The Duchess K.I.S.S.I.N.G Lipstick

There were no stores around me that had her line in stock so I looked for swatches online. To my surprise, there werent that many. But most of her products got good reviews so I decided to try several things from her collection including 8/10 of her lipsticks and her Confession limited edition. The only two I did not purchase were Stoned Rose and Hepburn Honey (which I will be picking up to complete my collection). They are very creamy but also intensely pigmented. Rich color that lasts a long time. Doesn't feather, but her Lip Cheat makes it even more amazing. They are worth the price and I believe they are probably the most expensive lipstick I currently own but I do not regret them. On my arm: Nude Kate (one of my favorites, perfect nude for light skintone). Penelope Pink (light nude pink), Confession (LE, very similar to BP), B*tch Perfect( nude pink), Cochella Coral (more pink than coral), Love Bite (bright red, slight orange undertone), So Marilyn (deep red) ,Velvet Underground (wearable flattering fuchsia perfection), Night Crimson (a little patchy because of how deep the color is)

I know this is an unpopular opinion, but I think the hype over Charlotte Tilbury products is a lot of marketing and popularity over her work - her actual products (that I've tried) are just ok. I'm sure she has some great products, but the lipsticks are somewhat drying and the colors are far from universally flattering, in fact, I've yet to find one that works for me. As for her face products, they are chock full of comedogenic ingredients that will (not may) cause acne. Overall not impressed. YSL and Bobbi Brown lipsticks are far superior.

On the plus side, the formula of this lipstick is pretty good. It's not the most moisturizing on the market, but it is quite comfortable to wear. It glides on, and neither matte nor shiny, with two swipes it offers a semi-opaque wash of color that can be built upon for more coverage. I got Hepburn Honey and Penelope Pink, and the colors are fairly true to their names -- respectively, they are a caramel honey and a nude pink that I do think would actually work great for most skin tones, which is always nice. As for longevity, they stay on fairly well, for about 3-4 hours. What I don't like is that they wear like "makeup", if that makes any sense. Rather than seamlessly blending in, they almost sit on top of your lips, and even though I don't have cracked or even particularly dry lips, the color caught in every line, further intensifying the effect. Also, they have an odd, herbal-vanilla fragrance. Some people may love it, I don't, but the good news is that the scent is faint and disappears shortly after application. But the real negative is the packaging. I was expecting a gorgeous, weighted rose-gold case... and I was sorely disappointed. It is a deep bronzy pink, about five shades off from anything I could've possibly imagined, with zero detailing to breakup the terrible color, and in hand, it feels light and far cheaper than the pictures would have you believe. In this regard, there is minimal luxury offered, and truth be told, it's not something I'd ever relish taking out in public.