Fyrinnae: Lip Lustre



I wasn't sure what to make of this Lip Lustre when I first put it on, many months back. I felt like I was smearing semi-melted red-coloured butter on my lips.


Wait. I'm not trying to be funny here because it really is like butter and to add to that quirkiness, this one, called Type A, has lychee flavour. It was a weird combination, a red lip colour that tasted like lychee........who would have thought, says this girl who grew up eating many a lychee.

The scent/flavour is quite present. I recognise the lychee-ness but at times, I thought I also tasted iron. It could have been the visual effect adding to that impression - red - blood - or it could have been the overall combination scent from the whole concoction plus the lychee flavour. I don't know. I'm just saying.

There were many other Lip Lustre shades with other 'interesting' scents/flavours but I know that after I bought this Lip Lustre, Fyrinnae did bring the scent/flavour down to a minimum. So, that scent-/lychee-factor became irrelevant.

I admit my tube was left neglected in my drawer but recently, I have found myself reaching out for it quite often. I didn't dislike it before. It was just strange, nothing more. This time around though, I've grown to love it!

Sigh, love. So what if I love it now. It's too late. Fyrinnae no longer makes these. It no longer sells Lip Lustres, haven't for months. I have a strange feeling that they will never bring these back but hey, Fyrinnae, on the off chance that you read this, please don't let my pessimism deter you from (thinking of) resurrecting these Lip Lustres. I'm just saying.


I can only talk about Type A, which Fyrinnae described as a shimmery, rich garnet red and with the consistency of softened butter. The finish is metallic-y.

The Downside:
• Emphasises every fault - every bit of dry skin, every crease, line and wrinkle on the lips is highlighted due to the metallic finish. I wouldn't apply it on chapped lips (not on lips with even the slightest hint of dehydration, no-no!) .
• Bleeds slightly. It helps a bit to line and colour in the lips with a lip liner first (not done in these lip photos).
• Lasts only three hours max on the lips.

The Upside:
• So very moisturising! It melds with the lips.
• Not sticky, just slippery.
• Pigment-rich.
• Metallic red looks really cool on the lips, methinks.
• Fades evenly. The buttery formula provides a lot of slip, so I just need to purse my lips to even the colour out, if needed.
• Affordable. It was only USD4.50 for a 5.8ml tube and USD2.50 for a 3.0ml sample tube (I've been kicking myself for getting only ONE tube, a sample at that!).

Even though it's pointless, I'd just like to complete the picture by providing its list of ingredients:

Mango Seed Butter, Jojoba Oil, Mica, Caprylic/Capric/Stearic Glycerides, Babassu Seed Oil, Castor Seed Oil, Cyclomethicone, Dimethicone, Candelilla Wax, Iron Oxides, Vitamin E (as a natural oil preservative), Flavor (lip-safe fragrance).
May contain: Titanium Dioxide, Tin Oxide, Manganese Violet, Synthetic Flurophogopite, Calcium Aluminum Borosilicate, Calcium Sodium Borosilicate.


I promise to use up every drop of Type A in my tube.

And then, I mourn.


Update 15 October 2011

The Lip Lustres are back! Fyrinnae has announced that the Lip Lustres will be available in tubes of a larger size and that some colours have been reformulated. For more information, do check out their webpage on the Lip Lustres. Many thanks to the anonymous reader who alerted me to this.


You can still check Fyrinnae out. In case you didn't know already, it's indie, its cosmetics are vegan and it makes awesome eyeshadows, among other things.
Fyrinnae website
The site is sometimes inaccessible. If so, try again later. It comes back up eventually.

11 comments:

Karla Michelle said...

hahaha.. I know the feeling of wanting to kick my self for loving something too late (or is it someone and not something?? ahem..)..

anyway, don't mourn after that tube runs out.. I'm sure you'll find something as good as the ol' Type A.. :) but we can't deny that's really worthy of a mourning heart.

Me said...

Gorgeous, pigmented color! That is a red right up my alley. There was some panic and rumors floating around that Fyrinnae was closing up shop for good, but I believe that is unfounded and they'll be back. I was feeling bad because I never got to try them. But it looks like I'll be out of lick on that lovely lychee lacquer.

Content Director - Strong Female Leaders said...

I love that color. It's very nice for fall.

Witoxicity said...

@Karla Michelle
Ooh, someone speaking from experience! Well, I always say, some things are just not meant to be. It could be a matter of unfortunate timing but if it was meant to be, everything will somehow fall into place eventually. And I'm talking about that someone, not something. ;) With material things like this Lip Lustre, I'm sure I will find an equivalent one day. I will be sad when it's finished but it's not the end of the world. :)

@Zuzu's Petals
There was a post on Fyrinnae's blog about two weeks ago debunking rumours that it was closing its store. You can read it here. As I type this, the website is up again and it's business as usual. It's a pity you didn't get the Lip Lustres back then, Zuzu, but never mind. I know you have a huge inventory of lip colours to go through at home. Heh heh! ;)

@The Girlie Blog
I'm pleased you love it too. :)

Inge (PolishSis) said...

I ordered several times from Fyrinnae and never added a liplustre. Now I see it here on your lips I regret not getting them when I had the chance. Looks amazing!

sugar sugar said...

i have heard so many good things about this brand and the colour is soooo gorgeous! :)

Witoxicity said...

@PolishSis
Oh, that's a real pity, Inge! There were so many amazing Lip Lustre shades available back then. I think you would have been game to try some of the unusual colours. :)

@sugar sugar
Well, there is good reason why Fyrinnae has received many positive reviews. I'd recommend that you check Fyrinnae out, sugar sugar. :)

Anonymous said...

Yummy Lychee....LOL. Beautiful metallic red color. Me thinks you are right. "KTee" xx

Witoxicity said...

@KTee
You can say that again - yummy lychee! :D I'm glad you agree about the shade. I really like the metallic effect. :)

Anonymous said...

lip lustres are back on fyrinnae!

Witoxicity said...

@Anonymous
Thanks for letting me know! I'm so glad Fyrinnae is bringing them back. :D