Adorned Nails: SpaRitual Gold Digger

Warning: Strong, gaudy colours ahead, but I have good reason for it.

I love SpaRitual polishes and it's a pity that I don't feature them here often enough. I haven't got many of them. This one, Gold Digger, is the last one in my stash. Gold Digger is a beigy gold shimmer polish, but on the nails, it takes on more of a yellow tint (or perhaps that's just how it looks against my skintone).

It was opaque in two coats and as with all the other SpaRitual polishes I've tried, this one applied like a dream. That's why I love this brand!

All right, now for the gaudy part. I thought I'd do a festive-appropriate manicure for the Chinese Lunar New Year. The additional things used were:

Red polish - Alessandro Stiletto Nail Polish No. 21
Stamped design - Essence Nail Art Stampy Design Plate 01 Have Fun

Chinese New Year would not be complete without gold and red to symbolise prosperity. I've added the "fook" character to it. "Fook" is so rich in meaning that it's hard to define in just a couple of words. It encompasses god's blessings, good health, good luck, good fortune and so much more. Well, it basically refers to all things good and auspicious, and that is what I wish all of you who are ushering in the Year of the Rabbit.

Happy Chinese New Year!!

More information:
My SpaRitual nail polishes
SpaRitual website

ELLIS FAAS: ELLIS LIPS Glazed Lips Review

I used to wear a dark brown lipstick to the office. How I got away with that, I do not know.

That feels like a century ago (ooh, it probably is!). So now, how do you like this dark brown lipgloss (yes, my lips are now back to normal size after last week's 'unpleasantness')? The colour sure isn't my usual. I was provided with this lipgloss by ELLIS FAAS to try a couple of months back. It's actually the first Glazed Lips I've ever put on.

I don't think I need to say much about the packaging: it's in the signature silver pens with the same click-turn mechanism at the bottom. The brush applicator is much like the one for Milky Lips.

Product
Name: ELLIS FAAS – ELLIS LIPS Glazed Lips No. L302
Colour choice: Available in nine shades (including one clear gloss)
Volume and Price: 2.8ml / 0.095 US fl oz for €25.00

According to ELLIS FAAS (excerpts)

Turn to ELLIS FAAS Glazed Lips for an ultra-wet, yet long-lasting splash of colour that combines transparency and intensity. Load the pen and slick on Glazed Lips for hours of coverage. Glazed Lips is made from plant seed oils that hydrate, as well as Tocotrienol (a powerful antioxidant and component of Vitamin E), Vitamin C, and Omegas 3 and 6. If you blot the lips after application, you will achieve a more subtle stained look.

Ingredients
Please click on image to enlarge.

My Thoughts
Contents
The Glazed Lips is really a lipgloss by another name. L302 is a dark brown shade. It has no scent.

Application
Direct application with the brush applicator is the easiest.

Texture
It's lightweight. Its consistency is perhaps not as thick as most lipglosses I've tried, which makes it easy to 'paint' on the gloss. Pigmentation is great. As can be seen in the lip photos, it surely is glossy shiny, "ultra-wet" as ELLIS FAAS calls it. Personally, I do find it a tad sticky, but it's tolerable.

Durability
This gloss is rather emollient. A thick coat lasts on my lips for two to three hours. The colour is faded by then but my lips don't start to feel dry for a further hour or so if I don't re-apply. Thankfully, there is no ghastly white layer on the lips at the end of the day.

Conclusion
I like the fact that it is emollient and that it keeps the lips hydrated for a good number of hours. One can tell that it's a good quality lipgloss, but truth be told, I think I'm more taken by the other two less transparent ELLIS LIPS textures: Creamy Lips and Milky Lips. If you love lipglosses and if you have the budget for it (let's face it: this gloss ain't cheap), I'd say give the Glazed Lips a try. There are, after all, other shades to choose from. This colour L302 would look fantastic on brown-skin.

More information: The nine shades of Glazed Lips
My previous ELLIS FAAS reviews: Creamy Lips and Milky Lips