2true Cheek "n" Lip Tint

Guess what! Its snow everywhere!!! Beautiful from the window sill, but horrible when you are out! Looks like X-mas fever is high on the toll by now! My manager was very kind and sweet enough to give me a Christmas card and a pink diary/planner!!! Love the planner!!!

Okee girls! First lemme talk about something apart from the title!!! Who wouldnt know Benefit's Benetint aka BB? Nee bother if you dont know! "BB is the original rose-tinted stain, which is kiss-proof, see-through color for lips and cheeks. It is the sexiest flush you can get from a bottle! Its naturally sheer and sexy on all complexions...innocent yet provocative! This rosy glow lasts for hours. Originally created for an exotic dancer in the 1970s, Benetint has soared to cult fave status. It is loved by celebs, makeup artists and gals around the world!" claims Benefit Cosmetics!

12.5 ml retails for 22.50 pounds! Looks like I am trying to review BB instead! This is BB in abstract! We have new breeds of tints and stains flooding the market, lately! Other than BB and 2true, we also have ME ME ME version called Pussy Cat Cheek & Lip tint!

Now back to 2true Cheek "n" Lip Tint; its a spitting dupe of BB, if that makes any sense! BB and 2true tint look similar in packaging, but I am quite sceptical about the pigmentation and fragrance! Similar glass bottle and brush applicator! BB is strongly infused with the scent of roses! Remember, I warned you! You are anti-rose person, stay away from BB!!! I have rose in my mind before I smell 2true version, so I obviously get that rosy fragrance!!! I know I have gone mad, now! The only down side, the detergent/cleaning agent scent! Dont lick your lips! It irritates your tongue and throat as well!

Talking about the applicator, I dont like it! It tickles my lips, so I am kinda "ummm... when I use the brush! I keep laughing for no reason, looks as if I have inhaled some laughing gas! Change the applicator, please! I have never been a huge fan of brush applicator coz thats not as feasible as the doe foot one! It doesnt gather enough product, especially with watery consistency so I had to keep on working!!!

Lemme tell ya somethin'. Never follow the rules if you want things to work your way! I tried using the brush zillion times, only to get more disappointed. Then, I tried using my fingers; OMG...it worked!!!But, my fingers looked like I messed up with beetroot!!!They were more pigmented than my lips and cheeks :)

First day, I tried this on moisturized lips but it was too soft for the tint to stay on! It was kinda slippery, I coud say! How would you feel walking on a road with snow? Does it make any sense to ya? I am trying to speak English!!! Second day, I tried this on bare lips but it was too much! Lips were pathetically dry! Third day, I followed a proper routine to get the most out of this!!! I tried on bare lips, let the product dry, moisturized with Carmex/lip balm, then applied another coat of the tint!! Waited for a while to let the product dry! If you want I-just-ate-a-cherry-popsicle effect, 2-3 coats are more than enough! I am not sure how it looks on fair skin, though!!!

It worked on the third day, finally! I am completely satisfied that I could make it work! Staying power was more than average! It easily sinks into the lips, you know! If you dont want that glossy feel your moisturizer gives you, use a blotting tissue! All you have is flushed lips!!! Color doesnt bleed! See, if I used the brush, I might have ended up tossing this out! Never follow the rules! It literally murders the artist in you! Make your own rules!! Be your own boss!!

Must be the formula, but I had to work like more than 5 times to get the flush on my cheeks!!! Am I am too dark for that instant gratification??? Whateva! Exfoliate your lips and skin for instant gratification!!! I shook the bottle with my finger at the rim!!! Applied the product with my index finger! Do you really understand what I say?

The consistency is liquid and color, quite buildable! I never took it on travel, so not sure if its travel-safe!!! Uiiiiiii....almost forgot! This irritates my lips, must be the ingredients!!!

Life expectancy: 6 months.

Weight: 10 ml.

Ingredients: Aqua, Polysorbate 20, Phenoxyethanol, Caprylyl glycol, Parfum, Sorbic acid, Linalool, Hydroxycitronellal, Amyl Cinnamal, Benzyl alcohol, Benzyl benzoate, Alpha-isomethyl ionone, Butylphenyl, Methylpropional, Benzyl Salicylate, Cinnamyl alcohol.

Caprylyl glycol - Humectant and skin conditioning agent that lends moisturization, emollience and wetting properties. Because of its multi-functioning nature (moisturizer & anti-microbial), it is used in a plethora of personal care products such as facial moisturizer, sunscreen, anti-aging treatment, lip gloss, mascara, concealer, cleanser and foundation.

Linalool - Irritant, especially skin and eyes. Now, I know the reason!!! The link below should answer all your questions!

http://www.pureskincare.co.uk/acatalog/copy_of_Limonene_and_Linalool.html

Hydroxycitronellal - Used to impart pleasant floral odour to numerous consumer products, has been chosen for a full risk assessment principally because of its known skin sensitising properties.

Methylpropional - Powerful floral-fresh odor, hence fragrance ingredient. Used in skincare products. The IFRA Standard restricts the use of Butylphenyl Methylpropional in fragrances because of potential sensitization.

Benzyl alcohol - Used as a solvent for ink and paint.

Girls, I listed out the ingredients, which I thought would be more useful instead! Hope it helps! Trying to give you a pathetic swatch, as usual! Will replace all the stupid swatches ASAP!!!

(Courtesy: Benefit cosmetics, ME ME ME Cosmetics)