little white truths

Mecca claims/product details:

• A lip-conditioning classic made with rich botanicals, nourishing vitamin e and a glossy finish for on-the-go chic
• Special edition version for Beauty Loop containing gold shimmer
• An all-time favourite
• Hydrates and conditions lips with a lip-loving formula containing shea butter, hyaluronic filling spheres, pomegranate seed oil and SPF 25 for beautifully soft, SPF protected lips
• RRP $28 AUD for 11g

While I can't claim to be eg an eyeshadow expert because I haven't tried hundreds of different formulas, I can certainly say that I've used plenty of lip gloss over the years so I have a lot to compare this to and I know what I like.

The product is a thick gloss/balm in texture and it's on the sticky side so it won't be for everyone, but I personally don't mind a bit of stickiness to my glosses because it means they tend to last longer on the lips. And do note this isn't so sticky that it's unbearable or I really notice it - it's just sticky enough to stay where it needs to.

Note also that this does have a slight scent - it smells like balm to me and I suspect what I'm smelling is the shea butter - and the fragrance is only noticeable when I sniff the tub so I'm not aware of it once it's on and that's always a plus for me because I hate strongly scented lip products that I can smell all day because your nose is of course directly above your lips.

What I love about this gloss is the texture: there's something plush about it and I enjoy applying it for that reason alone. Better still, it plumps up my lips and fills in lines so it's a great gloss to pair with any lip product because it will turn bad, drying formulas into good ones. Indeed, something that plumps lips and reduces the look of lines is what I look for in lip products so I'm pleased to report that this one ticks those boxes.

On top of that, the product feels nicely hydrating and conditioning on the lips, and it's definitely the most hydrating lip product I'm using at the moment. As mentioned above, my lips are perpetually dry but I'm not so aware of that when I'm using this product because it manages the issue beautifully. While I can't say that this stops my lips from being as dry as they are (I'm yet to find a product that can change how they feel when I'm not wearing it), this keeps them comfortable whenever I apply it so that's a big plus.

The addition of gold shimmer in this clear version of the gloss is a nice touch and I haven't bothered with swatches because you can't really see what this does on me: it's clear and adds a tiny bit of shine, plus it makes my lips look smoother - and those things don't show up well in photos so words will have to do in this case.

All in all, I think this is a fantastic product that meets its claims and it's one I plan to repurchase when mine's gone. Sometimes products are hyped-up for a reason, I reckon this is one of those.

An excellent product.