My venture into natural cosmetics started with this Elysambre lip gloss. I came to know this brand many years ago in a shopping spree in Harbour City in Tsim Sha Tsui, Hong Kong. I was told that this brand was from France and specialized in natural cosmetics. The saleswoman even told me some of their products were edible! That was well before natural cosmetics becomes such a hot topic in the town. For now, let’s focus on this lip gloss.
Ingredients: 54% Organic Castor Oil
I gleaned from the packaging box and its online catalogue the following information:
- Free of paraben, PEG, mineral oils, and phenoxyethanol, or oil-derived products
- 100% natural raw materials, of which at least 85% plant-based active ingredient and 54% are organic.
What it claims to do is to protect and moisturize your lips, without sticky effect and with good hold while making your lips shiny, pulpy, and luminous. Before we look any further, let’s have a look at the ingredients.
As you can see, castor oil is the only organic ingredient. And if it contains 54% organic ingredient, I will assume there is 54% castor oil in this product. Sounds good, huh?
Environmentally friendly
What strikes me as something different about Elysambre is that many of its products can be refilled. In the case of this lip gloss, you buy a lip gloss of your chosen color in a plastic bottle and a metallic case. Upon receipt, you assemble the lip gloss plastic bottle and the case yourself (don’t worry! It’s a no-brainer). And when you finish the lip gloss, you can re-order the lip gloss and reuse the case. The case, made of sturdy metallic copper, can give you a firm grip and can be re-used for many times.
Application
The applicator only picks up a lean amount of gloss, so there is no overuse for every dip. I was a terrible user of lip gloss. I often made the gloss cap messy in the past. But such issue doesn’t happen on this lip gloss, probably because the applicator doesn’t pick up much gloss, the inside of the case cap and the wand still have a clean, tidy look after a few weeks of use. However, the disadvantages is I have to layer for a few times before the color becomes pigmented enough to my liking.
Color
The one I ordered was a pinky pearly coral, but I got pearly raspberry red instead. The staff from Lovelula.com obviously packed the red one in the wrong box. So I ended up having this raspberry red. Oh, but I didn’t like it. I want PINK, not red. And I just didn’t click with this unromantic and unexciting red. I was sent the “right” color later, but I was disappointed to find that the same raspberry red was sent again, so I ended up having two lip glosses in the same color…
That was the only lip gloss I owned, so I had to bear with it. It’s then that things started to change. The more I wore it, the more I loved it. It gives my pale lips a much-needed ruddiness, so I can stop looking like a zombie and be a human being again! Besides, the color is so wearable that it can match any of my clothes and makeup on a daily basis. If you want a red lip gloss that isn’t bold but still gives you that feeling of “I’m wearing red,” this lip gloss is for you.
But too bad that my camera has stopped operating, forever. So the photos featuring my lips were taken with my phone. You can see the color on my lips isn’t as rich as those on my hands, which was shot with my camera. If you think there is little difference between “before” and “after,” it’s because the apparatus I used…
Smell, Texture, and Longevity
The lip gloss has a very mild scent. I love the fact that it doesn’t have a nasty taste that comes with other unnatural lip glosses I used. Or if it does, it’s very subtle. The texture is smooth and non-sticky. But it wears off after two hours, but I consider that normal, given that it’s a lip gloss, not lipstick.
Price
Lovelula.com sells it at £11.29 plus £3.99, if you were to order the case as well. It’s not something on the cheap side, but I think it’s still affordable.
My Take
I’m satisfied with its performance: non-sticky, moisturizing, and pigmented enough when you apply for a few times. The only thing I would complain is that it isn’t pink.
Have you tried this lip gloss or anything from Elysambre?
wow, you’ve got full lips! always wanted to have fuller lips as they make a lady look younger and they carry glosses/lipsticks really well.
The photo is cheating you! Haha~ I remember seeing some photo of yours, and I think “Vivi’s got good-looking lips.”
Looks like an interesting brand to try. But 54% castor oil? So this is not something that is hard I guess.
If I read that right, then yes!