Buxom Big & Healthy Lip Tarnish in Scandal

In December, I showed you Buxom Big & Healthy Lip Tarnish ($18) in Blackmail, a blackberry "truffle" shade. Described as a plumping and moisturizing lip stain, Lip Tarnish is available in seven pretty colors. After I tried Blackmail, I decided I needed another shade. My next purchase was Scandal (love these salacious names). Scandal is described as mauve - accurate, but not nearly as exciting as the real thing.

Buxom Big & Healthy Lip Tarnish takes color to a new level. It tints exactly like a stain, shines like a gloss, moisturizes like a balm, and plumps like nobody's business. Your full color and shine isn't going anywhere. Lips remain soft and supple thanks to an infusion of emollients and vitamin E for lasting moisture. The cooling and tingling sensation reminds you that your pout looks plumped to mega-proportions. A built-in sharpener keeps your creamy pencil perfectly prepped for whatever shenanigans arise.

How has it fared with me? I really like it, but not for all the reasons promoted in the marketing blurb on Sephora (above). It does behave like a stain, making the color extremely long-lasting - and oh, what a gorgeous colors I have! Scandal is like my lip color, but significantly darker, making my lips look naturally pretty and more prominent than they are without help.

I see a lively gleam when I apply Scandal. For that reason, I'm having a scandalous affair. I've also figured out that if I apply just a little lip balm before I apply Scandal (or Blackmail), my lips feel moist and creamy, and the product offers more shine. I think I've hit on the "formula" for the best way to wear Big & Healthy Lip Tarnish.

I took my swatch photos in full sun. These photos may be a tiny bit more shiny than Scandal looks on the lips, but not much. I think the mauve-rose shade is gorgeous.

There is a slight cooling sensation when I apply Lip Tarnish and, fortunately, no tingling sensation that plumps my lips with pain. I dislike tinglers, so I'm happy with that minimal effect. Although the ingredients list fragrance, I do not detect a significant smell or taste. There's just a slight fragrance on application; it fades quickly.

I starting using my first Lip Tarnish as a lip pencil, filling in the whole lip after lining. Because of its generous, chubby size, Lip Tarnish makes quick work of generously lining or painting my lips with color. Now that I've discovered the keys to the kingdom (with practice and a bit of serendipity), I use Lip Tarnish like any other lip color. It provides its own definition.

My Big & Healthy Lip Tarnish shades have become staples in my handbag. I always have one with me - proof I love them. I won't carry extra weight for mediocre beauty products.

Buxom's Big & Healthy Lip Tarnish is sold exclusively at Sephora. Right now, there is a special offer. Enter code TRYBUXOM in the promotion code box at checkout, and you'll receive a Buxom Lash Mascara deluxe sample (0.2 oz), free with your online purchase. The offer is valid through March 31, or while supplies last.

Photos by Best Things in Beauty