** This post was written by Fiona. She no longer blogs for Swatch And Learn. However, Mary still continues to blog and will be happy to reply to your comment. **

A few weeks ago, I stepped into a Sephora for the first time in a long, long while. I can’t believe I held out for so long. Proud of myself for being able to stay away from a store full of makeup, I rewarded myself with a visit into said store full of makeup. Hey, I was due a visit. I’m sure they missed my credit card as much as I missed them.

That was when I saw the Givenchy Gelee d’Interdit lip glosses, new for 2011. I zoned in on Electric Purple like a hawk zones in on its prey. Then I got distracted. Since I already have something similar to Electric Purple, I decided I wanted Frozen Pink instead… until I saw the price: $29 CAD. Yikes! I left with my head down, lip pouting and hand empty.

I met up with Mary a few days later, and she kindly gave me NYX Power of Love Brush On Gloss. It’s not Frozen Pink by any means, which has a cooler-toned, darker pink with a metallicky finish… at least that’s what I remember from looking at the tube. But both had lots of sparkles, and the power of love for glitter swayed me.

Update: I went back to Sephora to check out Frozen Pink – it doesn’t look like this one… or even close to what I remembered it to be. I don’t know what I was thinking! Haha!

NYX Power of Love Brush On Gloss Swatches & Pictures

Claims: TRUSTED

√ Luscious lip gloss
√ Can be worn alone or over lipstick

Key Notes

• Name: NYX Power of Love Brush On Gloss
• Amount: 7.5ml or 0.26fl oz
• What I Paid: $0 (Gift from Mary, who got it as a lipgloss set from HauteLook)
• Colors Available: Frosted Beige, Lilac Field, Frosted Walnut, Candies, Merlot, On The Rocks, Natural, Ice Queen, Mutual Love, Shine, Amber, Fusion, Whip Cream, Vineyard, Cosmopolitan, Butter, Red Lips, Earth, Oro, Burgundy, Sunrise, Dolly Pink, Garnet, Golden Mauve, Silver Plum, Taupe
• Ingredients: Ceresin Mineral Oil, Polybutene, Ethyl/hexyl Palmate, C-18-38 Alkyl, Hydroxystearoyl Stearate, Hydrogenated Polydecene, Caprylic/Capric Trigliceride, Disostearyl Malate, Polyglyceryl-2 Trisostearate, Silica Dimethyl Silitate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, BHA; May contain Borosilicate, Mica, Pigment (C.1)
• Where to Buy: Amazon.com, HauteLook (when they have NYX Sales). So weird. I can’t find this on NYX CA, NYX US or Cherry Culture! If you know where else this is sold at, please leave a comment. 🙂

NYX Brush On Gloss Power of Love Review

Color

In the tube, NYX Brush On Gloss Power of Love is a fairytale pink with lots of colored glitter. On the lips, however, it’s a different story. It’s basically just a clear gloss and doesn’t add any color to the lips. But that also means you can easily layer this clear glittery gloss over a lipstick to customize your color.

Glitter

The glitter particles are small, so they’re really pretty when they catch the light. It’s like your lips are twinkling. The surprising thing about the glitter in NYX Power of Love Gloss is that it doesn’t feel gritty. I can barely feel them on my lips.

I don’t mind that the gloss has no color because the glitter makes it look cool. It adds an extra dimension to the look.

Staying Power

However, the thing I don’t like about the glitter is when the gloss wears off. NYX Power of Love Brush On Lipgloss only stays on for about an hour – max. And that is if you don’t drink or eat anything. Not a very long time at all, and you end up having to reapply frequently.

But the real issue being: after the gloss wears off, you’re left with just glitter. It kind of looks like you pasted glitter all over your lips. It’s not a hot look. Sort of reminds me when I was young and played with glitter for arts and crafts. No, I didn’t eat it! But some inevitably got on my lips. Somehow. Some way.

Consistency

The consistency of NYX Power of Love Brush On Lip Gloss surprised me. It’s not thick or sticky, so it felt quite natural on the lips. Actually, it’s like a slightly gooey-er version of a lip balm, if that makes sense. And it’s not too thin or slippery, either. I really like this.

Application & Brush

Because the consistency is so nice on this lip gloss, application is a cinch… even if I don’t like the brush it comes with. First of all, it’s way super-duper long. In total, it measures 5.5”, and the wand itself (where the black part starts) comes in at 3.5”. It’s not always about size, NYX! Seriously, they could’ve cut the wand down by about 2”. Hard to fit into your purse.

Also, I find the brush head too thin. I don’t have huge lips, but it still takes a few strokes and redipping into the tube to apply the gloss all over.

Smell

Ugh. Ugh. Ugh. I read somewhere that this lip gloss has a sweet/fruity scent. Maybe for other shades, because that sure as heck isn’t what Power of Love by NYX smells like. As soon as I open the cap, a delicious and appetizing aroma of burnt plastic invades my nose. Lovely! Although I will say that after I apply it, I don’t notice the scent anymore.

Pros  Great consistency Lots of glitter for depth Can be worn over lipstick to add sparkles to the color Hypoallergenic Cruelty-free

Cons  Smells bad Brush wand is too long & brush head is too thin Has no color Doesn’t stay on for very long

Final Verdict: 6.9/10

This is not my favorite lip gloss to wear, but I think the glitter adds a lot of fun to the lips. They’re small but definitely noticeable, especially when you catch it in the right lighting.

What do you think of clear glosses – versatile or a snore? Do you like having glitter on your lips?