I'm not a huge lipstick/gloss girl. I tend to rock a darker eye with a very natural lip (usually consisting of just a clear balm). Bur don't get me wrong -- I LOVE a good lip product. When done right, they can completely change your look/outfit/persona/etc. I've compiled an extensive list of all my favorites! [And YES.. I even included a few drugstore purchases that I love.]
LIPSTICKS
1] Nars Pure Matte Lipstick in Peloponnese, Tashkent, Volga, and Mascate ($26 each)
I have dreams about this lipstick. They are THE most perfect matte lipsticks. [From left to right: Peloponnese, Tashkent, Volga, Mascate.] The formula is so dense and pigmented, and although they're matte shades, they just glide over the skin. I don't find them too drying, as a lot of mattes tend to be. Just make sure to exfoliate and moisturize your lips before applying any matte lip stick, or else the product will tend to crease and flake off (and EVERY crevasse of your lips will be exposed!).
Peloponnese is a gorgeous copper with flecks of gold glitter. It's my favorite shade of the bunch.
Tashkent is a true nude matte. Because I am on the tanner side, it reads a little fair on my skin tone, but it's a gorgeous, creamy nude.
Volga is a very dark, plum wine color. SO luxurious looking on the lip. I like to wear this color with a dark, smokey eye for a super dramatic look.
Mascate is a cherry red that leans on the cooler side. Almost a true red.
2] Bite Beauty VIB Rouge Creme Lipstick ($28)
Okay. So this isn't a very fair lipstick to include on this list. It is my absolute favorite red shade ever.. but it is only available to Sephora VIB Rouge members.
3] Revlon Colorburst Lipstick in Candy Pink ($7 on eBay)
[So I'm almost positive this is sold out/discontinued in stores, but it's still available on eBay and other online retailers.] I'm not a huge fan of pink shades on me; they rarely look good and/or match my skin tone properly. Plus, pink just isn't my "thing" (if you know me well, you know how true this really is). But when I am in the mood, this is the only pink I go for.
It's an extremely bright hot pink, which is why I think I have it. It's go big or go home, right? The formula isn't super opaque, which is also a plus -- I don't think I'd even leave the house wearing a very dense pink. This is also why my only true pink shade is a drugstore brand. If you're raaarely going to wear something, why invest the money in it?
4] Make Up For Ever Rouge Artist Natural in N9 Copper Pink ($20)
This is gorgeous.. well.. coppery pink color. It's a color pink that I'm willing to invest in (read: not reminiscent of bubble gum). It's not too red, not too orangey, not too pink. No shimmer, no glitter.
It has a very smooth, buttery, slightly shiny finish to it. It complements my skin tone perfectly -- if you have tan, bronze, olive skin, this is a perfect coppery pink.
5] Clinique Almost Lipstick in Black Honey ($15)
This lipstick has a CULT following. And for a reason. It's probably the scariest shade in the tube with the prettiest color payoff on the lip. It's called "almost lipstick" and that couldn't be more accurate. I'd describe it almost as a colored balm/gloss. Extremely sheer and very shiny.
It's the most hydrating, moisturizing feeling on the lips, with just a hint of reddish pink tint. It sort of blends in to the natural color of the lip and makes them pop, so it's a perfect product to add to any type of eye/face look.
LIP GLOSSES
1] Nars Larger Than Life Lip Gloss in Gold Digger ($26)
I DIE I DIE I DIE. This is my all-time favorite gloss. Ever. I mean seriously, how gorgeous is it? It's a peachy gold shimmer gloss, and it literally looks good on anyone. The color itself is a champagne-y, beige-y gold, but the shimmer/glitter in it is so iridescent and lovely. You can wear it on its own as a stand-alone color, layer it over any lipstick to create an entirely new shade, or dab it in the middle of your lips on top of another color to make your lips look bigger (plus add a sort of ombre look to them). I could go on all day.
The only downside to this gloss is its consistency. It's a bit goopey and thick, so if you don't like sticky glosses, you won't care for this too much. However I think the color is so gorgeous that it makes up for any formula issues I have with it.
2] Stila Lip Glaze in Fawn, Logan Berry, and Delicate ($22 each)
Unfortunately, I bought these three glosses as a trio set when they were in an amazing deal at Sephora (you know.. those holiday gift sets they release once a year) for about $15!! I don't think these exact shades are available anymore at Sephora. But the Stila Lip Glaze they have in stock as individuals is the exact same product. For some reason, I like these a lot more because of their scent/taste -- it's almost like a hint of cherry vanilla.
The color payoff of these glosses is ridiculous, as you can see. [Fawn on the left, Loganberry in the middle, and Delicate on the right.] The closest color match I can find is Blackberry for Fawn, Raspberry for Loganberry, and Starfruit for Delicate. The pigment is incredible, and the shimmer is just subtle enough that your lips don't look like disco balls. The formula is a tad sticky and thick, but nothing unmanageable.
LIP STAIN
1] Revlon Just Bitten Lipstain + Balm in Instinct ($9)
I haven't delved into the world of lip stains in depth. The idea just always seemed a little strange to me -- is this dye seeping into the pores of my lips, or what? Again, this is another drugstore buy because I was hesitant to invest any significant amount of money into a foreign product. But the color of this lip stain was so gorgeous I had to try it. [On the left is the stain without the balm over it, and the right swatch is with the balm.]
The formula is virtually water-like, and is applied with almost a felt tipped marker. It's REALLY easy to mess this up and stain the skin around your lips.. trust me. It feathers quite a bit into the lines surrounding your lips, so I rarely use this. But when I'm looking to just naturally enhance the color of my lips, I swipe a thin amount of this stain on my lips and it stays all day.
WHEW. This was long as all hell, but I hope it was helpful/informative, and encouraged you to try new products (or just explore different colors)!
xojaybee
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