Careline's new drops will take your makeup game to better than basic
This story is brought to you by Careline.
I’m a bit of a late bloomer when it comes to makeup. I started using a tinted moisturizer (with SPF) and lip balm in high school, but I didn’t buy my first lipstick until I had already started working. Part of my challenge was a limited budget, but the other was that there weren’t really any brands that had a teen-friendly style and price tag.
I think that this combination is what makes Careline such an appealing brand for me even though I’m so much older now - the colors are trendy, the products are current, and the quality has honestly been very impressive. I remember swatching the now-famous Graph-Ink Liner during a preview event two years ago, and I was shookt when it didn’t bleed and spread out like other liquid liners often do. So when the brand announced that they were launching a new lipstick line, I begged Liz to let me review them. She agreed on the condition that I have Gett and Nine try them as well because lipstick swatches look a lot pinker on my lips than on other people. I thought that this would be a great opportunity to show what the lipsticks look like on different people with different skin tones!
The Soft Suede Lipsticks (P165 each) are described as “everyday nudes” with a soft matte finish. I was very excited to try these because I had just realized I didn’t own any nude shades, and I had swooned when I saw the swatches on Instagram. There are six shades in total: Fire, Icon, Mood, Spice, Trophy, and Vibe. From left, the lip swatches are on Gett, Nine, and me.
Vibe is supposed to be a rose mauve but I think it looks a bit coral on all of us. Trophy was a surprising bright orange. Spice is a deep crimson red on me while it takes on an orange tone on Nine. Mood is a peachy brown that looked good on all of us, with seemingly minor differences. Fire is a brick red that looks subdued on all of us. Finally, we all agreed that rosy brown Icon is our favorite! It had the most consistent color for all of us, and it also turned out to be the perfect nude as well.
These lipsticks have that smooth, silicone-y texture that’s popular right now, and I like how it deposits an even pigment in just a single swipe. There’s a hint of vanilla scent but it’s very faint. While the finish looks matte, I find that it doesn’t cause my lips to dry out. It does catch on all the dry patches though, so it’s important to prep lips well and make sure that there aren’t any flakes. At just P165 a pop though, I don’t mind doing an additional step of lip exfoliation and moisturization since it helps keep my skin healthy anyway.
Apart from the lipsticks, Careline has also grown its glow-makers collection with the Diamond Dream Highlighters (P135 each). These powders have a subtle metallic shimmer and iridescent quality that allows you to pile them on for an otherworldly glow. Eye Candy is a frosty white, Front Seat is champagne gold, and Glazed Glory is a pretty rose quartz.
They aren’t powdery but the pigmentation is quite faint, especially for Glazed Glory. I don’t mind it at all though - this one is actually my favorite of the three because of how subtly it illuminates my skin. I had to apply a lot of the powder to get the glow to show up in the photos, even when using a dense brush. It’s impossible to go overboard with this highlighter.
If you want to shine like you mean it, the Glow Getter Palette (P275) would be more up your alley. This contains a contour, a blush, and a highlight that WOWS. You don’t need a lot of the highlighter to start a rivalry with a Christmas tree, and Nine said that she was stunned by how it makes my skin look “wet”.
Wearing the highlighter, contour, and blush from the Glow Getter palette, and the Icon lipstick
I also really liked the contour shade they included: it’s a bit warm but with an ochre base instead of red. The pigmentation is pretty good as well so I used it to contour my nose in the photo, and loved how it was so easy to apply! If you’re a beginner and haven’t yet learned how to contour, I think this palette is a great first product to practice with. Already a pro? Get it anyway because this highlighter is just so stunning.
The Skinny Mascara (P150) had actually been sitting in my online shopping cart for a while now. I was mostly curious about the super tiny bristle wand that was just about 2mm wide because it seemed perfect for reaching the shorter lash hairs at outer corners as well as applying mascara to my bottom lashes without making a mess. The formula does deliver on being clump-free and having a lengthening effect but I can’t comment on its claims of being smudge-proof as I have dry eyelids.
One thing that I find confusing about this mascara is that longer, printed end of the tube is actually the portion that contains the brush. This may make people feel like they aren’t getting as much product as they thought (packaging doesn’t indicate weight). Still, it’s not really an issue for me since mascara needs to be changed every 3 months anyway and that often happens before I’m able to finish a tube.
The biggest surprise find for me came in the form of the Multi Pots (P165 each). To be perfectly honest, I did not expect to like them because I thought the balmy texture made them feel like ordinary lipsticks melted into a pot. I was very wrong about this!
When applied, the formula takes on a powdery finish that sets the tint in place. I haven’t tried the famous 3CE version yet but I imagine it might feel and perform the same way. The colors are decently pigmented and can be layered on the lips for a more vibrant look. It blends easily on the cheeks but you do have to work quickly before the color sets. I really love the pretty stain it creates and it actually lasts a good 6 hours on my dry skin. The lip color doesn’t immediately wear off either - I can eat a slice of pizza and the tint would still be there.
The available colors also offer good options for creating different looks: Head Over Heels is a red brick shade, Magic Spell is a brown peach, and Abracadabra is a bright pink shade. I applied each to both my lips and cheeks, and it’s amazing how that little pop of color brings life to my face! I especially love how Magic Spell looks on me - it gives a sort of sun-kissed look to my pale skin.
I was only just looking forward to trying the Soft Suede Lipsticks, but I’m very pleased to find that Careline has so much more to offer! As the tagline goes, their products are “better than basic” and can be enjoyed by both makeup newbies and long-time enthusiasts. I appreciate that they make a point of staying on top of beauty trends and develop products that allow beauty lovers to try them without breaking the bank.
Have you tried any of these products from Careline yet? Which ones are your favorites?
Careline’s new products are available at all Careline counters nationwide, and online at their official Lazada store.
