Sunday 29 November 2009

Review and swatches: J. Lynne

I look like I have the plague. My face is covered in spots and blemishes. I think they are caused by stress (work, my birthday is in a couple of weeks etc) and Friday's office X-mas party didn't help either (although I had fun!).

So this is a perfect day to post a review. I also have swatches but I'm afraid the lighting issues continue. So bear with me.

I stumbled accross J. Lynne through Mineral Makeup Mutiny website. I hadn't heard of the brand before and I decided to have a look at their website. After that, I was 100% sure I wanted to give them a go. All their products are cruelty free and made by the company so that's a huge plus.

I wanted to try out their Japanese garden collection. The colours looked soft and pretty and I'm such a sucker for Japanese-themed products. I also got offered a free gift, either two blushes or two eyeshadows in sample sizes. I went for blushes and I asked if I could choose those samples. I got an answer that due to logistical reasons it wasn't possible to choose the samples which I respect.

The website has pictures of the shades as well as a written description. However, some of the described colours sound a bit odd , like "cool bronze". To me, bronze is a warm colour.





This is the oh-so-sweet packaging in which my order I arrived. I felt like it was my birthday or Christmas already!

I unwrapped the papers and went "hmmmmm...". The jars are HUGE. First, I thought that I got sent full sized products instead of samples. The jars are also fairly heavy because they are made of thick plastic.

This is where the disappointments begun. Inside the enormous jar was a tiny amount of the product. Maybe it wasn't as little as it was made to look like but it felt and looked strange. I took Fyrinnae's sample to compare the packaging and the amount of product.





The website says that the sample size is "1/16 teaspoon of product in a 5 gram jar".






I have used Fyrinnae's sample pictured here several times. It's one of my favourite highlighters, Sakura. Funny thing, J. Lynne's sample pictured here is Sakura, too! (I wasn't kidding with the Japanese names) I'm pretty sure that Fyrinnae's sample has more product but I'll have to verify this. However, putting this little product in such a huge jar is a waste in my opinion. Also, the jars are so large that I have problems storing them!


Let's move on to the swatches. I used Too Faced Shadow Insurance as a primer.



Top row, from left to right: Mokuren, Nashi, Wakakusa
Bottom row, from left to right: Sakura, Tachibana, Kuzu, Fuji





Kinoko, Takenoko, Seri, Mikage





Mokuren = delicate ivory with icy buff and pink tones
Nashi = lush wheat colour with golden tones
Wakakusa = icy, pale green with golden tones
Sakura = sweet, lustrous pinky-peach
Tachibana = golden-peach with pink irisdescence
Kuzu = sweet, luminous plum-pink
Fuji = soft, icy silver-violet with hints of pink
Kinoko = lush golden-brown with silver tones
Takenoko = olive green with icy bronze tones
Seri = soft, cool green with silvery highlights
Mikage = lustrous silver-grey
(shade descriptions from J. Lynne website)

These colour are all Satin Pearls shadows which means that they are silky and pearly shades. They are pretty but nothing special, to be honest.

Also, there's an issue with the price. Sample sizes are $1.25 a piece, full sizes $8. Sample set (all 12 colours) is $15. Shipping fee for international orders is $11.

I wanted to love J. Lynne but I just can't. There's nothing wrong with the products and the colours are all pretty but something felt missing. Also, the sample blushes I got? One was almost fark brown and the other beige. A bit of a risk sending these sort of colours to an unknown customer.

I hate writing negative reviews and I wasn't sure if I should write this at all but I've also promised to give my honest opinion of the products I've tried.

If you're a fan of easy, pretty colours then you might like J. Lynne. Their customer service is first class and the formula of the products is good.

Have you tried J. Lynne?

9 comments:

Nea said...

I've tried, it was at least 1.5 years ago and I made one order. I must say that I wasn't very impressed either. The eyeshadow I had, were not pigmented and I didn't like the jars. I gave all the products to my friends, so I have none left.

Saila said...

Nea: That's a bummer but I can understand it. The colours are pretty and everthing is just okay but.. A bit of a meh.

Phyrra said...

Thanks for the honest review hon.
While the packaging looks cute, I would have been very disappointed if I had received that order as well, especially with how freakin' small the sample is!

Saila said...

Phyrra: Thanks for the encouragement. I was really disappointed and as there are several excellent companies around, I won't be going back.

Painted Moogle said...

I really appreciate the honest review; it's helpful for me to hear thoughtful criticism for these companies, because I'm still choosing which ones to try from.

I love Japanese themed products too! <3

Lisa Kate said...

I've tried about a year or so ago. I was SHOCKED at how large the jars were and how small the amount of product was! I got all the eyeliners (I think 20 of them?) and they are actually really pretty, but it's such a pain to get them out their hiding spot. I rarely use them. I agree with the "meh"...nothing special.

Great review though!

Saila said...

Lisa Kate: I think there's some potential but I was very put off with the miniscule sample in the humongous jar.

Painted Moogle: Thanks :) Fyrinnae has several Japanese-themed products, check them out if you haven't already!

Anonymous said...

Nice post. You put a lot into it.
I personally love Mineralogy.

Aim High said...

Hi there,

I came to the exact same conclusion and even wrote a post on the sample size issue. I got an email from a cust. rep at J. Lynne a bit cross about my review (I felt it was cross anyhow). BUT I hate their sample sizes and jars. I do love the color Tachibana and the multi dimensional shadows in Gypsy and Cinnamon are lovely. Their foundation is great, the glow candlelight is the BEST...otherwise, I tend to pass on J. Lynne. It's pricey, samples are miniscule, and the jars are a headache.

Thank you for your review! I agree with you 100%!

Tianne