Black Radiance Beyond a Pout Lip Lacquer in Cajun Spice

2020 might be the worst years for many but there is a small silver lining to it...It appears that, out of nowhere, glosses are in style again (perhaps those so called fashion experts who declared this or that were amid the mass laid off last year?). A few days ago while looking for deodorant, I spotted some new (to me) glosses from Black Radiance and was totally sidetracked. I am not sweating like a donkey yet so my pits can wait.

The range (available at Walgreens) was pretty small so it was easy to weed things out. I went with a clear golden orange without any shimmer called Cajun Spice. 

The texture of gloss is moderate jelly, it's easy to spread but settle into a smooth gel gloss. The scent is a natural jammy one, kind of reminds me of pickled plum.

The shade also reminds me of yellow jadeite. 

Compared to Clarins Lip Oil in Tangerine, Black Radiance is sheerer and with more natural color. Cajun Spice warms up my purple-toned lips and make it a healthier shade of pink. 

On the lips - The Beyond a Pout formula is rather pleasant. It feels minty (but doesn't cause any discomfort), soothing and very hydrating (the true kind, not the sitting on top slipping around like Clarins). It wears so nicely that I almost got several back up only to use as lip essence. At the end I resisted because

1. Since it's $5.29 for 3ml, the unit price isn't all that affordable, consider it's still China made. At the end it's more economical for me to buy Ettusais.

2. Since it's medium gel, I have to redip several times (I like loading on lip gloss) to get my desired level of coverage.The wand just pushes back a lot of air bubble (not a great sight). I feel that this formula is better paired with a squeeze tube and slanted tip applicator. 

3. The shade selection is a bit lame - The pretty bold coral and bronze both have truck load of shimmer and the pink and clear are boring.

3. The names...At first I was weirded out by the Cajun Spice (it's unsual to name glosses after savory spices). Then I looked up other shades in the range. Extra Hot, Hot Sauce, Sweet Pepper, Sweet n Spicy...

I know Black Radiance it's designed for women of colors but. Y'all really need to name them after dipping sauce for fried chicken? 

Here comes another one...Picture cropped weird because I had a humongous zits (lower left) that I kept picking on. Who the heck go around saying lip gloss is out dated?