Lipstick Queen

Ladies, take your bodyguards along for protection when you wear your new Shine Hard Core Gloss ($22) from Lipstick Queen. Creator Poppy King knew exactly what kind of trouble she was causing for us when she re-launched this 1970's disco-inspired product. Think of Paris Hilton's gleaming pout and then multiply it ten-fold.

There's nothing subtle whatsoever about this thick, tacky, sticky, goopy, gooey gloss. The closest analogy I can think of is how honey keeps lingering until you use your finger to stop the drip. This has a similar consistency, only honey smells sweet. Shine Hard Core Gloss has an old-school thing going on instead; it's odorless, so you really are just smelling the actual ingredients. All of this being said, I love this product. It's fun, it's daring — and it's best worn on a day with no wind! If you're looking for a wet-looking, extreme shine kind of gloss, this pot's for you!

For a description of each of the six available saint and sinner color options, read more

Poppy King, the Australian behind the Lipstick Queen line, has a great sense of personal style. That's evident in this hand-printed, limited-edition Poppy Mini Purse ($75) designed by Katherine Kin, a patternmaker who works with fashion designer Alice Roi. And when I say limited edition, I'm not talking about a few thousand that will be around throughout the holidays. I'm telling you about this now, since only 100 pouches have been created.

Inside the black and red pouch you'll find a naughty and nice surprise: two of Lipstick Queen's best-selling lipsticks. One is Saint Red (a sheer red lipstick) and Red Sinner (an opaque red lipstick). It's the sort of luxe stocking stuffer any lipstick addict dreams of. The mini purse has already gone on sale at select Barneys stores, and my guess is that it will sell out before it even hits the Internet. If this is something you must have, I suggest calling the flagship Madison Avenue store in New York at 212.826.8900 to place your order via telephone.

Last night, I was finally able to spend some QT in front of the mirror trying out some of the new products I've told you about lately. The one that really stands out is this awesome Oxymoron Lip Gloss ($20) from Lipstick Queen by Poppy King. I described this product as a matte gloss (hence the name "Oxymoron") but I had no idea just how creamy it actually was. The texture is unbelievably soft, and all you need is a little bit to cover each lip.

I tried the deep pink shade, called Minor Crisis, and it single-handedly transformed my face. My eyes instantly brightened, and my complexion perked up. Now I know exactly what it means to have a color complement your skin.

The only quibble I have is with the name. I am not entirely convinced that I would call this a "gloss" — oxymoron or not. It feels more like a smooth lipstick that you apply with your fingertips or a lip brush. But this product is truly unique. You can buy each of the four gorgeous and neutral shades online or in Barney's stores.

For a closer look at all four colors, read more

I am already royally impressed by The Lipstick Queen, a new line of amazing opaque and ultra-sheer "sinners and saints" lipsticks. So I am very excited for creator Poppy King's new product, a lip gloss collection called Oxymoron, which hits stores this week.

What makes this product so unique is that it’s a matte finish lip gloss. Yep, a gloss with a non-glossy finish. Now doesn’t the name oxymoron make perfect sense? This product does to your lips what blush does to your cheeks, giving you a sweet, romantic glow in a less-than obvious way.

The $20 gloss is available in four shades with hysterical names: honest politician (pink/brown), free ride (apricot), deafening silence (beige nude), and minor crisis (rosy pink). All of the colors are designed to look like "lip blushes," so although they are matte, they are more subtle than you might expect.

Simply apply them with your fingertip or the mini-brush that comes with purchase. Oh, and feel free to blend a little bit on your cheeks too!

The Australian lipstick addict, Poppy King, is the creator of a posh new lipstick only line called Lipstick Queen, $18. Poppy is no newcomer to the world of lips. After feeling frustrated that she wasn't able to find the perfect red matte shade at the tender age of 18, she created her first lipstick line called Poppy.

The company lasted 12 years until she decided to close up shop and move to New York City for a job opportunity at Prescriptives. After three and half years there working on products and packaging, she decided to go out on her own once again and go back to her roots - creating the perfect lipstick. Hence the creation of Lipstick Queen. This line is unique, fun and innovative. It is comprised of ten different shades available in two very different formulations.

The first category is called Sinners, which is 90% pigment and 10% viscosity. It is a heavy dose of gorgeous matte color for the serious lipstick goer.

The second category is called Saints which is 10% pigment and 90% viscosity, so the result is a very sheer wash of color. It gives you more of a glossy, pimped out chap stick feel which is perfect for traditional gloss wearers.

Their next product due out in a few weeks is a matte gloss called oxymoron. From what I hear both the names and the shades are fab!