Slew o' Lip Product Swatches and Mini-Reviews: Bite, Colourpop, NYX

I was cleaning out the photos on my computer (because yes, I'm that person) when I noticed an assortment of random lip product swatches that had never been posted to my blog. Maybe I ended up not writing a review, maybe I just forgot to post them, but whatever the reason, they were sitting there, labeled but unloved. It's totally disorganized, but I truly hope you guys find these helpful!

First up, I decided to use my VIB discount to test out the new Bite Beauty Amuse Bouche lipstick line. I went for Meringue, which looked like it'd be the most different from anything else in my collection. Sure enough, I don't have anything that's really comparable to this peachy nude.

But...I don't love it on me. It's this weird disconnect where I put it on, can't stop staring at how pretty the color looks on my lips, then continuously notice how "meh" it looks on my coloring. In the end, I decided to return it; I think something a hair cooler/more pink will ultimately be more flattering.

I have zero qualms with the formula, though. It's creamy and pigmented, and not only does it apply marvelously over freshly-exofliated lips, but it's also able to mask a multitude of sins on dryer, more flaky lips. The plastic citrus smell and taste are pretty gross, though.

Next is the Colourpop Ultra Matte lipstick in Stingraye. Marketed as a "cool-toned mauve brown," this shade looks plummy and pretty in photos, but in real life, it is a gray plum. Seriously, don't let this picture fool you; it did NOT look that way on my mouth in person! Even my family confirmed that it was straight-up gray on my mouth.

It's a shame, because I didn't totally hate the formula. Like most matte liquid lipsticks, it's drying, and it actually feels a bit like plastic stretched tightly over your mouth. I mean, you smile and it actually feels like something that has been pasted on to your lips and stretching uncomfortably. It's not the worst feeling I've ever felt, though, and it does have decent staying power. Even after 6 hours and a full meal, I had only some feathering (easily fixed with a lip pencil) and a tiny bit of wear in the center of my lips. I might revisit this formula, but for now, I think I need to take a quick break from liquid lipsticks.

Last, but not least, I decided to fill in some gaps in my lip pencil collection with these beauties from the NYX Slim Lip Pencil range: Plum, Rose, and Mauve. All three shades are wonderfully pigmented, leaning on the cool side, and very easy to apply.

I know I've talked about these a ton, but just a reminder that this is my favorite lip pencil formula. They're creamy enough that they don't tug on the lips, yet firm enough to give you a sharp line with no smearing. They're excellent over or under a balm for a quick on-the-go color. The shade range is very broad. And of course, they're only $3.50 each! These are truly some of my all-time favorite lip products.

Duping Too Faced Melted Peony

Truth time: I love a lot of lipstick formulas that other people hate. This is partially because I am willing to exfoliate my lips daily and deal with a more drying formula in exchange for a matte finish and an apocalypse-proof wear time. I always try to make this clear in my reviews.

But even I stumble on to products that are just too damn wrong for my lips. Meet Too Faced Melted Peony: the most perfect sorta-nude-lip for me, with a great balance of peach and pink. The color is gorgeous...the formula is atrocious. Seriously, I have never put anything so drying or finicky on my lips before--and I wear Ruby Woo on the regular!

And so I went on a long and arduous quest to find a dupe. Most supposed dupes were way too pale and beige, or bubblegum pink with no peach, or in yet another formula I hate with a burning passion. Finally, somebody mentioned Bite Beauty's High Pigment Pencil in Bouquet. Great! I love the Bite formula! After searching numerous swap and sale threads for an on-the-cheap tube, I managed to obtain Bouquet via swap.

Annnnnd I love it.

Daylight on top, flash on bottom.

Here are ze swatches. As you can hopefully see, Melted Peony and Bouquet aren't exactly alike, but they're super similar: Melted Peony is a bit paler and more peach, Bouquet has more pink and is brighter.

I swatched a few other shades in the same-ish color family for comparison. Bite Velvet is brighter, cooler, and more pink than Melted Peony. MAC Faux is actually a muted neutral pink on me, but because it has more brown in it than these other shades, it looks crazy dark in these swatch photos.

Here's how Bite Bouquet looks on my lips. Again, it's definitely a bit brighter than Melted Peony, and it reads more as a peach-pink than a nude. But I think it's a pretty damn good replacement. In a sense, any time I could wear Melted Peony, I can now wear Boquet.

I'll continue to try nude lipsticks because I'm a lipstick fanatic and I love to try ALL TEH THINGS, but for now, I'm oh so happy with Bite Bouquet!

Oh, and yeah, I'm wearing a shit ton of glitter on my eyes. God bless you, Lit Cosmetics Clearly Liquid Base! (The actual glitter in this picture is a limited edition Wet n' Wild product...which may or may not be eye safe. Oops. Do your research--check for it around Halloween!)

Try This: Bite Luminous Creme Lipstick Duo in Tangerine/Lingonberry

I originally picked up the Bite Beauty Luminous Creme Lipstick Duo because I wanted a sure bet. I'd just exchanged a really expensive foundation that was beautiful, but not a match for my skintone, and the disappointment was palpable. These colorful little guys were just waiting for me at Sephora's front register.

And little they are. I don't know what I expected, given that each lipstick is a mere 0.05oz and the duo costs $12, but I laughed out loud when I pulled off the caps and twisted up the bullets. Here they are compared to a full-sized lipstick, Lipstick Queen Pinky Nude Saint:

Seriously, these lipsticks are tiny. To be fair, I'm a lipstick hoarder and I don't exactly finish tubes of the stuff on a regular basis, but c'mon, Bite! Couldn't you at least make the lipstick, y'know, the normal width and just kinda shortened it? This teeny size makes me feel like I'm applying lipstick with a toothpick.

Despite the small size, the packaging for the duo is nice. The black tube has a soft, satin finish. The caps click on tightly; I've had no problems carrying this in a purse or a pocket. Overall, the tube has the same weighty, luxurious feel you get from the full-size products.

 Lingonberry on top, Tangerine on the bottom.

Luckily, the formula doesn't disappoint. It reminds me of Bite's High Pigment Pencil formula, but slightly thicker and "heavier." The result is less of a weightless feel, to be sure, but the duo lipsticks are also less slippery, meaning they don't fade or slide off as easily. These aren't moisturizing lipsticks, but I didn't find them to be particularly drying, either. Scent-and-taste-o-phobes should be forewarned that these have a sweet vanilla-esque flavor and smell.

Both shades are bright and beautiful. Lingonberry is my favorite of the two; it's a creamy fuchsia-purple that really flatters my skintone. Tangerine isn't as orange as the name suggests--I'd call it a coral--but it's still a great choice for summer.

Both shades blended together.

In a sense, you get three lip colors with this duo: if you blend the two, you get this really gorgeous bright pink. I almost like this better than the individual lipsticks!

The Bite Luminous Creme Lipstick Duo ended up being a great buy for me. I got three lipstick colors in a solid formula with sleek, but travel-friendly, packaging. I highly recommend it!

Urban Decay Midnight Cowboy...NEVER AGAIN

My skin was a bit of a mess this past week, so I took a few days away from makeup to let it heal. This past weekend marked the first time I painted my face in 6 days! Eek!

I decided that, since I'd been makeup-free for a while, I should get back in to it with one of my favorite things: a red lip. Hilariously, I decided to purge this shade--Bite Beauty HPP in Pomegranate--after putting it on. It's GORGEOUS, and I recommend it constantly, but I don't think it's as suited to my tastes as, say, the Hourglass liquid lipsticks. (Are you guys sick of hearing about that formula yet? Come to think of it, has Hourglass hired me to promote this lipstick line yet?) It'll be sent off to a better home. :)

Then I decided to try Urban Decay's Midnight Cowboy eyeshadow for the first time in years. And I remembered why I haven't worn it for years: the glitter fallout is INSANE. I ended up looking like a four year old who'd gone crazy with a glitter crayon. UUUGH.

BASE: MAC Strobe Cream, Kevyn Aucoin Sensual Skin Enhancer in Sx01, Dolce & Gabbana powder foundation in 50 Ivory, Skindinavia setting spray

EYES: Too Faced Shadow Insurance, Benefit Creaseless Cream Shadow in RSVP, Urban Decay eyeshadow in Midnight Cowboy, Catrice eyeshadow in Starlight Espresso [D/C], Wet n' Wild eyeshadow in Brulee, Shu Uemura brow pencil in Seal Brown, L'oreal Miss Manga mascara, Maybelline Full n' Soft mascara, Milani Liquid Eyes pencil in Black

CHEEKS: Scott Barnes Chic Palette in Posh [D/C]

LIPS: Bite Beauty High Pigment Pencil in Pomegranate

August 2014 Product Pileup

25 Tops: Bite Madeira

I am so, so lazy when it comes to eyeshadow. If I feel like I'm being too boring with that whole "I just want bright lipsticks!" thing, I try to wear eyeshadow, and it never really flatters me. Not to mention the fact that if I do decide to wear eyeshadow these days, I will almost always default to two stupidly easy options:

1. Slapping on a cream, like Chanel Illusion d'Ombre in Epatant, and acting like I put in a lot of effort.
2. Blending a bunch of orange-and-gold junk on my eyes, because it's kinda neutral and it's hard to completely screw up.

Because I don't want to be super-duper boring, I threw on option #2 and whipped out the nude lipstick. Then I realized that this will be the third "25 Tops" post in a row to focus on orange products, and I just gave up.

Bite Beauty High Pigment Pencil in Madeira has always been an "iffy" product for me. On the one hand, I love that freaking formula to bits, and it's the only opaque nude I've owned that doesn't make me look like I ate a messy chocolate bar. On the other hand, I don't think it's the most flattering shade in my arsenal; it's still a bit dark and brown, in my opinion, and I feel like the undertones can exacerbate the sallowness at the corners of my mouth.

But I've been keeping it because, again, I don't own any other opaque nudes (so it fills a niche), and of course, my mom love love LOVES it. (If you're new here: my mom hates my bold lipsticks, but will go bonkers for nudes and soft, girly pinks.) Although I'm a big girl and I wear what I want most of the time, I have a soft spot for makeup my mom actually likes on me.

And it kinda gives me that "supermodel" lip color you see in a lot of 90s photos, which I have a weakness for:

So for now, Bite Madeira is in the MAYBE pile. Joining it is the MAC lipliner in Subculture, which I also worry is a bit brown for me. The 3 eyeshadows I used the most for this look--MAC Woodwinked, Urban Decay X, and Urban Decay Foxy (I think?)--will also stick around, because they don't take up very much room aaaaand I don't have any other orange shades. Also, I should probably purge my flesh-colored MAC Chromagraphic pencil because it's not an everyday product for me, but I'm disgusting and I love that overdone pseudo-60s look, SO THERE.

I also re-tested Maybelline Great Lash Lots of Lashes mascara and the Hourglass Veil primer. Both of those products are "pretty good," in my opinion, and I wouldn't mind recommending them to others. But I just have other products in my collection that I think work as well, if not better, and are more suited to my skin type and personal tastes.

Potential Swaps for Chanel Dragon

Chanel's long-discontinued Rouge Allure Laque in Dragon has always prompted some polarizing, powerful responses. On the one hand, it's the most perfect medium red I've ever worn, and the formula is slightly glossy and decently long-wearing. On the other hand, it's one of ye olde liquid lipstick formulas, meaning it feathers easily and sucks every drop of moisture out of your lips.

So why was there such widespread panic when the product was discontinued? Why didn't people just march off to other red lipsticks?

Uh, yeah. It's THAT gorgeous. I've never found a red that looks exactly like that on my lips. And with a little lipliner and some q-tips, I'm able to get through a hot night on the town without excessive feathering or fading. It's just my perfect red.

I've been on a quest to find the best Chanel Dragon dupes for at least 3 years now. Every time I get a new red, I swatch it against Dragon. And while I've yet to find a product that looks just like Dragon on my lips--not only in terms of color, but also with regards to the finish--I've found several potential swap-outs.

The Armani Lip Maestro in shade 400 "The Red" is probably the closest match I've found in terms of color. Upon closer inspection, the Armani is a hair darker and slightly less blue; however, I think the darkness is partially because the product dries matte. Armani The Red is also a liquid lipstick, but its formulation is more creamy than liquidy, and it has a slight powdery feel on the lips. While the product lasts long, it also smears very easily; even with lipliner, the edges of my lips look quite soft after a few hours of wearing this one.

Hourglass Opaque Liquid Rouge in Icon is more blue than any of the other options seen here (to the point where it appears almost raspberry in these swatches), but it behaves the best. An incredibly long-wearing, only slightly drying liquid lipstick, Icon will last me for an entire day without feathering or fading. On my lips, it is about a shade darker than Dragon, and it dries down matte.

If you want the same bright, shiny red and aren't too concerned about longevity, Bite Beauty High Pigment Pencil in Pomegranate is your best option. This shade lasts for about 4 hours on me with minimal feathering. What it lacks in wear time it makes up for in finish: it is every bit as glossy as Chanel Dragon. It's also the least-drying option here due to the rich, creamy formula.

MAC Ruby Woo seems very off here--if you were going by swatches alone, you'd easily judge this too matte and too pink. And while, yes, it is easily the most matte option here, it also applies much more red on the lips--I think it looks pink here because the matte formulation appears more "chalky" on skin than these liquid and cream products, so it's not catching as much light. It's not particularly comfortable to apply or wear, but the color is gorgeous, and it does. not. budge.

Here are the swatches after one quick swipe with a baby wipe. The Armani and Hourglass lipsticks appear to be the most waterproof; the Hourglass lipstick also stains slightly and takes a bit more elbow grease to get off.

FINAL RECOMMENDATIONS: If you want the most similar formulation and a very close color, go for the Armani. If you want something that is spot-on in terms of color and finish, but performs and applies quite differently, go for the Bite. If you're willing to go a bit darker and give up all glossiness in exchange for a long-wearing, non-feathering product, go for the Hourglass. Last, but not least, if you want a similar shade in a more classic lipstick formulation, go for the MAC.

Mini-Review and Swatches: Bite Beauty High Pigment Pencils

Ahhhh, aren't they beautiful?

The Bite Beauty High Pigment Pencils retail for $24 each at Sephora.com. I actually got the $25 Christmas gift set full of half-sized pencils, but all of these shades are still available in full size (although Cranberry was advertised as a limited edition color). These are twist-up pencils, which means there's no sharpening or mess involved.

The pencils are advertised as "long-lasting, matte lip color" with tons o' pigment and a soothing, beneficial formulation. As my pictures show, this isn't entirely accurate: these pencils have a definite creamy shine to them. The lasting power is decent--Madeira didn't budge when I ate a cheeseburger, and Quince lasted through a bowl of oily soup before beginning to fade after the second bowl--but I wouldn't consider them "long-wearing." They stay for about 4-5 hours before they need a touch up. They don't slide or feather with the exception of Quince, which did bleed ever-so-slightly in to the fine lines around my lips.

The formula, however, is definitely a dream. They glide on to my lips, absolutely no tugging, and are immediately opaque. They don't dry out my lips or feel heavy, which is impressive given how much pigment they contain. The intensity and smoothness of the formula only becomes a problem when you get to the brighter colors, Cranberry and Quince; they can be a little difficult to control. I would highly recommend pairing them with a lipliner and/or applying the product with a lip brush if you're fussy about sharp lip lines like I am.

And the colors are gorgeous. Rhubarb is a muted plum, the kind of color that instantly makes me think "work." I think it would suit a wide variety of skintones. Quince is a bright fuchsia-purple, although it often photographs as a warmer red. Cranberry is a rich blue-based red reminiscent of Chanel Dragon, and it definitely had the biggest "wow" factor for me. Madeira is the furthest away from my usual comfort zone, as it's a nude, but I do think it's a nice color. Advertised as a pink nude, it tends to look more beige/peach on me, and I greatly prefer to pair it with a lipliner for more definition.

The only other issue I had with the Bite Beauty High Pigment Pencils was a bit of a packaging snafu: the Rhubarb pencil slipped out of the tube, so when I opened it for the first time, all of the product was in the lid. This usually means that the product has either dried up or wasn't pressed down in to the tube hard enough, and because my pencil is as luxuriously creamy as ever, I'm going to say it was the latter.

Overall, I truly love these pencils. They're travel-friendly (although again, the brighter colors may need a little "outside help"), incredibly pigmented, come in beautiful shades, and feel great on my lips. I can't give them a perfect review because they are not, as advertised, matte or long-lasting. But I would absolutely recommend them to anyone and everyone.

Rating: 4 out of 5.

Left to right: Rhubarb, Quince, Madeira, Cranberry

Last Minute Gift Guide

The Bad Outfit, Great Lipstick Last Minute Gift Guide

I'm not usually the kind of person who gets in to "gift guides" or "stocking stuffer ideas" posts and videos. I think gifts should be personal, sentimental, and based completely on the receiver's personal interests. But a few friends have requested a list of recommendations for different "groups" of people, ideas for gifts that will please a sizable chunk of the population and fit a range of budgets. And as I'm never opposed to recommending new products or taking pictures of pretty makeup...

So here you have it: a quick and dirty list of readily available, $30-or-less stocking stuffers and Secret Santa hopefuls!

The Special Edition Sampler: Best Bite Set, $25 at Sephora

This adorable set of 4 Bite Beauty lip pencils comes in a super-cute, Christmasy-but-not-over-the-top tin that needs no extra wrapping. It includes 4 very different shades--a nude, a red, a plum, and a limited edition cranberry color--and is a great way to try a new brand. You can give one special person the entire set, or you can give 4 friends/children/aunts/whatever one pencil apiece based on their personal style.

Skincare Stocking Stuffer: Paula's Choice Lip Perfecting Gentle Scrub, $10 at PaulasChoice.com

Lip exfoliants would be way more popular if they were all as gentle and easy-to-use as this guy. The formulation is a soft, white cream with microbeads that you rub in to your lips to gentle slough off dead skin, leaving your lips supple and smooth. It's almost impossible to overdo it with this product, and you could definitely use it every day without trouble. For a little extra, you can purchase this cute set, which comes with the lip scrub and an all-over balm.

Cheap Find: Wet n' Wild Eyeshadow Palette in Comfort Zone, $5 at Walgreens.com

You don't have to empty your wallet to get a great beauty gift. The Wet n' Wild eyeshadow palettes are a fantastic budget buy, especially this collection of neutrals and greens called Comfort Zone. The shades are buttery, super-pigmented, and long-lasting. If the person you're buying for isn't into neutrals, no fears: there are several other palettes and sets, some super-bright, some soft and pastel. Be forewarned, though, that these shadows are a little delicate: don't shove them in a stocking if they'll be crushed or smacked around, because you'll end up with a powdery mess.

Great for Teens: Paula's Choice Barely There Sheer Matte Tint, $17 at PaulasChoice.com

The whole "this is great for teenagers!" line usually grates on me, because I think those tender years are best left to experimentation and personal taste. But I have to admit that most young people aren't quite used to carefully cleaning their faces--which can lead to acne and skin problems--and have a tendency to overdo it with heavy foundations and thick eyeliner. (Not that I have any experience with that...) So if you have a youngin' who is just starting to like makeup, consider a sheer, comfortable product like this tinted moisturizer. It's easy to use and to remove, and it has the added benefit of SPF30 protection.

"They'd never buy it for themselves, BUT...": Makeup Forever Uplight Gel Luminizer, $29 at Sephora

Okay, okay, so I brag on this product a LOT, and you're all sick of it. But I really do think this is one of the most underrated highlighter formulations out there. Not only do you get three different finishes--dewy, shimmery, and glittery--but you also get a lightweight, layerable formula that's easy enough for newbies to manage and sophisticated enough for highlighter addicts to appreciate. My personal favorite shades are #11, this dewy pink that flatters fair faces, and #23, a dramatic, shimmery gold that looks beautiful on deeper skintones.

For the Easy-Going Beauty Fiend: Becca Beach Tints, $25 at BeccaCosmetics.com

Not everybody is as makeup obsessed or anal retentive as I am. Some people want a product that's easy to use in a variety of situations. Becca Beach Tints definitely fit that bill. Semi-sheer and packed in to travel-friendly tubes, these little beauties are great on your bare face or over foundation. They're particularly popular with--surprise surprise--beach goers! I personally don't care for the formulation on my lips, but they are a multi-use product that can be used all over your face, which will make them even more appealing to low-maintenance friends.