JUNGSAEMMOOL's High Color Lipstick in High Matt seemed too good to be true on paper: high color, matte shades that aren't drying. If it truly lives up to its claims where has this magical formulation been all this time? Why didn't anyone come up with it sooner?
A lippie junkie I am not. In fact, I almost have an aversion to lip products. I prefer my lips to be naked and free. The feeling of having something slippery on my lips is just too uncomfortable when I am conscious and aware. The marks it leaves on bottles and cups also irk my inner neat-freak tendencies.
Lip tints and stains were a nice compromise though—residue-free and long-lasting color, brilliant! It's just the formulas typically dry unforgivingly fast and colors too sheer.
When the matte look gained traction, I was intrigued—promises of non-sticky formulas that are far more blendable called my name. The dryness factor that inevitably comes with matte things held me back for sure. Constantly flaky lips don't really pair well with dry colors now does it?
JUNGSAEMMOOL's Description:
High-pigmented and high-stain lipstick that defines the perfect color with single-stroke as if done by an artist.
High Chroma Color
Expresses vivid and refined color without being dusky by mixing minimum base material to increase color purity.
Cashmere Formula
Used the new cashmere formula that creates perfectly blendable and silky texture.
New Matt Texture
The new type of matte lipstick that stays on matte-finish comfortably without drying out made by a thin and even spreading process.
Directions
Evenly apply proper amount on lips.
Ingredients
Burgundy
VINYL DIMETHICONE/METHICONE SILSESQUIOXANE CROSSPOLYMER, DICAPRYLYL CARBONATE, HYDROGENATED POLYISOBUTENE, DIMETHICONE, POLYGLYCERYL-2 TRIISOSTEARATE, BIS-DIGLYCERYL POLYACYLADIPATE-2, BEESWAX, POLYETHYLENE, DIISOSTEARYL MALATE, OZOKERITE, SYNTHETIC FLUORPHLOGOPITE, POLYHYDROXYSTEARIC ACID, ASTROCARYUM MURUMURU SEED BUTTER, TOCOPHERYL ACETATE), PARAFFIN WAX, TRIETHOXYCAPRYLYLSILANE, MACADAMIA INTEGRIFOLIA SEED OIL, +/-CI 15850, CI 15850:1, CI 45410, CI 17200, CI 45380, CI 19140, CI 15985, CI 47005, CI 42090, TITANIUM DIOXIDE (CI 77891), IRON OXIDE BLACK (CI 77499), IRON OXIDE RED (CI 77491), MICA (CI 77019)
Lipstick tube 4.7 g
JSM Beauty (Korean retail): ₩27,000
JSM Beauty (USA retail): USD $29.74
Peach & Lily: USD $29.00
Packaging
Lipsticks in this line come in a twist up bullet "tubing". The outer plastic is boxy but the lipstick itself is a slender circular shape. The tip isn't shaped in any unique way, just flat and barely angled. I found it difficult to achieve nice define edges when directly applying; a small tipped brush would be the way to go. I don't know about you but my lips aren't that flat. I guess I could have tried to create the lines with the edge of the lipstick but I prefer to keep those clean cut.
I very much appreciate the thought that went into all the packaging. The box makes use of all its small real estate while maintaining negative space. The safety seal is the actual functional labels instead of separate plastic wrap or some arbitrary sticker. The cap is mostly clear so I could spot the shade no matter if I stand the tube up or lay it down flat. I could also tell what color it is even if placed label side up as the name, albeit in Korean only, is printed rather large in comparison to the other information on the label. Even the color of the label is practically a near perfect match of the color of the lipstick, which can be surprisingly rare to find.
The one thing that is missing though is an officially printed ingredients list...even if it has to be in Korean. The photo above shows an English ingredient list on the box, but that is one printed and placed on by Peach & Lily (I am guessing done Stateside) to comply with USA's cosmetic selling standards.
Color, Texture, Finish, & Scent
Describing a color that is named burgundy is difficult. Burgundy is burgundy! The best I can do is give some associating terms to help make it more relatable. Blood, ox-blood red, wine, deep red, vampy, etc. I think all of those trendy beauty/fashion keywords are fitting. It is a very textbook sample of what "burgundy" would be. Very dark red that leans somewhat magenta-blue. When applied sheer, it gives a cherry-stained (innocent?) effect; when applied in a thicker manner, it changes to a much edgier vibe.
The lipstick isn't too creamy. Just emollient enough to glide over lips and apply well without too much tugging and pulling. It is also creamy enough to be able to blend just by slightly running over it...which, of course, translates to it wiping away and transferring incredibly easily. Somehow though the lipstick does "stain" a little and I am usually left with a nice cherry-, wine-stained color after.
While it doesn't dry my lips out, the formula also isn't super moisturizing either. My lips don't have to be slathered in lip balm beforehand but it looks better on softened lips. Product doesn't settle into the fine lip wrinkles; it does catch onto dry patches, flakes, and deeper lines/cuts. I found dabbing the product on via the tube OR lightly brushing it on with a lip brush helps avoid streaking and irritating any dry skin.
I didn't think cashmere could be a good description for a lipstick finish but now it seems to fit the High Color Lipstick well in the sense that a fresh application of the lipstick looks matte yet still somehow soft. I guess it helps that it doesn't make my lips look desert dry or crackly. I can freely move them every which way and it never feels constricted.
Added fragrance isn't on the ingredients list I found on the JSM Beauty Korea website. There isn't any noticeable scent either when taking a whiff of the lipstick by itself. Just neutral.
How I Apply
Gradient // Lightly dab the lipstick on the inner portions of my lips in multiple light layers depending on what color intensity I feel. Use a brush, finger, or cotton swab to feather out the outer edges to blend with my lip color.
Full color // Either directly swipe the lipstick all across my lips and then fix any streaks and patches with a brush OR slowly build up to the full color intensity with multiple layers via brush.
Thoughts & Recommendations
I honestly didn't think I would like the High Matt Burgundy lipstick as much as I do now. I love how versatile the pigmentation is with just one tube of color. The above photo was taken the same day with the same base and eye makeup. I appreciate how it isn't overly drying just for the sake of achieving the matte look. Even though some might find it too smudgy, I enjoyed the fact that the lipstick is easy to blend, even if it means it can easily smear and wipe off, without feeling like it is tacky or slippery.
JUNGSAEMMOOL doesn't offer a bajillion lipstick shades: 7 in each the High Matt and High Glow variety and 6 in the High Master grouping. A handful are more daring (violets, deep purples, mints), a few are for color mixing/concealing (white, black, brown, and beige), and everything else offered are incredible wearable and/or classic shades (nudes, pinks, and reds).
Pricing-wise these seem to be on par with higher-end brands (over USD $20 but under $50). While the packaging itself doesn't state how many grams of product it has, visually it looks to be similar to your typical bullet of rouge. It was quite the splurge for me considering how little lip product I wear on the daily, even with the Peach & Lily holiday discount. But I may have had a change of heart since, solely because of how many checkmarks it ticked off on my lipstick preference wish list.
It would save a lot of time, effort, and money to continue stick to this line of product. I may consider purchasing another shade in the High Matt range—specifically Nude, Ginger Brown, and/or Real Red. Thinking of repurchasing Burgundy isn't even an option considering how long this current tube may last me. When that day comes and the stars align (i.e. I am still in love with the deep dark reds and JUNGSAEMMOOL still makes this item) then yes I would buy the High Color Lipstick in a heartbeat.
Technically my second beauty goal, but one I could actually start on day one of 2018. Project Make a Dent has helped clear out a good sized amount of my aging makeup collection over the last few years. The one part I missed most was seeing the progression shots since I never made it official in 2017. Even though I know very well that I pan out powders, the actual comparison shots give me so much more motivation. Hence my dedication to letting everyone know this year: I HAVE MY 2018 PICKS!!
*I am still going to be using newer makeup that I have. But since PMAD is about rediscovering and making a dent in older products, I won't include those in this series.
Okay...I am embarrassed to admit how long some of these guys have been in my collection for. The oldest is from 2009 and the newest 2014, everything else sometime in between. Get at me. Tell me what a fool I am and how nasty it is. I deserve it! The best thing about having kept up with all these haul posts is the access to a digital, easily-searchable purchase diary.
My only defense is the older items are all powders and I have occasionally sprayed them with alcohol over all these years. With the "newer" cream products, they've only been recently opened within the last year or two. None have an off-smell nor any visibly different formulation changes. I have tried all the items recently and have been reaction-free as well.
VDL MULE Ultimate Cover Palette A03
One of the later purchases and even later opens in the stash of oldies. I remember purchasing this at a VDL shop in Edae towards the end of my study abroad time in Seoul way back in the summer of 2014. I believe there were two shades then; A03 was the darker of the two.
I originally wanted to buy a bunch of items from the MULE brand at the JUNG SAEM MOOL Inspiration salon/shop in Gangnam. I loved her skin-like transparent makeup style. I even went as far as to track down the building in the midst of alleyways and side streets yet couldn't bring myself to go inside. I thought I looked too shabby and would be out-of-place.
Then I found out that VDL and MULE had some sort of collab happening. While the products weren't 100% the same as the MULE ones, it was close enough to give me a taste of what it had to offer without all the intimidation of a high-end salon. I ended up blindly buying the Ultimate Cover Palette with just my confidence in Jung Saem Mool because VDL was a completely new brand to me.
Even though I bought this mid-2014, I hadn't actually opened and touched the creams until early-2017. There were just too many foundations and cushions already opened over the last few years; I couldn't bear to have bacteria fester and needing to toss it with it barely used.
The finish and coloring of the foundation aren't my favorite; it leans very matte, powdery, and not yellow enough for me—catching onto all my flakes and textural issues. I prefer to mix some of the foundation with Etude House Nymph Aura Volumer for a more liquid like application. On its own, the foundation offers medium coverage (varying with the application method used). When I mix it with the Nymph Aura Volumer, I get a much lighter coverage.
I haven't gotten around to using the pink blush shade. But the coral shade is pretty.
Kate Lasting High Coverage Powder Foundation OC-C
Bestie C helped me get this way back in 2012 when she visited family in Hong Kong. I think I opened this in 2016 after I finished the Maybelline Fit Me powder halfway into the 2016 edition of Project Make a Dent. I ended up using it a lot the rest of that year. Somewhere along the way in 2017, I moved onto translucent setting powder and have even gone setting powder free for some time now.
While I love having one less step in my morning routine, I would really like to get through the end of this powder foundation because it has been in my stash for far too long. I don't hate it but I also don't love it. I can't comment on the coverage since I never use it like a foundation, only with a big fluffy brush and with a light hand. The finish is very matte though which I have grown to avoid.
Skinfood Salmon Dark Circle Powder
Now the "Oldest product in this stash" award goes to this loose powder: 2009! I can't believe it myself. Yet it is true; search "Skinfood" and "powder" in my search bar and you'll see it in a post dated then. I long threw out the accompanying cream concealer. I'm not that crazy.~ Since this was a powder I gave it a free pass and kind of forgot about it all these years. Again, I tried this on many occasions in December and hadn't seen any reactions. So in it goes to the pile to be used up.
I like how lightweight the powder is without caking up over time. I swear I have seen my eyeliner hold up better when I powder the enire eyes area versus when I don't, especially my very outer corners where anything tends to smudge the easiest.
MAC Cosmetics Mineralized Skinfinish in Pink Power
The continuation item from last year. I just really want to see this pan out, especially since this was a 2011 purchase and I'm pretty sure I had my fingers and brushes all over it since then.
The bronzer shade isn't my favorite, a little too orange on me if applied wrong. I enjoyed the highlighting shimmers while it lasted. Both looked natural enough and sheen-like without any obnoxiously large glitter particles. It got way too difficult to get the product though as I reached closer to the pan, I need the smallest brush and had to pay careful attention to not pick up any bronzer.
Milani Minerals Blushes in Sweet Rose and Luminous & MAC Cosmetics My Highland Honey
This may be the pitfall of PMAD No. 4. The last time I had too many options in one category of product I ended up ignoring most of them, ahem lipsticks in PMAD No. 1 and 2. My reasoning behind this year's picks is to try and dedicate a different season for each: Sweet Rose in the colder months, Luminous and My Highland Honey in the warmer ones. I've had the Milani blushes since 2012 and MAC since 2010. Time has been long overdue to give these some attention.
I have way too many blushes that are kind of similar in color and are way old in my collection. If I don't incorporate multiple blushes in a Project Make a Dent I may be using the blush I have for 10 more years at the rate I finish them.
Color payoff for all is pretty good. Milani ones are more pigmented than this particular MAC blush but it is a bolder shade so I don't mind.
VDL Tint Bar Triple Shot in 502 Triple Burgundy and 101 Triple Pink
Another purchase I made during my first trip to Korea in 2014. I may not have known about VDL then but I sure came back with a bunch of their stuff. I love the idea of these triple color, gradient-ready lip products. Before Maybelline came out with their version which looked exactly like the VDL ones.
Pink and Burgundy stood out the most to me of the shades VDL offered. Both apply sheer but are easily buildable. They apply like a lip balm in that it has a sheen and a tad sticky but isn't the most moisturizing product out there; they definitely aren't drying though. I may keep it in my bags and/or coat pockets for touch ups since I would also like to incorporate newer lipsticks into my makeup routine on a more regular basis.
Urban Decay Naked Palette
I remember the hype over the original Naked palette like it was yesterday. Everyone all over YouTube and Blogger lost their minds a little with how great a color selection and pigmentation it was. I remember getting and using the palette for my high school prom look in 2011, just don't ask me what I actually used. After then I probably reached for this a couple dozen times over all these years? Otherwise, it's sole purpose was to look pretty in my stash.
But that time has passed! I shall give it the love it deserves. I mean I did spend all that money on it...
In attempts at a fresh start for the new year, I thought I would share my December haulings today instead of the first Sunday of the next month as I normally do. It just feels right to end 2017, beauty-wise, with an accumulation of the little things I got and with a hopeful spending goal for 2018—scale it down unless "absolutely necessary" and even then I have to share my detailed reasoning for the hoarding.
(This post will be a practice of sorts since I have been pretty inconsistent with how detailed I get in hauls as of late.)
I know, I know. I stocked up on enough skincare to last me most of 2018 in the last few months. But everyone has been raving about Sunday Riley and Drunk Elephant and curiosity has been slowing eating at me on the inside. The only thing that held me back was their price tag. C'mon!! One bottle of product from either brand is at least USD $50+ (usually edging towards the $80+ mark for the more popular stuff). I have been most afraid of trying anything and actually liking it...all my monies.
When Sephora sent out their emails for the $20 off $50 VIB Rewards at the beginning of the month, I immediately thought of the mini-sized Drunk Elephants duos. Luckily for me, Sunday Riley offered a mini-set at a seemingly reasonable price as well.
Both the Sunday Riley Flash Fix Kit (USD $28) and Drunk Elephant Rise + Glow Duo (USD $23) totaled to USD $51 which was just enough to make the best use of the VIB Rewards. Plus the good thing about Sephora is the Free Shipping minimum of USD $50 is accounted for pre-promo codes. I also had a $25 gift card to spend and ultimately paid $8.75 out of pocket (NY tax included).
I was genuinely surprised when my Sephora orders arrived. Yes, that is right orders with an -s. For two items that could fit into both palms of my hands, Sephora packed and shipped them to me in two separate boxes that were large enough to fit a school textbook inside. Extra much? I was also somewhat expecting the bottles to be larger for some reason. I guess I was comparing the ~$20 price mark to K-Beauty price and sizing.
2017 is the year that I rediscovered coupons and CVS. All the items in the above photo were purchase for USD $5 or less each after ExtraBucks, CVS promotions, CVS brand specific coupons, and of course tax.
Maybelline Super Stay Matte Ink in 15 Lover (orig. $9.79) is one of the two unexpected purchases I made at the drugstores. The other being Lumene. To be honest, I really wanted to try the Maybelline Master Camo Color Correcting Pen in 10 Green (orig. $9.99) and saw that there was a "Buy 2 Maybelline and get $5 ExtraBucks" weekly promo. Since I already had a $2 off 2 Maybelline coupon and $10 ExtraBucks already on hand to spend, why not? I have been feeling a little experimental and also been more into matte lip colors recently. The total turned out to be USD $9.54 for both lip and face items.
With the new $5 ExtraBucks to spend, a $3 off L'Oreal coupon, and a $2 off deodorant purchase coupon, I immediately got both the L'Oreal Infallible Matte-Matic Mechanical Eyeliner in 513 Deep Brown (orig. $9.79) and Crystal essence Chamomile & Green Tea (orig. $5.29) for USD $6.24. I have been in search of a new eyeliner since using up the last of my Korea-trip stock. Deodorant is just a necessity that needs no explanations.
On a separate trip to CVS, the coupon machine spat out another $6 ExtraBucks with an expiration date and a 30% off 1 item coupon so the only natural thing to do was to head towards the beauty aisles. I tried my best not to be lured in by sales (like that BOGO Free Ardell lashes) or more lip products that looked nice but would highly likely be a drawer filler. The most practical decision was eyeliner since that is something I wear on the daily. Revlon's Colorstay Eyeliner (orig. $8.99) seemed to have better reviews compared to the liquid variety under the same Colorstay line so I grabbed Black Brown to try. The CVS location I visited also happened to be clearing out their Lumene stock at 75% off so I added the Lumene Sisu [Urban Antidotes] Defend & Replenish Antioxidant Mist (orig. $25.49) to my bag. That visit's total was $8.39.
And to the end the post with the only beauty item I bought on a whim and not with any kind of deal, Deciem The Chemistry Brand's Heel Chemistry (USD $15). I chanced upon the newly established New York store location in SoHo when Bestie C and I were waiting in line for Prince Street Pizza. I have been meaning to try more of Deciem's products but with the recent splurges I couldn't justify stocking up on even more products because I want to meet that Free Shipping minimum when making an online order. Having a physical location means I can stop by and just pick up any supplements I may need as skin issues come up, knock on wood.
Which is exactly why I walked out with Heel Chemistry. It felt like a "necessary" supplemental purchase since my feet were getting pretty ashy and callouses were quickly hardening even after having only finished peeling from the foot mask one week prior. The box also promised results after 2 weeks of usage. Even though I don't typically lotion my feet, that Before and After photo on the back of the box got me good. Maybe this can, at the very least, help me start the habit of lotioning my soles?
