I have an entire drawer in my bathroom filled with my lip products. I love to try new things and switch it up, but there’s a few products that I have found myself reaching for consistently over the years. You can snag all of these at Sephora; I honestly really struggle with finding good drugstore lip products so I tend to go higher-end with my lipsticks and glosses. For me, it’s worth it for a pigmented formula that stays on and looks great! I also am not afraid of color! For my everyday makeup, I typically do a simpler eye look and dress it up with a bright or bold or glossy lip. I gravitate toward lipsticks with a cool undertone to make my teeth look whiter and balance out the redness in my skin- you’ll notice that becomes a theme in this post!
1. Buxom Full-on Plumping Lip Cream Gloss in mudslide. This is my absolute go-to gloss. It is a perfect warm pinky-nude that looks super natural on so many skin tones. It has a lot of shine, its long-lasting, and feels great on the lips. I’ve gone through countless tubes of this since I discovered it in early college, and I can layer it over any liner or lipstick to give a glossy, natural finish.
2. Urban Decay Vice Lipstick in rapture. I’ve been hooked on this color for years: it’s a cool rose color, and it reads like a deeper nude on my lips. The cream consistency allows this to be layered for more drama, and can also be topped with a lighter gloss (Buxom mudslide can also do the trick) to be toned down. I like to pair this with a nude liner for additional staying-power and it’s a great everyday color that has a bit of a pop from your average everyday-nude lip.
3. Anastasia Beverly Hills Matte Lipstick in plumeria. I did not expect to fall in love with this lipstick! I initially got it in a set with a bunch of mini lipsticks, started using it all the time, LOST IT, and had to buy the full-size right away. The color is a bold, blue-based berry. Applied liberally, it can dazzle for a night-out look. Toned down with a gloss (and being someone who can wear a bold lip on the regular), it can absolutely be worn for everyday. This would be a great color to wear from the office to happy hour. I use a cool pink liner (Urban Decay has awesome lip liners) underneath to help it stay. The formula is drying if you’re wearing it for an extended period of time- you’ll be fine for a night out or a special event, but I usually will use a gloss (also Buxom mudslide) overtop to keep my lips hydrated if I’m wearing it for a long day.
. Charlotte Tilbury Matte Revolution Lipstick and Lip Cheat Lip Liner in Bond Girl. This is my most-recent lip-product love: I was introduced to Charlotte Tilbury last summer and after trying (and liking) a few face products, I gave her lip products a shot. I didn’t want to be basic and go with the “pillow talk” color, and was instantly intrigued by the name “Bond Girl” because I freaking love James Bond. And, surprise, the color was a cool berry! It was meant to be! For a matte, this is definitely on the creamier side, and wears easier than the ABH matte lipsticks. This is another excellent everyday color if you don’t want to do the traditional nude, or want something dramatic for a night out. Combined with the lip liner, it’s a long-lasting combo. I love to wear the liner on it’s own with other glosses and lipsticks on top. For the record, I do also have the “pillow talk” lipstick and liner and it’s great, but please bury me with this color because it’s perfect.
5. Laneige Lip Sleeping Mask. I struggle with chapped, dry lips and this product was an absolute game-changer for me! I’ve used every product under the sun to keep my lips hydrated (nipple cream included, that stuff works too), and this is easily the best. I apply liberally at night, let it work it’s magic, and then reapply a layer as soon as I wake up to help throughout the day. From first use, it made a huge difference. 10/10 recommend if your lips need some extra hydration, especially in the winter!
I would love to hear if you try any of these!
xoxo,
Kaitlyn Alexandra
