Protect the Lions: Lip Stick in Mirage

1 Review

1. 

   zestyTacos9

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   Chantecaille calls this a “Lip Stick,” and has not designated it as a “Lip Chic” or “Hydra Chic.” It contains vitamins C and E in the formula and is touted as long-lasting. It’s one of the products in Chantecaille’s Protect the Lions collection. The collection features a palette of four shadows in shimmering earth tones, a natural-looking blush, and three lipsticks.

   Chantecaille prides itself on being a cruelty free brand and donates 5% of the proceeds of this collection to a charitable organization called the Lion Guardians. Chantecaille is a luxury brand with counters at some Saks Fifth Avenue and Neiman Marcus locations, but the line is harder to spot than more budget-friendly brands with better distribution at stores like Ulta or Sephora.

   The colors in the Protect the Lions collection are beautiful, and I love big cats, but the $85 price of the eye shadow quad gave me pause. The blush, called Pride, is $40. I thought I’d start small with a lipstick. I love nudes, so I picked up the shade Mirage for $36.

   This amply pigmented nude has enough depth that it doesn’t look like concealer on the lips and doesn’t wash me out. It’s not a “wow” shade but it goes with everything and I love the name. The fragrance free formula is hydrating and comfortable. With such a glossy shiny finish and emollient feel, I worried that Mirage would be true to its name and fade away quickly in the desert heat, but I’ve been pleasantly surprised by the staying power. Although it will transfer to my cup when I sip my morning brew, there is still plenty of color left on the lips when I finish my coffee. It doesn’t feather or bleed. I have to reapply after lunch to maintain the color, but that’s true of most lipsticks. The silver metal cylinder that houses the bullet is slender and sleek. It’s not fully retractable, though, so be careful not to swivel up the lipstick too high.

   PROS:

   1. Chantecaille donates 5% of the sales to the Lion Guardians.
   2. Mirage is an attractive, subtle, classic nude shade.
   3. Staying power is better than average.
   4. Feels moisturizing and conditions the lips.
   5. Chantecaille is a cruelty free brand.

   CONS:

   1. $36 is a lot to pay for one lipstick, even if you are helping cute lions with your purchase.
   2. I am used to fully retractable lipsticks and it surprised me that I couldn’t swivel the lipstick all the way back into the case. This seems to be a limitation of the design rather than defective packaging. I have to remember not to advance it too far, just high enough to apply it.

   In spite of the two cons, I’m giving this a 5/5 rating. I’ve had such a good experience with the formula and shade of Mirage that I am tempted to pursue other Protect the Lions products before this great collection vanishes. The other lip shades are Sunset (coral) and African Violet (a berry).

   INGREDIENTS:

   Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Octyldodecanol, Hydrogenated Poly(C6-14 Olefin), Triethylhexyl Trimellitate, Euphorbia Cerifera (Candelilla) Wax, Paraffin, Microcrystalline Wax (Cera Microcristallina), Dipentaerythrityl Hexahydroxystearate/Hexastearate/Hexarosinate, Talc, Mica, Sucrose Acetate Isobutyrate, Ethylcellulose, Dicalcium Phosphate, Lauroyl Lysine, Flavor (Aroma), Isopropyl Titanium Triisostearate, Tocopherol, Lecithin, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Glyceryl Stearate, Pentaerythrityl Tetradi-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydro- Cinnamate, Glyceryl Oleate, Citric Acid, Bht, Tin Oxide [+/-: Iron Oxides (Ci 77491/Ci 77492/Ci 77499), Titanium Dioxide (Ci 77891), Red 6/ Red 6 Lake/ Red 7 Lake (Ci 15850), Red 27/ Red 27 Lake / Red 28 Lake (Ci 45410), Red 21 Lake / Red 22 Lake (Ci 45380), Red 30 Lake (Ci 73360), Red 33 Lake (Ci 172000), Blue 1 Lake (Ci 42090), Yellow 5 Lake (Ci 19140), Yellow 6 Lake (Ci 15985), Yellow 10 Lake (Ci47005), Carmine (Ci 75470), Manganese Violet (Ci77742), Bismuth Oxychloride (Ci 77163)]; Nirvana, Hollyhock and Larkspur Lipstick: Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Octyldodecanol, Hydrogenated Poly(C6-14 Olefin), Triethylhexyl Trimellitate, Euphorbia Cerifera (Candelilla) Wax, Paraffin, Microcrystalline Wax (Cera Microcristallina), Dipentaerythrityl Hexahydroxystearate/Hexastearate/Hexarosinate, Talc, Sucrose Acetate Isobutyrate, Ethylcellulose, Lauroyl Lysine, Flavor (Aroma), Mica, Dicalcium Phosphate, Isopropyl Titanium Triisostearate, Tocopherol, Lecithin, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Glyceryl Stearate, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydro- Cinnamate, Glyceryl Oleate, Citric Acid, Bht, Tin Oxide [+/-: Iron Oxides (Ci 77491/Ci 77492/Ci 77499), Titanium Dioxide (Ci 77891), Red 6/Red 6 Lake/Red 7 Lake (Ci 15850), Red 27/Red 27 Lake/Red 28 Lake (Ci 45410), Red 21 Lake/Red 22 Lake (Ci 45380), Red 30 Lake (Ci 73360), Red 33 Lake (Ci 172000), Blue 1 Lake (Ci 42090), Yellow 5 Lake (Ci 19140), Yellow 6 Lake (Ci 15985), Yellow 10 Lake (Ci47005), Carmine (Ci 75470), Manganese Violet (Ci77742), Bismuth Oxychloride (Ci 77163)].