Save or Splurge: Lips

Lipstick:  Either

Like mascara, lipsticks have come a long way in the drugstore.  They aren't as heavy and quite pigmented.  They still have a limited amount of finishes, unlike high-end.  High-end lipsticks outdo drugstore with the variety of finishes by far, especially matte and shimmer finishes because drugstore matte lipsticks dry out lips and drugstore shimmers contain chunky glitter.  If you want a satin or gloss finish, there are several cheaper options.

Splurge:  NARS (Matte and satin), Makeup Forever (All finishes), Kat Von D (Matte and Satin), YSL Rouge Volupte (Satin or gloss and my FAVORITE!)

Save:  Maybelline Color Sensational (Satin and gloss), Revlon Superlustrous (satin)

Lip stain:  Either, especially if there is a lip balm attached

Lip stains are tricky because not everyone is aware about how they work.  A lot of good lip stains have been given bad names because people trash them on websites like Makeup Alley because they do this, that, and the other.  The biggest complaints about lip stains are:  they are drying, they fall into every fine line around the mouth, and they don't have enough color.  Thing is, those are commonalities in all lip stains and there are ways to combat those pesky tendencies.  For the drying problem, get a lip stain that comes with a balm or use an oil-based lip balm with the stain you already have.  For the fine line issue, put a bit of petroleum jelly around the perimeter of your mouth to block the stain, then take off the jelly after the stain dries.  (This also works for hair coloring.)  The last issue listed is one that annoys me.  It's a stain, not a lipstick.  Adverts for lip stains typically say "sheer" color, so a light flush is all you will get.  If you want a ton of color, get a lipstick.

Splurge:  Duwop, Smashbox, Tarte Lipsurgence, BeneTint, Stila Crushes

Save:  Revlon Just Bitten, Maybelline

Lipgloss:  Save

Lipglosses are comparable to mascaras as far as improvements on the cheaper end.  Drugstore brands used to be either too thin or too sticky with very little color payoff that wore away after an hour.  Now, they have glosses comparable to the legendary MAC as far as color and staying power.  Also, they have a wider variety of glosses than ever.  Some with glitter, some with just a hint of color, and some that are almost like liquid lipstick!  Just take your pick!

Splurge:  Chanel Glossamer (Little bit of everything), Urban Decay Lip Junkie (hint of color), BeneFit gloss (Little glitter), Smashbox (Some liquid lipstick, some glitter), NARS (Most like liquid lipstick, some are sheer)

Save:  Revlon Super Lustrous (sheer color), all Hard Candy lipgloss lines (They are all different and cover all types listed), L'Oreal Infallible (Colorful and some glitter), Rimmel 6-hour gloss (Glitter and color)

Lipliner:  Splurge

Lip liners are a special occasion makeup essential because they help lipstick hold on to your lips and prevent feathering around the lips.  Higher-end brands win for one big reason:  they don't dry out lips.  A lot of them act like a stiffer lipstick, which feels weird at first, but I got used to it quickly, as I'm sure many others have.  Drugstore lip liners, at least most of the ones I've used, feel really heavy and drying.  Only one drugstore lipliner has felt as good as a higher end to me.

Splurge:  Makeup Forever Aqualiner, Urban Decay 24/7, MAC

Save:  Prestige lipliner

Tinted Lip Balm:  Save!

Tinted lip balms are my favorite lip color formula because I have super-dry lips, so I'm almost always wearing lip balm anyway!  Why not add a bit of color?  I have only used drugstore tinted lip balms because I tried them first and loved them.  The colors were bold enough to be seen but sheer enough to not look gaudy and the moisture they provided my lips was great.  Plus, both may be drugstore companies, but both are against parabens and pride themselves for providing natural and organic products.  If some of you out there love your high-end tinted lip balm, cool, but consider trying these because you might like them just as much but they won't hurt your wallet as badly.

Save:  Burt's Bees Shimmer Sticks, Burt's Bees Tinted Lip Balm, Say Yes! To Carrots Tinted Lip Balm




If you have any questions about this post or about any products/brands I didn't mention, please leave a comment or Facebook post. :)


-M