 In theory, coral should be broadly flattering though in practise, it's the kind of thing that can go tremendously right or terribly wrong. Many of us have trouble with its tendency to be so much lighter and brighter than our actual lips that it just looks too horribly extra. Nor is it kind to yellowy teefs or dry or chapped mouths, so yeah- bit of a minefield. I'll admit I was a leetle bit apprehensive about investing in the full-size Zinfandel, sight unseen. Happy to say I needn't have worried. | So excited was I by my other Bite High Pigment acquisitions that I decided to go balls-out and get me some Zinfandel from the same line. Zinfandel is a red grape variety used to produce the titular rosé-type summer tipple in the US, according to Wikipedia, and when you see it in in the glass it makes sense that this bright coral shade should be named thusly. But Zinfandel is an awesome word in its own right and I'm just glad someone threw it on a lipstick.  |
 | This Bite product overcomes the usual technical issues posed by light/bright shades by balancing clean, vivid and very integrated pigment with a crystal-clear emollient base. By integrated, I mean the colour doesn't separate out into stain (dyes) + claggy, dirty-looking opaque elements (minerals) with heat or movement, as so often happens with thickly-pigmented mattes, for instance. Zinfandel's brilliant, orange-leaning, lolly-hibiscus coral begins at about 80% opacity in one swipe on my dark, cool lips and can be successfully sheered or patted down to a gelato-like stain or built until you mouth would stop traffic. So I would call it opaque, but not traditionally so. There is always a suggestion of luminous translucency. |
BELOW FROM BOTTOM: (comparisons all MAC) Orange lipmix, True Red (LE), Chili, Bite Zinfandel, Lady Danger, Toying Around (LE)
| > Here we have a swatch in neutral indoor daylight next to some actual undyed coral, for comparison. There is more difference between the shades in life than is possibly suggested here; Lady Danger, for instance, is much more cooked-tomato red than Zinfandel. The recent True Red is more yellow and orange. If you adjust the angle of your laptop screen that might become more explicit. Their differences are perhaps best illustrated in the swatch at the foot of this review, taken in cooler light with a streak of Zinfandel sheered out across the top. You can see the pink aspect of the coral quite clearly.  |  The scent is faintly, organically fruity and absolutely fine. I experience very little to no bleeding with these High Pigment sticks and get to about the three hour mark before touch up time, but I'm incredibly anal about my lipstick (the gross jokes write themselves); normals will probably enjoy a lot more leeway. |
So, in summary: we have a brilliant and rather unique coral (I really can't think of any close dupes), almost opaque but also sheer-able, with a modest level of shine (comparable to MAC Amplifieds) and incredible colour delivery. I find it neither 'young' nor 'mature', so don't worry too much about age-appropriateness; such pronouncements are generally bollocks anyway, except when it comes to purple. The only word of warning I can offer in regard to Zinfandel is that it can be a bright little sucker at full strength. But god, it is such a euphoric shade and an unmitigated pleasure to wear, both gorgeous on its own and useful as an amender to flat, boring reds. I'll also reiterate that Bite places emphasis on food-grade ingredients and ethical, small-scale production. Yay for them.
BELOW, L 2 R: (All MAC except Bite)
Orange lipmix, True Red (LE), Chili, Bite Zinfandel, Lady Danger, Toying Around (LE)
Orange lipmix, True Red (LE), Chili, Bite Zinfandel, Lady Danger, Toying Around (LE)
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