Monday, January 3, 2011

Lip Stuff

Sometimes going to buy makeup can be a little overwhelming - you go in thinking you need something, see something else, and by the end are sometimes even convinced you need a whole new product. Sometimes it's great to listen to the salespeople because they do know what they're talking about, but it's always good to be on the same page. Today I'm going to decode what you're really buying when you go in for a new lip color.

Lip gloss - the most common. High gloss (er, duh!), high shine, high color. With lip gloss, you have 2 o options: a glossy sheer color or one with a little shimmer. Most of the time they do have some kind of  shimmer or duo-chrome effect that you can see in the tube, but don't worry, it doesn't come out that much on your lips. Most shimmer is really only there for depth, so if you're a glitter-phobe don't be alarmed. If shimmer is still not your thing, you can always go for the pure color, but the only real collection I can think of of these is Mac Lipglass, and they're pretty sticky. Most collections have one or two sheers, so as a general rule if you see one that's a bright pink, it's the non-shimmer. Again, don't be alarmed with these because what looks offending in the tube can look perfectly flattering on your lips. There are some lip glosses that promise to do other things, like plump or define, but be careful with these as they can sometimes cause negative reactions. Make sure you test it before you buy it because you would never want to spend money on a good gloss and leave the house the next day with blow-up lips. When buying a good lip gloss, remember not only to look at the color but to try it on, either on your lips (only if it's completely sanitary!) or on your hand (better option). Sometimes a gloss is super sticky or thick and you won't be able to tell unless you have it on.

Lip tint - my favorite. Lip tints come in all kinds of forms and strengths, ranging from a pot of the sheerest balm to a creamy stick. Lip tints are the best for winter days because they not only give you a natural wash of color but also (usually) moisturize. The most moisturizing would be found in a pot and called something like 'lip butter'. The color of these are the most sheer and natural looking because they're mostly just lip balm. A step up from this would be a true lip tint, like the Fresh ones. A little stronger than this would be something like the Bobby Brown sticks, which are like super moisturizing sheer lip stick. It comes in a tube like a lip stick but comes out super natural and sheer. Don't be afraid of the pot/tube color when shopping for lip tints, they won't look anything like that on your lips! Look for a color that will complement your skin tone to start off with, and always do the hand-test method.

Lip stain - the popularity of these have been growing due to their long lasting nature. Lip stains are exactly what you would imagine: they come in a bottle or a marker-like stick and apply a natural stain of color that is supposed to last all day. The biggest issue with lip stains are that a) you have to be really careful when applying not to mess up because it's a stain and b) they don't moisturize as much as a tint. You still have to moisturize regularly with a tint, but you get a permanent pretty blush on your lips that looks like you just woke up that way. You don't need to shell out the big bucks on a lip tint; something like Revlon Just Bitten works just as well as the more expensive Benefit lip tint and the marker shape is safer for travel.

Lip stick - the thickest and most heavy-duty of the lip stuff. Comes in 2 finishes: matte and creamy. Matte finish is usually hot in winter, especially matte red, but tends to leave your lips dry. I really like the look of matte, but a lot of people prefer creamy. Lip stick is best for night and looks silly when you wear it to school. 

Lip color is an essential part of every makeup routine. Know what you need so you can get what you need. 
I'm so tired now. School starting has not been good on my break sleep routine. Wish it started at 9 much? 
XO

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