VDL lippie Review & Swatches

VDL along with Espoir has always been one of those K-beauty brands I’ve always wanted to dive in but because they are so hard to get overseas, I’ve never really gotten the chance to.  So when I was walking in the mall couple months back and saw that the face shop carried VDL products in the physical stores, I was more then ecstatic.  They actually were super kind to gift me a couple lip products along with their famous primer which I will show you later on ;).  For now, let’s just sample a couple of their lip formulas shall we?

Full name of product:
VDL expert color lip cube fluid velvet

Limited edition/ Permanent?:
Permanent

Description of product:
“Velvet formula fives the lips a soft and silky yet dramatic look.  They offer a super pigmented look with a comfortable moisturizing fit that is housed in an ergonomically designed cub edge applicator for a more sophisticated look.”

Price:
22,000 won

Amount of product:
4 g

Duration before expiration:
1 year

Country of Manufacture:
Made in Korea

Where to buy:
The face shop stores in Canada
Honestly there aren’t many places to get these babies, even online.  If your in Canada, I’d definitely go check out your the face shop stores.  There’s a whole flagship store in Toronto and I’m soooo jelly!!

Shades available:How to use:
Simply swipe all over your lips for a full lip look or in the center to blend out for a gradiation lip look.

Packaging:
Packaging is so on point and was the first thing that caught my eye when I was in the stores.  VDL sent me 503 Joy which is a warm tone red, a shade of red I’d actually get for myself.  I love the frosted packaging which makes it super easy to spot when you stick it into your vanity.  on top of that, the label on the bottom is also coloured.

The tampered doe foot applicator is the perfect size and although it doesn’t have the little dip in the center, it carries the right amount of product for a seamless application.

Color/ Pigmentation:
Pigmentation wise, I wouldn’t say this is like a liquid lipstick because it isn’t as rich in pigmentation as a liquid lipstick but it is a great medium.  I personally don’t wear super strong lip colors during the day, so this is actually the perfect medium for me and I love it.  With one swipe, I get enough pigmentation without trying too hard.  Its just perfect.

Texture/ Finish:
Texture wise, I’ve  been saying for a long time now that the velvet trend is the new matte.  It isn’t as drying as a matte lip product but still gives you that pouty look.  I love the way it blurs out, making my lips look so seamless and effortless.

Lasting power:
These last an average of 3 hours before I have to reapply.  They do dry down a bit to a almost matte look and they do transfer, so don’t be kissing all them boys ;). 

Fragrance?:
These lip cubes have a really nice rose scent to them with a hint of fruity undertone.  The fragrance does go away after application and scent isn’t strong to the point of wanting to puke.  Smell-o-scale: 6/10 in terms of how strong the scent is.

Pro:
-pigmented
-moisturizing finish that isn’t drying
-nice blurring formula

Con:
Wish there were more shades in the range.  Most of the shades are very red.  I’d love to see more nudes.

Repurchase?:
Yes

Stars given out of 5:
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Overall thoughts:
I would have given it a 5 stars but because I’ve only tried one shade from the range, I can’t give it that just yet.  I think the formula is superb and pigmented but still has the lightness I’m looking for.  On top of that, it isn’t dry but still able to give you that almost matte look.  Overall I’m very surprisingly pleased with this product and definitely give you the thumbs up to go and try it out for yourself.

Full name of product:
VDL expert color lip cube velvet intense

Limited edition/ Permanent?:
Permanent

Description of product:
“Enhanced with a luxurious, velvety texture and long-lasting, elegant colors defined with cubic edges, VDL Expert Color Lip Cube presents to you inimitable attitude and confidence”

Price:
22,000 won

Amount of product:
4 g

Duration before expiration:
1 year

Country of Manufacture:
Made in Korea

Where to buy:
Amazon
Physical stores in the face shop Canada

Shades available:

Packaging:
I loveee the packaging for this lipstick.  It is so sleek, sophisticated and the gold detailing on top make it look so luxurious.  Unfortunately the shiny black case does attract finger prints but I’m okay with that.  The bottom of the label isn’t color coded which kind of sucks if you have multiple of these lipsticks and plan to store it in your vanity.

When I first got this lipstick, I thought the cube cut of the lipstick bullet was super cute.  But then using it to apply to my lips was a different story.  I found it kind awkward to apply since the very tip of the lipstick wasn’t pointed enough for me to do exact and sharp lines.  I had to use one of the sides of the cubes to be able to make that crisp line all in the meanwhile of holding the lipstick in a very weird angle.  Not very user-friendly in my opinion.

Color/ Pigmentation:
Pigmentation for this lipstick is gorgeous!!  But I’m honestly not surprised because most K-beauty lip products I’ve come across are all super amazing.  I love the tone of this red too, the type I’d pick for myself.  It is a nice cool red that suits my cool undertones well.  Love!

Texture/ Finish:
These lipsticks are super smooth and glides onto your lips nicely without skipping.  I was kind of scared because it does have a velvet formula that it might be drying on the lips.  Nope!  Works just fine :D.  Finish isn’t glossy per se but it isn’t matte either, it is somewhere in-between.  It is also super comfortable on the lips but it does transfer, you’ve been warned.

Lasting power:
This has just the average lasting power of about 2 hours if you don’t eat or kiss, it does transfer.

Fragrance?:
This also has the same rose scent.  I usually don’t like rose but it has a very nice subtle, natural rose smelling fragrance.   Smell does dissepear after application.  Smell-o-scale: 5/10 in terms of how strong the scent is.

Pro:
-super pigmented
-easy application
-good color range
-gorgeous + comfortable finish

Con:
-cube is a bit fat for application; awkward application

Repurchase?:
Yes!  I’d love to try more of the nude shades.

Stars given out of 5:
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Overall thoughts:
I’m definitely not surprised with the pigmentation and how amazing it looks on the lips.  On top of that, the formula is super comfortable and I love that the color range isn’t all just red shades.  I’m really itching to try more of the nude shades, especially 201 caramel sand.  Overall I’m super pleased with this formula and I definitely give it a 2 thumbs up.

Full name of product:
VDL tint bar triple shot ex

Limited edition/ Permanent?:
Permanent

Description of product:
“A triple colored lip tint taht creates petal bitten gradient effect with a single touch.”

Price:
18,000 won

Amount of product:
3.5 g

Duration before expiration:
2 years

Country of Manufacture:
Made in Korea

Where to buy:
Amazon
Physical stores in the face shop Canada

Shades available:

Packaging:
Now I do have to say, the packaging for this product kind of looks like kid’s make up.  The outside case looks fine but the clear twist up part make it look super cheap and kiddy compared to the rest of the brand.  I don’t know if they were trying to do a more fun approach but it doesn’t really fit the sophisticated look.  Nonetheless, it is kind of cute that you can see the three tones of the lipstick.  The bottom does have a color coded sticker which is always awesome.

Color/ Pigmentation:
When I first tried this product out, I thought it was a joke to be honest.  I’ve known about the two tone/ three tone trend for a while but I’ve personally never really liked the gradiation lip on me since it looked kind of funny on my face.  But now that I do have this on hand, I might as well try it.  The shade I got 504 triple scarlet comes with a very light pink shade, a slightly orange red in the center and a cool tone red as the darkest shade.  When I first applied it on my lips with the darkest shade in the center of my lip, the light pink looked super chalky and pasty and I was automatically turned off with the look.  I am not gonna lie but I almost wrote this product off as a no go.

But then I gave it another shot and I actually think its kind of pretty when you blend it out properly.  When you first apply it, it looks like Picasso threw up on your lips.  There are weird streak marks everywhere and everything looks uneven af.  But when you take your finger and lightly blend and tap, you get…

This!  Effortless, all in one product that will give you an easy gradiation lip without having three products on hand.  Okay now I do get the trend and actually like it for everyday look.  I still think this looks a bit too red for my every day but I can dig it.

Texture/ Finish:
Although this product looks glossy in the picture, it actually is not glossy at all.  In fact, i find it a bit drying.  I’d definitely apply a bit of lip balm before wearing this if you want it to blend a bit better.  I also find that the darker shades start mixing with the lightest shade in the tube, making it kind of a pain to get the lighter shade on the outside of your lips and it just gets into a bit fat mess.

Lasting power:
This has an average lasting power of 2 hours but I’d have to apply lip balm over it after 1 hour because the formula isn’t really that hydrating to begin with.

Fragrance?:
No fragrance detected

Pro:
-good 3 in 1 product for gradiation lips

Con:
-needs to be more hydrating
-application can get messy

Repurchase?:
Maybe I’d try a different shade like 102 but I’m not too intrigued.

Stars given out of 5:
⭐️⭐️⭐️

Overall thoughts:
If done right, this product actually looks super pretty.  But because the darker shades start to run over the lighter shade, the look gets easily ruined and its just a pain in the butt at that point.  Formula could be more moisturizing and I wish it didn’t look so pasty without lip balm.  Overall this product is too finicky for me to want to deal with, especially on the go.  This product is a pass for me but the look did come out cute.

Gifted by VDL for reviewing purposes.