Review | I Nuovi Megalips Velvetshine in Harajuku Chic

This autumn, I Nuovi will release Megalips Velvetshine (S$30), a set of eight lipgloss duos with names alluding to exotic locations: Harajuku Chic, Sahara Magic, Latin Lover, Shanghai Nights, Malibu Sunkiss, Nordic Ice, Barely French and Chinatown Glam.

Made in Italy, each duo has two 5-gram ends: one a Lipshine (a semi-sheer gloss that adds sheen with a doe-foot sponge applicator) and the other, a Lipvelvet (a more pigmented side with a brush applicator). If you love the vanilla scent of MAC Lipglass and Lustreglass, you will be pleasantly surprised by these similarly-scented I Nuovi glosses.

I had a chance to try Harajuku Chic and to my relief, it has none of the starkness associated with the makeup of the trendy Tokyo shopping district but all of the versatility.

When applied sheerly, its Lipvelvet side (a shimmery, semi-metallic raisin lifted by a hint of gold) gives a your-lips-but-better look. When layered, it defines the lips and imparts a modern foiled appearance that would be great with an edgy smokey eye. On its own, its Lipshine side (a soft bubblegum pink), gives the lips a little gleam and makes a moisturising nude lip. When layered on top of the Lipvelvet, it adds shine and a hint of dimension.

Both shades aren’t extremely pigmented; they give medium coverage at most. You won’t get lip-drenched colour but it is precisely this that makes them easy to wear.

When I first saw this double-ended lipgloss, I was thrilled by its shades because they make the perfect sweet lips to match cool-toned makeup. They reminded me at once of the wearable plum / pink tones of MAC Glaze Lipstick in Lure and Stila Lip Color in Natalie. Whether you use the colours separately or together, this is a good lip product for anyone with a cool skintone.