$6)

Clueless

A muted rosy pink that dries and sets into a soft baby pink (the shade of pink which I dislike), Clueless appears to be less pigmented than the other shades here, so it’s kinda disappointing. Also, the formula for this is so crumbly, it started to flake after an hour!

About 9 hours of wear

There was still quite a fair bit of product left on my lips after spending close to 9 hours outdoor under the sweltering heat, eating and drinking. I had to constantly rub my lips (which explains the powdery texture along the corners because I didn’t want to retouch it) so that some colours would transfer to the areas where the lipstick had worn off.

The very first time I use these matte liquid lipsticks, I didn’t know how to remove them! Some of them have such great staying power, even my regular makeup wipes couldn’t work. If you’re facing the same problem, here’s a tip:

To remove matte liquid lipsticks, dab your lips with some petroleum jelly (e.g. Vaseline) and let it sit for a few minutes (in the meantime you can remove the makeup on other parts of your face). Then, using a damp towel (or cotton puff), remove the product off your lips.

To sum things up, the lighter shades definitely look more streaky than darker ones. The colours are mostly opaque but they all tend to be a lot lighter and duller on the lips than hand swatches, so it’s best to look at lip swatches before you making your purchasing decisions. Application is a breeze as you can easily line and fill your lips with the doe foot applicator which provided a consistent flow of colour. Most of the shades lasted me at least 5 hours with minimal eating and drinking. All in all, the ColourPop Ultra Matte Lip series gives you more bang for your buck!

What do you think of these new offerings by ColourPop and the brand in general, ladies? Any products in particular that you like? Let me know your thoughts in the comments below!

Also, more ColourPop reviews are under way so keep your eyes peeled to this page!

Thanks for reading 🙂

Colourpop Ultra Matte Lip is now available on colourpop.com for a limited time. SHIPPING within continental u.s. IS FREE FOR ORDERS OVER US$30. Quote “THANKSBABE” upon checkout to enjoy a US$5 discount with no minimum spending.

NEW: Ribena’s Pineapple & Passionfruit Fruit Drink

September 12, 2015May 11, 2016 / Fiona Seah / Leave a comment

Hey everyone!

One of the joys of being 90’s kid is becoming acquainted with iconic brands like Ribena, which is known by the people of my generation as the childhood “fruit drink” typically sold in large cordial glass bottles. But despite my huge love for Ribena as a kid, I never had the luxury of having one at home because my parents disliked buying cordials for convenience reasons. Thus I would usually get my Ribena fix elsewhere, such as my affluent cousins’ kitchen, where the refrigerator was always stocked with surplus Ribena goodies. On good days, I would even score a brand new box of Ribena pastilles when my cousins had realised that they had bought too many of it. Ah, those were the days!

Fast forward more than 10 years, the much-loved nostalgic drink remains my guilty pleasure but the product itself – both taste-wise and aesthetically – has undergone many transformations to keep up with the times. Many different ready-to-drink flavours were introduced in the past few years (I particularly love the divine combination with lemon) to enhance the familiar taste of the blackcurrant fruit beverage. Regardless of the changes, Ribena would always retain its key ingredient blackcurrant because it was what made the brand famous after all.

So really, who would have expected it to be entirely forgone in their latest flavour? That’s right, ladies and gentlemen. Ribena has a new flavour and there isn’t any blackcurrant in it! Can you believe that?

Called the Pineapple & Passionfruit fruit drink, it’s Ribena’s first non-blackcurrant ready-to-drink product and also the first of its kind in the Singapore market!

Ribena’s Pineapple & Passionfruit fruit drink

Packed in a resealable bottle for easy consumption on-the-go, this fruit drink contains one’s daily Vitamin C requirement, making it a wholesome beverage option and energy booster for all age group, young and old alike!

Honestly, I’m still reeling from the shock that Ribena had actually left blackcurrants out from their new recipe. It’s a very bold move, I must say, to sort of downgrade it to be like any other non-carbonated drinks on the supermarket racks. But is this change worth the risk? I would think so! The drink has a refreshing tropical flavour with a right balance of sweet (from the passionfruit) and tart (from the pineapple) although the latter stood out more on my taste bud. Its moderate sweetness coupled with the burst of fruity acidity meant that it would be a guaranteed thirst quencher in this sweltering heat!

Cocktail shaker, courtesy of RIbena (thank you!). What’s that for? Read on to find out!

On top of that, the not-so-overpowering flavours of the Pineapple and Passionfruit fruit drink allows the taste be customised according to your needs. You can concoct different types of beverages such as cocktails and mocktails by blending it with other drinks of your choice like what I’ve done below 🙂

Ingredients (serves 4):

♦ 1 bottle of Ribena Pineapple & Passionfruit Fruit Drink
♦ 10 lime, small
♦ 1 cup of orange juice (8 oz, can be freshly squeezed or processed)
♦ 2 cups of ginger ale (16 oz)
♦ Sufficient ice cubes
♦ Sufficient salt and lime juice (can be freshly squeeze or processed)
♦ 1 pineapple wedge for 4 cups (garnish)

What you need! I prepared a lot more juices because I was gonna make more than 4 cups HAHA kiasu

Juices and garnishes

I was running out of salt hence the tiny amount!

Step 1: Rub rims of four glasses with lime. Then, dip rims in salt and set aside

Rub rim with lime

I personally think that 5 limes are enough. But to each his own 🙂

Used my finger to spread the salt all over the rim

Used my finger instead of dipping the rim into the salt. It’s actually messier this way but desperate times call for desperate measures. Remember to get more salt!

Step 2: Combine Ribena Pineapple & Passionfruit fruit drink, orange juice, lime juice, ginger ale and ice in the mixer

Or you could use a pitcher or a big jug with stirrer if you don’t have a mixer.

Pour in Ribena Pineapple and Passionfruit Fruit Drink (about 1/2 of the bottle)

Followed by orange juice (about 4 oz)

Dry ginger ale (about 8 oz)

Lime juice (amount not stated so I added in about 4 oz of it)

Ice cubes

Before mixing

Shake it!

Each complete set of steps with my mixer serves only 2 so if you have a similar mixer like mine, do remember to repeat these steps again.

Step 3: Pour the concoction into the glasses with the rims dipped in salt

The concoction

Step 4: Stir, hook pineapple wedge on rim and it’s ready to serve

Ready to serve! (I know the cup in front doesn’t have the same amount as the rest…)

So shiok when it’s serve chilled!

Wow, it does taste even better when blended with other beverages! The original flavour of the fruit drink wasn’t overwhelmed by the additional ingredients at all. I love how the ginger ale actually made it a little more effervescent and fun to drink. And strangely the concoction actually had a mysterious guava taste! O_O Where the heck did that come from?

Anyhoo, there’s no hard and fast rule for what you should add to the mixer, so go ahead and unleash your creativity and the mixologist in you!

Have fun and thanks for reading! 🙂

Ribena Pineapple & Passionfruit Fruit Drink is now available at all Cold Storage, FairPrice, Sheng Siong and all leading supermarkets and convenience stores island-wide for S$1.80 each. For more information on Ribena, please click here.

With Soufeel, There’s Something for Every Occasion

September 11, 2015September 14, 2015 / Fiona Seah / 2 Comments

Hey everyone!

I was brought up in a traditional Chinese culture that perceives gold to have higher intrinsic and market value than silver or even diamonds. This reason, coupled with the fact that it is more auspicious to give gold jewelry as gift among the Chinese, meant that most of my birthday (or first month) presents in the early years were either gold anklets, bracelets, ear studs or pendants. This custom is still pertinent now in the Singapore Chinese society especially to weddings because to the elders, nothing signifies wealth better than a qi pao bedecked with gold jewelries during tea ceremonies.

But like many modern Chinese youths today, I don’t really see the appeal of gold jewelries (apart from the fact that they are highly cashable). Not only are they expensive and passé, they are also of a very obtrusive colour that don’t go well with my eyes. In terms of appearance, I would very much prefer diamond, silver or white gold (ok rose gold isn’t too bad for a change too) to pure gold any time as they are more sophisticated-looking and less in-your-face. Did I mention how much I hate those chunky ah-beng-ish gold jewelries? Those are not statement makers. Those are awful.

No way am I gonna wear that. (source)

However, if you’re a bling lover, you probably would’ve known that good quality diamond and silver don’t come cheap either! As a person of simplicity, I don’t yearn for luxury so it’s not like me to splurge on anything ostentatious. I probably didn’t see the need to invest in any since I don’t get invited to private functions all the time. But once, I fretted over the accessories to pair with my outfit for a cousin’s sumptuous wedding (where I served as a bridesmaid) because I had none! If not for my boyfriend to give me a set of diamond jewelry for my birthday (also in the same month as the wedding), I might have to shop for some adornments at the eleventh hour and then end up spending at least a hundred bucks on something I hardly use.

And ever since someone commented how plain I looked without any accessories on, I kinda became a little more self-conscious.. which isn’t entirely a bad thing because I used to be so lazy, I didn’t give two hoots about styling myself hehe. I started with the lower-end bracelets and necklaces from blogshops, but damn, they wear and rust faster than I would’ve blown my salary on lipsticks. So I explored better alternatives like sterling silver which has gotten pretty popular recently and are supposed to be cheaper than gold or platinum jewelry. But guess what? The sterling silver bracelets and charms (for a more casual feel) I saw at a very popular jewelry chain were even pricier than my diamond jewelries combined!

You…. paid for that? *judge mode on*

WHAT?

It’s only sterling silver leh!

I pity the poor boyfriends (especially those who are still schooling) who rush to buy Valentine’s Day gifts from these shops because they’re bound to make a big hole in their savings. But seriously, I don’t understand the hype about these overpriced charm bracelets when you can get them at a fraction of the price elsewhere! Yes, you heard me right! There are many credible shops with the same concept (though not as mainstream as you-know-what) but here’s one that’s sure to satisfy your inner bling desires!

Introducing SOUFEEL, the up-and-coming jewelry company that specialises in charms, beads, bracelets and other accessories offered at ultra-competitive prices ranging from S$21 for a charm (or S$9.79 for a charm on special offer omfg so cheap) to S$480 for a 925 sterling silver charm bracelet. Things get even cheaper prices are slashed (which happens very often). Their products adopt 925 sterling silver and colored gems as main raw materials and are designed to cater to suit every occasion.

Although it was only founded in 2011, it has already garnered more than a million likes on their Facebook page! Within such a short period of time? HOW IMPRESSIVE. Since then, it has expanded to six continents such as Europe, North America and Asia Pacific area through approximately seventy countries.

Soufeel has kindly sent me some of their products to share with you guys! I didn’t choose any charms because many people have reviewed them (go Google!) and I wanted to show you other things that are offered on their website. So here they are!

Soufeel box (not sure what size it is but I believe it’s either medium or large to store bulkier or multiple items!)

I know the relatively low prices may raise some doubts about the quality of the products. Well, don’t be fooled! Every product is made of superior material, even the box! The paper box is hard and sturdy and opens with a detached lid on top wrapped with a blue ribbon and bow and it closes securely too. It also comes with a silver care cloth for you to clean your jewelries!

Austrian Crystal Bowknot Round White Ear Studs, was on offer at S$19.53 [SOLD OUT]

There was a blue version but I picked white because you can never go wrong with white jewelries! It is apt for all kinds of occasions, casual or formal, and it’s also a gorgeous design which I’m sure would sit well with your elders (if you’re planning to get this for her birthday, or for Mother’s Day).

Austrian Crystal Angel Wing Ocean Blue Ear Studs, was on offer at S$23.73 [SOLD OUT]

Austrian Crystal Angel Wing Ocean Blue Ear Studs

My favourite ear studs out of the two designs I picked has got to be the ones with wings! Like the Bowknot design, this also came in white but I figured that the wings would stood out more if the teardrop-shaped crystal was in a different colour! It’s so cutesy yet stylish at the same time! Perhaps this would make a great birthday gift for your BFF or girlfriend! I’m sure she’d love it as much as I do 🙂

Oh by the way, all crystals are from Swarovski.

Back studs. You can remove the hard plastic!

I was surprised to see their 925 sterling silver products priced very affordably too! They are 100% guaranteed 925 sterling silver authorised by international authoritative institutions such as SGS. Hence, rest assured that there is not a single trace of the toxic elements like nickel, lead or cadmium in the silver composition. Soufeel products are absolutely safe!

Whirlpool Pearl Necklace 925 Sterling Silver, now on offer at S$49 (U.P. S$109.20) [LINK]

Whirlpool Pearl Necklace 925 Sterling Silver

Going to meet your boyfriend’s (or girlfriend’s) mother for the first time and don’t know what to get for her as 见面礼 (gift presented to somebody at the first meeting)? This is it! This pendant features 3 elements – sterling silver, crystals and a pearl. It basically screams, “YOUR MOM WILL LOVE ME!” No, I’m definitely not kidding.

I guess this is their small-sized box! Guess what's in there?

I guess this is their regular box! Guess what’s in there?

Exclusive 925 Sterling Silver Basic Bracelet, now on sale at $27.93 (U.P. S$91) [LINK]

This basic snake bracelet can be used as the backbone of your charms or on its own! I have no charms at the moment but I may soon load the bracelet with some because I’m already eyeing on a few charm designs on the website! Having said that, the charms may not be from Soufeel because the bracelet is made in a way that it fits charms manufactured by other brands as well 🙂

Available in 8 different sizes (from 16cm to 23cm, circumference of your wrist + 1.5cm), it also features a barrel clasp to ensure the security of the bracelet and charms. To be honest, it was a little difficult for me to close the clasp with one hand but I’m confident that it would gradually be easier with more usage!

Exclusive 925 Sterling Silver Basic Bracelet with barrel clasp

Exclusive 925 Sterling Silver Basic Bracelet with barrel clasp – how it works!

TADAH! It’s so simple yet elegant!

On top of that, Soufeel also provides a necklace for free with orders over S$70, or bangle with orders over S$138.60. Trust me, you’ll probably go crazy shopping at Soufeel (‘coz, so affordable omg) that you won’t even realise you’ve hit the required amount! 😛

Go ahead and feast your eyes with all the enchanting charms on Soufeel now! But make sure you have someone beside you to monitor your cart (and your card, heh). You’ve been warned.

Thanks for reading! 😉

Soufeel

For Every Memorable Day

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lifestyle from an Asian perspective

Month: September 2015

REVIEW: ColourPop Ultra Matte Lip Liquid Lipsticks – Trap, Kapow, Bumble, Limbo, Beeper & Clueless

#1 Trap

#2 Kapow

#3 Bumble

#4 Limbo

#5 Beeper

#6 Clueless

Colourpop Ultra Matte Lip is now available on colourpop.com for a limited time. SHIPPING within continental u.s. IS FREE FOR ORDERS OVER US$30. Quote “THANKSBABE” upon checkout to enjoy a US$5 discount with no minimum spending.

NEW: Ribena’s Pineapple & Passionfruit Fruit Drink

SPONSORED

Ingredients (serves 4):

Step 1: Rub rims of four glasses with lime. Then, dip rims in salt and set aside

Step 2: Combine Ribena Pineapple & Passionfruit fruit drink, orange juice, lime juice, ginger ale and ice in the mixer

Step 3: Pour the concoction into the glasses with the rims dipped in salt

Step 4: Stir, hook pineapple wedge on rim and it’s ready to serve

Ribena Pineapple & Passionfruit Fruit Drink is now available at all Cold Storage, FairPrice, Sheng Siong and all leading supermarkets and convenience stores island-wide for S$1.80 each. For more information on Ribena, please click here.

With Soufeel, There’s Something for Every Occasion

SPONSORED

WHAT?

Soufeel

For Every Memorable Day

#1 Trap

#2 Kapow

#3 Bumble

#4 Limbo

#5 Beeper

#6 Clueless

Colourpop Ultra Matte Lip is now available on colourpop.com for a limited time. SHIPPING within continental u.s. IS FREE FOR ORDERS OVER US$30. Quote “THANKSBABE” upon checkout to enjoy a US$5 discount with no minimum spending.

Share this:

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SPONSORED

Ingredients (serves 4):

Step 1: Rub rims of four glasses with lime. Then, dip rims in salt and set aside

Step 2: Combine Ribena Pineapple & Passionfruit fruit drink, orange juice, lime juice, ginger ale and ice in the mixer

Step 3: Pour the concoction into the glasses with the rims dipped in salt

Step 4: Stir, hook pineapple wedge on rim and it’s ready to serve

Ribena Pineapple & Passionfruit Fruit Drink is now available at all Cold Storage, FairPrice, Sheng Siong and all leading supermarkets and convenience stores island-wide for S$1.80 each. For more information on Ribena, please click here.

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SPONSORED

WHAT?

Soufeel

For Every Memorable Day

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