Vincent Longo Cosmetics: My Favorite New Face Revealed & Reviewed

My recent foray into Vincent Longo Cosmetics has left me practically breathless. I'm completely new to the brand, so I really had no expectations besides the very eye-candyish product photos on their website. I've also had several VL products on my Dermstore wishlist for awhile. After being approached by the brand, I asked them to choose products for me with a violet/mauve theme. I was beyond excited when my package arrived. Digging in and testing the formulations on my hand was probably way more fun than it ought to have been, that is, until the following day when I tried it all on my skin.

Only one eyeshadow trio arrived damaged, but because I'm a nurturing soul when it comes to ailing cosmetics, I transferred the contents into a small jar so I could use it as a loose shadow. I do regret that I didn't get to try it when it was three different colors, but the shade resulting from its brokenness is a truly stunning, sparkling silvery violet. Insta-fave. Below you'll find product pictures, selfies and comments on the individual products. Coming up very soon on this blog will be a Vincent Longo giveaway, so check out the goodies, and stay tuned!

[Left to right: Pearl X Eyeshadow in Genesis, Diamond Lip Gloss in Lavender Mews, Dew Drop Radiant Blush in Heart's Desire, Creme Gel Liner in Velvet Plum, Angle Eye Liner Brush #11, Lip & Cheek Gel Stain in Sweet Apollonia]

Trio Eyeshadow Pearl-to-Matte in Genesis ($30)
(light peach, light taupe, deep amethyst)
This is the poor lass who didn't make the trip, but below you can see how it's supposed to look. I'm not terribly sad, though, because the shade I have post-breaking is very beautiful. It's what I used as a base on my lid and crease, pressed in with a large, stiff shadow brush. It's not super-sparkly, so it's great to blend along my lower lash line as well. I don't use eyeliner on my lower lids (for the most part), I prefer to use eyeshadow, and I also skip mascara on the lower lashes as well.

[Pearl-to-Matte Trio in Genesis]

Pearl X Eyeshadow in Destiny Rose ($25)
This gorgeous eyeshadow might be one of my all-time favorites that I've ever used. I'm fascinated by how many colors and effects you really can get out of it. I used the lightest part to highlight the brow bone, and the iridescent icy violet and metallic rose dots over lids and blended into crease. When you add the olive-taupe in, you get a darker, mellower hue that is especially gorgeous used wet as a liner.

[Pearl X Eyeshadow in Destiny Rose]

Lip & Cheek Gel Stain in Sweet Apollonia  ($22.50)
Yes, the fact that this shade is named Sweet Apollonia makes me love it even more-- she is, after all, my second favorite ex-wife of Prince. I mean, I named my cat Computer Blue. These things matter to me. Anyway, I was THRILLED to note that this is a cool tone when sheered out on the skin, and it blends very easily. It's not quite as intense of a stain as say, Benefit's BeneTint, which is nice, but too intense for me. I find Vincent Longo's formulation to be perfect. Not too liquid, not too thick, not at all gloppy or hard to work with. This is easy street, all the way, baby. A very sheer wash totally pops on my super-fair skin, and it's hot as a lip base. It smells faintly of vanilla beans and really, really lasts. I would recommend this gem to absolutely everyone- there are 7 shades, and I need them ALL. Now.

[Lip & Cheek Gel Stain in Sweet Apollonia]

Creme Gel Liner in Velvet Plum ($25) and Angle Liner Brush #11 ($18)
Right about now, you might be asking yourself-- "Is there anything Vincent Longo that this girl does not love?" The answer to that is decidedly 'NO'. In general, I prefer gel eyeliners. I've been doing cat-eye liner since I was sixteen years old, and it was always liquid or cake liner until I discovered gels. I have never met one quite like this. It's hard to give you a precise sense of how Velvet Plum is a true iridescent shade-- it's got a bluish cast to it in a certain light. It brings out the caramel tones in my eyes beautifully, and it is so sexy.

And it wears better than anything I've tried. It stands up to periodic misting with my chamomile hydrosol, dabbing with facial tissue at the corners of my eyes (I did not rub), and it did not transfer to the upper-middle eyelid area, either. Part of the credit needs to go to the gorgeous little brush as well. It doesn't pick up too much product, and it can be used at the tip to draw fine lines or the entire slant edge to create more dramatic looks. It's a compact size, which I love because my hands are small and I love to take advantage of its ability to do tight, precision lines. This is a pair of must-haves that no self-respecting eyeliner junkie should be without.

[Creme Gel Liner in Velvet Plum]

[#11 Angle Liner Brush]

Dew Drop Radiant Blush in Heart's Desire ($30)
The photo above really showcases the gorgeous color and finish of the Dew Drop Radiant Blush. For the first time EVER, I'm totally into the idea of making cheeks the standout feature on my face. There's a trend towards dramatic blush, and while I might not be into the uber-editorial, over the top version of that look, I really do love the effect that bold blush gives-- especially against my pale skin and black hair. If I wanted to seriously play up the blush, I would not use eyeshadow or mascara- just a tight line of the Creme Gel Liner and the same neutral, stained lip with a sheer gloss that I'm showing in these photos.

The texture of Dew Drop Radiant Blush is technically a rich, hydrating powder. It's got a demi-matte base shade flecked with subtly shimmery dots- in this case- it's gold and beige shimmery tones to add a touch of warmth. It blends very smoothly onto the skin-- so well that I can easily use my fingers to do it, as though it were a cream. The result is a glowy flush of color that lasts a lot longer than one would expect with a powder blush. It doesn't rub off easily onto clothes or anything/anyone else, which is nice, because real life dictates that your head is not contained within a glass box so that your makeup application doesn't suffer. Again, this is a product that I want in every shade. Dew Drop Radiant Blush has taken my blush obsession to another level. Sandalwood is the next one in my sights.

[Dew Drop Radiant Blush in Heart's Desire]

Diamond Lip Gloss in Lavender Mews ($22)
This mauve shimmery lip gloss is the icing on the cake. It's long-lasting, layers beautifully over the Lip & Cheek Gel Stain and has a delicious vanilla scent. The name Diamond Lip Gloss sounds like a LOT of sparkle and glitter, but trust me, it's far from it. The multi-dimensional effect created by the very fine shimmer flecks is a trick of the light. The result is that your lips are noticed not for appearing Bedazzled, but as a part of your elegantly put-together face. The color and finish of this gloss plays very well against the satin-matte Dew Drop Radiant Blush-- the perfect contrast within the rich color palette of my dreams.

[Diamond Lip Gloss in Lavender Mews]

Remember, stay tuned, because there will be another Vincent Longo-themed post coming very soon. You'll have the chance to win two full-sized VL products from this very page! 


[samples sent by the company for my consideration]

Other makeup used from my personal collection: Givenchy Noir Couture 4-in-1 Mascara, Urban Decay Naked Skin Liquid Makeup, Veil Cosmetics Illuminating Complexion Fix, Besame Cosmetics Violet Brightening Powder, Jemma Kidd Makeup School Brow Perfector Shape & Lift Duo