REVIEW: HERA Sensual Rouge Lipsticks – #132 Rustic Garden, #200 Morning Fever & #451 I’m Not A Mama

April 5, 2017 / Fiona Seah / 2 Comments

Hello everyone!

While we are on the subject of Korean beauty products, there are still a couple of other noteworthy brands that I would like to put the spotlight on, one of which is HERA. Now, most of you Hallyu enthusiasts would have already heard of this brand by now – even though it is not available in Singapore – through their ambassador Jun Ji Hyun as she had famously worn two lipsticks from HERA in her latest hit drama Legend of the Blue Sea. But I know not everyone is into the Korean Wave, so read on for a quick introduction on the brand.

Founded in 1995 by AmorePacific (the same company behind Laneige, Sulwhasoo, Innisfree, Etude House and IOPE), HERA is currently touted as one of the leading Korean beauty brands in the world for both men and women despite only having physical presence in their home country and recently, China. Even before I set foot in Seoul last year, I had heard plenty of talk about the brand. But as mentioned previously, I am not one who would buy into the hype of Korean make-up brands (especially since new ones seem to be popping up every moment – ain’t nobody got money for dat!) so my decision to slap new make-up on my face typically boils down to the visual presentation of the products themselves. It’s sad but true – first impression counts, so only brands that invest in their packaging deserve my money.

And HERA is certainly one I would splurge my money on despite their products being as expensive as some high-end brands around.

HERA Sensual Rouge

Unlike typical one-tone lipsticks, the Sensual Rouge series are said to deliver an exquisite blend of two colors and a moist finish. Available in 8 shades, they come in slim and long rectangular glossy plastic (yet rather sturdy) tubes that are perfect for on-the-go use. A sleek and clean appearance with touch of elegance and trendiness, it goes without saying that HERA had gotten me hooked to their packaging the very moment I spotted them at Lotte Department Store! Go ahead and pack along multiple shades of these Sensual Rouge lipsticks on your next trip if you feel like wearing a different lipstick shade for everyday of your vacation – these lipsticks do not take up much space in your make-up bag even when boxed up.

Furthermore, you don’t have to keep track of the shelf life of these lipsticks because the expiration dates are stated on the bottom label. But then again, the clear-cut expiration dates may not necessarily be a good thing for makeup hoarders who are unwilling to toss their past-it lipsticks *guilty*

A different take on bar codes? HERA showcases their creativity by incorporating iconic Seoul landmarks into boring ol’ bar codes 🙂 Who needs blatant, in-your-face “Product of South Korea” on the packaging when you can have artistic and subtle messages like this? 🙂

Not only is the packaging en pointe, a lot of thought had been put into naming the shades as well. All these just make me wonder why HERA isn’t expanding as much outside South Korea as their sister brand Laneige. They are clearly ready to take over the international beauty scene! Oh, you selfish Koreans.. Only want the best for yourselves, eh? 😏

#132 Rustic Garden

HERA Sensual Rouge in #132 Rustic Garden (35,000 KRW)

HERA Sensual Rouge in #132 Rustic Garden

To be fair to lipstick brands I am trying for the first time, I would usually pick out hues on both ends of the darkness spectrum for a more balanced review. Based on the shade number, Rustic Garden is the lightest shade in the Sensual Rouge line and it is mainly an amalgam of muted rosy-pink in the middle and a darker warm-toned pink (as opposed to the colours depicted on the box which look cooler and browner than warm to me) on each side of the bullet.

The oily formula enables it to glide smoothly on the lips but some product can be seen settling into my lip lines. Barely noticeable on the first application because it is so close to my natural lip colour, I have to run this lipstick over my lips several times before I can finally see some contrast. It is emollient, hydrating and feels lightweight and the glossy sheen gives the soft colours an extra pop!

#200 Morning Fever

HERA Sensual Rouge in #200 Morning Fever (35,000 KRW)

HERA Sensual Rouge in #200 Morning Fever

In view of my impending entrance into the workforce then, I had been keeping a lookout for multi-tone lipsticks with shades that are unusual yet not over the top and are suitable for everyday wear. Ticking all the right boxes is Morning Fever – one with muted red as its primary colour and pale orange as the accent colour.

It goes on buttery and sheer on first application but builds to a semi-opaque finish. It has more slip than Rustic Garden and feels lightweight and supple on the lips, but leaves an oily film which lends that natural sheen. I would prefer the orange to be slightly more prominent because currently, the blend is so seamless than unless you see it under proper lighting the contrast is hardly visible at all. Nonetheless, it is a very flattering shade which gives the lips a healthy glow.

HERA #132 Rustic Garden and #200 Morning Fever swatch comparison with other similar multi-tone shades

#451 I’m Not A Mama

HERA Sensual Rouge in #451 I’m Not A Mama (35,000 KRW)

HERA Sensual Rouge in #451 I’m Not A Mama

Last but not least is I’m Not A Mama, the darkest and perhaps most pigmented of the octet and also one that is more in line with what I would normally wear. But lo and behold, probably because I’m more of a seasoned dark lipstick fiend, I find myself having more negative things to talk about for this shade.

Featuring a reassuring blend of cool copper and a deepened claret (in between brown and purple – a combination I knew would complement each other perfectly) on the bullet, this lipstick disappointingly applies as a muted burnt orange altogether on my lips and thereby blurring the contrast of the colours (which defeats the purpose of the multi-tone function since any regular lipsticks can do the job). In fact, if you were to look very closely, the deeper hue appears a lot lighter than the primary colour when applied on the lips 🤔 Although the most opaque among the three reviewed here, it is still mostly sheer by normal standards and has to be layered to decent opacity – a characteristic quite typical of Korean makeup products as the Koreans tend to place more emphasis on achieving a more youthful, natural and dewy look.

Application-wise, it is equally greasy and has more slip than the other two but feels tackier. On top of that, it has a runny and weightless texture that glides on easily, leaving the lips feeling moisturised and refreshed. All in all, it is a pleasant shade and I would have rated it better if not for the barely visible colour contrast. Pity!

HERA #451 I’m Not A Mama swatch comparison with regular lipsticks

On the whole, I would say that the Sensual Rouge line is alright in quality but nothing to write home about. For sure, much still needs to be done to the accuracy of the information on the packaging because I find the shades depicted on it very deceiving and absolutely inaccurate as you can see. Do swatch (if possible) before buying or you will be in for a surprise.

So should you get these? Depending on your preference, you may enjoy them if you don’t mind opting for a softer look. But if you are all for a more defined and mature make-up look, this (or K-beauty in general) is certainly not for you.

What are your thoughts on these multi-tone lipsticks? Are they effective in creating ombré lip looks or are they just plain marketing gimmicks? Let me know your thoughts in the comments below! 🙂

Thanks for reading!

While HERA Sensual Rouge is only available in South Korea and china (not at duty-free counters), you might able to find other products by the same brand on Qoo10 and Lazada.

Follow me on Instagram and Facebook for bite-sized beauty updates!

REVIEW: VDL Tint Bar Triple Shot EX Awakening Lipsticks – #102 Triple Berry & #104 Triple Swag

March 25, 2017April 5, 2017 / Fiona Seah / 3 Comments

Hello everyone!

I’m in the mood for Korean makeup today, so let’s take a short breather from western beauty products, shall we?

As a K-beauty rookie, there is honestly no better place to buy Korean cosmetics than from their country of origin itself. Even though the prices between the products in South Korea and Singapore may only differ by a few Sing dollars (so I don’t feel much of a pinch if I end up not liking the product), the latter does not necessarily get to enjoy the latest offerings at the same time as the South Koreans do. Some took months (e.g. The Face Shop X Disney) to appear on our shelves, whereas a handful (e.g. Tony Mony X Pokémon) never made it. On top of that, there are also brands (e.g. HERA) that are not available here in Singapore. Hence, I made it a point to visit the shopping districts during my first trip to Seoul last July and while at the Myeongdong branch of Lotte Department Store, I chanced upon the VDL booth which had their displays and products all tied to a summer theme they named Awakening.

VDL Awakening collection for Summer 2016

For the uninitiated, VDL (Violet Dream Luminous – whatever that means..) is an international cosmetic brand founded by South Korean corporate giant LG – or more precisely The Color Lab, a carve-out of their household and health care unit – in 2012. Since landing on Singapore’s shores in 2013 with their first outlet at Suntec City, it has grown to 5 islandwide, including 2 at heartland malls. But despite the relatively widespread availability here, it was only during this work trip (shout-out to BLS Korea for the wonderful opportunity 👄 More on this another day) that thrust me out of my comfort zone to give this brand a try.

You see, Korean beauty products have been taking the world by storm, so much so that countless Korean cosmetic brands (with dubious-sounding and grammatically incorrect English names, no less) have emerged out of nowhere the past few years, seemingly riding on the coattails of the Hallyu phenomenon. No doubt, that got me a little sceptical about the quality of the products (and also a small part of me had refused to jump on the bandwagon). There were, of course, prominent brands which have been in existence long enough to be considered reliable in my book. But as a newcomer in the market, VDL was certainly far from that. Still, I don’t shut myself out from new or unknown brands so long as they don’t cost an arm and leg and are safe to use (especially on sensitive skin like mine).

VDL Tint Bar Triple Shot EX (Awakening) Lipsticks

In case you haven’t noticed, single-colour lipsticks are so yesterday.

Multiple-tone lipsticks has been all the rage recently, thanks to the obsession with ombré lips. The craze is understandable – after all, it reduced what was traditionally a three-step technique to a single swipe and the effect is a gorgeous just-bitten look! Clearly, it is such a big hit with the Koreans (and in fact, the rest of the world) that virtually every Korean beauty brand has its own permanent line of two or three-tone lipsticks. VDL, for one, has its own range of three-tone lipsticks known as Tint Bar Triple Shot.

Available in 6 juicy colours (#102 Triple Berry / #103 Triple Fuchsia / #104 Triple Swag / #503 Triple Cherry / #504 Triple Scarlet / #602 Triple Orange) from this Awakening collection, these three-tone lipsticks are a tint, lip-balm and base in one which promise a “perfect gradation and more vivid colouring with a single touch”. Each of them features a main, sub and base colour and smells like candy/bubblegum.

1. Main Colour
Enriched with Royal Jelly extract, this colour layer brightly stains lips as it moisturizes, preventing drying and chapping.

2. Sub Colour
This lightly tinted balm conditions and seamlessly blends colour into your lips for a natural, gradient effect.

3. Base Colour
This lip base naturally blends the lip line with your original skin tone and evens out and nourishes discoloured, dry lips into a smooth, even base. The base prevents feathering and creates a purer, lasting colour effect.

(Source)

Before moving on with the reviews, I would like to comment a little on the packaging, which is pretty much similar to those in the regular line. VDL never came across as a budget makeup brand… until I saw the packaging of Tint Bar Triple Shot – white, brittle frosted plastic material with a chunky appearance to boot. Seriously? It feels as cheap as it looks, not forgetting it is also ugly. On top of that, I have to be really gentle with the lipstick or the body of the tube would easily detach from the reflective base when I twist up the bullet. The quality of the packaging is, to say the least, poor, and I’m sure most drugstore makeup brands make better packaging than this. To think VDL is owned by a multinational conglomerate corporation, I find this highly unacceptable..

Anyhow, after spending a couple of minutes swatching and contemplating on what to get at the booth, I picked up two of the Tint Bar Triple Shot lipsticks and was given a free mini ceramic hair straightener 😮 One perk of shopping directly in brick-and-mortar stores in South Korea is that you will mostly likely receive a truckload of freebies and samples in return for your purchase, regardless of how small it is. Love the generosity of the South Korean retailers! It’s also a perfect excuse to return 😜

#102 Triple Berry

VDL Tint Bar Triple Shot EX (Awakening) in #102 Triple Berry (18,000 KRW)

VDL Tint Bar Triple Shot EX (Awakening) in #102 Triple Berry

There are several ways to use these triple-tone lipsticks. Depending on your preference, you may apply the base colour on the outer lip line and main colour on the inner, and glide it sideways along lips to create the standard gradient lips. Otherwise, you can also place all three sections of the lipstick vertically on the lips and glide it sideways to achieve a milky effect. I prefer the intensity of the gradient to increase as it spans outward (i.e. western style) because the colours look fuller and more pronounced on me that way. But I will update this post with additional pictures if I decide to do the Korean way. ~~Perhaps.. tomorrow~~ 😉 just added!

VDL Tint Bar Triple Shot EX (Awakening) in #102 Triple Berry (Korean style)

Triple Berry consists of mainly low-contrast soft pinks/corals and so you need to exert right amount of pressure (on the darker pink, for instance) to show the clear distinction between the colours. It has an oily texture which enables it to work very smoothly across the lips and keep the lips feeling moisturised. On the downside, it is not very long-lasting and since the base colour only acts as a conditioning agent, it does not contain any pigment. Although it has a pretty even colour consistency (with minimal skipping), it requires several applications for the main and sub colours to be reasonably opaque. Still, Triple Berry lends a nice twist to conventional pink lipsticks and is a gorgeous everyday lip colour to wear for any occasion.

VDL #102 Triple Berry compared with Laneige Two-Tone Lip Bar in #6 Pink Step

#104 Triple Swag

VDL Tint Bar Triple Shot EX (Awakening) in #104 Triple Swag (18,000 KRW)

VDL Tint Bar Triple Shot EX (Awakening) in #104 Triple Swag

I had bought Triple Swag with the expectation that it would give an ombré of the three depicted colours (because somehow I did not swatch this before buying), but only to realise later on that there is zilch colour payoff from its base colour. How disappointing ☹

Similarly, Triple Swag goes on slick and more opaque (as compared to Triple Berry) with a slight sheen to it. It has an emollient and lightweight texture but the greasiness can be a little too much to bear, which also causes the lipstick to wear off very easily. Nevertheless, if you are looking for a two-tone lipstick with a starker colour contrast, this is it. It has hot pink as the main colour and bright warm orange as the sub – almost like the colours of sunset and the combination looks absolutely unique and stunning. That said, it would require more effort to blend the harsh lines, and I think this shows up more prominently against fair skin tones.

VDL Tint Bar Triple Shot EX (Awakening) in #104 Triple Swag (Korean style)

VDL #104 Triple Swag compared with similar-looking Laneige Two-Tone Lip Bar shades

Having already used these multiple-tone lipsticks, I kinda understand the hype around them now. Contrary to the strong and heavily pigmented lip colours made by western beauty brands, these lipsticks give a softer touch to our delicate Asian features while exuding a feminine and sweet vibe. However, I wouldn’t consider any of these VDL Tint Bar Triple Shot lipsticks three-tone since only two of the three colours show up on my lips. I feel a bit cheated.. 😣

What are your thoughts on them? Let me know in the comments below!

Thanks for reading!

VDL Tint Bar Triple Shot is available in local VDL outlets in limited shades for 18,000 KRW / S$24 each. the EX Awakening series has been discontinued but you may be able to find the products in reseller markets.

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REVIEW: MAC Colour Rocker Lipsticks (PART 2) – Yellow You Dare?, Mud Wrestler, Gritty Girl, Cold Hard Cash, Secret # & Digging It

March 17, 2017March 22, 2017 / Fiona Seah / 1 Comment

Hello everyone!

M.A.C Colour Rocker 2017 (PART 2)

A few days ago, I wrote about the blues and greens from the recent Colour Rocker collection by M.A.C. To facilitate the ease of reading, I have split my review of this massive haul (my biggest to date from a single M.A.C collection) into two (going three) digestible parts. This second installment picks up where I left off and will cover the warms and browns.

Overview

Read the first part of the m.a.c colour rocker collection review here.

#7 Yellow You Dare?

M.A.C Colour Rocker lipstick in Yellow You Dare? (US$17 / S$33)

M.A.C Colour Rocker lipstick in Yellow You Dare?

Thanks to research and development, even the most unimaginable bright hues have evolved into commonplace liquid lipstick shades with decent coverage in recent years. But it wouldn’t be possible to make bright regular lipsticks a decent ago because fluorescent matte pigments are notoriously hard to formulate. Therefore, it was completely understandable that bright lip colours by M.A.C had always been in crappy, less-than-satisfactory finishes.

This year, M.A.C pushes the boundaries of cosmetic formulation with not one, but several fluoroscent matte lipsticks including a yellow and lime green. While awaiting the latter to reach me from the States, let’s discuss about Yellow You Dare?. A first matte yellow by the beauty giant, this limited-edition warmed yellow skips on the lips a fair bit at the very first swipe but builds to a decently-opaque coat of colour with multiple applications to conceal most of the gaps (and bleeding into the lip lines in the process). Its drying and chalky consistency, however, accentuates every wrinkle on the lips and I also dislike the fact that it does not fade evenly, leaving a patchy pout at the end of the day. Nonetheless, taking into consideration the difficulties in perfecting one, I would say this is a pretty darn good effort 😄

M.A.C Yellow You Dare? swatch comparison (against Jeffree Star’s Queen Bee as well)

Before you write this collection off as one dedicated only to the adventurous and experimental, take a look at the muddy hues! With more than six tones of brown lip colours to choose from, there is no denying that M.A.C is trying to reinforce the notion that the ’90’s-esque brown lip trend is here to stay. Why wouldn’t it, anyway? Brown is such a universally flattering neutral that anyone would be able to pull it off, so long as you find the right one for your skin tone! Honestly, I can’t think of anyone who doesn’t look good with earthy lips!

To get you started on the path to brown lip perfection, here are five (new) brown lip hues from this collection, starting with the lightest:

#8 Mud Wrestler

M.A.C Colour Rocker lipstick in Mud Wrestler (US$17 / S$33)

M.A.C Colour Rocker lipstick in Mud Wrestler

Let’s get dirrrty with Mud Wrestler, described as a creamy neutral beige with Matte finish. Classified as a warm hue, this limited-edition pale brown has a satin-like finish and goes on mostly opaque with a good slip and glide although it takes me a couple of passes before the colour finally becomes noticeable against my medium skin tone. It leaves a tacky and streaky consistency as well as a drying, crayon-like texture. On top of that, it does virtually nothing to reduce the appearance of my lip wrinkles. The true potential of this shade would probably be realised on light skin tones 😉

M.A.C Mud Wrestler swatch comparison

#9 Gritty Girl

M.A.C Colour Rocker lipstick in Gritty Girl (US$17 / S$33)

M.A.C Colour Rocker lipstick in Gritty Girl

Not too far off from Mud Wrestler on the colour scale is Gritty Girl, described as a light cool brown with Matte finish. In reality, this limited-edition shade is muted, slightly grey-tinged and goes on smooth and somewhat sheer (as my natural lip colour can still be seen) with a small degree of buildability which gives its lightweight and hydrating texture. It offers a fairly uniform spread of colour after several swipes, topped with a balmy finish and a soft sheen. All’s good except that it fares poorly in the longevity department as it fades away entirely upon taking light snacks.

M.A.C Gritty Girl swatch comparison

#10 Cold Hard Cash

M.A.C Colour Rocker lipstick in Cold Hard Cash (US$17 / S$33)

M.A.C Colour Rocker lipstick in Cold Hard Cash

If going by the rule of thumb when it comes to selecting the right shade of lipstick that we should pick a tone one or two shade darker than your natural lip colour, then perhaps Cold Hard Cash fits the bill for me. Described as a creamy neutral brown with Matte finish, the yellow undertones in this limited-edition shade complements my warm skin tone naturally without making exaggerated effort. Besides, there is a good amount of slip to ensure a smooth application. It lends an opaque colour payoff but has a slightly gritty and tacky consistency. This shade is neither drying nor hydrating.

M.A.C Cold Hard Cash swatch comparison – Styled in Sepia is 99% similar!

#11 Secret #

M.A.C Colour Rocker lipstick in Secret # (US$17 / S$33)

M.A.C Colour Rocker lipstick in Secret #

If you’re already bored of safe neutrals, perhaps Secret # might just be what you need to amp up your lip game. Another limited-edition shade from this collection, it is described as a dark greyed brown with Matte finish and is ideal for seasoned veterans of the vampy lip look as well as those who are ready to take the plunge and go for something darker (that’s the spirit!). It applies creamy and effortlessly on the lips, leaving an opaque cool ash brown with excellent colour payoff. The grey tint catches light so it doesn’t look like a regular dark brown lipstick (it kinda looks metallic, minus the strong shimmer effect) but at the same time, it also somewhat emphasises the lip lines. It feels hydrating yet mildly tacky on the lips as it is, so some blotting would definitely help in removing some sticky residue (and make it more long-lasting).

#12 Digging It

M.A.C Colour Rocker lipstick in Digging It (US$17 / S$33)

M.A.C Colour Rocker lipstick in Digging It

Complete your grunge look while going a notch deeper with Digging It, described as a rich warm brown with Matte finish. Not for the faint-hearted, this limited-edition deep rustic brown lends a touch of allure and mystery to your bold makeup as it fills the surface of the lips smoothly with a thick and creamy coat of lipstick. Moreover, with its insanely-pigmented and opaque consistency, topped with a subtle sheen to enhance your sultry moue, it is guaranteed to make an impression. It is as dark as it can be on the second swipe not so this shade is not very buildable. Like most of the shades in this collection, it is tacky but feels hydrating on the lips. Well, at least it doesn’t dry the heck out of my lips like most traditional M.A.C matte lipsticks do!

M.A.C Secret # and Digging It swatch comparison – Stone is lighter and warmer as compared to Secret # while Antique Velvet is slightly darker and more pigmented with more red undertones than Digging It

And there you have it, my lengthiest review on a single collection with two more shades en route to Singapore! Keep your eyes peeled on this page for the next part 😊

Thanks for reading!

M.A.C Colour Rocker is now available online and at local M.A.C outlets.

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REVIEW: HERA Sensual Rouge Lipsticks – #132 Rustic Garden, #200 Morning Fever & #451 I’m Not A Mama

#132 Rustic Garden

#200 Morning Fever

#451 I’m Not A Mama

While HERA Sensual Rouge is only available in South Korea and china (not at duty-free counters), you might able to find other products by the same brand on Qoo10 and Lazada.

REVIEW: VDL Tint Bar Triple Shot EX Awakening Lipsticks – #102 Triple Berry & #104 Triple Swag

#102 Triple Berry

#104 Triple Swag

VDL Tint Bar Triple Shot is available in local VDL outlets in limited shades for 18,000 KRW / S$24 each. the EX Awakening series has been discontinued but you may be able to find the products in reseller markets.

REVIEW: MAC Colour Rocker Lipsticks (PART 2) – Yellow You Dare?, Mud Wrestler, Gritty Girl, Cold Hard Cash, Secret # & Digging It

Read the first part of the m.a.c colour rocker collection review here.

#7 Yellow You Dare?

#8 Mud Wrestler

#9 Gritty Girl

#10 Cold Hard Cash

#11 Secret #

#12 Digging It

M.A.C Colour Rocker is now available online and at local M.A.C outlets.

#132 Rustic Garden

#200 Morning Fever

#451 I’m Not A Mama

While HERA Sensual Rouge is only available in South Korea and china (not at duty-free counters), you might able to find other products by the same brand on Qoo10 and Lazada.

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#102 Triple Berry

#104 Triple Swag

VDL Tint Bar Triple Shot is available in local VDL outlets in limited shades for 18,000 KRW / S$24 each. the EX Awakening series has been discontinued but you may be able to find the products in reseller markets.

Share this:

Read the first part of the m.a.c colour rocker collection review here.

#7 Yellow You Dare?

#8 Mud Wrestler

#9 Gritty Girl

#10 Cold Hard Cash

#11 Secret #

#12 Digging It

M.A.C Colour Rocker is now available online and at local M.A.C outlets.

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