I know, there’s a lot of shocking things happening right now! First – a new review, two weeks in a row?! Second – a product that’s actually still available for purchase??! I know, wild times, but I am feeling quite the rush of motivation to keep working through my makeup collection and sharing my thoughts with you all!
Color: Caramello is described on the Stila website as a “neutral nude”. This seems somewhat accurate, but looking at it on myself I actually consider it a cool-toned peach. It looks pretty grey on me, but still has an almost peachy color to it. It’s so hard to explain, but spoiler alert: I love it!
Finish: If you guessed that the finish of this product is matte, you’d be correct! It goes on shiny but dries down in about a minute to its flat matte finish.
Packaging: The packaging of this liquid lipstick is a traditional acrylic tube, but with a satin gold cap. The Stila logo is printed on the tube along with other product information, and the bottom has a sticker with the color name.
Applicator: The doefoot for this product looks pretty standard, but is a bit longer than a normal paddle and doesn’t have any flair.
A bittersweet review – as will all of my Bite Beauty reviews be from now on! One of my favorite lipstick brands, Bite Beauty, has announced that they will no longer be producing makeup, and instead solely focusing on their Lip Labs.
There’s no Lip Labs local to me, so I’ll have to just cherish the products that I already have! The good news is that I have a large assortment of Bite Beauty products despite my lack of reviews on them – that’ll have to change!
Color: Chicory is a warm toned brown, that leans somewhat orange on my lips.
Finish: The liquified lipstick formula is exactly as it sounds. The finish is creamy like a gloss, but more opaque than a lip gloss. It really does look on the lips like a cream lipstick that was never solidified into a bullet.
Packaging: The packaging is a grey soft touch shaped like a rectangle, with an acrylic spot on the bottom of the tube where the color is exposed. There’s a sticker on the bottom and the Bite logo printed on the cap.
Applicator: The applicator looks similar to a traditional doefoot, but is longer than is typical. This particular shape works very well with the product, as it is a bit thicker.
Application: I thought the application of this product was really nice! I love the shape of the applicator, and it made it easy to apply with one quick swipe and just a bit of cleaning up on the edges because I was messy with it.
There is a citrusy scent in this product – while it’s not super strong or offensive to me, it did linger for about 10 minutes after application before dissipating.
Transfer: Unfortunately, this particular formula is definitely one that transfers a lot. It never seems to set down and so drinking or eating definitely leads to lipstick on your cup, your food, your chin, etc. However, even something as simple as accidentally touching your lips will mean that you will definitely need to wipe it off of your finger or whatever might have accidentally touched it.
There doesn’t ever seem to be a point where it stops transferring, so it can get frustrating to constantly be checking your face or hands to make sure there’s not lipstick there.
Fading: Despite the amount of transfer, I felt like the color ended up staying pretty consistent throughout the wear. Part of that could be that the shade is close to my natural lips in depth, so that hides fading pretty well. Either way, it does end up looking like the color it starts with for a while. The glossiness of it does fade with the more product that transfers off the lips.
Comfort: This formula feels pretty hydrating, but I noticed that as it continued to transfer it got a little more sticky over time. Not sticky in the sense that your lips would be stuck together or that it was stringy, but it just got a little more tacky feeling and heavier instead of weightless.
Overall: While I enjoy the color and adore Bite as a brand, this formula just wasn’t a hit for me. I like products that are no fuss, and this is definitely not one of those if you’re out and about doing things, eating, drinking, etc. I will be moving this out of my collection to allow more breathing room for the rest of my makeup.
Price Point: Even before Bite Beauty was closed, this formula has been discontinued for a while now and there’s no way of getting ahold of it. It was $24 at the time of it being available.
I’m back again! This time, I’ll be sharing my thoughts on another Smashbox product – one that I’m not sure ever got as much buzz as the brand had hoped. While I do find the idea of a built in sharpener interesting, I’m not sure I love it in practice; that said, let’s just get into the review!
Color: The name gives it away – Crimson is a blue based red. It’s a very classic shade; the kind of color you would immediately think of if someone said red lipstick. I do feel like while it is pigmented, it doesn’t quite compare
Finish: The finish of this product is completely matte, with no dry-down time or shine at any point.
Packaging: The entire gimmick with this product is the cap having a sharpener on the inside. The pencil is plastic and the product matches the color of the lip liner. The cap is definitely heavier than a standard one due to the built in sharpener, and feels hefty.
Applicator: This is a twist up lip liner that has a built in sharpener in the cap. That means whenever you twist the cap off to use it, the product will sharpen into a point and make getting a straight line easy; as the name suggests there will always be a sharp point. I am curious how much product ends up being wasted by getting stuck into the cap, though.
Application: If you’re just using this as a liner for the edges of your lips, I think it works pretty well. The issue that I began to have is when I wanted to fill in all of my lips with it. I found that the amount of product that you have available is enough to fully fill in only one lip, and I had to put the cap back on, screw it down, and screw it back up to get more. Additionally, the product I got for my second lip wasn’t sharp and crisp, so I had to twist the cap back on and off again. At this point the product was sharp enough and had enough exposed for me to fill in my top lip, but it was a tedious process.
A few years ago, I had the not so bright idea of purchasing tons of lip kits to bolster my collection – while it’s pretty cool to have a big collection, it also means that I need to eventually work through said collection and review them all, and then decide if they’re going to stick around or move to a new home.
This is one of those products that came from a Sephora kit, and now that I’ve tried it I’m so sad I waited so long to test it out!! Spoiler alert, I really enjoy this.
Color: The Urban Decay website describes Naked as a “nude-pink cream with a pearly pink shift”. For me, when this is on my lips it does look more nude than pink, but my lips are also pigmented enough that there’s not much color payoff for me either way.
Finish: The finish of this product is quintessential “gloss” – it’s exactly what you think it would be. It’s got a sheer color payoff and a lot of shine.
Packaging: The packaging for my sample does vary quite a bit from the actual lip gloss packaging. The sample is a small, round acrylic tube with a silver cap and silver printing with the product information and brand name.
The full size product is a large, square silver tube. It has panels that are acrylic and you can see the actual product through it. The cap is also silver, and has the urban decay logo embossed in it.
Applicator: This lip gloss has a standard doefoot applicator, which I don’t feel is the best for this product. It does appear that the actual applicator for the full size is a flat paddle that holds more product, which is more beneficial to this particular formula.
Application: Application of this isn’t difficult, but does take a little more time due to the applicator. The product is kind of thick, and when dipping the wand in and then taking it out there’s only enough product to cover one lip, and I actually had to dip back in twice to cover my top lip.
There is a minty scent upon application, and for about 10 minutes after I did feel like my lips had that cooling sensation that mint will provide. It didn’t feel too intense or like I was uncomfortable and had to remove it, but if you’re especially sensitive to mint I would suggest skipping on this gloss.
Milani is one of those brands that I hear lots of positive feedback on, and of course because of that I had to try it. If you couldn’t tell, I’m a bit of a nude lipstick fiend, so my product of choice was one of their most popular nude lipstick shades!
Color: Teddy Bare is a brown, midtone nude with a slightly warm undertone. I couldn’t find any descriptors on the Ulta or Milani website so this is my best guess! It’s mostly neutral, but there does appear to be just a hint of orange in the swatch. On my lips it looks like a neutral.
Finish: The Ulta website describes this color as a satin finish, however it is definitely a cream finish. There is a lot of shine starting with the application that doesn’t go away.
Packaging: The packaging of this lipstick is a shiny gold square shape, with “Milani” printed on in a matte gold/yellow. On the opposite side is a label with the product/color name and product information. The bottom has a clear section which shows the color of the lipstick and has the number/name printed in gold as well.
The shiny gold of the packaging does a very poor job at hiding fingerprints, so if messy makeup bothers you, you’ll want to be prepared to wipe it down on the regular.
Applicator: The shape of the bullet is just the standard pointed shape, with no special embossing on the actual product.
Application: I found application of this lipstick to be very easy. It is pigmented enough to go on in one swipe, and creamy, meaning there was no tugging on my lips and it applied smoothly. The bullet is pretty thick, so I was able to get all of my lips and the edges with little issue.
The scent of this lipstick is sweet, though I’m struggling to identify exactly what it smells like (there is a distinct possibility that this is just an older product and the smell has begun to fade). I couldn’t smell it after applying at all.
Today I’m reviewing a brand that I cannot believe I’ve never reviewed before, as I love them so much – Bite Beauty! I own a large number of their products, but none of them ever made it onto the list to actually review. Well, today I get to finally share my thoughts!
It is with a sad heart that I have to share that this particular product is no longer available for purchase, so this review is just for your entertainment and my own need to review everything I own.
Color: The Sephora website describes the new formula equivalent as a mauve brown, which I feel is the perfect descriptor of this color. It’s a really nice nude on me, with enough depth that I would consider it a brown but the undertone is neutral enough that I would wear it like a nude.
Finish: The finish of this lipstick is a satin – it’s not fully matte, but there’s not quite enough shine to consider it a cream.
Packaging: Bite Beauty’s packaging is a soft touch matte grey bullet, with the cap having a “bite” taken out of it.
Applicator: With this being a bullet lipstick, the applicator is just the shape of the product itself. The shape is a standard lipstick bullet with the Bite logo embossed on it.
The image below shows the lipstick after significant use – at least 1/3 of the product has been used up.
Application: Application of this lipstick was incredibly easy. It is pigmented enough that in one swipe my lips were evenly coated in product. I’ve also used this lipstick enough to have significant wear on it, and it holds its shape very well as it’s quite firm.
There is a citrusy smell when first applying due to the ingredients, but it dissipates quickly.
Transfer: For being a bullet lipstick that isn’t a matte, the transfer on this is pretty low comparitively. That said, there is definitely movement – if you drink something, the lipstick will end up on your cup/straw, or on your food if you’re enjoying, say, a sandwich. It’s just that the amount left on things that aren’t your lips isn’t quite as bad.
Fading: Being a neutral color, the fading is always more subtle than if it were a bold. With that in mind, I am still impressed with just how evenly this lipstick fades. If not eating or drinking, it could potentially last a full 8 hours with minimal wear. If you enjoy a simple meal or just drinks, or talk a lot, you’ll want to reapply after about 4-5 hours. It did wear off almost completely after a messy meal but I didn’t feel the need to reapply at that point – I just let it fade away completely.
Comfort: I would consider this a completely neutral formula in terms of comfort – I didn’t think it was especially hydrating, but I also felt like it wasn’t drying either. The comfort level was fine at first, I’d say if it did start to feel drying it was nearing the end of the wear time (about 4 hours in).
Overall: As mentioned before, I really enjoy Bite Beauty products, and this lipstick is definitely on my love list. The formula is long lasting without drying my lips out, and I never have to worry about having an obvious ring of lipstick if I do eat or wear it for a long time. This will absolutely remain in my collection as a staple product for every day wear.
Where you can purchase: The price for Bite Beauty lipsticks is pretty high end, but as you can tell I do enjoy these a lot. Unfortunately this formula is no longer available for purchase – instead, Bite Beauty has come out with the Power Moves lipstick to replace it. The price for this new formula is $28. The good news is there is a Chai in this formula, which I assume is going to be an exact color match. No promises, though!
It’s been a little while since I’ve done a review of something that is 1) not a liquid lipstick, and 2) drugstore pricing!
Back in the day (AKA like 2014 and earlier), the Revlon balms were all the rage! Since then, the popularity has really died down and it seems like Revlon has decided to no longer continue with manufacturing despite the rave reviews. I’ll discuss this more in the “where you can purchase” section.
Color: Enchanting is a light peach with warm undertones. Since there isn’t a website that I can compare my observations to, you’ll just have to trust me and your own eyes!
Finish: Matte balm sounds a bit like a contraction, but the actual finish of the product is surprisingly, actually matte.
Packaging: The packaging is a simple plastic that matches the color of the product. The back of the lip crayon twists, which is how the product comes out when you need more. The tip sticks out of the actual tube.
Applicator: With this being a lip crayon, the applicator is just the product in a pointed shape. This works fine when it’s fresh, but as you continue to wear the product it will eventually wear down into a flat top, so you’ll have to adjust the way you apply it. This may mean trying to sharpen it somehow or just putting up with a flattened top instead of a point.
Application: With the product being fresh and pointy, application is pretty simple; I use the side instead of the tip of the product for applying since that speeds up the application process. If you have smaller lips, I’d suggest lining them with the tip of the product and then filling in the rest with the side to preserve the shape longer.
The color isn’t especially opaque, so I do have to go over my lips a few times to get full coverage; I have pigmented lips, so that doesn’t help. Even after going over a few times, I feel like you can still see my lip color underneath.
There is a very strong minty smell when applying. This does go away pretty quickly, but if you don’t like that smell I’d recommend passing on this.
I’m back for another review of the Huda Matte Liquid Lipsticks – this time in another very popular neutral shade! I’m pretty sure Bombshell is one of the OG lip colors.
Color: The Sephora website describes Bombshell as a “subtle pinkish nude”. This feels very accurate to the color swatched and on the lips as well. On my undertones it pulls a bit more orange, but in fairness it is considered a “subtle pinkish” nude, and not just a pink.
Finish: With this being a matte liquid lipstick, the finish ends up being just like any other liquid lipstick – a fully dried down matte with no shine.
Packaging: The packaging on this product is a sleek, square acrylic tube with a satin matte black cap. The label seems to be printed on and has stayed with no fading through the time I’ve owned it. The bottom has a sticker with the color name.
One thing to note, which may bother you, is that the square of the cap is just the slightest bit off of the square of the tube. While it’s not especially noticeable or bothersome for me, if you are someone who likes everything to look perfect I’d be weary.
Applicator: The applicator is a very standard doefoot, which works well with the consistency of this formula. I didn’t notice any fraying of it or wear that would make application more difficult.
Application: It should first be noted that like all other Huda products, this lipstick has a strong vanilla/baked good fragrance. While I personally enjoy the smell, if you are someone who doesn’t like fragranced lip products you may want to skip – the scent does linger for a few minutes after application as well but will fade.
Applying this is no different from most other liquid lipsticks. The product is very liquidy and is easy to swipe on quickly. The standard doefoot makes getting straight lines simple, and the product is completely opaque in one swipe.
I did notice that for the first 15 to 20 minutes after applying, my lips were very sticky both to the touch and to each other, but this didn’t seem to affect transfer. After that, it was completely dry.
I’m back with another review on the Madison Miller collaboration with Ofra! Today we’ll be looking at the liquid lipstick she came out with. Once again, Ipsy came in clutch with this collection so I was able to purchase this sample through their add-on program.
Color: The Ofra website lists this color as a “neutral mauve-pink”. This is a very accurate descriptor – this pink shade definitely has a purple undertone to it, but not so much that I’d consider it colorful. However, I do not consider this a nude on me, as the color overall is quite pink.
Finish: With this being a matte liquid lipstick, it does dry down to a mostly-matte finish. Ofra liquid lipsticks tend to stay just a touch shiny, as they don’t fully dry down for comfort’s sake. That said, there’s not so much of a sheen that it’s noticeable, so it will still look like a matte lipstick on the lips.
Packaging: The packaging for my lipstick is actually the sample packaging – Ofra’s full size products come in square tubes. However, the tube between both is still acrylic with the matte white cap. The printing on the label looks to be the same as well, but all in one area (as pictured) instead of on different sides like it would be with the square tube.
I don’t know if it’s because my lipstick is relatively old or the sample packaging, but I did have an issue with a piece in the cap coming loose and sticking to the stopper. I can put the wand back into the tube and it will return to the cap instead of continuing to stick, but just something to note.
Applicator: The applicator is a standard doefoot that works well with most liquid lipstick formulas, and this one is no exception. The doefoot is also pretty smooth, so no spots where it’s fluffy and makes it difficult to get a clean application.
Application: With the formula being slightly moussey, there were times where a little too much product came out on the wand and I had to scrape it against the stopper to remove the excess. Actually applying the product was incredibly easy; the shape of the doefoot makes it easy to get nice lines and an even application.
I am of the opinion that theBalm is a pretty underrated brand in the beauty sphere! They have their popular products like the Mary-Loumanizer or their eyeshadow palettes, but everything else doesn’t seem to get quite the same hype. Today I’m sharing my review on one of their lip products; their creamy lip stain.
Color: Namaste is a deep, warm pink. It looks slightly more neutral upon application, but wears into a fuchsia throughout the day.
Finish: As the name suggests, this lip stain’s finish is definitely a cream, similar to that of a bullet lipstick but with less opacity. It’s not quite shiny like many glosses, but does hold a similar vibe to one.
Packaging: theBalm is definitely known for their cute, vintage looking packaging featuring various people, and this isn’t an exception. The tube is a matte grey plastic, with a cute sticker in it featuring a red head saying the shade name. Each shade has a different character on it, which is a nice touch.
Applicator: The applicator is your standard doefoot. I didn’t feel like the shape helped or hindered in applying this product.
Application: I found getting an even application with this color to be a bit tricky, as it’s not fully opaque. I had to be careful to not swipe back and forth too much, or I would risk pulling up the product I’d already put on my lips and making it look patchy. One layer was the best bet for getting an even application, however I still wasn’t completely happy with the evenness of it.
I also had a bit of difficulty with getting the edges of my lips, as product would want to bunch up and leave a thick line – with many other products it’s easy to fix, but with this one I had to carefully dab it away or risk a more patchy appearance. I found it easiest to press and rub my lips together to disperse excess product.
Karissa Talks Beauty 