* The Lip Gloss Boss * (Natural Collection Lip Gloss)

Member Name: izzoh

Product:	Natural Collection Lip Gloss
Date:	30/01/09 (190 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Super shine, yummy scent, cheap as chips.

Disadvantages: Applicater goes a little funny, no hidden extras.

Boots launched its own brand of cosmetic and beauty products in 1988 as a way to give consumers what they wanted at a lower price. The now semi famous 'Natural Collection' range has over 50 products at under £2, its more then credit crunching, its credit stamping, tearing up and throwing out with the leftovers! The 'Natural Collection' is inspired by the benefits of natural ingredients and their products do contain some real natural ingredients. Although I am not suggesting that they are completely natural (as I am sure they are not!)

When I was in college (Around 5 years ago or so!) I was obviously on a student's budget but I still wanted to make an effort. Being those all important teenage years, I spent longer in front of the mirror then I should have done. My friends and I used to wonder around the large boots store nearby and test the samples, spray the freebies and no doubt make a bit of a nuisance of ourselves. We meant no harm; we were just doing what young girls do! Then, as time went on and I got myself a little part time job and I could actually buy the products rather then just test them out! Still being on a budget the natural collection range was perfect. They sell the everyday basics at very reasonable prices and my monthly treat was clocking up a few beauty miles in the Natural Collection Aisle. My favourite buy was their lip glosses. Simple, yet effective. In my opinion, if I forgot all of my make-up, as long as I apply a layer of gloss over my lips I feel reasonably decent.

So I started using this lip gloss, almost 5 years ago and I am most definitely not going to stop any time soon. Of course I have dabbled in other lip glosses over the years and when the pennies allow I treat myself with other things, and the fact that I am a sucker for new or pretty things tends to lead me astray! But the Natural Collection lip glosses are brilliant and something which I will continue to use.

The 'Juicy Lip Gloss' range comes in a wide range of colours (or flavours depending on how you take the name) and I have used most of them. But the most versatile gloss from the range is 'Vanilla'. It has a subtle vanilla smell with is quite yummy but is basically a clear gloss, and I mean serious gloss. As soon as it goes I'm sure people can see their reflection in your lips! The other lip glosses in the range that have a hint of colour I find are not as glossy. This is probably a benefit as anything to pink and shiny will probably look a little tacky. As I said, the Vanilla gloss is clear, so not only is it great to use alone, but it also works wonders over other lip tints or matt lipstick. I also put it over lip balm for an extra shine.
It does feel quite thick on the lips but it is far from sticky. In terms of the durability it is a bit pants. The gloss lasts an hour at the most and if you are eating, drinking or anything else that involves the use of your lips then you don't really stand a chance in keeping this gloss on. But as it does come out thickly, you only need one coat, so it lasts a decent amount of time. To be honest, this lip gloss does not soften, moisturise or aim to do anything other then give you some shine. It works a treat as a gloss and at the cheap as chips price of £1.95 it really is a bargain!

The only downside to this lip gloss is with the applicator. Not in the sense of the actual application, because the little sponge on a stick is very good for spreading on an even layer and it doesn't affect the shine on the lips. However, after a month or so the little sponge on the end of the applicator stick starts to smell a bit funny. It is hard to explain but a very slight damp smell. First of all I thought it was me! Do I have smelly breath or dodgy lips?? But after asking a few other people who use the same gloss they said they experienced the same thing. The 'bad' smell isn't overwhelming and it is only very slight on the applicator. But I can be fussy, so to be this is a vital point. The gloss itself continues to smell good enough to eat, and even when it is on the lips you still get a soft scent of vanilla.

The look of the lip gloss is very simple; a little plastic tube with a white screw off lid that has the applicator attached and the gloss is in the base. Imagine a long thin nail varnish tub and it works the same way. You can see how much of the gloss is left which is always a positive thing in my world as I hate running out at an inconvenient time! The packaging is nothing simple. Just very simple, delicate and pretty.

Every time I use this my lips look full of life, super shiny and healthy. For £1.95 I couldn't recommend this enough. A luminous product from a surprisingly bright cosmetics range.

Thank you For Reading!

Summary: A super shine lip gloss at a very cheap price... when in doubt get the lip gloss out!