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Sunday 6 February 2011

Quickie Review: Morgana Cryptoria Vegan Lipsticks








I'd been wanting to try out Morgana's lipsticks for some time - they're widely raved about in the indie make-up community. I had a little Christmas money left over, so I picked Coraline's Kiss, Screaming Violet and Lush.

Ordering from Morgana Cryptoria was easy and the website is fun! At checkout, there is a couple of drop-down menus from which you can pick what shadows you want for your free samples, which I think is really, really awesome! Another thing I noticed about Morgana that they if something you order goes on sale or BOGOF within a certain period of you ordering, they'll credit your account or send you a free item with your next order. WIN. That is awesome customer service. Anywhoo...

Coraline's Kiss:





I'd been recommended this and I'm so glad I bought it. The texture is a little bit dry, but it is super bloody pigmented - like, really wow. I think it looks great with my skintone and I can't wait to wear it out.

Update: I wore this to work today, and I only had to touch it up twice during the day. It lost it's vibrancy more than it wore off my lips, if you know what I mean - no actual colour had worn off! I wasn't eating a lot today or anything, but I'm impressed with the wear. Good stuff!

Shrieking Violet:





I'd seen Blix wear this, and I've also seen in on a few other blog and fell in love. I have to say, I'm a bit disappointed with this one. The colour is spot on, but I just can't make it work. It looks kind of waxy and is really difficult to apply evenly - I also couldn't get it to transfer onto a lip brush properly. It took a lot of work to make it look this good, and I can't get it to look good around the edges. I dunno, maybe I got a dud? I'll make it work.

Update: Melissa has said that this colour is going to be re-formulated. (Scroll down to the comments.) I think that's great as it's such a beautiful colour, it really deserves an awesome formula. I'd like to reiterate as well the fact I don't think this is a shit lippy, or unworkable, just that it's difficult. I also think it's cool the owner of the company took the time to let us know.

Lush:





Pretty! I love the finish. I saw Ana wear this on Lipstick and Lightsabers and even though I really, really, REALLY don't need another slightly-lilac-bubblegummy lipstick (I NEVER WEAR THEM) I really wanted to try this! It's so odd - it stains like a mofo, and not at all like the tube colour. I think it's awesome, but be warned if you're not into stains!


And because I know everything in this vague colour family gets compared to Viva Glam Gaga:



L-R:
Barry M Lip Paint No 177, Morgana Cryptoria Lush, Collection 2000 Bubblegum, MAC Viva Glam Gaga


Would I order from Morgana Cryptoria again: Yes, I would, although I found the shipping a bit expensive at $7 (yeah, I'm a cheapskate, it's not that bad from the States) and I'd have to remember about the bloody customs charge! The colour selection is amazing, and apart from the Shrieking Violet I got, the quality seems excellent. And rumour has it samples will be available soon, as well as a whole shitload of new colours!

14 comments:

  1. I'm holding off ordering until the new colours come out! Lush looks pretty :) Shame about Shrieking Violet, I was thinking about ordering it but swatches on blogs make it looks like it varies in colour quite a lot batch to batch - no thanks!

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  3. You have really pretty lips. :)

    Coraline's Kiss and Lush looks soooo gorgeous on you! :D

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  4. I find the lipsticks quite changeable in formula, I have the exact same problem with Shrieking Violet. It's possibly the PERFECT purple lippie colour but i find it impossible to get on evenly. Others are dry but alright and some are just lovely, creamy and smooth. In general I like them a lot though, and the colours are lovely. Lush looks so so pretty, but i don't like the staining thing.

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  5. I've been really wanting to try Shrieking Violet, too. The lippies are highly pigmented but I have the same problem as you do, they won't apply the same with a lip liner and I find it settles into my lip creases :(

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  7. Pretty swatches! I have Coraline's Kiss and I love seeing it how it turns out differently on everyone who wears it. :)

    Honestly.. 1) I don't mind if I don't get business cards.. I have no idea what to do with them.. and then I feel really guilty if I throw them away... 2) I don't expect free samples.. if I get them, AWESOME, if I don't, no worries. These are small independent makeup companies.. 3) I *think* Melissa stopped sending invoices to cut back on wasted paper, I'm sure that doesn't allow her to include a thank you as easily as she'd like.

    Either way, I guess I have a different view on how I feel customer service should be. I want someone to respond when I have an issue, as well as fill my order properly.. other than that, the products are what will keep me coming back.. lack of help will keep me away.

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  8. Melissa, you do have great customer service. I know a lot of companies are trying to avoid paper invoices (i.e., email only) which is great.
    The thing with samples, I don't think anyone should feel the need to *have* to provide them to every customer, but I've received samples from companies of shades I probably would never have thought to order otherwise and ended up loving them and ordered full sizes.
    Another example, I've ordered from a company before and ended up not liking any of their products. Although there were other products in their etsy store I was eyeing, I don't think I would take the chance again because I didn't like any of the products I had received. Does that make sense? While I'm not saying every order deserves a free sample, I think it's a nice touch, especially on larger orders.

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  9. I lahhhhve how Lush looks so different when blotted! I bought a bunch of lipstick samples from Morgana a while ago and I recall Coraline's Kiss feeling dry but I just thought it was the sample beinged dried out at the time. Still pretty though!

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  10. Oooooh....Lush and Coraline's Kiss are so pretty! My want list just keeps getting bigger and bigger ;)

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  11. Wow..these are pretty intense!
    Great swatches.
    X

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  12. I love Melissa's lipsticks! I also love that she takes critiques in consideration! Nice to see Shrieking Violet being reformulated! ^^
    I can't wait to see her new shades *-*

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  13. Nice swatches! Thank you for reviewing my company. Shrieking Violet seems to be one some people like the texture and some don't. I will be reformulating this shade to make it easier to apply. Lipstick samples with the revised formula will be available soon.

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  14. They all look lovely, but I love Shrieking Violet :) I dont know what it is but I gravitate towards shades like that :)

    take care

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