On a daily basis, and for everyday wear, I generally opt for lip gloss over lipstick. Lipstick is just too much fuss for me and I’ll inevitably get it on my cheek without even knowing it and walk around looking like a clown for the remainder of the day. I will wear it on occasion though, for my husband, for Halloween, or to give an outfit post a pop of color, but I generally feel self-conscious with it on. I also would rather play up my eyes and have them be the focus of my face rather than my lips/mouth area.
I’ve been wearing Lip Fusion lip gloss {in sweet & bare} for at least 5 years now and still love it. It doesn’t “plump” as they say it does but I don’t mind the flavor and like the way it “wears”, which is important to me. I just ran across City Lips and I’m actually really intrigued. I know none of these plumpers actually do too much plumping but their ads may have sold me.
So since I don’t wear lipstick too often, I don’t usually like to spend too much on it either. Unless it’s a great red, which I can wear years from now, provided the tube is still fresh enough {uh, my mom has lipsticks from the 70’s, I’m not even kidding}, I’ll stick to drug store brands so I can try them out with very little loss if I hate them. Last week I picked up a few bright colors and was pleasantly surprised.
I was looking for some fun brights and found this great pink by CoverGirl LipPerfection in Temptress Charmeuse 400 $5.49 {buy it here}. It’s vivid yet rich, so it doesn’t have that chalky zinc-oxide look… though I was looking for that as well. I wore it in yesterday’s outfit post and in the photos above but it doesn’t really photograph as well as it looks in person. I don’t mind the flavor either… kind of coconut-ty, yum! The only fault I’ve found with it is that even after I wipe it off, my lips remain heavily stained with its hue. However, that can also be a bonus, if for instance, I put it on just for the stain, removed it and then apply my lip gloss on top of it, I may get the best of both worlds.
I also picked up this L’Oreal Colour Riche in Peach Fuzz for $7.95. I was more looking for a chalky bright peach lipstick but couldn’t find one so I grabbed this as an alternative. And, it’s just okay. I like the peachy color but it’s kind of sticky — though I don’t mind the flavor. It goes on shiny, like a gloss, and the peach color is not so bright. Good though if you’re looking for a peach gloss… rather than a bright peach lipstick.
* also seen in the photo above, Ray Bans aviator sunglasses and gemini disco ball earrings courtesy of SEAH watches.
Remember back at the end of January… When I bought and fell in love with Sugar lip treatment by Fresh {available at Sephora} $25? Well I loved it so much I used it all up in one month’s time. Now, I’m not struggling financially, but I’m not stupid either and if I can find something potentially the same, for less, I’m going to go with that. I found this Blistex Deep Renewal Lip Protectant $2.50 which has the same exact claims clinically proven to reduce visible signs of aging, deliver superb moisturization and promote lasting lip health and vitality with consistent use — and it even rivals the packaging. The flavor is not nearly as scrumptious as SUGAR but otherwise, it feels exactly the same. I don’t mind spending $25 on a product I adore {I’ve been spending over $35 on my Lip Fusion for years}, but to use it up in a month’s time is just, well, not worth it.
I tend to have dry lips, or maybe just an overactive tongue because if I don’t have something on my lips, I’ll lick them until they are as pink as that lipstick stains them. I’ve used Blistex Lip Medex since high-school {scarily, almost 20 years now} and thought maybe it was time to try some alternative “balms” to help with the mouth wrinkles I’ve probably set in place smoking for 10 of those years {as well as drinking from bottles & straws on the regular}. So I also grabbed Blistex Revive and Restore $2.50 which is pretty great too. The Restore smells delicious while the Revive has sunblock for daily use.
Happy Drugstore Beauty Hunting!
