Lips
Below you’ll find posts related to all lip products! Lipstick, lip gloss, lip balm & lip stain reviews. It’s amazing how a quick swipe of a new lipstick can change your whole look and reflect your mood for that day! Perhaps you’re feeling laid-back and you want to pop on a neutral/nude shade. Or maybe you’re feeling bold and adventurous and you grab your fuchsia/red shade. Whatever your mood, there will be some shade and brand to help you express it beautifully on your lips!
53 Lipstick, Gloss, Balm, Liner & Lip Stain Reviews since 2010
YSL Rouge Pur Couture Swatch and Review in Rose Boheme
Hey everyone!
So this past weekend while I was doing some Christmas shopping I finally found THE YSL lipstick for me! I’ve always always wanted a YSL lipstick because 1. I’m a sucker for beautiful packaging and 2. YSL is known for it’s great quality. I tried a few out especially from the Rouge Volupte Silky Sensual Radiant line because of it’s gorgeous tube bottle but I was never sure about its hydrating yet slippery texture plus high price point. Well while watching some YouTube last week, I saw a girl with gorgeous lipstick that turned out to be YSL Rouge Pur Couture in Belle De Rose. I loved how her dark lips looked on her so I went to the mall to test it out. It turned out that Belle De Rose was a bit too dark and vampy against my fair skin, BUT I tried another shade and fell in love! It’s 028 Rose Boheme, a pretty pink plum shade.
YSL Rouge Pur Couture 028 Rose Boheme $32
YSL Rose Boheme Swatch
The texture is rich and smooth. I prefer to apply it with a lip brush for more control along my lip line. Also, the longevity of the lipstick is really impressive! It lasts through drinks and food pretty well dulling very slowly and leaving a nice stain finish. I actually like how it wears down turning more matte and plum over time. It keeps my lips hydrated and comfortable for about 4 hours but the color lasts even longer.
Unlike the Rouge Volupte Silky Sensual Radiant line, the lipstick stays in place so you don’t have to worry about any color bleeding or strange fading. Of course the packaging isn’t as fancy but I still think the gold rectangular shape looks very classic!
The scent was a bit disappointing because I love how the Rouge Volupte lipsticks smell like yummy watermelon. The Rouge Pur Couture line smells more chemically but you don’t smell it once you apply it to your lips.
Now price- do I think it’s worth $32-34 (depending on where you buy it)? If you find a shade that you really love, then I think it’s definitely worth it! YSL Rose Boheme has become my favorite dark lipstick and I know I’ll be wearing it very often. I adore the shade and I’m confident that it’ll stay in place so I don’t have to constantly check the mirror for touch-ups.
In the photo, Rose Boheme looks more red-tone but in real life it’s much more plum.
Side note: I really miss my long hair :[
For the rest of the look:
FACE: MUFE HD Foundation 118, MAC Blot Powder-Medium
CHEEKS: Benefit Hoola bronzer, NARS Sin blush
EYES: MAC Mystery eyeshadow, Urban Decay Backdoor eyeshadow, Covergirl Exact Eyelights, MAC Fluidline – Added Goodness
LASHES: Covergirl Lash Perfection Mascara
BROW: MAC Concrete eyeshadow
What’s your all-time favorite lipstick? Do you recommend any other YSL lipstick shades? Let me know in the comments below!
Wishing you a lovely Monday!
MAC Sandy B Lipstick Swatch and Review
Hey everyone!
Question: do you have products in your makeup drawer that go unused and just collect dust? I sure do. And why do these unused pieces remain in our collection without being returned, donated or just tossed out? Well for me, it’s because there’s a hope that one day this one product will be just the thing that’s required to finish off the perfect look. Haha, is that just me or do you feel the same way?
One of those unused products in my collection is MAC Sandy B. Sandy B lipstick is a light shell pink in a frost finish with tiny gold sparkles. The super frosty finish leaves a goldish sheen to my lips which I find hard to wear on most occasions. The few times that I’ve ever used this was on vacation. I always think this color is pretty sparkling in the sunlight against nicely bronzed skin. :]
I tried to take a MAC Sandy B swatch photo on my hand but they all came out blurry! Sad!
I know it’s hard to tell in these photos but Sandy B is super frosty. In real life my lips are looking very nude pink with gold sparkles/sheen right now. The formula also happens to accentuate the fine lines on my lips. Not so pretty especially when my lips have been super dry from the cold weather. Compared to other MAC lipsticks, the texture feels grittier and definitely not as smooth. I’m wondering if it’s due to the sparkles in the lipstick formula. I don’t find it exceptionally drying but I also don’t find it very moisturizing. Hmm any positive notes? Oh it has the signature MAC vanilla scent that I’ve grown to love in all their lipsticks. Either way, MAC Sandy B is one of my least favorite MAC lipsticks in my collection.
Now I’m not you’re going to hate Sandy B. Who knows? You might like it and it might look great against your skin tone! It’s actually probably a lot more wearable topped with a gloss as well. Besides the beach, you could probably wear this during the winter time for a frosty look. Or you could create a fun look for going out with dark smokey eyes.
But for me? Sandy B will stay in its little home in my makeup drawer until it’s time to go on vacation!
To create the rest of my look today:
FACE: MUFE All Mat Face Matifying Primer, MUFE HD Foundation 118, MAC Blot Powder – Medium
BROWS: MAC Concrete Eyeshadow
EYES: MAC Brule, Hey, Satin Taupe, Mystery
LASHES: Covergirl Lash Perfection Mascara
CHEEKS: Smashbox Blush Rush – Paradise
Lips: MAC Sandy B
Wishing you a BEAUTYFULL start to your week!
NYX Round Lipstick Pumpkin Pie Swatch and Review
Hey everyone!
I don’t know about you but during the Fall I become obsessed with pumpkin! I love pumpkin bread, pumpkin cheesecake (from Costco- YUM!), and most of all pumpkin spice lattes from Starbucks! Another Fall pumpkin obsession is my NYX Round lipstick in Pumpkin Pie!
NYX Extra Creamy Round Lipstick Pumpkin Pie $4
Oh look! Hubs’ cute little pumpkin has decided to make another appearance on ABD! Hehe!
Okay, I have to confess that I’m actually not too fond of real edible pumpkin pie. I’m actually not too fond of most pies in general. I’ll eat them for the most part but I never want much nor ever crave it. But I do love my NYX Pumpkin Pie lipstick and have been wearing it a lot this season. It’s a beautiful neutral peachy-beige color, a great alternative to the usual pink-beige nude lipsticks that we all love so much.
NYX Pumpkin Pie Lipstick Swatch
I like to wear NYX Pumpkin Pie with brown eyeshadow looks and coral cheeks. It’s an easy go-to lipstick for those neutral days. I would say that it leans more towards a sheer-medium pigmentation but you can definitely build up the color with a few more swipes. The texture is really creamy and hydrating at first but it does dry my lips out as the hours progress. It’s good to keep some lip balm or gloss handy for touch-ups and extra hydration. The lipstick itself lasts on my lips for probably a good 3 hours and is pretty much gone after I eat. Oh and like all NYX lipsticks, the scent is sweet but light so I actually don’t mind it at all. All in all I’m pretty happy with the NYX round lipstick line considering that it’s only $4 a pop.
Like all nude family lipsticks, you really need to try NYX Pumpkin Pie lipstick for yourself to judge if it’s a good match against your skin or not. I hope the swatch helps you gauge the color a bit!
And in case you were wondering, here’s what I have on today!
FACE: Tarte Smooth Operator – Agent 04, MAC Blot Powder – Medium
CHEEKS: Benefit Coralista blush
BROWS: MAC Concrete Eyeshadow
LASHES: Covergirl Lash Perfection Mascara
EYES: L’Oreal 24hr Infallible Eye Shadow – Bronzed Taupe, MAC Kid, MAC Mystery
LIPS: NYX Round Lipstick – Pumpkin Pie
Wishing you a BEAUTYFULL day!
NARS Velvet Matte Lip Pencil Sex Machine Swatch and Review
Of all of NARS’ crazy product names out there, this is probably the one that I’m most bashful to say in public or write about. It’s NARS Velvet Matte Lip Pencil in Sex Machine. What a strange name for this product, no?? Unlike it’s riske name, Sex Machine is described as an innocent pink mauve. Against my skin tone I would describe it more as a medium pink with slight mauve.
NARS Velvet Matte Lip Pencil in Sex Machine $24
NARS Velvet Matte Lip Pencil Sex Machine is actually darker than I was expecting. After reading the description and seeing some other bloggers’ photos I thought the shade would be more of a light nude pink-mauve. It’s definitely not nude against my lips. It’s more of a mid-tone to almost dark pink. I’m not disappointed though! It’s very wearable for any occasion and can be a great everyday color.
Here is the swatch along with some NARS Sex Machine dupes. MAC Syrup is very similar but it’s a bit more light and mauve and has a glossy finish. Lancome L’Absolu Rouge Blush Classique is definitely more light pink with a glossy finish. Of the two, MAC Syrup is the closer dupe.
For a matte lip product, NARS Sex Machine is surprisingly not drying on my lips. It’s nice and creamy upon application and as the hours pass it turns more into a soft powdery feel- pretty interesting. The pigmentation has stayed put through some light snacking but I’ve yet to go through a whole meal plus drink yet.
Like I’ve mentioned in previous posts I love the jumbo pencil design because they’re so easy to use and carry around. But I do wish you didn’t have to sharpen the tip once it gets dull. I’d much rather twist the product up rather than waste away product while sharpening the tip.
For the complete look here are the products I used:
Face: Garnier BB Cream – Light/Medium, MAC Blot Powder – Medium
Cheeks: NARS Sin blush
Eyes: MAC Quarry, MAC Blackberry, MAC Trax, MAC Graphology
MAC Shroom (highlight)
MAC Powerpoint Eye Pencil – Permaplum
Covergirl Lash Perfection Mascara
Brows: MAC Concrete
Lips: NARS Velvet Matte Lip Pencil – Sex Machine
I’m quite happy with NARS Lip Pencil Sex Machine. I use MAC Syrup a lot throughout the year so I know that this will be a great alternative for days where I want a more long-lasting matte look!
Do you have a favorite matte lipstick? And do you prefer matte lipsticks or glossy finish lipsticks? Let me know in the comments below!
Wishing you a wonderful start to the week!
Revlon Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stain Swatch and Review in Charm
Today I decided that it’s finally time to review my last Revlon Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stain, Charm! I have to admit I’ve been pretty unsure about this one which is why it’s taken a while to do an actual review. Revlon Charm is a pastel orange-pink.
Revlon Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stain – Charm $8.99
Here’s a Revlon Just Bitten Charm swatch and dupe options. MAC Myth is more matte and a bit more white/pink. MAC Creme d’Nude is much more cool-toned, sheer and pink. Revlon Soft Nude is more sheer and a touch more warm and orange.
I do like the application of Revlon Just Bitten Kissable balm stains. It’s smooth, precise and leaves you with a nice refreshing tingling feeling on your lips. It’s also fairly moisturizing for the first couple hours.
I’m also a huge fan of the Revlon Just Bitten packaging! I love that you can just twist up the balm stain instead of having to use a sharpener and wasting a bunch of product in the process! Two thumbs up for being clever!
While upon first application the balm is a pastel pink-orange, the stain that you’re left with later on is much more pink and in my opinion more wearable.
I’ve seen Revlon Just Bitten Kissable in Charm on other ladies and it look absolutely gorgeous. You can’t really tell in this photo but on me it looks too pastel/orange. I feel that it looks quite unnatural on me. So, it really depends on your skin tone. I’m quite positive that I’ll be returning this guy soon.
If you haven’t yet, check out my reviews on Revlon Just Bitten Kissable in Honey and Cherish.
Have you tried Revlon Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stain in Charm? Which is your favorite from their line? Let me know in the comments below!
Wishing you a fantastic start to your weekend!
NARS Velvet Gloss Lip Pencil New Lover Swatch and Review
Hey All!
This is my other NARS velvet gloss lip pencil, New Lover. I received this little guy as a gift-with-purchase at Nordstrom a couple months back. NARS New Lover is described as a gold-infused strawberry pink which I find pretty accurate.
NARS Velvet Gloss Lip Pencil in New Lover $24
NARS Velvet Gloss Lip Pencil Swatches in New Lover and Baroque for comparison. Click here to read my Baroque review from yesterday. :]
Since my New Lover (haha, that sounds funny) was a gift-with-purchase, it’s a bit smaller than the regular size tube. Here’s a comparison photo. As you can see the gift-with-purchase is actually a pretty decent size!
The texture is very soft, moisturizing and glossy as expected. The color stays on and my lips feel hydrated for a good 2-3 hours but it never lasts through a meal for me. And I find that my lips get pretty dry if I don’t reapply a new layer or moisturize with another lip product. If you’re good about reapplying you shouldn’t have a problem.
The color builds up pretty well. The first coat is fairly sheer and you can obviously build up the color with more coats.
Funny thing is that I feel like New Lover has less of a scent than Baroque. Baroque has a bit of a #2 pencil smell to it while I can’t smell anything from New Lover. If you’re not into scented lip products, you’ll most likely like the NARS velvet gloss lip pencil line.
You can easily wear NARS New Lover everyday since it has a more casual feel than NARS Baroque. It’s great for school, work, lunch with the girls, etc. Plus I feel like the shade is pretty versatile through all the seasons. It’s not too pink or too red so it’s a good neutral lip color.
Hope this was helpful!
Wishing you a wonderful Wednesday afternoon!
NARS Velvet Gloss Lip Pencil Baroque Swatch and Review
Happy election day everyone!
Today I wanted to share with you NARS Velvet Gloss Lip Pencil in Baroque. Baroque is described as a raspberry sorbet shade but it looks more like a soft brick-red on me with silver sparkles. It’s a really fun red lip for the Fall and Winter.
NARS Velvet Gloss Lip Pencil Baroque $24
NARS Baroque Velvet Gloss Lip Pencil Swatch
Top line is multiple coats whereas the bottom line is one stroke.
I love wearing red lips. It’s such a fast way to glam up a look! I’m actually wearing my workout clothes in this photo but you’d never know, haha.
The texture of NARS velvet gloss lip pencils are very soft and moisturizing. It’s also super pigmented so it doesn’t take very many coats to get this dark red shade. Because it is a gloss formula, you’ll want to be careful about accidentally smudging your lips and this will definitely come off while you drink and eat.
Scent wise you can’t really smell anything unless you really take a hard sniff. It smells like crayons or pencils to me- school supplies in general. No need to worry though, you really can’t smell anything when you’re applying it on your lips or after the application.
The tip of the lip pencil has a nice point right now but with continued use it’ll dull down. At that point I’d definitely recommend using a lipliner to define your lip line. I do wish that the NARS lip pencils twisted up instead of having to sharpen it. You waste so much product when you have to sharpen the pencil and it can get messy.
I’m personally a fan of the lipstick pencil (chubby sticks) right now so I knew I had to try a few of these guys out. It’s definitely the most moisturizing and pigmented out of my collection so far compared to Clinique, Revlon and Tarte. But what you get in moisture/gloss, you lose in longevity. So overall, if you fall in love with a shade in the NARS velvet gloss lip pencil collection I think you’ll be happy with your purchase. If nothing catches your eye, I don’t think you’re missing out either. But go ahead to your neighborhood Sephora or Nordstrom and check it out for yourself!
What is your favorite brand for lipstick pencils/chubby sticks? Do you have a favorite shade as well? I’d love to know so tell me in the comments below!
Wishing you an exciting Election Tuesday!
NYX Round Lipstick Milan Swatch and Review
It’s fri-fri-fri-FRIDAY!! **insert Chia Pet song tune**
I’m so excited and ready for the weekend! I have some pork in the slow-cooker so that once we get back from working out we can have taco night! I sure love taco nights…
But first things first! Let me share with you the lipstick that I have on today! It’s NYX Round Lipstick in Milan. Milan lipstick is a dark pink-brown shade and like all other NYX round lipsticks it’s only 4 bucks!
NYX Round Lipstick in Milan $4
NYX Milan lipstick is super wearable for work, school, running errands, etc. It’s a nice everyday color that’s not too dark nor too light. The hint of brown is also fitting for the Fall.
Texture wise it’s very soft and creamy with a glossy finish. You can wear it alone without topping on any lipgloss. It doesn’t last very long on my lips though. If I eat or drink anything I definitely need to reapply. Without eating and drinking it’ll probably go for a few hours. It does end up drying out my lips if I don’t keep my lips hydrated with another layer or some extra gloss.
Oh that’s a good thing to note. If you like matte, long-wear lipsticks, you probably won’t like the NYX round lipstick line. The formula is so creamy that it tends to move around your lips a lot.
The smell is very light and sweet. If you really sniff hard (like I did to describe the scent for you) you can smell the chemically-ness but if you’re a normal person just applying it on your lips the scent shouldn’t be very strong at all.
I forgot to curl/apply mascara today…
Why do I keep forgetting to do that? So weird!
For a $4 lipstick, I’m pretty happy with the NYX Round lipstick line. I love the smooth hydrating texture when you first apply it. Also, there are so many shades available- very wearable ones and also fun ones for special occasions. For four bucks a pop why not try a handfull out? I’ll be sure to one day show you the other ones that I have in my collection along with the NYX Black label lipsticks that I have. Hopefully sooner than later. :]
Wishing you a wonderful weekend!
MAC Hot Tahiti Lipstick Swatch and Review
Oh Tahiti- the beautiful clear waters call me….
Hubs and I have been tossing around the idea of taking a Tahiti cruise next year but it’s so hard to pre-plan a trip when you don’t know what’s going to happen a year from now. Am I the only one that’s like that? I want to plan my vacations 3-4 months ahead of time, not 6+ months ahead. I’ll always long for the white, warm, powdery sands of Tahiti and on those occasional days that I forget my longings, MAC Hot Tahiti lipstick is there to remind me that there’s a beautiful island just calling out my name.
Hot Tahiti is described as a soft reddish-coral glaze lipstick. The texture is soft and hydrating on my lips and applies smoothly. Since it’s a glaze formula, you don’t really need to top it with any gloss. Like most dark or bold lipstick shades I prefer to apply this with a lipstick brush. It’s a pretty red that’s not too bold so you could definitely wear this for work or out. It’s a great gateway lipstick into bolder more true-red lipstick shades!
Here’s a quick and easy way to spice up your look! Essentially, I put on my normal face routine, filled in my brows, applied NARS Exhibit A on my cheeks. Then I swept on some neutral eyeshadow (Urban Decay Kinky) and applied black eyeliner with a wing, some mascara and tight-lined my waterline. I also highlighted the inner corner of my eyes with MAC Cream Color Base in Pearl. Then I applied Hot Tahiti with my lip brush! Simple pimple right? Seriously it only takes a few minutes to achieve this look. :]
If you want a bolder look, I suggest lining your lips with a lip liner. MAC Creamstick Liner in Portside would do the trick! For this look I decided to keep it softer without a liner.
Since I personally don’t grab reds very often for my everyday look, MAC Tahiti doesn’t get too much love in my collection. I wouldn’t deem this as a must-have staple in your makeup collection. It’s definitely a fun shade so if you want a soft red lipstick go check it out!
Wishing you a BEAUTYFULL Monday!
Finally Out and About – FOTD
Hey everyone!
I finally feel well enough to put on my face and go to the neighborhood coffee shop. Here’s what I have on today.
This is actually a look that I’ve been wearing a lot the past few months.
Face: Tarte Smooth Operator Agent 4, MAC Blot Powder Medium
Eyeshadows: MAC Quarry, MAC Blackberry, MAC Graphology – love this combo!
Liner: NARS Larger Than Life Long-wear Eyeliner in Madison Avenue
Lashes: Covergirl Lash Perfection
Brows: MAC Concrete
Cheeks: NARS Orgasm
Lips: Sephora Rouge Shine Lipstick
My normal camera battery was down so I’m left with my phone. :T
I promise I’m working on getting some new camera equipment and better photos!
All bundled up!
I thought the below shot was cute!
Hubs and I have the same laptop cases! His is clear while mine is pretty pink!!
So relieved tomorrow is finally Friday! :]