Rose Bud or Thorn: Buxom Serial Killer Gift Set
On my never-ending quest to spend as much money (that I don’t have) at Sephora as possible, I picked up the Buxom Serial Killer gift set. The five miniature shades of Buxom’s Full Bodied lipsticks clock in at .04 oz each for $32 dollars. These are currently on sale at my Sephora for $22, but I assume they’re going fast because I picked up the very last set. Sephora’s website says that these lipsticks will plump (√ – yup!) and moisturize (√ – yup!). After trying on all five lipsticks, my lips desperately needed the moisture.
If you’re interested in what these little babies look like and the final verdict, keep reading on to find whether these products are rose buds or unnecessary thorns.
The five mini lipsticks are as follows (top to bottom): Menace, Provocateur, Mistress, Centerfold, and Moonlighter. The photo on the right is with flash, the photo on the left is without.
Menace is described as a “rich wine” and is a part of their permanent collection. If you’re familiar with Revlon’s Black Cherry but are too conservative to try it, I find that Menace is a nice alternative that gives you the rich color but isn’t quite as bold. (Top- with flash, Bottom – bathroom lighting)
Provocateur is described as a “true red” and is also a part of the permanent collection. I’m a firm believer that if you’ve seen one red, you haven’t seen them all, but this is a cool-toned red that looks more pink than red (to me) with the flash on. (Top- with flash, Bottom – bathroom lighting)
The next in the set is Mistress, a lippie that looks to be exclusive to this set and is a baby doll pink. I didn’t find this one to be too different from my lip color and didn’t go on as opaque as the rest of the colors. I usually stay away from pink colors like this because I think they clash with my skin tone (Mac’s I Like it Like That is one of that comes to mind) but this is pleasant. (Top- with flash, Bottom – bathroom lighting)
Centerfold is the 2nd to last lipstick in the set, by far my favorite of the bunch, and is also exclusive to this set. I do think that Hooligan from Buxom is similar, or at least I’m hoping so because this mauve-y nude is perfect for those with paler skin tones who are looking for a more natural look. (Top- with flash, Bottom – bathroom lighting)
The final color in the set is Moonlighter. This is not featured in their permanent collection but could be described as a cool purple with blue iridescent shimmer. This is probably my least favorite of the bunch, if only for the shimmer. I know lots of other people will enjoy this color, and I’ll be passing this one off to my mom. (Top- with flash, Bottom – bathroom lighting)
I find that I love these colors (or maybe myself – it’s a toss up) without the flash more than I do with, but I think it’s nice to see the difference. Overall, I think this set was a great buy that contains five mini lipsticks with great formulation. They are across the board creamy, and glossy enough that an actual gloss shouldn’t even cross your mind. They are moisturizing and I don’t find myself rubbing my lips together to seek out moisture or make sure the color is evenly distributed. I do think, however, that the mini ones in particular could easily fall right out of the packaging if I applied enough pressure, so those who are going to run to Sephora to pick these up while they’re on sale should be wary of that! If you’re looking to dip your toes into the world of Buxom but aren’t sure which direction to take, this is a great way to try a selection of colors. The only unfortunate part is that three of these colors (and my favorite color by far) is not available in their permanent collection. Hopefully that’ll change, but in the mean time, I’ll be rationing these babies out to make them last!
