Swatches + Review: Happy Skin x Love Marie's newest collab is all about that casual couture vibe

Lips

Nov 4

I was able to interview Heart Evangelista-Escudero last 2016 when she launched her first ever makeup collaboration with Happy Skin. I came into that interview not expecting much - I have met and interviewed celebrities before, and while they were pleasant, they are usually very bland. They don’t like to say anything that might be even remotely misconstrued in a negative way. But Heart? Oh, she was fabulous! She was smart and eloquent and a joy to speak with. Read my interview here!

I’m glad that she’s now on her fourth collection with Happy Skin. If I remember correctly, she is the brand’s most successful celebrity collaboration to date. Not only does she illustrate the cute designs on the packaging, her lip colors are always on point. In this collection we get two new formulas from Happy Skin plus of course the ol’ reliable Shut Up & Kiss Me Matte Lippies. Here’s a quick rundown!

I first tried lip oil many years ago in Tokyo and thought it was an interesting concept! It’s a great way to hydrate the lips while adding a bit of gloss. The Happy Skin x Love Marie Lip Treatment Oil (P599) is a petroleum-based liquid lip balm as it lists White Mineral Oil (Petroleum) as its main ingredient. It doesn’t feel oily to my lips personally; it feels like liquid lip balm, almost like a gloss without the tackniess. It does the job of sealing moisture into my lips! It also contains Vitamin E and Hyaluronic Acid.

There are two lip oils available, one in Clear and the other in Rosé. Clear is completely, well, clear, while Rosé offers a very sheer pink tint despite the bright color of the product itself. The formulation has a light sweet scent which I find pleasant and not at all overpowering. As for the packaging, the plastic feels sturdy and the wand is wide and soft.

The Happy Skin x Love Marie Gloss Stick (P599) is another balmy formulation with a high gloss finish. It’s quite wet, it even comes with an inner cap to prevent it from melting out. It feels super comfy on the lips, and does offer a hydrating component (it has Mango Butter) and Vitamin A for an anti-aging boost.

In The Nude is a browny peach, while High Fashion is a browny pink. They look similar in the swatches on the screen but they re quite different in person. In The Nude is definitely more brown! Both are very pretty, although I expected High Fashion to be more dramatic than it is because of the name. Staying power is average at about 3 hours; expect to retouch after eating and drinking.

And here’s the best for last: there are two new Shut Up & Kiss Me Moisturizing Matte Lippie shades (P649)! I’ve been a fan of these since they came out and always have a few on hand over the years. The formula is a creamy moisturizing matte with perfect opacity. Staying power is great for me too - these can stay on up to 4 hours and won’t just rub off totally with a mask (though it will fade). Both shades leave a satisfying stain.

I am smitten with the two new colors. Daydream is a creamy peachy pink while Signing Off is a muted orange. Bold choice, the latter, but I love it because I don’t think I have something quite like it. It’s not burnt sienna, it’s not ochre-y, it’s not too brown unlike other similar shades in the market at the moment. It’s just the right sexy orange for me!