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Hi! My name is Gena and you may already know that I have a slightly unhealthy obsession with lipstick.
So much so that I have an Instagram, or should I say lipstagram, dedicated to every lip colour I can get my hands on.
2017 has been a great year for lipsticks, and a consequently horrendous year for my bank account, so I've decided to share a bunch that I've bought and loved in the hope that you may find something you like too!
1. Jordana Cosmetics Sweet Cream Matte Liquid Lip Colour in Red Velvet Cake.
Finding the perfect red lipstick is something I've struggled with for what feels like an eternity. It's either too light, too orangey, or just ~off~ for my skin tone, so I go through long stints of trying lots of random ones to wearing none at all. It was only until my friend recommended the Jordana Sweet Cream Matte range that I finally found The One. As far as liquid mattes go, it's not the most drying I've tried, but I would recommend making sure your lips are well moisturised before putting it on. Most importantly, it doesn't get dry and flake off, which makes it one of the best of the cheaper liquid mattes on the market.
Pros: Affordable and the colour is TO DIE FOR.
Cons: Can be pretty drying, but worth it if you're in love with the colour like I am.
Get it from Beauty Bay for £6.00, or in the US from Walgreens for $4.99.
2. Fenty Beauty Cosmic Lip Gloss Lip Glitter in Astro Naughty and Starlit Hyper-Glitz Lipstick in Sci-Fly.
It would be an understatement to say Rihanna has been robbing me blind the last couple of months with the release of Fenty Beauty. I'm not usually one to wear lip glosses, but this year I've managed to acquire three glosses, two of which are from Fenty Beauty. I tried the Hyper-Glitz Lipstick first and wasn't too impressed, as I'm used to my lipsticks being more pigmented and way less subtle, but when I added the Cosmic Gloss — hooooooly shit. They're the perfect combination; the colour was incredible.
Pros: The gloss isn't sticky and has an impressive staying power. If you needed a lip look for Christmas or New Year's Eve, you've pretty much found it with this.
Cons: The lipstick and lip gloss look so good together that you're probably going to have to buy them both, which means more money unfortunately.
Get the lipstick from Harvey Nichols for £16.00, and in the US from Sephora for $19.00.
Get the lip gloss from Harvey Nichols here, and in the US from Sephora here for the same price as above.
3. L'Oréal Paris X Balmain Color Riche in Balmain Instinct and Domination.
Firstly, please ignore the vastly different lighting in these photos (one was taken inside, the other with the sun blinding me). Secondly, I'll admit that my initial interest in this collection came from the fact it was a partnership with Balmain. Do I know anything about Balmain? No. Did that stop me? Of course not. The lipsticks are matte, but go on slightly creamy and smooth, so they're not drying at all. Great if you want the matte look without having shrivelled lips in the process.
Pros: Stays on for several hours through eating, drinking, and napping. The khaki colour has gold glitter in it, which is a great added bonus.
Cons: Considering regular L'Oréal lipsticks are £6.99, I actually think these lippies could stand to be a little cheaper.
Get them from Boots for £12.99, or in the US from Ulta for $13.99.
4. Anastasia Beverly Hills Liquid Lipstick in Trust Issues.
I rave about Anastasia Beverly Hills' liquid lipsticks all the time because I think the formula is BRILLIANT. No crumbling, no cracking when you smile, and it just goes on really nicely. I have a few other liquid lipsticks from the same line, but Trust Issues is a great colour for autumn. If you're looking to treat yourself to your first liquid lipstick, this is where I would start.
Pros: Really great liquid matte formula that stays put.
Cons: Not the easiest to come off, so make sure you've got a good makeup remover.
Get it from Anastasia Beverly Hills for £20.00, or in the US from Sephora for $12.00.
5. By Terry Terrybly Velvet Rouge Liquid Velvet Lipstick in Bohemian Plum 4.
This is by far the most expensive lipstick I've ever tried (and likely ever will try). That being said, it's also one of the best. I have never seen a liquid lipstick like those from By Terry. They're the perfect sweet spot between a matte and satin lipstick, whereby they're moisturising, but dry to the perfect texture. The applicator is designed so it's easy to apply, and the colour is so striking that I get complimented every time I wear it. Most importantly, no matter what you do during the day, the colour looks JUST AS GOOD as when you first put it on. It's a miracle lipstick.
Pros: A great texture, not drying at all, and stays on forever.
Cons: Transfer on to things more easily than most other liquid lipsticks, and pretty bloody expensive.
Get it from Net-A-Porter for £30.00, or from the US from Nordstrom for $47.00.
6. Urban Decay Comfort Matte Vice Lipstick in Perversion.
I've been hooked on black lipstick for about a year and a half now, which means I've tried and tested a fair few to find the right one. Perversion from Urban Decay, though oddly named, is hands down my favourite. The Comfort Matte range is great for people who like the matte look, but hate the feel of it, as they've specifically designed it to be less drying than a regular matte lipstick. Coupled with the Perversion lip pencil, which I usually wear underneath, it is the best black lipstick I've tried. I'm currently on my fourth tube this year.
Pros: Bold with a great matte formula.
Cons: If you end up wearing this every other day like me, you will burn a hole through your pocket replacing it.
Get it from Urban Decay for £15.50, or from the US from Sephora for $17.00.
7. Bite Beauty Amouse Bouche Lipstick in Squid Ink.
I discovered Bite Beauty on a trip to America and it's been my favourite lipstick brand ever since. Squid Ink in particular is the deep navy I've always wanted, and it looks more blue or black depending on the light you're in. If you like super pigmented lipsticks that don't budge, anything from the Amuse Bouche line is for you!
Pros: Incredible range of colours, and a great texture and finish.
Cons: Despite all my praying, you still can't get it in the UK.
Despite the excruciating fact it's unavailable here, you can order it online from Sephora for $26.00.
8. Too Faced Melted Matte Lipstick in Naughty by Nature.
I love Too Faced's fun, colourful aesthetic and they just opened a store in London, so I tried a lipstick from their Melted Matte range. There's a bunch of bold, beautiful colours to choose from, and the liquid lipstick dries to an ultra-matte finish. Naughty by Nature is the kind of colour that's ideal for the colder months, but I'm also a fan of Drop Dead Red, if you're looking for a deep red colour.
Pros: Glides on really easily, is light weight, and colour is super rich.
Cons: The ultra-matte finish means it can feel pretty tight on the lips at times, particularly if you're not used to it. It's also another one that needs a good makeup remover to get off your lips. Trust me, this one's no joke.
Get it from Too Faced for £21.00, or from the US from Sephora for $21.00.
9. Wet N Wild MegaLast Lip Color in Vamp It Up.
This lipstick is the cheapest of the bunch, but one I constantly have in rotation during the week. I initially got this as a present from my friend who saw the colour "Vamp It Up" and thought of me because of my love of dark lipstick colours, and thank God she did! As far as drug store lipstick goes, the Wet N Wild MegaLast lipsticks are great and they really do last. This finish is thicker than a regular satin but still pretty shiny, and the pigmentation is fab.
Pros: Cheap enough for me to buy three in one go and not feel bad about it.
Cons: For the price, there are very few cons! A great, affordable lipstick.
Get it from Amazon for £3.80, or from the US from Amazon for $4.40.
10. Fenty Beauty Gloss Bomb Universal Lip Luminizer.
Turns out Rihanna's "Bitch Better Have My Money" was actually just an ode to me giving Rihanna my wages every month in exchange for products from her makeup line. I was unsure at first glance if Gloss Bomb would be worth it. How good can a "nude" lip gloss be? I thought. Pretty damn good, apparently. It's marketed as a "universal rose nude shade", which is probably accurate for a vast majority of people, particularly as my friends of both lighter and darker skin tones seem to rate it. I like the colour, and it doesn't sink into my lips and disappear after 30 minutes, which is what I expected.
Pros: Great colour that can be worn on its own or on top of another lipstick to make it pop. I also love the chunky bottle.
Cons: I still think this is kind of expensive for a lip gloss? But it's great all the same.
Get it from Harvey Nichols for £16.00, or from the US from Sephora for $18.00.
11. Makeup Forever Artist Rouge Crème Lipstick in C603 Midnight Blue.
I love wearing bright, bold lipsticks because they make me feel powerful (I mean, my everyday lipstick colour is black), so when I found this Makeup Forever lipstick in Midnight Blue I almost felt it’d be rude not to welcome it to my collection. The Artist Rouge Crème lipsticks are extremely pigmented with a creamy finish. The Midnight Blue colour itself is so striking that I don’t get to wear it very often (I really don’t go out enough), but if you’re looking for something to dazzle, I’d definitely give these a go.
Pros: Highly pigmented and one stroke is enough to cover your lips entirely.
Cons: A little too creamy for me, so if you’re a diehard matte fan, this may not be for you.
Get it from Debenhams for £18.00, or in the US from Sephora for $22.00.
12. Glo Girl Cosmetics Lipstick in Hella Ratchet.
Glo Girl is a lipstick brand I found while holidaying in California, which sadly means it’s not available in the UK just yet. The lipsticks are formulated with vitamin E, making them incredibly hydrating and silky to touch. My favourite thing about this brand is that all the colours are really vibrant and fun, perfect for someone with a similar style to match.
Pros: A really hydrating formula that won’t dry out your lips.
Cons: You definitely need more than one coat to get the full colour of the lipstick.
Get it on the US site for $10.00.
13. Urban Decay Metallized Vice Lipstick in Voodoo.
I got this Urban Decay metallic lipstick as a birthday present and immediately fell in love with the colour. It's a black and purple hybrid with PINK GLITTER in it, which makes it one of the most badass lipsticks I own. All of the Metallized Vice lipsticks are super unique, and their main selling point is definitely the colours being so drastically different to an everyday lipstick. It's definitely the type of product that will push you out of your comfort zone.
Pros: The colour is just really fuckin' cool.
Cons: Not as pigmented on the first coat, so definitely need more than one to do the colour justice.
Get it from Urban Decay for £15.50, or from the US from Sephora for $17.00.
14. NYX Professional Makeup Velvet Matte Lipstick in Midnight Muse.
I really like NYX as a cosmetics brand for its affordable makeup and wide range of products on offer. For lipsticks, it's no different, although it can tend to be a little hit and miss depending on what product you buy. When it comes to the Velvet Matte lipsticks, I'm a huge fan, especially in the colour Midnight Muse. There was a time I was wearing navy lipstick often, but needed a cheaper alternative to the colour I already had. NYX saved me! £7.00 to replace something that was £20.00? Perfect. I'm also a massive fan of the NYX Liquid Suede Cream Lipsticks if you're looking for something else to try.
Pros: The velvet matte finish means it's smooth and not drying. Plus, it's super affordable.
Cons: Staying power could be better.
Get it from Boots for £7.00, or in the US from Ulta for $6.99.
15. Beauty Beholders Matte Liquid Lipstick in It's Lit.
If there's one thing I love about the Beauty Beholders Matte Liquid Lipstick range, it's the names (if you can find a lipstick name more badass than Bad Bitch Tabetha, I'll give you a digital high-five). It's Lit is a deep red with blue undertones, and the lipsticks have a velvety matte finish that's transfer proof, so you won't leave a trace wherever you go.
Pros: Really pigmented, plus I love the names, packaging, and price.
Cons: I found them a little drying, but my colleague Tolani didn't find them drying at all, so it very much depends.
Try one at Beauty Beholders for £10.00, and they also ship internationally.
16. Literally any of the ColourPop Lippie Stix.
I've not had the best luck with ColourPop liquid lipsticks — the colours are incredible but they crumbled off my lips! — but I will shout from the rooftops about my love for the ColourPop Lippie Stix. As far as affordable lipsticks go, these are pretty up there with some of the best. There's a great range of colours to choose from, the lipsticks are pigmented with full-coverage, and although the finish is matte, the shea butter and Vitamin E means they're really nourishing.
Pros: Lipsticks that look good without breaking the bank.
Cons: So affordable that you may end up being a hoarder like me and buying four for no reason.
Get them from the ColourPop website for $5.00, which also ships internationally.
17. And lastly, a custom lipstick from the Bite Beauty Lip Lab.
Okay, may I start by saying it BLOODY KILLS ME that there isn't one of these in the UK! As Bite Beauty is my favourite lipstick brand, I was more than excited to visit their renowned lip lab in NYC when I visited in August. They have three so far — Toronto, San Francisco, and New York — and for $55 you get to make your very own personalised lipstick, which includes choosing from over 200 lip pigments, picking a finish, and choosing a scent. I got way too excited (as I said, they don't have one where I'm from and it's my fave brand), so I chose to get two lipsticks for $80, ending up with a cherry red and chocolate brown. It was really, really fun and would make a great present for anyone who's just as addicted to lipstick as I am.
Pros: You get to be that annoying person who says "I got it custom-made in New York" whenever someone asks where your lipstick is from.
Cons: It's expensive, and sadly in my case I can't replace them unless I fly half way across the world.
Take a look at the experience here.
