Blogdorf Goodman is a mishmash of beauty product reviews, musings on fashion and swooning over fragrances.

Wednesday, August 12, 2009

Forget it, Jessica; It's Chinatown

China Girl: A review of Chinatown Glossy Pencils from Lipstick Queen
By Jessica M

Earlier this summer, Lipstick Queen released its “Chinatown” collection of glosses in pencil form. In creating these pencils, Poppy King (the Queen herself) had two main inspirations. One was New York’s Chinatown, and all the unexpected items sold by its gift shops and sidewalk vendors. Another was the movie “Chinatown,” directed by Roman Polanski. The five shades are named for different elements of film noir: Mystery, Thriller, Crime, Genre, and Chase.

These pencils are thick but sleek; they look like black lacquer, and they’re labeled “LIPSTICK QUEEN” in English and Chinese. Each shade has a different illustration on its box, and a special sharpener is included. I actually didn’t rush right out to sample the Chinatown glosses, because I’ve had bad experiences with other lip crayons that looked, and felt, harsh on my mouth. However, the last time I visited Henri Bendel, a nice makeup artist named Andrew persuaded me to give them a try. I sat down in the makeup chair and closed my eyes for a second when he was about to apply one of the pencils. I had to open them again because I was surprised: the Chinatown pencils have a completely smooth application, with no drag, no waxiness, and no splintery scraping.


I liked several of the colors, which look very bright in the pencil but apply as more wearable fruit-punch shades. I ended up choosing Chase, described as a “sheer lush watermelon” on the Lipstick Queen website. I’m pale, and I tend to wear a lot of black (even in summer), but this shade gives my face a quick, flattering “lift.” For daytime wear and a sheer, fresh look, I’ve been dabbing Chase onto my mouth over lip balm and spreading it around with a fingertip. For more intense color in the evenings, I apply it directly and more firmly. Either way, it looks dewy but not shiny-wet. And the pencil is modern, a bit glamorous, and definitely fun to use.


Polanski’s movie closes with violence and disillusionment, and with the famous line, “Forget it, Jake; it’s Chinatown.” Chinatown Glossy Pencils, on the other hand, are another story, and one with a much happier ending.

Lipstick Queen’s Chinatown Glossy Pencil sells for $20. To purchase, or for more information, go to http://www.lipstickqueen.com.

Lipstick photos by Jessica M.
Film still of Faye Dunaway in Roman Polanski’s “Chinatown,” 1974.

Labels: Jessica's Reviews, lip pencils, Lipstick Queen., Poppy King

posted by Annieytown @ 7:03 AM   16 Inspired Comments

16 Inspired Comments:

At 9:34 AM, Blogger Joey said...

=D I'm wearing my LQ Chinatown Glossy Pencil in Mystery today! Mystery is the purple one; I love it! Poppy really does no wrong in my book.

 
At 11:04 AM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

I also have this in Mystery! It is awesome!

 
At 11:23 AM, Blogger Annieytown said...

Hi J!

Is it a lilac or is it more plummy? I am going through a serious blue violet/plum obsession currently.

 
At 12:41 PM, Anonymous Jessica M said...

I think Mystery was the only one I didn't try! I hope Joey and Anon can describe it more. I liked Thriller (cherry red) and Crime (hot pink) too...

 
At 4:30 PM, Blogger Joey said...

Annie, Mystery is a purple-plum color. Vampy but not unwearable. I think you would rock it and love it!

 
At 7:19 PM, Anonymous Mel said...

HI! What stores carry this? I would love to check these out in person. Thanks!

 
At 8:27 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

I loved these at Bendel's but I couldn't get any of the SA's adjacent to the display to assist me! Someone needs to talk to the HB SAs about customer service! That being said, I would have bought this for sure had I been able to test one!

 
At 11:36 PM, Blogger rokhl said...

These seem remarkably similar to the NARS velvet matte lip pencils. They have a very nice feel to them due to silicone. Would you say they're comparable?

 
At 7:08 AM, Blogger Annieytown said...

Mel: Lipstick Queen is sold in Barneys, Henri Bendels in NYC and Space NK.
You can also order from her website.

Rokhl: This is Annie here...my friend Jessica wrote the piece. I have no idea. I plan to try the PK when I visit NYC next. I need to dig through my statsh to see if I have a Nars pencil. I think I do. Thats really bad that I do not remember. LOL

 
At 7:10 AM, Blogger Annieytown said...

Anon: I love Bendels...but it is pretty crazy on the ground floor anymore. The Barneys counter is usually staffed with super friendly SAs. They are fun to dish with!

Joey: A lemming has been born!

 
At 7:11 AM, Blogger Annieytown said...

Thanks Jessica for this review.
I heart Poppy King reports!!!!!!

 
At 8:48 AM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

HI Annie,
Mystery color is plummy (not lilac). The color is gorgeous! Very sheer, kinda similar to LQ Medieval in texture but better. Very glossy/sheer but you can really build the color.

Hi Anon,
You should walk few blocks over to Barneys where they have better customer service!

Hi Rokhl,
Texture is nothing like the Nars velvet matte pencils. These are glossy and sheer where the Nars pencils have more of a marker/felt tip pen feel.

 
At 9:29 AM, Blogger Annieytown said...

Anon: I agree. Barneys has better service.

I sooooooooo need one of these pencils.

 
At 10:51 AM, Anonymous Jessica M said...

Hi, everyone! I don't usually buy much makeup at H Bendel, because that ground floor is such a hard-sell mob scene, but I happened to be there on a day when this nice Lipstick Queen rep was manning the LQ station. (The fact that he was with LQ made the difference, I think.) The LQ guy at Barneys (Eric?) is also great, but not there 100% of the time. Bigelow in NYC also has LQ, and Space NK is always fun!

 
At 8:39 PM, Blogger Joey said...

Jessica, I LOVE Eric at Barneys!! He's so much fun to play with =)

Also, for anyone else in NYC, Ivica at Space.NK in Bloomingdales Soho is incredible =)

 
At 9:37 PM, Anonymous Jessica M said...

Yes, Eric!! He's really sweet. LQ chooses its reps well. And I'm so glad that Bloomingdale's has a SpaceNK boutique now. It's one of the best things about that beauty floor.

 

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