Save or Splurge? Lip Glosses

Article posted by BR Natalie

Whenever we need a new product, we're faced with the inevitable question - do you have to spend more for a good product? Can 'budget buys' ever really compete with an upmarket brand?  Our new feature Save or Splurge gives our Review Heroes the chance to tell us.

First up - lip glosses. We sent 3 Review Heroes two different products from two very different price ranges. Christian Dior Addict Be Iconic Mirror Shine Volume & Care Gloss at $52 promises it's 'magical formula gives lips unprecedented mirror shine and incredible comfort.'  At $3.50 the BYS Mega Shine Lip Gloss promises you will 'be totally kissable with this everyday accessory'.  We wonder if our ladies put it to the kiss test?

Will our Heroes recommend you use your pocket money, or break in to your piggy bank? Let's find out!

Review Hero isemonger

BYS on the left, Dior on the right   

I went into this trying not to be biased (I mean I was being sent Dior so it was hard but I did try) I mean who does not like a good under dog story, right? Sadly (spoiler alert) this is not one of those stories.

From the minute you open the pack you instantly are drawn to the Dior packaging. It's box is shiny and silver (I am a magpie what can I say) vs BYS much more modest show of the product in clear plastic - more of what you see is what you get. Opening the Dior you are greater with a silver top with CD on the top of it and in clear writing Dior down the side. BYS again has clear packaging with a simple logo on the packet. As you can probably tell by now I am already won over by Dior's charm but before you judge me and my Dior loving ways let me tell you why.....

BYS's lip gloss isn't really a gloss. It feels like you put oil on your lips. Its slippery, weird and worst of all it doesn't stay on your lips. I tried it so many different ways to see if I could be won over and the best I could get out of it was that it didn't make my lipstick bleed as much as other gloss's have in the past but alas because it has no staying power it also takes off the lipstick as it leaves your lips.

And now.... let me tell you about Dior...
Dior is a very sticky (and I say that in a good way) lip gloss that feels amazing and will change the way you feel about lip gloss - how is that for a statement?!? But it's true. It stays on and feels great. If you get the chance to read my review you will see I go on about the brush it comes with to apply it, crazy but this brush feels great so great I want to apply this product all the time but I don't need to. The only thing I didn't like about this is how much it made my lipstick bleed out when applied on top of a colour. Dior does not play well with others. Noted. In saying that I can live with this (I mean it's Dior it doesn't have to play well with others).

So there you have it. My love affair with Dior is going to be a long one (I just have that feeling you know?) but BYS and I sadly do not have the chemistry and will have to remain "just" friends.
I attempted to send pics of the different products (BYS on left, Dior on right) but you can not really see any difference except in one I look surprising more tanned than normal.

Verdict: SPLURGE

Review Hero Plumpie

The Dior lip gloss is overall a very luxe product - everything from the box to the tube it comes in with the heavy square package with a large silver knob on the top screams expensive. Definitely a get what you pay for product. I am reviewing the shade 'Angelique' I was rather amazed when I got sent this gorgeous shade for review, a gorgeous beige pinky nude - it's not pink, it's not peach and it's not mauve or brown or orange, it's unlike any nude gloss I have owned before, it gives a glow-y look to the face with just a hint of colour, and a lovely milky opaque yet translucent coverage - no streaks here. Looks good on me with or without a liner. Not sticky which I love, more of a silicon-y feel, no strong flavour or taste either which I appreciate and a lovely brush applicator which lets you apply a blob of product without getting all your germs in there, which means it will last a long time before I have to biff it out. Overall a lovely gloss, which appeals to me who doesn't really care for lip glosses and gives a lovely fresh nude lip.

With the BYS lip gloss, I had the same experience as with other low priced lip glosses - stings when first applied, sticky, yet gooey and manages to dry lips out somehow. The texture reminds me of those roll on lip glosses from last decade which were quite liquid and oily and would slide around and disappear really quickly, definitely not long wearing by any means.Slightly sweet fruit scent, more of a fragrance rather than a flavouring though. Overall might be good to chuck in the handbag for emergencies, but doubt I would ever even use it as it makes my lips sore and uncomfortable.

My ultimate verdict when it comes to these products (glosses) is to spend rather than save as the higher quality product was longer lasting, better coverage and good for the lips (non-drying) the cheaper one destroyed my lips, didn't last more than a few minutes and for me and defeats the purpose of wearing gloss for me. Still the Dior is a bit more pricey than I would pay for a gloss, but like for like it is worth the extra money. 

Verdict: SPLURGE

Review Hero xjayloux

I feel there was no competition between the two products. One of them was far superior to the other!

The BYS Mega Shine over all was a total let down. I have sung BYS praises all over Beauty Review and I was rather disappointed that I don't feel the same about this product. My general thinking for $3.50 would be you can't go wrong! Unfortunately when comparing the Dior with the BYS you can.. The tube itself is fine, typical squeeze tube with angled tip for application. The texture of the product is rather unpleasant.. I would compare it to lathering Baby oil on your lips or perhaps a really runny Cooking oil.. Its disgustingly oily and just slides off. Because of the texture it just comes running out of the tube in a big mess! That being said means it doesn't last at all and slides all over the place. There were no benefits from using this product, especially aesthetically.

The Dior however.. My goodness gracious me I am in love! The packaging is a gorgeous chrome cardboard box.. The Gloss itself in a beautiful clear tube that shows off the pretty nude/pink Gloss. Pretty mirrored lid and strip around the lid to double as a mirror for application. Tube and lid both embossed with 'Dior' & 'CD'. The packaging is beautiful and very practical. The applicator a soft brush for perfect application, it allows you to apply the perfect amount with no mess! The color I would describe as the perfect nude/pink that will literally suit everyone! Slightly pink, slightly nude.. Perfect! The color is a sheer slick of beautiful mirrored shine that not only brightens your pout, enhances your complexion but makes your lips look incredible! No nasty scents and non sticky formula! What really sold me on this product though was how it would last on the lips.. This was put to test over a Week and every day I would apply this around about 20 minutes before my Coffee.. even after I had finished I still had a slick of color and a lovely shine! Obviously being a Gloss it does require regular touch ups.. But doesn't just wear off almost instantly like other Glosses do!

Verdict: SPLURGE