YSL v Pony Effect: Showdown #1

HI EVERYONE, I'm back! Today I'm going to compare two lip products, one high-end and one from a more affordable brand. I'm thinking I might make this into some sort of series, kind of like a high-end v affordable makeup, dupes kind of thing. Let me know what you guys think, should I, should I not? ANYWAYS, onto the two products we've got today with very similar colours but very different price tags.

YSL Rouge Volupte Shine Oil-In-Stick v. Pony Effect Favourite Fluid Lip Tint 

Pony Effect shade #Simone Pure ($20)                                                YSL shade #15 Coral Intuitive ($57)     

There are 4 main things I look for in a lip product:

-pigmentation

-long-lasting 

-hydration 

-packaging

So today we will be look at the two lip products in terms of these elements. 

Pigmentation

The YSL goes on very sheer and you need a couple of layers for the colour to come through. This may be because of its high oil content which is good for hydration but not so good for pigmentation. If you have very red or very dark lips, I wouldn't recommend choosing a light colour from this range as you will have a hard time trying to cover up your natural lip colour. Also, because it has a very balmy texture, I thought it would be ideal for my dry lips however, the product does not sink into the lines on your lips nor smooth them out but merely sit onto like a layer of colour. 

The Pony Effect goes on very thick and pigmented like a thick layer of coral HOWEVER it is a very oily/watery texture (but not sticky) that when you rub your lips together the colour spreads and blends with your natural lip colour to make a really pretty shade. The pigmentation is definitely a lot better than the YSL and to apply I just dab a little bit of product to the centre of my lips and then blend it out. Unlike the YSL one, it feels like this product absorbs into your lips, smoothing out any fine lines. 

YSL (left) v Pony Effect (right)

Long-lasting

I'd have to say that both lip products are not very long-lasting. I have to reapply every hour or everytime I eat/drink for the colour to stay on. The only difference is that the YSL disappears completely whereas the Pony Effect leaves a tint (expected since it is a lip TINT ahaha). I have yet to find a lip product that lasts over the one/two hour period on me (Is it my lips?!). Please guys, if you've got any recommendations for me I'd love to hear about it!

After removing with a tissue

Hydration

Both products feel oily/balmy so in terms of hydration they are both pretty good. If I really had to pick the better, the YSL wins because as I mentioned before, it stays on the lips like a layer of butter whereas the pony effect absorbs and dries like tint a few minutes after application. I do find that after reapplying the Pony Effect a couple of time my lips do get rather dry, so using it in combination with a lip balm on top, is probably best. Although the hydration is good on the YSL, its not worth it because it doesn't pass the initial test of aesthetics (which is the #1 function of a lip product, right?). 

Packaging

To be honest, the YSL packaging is what won over my heart in the first place. I mean LOOK AT IT. Its a dream. 11/10, no doubt. The Pony Effect, in comparison looks quite plain however stand-alone it is also very beautiful with a simplistic rose gold tube. The YSL is made of some sort of metal and feels a lot more substantial in weight whereas the Pony Effect is plastic and thus a lot lighter. 

It's beautiful :')

At the end of the day, apart from the packaging there is not much I love about the YSL lipstick and I can definitely say I expected more from a lipstick with that kind of price tag.  I would 100% recommend opting for the more affordable Pony Effect lip tint as it delivers better results. Don't be like me and fall for the beautiful packaging, CONTROL GIRLS. 

Ok, that's it for today. Thanks for reading, bye~

xx H.