Maybelline Superstay 10h Tint Gloss #540 Endless Ruby.

because i was too shy to wear it, right after buying the Yves Saint Laurent Glossy Stain #1 Violet Edition i went to the drugstore and got this Maybelline Superstay 10h Tint Gloss in #540 Endless Ruby as a transition colour to get used to the bold lip.
i also thought the two products were similar, so i wanted to try this cheaper alternative and compare them.

the Maybelline gloss comes in a bulgy tube, the packaging is really tasteless. the wide oval applicator is flexible and applies relatively precise, i don't find it as precise as the YSL Glossy Stain, but i also didn't need a lip brush to apply. with 10.5ml i think there is quite a lot content, i don't remember the exact price but it must have been something around 7-8€.

1 layer & 2 layers

Endless Ruby is a rich ruby red. the texture is gel-like, thinner and more watery than i expected, this is more a very pigmented tint and less of a gloss.
it has a strong artificial fruity scent of grapes, think grape candy. it applies evenly, a second layer can be added after the first is dried to intensify the colour and add a tiny bit of shine. the overall finish is not too shiny, maybe only like a creamy lipstick. the lip colour dries slightly sticky but not uncomfortably. my lips don't chap wearing this although there is no balmy phase to it like the Glossy Stains. wearing time is remarkable for a lightweight lip product like this, i had to retouch after about 4 hours to keep the intense colour. it fades down gradually when eating&drinking are involved because there's no glossy layer like in the YSL Vernis à Lèvres to keep the colour from dissolving when it comes in contact with liquids. that's my main complaint with how this stain wears - the colour fades mostly in the center of the lips and since this shade is so dark, i end up with a funny contrasting lip and its upgrade version: the "dark-lipliner-only" pout - if i focus on my beverages and cocktails too much and on my outer appearance too little ;)
all in all a really beautiful bold lip stain from the drugstore. i swatched them all and this might be the best in intensity and colour. it's not so much a dupe for the unique texture of YSL Glossy Stains (very excited to try the new L'Oreal Shine Caresse - these should be the perfect dupes), but one of the acceptable alternatives.
now that i'm uploading i notice that i don't have close up lip swatches. if you want to see them, please let me know so i will do some ;)

tihilw

Maybelline Dream Touch Blush

i saw those cream blushes in an extra mini display last time i went to the drugstore, although i knew of at least 2 (lighter) shades in their old range, the new presentation and 4 different shades caught my eye.
the talk is about Maybelline's Dream Touch Blush.
the 4 shades are a light peach, a peachy pink, a rosy pink and a plummy pink.
i purchased the lightest shade (they have no names or numbers on the packaging :/ ) after some swatchy-swatchy. i find it the least (whitish) shimmery shade and has a nice colour pay off.
it comes in a small glass pot and contains 7.5g, which is a nice amount i think. it costs 6.45€.
i feel like Maybelline has reformulated them, i think they were more mousse-y before. or maybe just the image of the huuuuuuge new display of Maybelline (that still is so! boring! to me, otherwise) plays a trick on me. new display, new products i'd assume.
the texture is like a lightly whipped butter cream, it applies as a semi-cream, semi-powder consistency, not completely powdery like the Dream Mousse Foundation. i apply it in stippling motions with a small skunk brush (MAC 188-type). i like the texture, it's easy to spread and doesn't interfere with your foundation underneath.
the colour is a light pastelly peach, the fine shimmer is visible as a dewy sheen. surprisingly it lasts on my oily skin quite well, and after over 5 hours i still had a nice fresh colour on my cheeks. i had to blot some oilyness, though, but this didn't take the colour away or smudges like i had worried.
i would really like to try the other shades, but the higher white shimmer in them precludes me from doing so. i'm afraid it would emphasize oilyness and large pores and tiny bumps too much.
how about you? have you tried those blushes or their older version? where they different?

Maybelline Dream Touch Blush #2 Peach in artificial light

Maybelline Dream Touch Blush #2 Peach in direct sunlight

Maybelline Dream Touch Blush #2 Peach in sunlight: swatched heavily + blended out

as i don't have comparable cream blushes, i have to side-to-side swatches for you, but some wearing-pictures:

Guerlain FOTD

Guerlain in each part of my face ;) still have no liner and concealer from them (the blush i'm still awaiting :(  ) - so substitutes there. i wanted to do a brown smokey eye with my newly acquired eyeshadow from their spring collection: L'Instant D'un Soupir. review + swatches soon :)

Guerlain Parure Gold +  Shiseido Sun Protection Foundation + BeautyBlender

Guerlain Météorites Pressée shade #01 + Artdeco skunk brush

contour: NYX Blush "Taupe" + MAC 138

Maybelline Mineral Blush Moonlight Mauve + MakeUpShow blush brush

Guerlain Météorites Perles D'Or + MAC 187

Shiseido brow pencil GY901 + Shu Uemura curlers + Maybelline Stretch&Define Waterproof + L'Oreal Volume Million Lashes + Hakuhodo brush + Hourglass Hidden Corrective Concealer + Manhattan Wake Up concealer

Urban Decay Primer Potion

MAC Retrospeck (inner corner) + MAC Brulé (brow bone highlight) + Guerlain L'instant D'un Soupir (lid + outer corner + crease) + MAC Bronze (center of the lid + lower lashline)

brushes: Rouge Bunny Rouge Large Shader 003 (for Retrospeck) + MAC 242, 272, 222 (Guerlain eyeshadow) + MAC 242 (for Bronze) + MAC 227 (Brulé) + Sigma ss217 (blend out)

MAC Coffee

MAC Fix+ to set

Guerlain Rouge G #2 Gardenia