Lancôme L’Absolu Crème De Brilliance Lip Gloss

Now, usually I'm not really one for lip gloss, far preferring lipstick or just lip tint and a slick of Carmex during the day. I cannot bear gloopiness or stickiness. But when I saw this picture of Kate Winslet, I immediately thought 'I want!'

• Picture from: http://geniusbeauty.com/make-up/lipgloss-lancome-labsolu-creme/

(Can we just discuss this picture? I know that complaining about photoshop in cosmetic ads is like complaining that rain is wet but I did not even know who this was. If you turn your head sideways so the picture faces up, It's even more weird looking. She looks like a cyborg! You cannot deny that her lips look incredible though)

I really love this look, its just so so glamourous. I just had to buy it! I paid £18 in House of Fraser in Belfast. (All the staff there are so lovely and helpful, take note Brown Thomas!)

How gorgeous and luxe is this packaging? I especially love the doe-foot applicator which is great for getting really precise coverage.

This is the same shade that Kate is wearing in the ad, Rose Mythique and it is amazing! Its a proper full blast of red with a very subtle sparkle. As it is so highly pigmented, you can't just slick it on as it will just be a mess! You really need to use lipliner to get a really clean look. A simple layer gives a really pretty girly pop of colour that's perfect for daytime and layered over red lipstick, you can actually achieve the high octane look just like in the ad. I just love it!

Unlike other glosses, this isn't at all sticky and being so highly pigmented it tends to leave your lips stained after it wears away. It has a faint rose scent and taste which is grand despite my being so fussy over scents.

I normally wouldn't spend £18 (£18!!!) on a lipgloss but this was my first foray into the brand and as it is so high quality and I love it so much I really feel it's worth it. Provided I don't lose this in the bottom of some handbag, this will serve me well for a long time to come!

'This is a story of boy meets girl, but you should know upfront, this is not a love story'

The (500) Days of Summer quote there (was it just me or was that no more than a lightweight chickflick that had ideas above its station just because it had a Belle & Sebastian soundtrack? See Also: Garden State)  is in honour of the face of Rimmel's new mascara, Zooey Deschanel.

Well, they say its her face but it clearly isn't! Look at the ad, she was clearly attacked by The Photoshop Monster which is not unlike The Smoke Monster from Lost but it is more damaging to women's self esteem.

Poor Zooey, she is one of the most beautiful yet underrated actresses and musicians around at the moment, yet she looks here like she's just been papped post-tasche wax. I actually wouldn't have recognised her if I hadn't already known it was her. Well Done Rimmel...

After all that excitment, what is the mascara like? Like all the other growth-promising mascaras that have recently rushed the market, it has all sorts of mental claims like your lashes will be 117% longer so if you're not careful you'll trip over them and they'll be strong enough to pull a jumbo jet.
Joking aside, I actually like this mascara. I have naturally long and black eyelashes anyway, so I've never really understood the big hoo-ha about mascara, I'm always left disappointed. This one has a nice simple brush that pulls easily through all your lashes and leaves them non-clumpy and fluttery. If it actually makes any difference to the condition of my lashes remains to be seen however...

The packaging also leaves me cold, just being a simple black tube with a tacky lime green handle. Again, its a colour and imagery that I wouldn't have associated with Zooey. I actually think it would have suited Solange Knowles better, who is another new member to the Rimmel stable.
Jeepers, I think all this obssessing over Mad Men is paying off, I'm noticing all sorts of stuff in advertisements I would have previously been oblivious to.

I bought this in Boots in Enniskillen, I think it was on an introductory offer of £6.50 or something like that. Grand for the price but I wouldn't pay anymore.

Coming soon: Review of No7 Limited Edition Smoky Eyeliner.

xx polkadot