I'm positive that this product needs no introduction because unless you've been hiding under a rock for the past few months, I'm sure you will have heard all the hype and rave reviews surrounding the Rimmel Apocalips lip lacquers. They're marketed as a lipstick hybrid combining the rich colour of a lipstick with the high shine finish of a gloss. I'll be the first to admit, I wasn't enamoured by the product's claims to begin with. I've always been a matte lip girl, only recently delving into the wide variety of finishes available, so I was a little apprehensive. But I decided I had to see what all the fuss was about, and I was in the market for a red lipstick anyway - 2 birds, 1 stone and all that!
Firstly, the packaging is just nice. I won't say it's amazing or groundbreaking, but it's nice. With a colour as intense as Big Bang, I do find the applicator to be lacking slightly. I find it quite difficult to maintain a precise application with the applicator since the colour is so bold and the tiniest mistake definitely shows. The applicator is doefoot style, but it has a hole filled with lip colour. I'd definitely suggest using a lip brush to get a precise finish with this colour. On the subject of colour, this is a gorgeous shade! It's pretty much a true red and is super intensely pigmented. The only issue I have is that I do worry about it bleeding (if I invested in a lip liner, I'm sure I wouldn't have that problem) and smudging. I wouldn't dare wear this on a night out because I just know that I'd accidentally smear it across my chin. One thing I really dislike about the product is the smell/taste. This might be a personal thing, but as soon as I apply it to my lips, I feel as if I've just licked an envelope - not pleasant. I'm also really aware that I'm wearing this, which I'm not a fan of. That probably sounds daft, but I like to almost forget that I'm wearing something on my lips which is why I much prefer matte finishes or lip stains to lip glosses or high shine finishes.
Overall, I think this is a beautiful shade which you can't really go wrong with. But will I be going crazy and investing in the entire Apocalips line? No. I'm not sure I'm completely converted to a high-shine finish yet.
Have you tried the Apocalips? Do you think they live up to the hype?