Yes, these lipsticks are a pro brand. They come in four formulations: Velvet-creamy and extremely pigmented; Matte-extremely pigmented with a non-reflective surface; Sheer-least amount of pigment for translucent coverage; and Shimmer-same pigment amount as velvet but with reflective and opalescent particles.
Joe Blasco Lipsticks and Lip Highlighting
Are they any different from the department store brands? Yes, when it comes to stability of color. If you have had lipstick especially reds turn to fuchsia or pink on you, Joe Blasco lipsticks won't do this because they do not contain the dyes or stains that react with the PH balance of your skin. So, you see it was never you but the lipstick!
The lipsticks I tried are two different formulas and two completely different colors of the spectrum. Sparkle is a velvet formula which is a red with an undertone of rose with little bits of red microglitter which is nothing overpowering. Naked is a sheer nude color and wearable for many skin tones; think of a new copper penny with that slight pink glow mixed with beige. Both of these colors are true, what you see in the tube is what you see on your lips. There is a very slight vanilla fragrance (flavoring) to them but it isn't a sickeningly sweet smell, just enough for the nose to detect and forget. As pigmented as they are, they are moisturizing and long wearing yet easily removed with makeup remover or cleanser.
Since this is a post on lipstick, let me expand on this subject by showing you how the lipsticks and Protouch Highlighters work together. In my previous post I did mention that the highlighters can be used to prevent lipstick from bleeding. I know some of you hate lip liners or do not like the constricted harsh lines of them, this is where you can use the highlighters to build a fence around your lip line. Depending on your skin tone, choose the Yellow Protouch for porcelain to light/medium complexions and Orange Protouch for medium to dark. Darkest may want to use Joe Blasco Natural Cream (powder blush) as their highlighter. You can use a brush or in this demonstration, a sponge tip applicator. I used the Yellow Protouch and applied it wet, it can also be applied dry. I just prefer it wet for more control.
Disclaimer: The following may sound like a tutorial but really isn't, just my opinion on how something works. You may disagree so don't throw any stones. If you don't like what you are reading don't read it, and void where prohibited by law.
In the following pictures, I do only the left half of my lips to show you the difference. 1, 2, & 3-With the sponge tip, I apply the Yellow Protouch a little above my natural lipline. 4-shows the finished outline. 5 & 6-I go back over it to blend to get rid of any obvious outline. I want it to blend into my skin. 7-Blending is finished. 8-Sparkle lipstick (Velvet formula). 9-Naked lipstick (Sheer formula).
You can see there is a difference between the two halves, the highlighted half looks more distinct than the non-highlighted. Next time, when you watch a movie, you can see that many actors/actresses have the highlighted lipline. This is just one way of highlighting the lips.
Joe Blasco Lipstick Ingredients
Sheer: Castor oil, isostearyl palmitate, candelilla wax, propylene glycol fatty acid ester, ozokerite, oleyl alcohol, hydrogenated castor oil, carnauba, pvp/hexadecene copolymer, sorbitan sesquioleate, peg-20 sorbitan, beeswax, stearalkonium hectorate, acesulfame potassium, parfum, propylparaben, tocopheryl acetate, propylene carbonate. May contain: mica, titanium dioxide, iron oxides, red 6 lake, d&c red 7# ca lake, red 27, blue 1 lake, yellow 5 lake, carmine, ultramarine, manganese violet.
Velvet:castor seed oil, candelilla wax, isostearyl palmitate, stearalkonium hectorite, propylene carbonate, caprylic/capric triglyceride, ozokorite, oleyl alcohol, hydrogenated castor oil, carnauba wax, peg-20 sorbitan beeswax, vp/hexadecene copolymer, sorbitan sesquioleate, propylparaben, tocopheyl acetate, flavor. May contain: mica, titanium dioxide, iron oxides, red 6 lake, red 7 lake, red 27, blue 1 lake, yellow 5 lake, carmine, ultramarines, manganese violet.
Velvet:castor seed oil, candelilla wax, isostearyl palmitate, stearalkonium hectorite, propylene carbonate, caprylic/capric triglyceride, ozokorite, oleyl alcohol, hydrogenated castor oil, carnauba wax, peg-20 sorbitan beeswax, vp/hexadecene copolymer, sorbitan sesquioleate, propylparaben, tocopheyl acetate, flavor. May contain: mica, titanium dioxide, iron oxides, red 6 lake, red 7 lake, red 27, blue 1 lake, yellow 5 lake, carmine, ultramarines, manganese violet.
