for 31 years, i have been a chapstick person. my mom can confirm, going back as far as my father applying chapstick to my mouth when i was an infant. since then, chapstick has been my constant companion, with little blue tubes stashed in my car, my purse, my nightstand, coat pockets…all so that i might never be without it. (the horror of being out and realizing you have no chapstick on you!!!) this is not to mention all the OTHER various moisture-giving products i’ve diligently spent my money on over the years - i’m talking to you, laneige lip mask!
all this to say that until very recently, i could often be heard telling friends that i loved their lipstick, only to follow that up with “i wish i could wear it, but i’m not really a lipstick person.” the only color products i did own were stains, tinted balms, and a handful of various reds that i could pop on if i was REALLY gussying up.
now - full disclaimer - i was blessed by genetics with a solid pair of lips; they are a nice shape and are naturally pigmented, much to my dismay during the nude/frosted lip trend of the 00’s. (flashback to sitting in the car with my mom outside Old Navy, while she tells me “one day you’re really going to appreciate that you don’t have to wear lip color!” she was right.) my avoidance also stems from past sensory displeasure - the super-mattes of the 2010’s were a nightmare for someone who loves moisturizing products. thankfully, product formulations & finishes, and the sheer number of options, have come a long way since then.
so this summer, when it became safe to show our mouths to strangers & friends again, a switch flipped in my brain. my lips must be sheathed in COLOR, dammit! they will have the hot girl summer they DESERVE! see: me with lipstick. so i’m becoming a Lipstick Person™️. the humble beginnings of my journey, below:
pixi by petra lipglow in juicy | great for a wash of color & moisture. you’re not gonna get full pigmentation, but that means it’s easy to apply without a mirror! it’s also great on top of a more long-wear color to give it a hint of red-orange & a juicy finish.
armani beauty lip maestro in 415 redwood | i recently got a sample of this from sephora and it quickly shot to the top of my list. an orange-red with just a hint of brick tones, in a creamy soft-matte formula. it wears off easily, but tbh unless i’m going to an event i don’t really care that much about wear. plus, it’s super easy to reapply and smudge out with a fingertip.
sephora jelly melt glossy lip tint in salsa | i bought this because it was on sale and i am unable to resist a lip stain. little did i know just how incredible this one would be! “jelly” is the perfect descriptor for this formula, and it feels incredible on. when the gloss wears off, it leaves behind the perfect cherry blow-pop red.
wet n’ wild clout pout in candy wasted | another soft-matte mousse-y formula, but way cheaper! this was an impulse target buy that paid off handsomely. i love this type of formula for a blurred bold lip; smudging the lip line with a brush is my favorite way to soften up bright colors so they don’t look so stark on the face.
MAC all fired up | after seeing taylor swift in a hot pink-red lip at the 2021 brit awards, i took to google in a frenzy to find out what it was. despite what i consider advanced internet sleuthing skills and a very thorough fanbase, i came up empty handed. i did however learn that one of her favorite iconic reds is MAC’s Ruby Woo…and when I went to look at ruby woo, guess what shade was swatched right next to it and seemed to be a dupe? this one. SOLD.
MAC ruby woo | because you’ve got to have a classic in the collection, right? touted as a universal red, it supposedly looks great on everyone, and i haven’t yet found a reason to believe otherwise. plus, a solid basic red is so flexible - sheer it out, put a gloss on top, blend it with another color, mix with a bit of foundation for a blush…
i have a short list of products to try: the violette_fr petal bouche, glossier ultralip, and any/all of the lisa eldridge lipsticks! any iconic, must-try faves to add?
🧡
jess