Hello hello hello! I have heard a ton of talk lately about the YSL glossy stain formula and how amazingly awesome and fantastic it is. I have ALSO heard that L'oreal has a very close dupe for the formula...hmmm.
So I decided that for the sake of blogging and informing all of you well educated cosmetics consumers (and DEFINITELY not for the sake of hoarding lipstick...) I would pick up one of each and compare them for you...and If it just so happens that they're awesome and I get to wear them, well then who am I to argue?
So first I headed to Sephora and picked up the YSL version. I picked it up in #10, which is a yummy red color. Next stop the drugstore...only ALL of the comparable red ones (which would have been #190 I think) were sold out at CVS, Walgreens AND Duane Read. I guess I am not the only one who had been told tales of it's glory.
So Instead I got a very pretty berry color #186 "Berry Persistent" It isn't as scientific a comparison this way, but we can still compare the formula right? Right.
So First things first. Packaging...
They both come in fairly small tubes with a wand applicator. The YSL packaging is more luxurious looking in my opinion, and I like that it's a bit shorter because it fits in the pocket of my purse better. The L'oreal packaging isn't bad to look at either. Its sleek and simple, my only gripe is that the wand is on the bottom and at first I kept forgetting where to unscrew it...but that's probably more of a "me" problem.
The YSL Glossy Stain contains .20 oz. which at $32.00 a pop (Yeesh did I really spend that on a lip product? The things I do for this blog) comes to $160 per oz.
The L'oreal Shine Caresse stain contains .21 oz. and is $9.99 which comes to just $47.00 per oz.
That is a tremendous difference in value! The YSL stain is almost four times the price per oz.
YSL left L'oreal right
Now for the applicators. Both are spoon shaped wands, similar in size and composition, and for my money I could not see a difference in performance.
The wands are easy to use and the shape helps get a nice rounded, smooth line so you can shape your lips how you like without the aid of a lip pencil. I approve, the wands are dope.
YSL bottom L'oreal top
Here they are swatched next to one another on my arm. They are both sheer and have almost exactly the same consistency. The level of pigmentation is nearly the same as well. The L'oreal one actually seemed a tiny bit more pigmented, but because they are not comparable colors (I'm sorry I've failed you!) it is hard to say for sure. I am pretty sure that it is just a slightly darker color though.
YSL bottom L'oreal top
After waiting ten minutes I wiped the swatches off in order to compare their respective staining powers. Again it seems L'oreal is a touch darker, but it may just be a darker shade. Both left a significant stain after 10 minutes though, which is good enough for me.
YSL Glossy Stain #10 Lip Swatch
L'oreal #186 "Berry Persistent" Lip Swatch
On the lips they were also very similar. I think that the YSL formula might be a teeny bit more glossy, but to a negligible degree.
Both formulas get darker after they are on for 5 minutes or so. When you put it on, it looks like the exact color that was on the wand and after a few minutes it is about one shade darker. For me this was a plus, but if you like lighter lip colors this is something to consider when choosing a shade.
They both feel very comfortable and light to wear, and don't really seem to either hydrate the lips nor dry them out.
Both wore for a solid 4.5 hours including eating and drinking before they absolutely needed to be refreshed.
Overall I would say that L'oreal Shine Caresse Stain is a pretty dead on "formula dupe" for the YSL glossy stains, and since L'oreal owns YSL beauty, one has to wonder...Is it the EXACT same thing with different packaging? I would say it's close, for sure.
So if I were to repurchase, which would I go for? Both kick major amounts of butt, and I don't regret either purchase, but considering how incredibly similar they are, at $9.99 I have to choose L'oreal.
I would go for another YSL Glossy Stain if I were in love with a specific color and they did not have a similar one from L'oreal though!
Either way, both get a thumbs up from me! =)
You can find them both here:
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