Tuesday, April 1, 2014

Marc Jacobs Lovemarc Lip Gel in Strange Magic (102) Review & Swatches (and Compared to Tom Ford Nude Vanilla)

Purchased by me (Affiliate links)

While the Marc Jacobs line launched at Sephora last August, I managed not to buy anything until very recently. I love Marc Jacobs as a designer, but somehow just didn't have a visceral reaction to his new makeup line. Sure, I stopped and swatched a few things on my arm now and then, but somehow always left with something from Armani, Hourglass, NARS or Guerlain instead. I finally decided that I would try something from the line, and so I chose the Lovemarc Lip Gel in Strange Magic because it seemed to be the perfect pinky peachy nude lipstick.
Marc Jacobs describes the Lovemarc Lip Gels as, "a color-saturated, long-wearing, gellified lipstick with a sleek shine finish."

Fall in love with Marc’s irresistible, gellified lipstick. Full of pure pigment, this long-wearing lipstick has an irresistibly touchable texture. Unlike traditional waxy lipsticks, Lovemarc’s cutting-edge, gellified formula delivers the utmost in creaminess, comfort, and color payoff. An infusion of monoi butter—a velvety cream made from the tropical tiare flower—provides intense hydration, while myrrh extract works to reduce the signs of aging, and an innovative 3-D plumping agent adds gentle volume. The vivid shades are all inspired by Marc’s favorite movies.
Described by the company as a warm nude pink, Strange Magic is definitely a more sheer peachy pink shade. The color is gorgeous and tremendously flattering, but this particular shade is not at all long-wearing. The gel texture is very comfortable to wear, and I found it somewhat moisturizing. I find that the texture and consistency is rather wet. In fact, it has a tendency to settle into lip lines, pool and puddle on part of the lips while not fully adhering to other areas. This uneven coverage may, in part, be a function of how pale and sheer the color is in conjunction with the light gel texture. That said, this color seems more interested in transferring to my glass, and generally slipping off of my lips soon after application. I did try it over a liner and that did improve the wear-time considerably, but I bought it as a pretty swatch-and-go (and to apply without a mirror)-- not to fuss over and check on continually. It has a very pleasant light vanilla scent that does fade rather quickly, and therefore won't likely pose a problem to those among you who prefer fragrance-free lip products. In all fairness, though, the darker more pigmented shades may have superior performance, but I only purchased Strange Magic so I can't compare this to one to any of the other Lovemarc Lip Gels.

Have you tried the Lovemarc Lip Gel Lipsticks? What is your experience with them? If you tried a lighter shade, like Strange Magic, did you have better luck than I?
Ingredients: Octyldodecanol, Polybutene, Phenylpropyldimethylsiloxysilicate, Polyglycerl-2 Tetroisostearate, Ethylene/Propylene Copolymer, Vp/Eicosene Copolymer, Synthetic Fluorphlogopite, Dicalcium Phosphate, Cetyl Peg/Ppg-I0/I Dimethicone, Polyglyceryl-4 Isostearate, Ozokerite, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Silica, Hexyl Laurate, Stearalkonium Bentonite, Propylene Carbonate, Bht, Methicone, Ethyl Vanillin, Hydrogenated Coconut Oil, Carthamus Tinctorius (Sfflower) Seed Oil, Commiphora Myrrha Resin Extract, Tocopherol, Gardenia Tahitensis Flower, Tocopheryl Acetate, Carmine (Ci 75470). (+/-) Titanium Dioxide (Ci 7789i), Iron Oxides (Ci 7749i, Ci 77492, Ci 77499), Red 6 (Ci I5850), Red 7 (Ci I5850), Red 7 Lake (Ci I5850), Blue I Lake (Ci 42090), Yellow 5 Lake (Ci I9i40) Yellow 6 Lake (Ci I5985).

Contains: Myrrh Extract, Vitamin E Oils, and Monoi Butter: Provide richness and moisturization while reducing the signs of aging.
I thought that it would be helpful to swatch Strange Magic next to Tom Ford Nude Vanilla (reviewed here) since they are both pinky peachy nudes.
While in the tubes Strange Magic and Nude Vanilla look like near dupes, the swatches reveal that they are indeed quite different. Nude Vanilla is much darker and less pink than Strange Magic.
Top to bottom: Tom Ford Nude Vanilla and Marc Jacobs Strange Magic.
Overall assessment: I love the color and texture, but Strange Magic goes on my lips in a patchy way and settles into lip lines. The wear-time leaves much to be desired, but I suspect that the light sheer color and lovely gel texture are responsible for this problem. I would like to try one of the more pigmented colors to see if my theory is right, and if it is then I will buy a darker shade because the texture is fantastic.

$30.00 for 0.12 oz. from Sephora. (Affiliate link). Screenshot from Sephora.
Copyright © 2014 www.lolassecretbeautyblog.com All Rights Reserved.

12 comments:

  1. Dear Hele,
    I am sorry for asking a question in a totally unrelated post but I was wondering if you have ever tried the Kai Body Wash. I think I don't want to use soap bars any longer. I use Creamery Creek but I want to explore the body wash world yet I am clueless. I know my skin is terribly dry to the point of exhaustion.
    How are the lovely ones? How are you? I hope all is fine in sunny LA.
    xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

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    1. Hi wefadetogray! I own and love the Kai Body Wash. My bottle is nearly empty and have been meaning to review it before it is gone! I definitely recommend it, and I even find that it works well for shaving. It smells delicious! If you like the scent then you might like their Body Butter-- it is very moisturizing. However, since your skin is so dry you might prefer to layer it over a body oil to get more moisture. I'm doing well, and so are all of the beasties! It rained last night, but it is gorgeous and clear right now (but a touch cool). Hopefully the rain in NYC is going to give way to a lovely sunny afternoon :-)

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    2. That's great, Helen. I may give it a try then; certainly I need to put something else on top because my skin is in pain. I actually developed really bad eczema on my breast and I am having the worst time. Nasty, I know. I am in the process of transforming all my skin care, as you can see, so I was wondering if you can at any time make a post about your favorites masks and peels?
      I am still debating between the Radical Skin care line and the African Botanics. I know I want to change everything, including my shampoo. My skin care regime is not working for me at all.
      Many hugs to you and your wild ones,
      xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

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    3. My only concern is whether the fragrance may further irritate your eczema. Perhaps you would be better off trying something that is completely fragrance free and moisturizing. As you know, Radical and African Botanics are two of my all-time favorite lines, but my instincts tell me that you need to load up on samples of the specific products that you want to try-- your skin has been through so much lately that I think that you might want to do the try before you buy approach. Since SpaceNK carries both lines-- I would go to a physical store location and get some samples-- or you can contact my lovely ladies at the Sherman Oaks location. xoxoxox

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  2. I have one of his lipsticks that never gets worn. It came with a kit or I'd have returned it.

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    1. Does that mean that you had the same kind of experience that I did? I just couldn't get this lipstick to work, and I finally just returned it!

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  3. i picked up MJ's remedy concealer pen during the sephora rouge sale. i've only test driven it twice but i'm tentatively loving it. it has surprisingly good coverage for my med dark circles, blends out really easily with a brush (i hate working with my ring finger in this area) and best of all works great as neutralizing base for my eyeshadow. thin skin, purple veined look be gone! just don't expect it to blend out well using that palladium tip :P

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    1. Hi Chia-Yi! I will have to check out this concealer-- thanks for all of the information about it-- I definitely get dark circles and am always on the lookout for excellent concealers that work well!!! <3

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  4. Great review! I've been holding out on Marc Jacobs too, especially since the initial reviews on the Lovermarc Collection were not very good. Love that TF color though! In the end, I always go back to YSL or Dior lipsticks... they never let me down! xo Kelly msdioraddict.blogspot.com

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    1. Thanks, Kelly! I was definitely a big miss for me! It's a lot of money to spend on a lipstick that refuses to apply evenly or stay on the lips for an acceptable length of time! Definitely worth buying a tried and true lipstick instead. YSL and Dior make gorgeous lip products!! I love this TF lipstick so much, and wear it all of the time-- I will need to buy another before long! Have a lovely weekend! <3

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  5. This one absolutely looks too lipbalmy to me and hearing from you a lipbalmy texture settles in lines too??? Almost the worst of both worlds. I normally opt for lipbalms as they normally do not crease/stain in possible liplines.

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    1. It is definitely too balmy, but worse yet it just doesn't want to cling to the lips. My lips are in good condition (no dry flaky bits) and yet it adheres to parts while slipping off of other parts. Also the wear time was less than ideal. It was a HUGE miss for me sadly! BTW, I love your blog :-)

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