Revlon - Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stain in 'Rendevous'

Say hello to the new Revlon Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stain. Phew, bit of a mouthful eh? I like to think of this product as Clinique's Chubby Stick's friendly neighbour, a sort of dupe, but not as good. I own one Clinique Chubby Stick, in the shade '06 woppin' watermelon' which is a lovely pink colour, and although you can't help but compare these two products this is not what I intend to do today. There are obvious similarities, the packaging is almost identical, Revlon's balm stain is a bit longer, so you get a few more centimetres of product in the tube, both products have a twistable bottom to bring out more product (no need for a sharpener, I like this fact!) but apart from the lid being the same colour as the product in Revlon's offering (Clinique has a sleek silver lid to match the base) the packaging is incredibly similar. But I kind of like this, don't fix what ain't broke for someone else, eh?

I went a bit mad when I chose my colour in Boots the other day. I always seem to stick to pale pinks of nudes on my lips and because I have such a small mouth that I always find that incredible pops of colour look funny on my face. However, I don't own anything in the orange spectrum and this is exactly what Revlon's 040 Rendezvous is - Louise is taking the plunge! I do love the colour, the payoff is amazing and so long lasting. I think the fact that these lip products are advertised as a 'balm stain' on their packaging really helps to reassure you that the slight orange tint left on your lips when you remove the bulk of the product is supposed to be there. That's what I tell myself anyway. I swatched all of the colours on my hand in the store and they all had pretty good staying power, so just because the colour of this particular lip crayon is a bright orange doesn't mean that the pale pinks will wear off really quickly. (I think I'll buy one of those and see if that's true!)

 If there's one thing I really do not like about this product then it's the smell. Smell is very important for me in cosmetics and skincare, I know that's it's not a major factor in seeing whether or not the product works on your face/hair/eyes/skin/lips etc but if the product doesn't smell nice then I won't enjoy using it. Anyone else have this issue? (I know, I'm strange!) To me Revlon's balm stain smells like old chewing gum, it sort of has a musty mint smell which lingers when I put it on my lips. I don't know if it's just this colour, or if they all have the same smell, again I need to get another one to test (such a self-enabler!) Apart from the smell, I love the idea of using a lip crayon that has multiple benefits in one. When everyone went crazy (myself included) for Revlon's lip butters I wondered if they would use this concept in any future products and I am glad to see they have. The Kissable Balm Stains are moisturising whilst retaining the necessary components that enable it to be called a lipstick in my opinion - fab pigmentation and staying power. Revlon, once again you've impressed me. Now please, just get rid of the smell!

Currently on an introductory offer of £5.99 each in Boots, usual RRP £7.99.

Have you tried any of the Revlon Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stains? What are your thoughts?