Maybelline Super Stay Matte Ink Liquid Lipstick Review & Swatches

You might be wondering to yourself, "Wendy, why are you trying out more Super Stay products? You know it didn't work out for you the first time around." And if you're not thinking that, here's a little bit of a refresher. At the end of last year, Influenster and Maybelline paired up to allow select beauty bloggers to test out their original Super Stay 24 Hour Lip Colors. The formula was so different than any other liquid lipstick I had tried due to its sticky nature and, unfortunately, I didn't find it to be all that wearable or comfortable unless I added the balmy top coat that came with it. While they are still technically liquid lipsticks, I didn't really prefer them for functionality and comfortability. This time around, however, Maybelline has expanded their Super Stay range to include actual matte liquid lipsticks closer to what I think most beauty enthusiasts are familiar with.

In hopes that Maybelline had heard all of our feedback, I rushed to Ulta's website to purchase six out of the ten shades of the brand new Super Stay Matte Ink Liquid Lipstick when they released. Ironically, I made this purchase before I even knew Influenster was sending me a couple of these very lipsticks to try out. What can I say? We both can spot the next hot item when we see it. Fortunately, this Voxbox was not completely sent in vain as I did not own one out of the two shades sent to me, allowing me to review seven out of the ten in Maybelline's starting line up.

My Current Collection of the Maybelline Super Stay Matte Ink Liquid Lipsticks. From Left To Right: Loyalist, Dreamer, Lover, Believer, Escapist, Pioneer, & Voyager.

Applicator on the Maybelline Super Stay Matte Ink Liquid Lipstick

Arm Swatches of the Maybelline Super Stay Matte Ink Liquid Lipsticks From Left To Right: Loyalist, Dreamer, Lover, Believer, Escapist, Pioneer, & Voyager

Lip Swatches of the Maybelline Super Stay Matte Ink Liquid Lipsticks From Left To Right: Loyalist, Dreamer, Lover, & Believer

♥ Loyalist - Light, peachy nude. This is the lightest shade in the collection.

♥ Dreamer - Light, bright pink. Will actually read as more of a nude pink on those with medium and deeper skin tones.

♥Lover - Rosey mauve.

♥Believer - Orchid purple. I found this to be the streakiest of all the shades I tried. Because of how much I applied to try to smooth it out, it never fully dried down, which amplified the stickiness of the formula and felt gooey.

Lip Swatches of the Maybelline Super Stay Matte Ink Liquid Lipsticks From Left To Right: Escapist, Pioneer, & Voyager

♥ Escapist - Deep smokey plum. Has a much different texture than the other lipsticks in this range; it feels like a whipped mousse texture. It applied a little streaky, but not nearly as streaky as Believer.

♥ Pioneer - Bright, classic red.

♥ Voyager - Rich wine red with slight brown undertones.

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Q&A's

♥What are the Maybelline Super Stay Matte Ink Lip Colors?♥

The Maybelline Super Stay Matte Ink Lip Colors are Maybelline's latest edition to the Super Stay line. This liquid lipstick incorporates the Super Stay longwear technology, while giving the wearer a matte lip appearance. You get a lot of product at 0.17 oz for roughly $7.99-$9.49 depending where you shop. The packaging has a very nice, sturdy plastic feel with the bottom component corresponding to the color of the liquid lipstick inside. The applicator itself is much different than anything I've seen at the drugstore with its tear drop shape and hollow center. However, it is reminiscent of the Smashbox Always On Liquid Lipsticks or the YSL Volupte Tint-In-Oils to give you a reference. It is currently available at Ulta and Target and is slowly beginning to roll out into drugstores.

♥What are the claims made on this product?♥

According to the press release sent in the Maybelline Voxbox: "Maybelline's SuperStay Matte Ink provides highly pigmented color in a true matte finish for up to 16 hours of comfortable wear. Unique arrow applicator allows for precise application of liquid matte color."

♥How do they apply/wear?♥

When it comes to application, I like the pointed tip of the applicator as it allows you to create a smooth, sharp lip line if you do not have a lip liner on hand. However, the hole in the center does not allow the applicator to hold enough product and I found myself having to dip into the product four or more times for my relatively small lips. Also, the stickiness of the product seemed to cause a little bit of streaking in certain shades, but I was able to smooth it out with a few passes of the applicator (except in the case of the shade Believer).

After a few minutes of wear, the lipstick is noticeably more of a satin finish and has a slight stickiness to it, but it is nothing compared to the stickiness of the original Super Stay lipstick. It is actually very comfortable. Throughout the day, however, I do notice that these lipsticks become increasingly more matte to the point where there is no transfer whatsoever. In fact, these lipsticks are so budge-proof that if you do want to remove them, you will certainly need a makeup remover or oil to do so.

♥What are my overall thoughts of this product?♥

When Wet n Wild released their Liquid Catsuit Lipsticks, I think it really changed the game for the drugstore. Brands now had the challenge to create products that could best it or at least compete. While Wet n Wild's liquid lipsticks are still my number one because of their pigmentation, comfort, and affordability, these Maybelline Super Stay Matte Ink Liquid Lipsticks are a close second. They are easy to apply, their pigmentation is buildable, and they last the best out of any liquid lipstick I've ever tried. I would highly recommend picking some of these up as long as you feel you can get past the initial stickiness of the product. If you can, I promise you it will be well worth it. Lastly, if I could add any critique, my hopes would be that Maybelline expands this line to include a better range of nudes that would flatter a wider range of skintones.

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Made it this far? Good! 'Cause you're in for a treat! It's been quite some time since I've hosted a giveaway, so what better way than to give one lucky person the ENTIRE Maybelline Super Stay Matte Ink Liquid Lipstick collection. You'll have even more shades than I do! To enter all you need to do is follow me on Instagram and tag a fellow makeup lover below on my Maybelline Super Stay post. The winner will be chosen randomly on August 7th. Good luck, beauty addicts!

XO♥

*Some of the products in this post were sent to me for review by Influenster and Maybelline, but all opinions are my own.

Maybelline Super Stay 24 Lip Color Review, Swatches, & Demo

Over the past two or three years, liquid lipsticks have completely flooded the beauty market. With such a wide variety available, we have come to see amazing, innovative formulas and finishes. Yet, with all of these new products, I think we forget that brands like Maybelline and L'Oreal have been on the liquid lipstick bandwagon long before it became such a craze. In fact, I remember strolling the makeup aisle in college and seeing these very lipsticks, but never being drawn to them. Whether it was because of the packaging, the shade range, or the fact that I was a complete newbie at makeup, I'm glad Maybelline and Influenster have opened my eyes to even more liquid lipstick options. 

Q&A's

♥What are the Maybelline Super Stay 24 Lip Colors?♥

The Maybelline Super Stay 24 Lip Colors are a line of two-step liquid lipsticks. To the best of my knowledge, these have been around for quite some time (five or six years), so they are not a new product in the beauty community. The product consists of a liquid lipstick on one end and a shiny lip balm on the other. The range for this is actually quite large consisting of 31 shades, all of which are very wearable versions of pinks, corals, reds, and plums. They are available at any drugstore where Maybelline is sold for about $10.49.

♥What are the claims made on this product?♥

Here are a few statements made about the Super Stay 24 Lip Colors found on the product page of Maybelline's website:

"This long-lasting lip color won’t cake, dry, or flake thanks to our unique Micro-Flex technology.""Meet the wonder that stretches the limits of long-lasting lip color. Our formula with Micro-Flex technology looks and feels fresh through 24 hours of wear. Available in a collection of shades.""No other longwearing lipstick lasts longer. Period. Our Micro-Flex formula glides on and looks gorgeous all day."

♥How do they apply/wear?♥

I was very suprised at how good the applicator of this product is. It has a nice length to it, bends to the contours of your lips, and isn't an overly stiff material either. Even though the price tag of this product is up there, sometimes drugstore brands cut corners on packaging and it is nice to know that Maybelline did not do that in this instance. 

So, to be clear, when it comes to the applicator, I love how the product applied, however, the two shades I was sent applied very differently. This more likely than not has to do with the fact that they are different finishes. "Keep Up The Flame" is a creme finish, which applied opaquely in one sweep, while "Constant Toast", as a frost finish, required two layers to get the full effect. That being said, I wouldn't recommend applying more than one layer because the formula automatically cracks and flakes off.Once both "dried down" on my lips, however, they felt exactly the same, which is to say that neither of them fully dried down. Instead, they remained quite sticky and tacky to the touch, so if you're the type to smack your lips together this will definitely be an issue. I have found that blotting your lips on a tissue did help the situation though. I also want to note that if you plan on using the liquid lipstick portion on its own to achieve a more matte look, it is not very comfortable when worn that way. I definitely always felt the product sitting on my lips and it felt pretty drying.This feeling was much improved once the shiny balm was applied over top. Instantly the liquid lipsticks became much more flattering and wearable, but I do feel that this balm decreases this supposed 24 hour wear claim because it increases the chances of smudging or transfer if you eat or drink. This is just something to keep in mind.

♥What are my overall thoughts on this product line?♥

While there are quite a few pros and cons that I have found when testing out this product, I do have to admit that I am very pleasantly surprised at the overall quality, specifically of the creme finish. I would not recommend the frostier finishes from this line as they apply streaky and are harder to work with. Overall, I think given the current trends, we have become so accustomed to companies having those ultra matte liquid lipsticks that we are less accepting of liquid lipsticks with other finishes. However, I do think this will be a great alternative for those of you who want to experiment with the trend, but don't like the overly matte feeling.

XO♥

*The products in this post were sent to me for review, but all opinions are my own.

Affordable $3 Liquid Lipsticks: Born Pretty Store Review

Liquid lipsticks have been a part of professional makeup artist lines for years, but they have only recently taken the beauty industry by storm. Whether it is for their ease of convenience or their long-wearing capability, mainstream brands are hopping on the bandwagon left and right everyday. This has flooded the market with a variety of formulas, finishes, and price points--some of which cause us to marvel at their innovation and others which are just plain old not worth the money. In fact, brands like Colourpop and Nyx have brought the liquid lipstick game to the masses for just under $10, but what if I told you that there was an even more affordable alternative?

Born Pretty Store Waterproof Matte Velvet Lip Glosses (Left to Right): 14, 03, 12, 06, 04, & 33

Lip Swatches of the Born Pretty Store Waterproof Matte Velvet Lip Glosses

Q&A's

♥What are the Born Pretty Store Waterproof Matte Velvet Lip Glosses?♥

* Disclaimer: Though the name suggests that these are lip glosses, this product does in fact perform and feel very much like a matte liquid lipstick, so for the purpose of this review, I will treat them as such.
The Born Pretty Store Waterproof Matte Velvet Lip Glosses are liquid lipsticks that come in a very simple test tube-like packaging. There are a variety of shades and finishes ranging from frosty pastel nudes all the way to matte bright greens and blues. Though I am not entirely sure what the differences are, some shades cost $2.54 while others are as low as $1.99.

♥What colors do I have and how did they apply/wear?♥

In total I have tried out six shades for you guys. As with most brands, I did notice that the formula varied throughout the shades. The mattes wore much better than the frosts and pastels, but this is a very common problem. Also, I would like to note that this formula is very thin and drying in nature. The best way to apply them is right after you have thoroughly prepped your lips with a scrub and lip balm for at least 10 minutes beforehand. Doing this as well as applying them in light coats seemed to work best for me. Since each of the lipsticks are so different from one another, it is hard for me to pinpoint how much of the product you will need to coat your lips. Depending on the shade, it took 2-4 dips into the lipstick to fully coat my lips. However, I did not experience any feathering with these lipsticks and I did need to use a makeup remover to completely remove any trace remnants that were leftover.

So here are the shades and my experiences with them in order from lightest to darkest:
♥14 - Sheer pastel peach nude. My second least favorite out of the bunch--it applied very streaky and when you try to build up the opacity, it begins flaking off lips within minutes of application. 
♥03 - Matte, natural rosey pink. One of my favorites out of the bunch. It applied opaquely and felt very comfortable on the lips.
♥12 - Neon coral. Though it is a bright shade, it went on opaquely and not streaky like # 14. This is definitely a statement Summer lippie.
♥06 - Frosty fuschia-based pink. My absolute least favorite of all the lipstick shades I chose. The shade reminds me of a bad 80s color. It never fully dried down either and left lips with a slight tackiness. This caused the lipstick to become very patchy when I drank or smacked my lips together.
♥04 - Bright coral red. This shade has a slight sheen, but not nearly as frosty as # 06. It applied easily and opaquely and felt very comfortable, however, it never dried down completely, so that caused the inner rim of my mouth to wear off and become patchy easily.
♥33 - True red. This shade goes on fully opaque with two layers. Feels a little dry, but not uncomfortable. As with most dark liquid lipstick shades, the inner rim wore off noticeably, but the rest of the lipstick lasted a decent amount of time.

♥What are the pros?♥

♥Variety of colors to choose from

♥Very affordable

♥Matte shades perform well

♥Excellent customer service

♥Fruity scent

♥What are the cons?♥

♥Wand on applicator is a little too long and flimsy

♥Website and packaging do not indicate the ingredients used in product

♥Inconsistencies in formula throughout the line (some shades are sheer or remain tacky)

♥Not a long-wearing formula (lipstick flakes off)

♥Branding on packaging is different and inconsistent throughout

♥Website makes it difficult to see the shade variety all in one place

♥What are my overall thoughts on the products?♥

The Born Pretty Store Liquid Lipsticks remind me a great deal of ColourPop's formula as the shades will either be hit or miss. As you can probably tell I am not a big fan of the pastel or frosty shades as I just don't find them very flattering or wearable due to streakiness. The tackiness that I experienced with certain shades, on the other hand, is a lot easier of a problem to combat. By lightly dusting the lips with a translucent powder, your lips will be locked and loaded. So while my experience has been a little 50-50, I did enjoy four out of the six shades and recommend giving the matte shades a try, especially if you are on a budget or want access to a ton of colors at once. The website may be a bit tricky to navigate, but by typing 'lip gloss' into the search bar these liquid lipsticks will appear as the first few results. I have also linked the specific shades next to their descriptions above in case you are interested. Also, to receive 10% off of your order, use the coupon code 'WPH10' at checkout (I do not gain any commission off of your purchases; this is strictly for your benefit).


XO♥

*The products in this post were sent to me for review, but all opinions are my own.

Summer 2016 Metallic Lippie Trend: Milani Amore Mattallics Lip Cremes (Review + Swatches)

Summer 2016 is shaping up to be quite interesting as far as the beauty community is concerned. Last year saw a boom in the "strobing" or highlighting craze and, in case you thought that had went away, Milani is now bringing metallic lippies to a drugstore near you. This limited edition formula is actually part of their Amore line, so expect to still get that same matte texture with a little bit of a twist. These new Mattalics Lip Cremes have a fine micro shimmer throughout the formula giving the lips an intense metallic, wet sheen.

As luck would have it, I was at my local drugstore when the new Milani Amore Mattalics Lip Creme display was being placed on the shelves, so I had a complete visual of this limited edition line up. Truth be told, metallic lipstick might not be everyone's cup of tea, but it sure is fun if you're feeling adventurous. In total there are eight shades to choose from, ranging from nude to a deeper purple. For the purpose of this review, I snagged up three of the shades in light, medium, and dark tones just to test the waters out.

Milani Amore Mattalics Lip Cremes in (Left to Right) Chromatic Addict, Matterialistic, and Raving Matte

Milani Amore Mattalics Lip Creme Swatches in (Left to Right) Chromatic Addict, Matterialistic, and Raving Matte

Q&A's

♥ What is this product? ♥

The Amore Mattallics Lip Cremes are matte liquid lipsticks with micro shimmer throughout that give them an ultra metallic finish. This limited edition collection contains eight shades, ranging from a nude to a dark purple with a strong emphasis on the mid-tone pinky lip colors. They are sold in drugstores such as CVS and Walgreens for $8.99.

♥ What claims does Milani make about this product? ♥

Straight from Milani's website, "Paint your pout with gilded glamour. Introducing 8 limited edition shades of new metallic matte liquid lip crème. Bold and richly pigmented, these metallic liquid lip colors shine with a soft luster and dry to a smooth matte finish—without drying out your lips. Waterproof and kiss-approved, each Amore Mattallics Lip Crème delivers up to 12 hours of wear. Remove with an oil-based longwear lip color remover." 

♥ How can you use this product? ♥ 

Depending on the shade you pick up, you can actually utilize these liquid lipsticks in multiple ways. If you're the daring type, wearing them all over your lips is sure to make a bold statement. However, I think the way I'll be getting the most use out of these beauties is as highlighting accents in the center of any matte pout to give it more interest. As far as application goes, the doe foot applicator is pretty standard. The applicator makes it fairly easy to apply the lipstick to all the curvatures of the lips and the flat portion of the doe foot allows the product to go on easily and very opaquely with the very first layer.

♥ How does the product wear? ♥

These Mattallics Lip Cremes dry incredibly quick (as in under a minute). That plus all the micro shimmer in the formula lends itself to a drier consistency. The lipstick starts off at a comfortable dryness, but soon gave me that sensation of needing to constantly lick my lips. Also interesting to note, while Milani claims the need to remove these lipsticks with an oil-based remover, it came off easily when I ate a non-greasy sandwich as well as when I used a basic baby wipe.

♥ How does the product compare to other liquid lipsticks? ♥ 

While there are quite a few metallic glosses out on the market, metallic liquid lipsticks are a relatively new trend, especially for the drugstore, so there's not much to compare it to. In terms of how it acts as a liquid lipstick, I feel like it is on par with the inherently dry nature of what a liquid lipstick is. That being said, I feel as though the application is easier and much more even than the majority of liquid lipsticks, which can sometimes require multiple coats to look decent. 

♥ What are my overall thoughts on the product? ♥ 

The Milani Amore Mattallics Lip Cremes are a good, new innovation for the drugstore. So what it comes down to is: do I think this is a product you absolutely need in your collection? No, I do not. But for the bold person who likes to strobe every part of their face or just someone looking to have fun with their makeup, this might just be the answer for that.

Makeup Deets

♥ Eyeshadow - Morphe 35O Palette

♥ Glitter Liner - Revlon PhotoReady Eye Art Duo in Topaz Twinkle

♥ Lashes - Salon Perfect Demi Wispies

♥ Foundation - Fiona Stiles Matte Finish Foundation Concentrate

♥ Concealer - LA Girl Pro Conceal

♥ Brows - NYX Micro Brow Pencil in Taupe

♥ Bronzer - Urban Decay Naked Skin Ultra Definition Pressed Finishing Powder in Naked Dark

♥ Blush - Tarte Amazonian Clay Blush in Captivating

♥ Highlight - Wet n Wild MegaGlo Multi-Stick in Marigold Round topped with Wet n Wild MegaGlo Powder Highlighter in Precious Petals

♥ Lips - Ofra Cosmetics Liquid Lipstick in Brooklyn with Milani Amore Mattalics Lip Creme in Chromatic Addict in the center

XO♥

Soft Spring Makeup Tutorial

Spring in New York City can be quite tricky to navigate. Not only is the weather a complete basket case. but we are also caught somewhere in between the monochromatic, neutral Winter looks and the fun, vibrant Summer shades. However, updating your makeup wardrobe this season can be as simple as revisiting those metallic gold and champagne eyeshadows or adventuring out into the world of neon lippies. By using this combination of neutrals and brights, you can effectively create a balanced look that isn't too overdone...well in my book at least.


Tutorial

♥ Click To Enlarge ♥

Sidenote: Excuse the white cast underneath my eyes in this pictorial. I was at work prior to making this tutorial and had to wipe away my previous eye makeup. Unforunately, the eye makeup remover I use can leave a whitish powdery appearance on the skin when it is not washed away. However, I corrected that and my faded eyebrows when finishing up the rest of my makeup towards the very end.

1♥ Create a blank canvas by priming the lid with Mac Paint Pot in Soft Ochre.

2♥ Set the primer and brighten the lid and brow bone areas by applying Strange (ivory) from the Urban Decay Naked 3 Palette with a fluffy eyeshadow brush.

3♥ Begin creating definition to the crease by sweeping Limit (light mauve) and Nooner (slightly darker mauve) from the Naked 3 Palette through the crease and outer V.

4♥ Further define the crease using Cherry Cordial (burgundy) from the Too Faced Chocolate Bar Palette on a flatter, more defined fluffy crease brush to give you more precision. Also, I applied Stila Kitten Eyeshadow (champagne) to the lid with a flat synthetic brush that had been dampened using Inglot Duraline to give the eyeshadow a more metallic shine.

5♥ Using a pointed crease brush, I added the last bit of definition to the outer third of my crease using Triple Fudge (dark olive brown) from the Chocolate Bar Palette. Lastly, I added a bit more of Strange to my inner corner for a brightening effect and applied Red Cherry # 43 lashes.

Other Makeup Deets

♥Foundation - L'Oreal Pro Infallible Matte Foundation & Becca Ever-Matte Shine Proof Foundation
♥Concealer - LA Girl Pro Conceal Concealer
♥Brows - NYX Micro Brow Pencil in Taupe
♥Bronzer - Urban Decay Naked Skin Ultra Definition Pressed Finishing Powder in Naked Dark
♥Blush - NYX Baked Blush in Suga Mama
♥Highlight - Anastasia Beverly Hills Glow Kit in That Glow (Sunburst & Dripping in Gold)
♥Lips - ColourPop Ultra Matte Liquid Lipstick in Koala & Maybelline Lipstick in Peach Poppy

XO♥

Review of the ColourPop Ultra Matte Liquid Lipsticks (+ Lip Swatches)

You may remember a couple of weeks ago when I reviewed the ColourPop Super Shock Shadows. Well, I didn't include these in that review because I felt I needed a little more time to properly test them out. You see, the Ultra Matte Liquid Lipsticks, while extremely affordable, are either hit or miss as far as the beauty community is concerned. You either love them or you hate them--very rarely is there ever an in between--and I thought it was only right that I give them a fair shot. Unfortunately, I misplaced the shade "Limbo" so I don't have that currently for this review. However, I do have a good range of colors from light to dark and neon to neutral, so that you can get a good sense of ColourPop's range.

ColourPop Ultra Matte Liquid Lipsticks (Left to Right): Midi, Koala, Lychee, Succulent, Zipper, & LAX - Click To Enlarge

♥ What are the ColourPop Ultra Matte Liquid Lipsticks? ♥

As the name suggests, these are a liquid lipstick with an extremely matte appearance. They retail for $6 with 1 oz. of product and can only be found on ColourPop's website as of the date of this post. While this might make it difficult when trying to find the right shade, there are a ton of swatches that can be found online since this is such a hot product.

♥ How do you apply the Ultra Matte Liquid Lipsticks? ♥

The doe foot applicator on this product is pretty standard and will suffice to provide a precise application. However, if you have a wobbly hand, you can always opt for a lip liner and lip brush. Personally, I'm not for or against the applicator--it's nothing special and rather hard compared to others on the market. I find I have to dip into the product three or four times because the applicator is so teeny tiny and can only dispense so much product at a time. This can be a positive for those of you who are very cautious about wasting product, but for me it's a bit of a hassle. I typically like products that only require one to two dips max. Just a note: if you find a particular color is not opaque enough for your liking, let the first layer dry down completely before going in with the second layer. Due to the product's fast dry time, it gets tacky relatively quickly and if you go in too early to apply the second layer, it may pick up that first layer and become patchy.

♥ How do they wear? ♥

This particular part of the review is why I wanted to test this product out a little longer than expected. When I first received the product, I swatched all of the shades on my arm. I allowed them to dry down completely for 20 minutes and then I proceeded to run my arm under water and scrubbed like my dear life depended on it to no avail. The product did not budge in the slightest. Yet, when worn on the lips, I had a completely different experience.

ColourPop suggests applying this product onto dry, exfoliated lips, so for my first impression, that's exactly what I did. For dramatic effect, I used the darkest shade that I purchased, LAX. On applying the first layer, I noticed that the liquid lipstick didn't go on opaquely over the entire lip. I made the mistake of going in too early with my second layer and ended up having to put on three layers just for it to look decent. After allowing it to dry down for 20 minutes, I did notice that it felt a bit dry, but it wasn't uncomfortable. I proceeded to drink my coffee and then did the kiss test on my hand with only a minimal amount of transfer.

However, after that it was all downhill for this lippie. I didn't eat or drink much throughout the day until later than night at around 8:30 PM because I was insanely busy (horrible habit, I know). Despite that, the lippie wore off in the center of the lips in the most unflattering way possible and became increasingly more dry as if it was sucking all of the moisture out of my lips. And by the time I ate my food, I was able to easily wipe off the rest of my lippie with no problem at all. I wore the liquid lipstick for a little over eight hours total...if you count the many hours that it looked as if I was wearing extremely dark lip liner with nothing in the center of my lips.

♥ What are my overall thoughts on this product? ♥

The ColourPop Ultra Matte Liquid Lipsticks are awesome, affordable products if you're looking to experiment with a wide range of colors. Past that, I can't recommend them as there are much better and longer-wearing formulas on the market. The second you drink or eat anything, it seems as though this lippie disappears, which can make it quite tricky and embarrassing with the less natural colors. While you'll have to spend quite a bit more, I'd be much quicker to recommend the Sephora Cream Lip Stains or the Ofra Cosmetics Liquid Lipsticks.

Other Makeup Deets

♥ Eyeshadow - Make Up For Ever Artist Shadows in ME-512 & S-102

♥ Liner - Milani Eye Tech Extreme Liquid Eye Liner & Inglot Gel Liner # 77

♥ Brows - Nyx Tame & Frame Tinted Brow Pomade in Brunette

♥ Foundation - Maybelline Dream Velvet

♥ Concealer - LA Girl Pro Conceal

♥ Bronzer - Urban Decay Naked Skin Ultra Definition Pressed Finishing Powder in Naked Dark

♥ Blush - Japonesque Velvet Touch Blush # 2

♥ Highlight - Sephora Radiant Luminizing Drops in Ultralight topped with Becca Shimmering Skin Perfector Pressed in Opal

XO♥

DIY: Ruby Red Glitter Lips

Statement lips are always on trend during the Fall and Winter, but for the holidays you might want to amp it up just a bit further. Glitter has been making its appearance in the oddest places lately, even in hair, so why not on your lips? The addition of glitter gives your lips a metallic quality and that reflectiveness, in turn, makes your lips look more luscious and plump. While this might not be the most practical of holiday tutorials, it sure is fun and will give you that added pop in photos. Plus, you probably have this stuff laying around your house already, so you won't need to go out and buy those expensive glitter lip tattoos. Cha-ching. Money saved--you're welcome!


Tutorial

♥ Click To Enlarge ♥

1♥ Before I do any lippie, I like to start off with a fresh base. I wipe off any foundation that may have gotten on my lips and then I apply a lip balm just to make sure there aren't any chapped, flakey bits. My HG lip balm of all time is the Jack Black Intense Therapy Lip Balm in Natural Mint. This is the only lip balm that works for me and the minty-ness seems to plump up my lips slightly.

2♥ After my lip balm has settled for about 5-10 minutes, I go in with a lip liner. This will be particularly helpful to you if you have trouble staying inside your lip lines when applying lipstick and it also prevents your lipstick from bleeding into fine lines. I used the NYX Lip Liner in Hot Red.

3♥ Then, I went in with my red lippie of choice. I went with the one that has my favorite long-lasting, comfortable formula, which is the Sephora Cream Lip Stain in Always Red. I applied this to my entire lip area and let it dry completely before moving on to the next step.

4♥ Now it's time for the glitter. Just like when you apply glitter to the eyes, you need put an adhesive on your lips to ensure that the glitter sticks and doesn't end up sliding all over your face throughout the night. With a lip brush, I applied the LA Splash Splash Proof Sealer Base to my entire lip area. You want to coat it with a nice thin, even layer. Then, with the same lip brush, I dipped into my red glitter of choice, Mac Red Glitter, and dabbed it onto the base. You want to dab and not swipe so that the glitter doesn't fall all over your face. I work in small sections at a time, making sure that each area of my lips were coated very opaquely with the glitter. If you want even more shininess at this point, you can add a clear gloss over the top.

Makeup Deets

♥ Eyeshadow - Too Faced x Vegas Nay Star Dust Palette & Mac Nylon Eyeshadow

♥ Eyeliner - Milani Eye Tech Extreme Liquid Eye Liner in Black Black & Inglot Gel Liner in # 77

♥ Lashes - House of Lashes Boudoir

♥ Foundation - Maybelline Fit Me Matte + Poreless

♥ Concealer - LA Girl Pro Conceal Concealer
♥ Brows - NYX Micro Brow Pencil

♥ Bronzer - Urban Decay Naked Skin Ultra Definition Pressed Finishing Powder in Naked Dark

♥ Blush - NYX Baked Blush in Sugar Mama

♥ Highlight - Nars Illuminator in Copacabana & Makeup Revolution Vivid Baked Highlighter in Golden Lights

XO♥

The Red Lippie Wardrobe: My Top FIVE Red Lipsticks

Since the holidays are fast-approaching, more festive makeup looks are flooding my social media feeds. Personally, I would rock a red lip all year long, but I can completely understand why most people reserve it for special occasions. It's a bright, in-your-face pop of color that commands attention, not appropriate for your everyday wallflower. And while you might get tired of seeing all the red lippies, don't be fooled--not every red lipstick was created equal. There are red lipsticks with a blue undertone that make your teeth look whiter and there are also red lipsticks with an orange base that bring warmth to the complexion. As you can see most of my favorites come in liquid lipstick form and that's simply because they tend to provide an ease of application, as well as increased longevity. That being said, these reds are all my favorite as they suit me differently depending on the look I'm going for. See for yourself!

Left to Right: Covergirl Lip Perfection Lipstick in 305 Hot, Jeffree Star Velour Liquid Lipstick in Hoe Hoe Hoe, LA Girl Matte Flat Finish Pigment Gloss in Secret, Sephora Cream Lip Stain in 01 Always Red, & Stila Stay All Day Liquid Lipstick in Fiery

Left to Right: Covergirl Lip Perfection Lipstick in 305 Hot, Jeffree Star Velour Liquid Lipstick in Hoe Hoe Hoe, LA Girl Matte Flat Finish Pigment Gloss in Secret, Sephora Cream Lip Stain in 01 Always Red, & Stila Stay All Day Liquid Lipstick in Fiery

♥ Covergirl Lip Perfection Lipstick in 305 Hot - While some drugstore lipsticks are good, I've never been WOW!'d before by them...that is, until I tried this lipstick. I remember taking a risk and trying it out the same night I had a date and boy did that risk pay off. This lipstick has such a glossy formula that it glides on like a dream, yet it also doesn't feather outside my lip line (what voodoo did you put in this stuff?!) Not only that, but it lasts through eating and drinking. It was still there at the end of the day! This is hands down my favorite lippie if I'm feeling like a shiny red lip.

♥ Jeffree Star Velour Liquid Lipstick in Hoe Hoe Hoe - The brand might not be the most accessible, nor the most clean-cut, but the rockstar edge certainly allows for the uniqueness that brought about this shade. The dark base contrasted against the pink micro glitter seems to attract the light like a highlight does for your face, making your lips look instantly more plump, while still remaining matte. And you don't have to worry about any grittiness; you don't feel the glitter at all. However, I have found that it takes some work to make the glitter really show. If you wait some time for the lipstick to completely dry down, you can run your finger over your lips and BAM, the pink glitter "activates".

♥ LA Girl Matte Flat Finish Pigment Gloss in Secret - When I first saw these pop up at a local beauty supply, I was instantly made a happy camper. LA Girl is so insanely affordable, so to see them enter into the liquid lipstick trend was pleasing. More people would have access to this trend and enjoy its benefits--I love it! Now I picked up this particular shade because I was going for the "vampy" look and I think this lippie succeeds in that area. It is a beautiful wine shade that is as matte as matte can get. And while being the most affordable, I find this lipstick to have the best applicator--it's long, yet slightly rigid, which is perfect for getting sharp lines AND it distributes just the right amount of product to cover my entire lips.

♥ Sephora Cream Lip Stain in 01 Always Red - I know that blue-based reds are a standard must-have, but if you have yellow or olive undertones, you need this! It is an orange-red, which is more flattering on warmer skin tones. I just love how much it pops on me compared to my other reds and yet I would feel comfortable rocking it at any time. Generally, Sephora Cream Lip Stains are much more affordable compared to higher end alternatives, but they're my absolute favorite formula because of how comfortable they are. I don't feel like I sucked all the hydration out of my lips when I wear them.

♥ Stila Stay All Day Liquid Lipstick in Fiery - Stila was the first brand of liquid lipstick I ever tried and as such, it holds a special place in my heart. The formula is much different than all of the others as it is a thicker cream consistency. The Stay All Day Liquid Lipsticks are incredibly pigmented, which means you probably won't even need nearly as much as is dispensed on the applicator. As for this particular shade, I was expecting a warmer red based on the name, but on me it looks like your classic red. And who doesn't need one of those in their arsenal?


That sums up my top five. What are your favorite reds?


XO♥