Fall trend makeup: dark lip

 

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Bésame Cosmetics Review

Signature Compact $42, Refill: $15; 5 colors available

Classic Color Lipstick $22; 12 colors available

Today I have a review of two Bésame products that I have been testing out for a few months. Bésame is a cosmetic company that is inspired by the packaging and formulas of 1940s cosmetics. Recently, Bésame products have been found on Peppy Miller's vanity in "The Artist." Bésame does not test on animals, and uses natural ingredients such as aloe, avocado and jojoba oils, and green tea. They promise quality ingredients while retaining the feel and formula of a luxury cosmetic company. Bésame products can be purchased online and at select vintage retailers.


My first purchase from Bésame was the Signature Compact. Bésame describes this product as a "silky soft powder foundation" that is "formulated with natural zinc and titanium dioxide to shield skin against UV rays." I was drawn by the beautiful packaging, and to be honest, I would not have tried this powder had it not been for the packaging. After using this powder, I was surprised at how much I liked it. I purchased the shade "Light." The color was a great match for my quite pale skin, and they even offered one shade lighter as well as a translucent violet shade that is used to counteract dark circles, or as an overall skin brightener. I commend Bésame for their pale skin options, but the shade range for darker skins is definitely lacking.

This powder is very finely milled which allows it to mattify the skin without looking cakey. I use this product as my touch-up powder throughout the day. Its compact size allows it to fit perfectly in any purse, and I am never without it. However, I would recommend leaving it in its velvet bag to prevent scratches. I took mine out and some of the red enamel began to wear off, which could have been prevented. I would only use this product for touch-ups and not as an overall setting powder because of the relatively small amount of powder you receive, and the price of the compact.

The idea behind the refill powder is that you keep your compact once the powder is finished and buy the refill at a much lower price. This eliminates the package waste that normally occurs when a product is used up. I love that the compact is a much more sustainable option than the average plastic packages that are thrown away. You pay more for the packaging on your first compact, however, the refill ends up saving you money in the long-run.

Overall, I would recommend this product to anyone who is looking for a lovely touch-up powder that will get attention for its beautiful packaging and vintage feel. I would not recommend this powder for anyone with darker skin or people that are on a budget. This is a novelty item that is also utilitarian, but it is definitely not a necessity if it does not fit in with your budget.

Packaging : 9/10
Quality:9/10
Value:7/10
Color selection: 7/10
Overall: B-


My second Bésame purchase was the Classic Color Lipstick in Cherry Red. This lipstick promises "full coverage for a weightless, long-lasting finish. The featherproof, semi-matte formula is enriched with vitamins A, E and C, aloe and green tea for comfortable, all-day wear." Again, the packaging is beautiful, and people will notice when you pull this out of your bag and apply it (using the mirror of your Signature Compact of course).

There are 12 shades offered in this line. There are 6 reds, a 2 neutrals, and 4 pink shades. The shade explanations are offered here. For such a small company, I feel that there is a good color selection, especially in the red department.

Formula-wise, I can only speak for the shade Cherry red. It is a semi-matte as stated on the Bésame website, and makes a beautiful raspberry stain when patted lightly onto the lips. This color has no shimmer, but I do know that there are a couple of shades in this range that have some shimmer in them. Cherry red is the rich blue-based deep red that I had been searching for. I had tried many red lipsticks that were not quite the right shade before I stumbled upon this, so for the color alone, I love it. To wear this formula, as it is a semi-matte, make sure that your lips are moisturized and exfoliated for this lipstick to look its best. I do not, however, find this lipstick to be particularly drying even though it is quite matte. It goes on evenly and opaquely when applied directly from the tube, but also has a sheer, stain-like quality when applied with fingers. It has a light vanilla scent, but nothing overwhelming.

Overall, I would recommend this product to someone looking for a high-end lipstick with beautiful packaging and great color choices. I would not recommend this lipstick to people with particularly dry or chapped lips, or those who prefer a shinier finish.

Packaging: 9/10
Quality: 8/10
Value:8/10
Color Selection:8/10
Overall: B

Thank you for taking the time to read this review. If you have any further questions feel free to leave a comment. I would love to hear from you!