Hard Candy Plumping Serum Volumizing Lip Gloss Review
If you are a fan of sheer, yet very shimmery lip gloss with that *tingly* plumping feeling, then you just might fall in love with Hard Candy’s Plumping Serum Volumizing Lip Gloss.
When I first laid eyes on these I was GIDDY with excitement because the colors inside the tubes just looked spectacular. I was really hoping they wouldn’t be too sheer since they didn’t say “sheer” on the tube, but alas, they were.
Don’t get me wrong, I actually still like them. Let’s find out why.
- The tube-style packaging is my favorite kind for lip gloss. It feels sturdy and kind of “weighty” which I like
- You get a good amount in each tube (.10 oz)
- The price is right at around $4.65
- The colors (at least the ones I purchased) are all very pretty
- You get good shine and shimmer
- They look good over pink/purple lipsticks, which is how I have been wearing them. It just adds some moisture, shine and dimension
What’s not to like?
- They are billed as plumping, but I saw no noticeable difference. I didn’t expect it anyway, I have yet to see a lip gloss that actually plumped my lips
- They do tingle a little, which isn’t bad but I prefer no tingle
- They are very sheer
- They have a slight plasticky taste to them
- They don’t last more than 2 hours or so
- They are slightly on the sticky side, though not as sticky as say MAC Lipglass
They do come in about twelve different colors, so who knows, maybe those ones are less sheer than these.
Pink Lady
Life Preserver
Jellyfish
Dunes
Cake Walk
Pink Lady, Life Preserver, Dunes, Jellyfish, Cake Walk
Pink Lady is a cotton candy pink with pink shimmer
Life Preserver is a raspberry pink with bright pink shimmer
Dunes is mauve/pink with blue shimmer
Jellyfish is a bright purple with blue shimmer
Cake Walk is a baby pink with blue and pink shimmer
Some of these with the blue shimmer almost have a duochrome effect going on, which I totally love. But it is subtle.
My favorite ones here are Jellyfish, Dunes and Cake Walk, probably because they are the most interesting with the blue shimmer.
Overall:
I would recommend these to anyone who likes sheer colors or just wants something to layer over something else. These definitely will not give you much color if you use them on their own. Let’s keep our fingers crossed that Hard Candy comes out with come super cool OPAQUE glosses soon!
What say you about these?
In Other News
Right about now I am headed to the Fairmont Hotel in San Francisco for High Tea with a friend. It’s the one made famous in the night-time soap opera Hotel from the Aaron Spelling show in the 80′s. I’ve actually never been there, which is hard to believe because I love SF hotels, so I plan on taking tons of pictures! I’m sure it looks amazing for the holidays.
-VV
Welcome! My name is Kelly and Vampy Varnish is a animal friendly beauty blog.
Hmmm they all look very similar. The plasticky taste… ewwww!!! I’m going to have to skip these.
I don’t seem to have much luck with Hard Candy’s lip products, they seam to wear off in about an hour on me.
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I have jellyfish. I saw it on the shelf and it was such a cool color that it sucked me in. There really isn’t anything special about it though. I didn’t see any purple when it was actually on my lips, and yeah, the tingle is disturbing… Thumbs down for tricking me!
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Thanks for the review, VV. Maybe you can post a couple pics of your high tea experience. xoxo
Nice review. Wish I had access to Hard Candy! The price is definitely right. I had High Tea at the Fairmont once when I was young…fond memories! Hope it was delicious & relaxing.
I like the look of these, the colors and even the packaging… The price is right.. I was wondering if they’re made in China? Just curious… Thx!
Hi Kristina,
The tube says Made in USA.
Most of the Hard Candy products are made in China. I also do not use makeup made in a non quality controlled country.
On your skin, the colors all look so similar. However, I’m not a fan of sheer glosses. Thanks for the swatches
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Oh I want to go there!!! I told myself I wanted to have brunch every Sunday @ all the hotels in LA & BH area. Still haven’t and ive lived here 30 yrs.
I actually think they look good on u. Somedays ya just want natural….
Happy holidays!
I bought one of these, and wasn’t at all impressed. Most plumping glosses (even drugstore brands like Sally Hansen) actually plump my lips a bit, if even for just a minute until the gloss wears off. This one didn’t do squat. It was sticky, the color was too sheer (and I like sheers), and it wore off incredibly fast. As far as I’m concerned, these are dollar store quality and aren’t even great as a plain old gloss, let alone a plumping one.
And I like the tingle (
), so I was disappointed on that front, too, because it barely tingled at all for me 
Most of the Hard Candy products are made in China. I also do not use makeup made in a non quality controlled country.
HI Marianne Carter,
Just curious where you heard/read that? All their products say Made in USA on them, so I just wonder .
How cool about the hotel!..That is all.
I’ve never seen any plumping action when using any plumping lip gloss. I’ll skip these since they’re so sheer.