Monday, July 14, 2014

Review: Stila Convertible Colors in Peony, Lillium, Petunia, Poppy, and Orchid

The Purchase

I bought all of these except for Orchid from Birchbox, because of their great points system. Orchid doesn't seem to be currently available, but I got it from eBay. These retail for $25.00, and you can get them from the Stila website (which frequently has sales), Ulta, Sephora, or, as previously mentioned, Birchbox.  Unfortunately, though, Birchbox has limited options, so I'll have to spend real money and not points to get the other colors I want! (Rose, sweet pea, and fuschia are next on my list.) The Stila website, Ulta, and Sephora all offer cash back through eBates (referral link), usually between 4% and 8%. Ulta is currently offering a free deluxe sample of Stila Convertible Color in Peony with any $25 purchase, and since these are $25, that means you can try two colors for the price of one!

The Packaging

These come in cute, sturdy plastic compacts. The outer color more or less reflects the color of the product (some are not too accurate, but it's easy to tell the colors apart at a glance, and I guess that's what's important), and each one has a mirror inside the lid. The packaging is both cute and functional - nothing special, but it works!

Left to right, these are Peony, Lillium, Petunia, Poppy, and Orchid.




The Performance

I love these for both their intended purposes, as a cream blush and as a lip product. As a blush, I apply them with a stippling brush (I like the elf small stipple brush or the Real Techniques stippling brush) and they have a nice dewy finish, but if I want them to be more matte and last longer, I set them with a translucent powder. They last a pretty long time for a cream blush -- usually at the end of my work day I can still see some color. The colors are pretty and they are easy to blend. 

As a lip product, they are really lightweight and give moderately opaque color coverage. I apply them either with a finger or with a lip brush; both ways work fine. They are neither particularly moisturizing or particularly drying, but if I want more moisture I top them with a lip gloss or mix in a balm. (Lately I've been mixing them with Egyptian Magic on my lips when I wear them, and that's a really moisturizing combination that still has really good color payoff.) They don't emphasize dry patches at all, and the finish is a nice creamy look. They last about as long as an average lipstick on me; nothing special, but it works. 

Peony is a really good neutral color and subtle contour on me. Lillium is similar, but with more pink, and it's a good neutral blush. Petunia is a nice bright pink, very summery. Of Poppy and Orchid, the first is more red and the second is more berry-colored. I think these are best for fall and winter, and I really like Orchid as a lip color.

Now, the swatches. First is one swipe, then one swipe blended out with a finger. 

L-R Peony, Lillium, and Petunia. First is with a flash, second is natural light. I think the first picture is a little more accurate color-wise.




L-R Poppy and Orchid. First is with flash, second is natural light.





The Verdict

These are some of my favorite cream blushes, and while they're not my all-time favorite lip products, they work much better in that capacity than a lot of multitasking products do, and they work perfectly well on my lips. The real benefits to this are that you can pack one product to do two jobs, and that you can coordinate your lip and cheek color if you want. My one complaint is the color range - I wish there was a purple one available. Warning: once you start collecting these, you want want to stop until you have them all!

No comments:

Post a Comment