 | Held off buying this shade for quite a while. Because it's a blue-toned purple. And that looks like... say it with me now... sounds like parse...  Arse! That's right- that word again. It looks like arse. I kept reading the orgasmic reviews and shook my crotchety head at the thought of a million people strutting round in nasty bubble gum mauve thinking themselves the very quintessence of sophistication. |
Which makes me feel old, and in the words of the delightful Gabriel Byrne, tired all over. But trust an old person to give it to you straight, because if there's one thing a gen-x junior metacrone doesn't give a shit about, it's your precious feelings. We know you buy this stuff, wear it once around the house then dump it in a drawer because it looks fucking horrible on. Don't feel too bad about that; it's not like I didn't fall for it too. And it's not our fault; blue-mauves do not suit everyone, as is popularly stated over at MakeupAlley. On the contrary, they barely suit anyone, and holy shit you're er, really wearing lipstick there isn't always a complimentary observation, no matter what an Ava or Maddison tells you. Examine the swatches and ask yourself if that stripe second from the left is really how you want your mouth to look in daylight. Because these images are pretty darn accurate, utilising both neutral daylight and colour-correction software.
Shades like Heroine make 90% of people look like something pinned in a rat trap after a meth binge, or like they've been tossing random clown salad. And not in a good way. It looks low-IQ, if you know what I mean. Unintentionally gacky. The exceptions to this principle are the 5% on either end of the spectrum ie. people with either deepest delicious darkness or icing-sugar pallor in their epidermal fortunes. Blue-purple can actually be conventionally pretty on those guys. Blame organised religion. If a monotheistic god fashioned us in such a manner and then imbued us with free will, it totally makes sense that we do dumb shit like buying Heroine.
Shades like Heroine make 90% of people look like something pinned in a rat trap after a meth binge, or like they've been tossing random clown salad. And not in a good way. It looks low-IQ, if you know what I mean. Unintentionally gacky. The exceptions to this principle are the 5% on either end of the spectrum ie. people with either deepest delicious darkness or icing-sugar pallor in their epidermal fortunes. Blue-purple can actually be conventionally pretty on those guys. Blame organised religion. If a monotheistic god fashioned us in such a manner and then imbued us with free will, it totally makes sense that we do dumb shit like buying Heroine.
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Yes- it will get you noticed. Most likely noticed like the aforementioned clown is noticed while psychologically scarring children, so if you must wear shades like this, be prepared to own that awkwardness. If you must wear it, forsake pretty and go for graphic instead; embrace the fucked up drama of looking like you put your face on in the dark; like that's exactly what you meant. That's how you make stuff like Heroine your bitch, and not the other way around.
As you can see, it's not at all like Rebel, (which is the fuzzy stick to the left in < this pic for comparison) despite what you might have heard. Rebel is much, much easier to wear, so don't buy Heroine thinking you're just getting a slightly more hardcore version. The two mix well, though, and amendment with the former can salvage the latter when you eventually come to accept that it's just not working ( I'll wait here). MAC Beet lip pencil is another life-saving addition and the one I favour personally.
The formula's very nice, a smoothly-pigmented matte that's really more like a cross between a good amplified and a stiff satin, with a slight sheen and acceptable mouth-feel. For a purple you get great even coverage. So all in all, Heroine deserves some of the hype; it's just a shame it's such a broadly unflattering colour. If you can embrace that difficulty and bend it to your will, good luck to you and wear it in good health. But I have a feeling my tube's going to end up on the resale merry go round.
As a final irony after all these years of Heroine's infamous unavailability, check out the swatches below- on the far left we have MAC Violetta (beside Ruby Woo) and to the right we have Heroine (sheer + max). I know Violetta is a frosty ho, but ignore the slight lighting differential- they're the same colour, folks. Monozygotic twins. The whole time.
EDIT: I've just discovered a really great use for Heroine- patted thinly over a neutral like Nars Walkyrie Velvet Matte, MAC Del Rio or Taupe. Sounds mad, I know, but you get a fabulous subdued, complex mauve-tinted off-neutral that is really beautiful with grey, taupe or blue-shot purple clothing. Try it!
As you can see, it's not at all like Rebel, (which is the fuzzy stick to the left in < this pic for comparison) despite what you might have heard. Rebel is much, much easier to wear, so don't buy Heroine thinking you're just getting a slightly more hardcore version. The two mix well, though, and amendment with the former can salvage the latter when you eventually come to accept that it's just not working ( I'll wait here). MAC Beet lip pencil is another life-saving addition and the one I favour personally.
The formula's very nice, a smoothly-pigmented matte that's really more like a cross between a good amplified and a stiff satin, with a slight sheen and acceptable mouth-feel. For a purple you get great even coverage. So all in all, Heroine deserves some of the hype; it's just a shame it's such a broadly unflattering colour. If you can embrace that difficulty and bend it to your will, good luck to you and wear it in good health. But I have a feeling my tube's going to end up on the resale merry go round.
As a final irony after all these years of Heroine's infamous unavailability, check out the swatches below- on the far left we have MAC Violetta (beside Ruby Woo) and to the right we have Heroine (sheer + max). I know Violetta is a frosty ho, but ignore the slight lighting differential- they're the same colour, folks. Monozygotic twins. The whole time.
EDIT: I've just discovered a really great use for Heroine- patted thinly over a neutral like Nars Walkyrie Velvet Matte, MAC Del Rio or Taupe. Sounds mad, I know, but you get a fabulous subdued, complex mauve-tinted off-neutral that is really beautiful with grey, taupe or blue-shot purple clothing. Try it!
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