& TESTED A FEEL-GOOD FORMULA

For those with chapped lips, Mary Kay offers a new range of semi-matte gel lipstick, writes

Syahirah Mokhtazar

It had a dark red, semi burgundy shade that I had been looking for. The dark hue was loud enough to stand on its own, so there was no need for heavy make-up on the rest of the face. The red wine colour finish was perfect for the Fall/Winter season.

But as we live in a tropical country, a safe bet would be to wear it in the evening. What I liked about this colour was that it lasted through a meal. Undeniably a small patch faded away but that only meant a minor touch up was required.

As the name suggests, Powerful Pink really was powerful in delivering a striking pink hue. But this shade was the least suitable for me as it appeared too bright against my skin tone. I wouldn’t wear this on its own, but may perhaps blend it with a nude shade to make it appear more subtle.

In the end, Midnight Red won my heart. But overall, the lightweight formula glided on smoothly on the lips, which I liked. The gel microsphere technology is said to sit on the lips for hours without leaving lips looking or feeling dry — and I agree on this point. This is perhaps due to ingredients such as sunflower oil and jojoba esters, which help to condition the lips.

There are other shades such as Bashful You, Rich Truffle, Always Apricot, Poppy Please and Crushed Berry. But based on the ones that I have tried, I will give it a 3.5 star rating. At RM55 each, it isn’t too expensive and won’t burn a hole in my wallet. syahirah@nst.com.my