Quick note, sorry about the formatting of this post. Something strange happened to it and I can't seem to work it out.
It’s the most wonderful time of the year…
because I recently got my package from Zoya’s Black Friday Sale!
While this is the first year I’m personally participating, Zoya has been known to offer a deep discount on all products throughout the Thanksgiving weekend. This year’s deal was 70% off for Black Friday and 50% for Cyber Monday, so even if you missed your chance on Friday, you were still in the running to save big! I ended up with a GelieCure travel kit (review incoming, maybe?), 11 polishes, and 2 lip glosses — a value of over $200 which came to $68 shipped!
Wait… lip glosses? Yes, today I’m talking about cosmetics yet again, as it turns out that Zoya offers makeup! Well, lipstick and lip gloss, but still. Do people know about this? I didn’t for quite a while! These glosses usually run for $8 apiece, which feels a bit steep even if you do get a good amount of product. If they weren’t on sale, I never would have picked these up (and the same can be said for the rest of Zoya’s catalogue — prices are getting out of hand). However, I am powerless to resist a good cheap lip gloss, so I grabbed a couple of very “me” shades for less than $3 a pop to try out.
 |
Luvie, as seen on my lips. Sorry 'bout my peach fuzz!
|
Luvie, a shimmery light pink, was a bit of a letdown. Color payoff was poor and the finish was underwhelming. I was under the impression that this would be a frost based on its appearance in the tube, but it ended up being a very tame shimmer. While I’ve got nothing against conservative lip color, this was a bit subtle for me.
 |
| Limo |
Limo, however, was a hit! With particulate, glitter-like white shimmer in a milky white base, it’s a real dazzler! The sparkle effect is very pronounced, especially in low light. This pic does not do it justice! It was a quite a relief, seeing as my last attempt at a sparkle gloss fell completely flat. (F you, Palladio Pink Candy! You’re not allowed to look so pretty in the tube and then refuse to show up on my lips!!!)
Both colors are scented and flavored exactly like Bubblicious gum. I was always more of a Hubba Bubba gal myself, but as long as they don’t taste like wet paint, I can’t complain. As for texture, they are on the sticky side, but not excessively or annoyingly so.
 |
While Limo appears slightly taller, both tubes
are technically the same size.
|
Now onto the presentation. What cute little tubes! There’s no measurement listed on the website, and I’d assumed that these would be much, much larger than they are. While 0.42 oz does not sound like much, it's actually quite generous as far as lip gloss goes – a sample of 5 random glosses from my stash averaged at just under 0.23 oz. They're described on the tube as "glossy lip balm", but let's be real... that's just a flowery way of saying lip gloss. I looked into it further, and they are not touted as having any special moisturizing benefits. This is not reflected in the ingredients list, either (there is a distinct lack of hydrating oils or waxes), so it's not even an accurate claim! Ah well... I’ve photographed them next to a normal tube of Chapstick for size. Aren’t they adorable?
 |
| Not ideal! |
As charming as these tiny tubes are, I’ve got major beef with the applicator. The thick consistency of the gloss combined with the microscopic hole from which it is deposited results in a worm-like extrusion of goop that you have to spread on your lips with the least ergonomic applicator I can imagine. It is exceptionally small (in accordance with the rest of the packaging) and rounded, giving the sensation that you are applying lip gloss with the head of a pin. I would much rather prefer the more traditional, slanted applicator that glosses in this type of tube usually come with. While I personally prefer the doe foot wand above all, I realize that it’s probably more expensive and/or time-consuming to manufacture.
Overall, I think these are some pretty decent lip glosses. They are nicely packaged and of high quality, but are pricier than most on account of the volume. Zoya offers plenty of colors and finishes, some of which I'd love to try out when their next big sale rolls around. Until then, I can safely say that these above-average glosses will be seeing regular use.
And until next time... peace out!
