Review: Stila Lip Glaze

I was recently able to purchase the Stila Lip Glaze Trio for a special discounted prize on a sale at HauteLook.com, a website with mostly clothing and handbag events. It was a rare treat to find this set for a mere $12, when individually, they sell for $22 each! I was thrilled because I've been wanting to try these for so long.

Did the lip glazes live up to the hype or disappoint? You know what to do... read on to find out! ;)

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Product Description: Want lips that get all the attention they deserve? Turn on the shine and you'll be turning heads with stila's most popular lip gloss. Choose from an array of delectable shades that add a splash of color and fabulously matching flavors and scents in one easy click of the famous pen. Cosmetics experts agree-this top seller is an essential addition to any beauty bag. -Stila.com

Price: $22/.08 oz.

Results: Stila Lip Glazes come in the infamous click-style pen dispenser that I usually dislike, because it's almost always done poorly. Too often the product spurts out, gets stuck in the brush and is wasted, doesn't come out at all... you name it. While I've heard these complaints a few times with Stila's lip glaze as well, I only experienced product getting stuck in the brush... which is pretty much inevitable with this kind of packaging. It just seems wasteful to me, and it's bothersome when you pay this much for so little.

The shade selection is wonderful, but some of the colors have a little too much pigment for me, so I prefer the sheerer shades and applying a thinner layer. The scents are absolutely delectable and include a wide range of fruity flavors, from apricot to grapefruit to watermelon. About half of the glosses contain some kind of light shimmer, but it's very subtle and wearable - not overly glittery or colorful.

The glosses apply thickly if you aren't careful, which is another reason I like to apply thinly first and layer if needed. It can be hard if you have the experience of getting too much product in the brush, so click carefully and slowly. It's also slightly sticky, but nothing terrible. I didn't mind the stickiness much. I also discovered that when applied over a balm, the feeling is much less heavy on the lips. They're very shiny, and all the colors are gorgeous-looking! My current favorite is apricot, a light, nude melon with a hint of shimmer.

As far as wear and staying power, they actually seems pretty good for a lip gloss! It won't stick for hours, but when you need a touch-up, you can just click and go - which is fun, I'll admit. :) It seems to wear off nicely, too, leaving a little color and shine on your lips.

Overall, I enjoy the product and admit that it's a good quality lip gloss - but the value is not the greatest. When the math is done, it's essentially a $36/ounce product, which seems crazy for lip gloss. And while you may pay only $22 per gloss, I consider the amount you receive to be very important. And let's face it, you aren't getting much product here. I think what we pay for is the concept and the name.

All that being said, I think I'd only repurchase in the case of another sale, or if I found a shade I really adored. Unfortunately, these might not last until then! It's a great gloss, but I just can't see myself shelling out the cash for it at regular price.

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You'll like this product if: You don't mind thick glosses or a little stickiness, you aren't on a budget, you enjoy most kinds of lip gloss, you prefer more subtle color and shimmer

You won't like this product if: You prefer a thinner, non-sticky gloss, your budget is a little on the tight side, you prefer lots of shimmer

Rating: 3-3.5/5