15
Aug 2010
Filed in » product swatches, tips & tricks
You ever see a lipstick that you loved in the tube, and maybe even swatched on the back of your hand…but on your face it’s just a big super bright mess? That was a problem I had with a very beautiful lipstick called Impassioned ($14.50 – Amplified) by MAC. It’s a very bright fuchsia that is honestly too bright even for me. To wear it I would have to lightly dab it and blend it with a darker lip liner in that same color family — which is a great solution…but there’s another one…
Black lip gloss. Yup — I said black.
WHAT THE HELL AM I SUPPOSED TO DO WITH A BLACK LIP GLOSS??
Calm down, I know you’re scared…but a good black lip gloss will take a shade of lipstick that is far too bright and tone it down into something totally wearable. If it’s a red, pink, coral, purple, or even neutral — you can customize it so that it fits better for you. A good black lip gloss can transform those lipsticks that don’t quite work for you into some of your favorite and most used shades. You can also deepen colors just for fun to see what colors you come up with. It’s a total kit essential in my book!
For this post I’m using MAC’s Blackware Glimmerglass (from the Style Black collection from ’09). NYX also makes a black gloss, and so does YSL and quite a few other cosmetic companies — so please don’t feel like you have to have this one in particular (you might be able to find it at your local CCO’s). I will say though, this is one of the better black glosses I’ve come across. As a matter of fact, the Glimmerglass products are gorgeous and very practical as they can subtly deepen a color or even be worn alone. They’re all beautifully sheer, and sometimes sheer is good.
Here’s an example…
Bling Black, Blackfire, Blackware Glimmerglasses — gorgeous ways to dim your lipstick down a few notches…
Bling Black, Blackfire, Blackware Glimmerglasses — gorgeous ways to dim your lipstick down a few notches…
MAC Impassioned lipstick alone and with Blackware Glimmerglass on top
MAC Impassioned lipstick alone and with Blackware Glimmerglass on top
MAC Impassioned lipstick alone and with Blackware Glimmerglass on top
MAC Impassioned lipstick alone and with Blackware Glimmerglass on top
My lipstick is still very bright, but its super wearable because of the black lip gloss.
It’s a shame that Glimmerglasses were limited edition and discontinued, because I think that a great black gloss is a staple in everyone’s bucket of beauty products. The NYX formula isn’t nearly the same as the MAC one, it’s more opaque and a bit thicker in consistency because you can wear it alone. I’ve heard that the YSL one also can get a bit streaky and settle into fine lines when worn alone. Even with the look I’m wearing above, I just lightly dabbed the gloss across my entire bottom lip, blended and BOOM! For typical use, you’d only need a tiny amount, but you can really push your colors over the edge by applying more and more — it’s truly up to you how much you.
The hand-swatches above are an example of you can dramatically change the color of a lipstick by slathering the Glimmerglass on top. I applied it pretty heavily just to show you it’s magic. I love it because it doesn’t make your colors look black, but it really deepens them into a more tolerable shade. It’s nice and creamy, smooth and glides on like a dream. They feel nothing like a Dazzleglass, they’re not sticky at all. You could also wear this alone if you ever wanna deepen your natural lip pigmentation. When MAC came out with the Style Black collection last year, they also had some other Glimmerglass shades, which also give you the same effect but with a bit of sparkle. I really wish they made these products permanent — but MAC just adores giving us something fabulous then taking it away. Jerks.
If you can find a really nice and smooth black lipgloss, buy it! It’s not just for goth girls, it can really alter a color for you and it’s fun to play with. Don’t be afraid of it if you see it. Same principle applies to a white lip gloss.
Anyhoo, I’m heading out to CVS to pick up a couple of mascaras to review for you guys. See you soon 
**If you hurry now, you can buy the YSL Pure Lip Gloss in Black on ACW right now!!
-Stay beautiful
I actually bought the YSL black lip gloss off ACW a week ago or so. I had no idea how I really intended to use it, I just knew it was a unique product a lot of other people wouldn’t have and I’d figure out a way to make it work.
I used a MAC Lustreglass in Venetian (a very bright red with hints of blue) and then put on a VERY generous amount of the YSL black and all of a sudden, I had the most beautiful reddish-brown lipcolor!
I RECOMMEND! (But don’t wear it by yourself because as Resha said, it most definitely does settle into fine lines.)
*high five* i ordered the gloss from ACW too now, so thanks for that!! i remember seeing it on there but you totally refreshed my memory that it was even available.
I have NYX black lipgloss that I wear alone, and have never even considered mixing it with something,lol. I’ll have to try this.
i love that NYX gloss, something very sexy about it when worn alone.
thanks so much for this tip! i own impassioned too and i’ve worn it maybe 3 times. i bought it for halloween (i was 90s workout barbie) and just havent found it to be very wearable, though i love the color.
you’re so welcome hun
yea impassioned is sooo pretty but when worn alone on me? girl bye LMAO!
I never knew! This was amazing thanks for posting! There were a few colors I thought were way too bright for me…I’d try to darken them with another shade of lipstick and just get a color I didn’t want. I am def going to pick up a black gloss while at MAC.
you might not find a black gloss at mac right now, so check your local cco. if all else fails, NYX has one and so does ACW (linked at the bottom of the post), she’s selling a YSL black gloss at a great price.
Genius!! i wouldn’t have ever considered a black lip gloss, i cannot wait to get one and try them out!!!! thanks so much for the tip!!!
you’re so welcome!
see now…you’re just a genius. yup
LOL its a great beauty secret!
I was shopping for a black eye pencil today and went over to the Rimmel stand as my old trusty pencil was by Rimmel.
I had a look at their lipglosses and they have a new black one out..I was totally shocked that Rimmel would think that black would sell, I really wanted to get it because it was SO shiny but I never thought I’d use it.
Your post gives me hope (such a drama queen!) because I have a LOT of lipsticks which are too bright for me to wear everyday and I always wanted to wear them so you know I’ll be picking it up the next time I see it!
wow they have a black gloss?? that’s awesome. im gonna have to check that out. thanks for sharing that info!
Very interesting, I’ve always stayed away from these black glosses and the fact that when you put it over color it’s not black
there are much more opaque black glosses, like the NYX one. its pretty black…but it can also be sheered out.
Oh i definitely must try this! I have been scared of all my pretty bright colors but this is the perfect way for me to make them more wearable..thanks!
you’re welcome!
I wonder how a black lipgloss would look over MAC Viva Glam Gaga? would it be a more wearable pink?
oh definitely. always start with a single tiny dab and blend. if you find you need more, slowly add more.
I own a black lipstick from NYX, so I wonder if it would work the same as a black lipgloss. What can I do with a black lipstick?
you could definitely layer a black lipstick, or to small tiny dabs of it to darken another lipstick. or you could wear it alone. black lips are back!
Thanx you so much for the tip! I did’nt know about it! There is so muc lipsticks that I could’nt use because of their brightness!
you’re welcome!!
Ooh, great minds think alike! I just found a brand new pot of Lipstick Queen gloss in Black Tie Optional in one of my Giant Bags of Untouched Make-Up and was all, ‘damn, why didn’t I have this over winter?’.
I love black gloss for exactly the same reasons you said – it either takes the punch out of crazy colours, or it just gives that little bit of depth that some colours lack/need.
yup! i might have to try that gloss!
Omg this is like, the bet post ever!!! Very rarely do I feel as though I actually learned something, but I NEVER thought of this.
Thank you!!!!!!
you are very welcome!!
wow, i never thought about using black lip gloss, didn’t even know any brand made it (newbie lol) but i’m definitely going to buy some after work…. especially since there are bright colors that i love but scared to try.
awesome
let me know if you find any!
I picked up the YSL black gloss a few weeks ago on ACW. I love. It made me a black gloss believer. I’m gonna check out some other black glosses and get my dark lip skills together lol
Time for me to break out all the black lip stuff I bought and tucked away from Style Black…lol. Thanks for the inspiration
Hey girl
) Thanks for this tip! Got my YSL black lipgloss in today and tried it out on my Amp It Up and BAM! Turned it right into Go For It. Wish I would’ve known this before I went searching on the net like a fiend for a rock trying to find it, LOL.
YAAAs!! i just got mine in the mail too. its CRAZY pigmented. my MAC one is way more sheer but this YSL one is whoaa. and anytime my love <3
Lancombe actual was the first to come out with the black. I love love love. Although, I did purchase the black from the MAC Style black collection last year.
I’m new your blog and I love it! I’m definitely going to have to try the black gloss. I have Impassioned too, I wear it with MAC Beet liner. It’s still bright, but is a nice fuschia on darker skin. But I love the bubblegum pink look with the black gloss.
its so ironic. I just bought impassionate from mac last week, swatched and loved it. Maybe I will try that black lipgloss from nyx.
I ordered Urban Decay Lip Junkie in Perversion to give this a try. I have a few lipsticks lying around I had deemed unwearable. There may be hope for them after all.
I wish I had picked these up when I had the chance! but I disagree a little about this. I dont believe in working on a lipstick, if a lipstick doesnt look good straight out the tube then its not your shade. Just buy a lipstick that looks good on you thats my personal philosphy