Fenty Beauty Mattemoiselle Plush Matte Lipstick in Spanked - Review

I am a super huge fan of Fenty Beauty's Gloss Bomb, so when Rihanna decided to drop a line of matte lipsticks, I was intrigued. I'm a little over matte lipstick, but this wasn't a liquid matte, so I was willing to give it a chance. I was really good though, I didn't immediately purchase one and waited a few months. Other reviews looked good, so I went for it! 

Kat von D Studded Kiss Lipstick in Lolita II - Review

Lolita II is one of my favorite Kat von D liquid lipstick shades. When I heard it would be released as a Studded Kiss shade as part of the holiday release, I knew I would be picking it up immediately. For the limited edition release, two other liquid lip shades were released in the Studded Kiss formula along with Lolita II - Mother and Double Dare.

Sugarpill Liquid Lip Color in Trinket - Review

I was able to get in on the original release of Sugarpill's first liquid lipstick earlier this year. They're finally re-releasing it, and they've made some changes to the formula as well as the packaging - so my review won't be able to discuss the changes, only the original release.

Trinket is a "creamy matte mauve infused with luminous golden sparkles." The lipstick is more of a pinky nude with lots of gold shimmer. The lipstick formula is more of a whipped lipstick, sort of like Fyrinnae's lip lustres - a mushy lipstick that's easily spreadable. The lipstick applies easily and smoothly, with one coat covering the lip. The formula isn't patchy, and the sparkle is pretty evenly distributed (at first - more on that later.) After applying, the lipstick is mostly pinky nude with some gold shimmer lurking underneath that isn't terribly in your face. I found it close to NARS Orgasm gloss, giving a shimmer without being frosty or metallic. The lipstick has a heavy creamsicle scent that dissipates after applying. The lipstick dries to a comfortable matte finish, which was not overly drying. There were no issues with bleeding or feathering.

The lipstick wears well at first, but as you go about eating, drinking, or if you lick your lips, the pinky lipstick part wears off leaving lots and lots of gold shimmer. I wound up with patches of solid gold shimmer on my lips throughout the day. Reapplication fixed the issue, but the gold would eventually resurface and change the lipstick to be a much harder metallic gold with some pink mixed in. Additionally, reapplication was easy with no disturbing the lipstick underneath. To keep the initial color of the lipstick, I found myself needing to check on the state of the lipstick and reapply after every drink or every few hours.

I do like the overall formula a lot, I think Sugarpill did a great job. Hopefully with their reformulation the fading issue is resolved, and if not, I would still like to try non-shimmery shades in the future! The new packaging is a shorter, stubbier tube without the mermaid artwork. I'm happy I got the LE artwork, it's super cute!

Pros:

• Easy application
• Applies smoothly
• Scent that does dissipate
• Non drying

Cons:

• Color fades leaving only gold behind
• Frequent reapplication needed to maintain original shade
• Heavily scented

Sugarpill Liquid Lip Color in Trinket - $18.00 for 0.21 oz

Review - 3.5/5

Urban Decay Vice Lipstick in Tryst - Review

I recently posted my review of one of the new Urban Decay Vice lipsticks, in the shade Wonderland. I wanted to follow up with my review of the other cream finish Vice lipstick I have, Tryst!

Urban Decay Vice Lipstick in Wonderland - Review

Urban Decay recently released their Vice lipstick line, after discontinuing their Revolution lipstick line. The Vice line has 100 shades, in six different finishes (sheer, sheer shimmer, comfort matte, mega matte, metallized, and cream.) Many of the Revolution shades were moved over to the new formula, and a ton of new shades were introduced. I've bought five Vice lipsticks so far, I'm really liking them! I mentioned Wonderland in my July favorites, so I figured I should write my review sooner rather than later!

The Face Shop Black Label Lipstick in Lady Wine (437) - Review

I was contacted by the lovely people over at q-depot with the opportunity to review one of the lipsticks from The Face Shop. I chose the shade Lady Wine to try and get out of my comfort zone a little. (I passed up corals and pinky nudes!) This is my first time trying a lipstick from a Korean brand, but I have used skincare products from The Face Shop in the past.

Lady Wine is a deepened berry red, with a warm undertone and hints of pink. There is a decent amount of silver shimmer, enough for a hint of pearly sheen but not enough for a metallic finish. The lipstick has a fruity scent which disappears quickly after applying. Application is smooth with no tugging or skipping. On the lips, the lipstick feels slightly gritty, most likely due to the shimmer. The formula is light with some slip, and it did not feel drying during wear. I had no issues with bleeding or feathering.

I experienced a lot of transfer during wear, especially while eating or drinking. Reapplying was easy enough, adding another layer of lipstick did not disturb the layer underneath. I did experience some fading on the inside of the lip, bad enough that it was noticeable and I needed to reapply. This shade did not leave a stain. Overall, this lipstick was easy to apply and wear, but isn't really good for situations where you need a lipstick to hold fast all day.

Pros:

• No bleeding or feathering
• Non drying
• Smooth application

Cons:

• Prone to transfer
• Slightly gritty feeling
• Fades on inner lip

The Face Shop Black Label Lipstick in Lady Wine (437)
Review - 3/5

This product was sent to me for free for review purposes. I was not paid for my review, and all thoughts are my own.

Bite Beauty Amuse Bouche Lipstick in Pickled Ginger - Review

Earlier this year, Bite Beauty announced that they were discontinuing their Luminous Creme lipstick line. In its place, they released the Amuse Bouche line, bringing back some favorite shades and introducing a whole ton of new shades! They began showing swatches and teasers on their instagram, and I knew right away that I wanted to pick up Pickled Ginger. I received it with my last Sephora order and began wearing it right away!

Pickled Ginger is described as an "electric coral." The shade is a very vibrant, pink leaning coral. Pickled Ginger is very bright, just shy of neon. I feel like it's too bright for me sometimes, but I've gotten a lot of compliments whenever I wear it...so it must look good! The lipstick has a definitive citrus scent that fades on application, but it is not unpleasant. Application is smooth, with no tugging on the lips. I found that I needed two coats for maximum color payoff, but pigmentation is not lacking. The lipstick formula is comfortable, with some slip. I definitely needed to blot after application, and there was a lot of transfer onto cups and utensils, but the shade did leave a bright stain. I did not experiencing any feathering or severe drying.

I really wanted to like this one, but I found that the color really collected into my lip lines and emphasized imperfections. I wore it with and without a lip primer, and still got the same result. I'm not sure if it has to do with the brightness of the shade or what, but it just did not agree with my lips. I've worn it several times and had the result be the same, if my lips were in A+++ smooth perfect condition or just okay. 

I've since picked up several other Amuse Bouche shades and found them much more agreeable, thankfully. It's definitely you, not me, Pickled Ginger.

Pros:

• Smooth application
• Pleasant scent that dissipates
• Leaves a stain
• No feathering

Cons:

• Prone to transfer
• Product gathers into lip lines
• Highlights imperfections

Bite Beauty Amuse Bouche lipstick in Pickled Ginger - $26.00 for 0.15 oz

Review - 2.5/5

Kat von D Everlasting Liquid Lipstick in Exorcism - Review

I was so happy to receive Exorcism in a gift swap this year! It's been on my wishlist since the shade expansion of the Everlasting Liquid Lipstick line in the middle of last year, and I was very excited to try it out.

Exorcism is described as "ripe blackberry." The shade is a deep berry, leaning more red than purple. The formula is the same as other Kat von D liquid lipsticks I've used - not runny, not to stiff. This shade applies extremely patchy - several coats are needed to get an even color on the lips. Unfortunately, when trying to even the color out, it deepens to the point where it's a blackened purple, completely different from an initial coat or in the tube. Additionally, this shade highlights flakes and imperfections on the lips.The lipstick dries down relatively quickly to a very matte finish. There really wasn't much of a scent.

Through a day of wear, there was not much transfer. The formula was not terribly drying, especially when paired with a lip primer. The lipstick does stain, a deep purplish shade that takes some scrubbing to rub off. I experienced no bleeding or feathering while wearing.

I really, really wanted to love this shade, but the patchy application is killing it for me. I'm happy to say that it wears and is not super drying, just like other Kat von D liquid lipsticks, but the patchiness is just something I have not yet come across in this line.

Pros:

• Not terribly drying
• Leaves a stain
• No bleeding/feathering
• Little transfer

Cons:

• Highlights flaws
• Patchy application
• Layering to correct patchiness changes the shade

Kat von D Everlasting Liquid Lipstick in Exorcism - $20.00 for for 0.22 oz

Review - 1.5/5

Jeffree Star Velour Liquid Lipstick in Celebrity Skin - Review

If you haven't noticed, liquid lipsticks are some of my favorite products. I like the fuss free idea of liquid lipstick, since the best ones are applied and stay put. The really good ones dry down without sucking all the moisture out of the lips as well.

Jeffree Star liquid lipsticks have become quite popular - so much so, that I had to wait a while to catch this shade in stock! I have a few others on my list to try that won't be in stock for a few weeks, but I'm happy to play with this one in the meantime. I picked mine up from Beautylish with a few other items.

Celebrity Skin is a "soft brown nude with a peachy undertone." The shade is definitely on the browner side of peach, but it isn't a straight up brown - there is definitely a lighter element to it lending it to be a very nice nude. It definitely isn't a pink leaning nude, though, so if that's your preference, this shade wouldn't be for you. Like most liquid lipsticks, this comes with a doefoot applicator. However, this doefoot is slightly curved, leaving a short portion on the bottom, and a longer overarching curve to assumedly fit the curve of the lip. I have no issues with this applicator, as the end is a small tip, allowing for the corners of the lips to be reached. When applying, the product is smooth and applies evenly, one coat is usually enough to get full true to tube color. But when applying...the product smells. It smells like straight up paint. It fades pretty quickly after drying, but still...not fun. The product dries to a fully matte finish in about a minute. Applying another layer on top of a dry layer does not cause issues, either!

I have worn this with and without a lip primer, and the product was not overly drying either way. I experienced no bleeding or feathering, and had very little transfer when using a cup. However, after eating, there was some more transfer, but the majority of the product stayed put. I did experience the color sinking into lip lines a bit, but pressing my lips together to redistribute fixed this right away.

If you're able to get ahold of this shade in one of the very hyped restocks, I definitely recommend it. I really like the formula, it's up there with the Kat von D liquid formula in my book. (Aside from the smell!) If you aren't able to catch this one soon, it IS a permanent shade, so there's no need to worry.

Pros:

• Pigmented
• Applies smoothly
• Lasts forever!
• Relatively non drying
• Very little to no transfer if you don't eat!
• No bleeding or feathering.

Cons:

• It does not smell good. Period. Can't even fluff this, it is not a nicely scented product.
• Some transfer after eating, especially anything greasy/oily
• Consistently out of stock, and restocks are hyped to high heaven.
• A little bit of gathering into lip lines, but it is easily redistributed by pressing the lips together.

Jeffree Star Velour Liquid Lipstick in Celebrity Skin - $18.00 for 0.19 oz

Review - 4.5/5 (it smells SO bad.)

Mini Beautylish Haul!

Now that the holidays are over, I'm free to shop again! ...except I've decided to "low buy" for the foreseeable future. Since I saw some items I had been wanting were back in stock on Beautylish, I placed a small order right after Christmas to make sure I got my hands on them. 

Earlier in the year, I purchased the beautiful Chikuhodo x Beautylish brush set and fell in love with it. I've been in the market for a new highlight brush, and the Chikuhodo Passion Series PS-3 brush. This brush has a flatter, tapered shape which I think will be great for precise highlighting. I've already washed it once and had no shedding or dye issues, so I'm excited to try it out.

I also picked up Jeffree Star Velour Liquid Lipstick in Celebrity Skin. This shade has been out of stock constantly, and went out of stock again a couple of days after I ordered mine. I keep hearing more and more hype about this formula, so I decided it was time to try it for myself. There's a few other shades I want to try if the formula works out for me, but I'll have to wait til they're back in stock!

I've had a cold for the past week, and it has wrecked havoc on my lips. I had added the Jeffree Star Velour Lip Scrub in Mojito to my order before I fell ill, but I'm really glad I did. The container size is much more generous than I assumed (1 oz) and smells delightful. I fully plan to exfoliate my lips this week before trying my new liquid lipstick!

I'm happy with my purchase, even knowing it's probably my last "haul" for a while. Have you tried Jeffree Star products? What do you think?

Kat von D Lolita Lip Duo - Review

Kat von D Beauty has been teasing this duo for ages. I immediately ordered it the day it came out, mostly because my Lolita had gone missing a while back, and I didn't want to buy another full size. I don't even remember which iteration I had - but now I have these two!

Lolita is listed as "chestnut rose." The shade is definitely on the browner side of a brown/pink combo. It's a mostly neutral shade, leaning slightly warm. On me, it pulls more brown than pink, but it doesn't look like a 90s super brown lip. Application was smooth, needing one swipe for full coverage. Drydown took about a minute, going from tacky to fully dry. While still tacky, applying more product is easy and it doesn't cause what is already applied to ball up or anything like that. I found that this shade transferred a little bit, but nothing horrible like a full lip print. The product did not flake off, and I did not find it too drying - but I wore a lip primer underneath. Around 3-4 hours I noticed cracks where lines in my lips are, but I was able to press my lips back together and "smoosh" it back into place. I had to reapply after eating lunch, but reapplication over what was left over looked good. 

Lolita II is a "terracotta nude." Much lighter and warmer than Lolita, the shade has much more orange to it. Like every Kat von D liquid shade I've tried, application is smooth, and the product is pigmented. I needed one swipe for full coverage, although the swatch shows that it might be a little bit patchy. I didn't experience patchy application on the lips, however. I was able to get a nice crisp line using the included doe foot, and the formula took about a minute to go from wet, to tacky, to matte and set. I was able to apply two coats with no issues. The lipstick has an inoffensive non-scent, just smells like a lipstick. Whatever scent is there fades quickly. After about three hours (and a cup of coffee) the lipstick was still around, but was cracking at my lip lines a bit. I was able to press my lips together to redistribute the product. There was no transfer onto my cup, though! 

Pros:

• Minis! Because who uses a full size?
• Smooth application
• Little to no transfer
• Dries fully matte
• No bleeding, feathering, or flaking

Cons:

• Can be somewhat drying. Pair with a lip primer for more damage control
• Cracks on lip lines, but can be redistriuted to look good again
• Needs to be reapplied after eating

Each of these is 0.10 oz, when a full size is 0.22 oz - so they're just shy of half of a full size each. 

Kata von D Lolita Lip Duo - $19.50 for 2 x 0.10 oz

Review - 4/5

Kat von D Everlasting Liquid Lipstick in Mother - Review

Kat von D released a whole slew of new shades for her Everlasting Liquid Lipstick line earlier this year. This formula is hands down my favorite liquid lipstick formula (as evidenced by prior reviews of Double Dare, Bown n Arrow, Bauhau5, and Berlin), so I snatched up a bunch of shades. Mother is one of the new releases, and in the teaser pictures that were out for MONTHS, it was referred to as 'Selektion,' which was then changed for obvious PR reasons. (If you aren't aware, it's a term used by Nazi Germany. Name change is fully understandable when put in that context.) But I digress.

Mother is listed as a dusty mauve pink. This shade is a cooler leaning pink, with a hint of dustiness. It's still quite a bright shade. Personally, I'm not a fan of how I look in cooler lip colors, even though my skintone is somewhat neutral (leaning a little warm.) So I'm torn on whether or not I dig this shade (on me, personally. On others, it looks great!) The formula is just like all of the others, a slightly creamy liquid. It applies smoothly and easily using the doefoot applicator attached to the lid. The scent is a slightly paint-like lipstick scent, nothing offensive and it fades right away. This shade is a bit less pigmented than others in the line, and I needed two coats to get a solid color on my lips. The lipstick dried quickly, in about a minute. However, I was able to add my second coat with no problems, which is nice.

I am a fan of this formula because it usually isn't overly drying, when paired with a lip primer. However, Mother dried out my lips. I did wear it with a lip primer, and a new one at that - the Colourpop lip primer. I normally use MAC Prep and Prime Lip, and I wondered if it was the primer not being up to my high standards, but I have worn other liquid lipsticks with the Colourpop primer with no problems, so I am resigning to the fact that Mother was just more drying. Additionally, Mother settled into lip lines and cracks on my lips, meaning I had to reapply to get it to stay looking good. On the flip side, no transfer or bleeding/feathering, as expected from the Kat von D formula.

I mentioned it earlier - I'm torn on Mother. First it was just the shade not being my usual thing (I'm sure if I wore cooler tones more often I wouldn't mind it!) but the additional shortcomings of this shade compared to others in the line leaves me feeling a bit lukewarm towards it.

Pros:

• No bleeding/feathering
• Dries quickly
• Does not transfer
• Scent dissipates quickly
• Smooth application

Cons:

• Drying, even paired with a lip primer
• Settles into cracks and lines
• Not opaque with one coat

Kat von D Everlasting Liquid Lipstick in Mother - $20.00 for 0.22 oz
Review - 2.5/5

Hello Waffle *sigh* and Marsala Swatches and Review

Hello Waffle is one of my favorite indie brands. When Christine (the owner) puts out something new, I usually jump on it. I've had these sitting around for a while, so it's time I finally share my thoughts!

Marsala is a deeply tinted lip gloss. Marsala is 2015's color of the year (decided by chooser of arbitrary colors, Pantone), and this is Christine's take on it. I was hoping for something more of a wine shade, and this leans more brown. The gloss is definitely pigmented though, one swipe deposits plenty of color on the lips. I don't find the gloss overly sticky. The gloss comes packages in a plastic tube with a doe foot applicator. The gloss itself has an inoffensive "lip product" scent. The gloss isn't the most wear proof product (it IS a gloss!) but it leaves a slight stain behind. I didn't have any issues with bleeding or feathering.

Marsala lip gloss (limited edition) - $8.15 for 10 mL

Review - 3/5 (I dig the formula, though not the shade!)

*sigh* is a tinted product that would arise if a tinted balm and a lipstick had a baby. It's not as sheer as a tinted balm, but not as opaque as a lipstick. The shade is described as "a deep burgundy red lip balm," but I find it to be much more pink than red. The formula is not as soft as some tinted balms, and I need to apply a little pressure to get it to apply how I like. The packaging is a twist up lip balm tube. Mine is in a chubby tube, but these have recently been switched over to slimline tubes - same concept, more compact. This one also has an inoffensive scent. Since it's a hybrid lipstick/lip balm type of product, it does wear off, but more gradually and leaves a slight stain behind. I didn't experience any drying or feathering while wearing.

*sigh* lip color - $4.93 for 0.07 oz

Review - 4/5

Marsala was limited edition, and I'm not sure if it'll be making a return. *sigh* is still available, however, and I highly recommend it!

Milani Amore Matte Lip Crème in Beloved - Review

Drugstore brands are all aboard the liquid lipstick hype train - choo choo! I picked up one of the new Milani Amore Matte Lip Crèmes in the shade Beloved.

Beloved is described as a "brown rose." The shade leans warm, pink with a brown undertone. It doesn't look brown on the lips, it has more natural look. The formula is more liquidy than creamy. The applicator is a more elongated doe foot with a rounded end. The lipstick has a very strong cake scent. It does fade, but if you're sensitive to scented products this may not be for you. The product is pigmented, and I was able to get full coverage with one swipe of product. It takes about a minute or so to dry to a fully dry, matte finish.

While wearing, I noticed very little transfer onto things such as a coffee cup. However, the lipstick does not hold up through eating and will need to be reapplied. A stain was left behind after the lipstick came off. Even with a lip primer, I found this drying, and even experienced small flakes of product coming off. The final finish is very dry and very matte, which emphasized lip lines.

These lipsticks were originally limited edition, but Milani announced that they will be brought back into the permanent range, with more shades. I'm a big fan of liquid lipsticks, and I really like this shade, but it definitely isn't my favorite formula.

Pros:

• Good pigmentation
• Very matte
• Easy to apply
• Low transfer

Cons:

• Strongly scented
• Drying
• Emphasizes lip lines
• Flakes

Milani Amore Matte Lip Crème in Beloved - $8.99 for 0.21 oz

Review - 2.5/5

September 2015 Favorites

I've been MIA for a while! I'm back to pick up where I left off - I have a ton of stuff to play with and review. Here are the things I found myself reaching for the most in the month of September:

1. Kat von D Shade and Light Eye palette - When this came out, I told myself I didn't need it. I have so many neutral shadows, so many matte shadows, so many matte neutral palettes...but I caved and bought it. Since I picked it up, I've been using it near daily. The shadows are extremely blendable and smooth, and there are shadows for every occasion, whether you want dark or light eyes. I'm really happy I picked this one up!
2. ColourPop Super Shock Shadow in I Heart This - A basic shimmery champagne color, I've been using this on the lid constantly with my KvD palette looks! I like applying this with the finger, and then blending out the edges with a synthetic hair brush.
3. Sixteen92 The Masquerade Party - I have a full review of this Birthday Collection scent from a few months ago. Now that the weather has cooled off, I have been reaching for this pumpkin scent at least two to three times a week. I purchased a full size, and kept my sample as well so I'll be well stocked. I'm all about pumpkin everything during autumn, and this scent fits the bill.
4. Hakuhodo J5522 - This is my new favorite crease brush. My eyes are small, so the shape of this brush is a little bit too big. I find that although it's big, the end is able to deposit color in my crease and blow it out just the right amount. It makes putting transition shades down that much faster, since I'm depositing color and blending out the edges in one fell swoop. Also, it's super soft and fluffy - what's not to love?
5. Tom Ford lipstick in Richard - This shade is a limited edition shade from the Lips and Boys collection - but it is also an exact dupe for another LE shade, Negligee. I've started wearing this more often since the collection is rumored to be making a comeback - I can pick up a backup! This shade is a great My Lips But Better shade on me, perfect to go with more bold eye looks. The formula is also extremely comfortable, another plus. Hopefully the collection is back soon, before I run out of this one!

Kat von D Everlasting Liquid Lipstick in Double Dare - Review

Time to review another of my favorite liquid lipsticks - Kat von D Everlasting Liquid Lipstick in Double Dare! This is one of the new range of sixteen shades that was released earlier in July.

Double Dare is described as a "cocoa blush." The shade is a warm leaning pink, almost coral but not quite, with a splash of a nude shade mixed in. On me, it's a little bit more than a "my lips but better" shade - not too bold, but it definitely looks like I'm wearing lipstick. The formula is more creamy than a true liquid, but it isn't exactly a mushed up lipstick. The lipstick comes with a doefoot applicator that allows for smooth application. The lipstick has no discernible scent. The lipstick was opaque on one swipe. This formula takes about a minute or two to set, allowing for correction of mistakes and layering on more product. As it sets, it goes from being a liquid, to tacky, to a dry matte finish. 

I find this formula very comfortable to wear. After it sets, it does not budge. I experienced very little transfer, and after eating, the majority of the lipstick was still intact (only had to reapply a small amount on the inner lip.) There was no bleeding or feathering. I wore this with a lip primer, as matte liquid formulas can be quite drying. I did not experience any drying, but it was not hydrating. 

Another great shade from the Kat von D line, they really are my favorite liquid lipsticks!

Pros:

• Pigmented, opaque on one swipe
• Smooth application
• No scent
• No bleeding or feathering
• Very little transfer

Cons:

• May be drying without the use of a primer

Kat von D Everlasting Liquid Lipstick in Double Dare - $20.00 for 0.22 oz

Review - 5/5

Kismet Cosmetics Liquid Lipsticks in Elope and On Point - Review

I'm happy to be reviewing a new product, and from a new company (to me, at least!) The team at Kismet Cosmetics were super kind and provided me with two of their new liquid lipsticks to review!

I received two liquid lipstick shades - Elope and On Point. Liquid lipsticks are the "in" item right now in terms of lip products, but you normally find liquid to matte formulas. Kismet's formula is different - the finish isn't matte, but ends up as a regular lipstick finish. It can be glossy or more satin, depending on how you blot it. 

Elope is described as a "nude." The shade is a pink leaning nude, somewhat tawny. It wasn't the type of nude that washes you out, and on the lips it definitely looked more pink (on me, at least.)

On Point is a "classic pink shade with hints of orchid and nude undertones." It is a creamy, bright pink with hints of coral. 

The applicator for these lipsticks is an elongated, slim doe foot, with a rounded end. The doe foot is much bigger than what I'm used to (think the doe foot on Kat von D's liquid lipsticks.) However, the larger doe foot did not create issues with application. The texture of these lipsticks surprised me - it was more like a thick gloss than a lipstick. Unlike Fyrinnae's Lip Lustres, which are definitely like a mushed up "regular" lipstick in a tube with a doe foot, these have the creaminess of a lipstick with the feel of a gloss. 

I didn't notice any difference in texture or formula between the two shades. There was no added scent that I could detect. Pigmentation was good for each - one swipe covered the lips well, but the formula can be built up for more intensity if you so desired. Because they are not a liquid to matte formula, they never really "set," meaning you can touch up without issue, or add another layer and not have to rush. Application was smooth due to the gloss-like texture. The formula was non sticky, which was nice considering its consistency. I usually wore two layers and then blotted the product for a less shiny, more satin finish.

Since these don't dry, there was some transfer when it came to cups and eating. I experienced no bleeding or feathering. They did not stand up to a full meal, and needed reapplication. Reapplication was smooth due to the non matte formula. I wore these with a lip primer, as always, and they did not dry out my lips. As the day wore on, the lipstick faded evenly.

I wanted to note that these lipsticks are both vegan and cruelty free, as well as gluten free. (I'm not a connoisseur of items with those qualities, but it's always good to note. I'm also hunting for GF items for a friend, and it's great that it's clearly listed!)

Pros:

• Non drying
• No bleeding or feathering
• No scent
• Non sticky
• Pigmented

Cons:

• Prone to transfer
• Larger doe foot may be tricky for some
• Needs to be reapplied due to no "dry down" of the formula

Kismet Cosmetics Liquid Lipstick - $22.00 each
Review - 4/5

These products were provided as press samples for review. Reviews on these items are honest opinions, and were not solicited.

Kat von D Everlasting Liquid Lipstick in Bow n Arrow - Review

I've had a few of the new Kat von D liquid lipstick shades for a while, so it's about time I review them! I jumped on this shade the moment it was available, since I'm really getting into nudes. In case you didn't know, KvD released sixteen! new shades in mid July, and they're ALL permanent. So there's no rush to grab this or any other new one. (Not that I listened to myself on that.)

Bow n Arrow is listed as a "fawn nude." This nude is definitely more brown leaning than pink leaning, and the shade is warm. On me, it doesn't completely wash me out, there's enough pink in there to richen up the tan shade and keep it from being corpse-ish. The Everlasting Liquid Lipsticks come in a slim tube with a doe foot applicator. I happen to like the doe foot, it's small enough to get into the corners of my lips no problem. The packaging is a sturdy plastic tube, with silver detailing on the cap, and black detailing on the top of the tube.

Application of this shade is very smooth - it helps that I wear a lip primer to really make life easy, but I didn't experience any dragging of the applicator. The formula takes about two minutes to fully dry down. In the meantime, it gets a bit tacky. The plus side to the longer dry time is that you have time to fix any mistakes without needing to reapply everything, as adding another coat doesn't rip up the first coat, as some formulas are wont to do. The pigmentation is great, I got full coverage with one coat. Theres a slight lipstick-y scent to this, but it fades quickly.

I noticed minimal transfer while wearing this, a perk of the liquid lipstick formula. I was able to eat some non-greasy snacks, but my lunch (a salad) took off the lipstick on the inner portion of my mouth and I needed to reapply. Thankfully, reapplication did not make everything that was still leftover look worse. I didn't find this drying, but I always wear a lip primer. There was no bleeding or feathering, either.

As it stands, the Kat von D formula is my favorite liquid lipstick formula to date. I haven't really had any huge issues with any shade I've tried. At $90.90 an ounce, there is way worse out there. (Anastasia Beverly Hills charges the same price for half the amount of product.) I'm super happy with the shade extension for this product, and I hope there is even more to come!

Pros:

• Smooth application
• Barely transfers
• Non drying
• No bleeding or feathering
• Great pigmentation

Cons:

• I now want every shade
• Needs to be reapplied after eating
• Not the best scent

Kat von D Everlasting Liquid Lipstick in Bow n Arrow - $20.00 for 0.22 oz

Review - 5/5

MAC Whirl Lipstick - Review

For the past few months, MAC Whirl lipliner has been tough to find. It was touted as the key to a perfect Kylie Jenner lip, and people were buying it like crazy. MAC must have gotten the memo, because with their new lineup of matte lipsticks, they included Whirl in the mix.

Whirl is described as a "dirty rose," with a matte finish. The shade is a balance between a pinky nude and a light brown. The lipstick applies smoothly, much more smoothly than you'd think for a matte finish, and did not tug or drag on the lips. The lipstick has the classic MAC vanilla scent. Due to the fact that this has a matte finish, I paired it with MAC Prep and Prime Lip. I found the formula to be lightly hydrating, and non drying - but this could be the primer at play. I did not use a lip liner, and experienced no bleeding or feathering. There was transfer, not super crazy all gone transfer, but a typical lip print was left on a cup. After eating, the lipstick needed to be reapplied, and left no stain.

The Matte finish of this lipstick differs from the Retro Matte that MAC also offers in that it is not as drying. I have found the Retro Matte to be much more difficult to apply, and harsher on the lips. The end finish of the regular Matte is mostly matte, you may have a slightly demi-matte finish if you do not completely blot it down, but it is not that "oh my god my lips are the Sahara" matte you get with the Retro Matte finish.

Pros:

• Smooth application
• Non drying
• No bleeding or feathering

Cons:

• Noticeable scent
• Demi-matte, must be blotted
• Transfers
• Does not stain, will need to be reapplied after eating

MAC lipstick in Whirl - $16.00 for 0.10 oz

Review 3.5/5

Too Faced Melted Metal Liquefied Lipstick in Peony - Review

Too Faced recently expanded their line of Melted lipsticks with Melted Metal lipsticks. Although Peony was the shade that looked the worst on me from the original line, the Metal shade actually doesn't look too bad! I picked this up a little while ago, during my Sephora spring sale haul. (Yes, I am still going through stuff from this haul. No, I am not done yet. Yes, I bought too much.)

Peony is described as a "metallic dusty rose." The original Peony shade is a "dusty rose" so they just slapped "metallic" in there to fit the Metal theme. The added shimmer brings this shade to be a bright rose gold, emphasis on the rose. The Melted lipsticks have a squeeze applicator with a felt tip, and the lipsticks applies smoothly. There is a lipsticky vanilla scent to the lipstick that fades a little while after application. The formula is light, and not sticky. The shimmer in the lipstick did not cause any graininess. Unlike other liquid formulas, this lipstick does not fully set, and it does not have a matte finish. 

While wearing, I noticed that the color tended to gather into the lip lines. The shimmer in the lipstick also highlighted any imperfection in the lips, as it would gather around anything like flakes. I didn't notice any dryness caused by the lipstick, however, or any additional flaking caused by the lipstick itself - just things emphasized by the shimmer in the lipstick formula. I do like how the shimmer caught the light and made my lips look a little fuller, as I don't have the world's most full lips. I did not notice any bleeding or feathering, though the lipstick was prone to transfer.

Pros:

• Easy application
• Squeezy applicator with sponge tip is actually not horrible!
• No bleeding/feathering

Cons:

• Definite scent
• Prone to transfer
• Gathers into lip lines

Too Faced Melted Metal Liquefied Lipstick in Peony - $21.00 for 0.40 oz
Review - 3/5