Stila’s Convertible Color: Oh, The Places You'll Glow!
Written: Mar 15 '03 (Updated Jul 19 '03)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Sheer, Beautiful Colors, Multi-use
Cons: Price, Packaging
The Bottom Line: I love the colors and convenience of the product!
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| MADYL's Full Review: Stila Convertible Lip Color |
I have to admit that I’m a somewhat fascinated by all of the multiple use, 2 in 1 products that are offered by Stila, with the exception of the convertible lip color. I love my Stila Color Push up, and made the decision to purchase the Stila Convertible Color a couple of months ago at Nordstrom. Before I begin my review of Stila’s Convertible Color, I want to assure you that I do not work for, own stock, or make commission off of Stila products. However, I am becoming an avid collector of several nice products! I was intrigued by Stila’s Convertible Color after reading several rave reviews in fashion magazines. Convertible Color was listed in InStyle magazine as one of the Best Beauty Buys this year, so I had to try it, right?
Introduction to Stila
Stila (pronounced “Stee-lah”) was created by celebrity makeup artist Jeanine Lobell (she is married to ER actor Anthony Edwards) in 1994. Stila Cosmetics was acquired by the Estée Lauder Companies Inc. in 1999 (Origins and Clinique are also a part of the Estee Lauder group), and Lobell is the President and CFO. Lobell continues to work with celebrities such as Gwyneth Paltrow, Cameron Diaz, Drew Barrymore, and Natalie Portman. Stila's advertising campaigns do use models, but use illustrations to promote the company’s product and image, so the products do not endorse a fantasy image.
What I like about Convertible Color
Stila’s Convertible Color dual cheek and lip color. It provides a creamy but wonderfully sheer wash of color. (I even use a swipe of it on the crease of my eyelids!) For the most part, I use Convertible Color on my cheeks over my foundation for blush. This product does not cake or clump. The colors are very flattering for me, giving my skin a natural glow. The product comes in a cute little mirrored mauve colored compact that looks like old-fashioned tooled tin. The formula is non-greasy, which is important for my oily/combination skin. The products blends easily and does not sweat off,
To Apply:
To give the cheeks a natural- looking flush, apply with your fingertips, placing the color under your cheekbones, and blending upward. You can dab on dots from your finger tips and blend. This looks so healthy and natural on the cheeks and provides a nice dewy glow to your cheeks. The color is buildable, so you can increase the intensity from natural to bold. (I prefer the natural flush). It lasts an average amount of time (4-6 hours) as a blush.
For the lips, apply a dab with your fingertips for a lip stain. I apply it after lip liner for more staying power (it isn’t as long wearing as lip color as it is a blush). If your lips are dry, I would recommend using a good lip balm such as Burt’s bees to give your lips a good prep, since this isn’t super moisturizing. (Which for me is a good thing, since I’m using on my skin as a blush).
Be careful when applying on the go. If I apply it at work, I need to have a tissue available to wipe it off my fingertips. It’s not sticky, which is great, but since you apply with your fingers you need to keep that in mind.
Colors
The color selection is what I love about Stila. The Convertible Colors have a color for any one, and in my case several! The amount of pigment really varies depending on the color you buy. The bolder the shade, the more intense the results. The ones I own are sheer. The color examples on gloss.com are very close. All of the colors are easy to build up for more intensity, from sheer to bold. Here is a listing of the current colors available:
• Forget Me Not – Beautiful, soft berry wine shade. This was the first convertible color shade that I tried. This looks great with all of my berry and plum lip colors, goes well with my fair to medium toned skin and dark hair. It is not too highly pigmented and easy to blend.
• Camellia – Warm, brownish orange shade.
•Gladiola - Warm, peachy orange shade.
• Magnolia - Soft, neutral muted mauve rose with brown tones.
• Orchid - Purple red shade (According to InStyle, this was used on Gwyneth Paltrow for her cheeks and lips in the movie Shallow Hal).
• Peony - Neutral apricot, brownish pink shade. I got this as a free gift from Gloss.com for ordering another convertible product and I love it! I would purchase this again on it’s own. (According to ,InStyle magazine, this was used on Jennifer Garner in the movie Daredevil).
• Petunia - Cool toned deep pink. (According to InStyle, this was used on Ashley Judd in the movie Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood) I want this one for spring!
• Poppy - Deeper red wash of color with some brown tones (According to InStyle, this was used on Marisa Tomei in the movie The Guru)
• Rose - Warm rosy red, give a subtle flush of color. (According to InStyle, this was used on Cameron Diaz in the movie Gangs of New York).
• Lillium – This is one of the new spring “Cabana Girls collection” colors. It’s a warm sheer rosy pink shade. I keep getting this recommended to me since I have the Cabana Girls Strawberry Daiquiri eye trio collection. I have a feeling that I will probably cave in soon.
• Gerbera – Stila describes this one as a “juicy coral.” This is also one of the new spring shades for “Cabana Girls collection” recommended with the Peach Daiquiri eye colors.
Ingredients include: Ricinus communis (castor) oil, octyl stearate, phenyl trimethicon, beeswax, octyl hydroxystearate, ozokerite, microcrystalline wax (cera microcristallina), isopropyl myristate, octyl palmitate, bis-diglyceryl polyacyladipate-2, lanolin oil, tocopheryl acetate, alumina, bht, methylparaben.
Typically an ingredient list like this would frighten an oily skin lady like me (I tend to avoid ingredients that list any oil or wax for facial products), but the Stila rep assured me that it was for all skin types. I have no problems with this as a blush, and it actually looks more natural than powder blush.
Packaging
I’m mixed over the packaging. I don’t care for a lot of Stila’s packaging. The products cost a lot, but the recycled packaging can be cheap looking on some products. This packaging comes in a cute metallic compact, with floral designs on the lid with a mirror inside, so it looks cute, but isn’t very sturdy. My smaller sample of Peony has taken a beating in my purse. Also, it can sometimes be difficult to open or close. I do like the portability of the compact for quick touch ups.
What I don’t like
Convertible Color is ridiculously priced at $28 (for a .15 oz. Full sized compact). In my opinion, it should be about $10 less. However, I do like the product and it will last me for long time, so the price I can live with the price. A little seems to go a long way. I’ve had mine for two months now and haven’t made a dent in it yet.
Where to buy and final thoughts
Stila's entire cosmetics line is available online at gloss.com. Stila Convertible Colors are available online at Gloss.com, Sephora.com, or at your local Stila counter at fine department stores such as Nordstrom (call 1-800-883-0400 for Stila locations). Sometimes you can find good deals on brand new products on eBay. Stila cosmetics does not conduct or endorse cosmetic testing on animals.
If you can get past the price, this is a wonderful product that I would highly recommend.
Thanks!
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
MADYL
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 - Top 500 |
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Member: Tammy
Location: Seattle, WA
Reviews written: 85
Trusted by: 400 members
About Me:
Working Mom, Human Resource Geek, Shopaholic
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