Pupa Miss Starlight in Great Grey isn't the most comfortable lip balm I've tried

Hello there!

I picked up this lipstick at L'Occitane without knowing what to expect. The shade I chose, Great Grey, looked amazing in the store, but my excitement soon wore off.

Where to buy: I got it at L'Occitane

Price: around 1000 rubles

Shade: № 702 - Great Grey

This lipstick has an ultra-shiny, semi-transparent color with pearlescent particles that creates a 3D effect on the lips, making them stand out. The ultra-soft texture feels amazing on my lips.

Ingredients

Packaging: The lipstick comes in a simple red cardboard box.

As for the downsides, I'd say the only notable issues are the lack of tamper-evident protection and the transparent sticker with the Russian label - it's almost impossible to read.

The lipstick itself is in a metallic silver case with a mirror finish. It's very compact and neat, but it shows fingerprints instantly.

Another minus is that the shade number isn't indicated on the lipstick itself. The sticker at the bottom is a bit blurry, but it's not like it's useful information for me, anyway.

The lipstick opens a bit stiffly, but it won't accidentally open on its own.

It glides out smoothly, doesn't get stuck, and doesn't catch on the sides. The weight of the lipstick is 2.5 grams, which is a bit light for the price. On one hand, it's not a lot for the cost. On the other hand, the quality didn't quite meet my expectations, so I'm not likely to finish it anytime soon.

The stick in this lipstick is small and thin, which is a bit of a letdown considering the high price. The shape is also unusual, with a rounded tip instead of a traditional bullet shape. For me, this makes it harder to create a clean, defined line. Texture: This lipstick has a balm-like texture that melts into my skin. It's quite rich and contains a lot of shimmer. To be honest, I'm not a fan of the large, chunky shimmer particles - they feel uncomfortable on my lips.

Shade: The color is a deep, brownish-beige shade that's almost too dark for my taste. What drew me to it, though, was the subtle pink undertone that catches the light in a really pretty way - especially in artificial lighting. However, when I'm in natural light, the shimmer particles just don't seem to pop in the same way.

Pigmentation is medium, which is to be expected from a balm-like lipstick. As it's supposed to be semi-sheer, it'll look different on everyone - and on me, it tends to look more vibrant than it actually is. That being said, it's not too pigmented either, so it's not like it's going to cover up any major flaws.

Perfume: To me, this lipstick smells like caramel - it's not overpowering, but it's definitely noticeable. The scent is pleasant, though, and doesn't turn me off.

Result

I'm lucky in that my lips don't require any special prep before applying this lipstick - they're not dry or cracked, and they're smooth enough that the lipstick glides on easily. After a lip liner, my lips are also pretty even, so the lipstick applies smoothly and evenly without getting caught in any lines.

This lipstick is easy to apply - it melts into my lips and spreads smoothly without getting stuck or feathering. However, I do find it a bit tricky to create a sharp, defined line with it. A lip liner is probably your best bet if you want a crisp edge. I personally prefer to apply it in two thin layers, as it can get a bit messy if you apply too much at once. The shimmer particles are also pretty noticeable, so be careful not to overdo it - or they'll end up looking like stripes. And if you do happen to get it in any lines or cracks, they'll be even more noticeable.

On my lips, this lipstick looks absolutely stunning - it shimmers and shines in all the right ways. But, unfortunately, the pink undertone that initially drew me to it is basically invisible once it's on. So, in the end, it's just a pretty, brownish-beige siren that's more brown than beige, and less sparkly than I'd like.

I have to say, it looks pretty good under artificial lighting, almost like a mirror.

Honestly, this PUPA lipstick reminded me of the famous Olay Energy Glow. But that one was way more shimmery and felt way more comfortable on my lips. This one has a pretty big shimmer, which I can feel on my lips. It's not uncomfortable, but it's not like it's not there at all. And the manufacturer promised an absolute comfort experience. But that's not what I got.

Also, this lipstick has a pretty unpleasant taste, like I'm wearing cheap lipstick. It's not like I'm supposed to like the taste of my lipstick, but it's been a while since I've had one that tasted this bad - it's got a bitter, oily taste. I don't usually lick my lips, though.

On the other hand, this lipstick is pretty comfortable overall. It doesn't dry out my lips or pull them back, and it actually does a great job of keeping them moisturized. Even after it's mostly worn off, I can still feel the moisturizing effect for a bit.

Staying Power: For me, it doesn't last very long, which is pretty expected given the texture. After about 4 hours, all that's left is a bit of shimmer and some remaining moisture. The color isn't very vibrant, so it doesn't last long - maybe 3 hours. But it depends on what I've eaten, what I'm wearing, and my hair. It doesn't stick to my skin, but it does cling to my hair, so it ends up there. It won't survive a snack, but it'll leave behind a bit of shimmer. But overall, it does wear off pretty well - it doesn't get stuck in wrinkles or collect on the skin. But I do have to repeat, my lips are pretty smooth after a filler, so that might be a factor.

Removal: The lipstick doesn't stain my skin, so it's easy to remove with a dry or wet wipe, or a cotton pad. It might leave behind some sparkles, though. I usually remove everything with a micellar water.

Plus

looks greatdoesn't dry out my lipshas a nice scenttexture is niceMinus

can be a bit messyno shades availableshimmer is pretty big

Verdict

This lipstick isn't making it into my top picks. It's got a pretty nice color and looks great under artificial lighting, but it's just not comfortable to wear. The taste is pretty unpleasant, and the big shimmer isn't exactly what I'm looking for. It's not the worst thing I've ever tried, but I wouldn't go out of my way to buy it again or try another shade.

That being said, I do use it. I wouldn't call it a bad product, but I wouldn't go out of my way to buy it again or try another shade.