Favorites: Top 5 Lipstick Formulas

In case my blog title didn't give it away: I'm a little lipstick obsessed. Sure, I go nuts for highlighters and own an unhealthy number of blushes, but at the end of the day, lipsticks are my go-to feel-good product. I can layer on eyeshadows, rub in foundation and concealer, draw the most precise cat-eye ever...but until I've got something on my lips, my face may as well be bare.

I did a version of this on YouTube a while back, and while I still love all of the formulas I listed there, I've tried some new things and found some even greater loves. The list also features a good mix, in my opinion: there are 2 drugstore formulas, 2 high end, and 1 mid-end. A fair warning, since everybody's tastes are different: I almost always prefer a lipstick that is creamy-but-not-oily, opaque, and wears for at least 3 hours without needing a touch-up. My lips also tend to dry out easily, so while I love a matte lipstick from time to time, I've finally admitted that they will never be the most comfortable or flattering formulas for my lips.

#5: Revlon Just Bitten Balm Stains; semi-sheer to opaque; glossy finish.

Ok, so these technically aren't a lipstick. But they don't moisturize my lips, so they're not a balm, and they last for 4-5 hours while providing a whole lotta color, so I don't consider them a true gloss. They're essentially a glossy lipstick in a wind-up pencil form, which makes them great for travel. They apply smoothly and layer well, so you can apply one or two layers for a sheer wash of color, or keep building up the color until they're completely opaque. Overall, these are what I wanted the Clinique Chubby Sticks to be. Shades shown: Honey, Darling, Sweetheart.



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#4: Estee Lauder Pure Color Lipsticks; semi-sheer to opaque; cream and frosted finishes.

I wish I had discovered these elegantly-packaged beauties sooner. The Pure Color lipsticks are creamy, dreamy, and oh-so-smooth. Most of the shades are opaque, but if you've got pigmented lips like mine, some of the nudes will require an extra layer. I obviously go for the cream finishes, but frosts like Melon are stunning if that's your thing. They've also come out with some derivative formulas (Vivid Shine and Velvet). The only reason these aren't higher on the list is because their staying power is kind of "meh": about 2-3 hours, depending on the shade. Shades shown: Pinkberry, Cherry Passion.
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#3: Revlon Super Lustrous line; opaque; cream, frosted, and matte finishes.

Forget the Revlon ColorBurst lipsticks that everybody raves about: most of them apply sheer on pigmented lips, dry me out after an hour, and come in blah colors. Super Lustrous is where it's at. This formula has been a company mainstay for roughly 50 years (or 60--math is not my strong suit), and it's still one of the best products they product. I personally avoid the frosts, but they look lovely on others. Their mattes are some of the few I can wear, though I often top them with gloss to add a bit of moisture. The best are the creams, which are opaque, smooth, and available in a stupidly wide range of colors. The wear time on these varies from formula to formula and from one shade to the next, but they usually last for at least 4 hours before I feel the need to touch up. Added bonus: some of the shades have a matching nail polish available! Shade shown: Cherries in the Snow.

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#2: Lancome Rouge in Love Lipsticks; opaque; cream and frosted finishes.

I didn't expect to love these so much, especially since their frosts are glittery messes (at least by my standards) and their lipstick shape is not the usual "tear drop" (am I picky or what?). But the wear time and overall look won me over. The flat shape of the bullet actually makes it easier to get a more precise application, and they can wear like iron for up to 6 hours. What keeps them from being my #1, however, is that they feel a bit more like a satin (meaning they're a smidge dry) and they wear off super-easily if you use gloss. Shades shown: 307 Sweet Embrace, 181 Rouge St. Honore.
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#1: MAC Amplified Cream Lipsticks; opaque; cream finish.

At the end of the day, these babies are still the queens of my heart. They're completely opaque, come in oodles of beyond gorgeous shades, and last surprisingly long without feathering; I get 4-5 hours of wear before I need to touch up. They also don't fade much faster if you put gloss on top, though this can make the darker shades feather. Shades shown: Dubonnet, Impassioned, Chatterbox, Petals & Peacocks.

Nom nom, lipstick, nom!

And now, the face of the day! It's been a rough week for me, emotionally and financially, so of course I whipped out some red. Or rather, a lot of red. I seriously didn't realize I'd matched myself up that much, but hey, it definitely made me feel better!

BASE: MAC Face & Body foundation in N1 + Missha Perfect Cover BB cream in #13, Clinique Airbrush concealer in 001 Fair, Skindinavia setting spray

EYES: La Femme brow pencil in Taupe, Too Faced Shadow Insurance, DiorShow Maximizer lash primer; Prestige My Biggest Lashes mascara, Milani Liquif-eye eyeliner in Brown

CHEEKS: MAC matte blush in Frankly Scarlet, Estee Lauder Shimmery Jewel Powder

LIPS: Lancome Rouge in Love lipstick in #181 Rouge St. Honore