Estee Lauder Pure Colour Gloss Stick Orchid Dream Review, Swatches – Glam Radar

The trend for gloss-lipstick hybrid products seems to be on the rise of late, Chanel recently released their Rouge Coco Shine and Mac has the new Sheen Supreme lipsticks. This idea has been around for some time but as the makeup gods have decided to backlash against the previous seasons matte shades we’re now looking to the ideal lip product ‘merger.’ These lipsticks have the colour and application of a lipstick, they lack the goopy stickiness of gloss but project a great amount of gloss-like shine.estee-lauder-pure-colour-gloss-stick-orchid-dream-review-swatches

Estee Lauder’s contribution to this trend is the Pure Colour Gloss Stick, which has been around for a little while although it’s still labelled as ‘new’ on the Estee Lauder Australia website. This is a cross between a gloss and the Pure Colour lipstick range, the Gloss Stick is solid but very soft, almost gel-like in consistency. It glides on easily and gives lips a moderate amount of colour and plenty of shine.estee-lauder-pure-colour-gloss-stick-orchid-dream

Orchid Dream is a lovely shade of mid-toned pink with just a hint of shimmer. It’s definitely more pink than a YLBB (your lips but better) shade however it’s definitely in the ‘easy to wear’ category even for those who shy away from pink lipsticks. I find it very flattering, light enough for day but sweet enough for a romantic night out.estee-lauder-pure-colour-gloss-stick-orchid-dream-swatchesestee-lauder-pure-colour-gloss-stick-orchid-dream-swatch

There are a few pros and cons to this formulation:

Pros-

  • Very comfortable to wear, hydrating and smooth formulation
  • Great shine, no need for a gloss but also not lacking in pigmentation
  • Perfect for those who might be trying to transition from gloss to lipstick but find regular lipsticks too colour intense/drying/difficult to apply
  • Low maintenance – easy to touch up, sheer colour means any fading or smudging isn’t as obvious
  • Great packaging

Cons –

  • Lacks staying power, requiring frequent re-application compared with regular lipsticks (although I still feel it’s better than a gloss in this regard)
  • The super soft formuation means the stick itself is prone to melting or ‘mushing’ (yes, that’s the technical term haha)
  • Products moves around on the lips a little and easily transfers onto coffee cups etc

Overall I really like the Gloss Stick and these lipstick-gloss hybrids in general, despite the above mentioned ‘cons’. I guess that’s because I still prefer them to a traditional gloss, mainly because they’re a lot more comfortable to wear. They’re not sticky, your hair doesn’t get stuck in it and they’re flattering and versatile. If you’re a pigment lover then I suggest trying before you buy as the thick consistency of this formulation means the product doesn’t layer so well.

he Pure Colour Gloss Sticks retail for $42AUD and you can find them at any Estee Lauder counter or on the Estee Lauder Australia website.

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