Recommendations: My 5 Favorite Lipsticks
Hands down, lipstick is my favorite beauty product. I actually think I would melt into a puddle like the witch from the Wizard of Oz if I didn't have lipstick. However, not all lipstick is created equal -- believe me, there are certainly some lipsticks out there with the texture and consistency of a crayon. I know that a lot of people prefer lip gloss for this reason alone. But it doesn't have to be that way; lipstick is one of those products that is well worth paying a little extra money for. That being said, here are a few of my favorite lipsticks:
Lipstick by M.A.C. ($17): Nothing compares to M.A.C. lipstick. Once you buy a M.A.C. lipstick there will be no going back. It will ruin you for all other lipstick. M.A.C. lipsticks are creamy, smooth, long lasting, highly pigmented, and they smell like vanilla -- as if all that other stuff wasn't enough. Most lipsticks will use at least a couple of those adjectives to advertise themselves but, in most cases, they're not really accurate. When M.A.C. says long lasting and highly pigmented, M.A.C. means it. M.A.C. means business. Plus, M.A.C. has approximately a billion shades and textures to pick from, so I guarantee that there's a color out there for you. As I've written before, my two favorite M.A.C. shades are Del Rio and Captive, which both happen to be brownish reds (or, conversely, reddish browns). The only draw back is that, with a few exceptions, you can only buy M.A.C. products in M.A.C. stores, which means that you'll probably have to order your lipstick online unless you live in a big city. If you decide to go that route, M.A.C. usually offers free shipping, although it is inconvenient not to be able to see the color in person before buying.
Alter Ego Lipstick by Lorac ($16): Let me begin by saying that Lorac is pronounced LA-rock not Lore-ACK (trust me, I've made that mistake). Anyway, Lorac makes many beautiful products and Alter Ego is one of them. In may ways, this lipstick is very similar to M.A.C.'s product. It applies smoothly and evenly, is long lasting, and pigmented. Plus, each shades has a cute name that represents an alter ego; for example, my favorite shade is Secret Agent (you guessed it, it's another reddish brown). Honestly, the only reason this product isn't higher on the list is that it doesn't smell like vanilla.
Meet Matt(e) Hughes by the Balm ($17): I first found this product through my subscription service, ipsy. Unlike the other products on this list, this is a liquid lipstick. I have mixed feelings about liquid lipsticks in general, but this is a really nice product (in my opinion, the Balm is one of the best brands that most people have never heard of). It's very pigmented, it covers well, it has a fresh, minty smell, and it lasts and lasts and lasts (like, seriously, you need makeup remover to get this off). The only draw back of the formula is that it does dry out your lips a bit, which is a problem for a lot of matte lipsticks. Also, like M.A.C., it's very difficult to find the Balm in stores. I believe Kohl's sells a few Balm products, but, otherwise, you basically have to buy it online.
Different Lipstick by Clinique ($17): Clinique makes many great lip products, but this particular line of lipstick is my favorite (mostly because of the colors; I'll give you a hint, they're brownish). My favorite shade is A Different Grape, which is a nice berry brown for winter and fall. Like all the lipsticks on this list, it covers well, is very pigmented, and is smooth and creamy. However, it's not quite as long lasting as some of the other lipsticks on the list. I tend to carry my lipstick around with me, so I have no problem with re-applying throughout the day (if you don't want to re-apply, this isn't the product for you). The trade off is that this lipstick is a little more creamy and moisturizing than the other lipstick's on this list.
LIPPY Moisture Matte Lipstick by Butter London ($22): I'm not usually a big fan of matte lipsticks because they tend to be drying, but Butter London does a great job in delivering a product that soft, creamy, fairly pigmented, and relatively long lasting. Butter London consistently produces great product, so I was really satisfied with this lipstick when I bought it during Ulta's 21 Days of Beauty event. Actually, their shade Ruby Murray (a deep, berry red) has recently become my go to red lipstick. That being said, this product does have some draw backs. First off, for the quality, I think it is over priced. You can get a much better lipstick from M.A.C. for $5 cheaper; so, if you're interested in trying this product, I suggest you wait until it goes on sale. Also, I'm not a huge fan of the shades Butter London offers. As I said before, Ruby Murray is a great color, but a lot of the other colors just seem mediocre to me. The product is fairly long lasting, but, if you eat or drink, you're probably going to have to reapply this product.
Low Cost Alternative:
Round Case Lipstick by NYX Cosmetics ($4): Like M.A.C., NYX makes about three thousand shades of lipstick -- which is great if you're looking for a low cost, good quality lipstick. I have about a thousand of these lipsticks and my favorite shades are Ulysses and Snow White. In general, NYX lipsticks are pigmented and apply well. However, the color is not very long lasting; you'll definitely have to reapply throughout the day. The other thing I've noticed is that center shades tend to feather and dry out your lips. However, if you're just looking for a basic lipstick for day to day use, this product will probably do the trick.
Lipstick by M.A.C. ($17): Nothing compares to M.A.C. lipstick. Once you buy a M.A.C. lipstick there will be no going back. It will ruin you for all other lipstick. M.A.C. lipsticks are creamy, smooth, long lasting, highly pigmented, and they smell like vanilla -- as if all that other stuff wasn't enough. Most lipsticks will use at least a couple of those adjectives to advertise themselves but, in most cases, they're not really accurate. When M.A.C. says long lasting and highly pigmented, M.A.C. means it. M.A.C. means business. Plus, M.A.C. has approximately a billion shades and textures to pick from, so I guarantee that there's a color out there for you. As I've written before, my two favorite M.A.C. shades are Del Rio and Captive, which both happen to be brownish reds (or, conversely, reddish browns). The only draw back is that, with a few exceptions, you can only buy M.A.C. products in M.A.C. stores, which means that you'll probably have to order your lipstick online unless you live in a big city. If you decide to go that route, M.A.C. usually offers free shipping, although it is inconvenient not to be able to see the color in person before buying.
Alter Ego Lipstick by Lorac ($16): Let me begin by saying that Lorac is pronounced LA-rock not Lore-ACK (trust me, I've made that mistake). Anyway, Lorac makes many beautiful products and Alter Ego is one of them. In may ways, this lipstick is very similar to M.A.C.'s product. It applies smoothly and evenly, is long lasting, and pigmented. Plus, each shades has a cute name that represents an alter ego; for example, my favorite shade is Secret Agent (you guessed it, it's another reddish brown). Honestly, the only reason this product isn't higher on the list is that it doesn't smell like vanilla.
Meet Matt(e) Hughes by the Balm ($17): I first found this product through my subscription service, ipsy. Unlike the other products on this list, this is a liquid lipstick. I have mixed feelings about liquid lipsticks in general, but this is a really nice product (in my opinion, the Balm is one of the best brands that most people have never heard of). It's very pigmented, it covers well, it has a fresh, minty smell, and it lasts and lasts and lasts (like, seriously, you need makeup remover to get this off). The only draw back of the formula is that it does dry out your lips a bit, which is a problem for a lot of matte lipsticks. Also, like M.A.C., it's very difficult to find the Balm in stores. I believe Kohl's sells a few Balm products, but, otherwise, you basically have to buy it online. 
Different Lipstick by Clinique ($17): Clinique makes many great lip products, but this particular line of lipstick is my favorite (mostly because of the colors; I'll give you a hint, they're brownish). My favorite shade is A Different Grape, which is a nice berry brown for winter and fall. Like all the lipsticks on this list, it covers well, is very pigmented, and is smooth and creamy. However, it's not quite as long lasting as some of the other lipsticks on the list. I tend to carry my lipstick around with me, so I have no problem with re-applying throughout the day (if you don't want to re-apply, this isn't the product for you). The trade off is that this lipstick is a little more creamy and moisturizing than the other lipstick's on this list.
LIPPY Moisture Matte Lipstick by Butter London ($22): I'm not usually a big fan of matte lipsticks because they tend to be drying, but Butter London does a great job in delivering a product that soft, creamy, fairly pigmented, and relatively long lasting. Butter London consistently produces great product, so I was really satisfied with this lipstick when I bought it during Ulta's 21 Days of Beauty event. Actually, their shade Ruby Murray (a deep, berry red) has recently become my go to red lipstick. That being said, this product does have some draw backs. First off, for the quality, I think it is over priced. You can get a much better lipstick from M.A.C. for $5 cheaper; so, if you're interested in trying this product, I suggest you wait until it goes on sale. Also, I'm not a huge fan of the shades Butter London offers. As I said before, Ruby Murray is a great color, but a lot of the other colors just seem mediocre to me. The product is fairly long lasting, but, if you eat or drink, you're probably going to have to reapply this product.
Low Cost Alternative:
Round Case Lipstick by NYX Cosmetics ($4): Like M.A.C., NYX makes about three thousand shades of lipstick -- which is great if you're looking for a low cost, good quality lipstick. I have about a thousand of these lipsticks and my favorite shades are Ulysses and Snow White. In general, NYX lipsticks are pigmented and apply well. However, the color is not very long lasting; you'll definitely have to reapply throughout the day. The other thing I've noticed is that center shades tend to feather and dry out your lips. However, if you're just looking for a basic lipstick for day to day use, this product will probably do the trick.
Buy the best Kiko lipstick at Pashop VN
ReplyDelete