Hard Candy Beloved Plumping Serum Gel Lipstick Review

By Priya Sinha

If there’s one color that almost all girls like, it’s PINK! Awkwardly enough, pink is the colour that I least reach for, for anything – whether it’s clothing or makeup or shoes or bags. Please don’t hate me or judge me guys. I think I should blame the yellow undertones in my skin for this. Pink does not suit me very much as I have a warm complexion. This is also the main reason why I don’t have many pink lipsticks in my makeup stash, but that should not prevent me from buying pink lipsticks, right? So, I decided to give a couple of pink lipsticks a try. Today, the lipstick that I am reviewing is the Hard Candy Plumping Serum Stick in the shade “Beloved.”

Claim/Product Description:
Saturate lips with vibrant, pure color in just one stroke. A high-gloss gel base infused with lightweight mango butter allows for superior comfort and shine with lasting hydration. Contains a unique antioxidant “Colorfast System” that keeps color vibrant, truer and statement worthy. Formulated with Hard Candy’s exclusive Plumping Serum System that delivers hyaluronic acid and plumps the skin to quickly minimize the appearance of fine lines and wrinkle while adding hydrating volume.

Price:
CAD 6.99

My Experience with Hard Candy Beloved Plumping Serum Gel Lipstick:

My favourite colours for lipstick are orange-y corals and plum-purples. I also like bright red lipsticks for special occasions, but I am most inclined towards my corals and plums. Buying a baby pink-ish lipstick is far out of my comfort zone and I keep checking out myself in the mirror all the time to get assured that I am looking okay. But the crazy makeup enthusiast that I am, I had to try a baby pink lipstick even when I was expecting it to look comparatively less flattering on me.

Packaging:  The Hard Candy Plumping Serum Gel Stick in “Beloved” comes in a regular twist-up lipstick tube which is made of metal and is silver in colour with some beautiful detailing in black. The top of the cap is color-coded with the lipstick in the tube which makes searching this lipstick so much easier and fun. The shade name is mentioned at the very bottom of the lipstick and the shade number is on the top of the lipstick cap. The packaging is pretty and really adorable, but again, the cap does not close with a satisfying and loud “click” sound. Uuff!!

Color:  The color of this lipstick is a pretty pinkish colour leaning more towards the lighter side. It looks quite bright and opaque in the bullet, but on the lips, it turns out to be pretty light. It is a great shade for ladies with fair complexion. For beauties with richer complexion, you can layer this shade on a muted neutral tone pink lipstick to add that pop of brightness without washing out your complexion. I am not a huge fan of this shade, but it’s a great colour for light pink-y lip lovers.

Texture: The texture of this lipstick is super soft and very creamy. It literally glides on the lips like butter. Frankly speaking, I am not a big fan of lipsticks that have a super creamy texture as they start gliding and feathering throughout the day. Since this lipstick is so creamy, it also feels quite moisturizing on the lips and does not dry them out.

Pigmentation: I would say the pigmentation of this lipstick is average. It gives a considerable coverage in one swipe and builds to a solid colour with a couple of swipes. I personally have no complaints with the pigmentation.

Longevity: Here’s the sad part! The longevity of this lipstick is not what I would like it to be. It does stay on the lips for 2 to 3 hours without eating and drinking, but then, it has to be reapplied for maintaining the glossiness and opaque colour on the lips. I think the low staying power is due to the creamy texture of the lipstick. Though it’s not a major con or deal breaker for me, I still find this feature a little dissatisfying. I have to top this lipstick off with a translucent powder every time I wear it to increase the longevity and to prevent it from feathering.

Quality: The overall quality of this product is a little above average considering the pigmentation, packaging and price. I agree that the lasting power is not amazing, but that’s not a big deal as far as I top it with translucent powder. The only issue that I really have with list formulation is the extremely creamy texture, but overall, I like it.

Pros of Hard Candy Beloved Plumping Serum Gel Lipstick:

• Super fancy and sturdy packaging.
• Infused with argan oil.
• Good color payoff.
• Does not dry out the lips.
• Comfortable to wear on the lips and does not feel heavy.
• Does not settle into the fine lines of the lips.
• Does not accentuate dry patches on the lips.
• Glides easily and smoothly on the lips.
• Affordable.
• Easily available in drugstores and online.

Cons of Hard Candy Beloved Plumping Serum Gel Lipstick:

• Not available in India.
• Not boyfriend/husband friendly (transfers a lot) 😛
• Average staying power.
• Extremely creamy for my liking.
• Bleeds and feathers a bit.
• No plumping effect whatsoever!

IMBB Rating:
3.5/5

Would I Recommend/Repurchase Hard Candy Beloved Plumping Serum Gel Lipstick?
Well, I would say if you really like extremely creamy lipstick formulations or have no issues with setting your lipstick with powder and love this shade, then go ahead and purchase it. But personally, I will stick to the Hard Candy Fierce Effects Lipstick as they have become my most loved and my most reached for lipstick currently. So it’s up to you now to decide.

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