ProductWhores

Hop On The Venom Carousel

 

You guys, I really want DuWop's new Venom Carousel.  (Or at least, it's new to me since I just stumbled on it online).  I was OBSESSED with Lip Venom back in the day and I still am whenever I find it in my stash of way too many lip products, but since all the stores I go to stopped carrying DuWop, I tend to forget about it until I randomly come across it in my bag or bathroom.  (Apparently, I'm one of those "out of sight, out of mind" product whores).  But now that I've seen the Venom Carousel, I totally want it.  It's  six of the Lip Venoms available - Original, Moon Venom, Pink Shimmer, Venom Flash Gold, Venom Flash Silver and the new one, Blue Venom - and they're all full-sized.  That's a lot of Venom!  Also, it's only $49, which makes each tube a little over $8, basically a 50% (or more, in some cases) discount over buying them all separately.  Totally worth it, especially when I almost bought a $30 Chanel nail polish this weekend before I came to my sense and made myself walk away.  (Not that I haven't caved in that situation before, because I totally have no willpower when it comes to Chanel polishes, but this one I REALLY didn't need, so I'm kinda proud of myself).  Now I need to make it my mission to find a store around me that carries DuWop so I can just go pick it up instead of ordering online because that's always more fun.  Instant gratification!

 

Make Your Cheeks Glow

My love of DuWop's Lip Venom (in all its forms) is well known.  I seriously make everyone I know try it when they're around me.  So I was super excited to hear that DuWop had come out with a cheek version and couldn't wait to get my hands on it.  Cheek Venom is a cream blush that comes in a little pot - you apply it with your fingers (you can use a brush too, but I think fingers work better).  It uses a blend of silicones and hyaluronic acid to hydrate and condition your skin, and it also firms and tightens your cheeks.  I was a little scared when I put it on the first time - I don't mind that tingling feeling on my lips, but I wasn't sure how I would like it on my cheeks.  The good news is - it's a lot less intense on your cheeks.  You can definitely feel it working, but it's not uncomfortable at all.  Once it's on, the mix of essential oils in it warms up your cheeks and stimulates your circulation, giving your cheeks a natural flush.  And as a bonus, there are long lasting pigments in the formula that will leave a little bit of color on your cheeks all day, so you don't need to reapply to look good.  Also, I love that it's a cream because it's totally portable.  No need to take up space in your bag with a big brush - just apply and go.  Cheek Venom comes in two shades - Sidewinder, a nude flush, and Diamondback, a hot coral pink.  I tested out Sidewinder and loved the color it gave me - it looked like I'd just run a few miles around my neighborhood.  (And any makeup that can make me look like I've been working out when I've really been sitting on the couch watching "Gossip Girl" definitely gets my seal of approval).  Now if only it could actually DO the exercise for me, I'd be all set.

Cheek Venom retails for $24 and can be found wherever DuWop is sold.  To order online, go to Sephora.com or Beauty.com.

Photo courtesy of Sephora

Prime Your Lips

I think we all know how much I love Lip Venom.  I've raved about it in the past and own several different versions of it. (Pink Shimmer, Moon Venom, etc...)   I know there are some people who think it's painful, but I'm not one of them.  It does sting a little, but I'm willing to trade a few twinges for noticeably bigger lips.  If I had to find one thing to complain about, the only thing I could pick would be that it's super glossy and sometimes, I just don't want to be that shiny.  Well obviously someone was listening to my (non) complaint because DuWop has just come out with Prime Venom, a matte finish stick version of Lip Venom.  You know, sometimes its good to be a girl and this is one of those times.  (Unlike the last concert I went to, when about 50 men managed to get in and out of their bathroom in the time it took me just to make it inside the women's restroom).   Prime Venom comes with the same mix of essential oils that are in the original version (including ginger, cinnamon and wintergreen), so you get the same plumping effect, but it also adds macadamia nut oil, which keeps your mouth moisturized while you're wearing it.  I can definitely vouch for this - I thought that it might be drying, but it's not at all.  It's exactly like putting on lip balm, but with the added bonus of extra fullness for your pout.  I've been wearing it almost every day for two weeks now and it looks equally good under lipstick, on top of lipstick, or on its own, which gives my lips a slightly more flushed color than usual. And for all of you who think that the original version hurts too much (I'm talking to you, Rachel), I definitely think that Prime Venom is a lot less sting-y.  In fact, I actually like the tingling feeling I get when I use it.  Uh oh, I think I've said too much...

Photo courtesy of Sephora

Not Particularly Buttery Nor Creamy

If I buy a body scrub, I expect it to... well... scrub.  And this one has such fine granules of sugar there's barely any scrubbing to speak of.  I stood there in the shower this morning sad that my new body scrub was not scrubbing and sad that I had to actually go to work.  (Why am I not independently wealthy?)  While the Butter Cream Body Scrub by DuWop smells yummy, the scent doesn't last long enough to even enjoy while you're toweling off.  With the lack of delicious scent and the negative scrubbing, this is an all-around disappointing body scrub.  I would guess if you had sensitive skin, perhaps this scrub would be delicate enough for you, but, really why spend $24.00 bucks if my dead skin isn't even being ripped off?  That 24 bucks could've bought me three pounds of Dunkin's coffee.  Three pounds!  That's a lot of coffee to not be sitting on my kitchen counter right now.

DuWop Lip Venom

As far as my body goes, I feel like I’m the average woman. There are a few parts I like, a lot more parts I hate (hips, I’m talking to you) and some parts that I’m mostly indifferent too. My lips fall in that category. They’re certainly never going to get me mistaken for Angelina Jolie (well, that and the fact that I’m not dragging Brad Pitt around with me everywhere I go), but on the other hand, they’re not those thin, old lady lips that would force me to make lip liner a part of my daily routine. So when I heard my friends raving about DuWop Lip Venom, I decided to try it, mainly to see if I could get myself a set of DSL’s. (If you don’t know what that stands for, ask a guy. Trust me, they’ll know).

Within minutes of applying this clear liquid, my lips were definitely bigger, but in a really natural way. Lip Venom didn’t give me the dreaded “trout pout” that plagues so many of the other women in Los Angeles. It’s a little goopy (goopy? Did I just invent that word?) because it’s so glossy and that might annoy those of you who don’t like your hair sticking to your lips, but I figure it’s a fair trade in this situation.

One thing that might turn some people off – you can definitely feel the ingredients tingling as they super-size your smile. I personally found the sensation only mildly annoying and well worth it, but my mom thought it was really uncomfortable and it burned my sister’s lips enough that she went and washed it off immediately. So you might want to test it out before you commit to spending the $16. You could also try the “Lite” version, which is clear as well, but milder for those with sensitive skin.

Lip Venom comes in the original version, which is clear, Lite (also clear), Venom Flash (either gold or silver shimmer), and Pink Shimmer. It’s a great buy and one that I find myself using even more than I thought I would, the true test of a great product.