Mary Zilba lip gloss by Principessa Beauty - review by Crystal1

I have to admit that the first thing I thought when I saw this lip gloss was, "Who the heck is Mary Zilba?" Some handy Google action informed me that she is a Canadian singer/songwriter, is on the Real Housewives of Vancouver, and has partnered with Principessa Beauty for a line of cosmetics. The release of the line was timed to match the premiere of the show in Canada, so I probably wasn't the only one who had no idea who it was!

I spoke with a representative from Principessa and learned that this lip gloss is the same formula as their regular line, but the color was customized to Mary's preferences. The idea was to create the perfect nude lip gloss, and it delivers surprisingly well! The gloss is clear with just a slight hint of pinkish color, so it should work with almost any skin tone. It adds a touch of shine to the lips, but no fake-looking supershine or glittery look. It basically just amplifies your natural lips a little, adding that extra something without going over the top.

An unpleasant texture can make even the prettiest lip gloss unappealing pretty quickly, so I was pleased to discover that this gloss goes on smoothly, with no greasy or sticky feeling. It is neither too thin nor too thick: it falls nicely in the middle of the scale. It is quite natural-feeling on the lips, as long as you don't over apply. A little of this gloss goes a long way. I found that just applying it to my lower lip and pressing my lips together provided more than enough coverage.

This gloss is longer lasting than many similar products, and I found that it even survived through sipping from a water bottle nicely. It probably isn't going to last through a prolonged make-out session, but it will hold up through normal daily activities without the need for constant reapplication.

Principessa describes this scent as being Jasmine inspired, and as "feminine, fresh, clean, beachy and beautiful". The scent is very light, and to be honest I don't really pick up on the Jasmine, but I would agree that it is clean and feminine. I would describe it as being sweet without being sugary.

I couldn't smell the gloss once it was on my lips, only when smelling the tube or applicator directly. Fans of strongly scented lip products may want to look elsewhere, but those that prefer unscented or lightly scented products might appreciate the lack of a strong smell.

I found the gloss to have no noticeable taste. Again, that's one of those qualities that will be a pro or a con, depending on your preferences.

I found that this gloss basically checks off all of the qualities that make up a good gloss: has great color, isn't too thick or heavy, doesn't require constant reapplication, is non-sticky, is non-greasy, and is easy to apply. Just rubbing your finger over your lip won't remove all of the gloss, but a wet washcloth should do the trick.

You can use this gloss either alone, for a slightly shiny nude lip look, or layered on top of your favorite lipstick for some extra shine.

All of Principessa's products (including the MZ line) are cruelty-free, as well as being paraben- and pthalate-free. Their products are all biodegradable, and packaging is recyclable whenever possible.

The ingredients listed in the product info match the list on the box, so I'm not going to copy it all here. The first ingredient listed, polyisobutene, is often used as a chewing gum base, food additive, and is found in many cosmetics. Ingredients like octyldodecyl stearoyl stearate make the gloss soft on your lips, while others like sodium hyaluronate provide deep moisturization. Although the ingredients in the gloss are generally considered safe and are all common in cosmetics, you should check the list carefully if you are prone to allergies, and obviously discontinue use if you have any kind of negative reaction.

The packaging for this gloss is minimal. It comes in a small white cardboard box that is printed with the product name in grey text on the front and a list of ingredients on the back. The tube itself is clear with a black lid, and only a fairly thick label that says "MZ by Principessa" for adornment. The external box has a sophisticated look, but the tube's sticker doesn't really scream high-end.

The tube itself is fairly standard for lip gloss, maybe a little shorter. The black cap screws off and is attached to the doe-foot applicator inside. It functions well, with no messy residue or leaks.

The good news is that if this gloss goes over well, Principessa plans to add more colors to the line. I'm really hoping that happens, because I'm quite a fan of this one! In a world where we're hit by countless promises about miracle cosmetics every time we flip on the TV or open a magazine, I was really pleasantly surprised to find that this actually lived up to the hype! It really is a perfect nude gloss.

While the exterior box has a sophisticated look, I was personally expecting a little more than the somewhat cheap-feeling sticker on the tube, especially for the price. To me, it felt a little more like what you'd see on a homemade product.

The almost $20 price tag is really the only thing stopping me from using this every day. It's basically the same as what you would pay for brands like Lorac or Smashbox at your favorite beauty specialty store (and much less expensive than designer, high-end brands), so I don't think the price is absurd or anything. However, it does make me want to save this mostly for special occasions, and stick to my $5 department store brand for everyday use. I still think it's worth the splurge, though, especially if you can get it on sale or using a gift card or points. Everyone needs a little luxury now and then!