What it is: Fenty Beauty Gloss Bomb Shimmer Stix are 6 newly released shades expanding the line of the original Gloss Bomb Stix. They are sheer to medium buildable color payoff lipsticks with a glossy, sparkly finish, a balmy, moisturizing feel, and the same sweet tropical scent as the originals.

Price/Quantity:  $25 for 0.12 oz / 3.6 g

Availability: Fenty Beauty, Sephora, Ulta, Kohl’s

Shade Range: 6 shimmery shades (the original line comes in 11 non-shimmer shades)

Packaging: Plastic pentagonal lipstick case with a snap-shut cap. I like that the shape of the packaging makes it so the lipstick cannot just roll off the counter. The lipstick inside is a standard size (not a slim lipstick) and it twists all the way up and back down with no issues. They match the packaging of the original shade range but there is noticeable sparkle embedded in the plastic of these new shades.

Smell/Fragrance: These have a noticeable sweet, tropical, fruity scent with an almost “sharp” or “tart” quality. I can’t put my finger on what type of fruit I think it smells like. To me, it seems this is all scent as I do not actually taste anything in these.

Expiration/Shelf Life: 12 months after opening

Ingredients:

These are the ingredients listed for the shade Shimmering Fenty Glow. Most shades have their own ingredients list on the Fenty Beauty website with the majority of the ingredients being the same from shade to shade except for variations lower down on each list.

BIS-DIGLYCERYL POLYACYLADIPATE-2, DIISOSTEARYL MALATE, HYDROGENATED POLYISOBUTENE, SQUALANE, BIS-BEHENYL/ISOSTEARYL/PHYTOSTERYL DIMER DILINOLEYL DIMER DILINOLEATE, POLYBUTENE, CERA ALBA/BEESWAX/CIRE D’ABEILLE, SYNTHETIC WAX, BUTYROSPERMUM PARKII (SHEA) BUTTER, CALCIUM ALUMINUM BOROSILICATE, CALCIUM SODIUM  BOROSILICATE, AROMA/FLAVOR, PARFUM/FRAGRANCE, POLYGLYCERYL-2 TRIISOSTEARATE, CAPRYLYL GLYCOL, TIN OXIDE, TRIETHOXYCAPRYLYLSILANE, TOCOPHEROL, POLYHYDROXYSTEARIC ACID, HELIANTHUS ANNUUS (SUNFLOWER) SEED OIL, ALUMINUM HYDROXIDE, ACTINIDIA CHINENSIS (KIWI) SEED OIL, BENZYL BENZOATE, LIMONENE, TITANIUM DIOXIDE (CI 77891), IRON OXIDES (CI 77492, CI 77499), RED 6 LAKE (CI 15850)

Source: Fenty Beauty

Performance

Application: I am able to swipe these on straight from the tube without the help of extra brushes. I can apply a single layer for a more subtle hint of color or build it up 3-4 layers thick if I want. It’s not hard to get decently clean edges and, while I don’t typically use lip liners, I don’t feel the need to add one in to make these work for me.

Pigmentation/Color Payoff: For the most part these are all sheer but can be built up to a semi-sheer/medium coverage. None of them look completely opaque on me even applied heavily. Icy Amethy$t is the sheerest one, offering more sparkle and shine than color payoff. The rest offer noticeable color payoff in addition to the sparkle and shine and require less building for more intense color.

Texture/Consistency/Finish: These have a somewhat thicker/balmy texture when cold in the tube, but they melt and thin out easily against the warmth of my lip. They are similar in texture to the Elf Pout Clout Lip Plumping Pens (my review) and the NYX Fat Oil Slick Clicks (my review) but these have an ever so slightly thinner consistency and glide on with a little more ease. They feel like they have a little more slip than those. They are not as melty or thick as something like the Tarte Lip Vinyls (my review). Those ones can easily get heavy and goopy if I apply too many layers, whereas I don’t have that problem with the Fenty ones. They do not leave my lips sticky at all and the color doesn’t gather in spots or become patchy even applied more heavily.

The finish is quite shiny, almost as shiny as a gloss, but not as thick. I feel they are a little more reflective than the original non-shimmer shades, though it could be an illusion due to the sparkle. The sparkles are LARGE, glittery even. If you like a subtle shimmer, this is not it. The sparkles stand out but they don’t feel all that noticeable when I press my lips together. When I remove the shade, the color and balmy finish come off easily but a lot of the sparkle is left behind on my lips and I feel the need to use a makeup remover to help get the last bits off.

Longevity: I haven’t worn these all that long yet. At the most, I’ve tried wearing them for about an hour at a time without disturbing them by drinking water or coffee. I felt during those times, they stayed put pretty well and faded gracefully if I did manage to transfer a good bit of the color off my lip. They are balmy and they transfer easily at the slightest touch. They likely will need to be reapplied several times throughout the day. The few times I have reapplied them, I didn’t have any problems with the older layer making the new layer look bad.

Pros and Cons

Things I like:

• For being glossy, they feel lightweight
• Really nice amount of shine for a stick product
• I can press my lips together and they don’t feel sticky/goopy
• Color stays evenly distributed on the lip
• I can barely feel the glitter on my lips (not gritty)

Drawbacks and other considerations:

• I’m not a huge fan of large sparkle/glitter personally
• Glitter really clings to lips even after removing and gets on my face and anything I touch

Do I Recommend Them?

Yes but only if you LOVE sparkle. If glitter straying from where you intended to put is even a little annoying to you, maybe take a pause. The base of this formula is fantastic. I love the thinner balmy slip these have. They feel comfortable, hydrating, protective and they look very nice too. I’d love to see Fenty release an in-between finish in this formula that offers just a hint of fine shimmer but with the same type of glossy, transparent color payoff these have. 

Swatches

Icy Amethy$t

Icy Amethy$t is a pale, sheer lavender with blue and pink sparkle. There is more blue sparkle in this than pink. If I apply this one lightly, the base color isn’t too far off from my natural lip color. If I build it up, it begins to look closer to a cool mauve on me.

Flamingo Fling

Flamingo Fling is a pale, cooler pink with silver and pink sparkle. The silver sparkle is much more noticeable than the pink. The shimmer seems more densely packed in this shade than in Icy Amethy$t but there is still a good balance of base color and sparkle if I build it up in layers.

Fu$$y

Fu$$y is a medium, cooler, mauve pink with silver, gold, pink and blue sparkle. The blue sparkles stand out the most against the base color but from a distance, the sheen is more “neutral” and not distractingly blue. It seems the base color is slightly more opaque in this shade than the previous two.

Fenty Glow

Fenty Glow is a light, warmer, peachy pink with large yellow gold, greenish gold, blue and pink sparkles. The gold is the most prominent and the sparkles seem a little larger in this shade. The opacity of this shade is similar to Fu$$y. It’s still transparent but the color builds up much more quickly than Icy Amethy$t or Flamingo Fling.

C U In Maui

C U In Maui is a bright coral with large gold and pink sparkle. I can see both colors of sparkle closer up but from a distance, the gold sheen stands out more. This one seems to have more sparkle packed into it than some of the other shades but there’s still a good balance of base color to glitter when I build it up.

Hot Chocolit

Hot Chocolit is a true brown with slight reddish tones and gold, green, blue, and pink sparkle. Up close and even from a slight distance, I can see the various different colors in the sparkle but as with all the other shades, it doesn’t take away from the base color. Even though this shade is deeper (and more noticeable on me) the opacity is not too different than most of the other medium-depth shades. One thin layer immediately shows up on me (though still transparent) and I am able to add 3-4 more passes to build it up without it looking streaky. I feel it still looks good around the edges and I don’t need a brush or lip liner to make it look decent on me.

What they are: Tarte Maracuja Juicy Lip Vinyls are thick lip glosses in stick form that coat the lips quite heavily for a glassy, high-shine finish that smooths over the look of lip lines. This is not plumping formula but the thickness of the product has a plumping visual effect. 

Price/Quantity: $26 for 2.7 gram / 0.095 oz

Availability: Tarte, Sephora

Shade Range: 16 Shades. 8 of them are shimmery and the other 8 are not. Of those that are not shimmery, 4 are sheer and the other 4 are more opaque.

Packaging: Slim click up pen with a lid that snaps on and off. The clicking mechanism feels a bit more high quality (quieter, smoother, requires less force to press) in this pen than the ones from NYX and Elf. Other than that, the rest of the plastic casing feels like comparable quality to those brands.

Smell/Fragrance: All 8 of the ones I’m reviewing here have the same noticeable but not very strong sweet scent. It’s not fruity or floral, just a generic sweet scent, similar to a sugar cookie. They do not taste sweet and are not minty/tingly either. In addition to the fragrance, I also smell something that reminds me of synthetic oil.

Expiration/Shelf Life: 12 months after opening.

Ingredients: Dextrin Isostearate, Phytosteryl/Isostearyl/Cetyl/Stearyl/Behenyl Dimer Dilinoleate, Diisostearyl Malate, Dimer Dilinoleyl Dimer Dilinoleate, Synthetic Wax, Vitis Vinifera (Grape) Seed Oil, Passiflora Edulis Seed Oil, Citrullus Lanatus (Watermelon) Fruit Extract, Citrus Limon (Lemon) Fruit Extract, Euterpe Oleracea Fruit Extract, Fragaria Vesca (Strawberry) Fruit Extract, Lycium Barbarum Fruit Extract, Malpighia Punicifolia (Acerola) Fruit Extract, Passiflora Incarnata Fruit Extract, Prunus Persica (Peach) Fruit Extract, Punica Granatum Fruit Extract, Vaccinium Angustifolium (Blueberry) Fruit Extract, Vaccinium Macrocarpon (Cranberry) Fruit Extract, Flavor/Aroma, Sodium Hyaluronate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Synthetic Fluorphlogopite, Phenoxyethanol, Benzyl Benzoate, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Tin Oxide, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Benzyl Alcohol, Tocopherol, Trihydroxystearin, Glucomannan. (+/-): Titanium Dioxide (CI 77891), Red 6 Lake (CI 15850), Red 7 Lake (CI 15850), Iron Oxides (CI 77491, CI 77492, CI 77499), Yellow 6 Lake (CI 15985). Source: Sephora.com

Performance

Texture/Consistency/Finish: These are like thick solidified glosses at room temperature that melt instantly as they touch the skin. They have a fairly thick feel and transfer heavily as I swipe them across the lip. They look and feel thicker than most lip glosses or oils I’ve tried as well as the NYX Slick Clicks and Elf Pout Clouts. This causes them to smooth over the look of lip lines better than those products. For the most part I don’t find the thicker feel uncomfortable and as long as I don’t go overboard, they don’t get too goopy. If I am too heavy handed, they can start to gather a bit toward the corners of my mouth. The color mostly stays evenly dispersed over the lips, even if I press them together several times.

Half of the shades have shimmer/sparkle and the other half do not. For a few of them, if I press my lips together, the feeling of the shimmer is hardly noticeable. I have to really try hard to feel that the shimmer is there. Most of them have a mixture of ultra fine shimmer and slightly larger sparkle. Shimmering Mixed Berries and Shimmering Rose are the only 2 that do not have larger sparkle and have more of a glossy satin finish. The shimmer and sparkle in all the shades is subdued and not super noticeable unless you’re looking really close.

Application: For the sheerest shades, I am able to simply sweep these across the lips, doing maybe 2-3 passes for an even coat. For all of the opaque shades I feel the need to use a lip brush to apply the product cleanly around the edges of my mouth just because so much of the product deposits even with a light touch. I can reapply the deeper shades decently well without a brush as long as it holds up okay around the edges. Reapplication of the sheerer shades is no issue and I don’t feel the need to remove the previous layer for a fresh layer to look good.

Pigmentation/Color Payoff: This varies by color and finish. Of the non-shimmer shades, 4 are sheer and 4 are nearly opaque. All of the shimmer shades are sheer. Because the formula is so thick, I feel the color for the majority of the sheer shades shows up very well and is buildable if I feel like I want it to pop some more. Sheer Petal is the least pigmented and the only shade that is basically like a clear gloss on me.

Longevity: They do not seem to absorb, or dry down after wearing them but after an hour or so I notice the glassy reflection they have upon initial application begins to fade to more of a soft balmy glow. The color also seems to migrate over time even if I’m not eating or drinking anything. When wearing the shade Apple for a couple hours, I saw that the pigment started traveling into the very fine lines around the edges of my lips and the product in general starting moving into the corners of my mouth. I don’t think this is as much of an issue with the sheerer shades.

Pros and Cons

Things I like:

• Not sticky when pressing lips together.
• Smooths over look of lip lines more noticeably than most other glosses/oils/balms I’ve tried.
• If I press my lips together, the color doesn’t slide around and create weird looking lines on the lip. 
• The sheerer/lighter shades do not look milky.
• Packaging feels ever so slightly better quality than the drugstore alternatives.

Drawbacks and other considerations:

• Deeper and more opaque shades require using a lip brush for the best looking application.
• Deeper shades travel into fine lines around edges of lips and migrate into the corners of my mouth after wearing them for a while.
• The deeper shades are more high maintenance than I prefer.
• The synthetic oil scent is not super pleasant to me and I continue to notice it as I wear it.
• Many of the shimmer shades are way too similar to each other.

Do I Recommend Them?

If you like a thick glossy lip product that’s not sticky, I think you’ll enjoy these. I’m not as much into the more opaque shades personally because I don’t feel they look as flattering and are not as easy to use.

Swatches

Sheer Petal

Sheer Petal is an ultra sheer pale pink without any shimmer or sparkle. This barely adds any noticeable color to my lips and mostly looks like a clear gloss.

Sheer Iris

Sheer Iris is a sheer pale mauve without any shimmer or sparkle. This one has slightly more color payoff and opacity than the previous shade and the color itself is super close to my natural lip color which is more muted and cool toned.

Sheer Lotus

Sheer Lotus is a sheer bubblegum pink without any shimmer or sparkle. This shade adds a noticeable brightness to my lips but still looks pretty natural.

Sheer Berry

Sheer Berry is medium, cooler-toned, purplish berry without any shimmer or sparkle. It is applied somewhat heavily here but can be worn more sheered out if you want. It is the deepest of the sheer shimmer-free shades and I am still able to apply it straight to the lips without the help of a lip brush. The next four shades are the opaque shimmer-free options and I feel the need to use a lip brush with all of them.

Rosy Brown

Rosy Brown is a nearly opaque medium pinky brown with no shimmer or sparkle. This one is more difficult to apply. As I swipe it across the lips the, product melts a little too easily so ALOT of it transfers. With the sheerer shades, it’s not as much of an issue and doesn’t look bad. But this one being so pigmented, that heavy application can look very messy/goopy and with sloppy lines. I mainly sweep this on to transfer a decent amount of color to the lips and then use a lip brush to clean up the lines around the edges and make sure the product is sitting evenly/smoothly on the lips. Once I do that, the color mostly stays where I put it and remains even-looking, even if I press my lips together.

Hibiscus

Hibiscus is a nearly opaque warm reddish mauve without any shimmer or sparkle. I apply this one the same way I apply the previous shade.

Apple

Apple is a cool-leaning red without any shimmer or sparkle. It has a bit of depth to it so it doesn’t look too bright on me. It also doesn’t not start to look pink or orange if it is sheered out. I most definitely need a lip brush for this one.

Cacao

Cacao is a deep brown without any shimmer or sparkle. I also need a lip brush for this one.

Shimmering Mixed Berries

Shimmering Mixed Berries is a lighter, cooler toned sheer pink with a lot of super fine shimmer particles. The shimmer in this shade is smaller than in some of the other ones. It doesn’t look super obvious or add much noticeable sparkle unless you are looking super close up. I’d describe it as a glossy satin finish.

Shimmering Pink Lily

Shimmering Pink Lily another sheer pink that is a tiny bit brighter, warmer, and pinker than the previous one. This one has a mixture of the same fine shimmer as the previous shade as well as some slightly larger sparkle. The larger sparkles are a bit more noticeable on the lip.

Shimmering Bright Pink

Shimmering Bright Pink is similar to Sheer Lotus in that it adds a noticeable pink hue and brightness to the lips without looking “unnatural”. It also has a mixture of fine pink shimmer and larger sparkle.

Shimmering Cranberry

Shimmering Cranberry is a sheer cooler red with a hint very fine pink and gold sparkle.

Shimmering Cinnamon Spice

Shimmering Cinnamon Spice is a brownish nude with more prominent gold sparkle. The sparkle in this is the largest of all the shimmer shades so far, but is still not large enough to actually feel gritty on the lips. I don’t feel it at all if I press my lips together.

Shimmering Rose

Shimmering Rose is light peachy pink with all fine shimmer and no larger sparkle. It is SOO similar to Shimmering Mixed Berries, however this one is ever so slightly warmer. Both have the same subtle satin gloss finish.

Shimmering Daisy

Shimmering Daisy is a pale cool pink with some larger, more noticeable gold sparkle.

Shimmering Coconut

Shimmering Coconut is a pale warm nude with larger gold sparkle.

What it is: Milk Makeup Cooling Water Jelly Tint is a lip and cheek stain in a water-based jelly stick. It dries down quickly, feeling almost like nothing on the skin. It is not sticky at all and also does not feel moisturizing, hydrating or slippery. It feels like a “water stain” but instead of being liquidy, it has a giggly, gelatin-like texture. 

Price/Quantity: $24 for 5g / 0.17 oz.

Availability: Milk Makeup, Sephora

Shade Range: 4 Shades

Packaging: Chubby stick in a plastic twist up container. The cap pulls off and snaps back on. It requires a decent amount of effort to remove and replace the cap but it’s definitely not unreasonably difficult. Most of the label on the bottom of the packaging has large enough text to not need reading glasses (lol) but there are a few things I’d say are too small.

Smell/Fragrance: Very light floral scent. It’s not like a rosy scent, more like an “herbal” floral scent.

Expiration/Shelf Life: 6 months after opening.

Ingredients: Aqua/Water/Eau, Glycerin, Sorbitol, Propanediol, Butylene Glycol, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Niacinamide, Hibiscus Rosa-Sinensis Flower Extract, Hylocereus Undatus Fruit Extract, Kappaphycus Alvarezii Extract, Tremella Fuciformis Polysaccharide, Chlorella Ferment, Tocopherol, Maris Aqua/Sea Water/Eau De Mer, Allantoin, Agarose, Carbomer, Sodium Hydroxide, Glyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer, Pvm/Ma Copolymer, Potassium Carbonate, Citric Acid, 1,2-Hexanediol, Caprylyl Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Benzoic Acid, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Benzyl Alcohol, Phenoxyethanol, Fragrance (Parfum), Linalool, Red 28 (Ci 45410), Red 40 (Ci 16035), Yellow 6 (Ci 15985). Source: Milk Makeup

Performance

Shade Selection: All of the shades look like they are bright options. I only have this one shade (Spritz) that I can really comment on, but if the others offer the same level of color punch this one does, they are geared toward people that like brighter color in general. I chose Spritz, which is described as a coral orange, but this comes off much more red in person. I don’t get as much orange from it as I was hoping for. For the swatches above, the left side is a few swipes of the stick directly onto the skin, and the right side is applied with a tiny damp sponge (like a mini Beauty Blender). I find it interesting how the color looks warmer and less pink on the sponge side.

Application: This is a product I’ve had to try different ways of applying to get it to work well. The methods that worked best for me are the bolded paragraphs below.

For the cheeks, my first attempt was applying directly to the skin from the stick, thinking I’d just blend it out with my fingers. The color absorbed instantly into the skin and left a large red dot with hard edges on my cheek that was difficult to blend and diffuse. It stains the fingers doing this, so I need to be careful to clean my hands well afterward.

My second attempt was using a brush to pick up color and then apply to the cheeks. This worked way better and resulted in a much sheerer application that was still not entirely blendable, but sheer enough to be able to build up in a much more even way. I was mindful to choose a brush with dark bristles to avoid staining the brush.

The third attempt was using a damp sponge, which was my favorite way. It gave me an equally sheer application as the brush but somehow I felt it applied more evenly this way. I have a black sponge luckily, but if you go this route be aware it may stain a sponge as well. Below is how it looks applied with a sponge:

I tried one last thing when using it as a blush and that was to sweep it broadly directly onto the cheek, drawing the product on from the hairline near my ear halfway toward my nose, covering the entire area of the cheek I wanted to apply blush to with one large but very thin layer. Then I quickly grabbed a dense foundation blending brush and blended it out, focusing mainly on softening the edges. This does work and it did transfer a little to my brush, but my brush cleaner was able to remove it without leaving stains on my brush bristles. Applying one layer this way gives me a reasonably sheer but bright look and I was able to repeat the process and build up a second layer for more color intensity.

For lips, I first tried sweeping this directly onto bare lips that were not prepared in any way. No lip balm, no exfoliation, etc. They were ever so slightly chapped as well. The color grabbed onto the driest part of my lips the most intensely and went on unevenly in general. It didn’t feel like much of anything as the formula is super thin. It leaves no feeling of residue on the lips but I am somehow more aware that they are dry with this product over top. I have the feeling of wanting to apply lip balm over it.

Next time, I tried to apply it over lip balm and that gave me a slightly more even look, but the color still applied more heavily toward the inner part of my lips than the outer part. This is a look that is kind of unique and some people go for the “I just ate a popsicle” look on purpose. This had a much more comfortable feel to me as well.

Texture/Consistency/Finish: Feels literally like Jello and has a slightly cooling effect if it touches the skin. It doesn’t have a menthol-y cooling feel, just cool like cool water. It “melts” ever so slightly if it touches the cheek directly and a little bit at a time will transfer to the skin. Very thin lightweight feel, without any tacky residue at all. Milk describes the finish as being like watercolor and I think that fits well. It’s sheer and see through but at the same time the color is vibrant, very visible and can have hard edges if you aren’t careful in how you apply it.

Pigmentation/Color Payoff: It is technically sheer (transparent) but the color it gives is pretty intense and bright. For cheeks, if it is applied with a brush or sponge, I can see how they would describe this as being sheer. It is very buildable when used that way and can go from barely there to POW. For lips, if I just do one or two quick passes, the color goes on lightly over most of my lips, except for parts that are drier (especially the inner part of my lips). On those parts it looks pretty bright. If applied over a balm, it does go on more sheer and a bit more evenly, but still not as even as I’d like.

Longevity: On the cheek it really lasts well. If I wear it all day, it hardly fades at all by the end of the day. On the lips it needs to be reapplied after about half a day to maintain color vibrancy but it stays on well through meals and barely transfers at all onto my coffee cups.

Pros and Cons

Things I like:

• As a blush, has good staying power, resists fading.
• Doesn’t leave a sticky feel on the skin.
• As a lip product, reapplies well (if used over lip balm).
• When worn over a lip balm, gives me the look of a bright/bold lip gloss without the mess of one.
• Little to no transfer or fading with eating and drinking.

Drawbacks and other considerations:

• Requires lots of trial and error to figure out how to use it.
• Stains fingers if you use your fingers to blend it out.
• Doesn’t apply evenly on the lips the way a lip gloss or balm does. Tends to deposit color more heavily on drier areas and to the center part of the lips.
• As a lip product, it isn’t necessarily drying, but does not provide any moisture or slip at all.

Do I Recommend It?

This has been a frustrating product for me. If you are someone that struggles with products that require a learning curve, just be aware that’s what you’re getting with this one. For someone that enjoys learning how to use new products/formulas and trying different application methods, the main benefits I’d say this one offers is the type of color effect it offers on the cheek (being very vibrant while at the same time sheer/transparent), longevity as a blush, the popsicle lip look, and the ability to wear a bright/bold lip color that can hold up through meals and not transfer onto drinking glasses. If any of those is important to you, it might be worth checking out.

Comparisons

From left to right:

• Milk Cooling Water Jelly Tint in Spritz
• Elf Camo Liquid Blush in Coral Crush
• Saie Dew Blush in Poppy
• Revlon Gel Serum Blush in 130 Beaming Coral
• Nars Blush in Exhibit A
• GXVE Beauty Feelin’ Cheeky Blush in Flirty Talk

The formula is very different for all of these but I picked out a handful of shades to help make the color of Spritz more clear. To me it is more red than orange, but I do see the pinky/coral tone clearly. The Milk product doesn’t leave any sort of dew or reflect on the skin as it absorbs and dries down completely. If you like a glowy cheek, use a hydrating product underneath to help give the skin a dewier finish.

What they are: Summer Fridays Dream Lip Oils are sheer, lightweight lip oils with a thinner but still very smooth and glide-y consistency and a slight minty tingle. 

Price/Quantity: $26 for 4.5 ml / 0.15 fl oz

Availability: Summer Fridays, Sephora, Kohl’s

Shade Range: 4 shades

Packaging: The product comes in a heftier plastic container with a soft frosted finish and feel. The lid twists open and closed easily, feels secure, and seems sturdy enough to not break easily. The stopper inside the bottle is sized well so that I am able to remove the wand without excessive effort. The doe foot applicator has a nice soft, plush feel.

Smell/Fragrance: It has super faint minty scent and taste. They are not sweet or fragranced and what little chemical scent I do pick up on is ultra subtle.

Expiration/Shelf Life: 6 months after opening.

Ingredients: Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Hydrogenated Poly(C6-14 Olefin), Octyldodecanol, Ethylene/Propylene/Styrene Copolymer, Ricinus Communis (Castor) Seed Oil, Rosa Canina Fruit Oil, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea) Oil, Persea Gratissima (Avocado) Oil, Prunus Armeniaca (Apricot) Kernel Oil, Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil, Squalane, Vitis Vinifera (Grape) Seed Oil, Rubus Idaeus (Raspberry) Seed Oil, Cocoyl Hydrolyzed Collagen, Tocopheryl Acetate, Tocopherol, Siraitia Grosvenorii Fruit Extract, Menthoxypropanediol, Caprylyl Glycol, Butylene/Ethylene/Styrene Copolymer, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-di-t-butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, May Contain/Peut Contenir (+/-) Iron Oxides (CI 77491), Iron Oxides (CI 77492), Red 7 Lake (CI 15850), Titanium Dioxide (CI 77891), Iron Oxides (CI 77499), Blue 1 Lake (CI 42090). Source: Sephora.com

Performance

Shade Selection: The shade selection is a little sparse for me. The two midtone options are a bit too similar for it to be worth having both. I like that there’s at least one very light and one somewhat deeper option. It would be nice to see some brighter shades because the way they impart color noticeably but evenly is really nice for a gloss/oil type of formula.

Application: The applicator holds a bit too much product for me, so I wipe some of it off into the neck of the bottle. I don’t feel like I need a very thick layer for color to show up, but applying it more heavily does definitely amp up color payoff.

Texture/Consistency/Finish: This has a thinner, more slippery, but also somehow more plush and moisturizing feel than some other recent lip oils/glosses I’ve tried. It feels like it has a plumping ingredient in it and gives the slightest hint of tingle (not burning/hot or painful, more in line with a minty feel but not really cooling). Not sticky and really nice feel. 

Pigmentation/Color Payoff: Depends on the shade. The lightest one has barely-there color payoff but the three deeper ones give me a noticeable tint. I can see my lips through the color but they add some life to my naturally very pale lips. They definitely have more color payoff than the Elf Lip Oils.

Longevity: These wear off pretty easily. If I don’t eat or drink anything, they will stay on for a couple hours. But they seem a little more easy to sheer down with any type of touch than other glosses/oils.

Pros and Cons:

Things I like:

• The texture feels really nice.
• The amount of color payoff and the smoothness of the way that color looks on the lips.
• Gives a slight smoothing effect to lip lines.
• Very little scent.
• More of a light minty tingle (prefer this over the hot/burning ones).
• Impressed with all the nice oils in the ingredients list.

Drawbacks and other considerations:

• Not a cheap option.
• Wears off easily.

Do I Recommend Them?

It’s going to be up to you to decide if it’s worth buying a $26 lip oil/gloss. I think it’s a nice product and I enjoy it but I’m not sure it’s THAT much different than cheaper options. There are things about them I prefer to other similar products I have and I’ve found myself reaching for these over those. The texture and color payoff are the main things for me. Personally, I’m on the side where I prefer the thinner/lighter formula but if you like a thicker feeling product, it’s possible these might not do it for you.

Pink Cloud

Pink Cloud is a very sheer, pale, cool pink. This gives my lips a hint of pink color, where they would otherwise blend in with my face with nothing on them.

Blush Dreams

Blush Dreams is a warm pinky nude with a little bit more color payoff than Pink Cloud. This shade is similar to the next one in depth and color but is just a tiny bit warmer.

Soft Mauve

Soft Mauve is a cooler toned pinky nude that leans more in the purple direction than the previous shade.

Rosewood Nights

Rosewood Nights is a deep but quite sheer purply brown. This one has the most impact color-wise on me but when I consider the depth, it seems sheerer than the two midtone shades.

What it is: ColourPop Lip and Cheek Balms are multi-use cream products that can be used as blushes or tinted lip balms. 

Price/Quantity: $12 for 4.75 g / 0.17 oz

Availability: ColourPop exclusive

Shade Range: 3 shades, can be purchased as a set for a small discount or individually.

Packaging: Plastic heart shaped compact with a mirror inside and a snap closure. It has a notch at the very bottom of the heart point where I can use both of my thumbs to pry the lid apart from the base to open it. I feel it is easy to open and stays shut securely. I don’t think the pan is removable from the compact.

Smell/Fragrance: It smells like nothing to me. The very bottom of the ingredients lists some different fruit oils, but they don’t seem to add any kind of scent to the product.

Expiration/Shelf Life: I don’t see an indication of expiration on the product itself or the box it came in.

Ingredients:

PENTAERYTHRITYL TETRAISOSTEARATE, DIMER DILINOLEYL DIMER DILINOLEATE, TRIISOSTEARIN, ISOPROPYL MYRISTATE, POLYETHYLENE, MICROCRYSTALLINE WAX, POLYBUTENE, SYNTHETIC BEESWAX, STEARALKONIUM HECTORITE, ZINC STEARATE, PHENOXYETHANOL, PROPYLENE CARBONATE, CAPRYLYL GLYCOL, DIETHYLHEXYL SYRINGYLIDENEMALONATE, THEOBROMA GRANDIFLORUM SEED BUTTER, TOCOPHEROL, ETHYLHEXYLGLYCERIN, HEXYLENE GLYCOL, BUTYROSPERMUM PARKII (SHEA) BUTTER, CAPRYLIC/CAPRIC TRIGLYCERIDE, FRAGARIA VESCA (STRAWBERRY) SEED OIL, PRUNUS ARMENIACA (APRICOT) KERNEL OIL, RUBUS IDAEUS (RASPBERRY) SEED OIL, SAMBUCUS NIGRA SEED OIL, ALUMINA, IRON OXIDES (CI 77491, CI 77499), RED 28 LAKE (CI 45410), TITANIUM DIOXIDE (CI 77891), YELLOW 5 LAKE (CI 19140).

ColourPop.com

Performance

I picked up Heart’s Content, which is the lightest shade. It’s a neutral, maybe even leaning warm light-medium pink with no shimmer or sparkle. Color payoff is buildable easily going from sheer to very noticeable on me if I layer it up. It’s not very dewy and doesn’t leave my skin feeling tacky/sticky. Just looks like a natural skin finish. My hair doesn’t really stick to it unless I try hard to make it happen.  I have lighter and cooler pinks and I feel the depth and warmth of this is just right for my skin tone. 

It feels somewhat firm in the pan but is creamy enough to pick up easily with a quick swipe of the finger. I can apply it to the cheeks with my fingers but the firmness of the product requires a bit of effort to blend it out. Using a brush is much faster and easier. The product has a lot of wax in it and as a blush, it doesn’t leave my skin feeling overly balmy, greasy, or sticky. As a lip balm, personally, I think it feels a little too waxy and not necessarily hydrating or protective. It applies easily to the lips, stays on decently well and doesn’t have much of a shine.

I’ve tested it for wear time twice (8-10 hours) and I can tell it fades by the very end of the day but doesn’t disappear completely. For most of the day, I notice no fading at all. It’s only by the very end that I see noticeably less color on my cheeks. As long as I apply it a bit heavily early in the day, it holds on well enough.

Comparisons

Swatched from left to right, I have:

• ColourPop Lip and Cheek Balm in Heart’s Content
• Elf Liquid Blushes in Pinky Promise and Dusty Rosé
• Saie Dew Blushes in Baby and Chilly
• Too Faced Cloud Crush Blurring Blushes in Candy Clouds and Velvet Crush

Elf Liquid Blushes are way more pigmented but leave a similar finish on the skin (not overly dewy and not dry/matte).

Saie Dew Blushes are dewier, stickier and are more geared toward drier skin types. If you have oilier skin, you’d probably like the ColourPop or Elf blushes better.

Too Faced Blushes are just here for color reference!

What they are: Elf Pout Clout Lip Plumping Pens are sheer balmy lip products that lie somewhere between a lip balm and a lip gloss. None of them have any shimmer or glitter and they have a lightly minty tingle. They are supposed to plump but I don’t get much of a plumping effect. They are hydrating and I feel that helps to give the lips a smoother appearance.

Price/Quantity: $8 for 0.07 oz / 2.0 grams

Availability: Elf, Walmart

Shade Range: 8 shades

Packaging: Slim, plastic click up pen. It has a button on the bottom of the pen in a color matching the shade inside. I have to press the button 3 or 4 times to push the product up enough to swipe over the lips.  Once I push product up, it cannot be retracted back into the pen like with a twist-up style lip product. The lip product itself is very soft and melts easily so this kind of packaging works well. The lid snaps off and on with a good amount of tension. It doesn’t feel like it will fall off easily but isn’t too difficult to remove either. The names of each shade are on the pens on the bottom of the button but the lettering is so tiny and so thin, it’s nearly impossible to see without the help of a magnifying glass. The white label I’m showing on the lid below is just how I decided to make my life easier so I know the name of each shade as I grab for them.

Smell/Fragrance: These have a light scent that reminds me of coconut oil (which is not listed in the ingredients) and a very faint sweetness. It doesn’t seem to me that these were made to smell intentionally fragranced as the scent I do pick up on is barely there. They do have a cooling minty sensation that is a bit more noticeable than the mintiness that was in the Elf Glow Reviver Lip Oils (review). There is no minty scent though. 

Expiration/Shelf Life: 12 months after opening.

Ingredients:

These are the ingredients for the shade In The Clear. The other shades have very similar ingredients listed and the “MAY CONTAIN” section varies a bit for each shade.

Bis-Behenyl/Isostearyl/Phytosteryl Dimer Dilinoleyl Dimer Dilinoleate, Diisostearyl Malate, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Bis-Diglyceryl Polyacyladipate-2, Synthetic Wax, Polyglyceryl-2 Triisostearate, Menthone Glycerin Acetal, Silica Dimethyl Silylate, Passiflora Edulis Seed Oil, Microcrystalline Wax (Cera Microcristallina), Punica Granatum Fruit Extract, Citrullus Lanatus (Watermelon) Fruit Extract, Vaccinium Angustifolium (Blueberry) Fruit Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Ricinus Communis (Castor) Seed Oil, Fragrance (Parfum), Tocopherol, Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil, Water (Aqua), Butylene Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Phenoxyethanol; MAY CONTAIN: Titanium Dioxide (CI 77891)

elfcosmetics.com

Performance

Shade Selection: None of the shades contain any shimmer or glitter and I LOVE that there is a completely clear option in a formula like this. I often apply a lip balm or lip mask when I start doing my makeup so that if I feel like wearing a lipstick at the end, my lips are all prepped. The clear one is perfect for this. 

The shades are all different enough from each other to tell them apart once they are on the lips. Just Peachy and Pinky Out look too similar when swatched but Just Peachy is noticeably much lighter on the lips. Bust A Mauve and Wicked Cherry are pretty close but Wicked Cherry is more red.

Application: These apply about as one would expect — just swipe across the lips like a lipstick. A couple of passes very easily transfers product and color. For some of the deeper shades, I found it helpful to have a lip brush nearby to smooth out the edges of my lips. Because the product is so melty it’s not hard to lose precision. That meltiness also makes me feel like I’m using a lot product each time I apply one of the shades, and could quickly run through an entire pen. 

Texture/Consistency/Finish: These melt easily when they come in contact with the skin. They feel like a cross between very thick lip gloss and a very melty lip balm. Pressing my lips together, the product doesn’t feel like it is too thick or heavy and it is not sticky or goopy at all. They feel soothing and protective like a nice lip balm. Swatching these wasn’t the easiest thing because a lot of product would come off in patches as I moved it over my skin, leaving a thick uneven looking swatch. I smoothed over pretty much every swatch with a brush but here is how it swatches without me messing with them and how the product looks in the tube afterward.

Pigmentation/Color Payoff: I can get sheer but noticeable color from these. They can be applied a bit more lightly for a pretty natural look or I can layer them up to get the color to pop more. I feel like I have a good amount of wiggle room for layering these before they start to look too thick or uneven on the lips, but they do have a limit. The midtone and deeper shades are easier to apply more heavily but the lighter shades like Just Peachy and Pinky Out start to look goopy on me if I apply too much.

Longevity: These are thick enough and stay on for a few hours if not touched. They don’t absorb or evaporate or seem to disappear on their own. If I eat or drink they do easily transfer but even then, they still hold on pretty well. I wore one to work and drank water throughout my shift. After a couple of hours, I could tell the product had worn away from the center of my lips but was still holding on around the edges of my lips. Where it was still holding on, it maintained its comfortable balmy feel.

Pros and Cons

Things I like:

• The clear one is nice as a lip balm alternative or lip treatment before makeup.
• Minty feel.
• No shimmer.
• Feels really comfortable and smooth. More moisturizing and soothing than a waxy lip balm and thicker than a lip gloss or lip oil.
• Good price.

Drawbacks and other considerations:

• It seems like I could use them up quickly.
• The lighter shades don’t build up as well as the deeper ones and can easily look goopy.
• I don’t really see plumping from these. They help fight dryness and keep my lips moisturized which helps them to look a little more smooth.

Do I Recommend Them?

I definitely recommend the clear one for anyone as an alternative to a lip balm. For the ones with color, maybe go for shades that are a bit deeper than your natural lip color (just based on how the lighter ones applied on me). If you actually want them for plumping though, you’ll probably not get what you’re hoping for.

Swatches

In The Clear

In The Clear is a totally clear, shimmer and sparkle free shade with shine nearly like that of a lip gloss. It doesn’t have the same wet, glassy effect of a gloss, but has more reflect than a lip balm.

Just Peachy

Just Peachy is a super pale peach. This one is surprisingly too light for me. The arm swatch is heavier than the lip swatch. I can see this one settling into my lip lines and it become more obvious the more I build it up. Out of all the shades, I enjoyed this one the least.

Pinky Out

Pinky Out is a light warm pink. This one is a bit better for me than Just Peachy for a natural/neutral looking color but can also look heavy/goopy if I apply it too heavily on the lips. I don’t notice it settling into my lip lines as much probably because it’s just deep enough of a color.

Toasted

Toasted is a light peachy caramel. It’s not too orange and not too brown and not too light lol. If you’re into brownish shades, this is an interesting one. On my lips, it pulls a bit more pink because of the shade is sheer and my natural lip color kind of skews the overall effect. I can go a little more heavy handed with application starting with this shade as well as the rest below without it looking bad on the lips.

Bust A Mauve

Bust A Mauve is a medium coolish mauve. This one is a little deeper and cooler toned than I usually think of mauve being.

Wicked Cherry

Wicked Cherry is a medium-deep brownish red. It’s is somewhat similar to Bust A Mauve but more red and warmer.

Red My Mind

Red My Mind is a medium-deep pinky red.

Plum On Over

Plum On Over is a deeper reddish berry.

What they are: NYX Fat Oil Slick Click Lip Balms are tinted glossy lip balms that come in a click-up stick format. They are solid like a lipstick in the packaging but melt quickly upon application. One or two swipes across the lip leave a generously thick but even coating of color and juicy shine. They come in 12 shades in a wide variety depths and colors. Some of them have shimmer and sparkle but most have a cream finish. They have a moderately strong fruity/sugary scent but don’t have much of a taste. It is most noticeable upon application and it lingers for a short while after but it seems to fade in intensity very quickly. These are $11 each and can be purchased from NYX and Ulta.

Packaging: These come in slim plastic housings with a click button on the bottom. The product sits inside in a stick format like a lipstick and is pushed upward each time you click the button on the bottom of the packaging. I need to click several times just to move the product up a little bit but it moves fast enough that I don’t find it frustrating. The cap stays on securely and pulls off relatively easily with a tiny bit of effort. I purchased these directly from NYX and they came with a small perforated sticker that held the cap and body of the product closed.

Smell/Fragrance: The fragrance is more noticeable as a scent however I cannot actually taste it. It’s a generic, sweet fruit-juicy scent that doesn’t bring to mind any particular fruit or note.  It is not sharp, but more warm and rounded. The scent is moderate and noticeable without having to go and actively hunt for it. Without trying, just opening up the product to use it, I notice there is a fragrance. Personally I don’t find it offensively strong and after application it fades quickly enough that I soon forget about it entirely.

Expiration: 18 months after opening.

Ingredients:

BIS-DIGLYCERYL POLYACYLADIPATE-2 • POLYISOBUTENE • TRIDECYL TRIMELLITATE • DIISOSTEARYL MALATE • PENTAERYTHRITYL TETRAISOSTEARATE • SYNTHETIC WAX • POLYGLYCERYL-2 TRIISOSTEARATE • PERSEA GRATISSIMA OIL / AVOCADO OIL • RUBUS CHAMAEMORUS SEED OIL • RUBUS IDAEUS SEED OIL / RASPBERRY SEED OIL • TIN OXIDE • AROMA / FLAVOR • SYNTHETIC FLUORPHLOGOPITE • TOCOPHERYL ACETATE • PHENOXYETHANOL • CI 15850 / RED 7 LAKE • CI 77491 / IRON OXIDES • CI 77492 / IRON OXIDES • CI 77499 / IRON OXIDES • CI 77891 / TITANIUM DIOXIDE • CI 19140 / YELLOW 5 LAKE • BENZYL ALCOHOL (F.I.L. N70034292/1).

nyxcosmetics.com

Performance

Shade Selection: There is a good range of depth in all of the 12 shades. They go from nearly colorless to somewhat deep, and a few are more colorful/bright. 3 of them have shimmer and/or sparkle that is actually noticeable on the lips against the base color. The larger sparkle in a some of the shades adheres to the lips pretty strongly if I try to remove it soon after application so that only using a tissue isn’t quite enough to remove all the sparkle. A makeup remover helps to dislodge the sparkle. Personally, I feel comfortable in all of the shades that are offered and feel they are flattering or at least don’t clash with my skin tone. Some shades are similar to each other but none are so close that there are dupes within the shade range. I feel they differ enough from each other that I can tell them apart. Some groupings of similar shades are

• Going Viral (more pink) and Link In My Bio (more nude)
• DM Me (lighter) and #Thriving (deeper, brighter)

Application: I apply these just like any other lipstick, directly from the tube. The main difference is the need to click the bottom of the packaging to continually push more product up. In the few times I’ve used each shade, I had to click more lip balm up with each use. Immediately upon swiping the product, a generous amount of it melts onto the lips, giving me the impression I could probably very quickly run through an entire lip balm if I used it daily. Two passes across the lips is about enough to get a noticeable amount of color and shine from these. I don’t feel they apply too heavily though and the product stays pretty much where I apply it. It doesn’t move around super easily on the lips or gather in patches if I press my lips together.

Texture/Consistency/Finish: I love love love the texture of these. They are thick but melt easily with warmth. They are not waxy like cheap lip balms are and they are not sticky if I press my lips together. Right away, they have a shine that looks almost like a gloss but they do not slip around like a gloss. As I wear them for a while, the shine dissipates into a glow more true to the finish of a balm. The product feels soothing, moisturizing and substantial on the lips but not heavy and they don’t seem to trap heat in a way that feels like you’ve got butter on your lips. 

Pigmentation/Color Payoff: These range from clear to semi-opaque depending on the shade. A couple of the deeper/brighter shades like #Thriving and Double Tap are the most pigmented and border on the color payoff of a semi-sheer lipstick. In general the color shows up well in a satisfying way without having to layer the product on too heavily to get it there. They give me more color payoff than a gloss but less than a lipstick. I feel every shade here shows up well against my skin tone and even the deepest shades still feel comfortable/appropriate for everyday wear. They are good for those that like the idea of wearing more color but might be kind of afraid to go too far.

Longevity: Still trying these out for longevity. The only thing I know at this point is that they wear off easily if you’re drinking something, let alone eating.

Pros and Cons

Things I like:

• Texture is amazing. Comfortable, hydrating, soothing, cushiony, smooth.
• “Wearable” shades with good color payoff for a balm formula.
• Sparkle in the sparkly shades actually shows up, without looking like glitter.
• Color applies evenly and doesn’t gather in patches or move around on the lips.
• Not sticky or goopy feeling.
• Price is reasonable.

Drawbacks to consider:

• I’m guessing these could be used up quickly with daily consistent use.
• There aren’t any totally clear shades but this has a formula that I think would be amazing for just a clear lip butter / lip balm just for use as prep / treatment.
• Fragrance / scent may bother those that are sensitive. 
• Sparkles adhere strongly and require some extra effort to remove from the lips.

Do I Recommend Them?

Yes. If you like tinted lip balms or hydrating lip products that add a hint of color, I absolutely recommend giving these a try. These are one of the more enjoyable and surprisingly high-quality-for-the-price products I’ve tried in a while.

Swatches

Main Character

Main Character has a colorless, clear, glossy base with a good amount of large purple sparkle. It gives me the look of a clear gloss with an added bit of purply-pinky dazzle. Although the particles are fairly large, almost the size of glitter, I can barely feel them at all if I press my lips together. When I go to remove this shade the sparkle really clings on to the lips and I find it very helpful to use a makeup remover wipe (as opposed to just a tissue) to get them to unstick.

Clout

Clout is a very pale cool toned pink. I don’t usually like these kinds of shades on me but being a sheerer color makes it much easier to pull off. There is enough saturation in the pink color and it’s just dark enough to not wash out my complexion.

No Filter Needed

No Filter Needed is a subtly cool-toned, medium pinky mauve with fine shimmer and just a little bit of larger gold sparkle. The shimmer in this shade is not like the sparkle in Main Character. It’s much more subtle and is far easier to remove. This is the type of shade I could see myself reaching for often.

Going Viral

Going Viral is a light nude pink with no shimmer or sparkle. It is similar in depth and color to Link In My Bio but this one is just a little pinker while that one is more neutral.

Link In My Bio

Link In My Bio is a light nude beige with no shimmer or sparkle.

Hits Different

Hits Different has a very sheer caramel base (almost looks clear) with lots of large gold and pink sparkle. The sparkle in this is a lot like the shade Main Character in that it adds a noticeable glimmer to the glossy finish, I cannot really feel it on the my lips, and it can be difficult to remove without a makeup remover wipe.

DM Me

DM Me is a lighter version of a cool-toned bubblegum pink without any shimmer or sparkle.

#Thriving

#Thriving is a medium cool toned pink without any shimmer or sparkle. It is similar to DM Me, but slightly deeper.

That’s Major

That’s Major is a medium orchid purple without any shimmer or sparkle.

Double Tap

Double Tap is a semi-sheer pinky red with the slightest bit of sparkle. The sparkle is only visible in the product itself and not on the lips. I don’t see any when I go to remove the product either.

In A Mood

In A Mood is a deeper mauve without any shimmer or sparkle. I can apply this fairly heavily and still have it look even on the lips and I don’t see much of it settling into my lip lines. If I press my lips together the color stays put and doesn’t gather weirdly in certain spots.

Trending Topic

Trending Topic is a sheer deep berry with a good amount of large bronze and purple sparkle. The sparkle is somewhat noticeable but not crazy obvious. It clings to the lips during removal just like the sparkle in Main Character and Hits Different.

NYX Duck Plump Lip Glosses are spicy, plumping lip glosses in a range of 16 higher pigment shades and 1 clear shade. These are $13 each and available to purchase from NYX and Ulta. They provide a tingly warming sensation on the lips much like the Maybelline Lifter Plump Lip Glosses (my review). Ginger is the ingredient NYX features the most, however this also contains capsicum frutescens fruit extract (chili pepper extract). The heat and plumping I get from these feels nearly identical to what I get from the Maybelline glosses but these are much more colorful and pigmented. They plump the lips a little bit for me but not a very noticeable amount. I tend to have drier, liney lips and this can help to smooth them out a bit and make them look a little more hydrated.

For the arm swatches below I just swiped the applicator directly out of the tube on my arm. The applicator is very heavily coated in gloss when I pull it out, so much so that I ended up using a lip brush to apply the lip swatches. Many of the arm swatches look darker just because the product is applied thicker. On the lips, I have a thinner application. Attempting to use the applicator to apply the product is possible but it can look pretty heavy/uneven and is difficult to get clean lines around the edges. Maybe with use over time, as less product is in the container, it might not be such an issue.

If applied lightly, these feel comfortable and non-sticky. If I apply it straight from the applicator without dabbing off excess, it feels like I have too much on, and if I press my lips together the excess will kind of bunch up and slide around on the lips. I don’t get too much color/pigment settling in the lines of my lips though even from the shades that are lighter than my lips and the very deepest shades. Even a thin layer gives me a noticeable amount of color payoff, which is nice. Some of the deeper and more intense shades stain my lips slightly. None of them contain any shimmer or glitter.

I have all the shades that are currently available swatched here but my favorites out of all these are Lilac on Lock (for a my lips but better shade), Brick of Time, Mauve Out My Way, Strike A Rose, and Hall Of Flame.

01 Clearly Spicy

Clearly Spicy has a very slight peachy tone to it but is totally transparent on the lips.

02 Bangin’ Bare

Bangin’ Bare is a light nude beige. This shade is a tiny bit lighter than my natural lip color (which is very pale) and gives me the nude lip look that could go well with darker eye makeup.

03 Nude Swings

Nude Swings is a light pinky beige. This one is about the same depth as my lip color but a hint warmer in tone.

04 Apri-Caught

Apri-Caught is a nude peach.

05 Brown Of Applause

Brown of Applause is a medium caramel brown. This is the first shade that starts to look like it has some depth on me.

06 Brick Of Time

Brick of Time is a medium reddish brown.

07 Mocha Me Crazy

Mocha Me Crazy is a medium milk chocolate brown with hints of red.

08 Mauve Out My Way

Mauve Out My Way toes the line between being a purple-toned, and pink-toned mauve. This one is a like a deeper version of 10 Lilac On Lock.

09 Strike A Rose

Strike A Rose is a medium cooler-toned pink.

10 Lilac On Lock

Lilac On Lock is a light purplish pink. It’s not so purple that it looks unnatural and blends in well with the color my lips.

11 Pick Me Pink

Pick Me Pink is a light blue-toned pink.

12 Bubblegum Bae

Bubblegum Bae is a bright medium blue-toned pink. It stands out but is much less loud than you might think based on the swatch. This one stains just a tiny bit.

13 Peach Out

Peach Out is a medium peach that adds some warmth to my natural lip color.

14 Hall Of Flame

Hall Of Flame is deeper cool-toned red that looks more like a deep rose pink on the lip. This one also stains a little bit.

15 Twice The Spice

Twice The Spice is a deep brown with subtle red tones.

16 Wine Not?

Wine Not? is a deep warm red that leans slightly orangey-brown.

17 Pure Plum-p

Pure Plum-p is a deep purple. The heavier I apply this shade, the cooler-toned it looks. If I thin it out, it looks a little bit more red. I feel like the lip swatch came out a little warmer here than what I see in real life, which is closer to the arm swatch. This one leaves the strongest pinky purple stain on the lips out of all the shades.

Elf Glow Reviver Lip Oils are sheer lip oils with a somewhat thick but non-sticky consistency and a very lightly minty scent and feel. They feel like lip glosses in their texture but have much less color payoff and none of them contain any shimmer. Because of how sheer they are, I feel they could have reduced the 7 available shades down to like 2 or 3. They go for $8 each, which I feel is a decent price for the quality, and can be purchased from Elf and Ulta.

One of the things I was most looking forward to with these was the minty feel. I like a good cooling lip product but I will say that this one is very subtle and I hardly feel it. I smell and taste it only a tiny bit as well. If you are very sensitive and the idea of mint is keeping you from trying these, I don’t think it will be much of a bother.

Out of all of them, my favorite ones are the three deepest shades – Rose Envy, Honey Talks, and Jam Session. They are all mostly clear-looking on the lips even though they look WAY more intense in the packaging. I cannot tell the lightest 3 shades apart from each other on the lips and the middle one, Red Delicious, is nearly clear as well. I can kind of tell the 3 deepest shades apart from each other when I’m wearing them though. My lips are very pale and I like that the deeper shades add just enough color to still look natural but add some life to my face.

They feel thicker than Maybelline Lifter Glosses or Fenty Gloss Bombs but equally non-sticky. While wearing them, they are generally comfortable but I don’t feel like I forget I’m wearing them. I am aware that there is something on my lips. If I am not eating or drinking anything for a long time, they stay on quite well for several hours, and if I do take a sip of something or eat, they hold up fairly well but may need a reapplication afterward.

Crystal Clear

Crystal Clear is truly clear with no shimmer or sparkle.

Pink Quartz

Pink Quartz has a very subtle pink tint that is mainly only obvious in the packaging. In the swatch, I can barely see it and on the lips, I really can’t tell at all.

Coral Fixation

Coral Fixation is a very sheer coral and has about the same level of color payoff as Pink Quartz. The warmth that comes across in the arm swatch does not translate to the lips. It is not enough color to overpower the natural tone of my lips or add any warmth to them.

Red Delicious

Red Delicious is a sheer pinky red. This is the first one that starts to become noticeable and add some level of color to the lips.

Rosy Envy

Rose Envy is light warm pink and has a bit more opacity to it than any of the previous shades. This one gives me a MLBB (my lips but better) kind of look.

Honey Talks

Honey Talks a light, warm, pinky brown. This is a cute and unique shade if you’re into more nude/brown lip colors. I feel it still looks natural on me but has a warmer and more neutral vibe.

Jam Session

Jam Session is a deep but very sheer berry. On the lips, this deepens the cool-toned mauve that my lips naturally are. This is probably my favorite of all the shades.

Elf Cream Glide Lip Liners come in 8 shades and go for $2 each. They are a creamy, comfortable, easy to apply formula with quick color payoff that come in a wooden pencil. The pencils are a tiny bit on the shorter side but otherwise have a standard diameter and will fit into a standard pencil sharpener. The names of the shades are not printed on the pencils themselves and are only found on the plastic sleeve each one came it. I’m glad I noticed this before tossing the plastic out so I could tell them apart. For now I will keep the pencils in the sleeves but may try to find a way to label them myself.

The texture of these reminds me a little bit of lipstick. Like they repackaged a semi-matte (but still creamy!) lipstick formula into a lip liner pencil. The name is accurate. They glide on without any tugging and color goes on evenly and quickly. They don’t feel drying at all and they don’t slip and slide around on the lips once I get the color where I want it. Unless my lips are chapped, I feel zero need to use a lip balm beforehand to get these to apply nicely.

They don’t transfer a whole lot if I take a sip of coffee so it seems they will hold on for a good amount of time. I haven’t really given them a good wear test yet though.

For $2 I wasn’t expecting a whole lot but wow am I surprised. If someone handed this lip liner to me and didn’t tell me what brand it was or how much it cost, my opinion would be the same – beautiful quality. If you are already planning to make a purchase from Elf and need to add something to your cart to get past a shipping threshold, these are a no brainer.

Red Receipt

Red Receipt is an ultra bright red. It is mostly neutral but leans ever so slightly more pink than orange.

Plum & Get It

Plum & Get It is a deep reddish purple. The red in this doesn’t come across too strongly and it has a nice amount of depth to it so it doesn’t look too bright.

Dark Cocoa

Dark Cocoa is a deep brown with subtle red undertones. This looks mostly like a neutral chocolate brown on me with only a hint of the red tones coming through.

Spill The Tea

Spill The Tea is a medium yellow-brown. This is a really unique color (to me at least) that doesn’t look anywhere near natural on me but has a cool fall vibe to it.

Mauve Aside

Mauve Aside is a medium muted rosy beige. This one is slightly deeper than my natural lip color but has a neutral-to-cool undertone that fits my complexion better than the other lighter shades available.

Baddest Beige

Baddest Beige is a light brownish pink. I never did get into the whole latte makeup trend but the color of this seems like it would fit perfectly.

Truth Or Bare

Truth or Bare is a light peachy pink with strong warm tones. This one looks almost melony on my lips

Pinky Swear

Pinky Swear is a light pink with very slight warm undertones. This is the closest shade to my natural lip color in depth but is just a tiny bit warmer.

Maybelline Lifter Plump Lip Plumping Glosses are a new spicy version of their original Lifter Glosses. They come in 8 shades and retail for $12.99. The key ingredient to thank for the heat is capsicum frutescens fruit extract, or chili pepper extract.

You know how every once in a while orange chicken from Panda Express somehow ends up a little extra spicy than usual? That’s what these are like, that’s the heat level I get from them. It’s mild, maybe approaching medium if you’re sensitive to spicy stuff. I think it’s totally tolerable and it comes on slowly. Once the heat takes hold, it stays spicy for quite some time. After a little bit, my mouth starts to feel the heat as well, like I ate something hot. 45 minutes after application, I can still feel it but at this point it is starting to fade.

They don’t seem to be fragranced and hardly smell like anything except a very faint chemical scent. The only detectable flavoring is just the heat. I get a barely noticeable plumping effect that just looks like my lips are very well hydrated but not any larger than they normally are. After consecutively lip swatching about 3 of them, I started noticing my lips getting red. One single application doesn’t seem to do that though.

I’m not a huge lip plumper person so I don’t have a whole lot to compare these to. I have tried the Too Faced Lip Injection and I would say these are more intense than that but it is a different feeling. That one has a unique sensation that is closer to stinging/pinpricks (a very toned down version of that description though). These are definitely just like spicy food lol.

Texture-wise, they feel similar to the original Maybelline Lifter Glosses with a substantial, almost balmy texture, but are still very comfortable and not sticky at all. They hang on and stay glossy for at least a few hours without disappearing from the lips or changing texture.

Blush Blaze

Blush Blaze a sheer light pink with very subtle and very fine micro shimmer. It is mostly a neutral pink and leans ever so slightly warm. On the lips, this is so sheer and so close to my lip color that it hardly looks like anything but a clear gloss on me. The micro shimmer in this is too fine to be able to actually see on the lips either.

Mauve Bite

Mauve Bite is a sheer light purplish pink with a scattering of larger golden sparkle. This looks almost identical to Blush Blaze when actually applied and the sparkle in this is hardly noticeable and somewhat sparse.

Pink Sting

Pink Sting is a sheer light bubblegum pink. This one is the lightest pink and is on the cooler side as well. It has no sparkle or shimmer in it at all and actually stains a tiny bit as well. It is the only shade that I found causes staining. 

Red Flag

Red Flag is an ultra sheer neutral red without any shimmer or sparkle. It is MUCH lighter on the lips that it appears in the container but does add a tiny bit of color to my lips.

Peach Fever

Peach Fever is a warmer creamy peach without any shimmer or sparkle. This one was noticeably more pigmented than all the previous shades and had a slightly thicker texture as well.

Hot Chili

Hot Chili is a medium brownish red without any shimmer or sparkle. This was like Peach Fever in that it had more color payoff than most of the other shades and a slightly thicker texture.

Cocoa Zing

Cocoa Zing is a sheer purplish brown with purple and gold sparkle. In the container, it looks deeper and the sparkle is more noticeable than it actually looks on the lips. The color of this is very similar to Fenty Hot Chocolit. Both have about the same level of color payoff and the sparkles in both are even the same color but the Fenty one has more visible sparkle and I can feel it more as well if I press my lips together.

Hot Honey

Hot Honey has a transparent yellow-orange base with lots of pinky-gold sparkle. It ends up looking clear and colorless on the lips but has much more noticeable sparkle payoff than any of the other sparkly shades. I can’t feel the sparkle if I press my lips together.

Ingredients as listed on Maybelline’s website:

C18-36 ACID TRIGLYCERIDE • BIS-DIGLYCERYL POLYACYLADIPATE-2 • POLYBUTENE • PENTAERYTHRITYL TETRAISOSTEARATE • TRIDECYL TRIMELLITATE • DIISOSTEARYL MALATE • SILICA DIMETHYL SILYLATE [NANO] / SILICA DIMETHYL SILYLATE • ETHYLHEXYL PALMITATE • TRIBEHENIN • PENTYLENE GLYCOL • PHENOXYETHANOL • SORBITAN ISOSTEARATE • PENTAERYTHRITYL TETRA-DI-T-BUTYL HYDROXYHYDROCINNAMATE • CAPSICUM FRUTESCENS FRUIT EXTRACT • ETHYLHEXYLGLYCERIN • SORBIC ACID • VANILLYL BUTYL ETHER • CALCIUM SODIUM BOROSILICATE • TOCOPHERYL ACETATE • SODIUM SACCHARIN • LACTIC ACID • MENTHA PIPERITA OIL / PEPPERMINT OIL • CALCIUM ALUMINUM BOROSILICATE • SILICA • TRIHYDROXYSTEARIN • COCOS NUCIFERA OIL / COCONUT OIL • PALMITOYL TRIPEPTIDE-1 • ALUMINUM HYDROXIDE • TIN OXIDE • SODIUM HYALURONATE • LIMONENE • TOCOPHEROL • SYNTHETIC FLUORPHLOGOPITE • ALUMINA • MAGNESIUM SILICATE • GLUCOMANNAN [+/- MAY CONTAIN: CI 77891 / TITANIUM DIOXIDE • CI 77491, CI 77492, CI 77499 / IRON OXIDES • CI 15985 / YELLOW 6 LAKE • MICA • CI 15850 / RED 7 • CI 45410 / RED 28 LAKE • CI 19140 / YELLOW 5 LAKE • CI 42090 / BLUE 1 LAKE • CI 45380 / RED 22 LAKE]. (F.I.L. N70033269/1).

Ulta Beauty Weightless Water Lip Stains are sheer, buildable lip colors with a lightweight feel that come in four easy-to-wear shades. They have a super thin feel to them compared to something like a gloss or balm and they dry down to an almost matte finish. Upon first swipe, the color goes on lighter than what you see on the top of the packaging but you can build up the intensity with a few layers. They have a light fruity scent but have a somewhat bitter taste. The taste isn’t that strong and it goes away after blotting. These are $10 each and can be purchased from Ulta.

I’m not a huge lip product user in general and lip stains are not something I have a whole lot of experience with. The last ones I tried were from Fenty and before that I dabbled with Benetint a few times. But, I’ll try to give you whatever useful info I can. My preference in lip products are things that require little effort and upkeep and don’t look super bold.

I wear tested all of these and got better results with some than others. The way I wore them most of the time was blotted and with balm or gloss over top. Very Berry was the one that faded most obviously and in a somewhat uneven way, holding on longest to the parts of my lips that were driest and fading sooner on the inner parts and around the edges. Mango Dreams did something similar but it wasn’t as obvious being a bit lighter of a shade on me. Fading from both of these shades started showing by lunchtime. The other two shades lasted much better on me looking nearly the same late in the afternoon as they did early in the morning. I did not experience color transfer from any of them since it was the skin that was stained and the color did not leach into the balm or gloss so, even if I touched that, it still did not transfer.

For application and longevity, I realized some things after using these all week long. It helps to apply a lip balm way before I apply these – when I’m doing my foundation and eye makeup. If I let that hydrate my lips for a while, then wipe off the excess before applying the stain, I get a much more even application. Otherwise, the deeper red shades clung to areas of dryness and darkened on those areas as the stain dried down. Prepping the lips this way and then applying balm or gloss over top seemed to also improve longevity. I got less uneven fading throughout the day and my lips didn’t get dry or chapped even after many hours. Another thing is, these are way more customizable than I thought. You can apply the smallest amount and get a little hint of color if you want. The color you see on the packaging is more of what you get if you build it up.

Below, I show you photos of all the shades applied 4 different ways. The first photos are just the stain applied to bare lips (no balm underneath) and with some of the shades, I applied a couple of layers if the first didn’t go on evenly. Next, I blotted some of the stain off. And for the last two pictures I applied some clear lip balm and lip gloss over top of the blotted stain.

Very Berry

Very Berry went on the most unevenly out of all of them but I only tried using this on lips that were not well prepped. Will have to try again on another day.

Mango Dreams

Mango Dreams ended up looking way less bright, orange and intense compared to Very Berry. It went on more sheer at first and looked much more “natural” on my skin tone than I expected once I blotted and used some balm over it.

Pink Popsicle

Pink Popsicle was the shade I most dreaded using. I really don’t like bright bubblegum pink lip colors but it turns out that this is my favorite shade out of the four. This one is very sheer at first and is cooler toned than I expected. It even builds up nicely, looking more like a berry pink than a barbie pink at full intensity.

Cherry Pie

Cherry Pie is another I ended up like more than I thought I would because of how it looks when applied lightly. It is a warm red and when it is sheer, it looks pretty close to my natural lip color, but just a warmer version of that.

Fenty Beauty Poutsicle Hydrating Lip Stains come in four bright but translucent shades and give the lips a lightly glossy finish. They look and feel sort of like lip glosses at first but with a thinner texture. I can press my lips together and there is no stickiness at all and the color does not gather in a line if I do this. 

These are not transfer proof right after application. If I touch the product or drink from a cup, it transfers as easily as any lip gloss woud. After about 2 hours the moisture and shine fade somewhat, still leaving behind the majority of the color and there is far less transfer. After about 4 hours, I can see the color clearly but my lips look much drier and there is almost no transfer at all. The color mostly fades evenly over time and I don’t get any weird patchiness or crustiness. If I wear a mask over these, some of the color/gloss transfers to the mask itself but it doesn’t smudge outside my lip lines or make a mess of my makeup.

These have a lightly flocked, flattened doefoot wand and it holds just the right amount of product to apply to my lips without having to dip back into the tube for more. I found it pretty easy to control application, get crisp lines and define the cupids bow.

There is a very slight chemical scent and taste that isn’t fragrance. If you are very sensitive to scents then it may be bothersome but I don’t feel that it is too strong or noticeable.

I recommend first applying color to the center of the lips when the applicator is still heavily coated in product. Once there is less on the wand, it is easier to apply clean lines around the edges of the lips.

Mai Type

Mai Type is the lightest of the four shades and is a medium mauvy pink. This is cooler toned and leans a bit berry/purple.

Strawberry Sangria

Strawberry Sangria is nearly a true red but it does have a small amount of pink to it.

Zesty Bestie

Zesty Bestie is an orangey red.

Berry Banger

Berry Banger is a somewhat more opaque and darker berry shade. Goes on evenly. Very small amount of feathering.

Fenty Beauty’s Glossy Posse is a limited edition holiday set featuring 5 shades of their Gloss Bomb Universal Lip Luminizer. It retails for $42.00 and each gloss contains 5.5 ml / 0.18 fl oz of product. There are four new shades and the fifth, Fu$$y, is permanent. The set can be purchased from Sephora or Fenty Beauty.

The glosses come in a metal tin with a felt-lined insert to hold the glosses in place.

The formula feels the same as their original shades with the exception that some of the shades in this set have larger flecks of glitter. The gloss is thick and noticeable on the lips but not uncomfortable. It is not sticky at all and it dries down over the course of 2-3 hours. The thicker I apply it to my lips initially, the longer the wear time. By the time it dries down completely, any larger glitter in the shade I wear will still be left on my lips.

They have a soft, sweet smell. The fragrance does not smell floral or particularly fruity. The closest thing I can think of to describe the scent is maybe some type of cake or cookie. There is no flavor.

Most of these have glitter in them. If I press my lips together I can feel it, especially with the shades Pretty Please and Hot Chocolit. Confetti and Cheeky had smaller glitter that was less noticeable. Fussy in this seems like the same quality as the full size that I have. I also have Diamond Milk and its somewhat similar to Confetti but not an exact match. Diamond Milk is a clear gloss with silver glitter. Confetti has more of a blueish-purplish shift to it. What makes this set nice in my opinion is the inclusion of a few deeper/brighter colors. This formula works nicely with more intense color infused into it. I like that the color is sheer.

Pretty Please – This is a bright but sheer fuchsia with mostly silver glitter and a tiny bit of gold glitter. I could unmistakably feel the glitter in this when pressing my lips together. I could feel it more and more as the gloss dried down.

Fu$$y – Cool toned light pink with fine shimmer. The shimmer is ultra fine and I don’t notice it on my lips.

Confetti – Sheer opal with micro glitter that shifts between blue and purple. The sparkles in this are far smaller than in is in Pretty Please but still larger than in Fu$$y. I can feel them but just barely and only if I really try to feel them.

Hot Chocolit – Sheer brown with larger flecks of pink and purple glitter. The glitter particles are larger, about the same size as the ones in the shade Pretty Please. They don’t really stand out all that much, visually. You really have to pay attention and look close to see them.

Cheeky – Bright but sheer coral with golden micro glitter. The sparkles in this are smaller, just like with the shade Confetti.

Bobbi Brown Crushed Liquid Lipsticks ($26 for 0.2 oz / 6 mL) are supposed to combine the color payoff of a traditional liquid lipstick, the shine of a gloss, and the feel of a lip balm. There are 14 shades and they retail for $26 each. They can be purchased from Sephora, Bobbi Brown, Nordstrom, and Blue Mercury.

The packaging feels sturdy and well-made. The applicator is slanted on one side and a bit rounded on the end. It pulls out the right amount of product (not too much or too little).

There is a slightly lemony fragrance which is very subtle to me. It isn’t something I notice during application, only when I checked to see if it indeed had a scent.

I purchased the shade Give a Fig, which is described as a “Dusty Red Rose.” It is a slightly muted medium pink with warm undertones and a glossy finish. There is no shimmer in this shade and it is nearly opaque on me.

You might see “liquid lipstick” in the name and think this is going to be drying and heavy. It is not. When I first put it on, it feels like a cross between a lip balm and a lip gloss. It isn’t very thick, heavy, or sticky but there is some substance to it. Over the course of wearing it for a few hours, it dries down to something that feels more like a traditional lipstick. By the end of wearing it, my lips feel ever so slightly drier than they would with nothing on them, but it is in no way uncomfortable.

For me the best way to apply this is to use the included applicator for most of my lips and then go in with a lip brush around the edges. You could also just use a lip liner in a similar color. I didn’t find the applicator to be precise enough for my liking.

This fades pretty quickly, especially near the center of my lips. It doesn’t create a harsh line where it fades, though, which I appreciate. After about an hour I can already see a good bit of it wears off in the middle of my lips. The outer edges hold up far better. I can get about 3 hours out of it before needing to touch up. I am able to reapply it over itself beautifully without any goopiness and I don’t have to go back in with a lip brush because the outer edges hold up well enough.

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links, which means I make a small commission when you make purchases through them.

L’Oreal Color Riche Shine Lipsticks come in 16 semi-sheer, glossy shades and have a moisturizing feel on the lips. They contain 0.1 oz / 3 grams, retail for about $10, and can be purchased from Ulta, Target, Walmart, and drugstores.

900 Glossy Fawn

902 Dazzling Doe

904 Varnished Rosewood

906 Burnished Blush

908 Sparkling Rose

910 Shining Peach

912 Dewey Petal

914 Glazed Pink

916 Luminous Coral

918 Polished Tango

920 Lacquered Strawberry

922 Laminated Fuchsia

924 Enamel Red

926 Glassy Garnet

928 Gleaming Plum

930 Splendid Blackberry

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links, which means I make a small commission when you make purchases through them.

Nars Orgasm Afterglow Lip Balm is a hydrating, glossy balm with a very subtle pink tint and barely-there golden shimmer. It contains 0.1 oz / 3 g product, retails for $28, and can be purchased from Nars, Sephora, Ulta, and Nordstrom.

This is more of a luxury lip balm for me. The last high end balm I purchased was Fresh Sugar Lip Balm. Normally, I use Blistex medicated lip balm. This is all-around a beautiful product, though, if you feel like treating yourself to something special. It feels lightweight – not thick, sticky, or waxy at all. It also just makes my lips feel ultra soothed and comforted, more than my usual drugstore balm does. It also imparts a hint of color than helps wake up my face. The shimmer that you can see in the bullet really doesn’t translate much to the lips. It’s there, but the shimmer particles are so tiny than you can barely see them. I don’t feel them at all when I press my lips together.

This doesn’t last very long. Maybe an hour before I feel the need to reapply. It is very soothing and I can tell that after I wear it for a while my lips feel more hydrated and smoother.

Fenty Gloss Bomb Universal Lip Luminizer is a one-shade-fits-all lip gloss. It is a warm peachy pink with golden sparkles and a glossy sheen. Immediately upon application the texture is somewhat thick and I am aware that there is something on my lips, though it’s not uncomfortable. After about 10 minutes, it begins to settle down and feels a bit thinner and less noticeable. There is no stickiness whatsoever if I press lips together, even throughout it’s wear time. I can get about 2 hours of wear before the shine fades. The doe-foot applicator is larger than your standard lip gloss applicator and the top is reflective enough to use as a makeshift mirror. I don’t notice a taste but it does have a sweet scent that isn’t too faint or too strong. If you are looking for a high quality go-to basic perfect for everyday wear, I don’t think you’ll be disappointed with this one.

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links, which means I make a small commission when you make purchases through them.

Product Description

What it is: Revlon Ultra HD Lip Color is supposed to offer “vibrant, high definition color” and have an “intensely hydrating formula with hyaluronic acid.” It comes in 15 shades.

Price/Quantity: $9 for 0.1 oz

Availability: Revlon, Ulta, Amazon, Target

Packaging: These lipsticks are contained in slim, twist-up tubes. They twist all the way up and back down easily with no issues. There is some sort of locking mechanism in place so that when you first twist it up, it clicks. The lid comes off easily but stays on pretty securely. The shade number and name is indicated on a sticker on the bottom of the product. When I first purchased these they were very securely packaged with shrink wrap covering it completely and it wasn’t very easy to remove. I am thankful for this as so many drugstore products are tampered with in the store.

Smell/Fragrance: They have a fruity scent and a sweet taste. The scent is moderate at first but disappears quickly after applying. I am somewhat sensitive to some scents and this didn’t bother me.

Performance

These have a thin, smooth consistency that swipes easily over the lips without dragging or skipping. The texture is similar to a tinted lip balm, maybe a bit lighter.

One to two swipes was enough to get plenty of color. My arm swatches below are one swipe each and the lip swatches have been built up a bit – this shows the range of color payoff you can achieve with them. They are not sticky or goopy so pressing your lips together isn’t a problem with these.

Most of these lasted 3-4 hours and were comfortable the whole time. They don’t last well though meals and drinks though.

Worth Buying?

Yes, I am glad I purchased these. They are a good choice for someone that likes to wear lip color but wants it to feel hydrating and comfortable.

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links, which means I make a small commission when you make purchases through them.

Product Description

The major claim about Rimmel The Only 1 Lipstick is that you don’t have to compromise because this lipstick is supposed to do it all. It is said to pack a punch of color and last while being moisturizing and comfortable to wear. There are 12 shades in the line, each containing 011 oz. / 3.4 g and retailing for around $7. They are available at Ulta, Walmart, Target, CVS, Rite Aid, and Walgreens.

Performance

For the most part, the four colors I chose were pretty similar in their performance. They weren’t too dry or too slick and applied with relative ease, except for the rounded bullet which I find personally to be more difficult to work with around the cupid’s bow. The color applied fairly evenly, with semi-opaque coverage and a semi-glossy finish that dried down to more of a matte finish as the hours passed. I found the light shades, Naughty Nude and Peachy Beachy, didn’t seem to last as long, fading by about the 3 hour mark. Best of the Best and Under My Spell lasted closer to 5 hours.

They have a bright fruity floral fragrance that is very noticeable when you take the cap off and I can smell it for a good while after I apply it. Most days I don’t mind it but if I have a headache, I steer clear of these.

Dupes and Comparisons

Naughty Nude is similar to:

• Maybelline Vivid Matte Liquid in Nude Flush
• Maybelline Color Sensational Lipstick in Warm Me Up
• NYX Butter Lipstick in Pops
• NYX Matte Lipsticks in Natural
• NYX Round Lipstick in Thalia
• Nars Satin Lip Pencil in Rikugien

Peachy-Beachy is similar to:

• Bobbi Brown Rich Lip Color in Sweet Nectar
• Urban Decay Revolution Lipstick in Streak
• NYX Butter Lipstick in Fireball
• NYX Round Lipstick in Femme
• Maybelline Color Sensational Lipstick in Peachy Scene
• Maybelline Color Whisper in Pinup Peach

Under My Spell is similar to:

• NYX Butter Lipstick in Hunk
• NYX Butter Lipstick in Licorice
• Maybelline Color Elixir in Raspberry Rhapsody
• Maybelline Color Sensational Lipstick in Violet Intrigue
• Revlon Lacquer Balm in Whimsical
• Milani Lip Intense Liquid Color in Violet Addict

Best of the Best is similar to:

• NYX Butter Lipstick in Big Cherry
• NYX Round Lipstick in Chaos
• Revlon Lacquer Balm in Provocateur
• Maybelline Color Sensational Lipstick in On Fire Red
• Milani Lip Intense Liquid Color Red Extreme
• Flower Kiss Stick in Rose Bud

Worth Buying?

These are worth checking out if you enjoy rich color but you don’t like how dry that type of lipstick can sometimes be. Because the texture of these is somewhere between matte and glossy, you get the benefits of a longer lasting product without the tight, dry feeling of a matte lipstick. These are comfortable to wear. If you don’t like fragrance in your makeup, I would avoid these because the scent is strong enough to be bothersome. Also, if you don’t have the patience to get a nice crisp line or dislike rounded-edge lipsticks, these might be a pass.

Pros:

• Affordable
• Not drying
• Comfortable
• Rich, even color payoff
• Decently long lasting
• You can get away with some light snacking without it wearing off too much
• Nice color selection

Cons:

• Moderately heavy scent
• Rounded bullet makes it difficult to apply around cupids bow

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links, which means I make a small commission when you make purchases through them.

Product Description

Maybelline Vivid Matte Liquid Lip Color is supposed to offer high impact matte color in a comfortable-to-wear formula. The packaging is very similar to a lip gloss with a slanted doe foot applicator. There is a fragrance which I can both smell and taste when I first apply it but it fades after several minutes. Available in 10 shades, it contains 7.7 ml / 0.26 fl oz., retails for around $7.99 and is available at most major drugstores, Target, Walmart, and Ulta.

Performance

I purchased the shades Nude Flush, which is a warm light pink, and Berry Boost, which is a deep fuchsia. I was expecting this product to feel drying but immediately upon application it had a velvety, lightweight, mousse-like texture. Initially, it had a soft sheen but after a few minutes it dried down to more of a satin finish. The color is intense and opaque but can be sheered out to a degree. After 6 hours there was still color on my lips but it looked dry around the edges of my mouth it had worn off completely on the inner part of my lips. The longest I’d go without touching up would be about 4 hours with these.

Worth Buying?

Reading the reviews others left on this product, I can see that some people had the expectation that it would dry down like other matte lip products. Being someone who typically doesn’t wear matte lipsticks, I wasn’t expecting this to dry down completely and on the contrary, I liked this. If you have trouble with dry lips and avoid mattes for that reason, you might enjoy this product.

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links, which means I make a small commission when you make purchases through them.

Product Description

What it is: NYX Matte Lipsticks are described as long-wearing, highly pigmented and non-drying. There are currently 33 shades available on NYX’s website.

Price/Quantity: About $6 USD for 0.16 oz / 4.5 g

Availability: NYX, Ulta, Target, Amazon, Cherry Culture

Colors/Finishes:

• Natural – Mauve
• Angel – Bright, warm pink
• Indie Flick – Super bright, reddish orange

Packaging: The tube is lightweight and made of black plastic with a see-through portion in the middle, where you can see the color of the product inside. The lipstick twists up easily and the cap is easy to remove but stays on securely.

Smell/Fragrance: The ingredients do list fragrance but to me these just smell waxy.

Performance

Application: For a matte these glide on more easily than expected. I had to use a bit more pressure compared to a non-matte to get the color to transfer but it didn’t drag or tug at my lips. It’s a good idea to exfoliate your lips and use a light layer of lip balm underneath to get a smoother application. Because they have such great color payoff, using a lip brush can help achieve clean, crisp edges.

Texture: These go on pretty creamy and, at first, don’t appear to be truly matte but they do eventually dry down. While wearing them, they felt heavy and I was always aware of them being there.

Pigmentation: These are pretty much opaque on the lip. They do not leave behind a stain.

Longevity: I get between 2 and 4 hours of wear from these depending on how much effort I put into prep. If I am not dehydrated and I exfoliate my lips and use lip balm underneath, wear-time is closer to 4 hours. The drier my lips were, the more they faded unevenly, remaining intense on the outer edges but wearing away easily toward the inner edges.

Overall Opinion

Pros:

• Highly pigmented
• Creamy, easy to apply
• Large shade range
• They hold up through meals pretty well

Cons:

• Not the most comfortable to wear – feels heavy
• High maintenance and requires lots of prep

Worth Buying?

I can see why these have lots of great reviews – tons of shades, awesome color payoff, actually pretty creamy as far as matte lipsticks go, and affordable. Unfortunately though, these just weren’t for me. I don’t have much patience for lip products that require lots of prep and maintenance.

This post is unbelievably belated. I was tagged by the lovely Erin of Beauty Loon way back in May but got so wrapped up with school and other life stuff that I never got around to it. The Lip Product Addict tag was created by Estee at Essie Button. If you haven’t already seen their blogs, I recommend checking them out This sounded like a really fun idea so here is my list:

Favorite Balm or Treatment

Fresh Sugar Lip Treatment is my first love and I have yet to find a balm that is as healing as this one but it is pricey and runs out fairly quickly. I like that it has SPF 15 and while it’s not minty at all, it still has a way of making irritated, dry lips feel so comforted. I also enjoy Jack Black Intense Therapy Lip Balm in Natural Mint as a cheaper alternative. It has a soothing minty tingle and lasts a long time. This one is really great in the summer because it has SPF 25 and the packaging makes melting a non-issue.

Best Eye-Catching Red

I have to say that I don’t wear red very often. I like reds but I prefer for my eyes to take center stage over my lips. On the occasion that I feel like rocking a red lip I turn to Revlon ColorBurst Lip Butter in Cherry Tart which I think is now discontinued. Candy Apple from the same line is similar but is warmer and has no sparkles in it. Another great one is Revlon ColorBurst Lacquer Balm in Provocateur. I like that all of these are moisturizing, shiny, and somewhat sheer. They are bold but at the same time they are easier to pull off than an opaque red.

Best Luxury and Best Drugstore

For luxury I loooove the formula of YSL Rouge Volupte Shine Lipsticks – the shade I wear most is #8. It slides on so effortlessly and gives just the right amount of shine and color without the thick look of a gloss. If I could only keep one lipstick, this would be the one. For drugstore I choose NYX Butter Lipsticks. They have a huge range of shades that suit many different skin tones and they are comfortable to wear.

Best MAC lipstick

Well here is my dirty little secret: I haven’t tried any of MAC’s permanent range lipsticks. Yep, it’s true. I have only one limited edition lipstick and I can’t say I’d use the word “best” to describe it. That said, I can understand why so many people love their lipsticks. There are so many shades and finishes to choose from. Perhaps this is why I haven’t bought any – analysis paralysis LOL.

The Most Disappointing

There are several disappointments in my stash, mostly because I’m very picky about lip products. This isn’t the case for other products like eyeshadows or blushes. YSL rouge Volupte Shine in #15 is one such example. In the tube and swatched, it seems like something I could easily wear, not too nude. But when I wear it, it sort of washes me out. I still love the quality of the product but I wish I had chosen a different shade. Another one is L’Oreal Colour Caresse Wet Shine Stains. I have one that I realllllly love the color and finish of (Pink Resistance) but it takes a huge toll on my lips. It dries them out to the point where I can only wear lip balm after wearing this product.

Liner – Yes or No?

On the rare occasion that I want a super crisp line, then I’ll use a liner in a similar shade to whatever lip color I’m using. Or I might “reverse line” my lips by using a nude pencil around the edges of my lips and blend it outward with my foundation.

Best Gloss

I love the texture of Maybelline Color Sensational High Shine Lip Glosses. They feel really thin and light weight and have zero stickiness. There is a nice mix of colors in their permanent line and they come out with limited edition shade throughout the year. The color payoff is sheer but noticeable which suits my taste well.

Something Extra

I’ve recently gotten some sample lippies, most of which were samples that came with my holiday purchases. Of these, I have really enjoyed Too Faced Glamour Gloss. It’s not something I have ever paid attention to and had it not been included as a sample, I may have never tried it. It’s supposed to be a “volumizing lip gloss with lip injection comfort plump”. I’ve used maybe one or two plumping glosses in the past and wasn’t all that thrilled about them. This one is very nice as glosses go but I don’t think it’s really very plumping, just a bit tingly. The formula feels almost like a gloss/balm hybrid in that it doesn’t look thickly layered on the lip or have a super glassy shine. I have the color Sex Pot and it’s a nice mauve pink color that looks natural on my complexion.

This has been an interesting tag. It forced me to take a deeper look at my lip product collection. It also reminded me that I probably should declutter this part of my stash but that’s a post for another day. I tag:

• Katia Audrey of Audrey’s Glams
• Stephanie of Peplum + Coffee
• Nishu of Lips n Berries
• Swati and Smriti of Curios and Dreams

NYX Butter Lipstick comes in 22 shades and is supposed to offer intense color payoff while feeling lightweight and comfortable. The whole bullet is made of plastic and feels lightweight but sturdy. The lipstick twists up smoothly and the cap stays on securely. The outside of the bullets are supposed to represent the color inside. There is a label on the bottom of the lipstick with the name of the color inside. These cost $6.00 for 0.16 oz. / 4.5 g and can be found at NYX and Ulta

Fireball is described as a “deep coral”. I find that it is a very vibrant coral that can almost look red if applied heavily. It has a very soft balm-like sheen and has no glitter or shimmer in it. It is highly pigmented but slightly sheer and doesn’t leave a stain on my lips. I get a lot of color with just one swipe but I need to go over it once more to make sure the color is perfectly even. It has a very lightweight feel and glides on easily. Even if I make several passes over my lips to build up the color it still feels lightweight. Despite the name “butter lipstick”, I wouldn’t say the formula is hydrating but I don’t find it drying either. I wore this a few times when I had chapped lips and felt that it emphasized the dryness and didn’t last as long. There is a very light fragrance but it’s hard to tell exactly what it’s supposed to smell like. I get hints of caramel and spice – maybe cinnamon. The fragrance is incredibly light, though. This wears about 3-4 hours on me, depending on how hydrated or dry my lips are. The drier my lips are, the shorter this wears. I didn’t have any issues with this bleeding outside my lips lines.

Worth Buying?

I’m really happy with this lipstick and plan on buying some more colors. If you are familiar with NYX Round Case Lipsticks and like them, I have a feeling you will love these. They have some quirks – they don’t last an incredibly long time but they do last long enough. They also don’t sit well on dehydrated lips. Other than that, they have excellent color payoff, feel lightweight and comfortable to wear, come in tons of colors and only cost about $6.

L’Oreal Colour Riche Extraordinaire is a new lip gloss with 16 shades that offers rich, glossy color and smooths the surface of lips. From the ads I’ve seen, these seemed like they might be some sort of liquid lipstick but to me they feel mostly like a gloss. They have a moisturizing, non-sticky feel and offer vibrant but sheer to semi-opaque color. Dancing Rose is a purplish pink with lots of fine multi-colored sparkles and Rouge Allegro is a bright pinkish red with no sparkles or shimmer.

Price/Quantity: About $8.00 for 0.18 Fl. Oz. / 5.5 mL

Availability: Drugstores, Ulta, Target

Packaging: Short, lipstick-sized gloss tube. The outside of the packaging is a metallic, reflective gold with a swatch of the color inside on the front. There is a label on the top with the color name as well. The rounded doe foot applicator is very soft to the touch and pulls out enough gloss to cover lips without having to go back into the tube. I have an acrylic lipstick caddy and these fit nicely in the compartments right next to my lipsticks.

Smell: These have a light floral fragrance that I only noticed when I smelled the applicator or smelled a swatch on my hand. I can somewhat taste the fragrance. It faded away soon after I applied the product.

Application: One pass is enough for me to get plenty of color and shine from these glosses. If I attempt to add a second layer, it does smooth out lip lines but it also looks too thick, bordering on goopy. So, one layer is just perfect.

Texture/Finish: There is no stickiness in this gloss, even when I press my lips together. They feel moisturizing but they also have a slight “oily” feel to them, which makes sense since L’Oreal says that these are infused with micro-oils. Some of these have shimmer and sparkle and others have none. I like the sparkles in the shades I bought because they are big enough to see but you can barely feel them. There are incredibly shiny and glassy-looking.

Pigmentation: Both are semi sheer but Dancing Rose is slightly more opaque than Rouge Allegro. They can be built up to appear more opaque or sheered out to give just a hint of color and shine. For me, it is most comfortable to wear a light-medium weight coating of these on the lips because they have a heavier feel than some other glosses I have tried. The ads I have seen for these give the impression that they would look very loud on the lips but they are not.

Longevity: After about 3 hours Rouge Allegro bled into the cracks and crevices of my lips and migrated outside lip lines but it did stay vibrant and shiny for 5 hours. Dancing Rose also stayed vibrant and shiny for 5 hours and didn’t have any bleeding issues.

Worth Buying?

Because of the bleeding/migrating issue, I wouldn’t recommend Rouge Allegro but Dancing Rose is worth buying if you like extra glossy lips and semi-opaque color. If you like lighter weight glosses (like Maybelline Color Sensational High Shine Glosses), or you like opaque to nearly opaque glosses then you might not like these as much. The light fragrance doesn’t bother me but those that are extra sensitive to smells may want to be wary of that.

L’Oreal Colour Riche Extraordinaire is a new lip gloss that comes in 16 shades and offers rich, glossy color and smoothes the surface of lips. From the ads I’ve seen, these seemed like they might be some sort of liquid lipstick but to me they feel mostly like a gloss. They have a moisturizing, non-sticky feel and offer vibrant but sheer to semi-opaque color. Rose Melody is a light peachy pink with fine multi-colored sparkles and Purple Prelude is a cool lavender gloss with no sparkles or shimmer.

Price/Quantity: About $8.00 for 0.18 Fl. Oz. / 5.5 mL

Availability: Drugstores, Ulta, Target

Packaging: Short, lipstick-sized gloss tube. The outside of the packaging is a metallic, reflective gold with a swatch of the color inside on the front. There is a label on the top with the color name as well. The rounded doe foot applicator is very soft to the touch and pulls out enough gloss to cover lips without having to go back into the tube. I have an acrylic lipstick caddy and these fit nicely in the compartments right next to my lipsticks.

Smell: These have a light floral fragrance that I only noticed when I smelled the applicator or smelled a swatch on my hand. I can somewhat taste the fragrance. It faded away soon after I applied the product.

Application: One pass is enough for me to get plenty of color and shine from these glosses. If I attempt to add a second layer, it does smooth out lip lines but it also looks too thick, bordering on goopy. So, one layer is just perfect.

Texture/Finish: There is no stickiness in this gloss, even when I press my lips together. They feel moisturizing but they also have a slight “oily” feel to them, which makes sense since L’Oreal says that these are infused with micro-oils. Some of these have shimmer and sparkle and others have none. I like the sparkles in the shades I bought because they are big enough to see but you can barely feel them. There are incredibly shiny and glassy-looking.

Pigmentation: All the shades I have tried are semi-sheer. The brightest one I have is Rouge Allegro and it is very vibrant and can be built up to appear more opaque but for me it is most comfortable to wear a light-medium weight coating of these on the lips. The first ones I bought were Rose Melody, Purple Prelude, and Dancing Rose. I went with lighter colors first because I was under the impression these were going to be very loud on the lips but they are not. Don’t be afraid to try the brighter colors, since they are sheer enough to tone down.

Longevity: About 4 – 5 hours. The color started fading after 3 hours but the shine kept on going and faded between 4 and 5 hours.

Worth Buying?

Yes, if you like extra glossy lips and semi-sheer color. If you like lighter weight glosses (like Maybelline Color Sensational High Shine Glosses), or you like opaque to nearly opaque glosses then you might not like these as much. The light fragrance doesn’t bother me but those that are extra sensitive to smells may want to be wary of that.

Revlon Lacquer Balms are supposed to offer the comfort and moisture of a lip balm and the high shine finish of a gloss. They are formulated with shea, coconut, and mango butters and comes in 10 shades. They cost about $9 each and can be found just about anywhere Revlon is sold.

Performance/Experience

Provocatuer is a pinkish red shade with a tiny bit of silver glitter. Once I swatch or apply this, I cannot see or feel any of the glitter in it. When applied heavily it can look closer to a true red but sheering it out will give it a pinker appearance. It has great color payoff considering how lightweight it feels. It has a thinner, gel-like feel with a slight minty tingle and melts evenly onto lips with ease. It actually did feel hydrating and soothing like a lip balm which is my favorite type of lipstick formula. I can get away with not using a lip brush if I am just applying this for everyday wear but for the photos, I had to use a brush to get crisp lines. It didn’t emphasize any dry spots or chapping at all. After 4 hours the color was still looking pretty vibrant but it did fade in the center of my lips. It also lost its shine finish and no longer felt moisturizing but didn’t look dry at all. The only quirk I found with this shade was that it did bleed slightly but not enough that I think other people would notice it.

Coquette is a bubble gum pink with silver sparkles. If you apply this heavily the silver glitter isn’t very noticeable except if you are looking up close. When you apply it lightly the sparkles become more noticeable. I don’t really feel the glitter in it when I press my lips together but I have heard others say that they can feel it. This shade also had great color payoff but it was a tiny bit less creamy and less hydrating than Provocateur but it applied easily and evenly. This one lasted about 4 hours before it started looking dry, patchy, and faded enough to need a reapplication.

Worth Buying?

I am not going to lie – I am biased toward this particular type of formula so for me, these are worth buying, even with their imperfections. Between the two though, Provocateur has a better formula so if you just want to buy one to try it, this would be the one to check out. Coquette is a nice shade of pink but it dries out more quickly and the glitter could be an annoyance to some people so it’s just okay.

[rating=”4″]

Maybelline Color Sensational High Shine Glosses are my favorite drugstore lip glosses that I have tried so far. They have a wax-free formula and offer vibrant color payoff. I am excited to see these new limited edition berry themed shades that are out for fall.

Colors/Finishes

• Berry Brilliance – Hot pink with a slight purple pull and no shimmer.
• Raspberry Ablaze – Deep berry with no shimmer. My favorite shade of the bunch, reminds me of mixed berry smoothies.
• Purple Royale – Cool-toned dark purple with no shimmer.

Performance/Experience

These have a thin gel-like, non-sticky consistency with high color payoff. Berry Brilliance and Raspberry Ablaze were easily built up without getting goopy. Purple Royale only looked good if I applied a single thin layer. When I went back to add another layer it started gathering where my lips come together which was not attractive. These lasted about 2 hours on me, going from a high gloss shine to a balmy finish during that time. They appear to leave a stain on the lips – Raspberry Brilliance stained the most. The packaging is sleek and simple but the clear plastic does scratch easily. The doefoot applicator is slanted and does a decent job of picking up enough gloss for one layer of color. They have a citrusy scent but do not taste like anything.

Overall Opinion

[rating=5]

This formula is excellent. I just wish that the limited edition colors were available for a longer period of time and available to purchase online as well. Sometimes it can be so hard to find limited edition drugstore products because there are usually only a few available on the endcaps in the beauty aisles. If you miss these, their permanent shades are really pretty too.

Product Description

Official Product Info: Almay.com
Price/Quantity: About $6 USD for 7.1 mL
Availability: Drugstores, Target, Ulta
Color Range: 10 Shades
Color/Finish: Apricot Pucker is a semi-sheer bright coral. It has no sparkle and gives the lips a soft shine rather than the glassy, reflective look of a gloss. This color looks a lot brighter in the tube than it does on the lips.
Packaging: Lipgloss-style tube with a doe-foot applicator. I think that having a balm in this type of tube is more convenient for carrying around in your purse because it will not melt and break in the heat like a traditional lip balm stick would.
Smell/Taste: This shade had a light fruity fragrance that reminded me of starburst candy but it didn’t taste like anything.

Performance

Application: Apply it just like you would a lip gloss.
Texture: It did feel a little heavy on my lips and was ever so slightly sticky to the touch (if you touch it with your fingers or if your hair accidentally catches on it) but it did not feel sticky in the way that a Mac Lipglass does, where your lips almost stick to each other. It was just quite thick. It stayed evenly distributed on my lips and did not slide around or gather in one spot even if I pressed my lips together. These are definitely more moisturizing than a lip gloss but they aren’t nearly as moisturizing as my Fresh Sugar Lip Treatment or Jack Black Lip Balm.
Longevity: This lasted about 2 and a half hours before the color and moisture faded.

Overall Opinion

Pros:

• Moisturizing
• Convenient to carry around, even in hot weather where traditional lip balm sticks would melt and break
• Add a sheer tint of color
• Decent color selection
• Smells nice

Cons:

• A tiny bit sticky/heavy feeling

Would I buy this again? This is one of those products that isn’t bad but it doesn’t blow me away either. There are so many lip balms and glosses on the market but I like the convenience of the packaging, the price, and the range of colors so I would buy it again.

Product Description

Price/Quantity: $8.99 for 2.7 grams
Availability: Target
Color Range: 4 Shades

• Hint of Coral
• Hint of Red
• Hint of Pink
• Hint of Berry

Color/Finish: Sheer, bright, glossy wash of color – no shimmer or sparkles. Hint of Coral is mostly orange when swatched and coral-red when worn on lips, Hint of Red and Hint of Berry are fairly close in color once applied, and Hint of Pink is the brightest and most pigmented.
Packaging: The metal tubes have a semi glossy black finish and have a fair amount of weight to them. Each has a color swatch on the end indicating which color is inside. The cap glides off really smoothly and and the lip balm twists up super smoothly as well. The packaging gets an A+ from me. Very luxe, indeed.
Smell/Taste: They don’t taste like anything to me but they do have a strange synthetic smell. I can’t put my finger on exactly what it smells like but it disappears once applied.

Performance

Application: I’d apply these straight from the tube. Although they have good pigmentation for a balm, I feel I could get away with not even using a mirror.
Pigmentation: Sheer but fairly strong in color payoff. They leave a very faint stain on lips.
Texture: Upon application these feel super slick and moisturizing. They have a gloss/gel feel to them – not sticky or oily in the least. The letdown is that they quickly dry down leaving behind just a sheer tint of color on my lips. I don’t feel that they dried my lips out though.
Longevity: After about 1 hour the glossy finish fades and after about 2 hours the stain fades.

Overall Opinion

Pros:

• Luxe look and feel
• Good color payoff
• Nice glossy shine
• Easy way to wear color
• Not sticky or oily

Cons:

• The glossy finish fades quickly
• Didn’t actually moisturize my lips

Would I buy these again? I would buy these again but not for the purpose of using them as lip balm. I would love to keep these in my purse because they feel so fancy without actually being expensive so I wouldn’t worry too much about damaging them.