Shiseido did a total revamp for their line some time ago, and it’s taken me a while to review some of the newness, but finally here we are! I’ll be sharing my thoughts on two product lines: the Shiseido VisionAiry Gel Lipstick and the Shiseido MicroLiner Ink. Spoiler alert: these products are amazing..! Stick around to see why:
Shiseido VisionAiry Gel Lipsticks
The most remarkable thing about this lipstick is its formula. I don’t think I’ve come across anything quite like it before. On application, it melts immediately into a very thin gel-oil texture that just glides on. It’s pretty impressive that despite this, it goes on very smoothly – without settling into lip lines, looking uneven, or losing opacity. After a while, the finish turns matte, but a comfortable matte. Adherence to the lips (and therefore longevity) is also quite good. There will be some transfer on mugs etc, but actually less than you might think, and any fading of the colour occurs evenly on the lips. In a nutshell, this is an unusual but very high-quality formula. Thumbs up from me!
I have a few shades swatched below. The most difficult one to pull off is Cyber Beige. It has a very intense yellow undertone, so it looks a bit strange if worn alone (at least on me it sure does). I need to experiment with some slightly darker caramel-toned lip liners, and figure out how to make it work. However, the other 3 shades below are beautiful and so much easier to wear: Woodblock, Sleeping Dragon and Shizuka Red (the latter falling halfway between the previous two, as a reddish brown).
Shiseido MicroLiner Inks
Interestingly, these liners have a very similar formula to the VisionAiry lipsticks: on application, they melt into a thin gel-like texture, and glide beautifully over the skin. But soon enough they set perfectly, ensuring a long, smudge-proof wear time. They also build over themselves really well, without lifting previous layers.
They are also shaped to be extremely slender, hence perfect for detail work. I’ve been using them to tightline and they work beautifully to make the upper lashline look thicker. I especially like the black one paired with simple black eyeliner: it makes it easy to get between the lashes and cover any visible skin for a much more intense effect. Couldn’t be happier with these – they’ve become a go-to to intensify a huge variety of eye looks (liquid eyeliner or shadow).
Have you tried any of these products? If not, what are your favourites for tightlining or when you want a comfortable matte lipstick?
Lex
The Cat's Eye 