If you’re seeking nicely priced stocking fillers or girlfriend gifts, e.l.f. Glow Reviver Lip Oil comes with 100% recommend from me. It’s £8 and yet behaves as though it’s three times the price. I did an Instagram reel on it saying it reminded me of French lips – that kind of casual make-up/no make-up that enhances rather than hides and you kind of wonder how they do it. I’m thinking more Rivera in summer than Paris in the rain I guess – and I know it’s a romantic view because whenever I go to Paris I can’t help thinking how everyone there looks like everyone here! I’m sure I’ve mentioned before Paris Syndrome – Wiki describes it thus, ‘Paris syndrome is a sense of extreme disappointment exhibited by some individuals when visiting Paris, who feel that the city was not what they had expected …’ and apparently, it’s mainly experienced by Japanese visitors. When I was in Tokyo a few years ago, we happened upon a street that exactly replicated a Parisian one, complete with bakeries (Paul’s), pastry shops, ornate lamp posts and benches and piped French music played outside. It was quite the experience. I love Paris – it’s never not been fun.
The shade that put me in mind of this (maybe imagined) elegant French insouciance is Jam Session – a deep cherry that I couldn’t naturally wear unless at an intense dilution as it is here. It’s how colour washes should be – enough colour to tint the lip without dominating the face. This oil-gloss formula is perfect for it – juicy looking lips with just a whisper of pigment.
Here we are – you can see it’s enough of a blackberry stain touch to give something extra and a beautiful shine as well. The applicator is straight out of Clarins Lip Oil – plush and oversized – in fact, there’s little to tell them apart from what I remember.
I mean, yum! There are six pigmented shades and one clear all infused with apricot oil. This is already a firm favourite – I’m wishing I’d worn a black shirt to show this because I think the blackberry element would show more. Anyway, £8 well spent. I’m going to try and get the other shades – I don’t think I can keep my curiosity about them away much longer.