Rimmel: Show Off Lip Lacquer Apocaliptic

I recently posted my review on Rimmel's Show Off Lip Lacquers which you can read here. I love them but my local Walgreens rarely has any left that haven't been tampered with. I was so excited to finally find an un-open one in Apocaliptic. It was definitely on the top of my list when they first came out!

As far as the color goes, I find that it wears a bit darker than what you see in the tube. It's a rich raspberry color with a slight hint of hot pink and it's awesome. I think this color is actually wearable for anyone and it makes a great statement lip!

In terms of formula, I'm happy to report that this one is just as great as Celestial. Goes on smooth, amazing pigmentation, and lasted for several hours. Definitely another favorite for me!

NYX: Xtreme Lip Cream

I had mentioned these lippies in my last post and realized I have never reviewed or posted swatches of them yet. NYX lip products are some of my absolute favorites and these Xtreme Lip Creams are another great addition to that category!

These Xtreme Lip Creams fall into the lipstick/lipgloss hybrid category. I love these kinds of lip products because not only are they a time saver, they are so convenient! It's nice to only have to bring one lip product with you instead of a couple (definitely not trying to add to the madness that is my make up bag). Oh and the pigmentation of these Xtreme Lip Cream's...amazing! As I mentioned in my last review, these are very similar to Rimmel's Show Off Lip Lacquers as far as consistency. They are a bit drier in formula and a little less shiny than the Rimmel Show Off's but that's being super technical and it's nothing overly obvious. If you have tried NYX's soft matte creams, they are a bit thicker in formula and more hydrating. They are definitely very comfortable on the lips and last for at least 3-4 hours on me.

The only major negative to them is the scent. If plastic & play-doh were a desirable scent, then NYX totally nailed it. Unfortunately, I don't know many people that look for that scent in a lip product, I know I sure don't. The good news is the scent isn't really noticeable once the product is applied. Thank Goodness.

Rimmel: Show Off Lip Lacquer Celestial & Luna

Finally! I got my hands on the long awaited Apocalips by Rimmel! I was a little disappointed that they changed the name for the US release...Apocalips is so much better than Show Off Lip Lacquer. Not sure why the name was changed...are you trying to tell us something Rimmel? Are we Americans not worthy of a cool lipgloss name?! Well, we did get 14 shades whereas the UK only have 8, so that's pretty awesome...I guess all is forgiven.

Anyways, I've been waiting for months for these bad boys to make an appearance here in the U.S. and I was at my Walgreens as soon as I heard they had arrived. To my dismay, not only were a lot of the colors sold out, the ones left over had been opened. So annoying.

There is a seal on the product but like most drugstore makeup, a little clear sticker doesn't prevent tampering. If you aren't familiar with this product, there is a way to tell if the applicator has been pulled out all the way or not.

From L-R: If the center section is clear like the photo on the left, then the applicator has not been pulled out of the tube. Regardless if the seal is broken, if you see a clear section, that means no one has pulled the applicator out yet. The photo in the middle shows the applicator about to be pulled out. You can see the color start to fill the section. The photo on the far right is what happens as the applicator is being taken completely out of the tube. If you see a gloss that has a center section filled with product, then you know someone has pulled the entire applicator out.

After searching forever for just one gloss that hadn't been tampered with, I was eventually able to get my hands on Celestial and Luna. There were shimmer shades but I was only interested in the creme finishes. Though these weren't my top picks, they were new and sealed and that's all that mattered to me!