Day 11 of 12 Days of Xmas 2021: My Favourite Lip Products

We’re getting close to the finish line, people. This post is all about lips, in all its categories: lipstick, lip liner and lipgloss. Again, I’m mentioning formulas as favourites, not specific colours, because that would be too difficult and I don’t need the stress.

On the Eleventh day of Christmas, myself gave to me,

Eleven lip delights

Ten terrific shadows

Nine perfect powders

Eight pretty palettes

Seven stellar blushes

Six superb bronzers

Five fab foundations

Four fine highlighters

Three proper primers

Two great concealers

And a Rephr brush set under the tree.

I’m not the biggest fan of liquid lipsticks, but there are two formulas that have worked really well for me: YSL’s Tatouage Couture Matte Stain, and Sleek Matte Me Lip Cream. The Sleek formula dries down completely but doesn’t make my lips super dry. The YSL formula never fully dries, but it doesn’t transfer easily despite that, and it’s super comfortable and light on the lips. And, lasts an insanely amount of time.

Keeping with long wear formulas, but now in a more traditional format, we have Avon’s True Colour Perfectly Matte lipsticks, Honest Beauty’s Lip Crayons and NARS Satin Lip Pencils. All matte(ish) formulas (I clearly have a type). Avon’s lipsticks are the driest of all three, but glide pretty easily on the lips and they are smooth and opaque, and never get patchy even with extra layers. Plus, they last a ridiculous amount of time for a traditional lipstick (8+ hours).

The Honest Beauty Lip Crayon aIso goes on like a regular lipstick, with reasonable slip and without tugging or pulling on the lips, but it sets into a completely matte finish that you will struggle to get off of you lips -it behaves just like a liquid lipstick, where it flakes off rather than fading, and does not transfer, so it’s great to wear under a mask.

The Nars Satin Lip Pencil is the most emollient and comfortable to wear of the three. The colour I have is Majella, and it’s super pigmented and has a satin shine like the product promises. It lasts without moving or budging for a really long time and leaves a strong red stain behind.

If there is something YSL does well, is lipsticks. Another of my favourite formulas is the cult favourite Rouge Volupté Shine. These lipsticks are more balmy, more translucent, while still providing visible colour. They are glossy, hydrating and super comfortable to wear. And they last reasonably well for a lipstick that is so emollient.

A good discovery I made this year were the Givenchy Le Rouge Lipsticks. I have the shade Carmin Escarpin and not only is the formula comfortable, easy to apply, pigmented and long lasting, but the lipstick itself feels and looks like a luxury item, which is not always the case for more expensive brands. The case is hefty and the outside lid is lined with leather.

The brand that I have the most lipsticks from is MAC, by a long shot. I love the brand, the multiple finishes, and the range is so massive (well over 100 shades) that you’re bound to find more than one colour to love. I certainly found multiple. The more matte they are, the more long lasting, but the Lustre finish remains my favourite because I love the creamy shine and the hydration, even though it lasts for about two seconds.

I’m not a big wearer of lip liner and/or lipgloss (matte lipsticks is just what I wear 90% of the time, in case you haven’t noticed) but when I did reach for something like that this past year, two products stand out. For lip liner, Avon’s Pro Line Lip Perfectors were my first choice. I’m not an Avon distributor nor do I have anyone to direct you to, yet I think there are about 3 products from Avon in my favourites – hey, what can I say, when it’s good, it’s good. And these liners are creamy, last well, don’t dry out my lips and are super affordable.

For a gloss, I tend to reach for more balmy and hydrating products, and my favourite this year was the By Terry Baume de Rose (in a lipgloss like packaging, with a doe foot applicator). It’s thicker than a regular gloss but it’s less sticky, has a light milky tint and most importantly, really hydrates my lips, which is key since I wear so many matte formulas.

Lastly, the pièce de résistance, Christian Louboutin’s Velvet Matte Lip Colour in the classic “Rouge Louboutin” red shade. Is it a good formula? Yes, but so are many other lipsticks. We’re not here because of the formula, we’re just happy it does not disappoint. The main reason I got this was because of the iconic packaging. The black case is made of metal and it’s incredibly heavy. The lid is very art deco, and I like that it’s red on the inside. This is as luxe as luxury can get.

This is not something I’m going to purchase multiple shades of, not because it’s not good – the lipstick is a bit drying but applies evenly, with opaque colour coverage in one pass, and lasts a good amount of time – but because I can find colours with good formulas in much less expensive brands. However, as a makeup lover and semi-collector, having at least one Louboutin lipstick felt like a must have, and I regret nothing.

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