REVIEW: Can a gloss boost lip fullness during a full day of baking?

Product:  ANASTASIA HYDRAFULL GLOSS in "Barely" ($21)

Road Test:  BAKING FOR ALICE IN WONDERLAND-THEMED BABY SHOWER

Location:  NEW YORK. 9/27/11


Tested by Chondra








"We're not painting the roses red...just glossy and pink."

There are many ladies who believe some occasions just don't require makeup; Training for that 5K, lounging on the beach, running to the grocery store to snag some last minute necessities (read: sorbet, light beer and In Touch Weekly.) 


  I am not one of these ladies.  If I will be encountering other human beings, Husboy included, I'll be damned if I'm caught without a little polish.  Of course that means the "just rolled out of bed" look--not to be confused with literally just rolling out of bed.  This Road Test was a test of not just the Anastasia lip gloss you see on my lips at left, it was a baking challenge for my dear friend Mazzle Dazzle's baby shower:  One-woman vs. 40 cupcakes, 30 Cheshire Cat-inspired French Macaroons, 1 three-tier Red Velvet Cake, 1 4-layer Baby Pink Coconut Cake and 2-dozen mini-Chocolate Chip Cherry Scones.  But as they should say, "If you can't bake in heels, get out of the kitchen."  So I'll raise you one tube of lip lube.

The Good


Anastasia is not new to the cosmetics scene, but her name isn't exactly synonymous with 'makeup'. Yet.  You've heard of the company's incredible brow products and brow bars, which have popped up from Los Angeles to NYC.  We had no idea they did things until we snagged our sample of Hydrafull in Barely at an exclusive Birchbox at an event at The Plaza last month.  Boasting a "Kiss me Quick" extract to "increase volume and fullness," Brown Algae to aid in smoothing and firming and Anastasia's patented Balkan Botanical Infusion to amp up hydration, the gloss has some serious contenders in its corner.

I applied first thing in the morning (hello, 6am!) and couldn't help but check out my newly-plump pout for a few extra minutes.  It wasn't early morning delusion-this sucker was like Drink-Me growth potion for my lips and had them standing at attention.  The result was  immediate, so all I needed was a little concealer and a dab of cream blush to at least appear ready to take on my baking duties.    


The nudey-pink color was subtle, natural and sweet as a new-born baby girl.  Or a Fresh Lavender-Cream cupcake with Honey Cream Cheese Icing (below.)

I can't frost a cake without my trio of silicone Williams-Sonoma spatulas.  And now I can't frost my lips without Hydrafull's brilliant, flat-silicone wand.  It makes application precise and easy.  This is the best applicator I've ever used and I hope more brands jump on board.


We took inspiration from Alice in Wonderland's eclectic color palette, for Mazzle's shower decor (right) and dessert table (below.)  Anastasia doesn't get too crazy with their Hydrafull color choices, but they do offer a solid range of 8 multi-dimensional natural shades for any skin tone.  Not bad.

In studies,"90% of testers who used Hydrafull for 4 weeks noticed increased hydration" in their kissers.  Count me in, as I've been using the product consistently and have noticed a change in texture and moisture in mine.  I've also noticed in increase in cushion on my butt from all the taste-testing of desserts, but that's a different story altogether.


Roadblocks?


Only one: You may have to jump down the rabbit's hole to find it, but those willing to take the plunge will get their just desserts (promise we're done with the word play.) Hydrafull is available exclusively through Sephora or Anastasia online.  

VALUE:  O O O O 

PORTABILITY: O O O O O 

WORKS AS PROMISED:  O O O O O

GO!