Best & Worst ~ Lipstick Testing

It was a big summer for testing products here at Hot & Flashy, and the final category that I have for you is Lipstick! I tested 8 lipsticks in hopes of finding at least one product that’s reasonably priced, long-wearing, non-drying, doesn’t migrate into wrinkles, and makes my lips look great (that’s not TOO much to ask for is it??)

I put the lipsticks in a head-to-head competition with a level playing field, so all the different lipsticks were applied without benefit of primer or liner. I wore each all day through meals, snacks, and drinks without re-applying and documented how they looked and felt after 3 hours, 6 hours, and 9 hours. Here are the results in order from worst to best:

Milani PowerLip in Mango Tango Lasting & Moisturizing Gloss Stain in “Mango Tango” ~ $6.50 ~ 8 Shades

The Claims: An innovative hybrid of lipstick, gloss & stain that’s totally non-drying!

Application: Thick glossy liquid lipstick with a built in brush applicator. The brush is small and the opacity and thickness of the formula makes it difficult to control how much is applied and where it goes, but it offers maximum color payoff! The finish is very glossy (accentuating wrinkles), fairly opaque but not sticky.

Wear: It looked nice when first applied, great color, very flattering!

After 3 hours (including lunch) it had transferred everywhere! It was on my chin, my glass, and for some reason it was even on my back door. It bled into my upper lip lines and settled into my lower lip creases.

The stain lasted through 2 meals leaving some color on the lips after the gloss is gone.  It was comfortable to wear and my lips didn’t feel dry.

Pros: Non-drying, long-lasting color.

Cons: Bleeds, settles, & transfers. Shine isn’t flattering on mature lips.

 

NYX Extra Creamy Lipstick in “Haute Melon” ~ $4.00 ~ 10 Shades

The Claims: Mineral based formula with velvet texture and saturated color that resists wear and smudging.

Application: Creamy, semi-sheer formula goes on very unevenly… it’s sheer in some places and globs up in others, needs 2 coats and close attention to apply it correctly. It has a lovely soft-gloss finish. Good color payoff.

 

Wear: This one looked pretty good right after application too, and then rolled down hill quickly!

Color wore through 2 meals, but changed to more pink. Like the Milani, it transferred to my chin when I ate a sandwich and came off on cups etc.

Wear was uneven, and it settled into lip creases and bled into wrinkles. Didn’t feel overly drying, but lips were flaking. Some color still left after 8 hours, but still uneven.

Pros: Long lasting color.

Cons: Bleeds & settles, smudges & transfers.

 

Tarte Lipsurgance Matte Lip Tint in “Exposed” ~ $24 ~ 6 Shades of Matte

The Claims: Hydrating formula with a soft beautiful matte finish.

Application: Smooth even application, color matches product on lips, matte finish, easy to apply, 1 coat is opaque, feels moisturizing (a little hard to get it going, then becomes more creamy)

 

Wear: A tiny bit of color was left after lunch.

It didn’t bleed into wrinkles and made lips look smoother, but was all worn off by 6 hours.

By 5 hours it sucked all the moisture out of lips (I had to apply balm), and by 10 hours lips were peeling.

Pros: No settling or bleeding, opaque matte finish flatters older lips.

Cons: Not long wearing, Very drying.

 

Tom Ford Lip Color in “Spanish Pink” ~ $50 ~ 20 Shades

Marketing: Rare and exotic ingredients create ultra-creamy texture and smooth application.

Application: Aside from the color being horrible on me, it was creamy and easy to apply. Very expensive packaging. One coat is opaque and even with good color payoff. Finish is soft gloss.

 

 

Wear: It immediately settled into creases on lower lip making lips look wrinklier and older. Color lasted through a meal and settled product was gone after lunch.

The color lasted really long (9 hrs), but wore off unevenly. It was very moisturizing and comfortable to wear all day, but lips didn’t look moisturized. . .

. . . they looked dry and creases were amplified.

Pros: Color payoff, staying power, moisturizing

Cons: Price, settling

 

Urban Decay Revolution Lipstick in “Streak” ~ $ 22 ~ 20 Shades + 3 only on UD

Marketing: Insane color payoff, plumping, hydrating, nourishing (jojoba oil,cocoa & shea butters), long lasting

Application: Easy to apply because it’s quite sheer. Color is very different on the lips than in the tube, so I wouldn’t call it “insane” color payoff, but it’s  still a nice color. Glossy finish helps highlight lip imperfections. Feels slightly sticky when 1^st applied but not bothersome. Provided a little plumping with no irritation or burning.

Wear: Nice color and soft gloss finish, but the plumping effect quickly turned into deflated extra wrinkled lips. Clumped up on dry skin, wore off unevenly. Looks nice from a distance, but not so much close up.

Color lasted through 2 meals, 3 drinks, 2 snacks (wore off somewhere between 6-10h). Lips felt dry after 5 hours. No feathering.

Pros: Beautiful color (although nothing like it’s supposed to be).

Cons: Clumps, wrinkles, dries lips, glossy.

 

 Too Faced Lip Injection Color Bomb in “Never Enough Nude” ~ $ 21 ~ 6 Shades

Marketing: Added satin color to their lip plumper for 20% more volume, and explosion of color and softness. Natural botanicals smooth and moisturize.

Application: Chubby crayon is soft and creamy, applies easily, feels balmy, slightly sticky but not greasy. Goes on sheer so color payoff is not the best, but application is even. The built-in plumper makes lips tingle around the edges, and gives lips a subtle fullness.

 

Wear: Plumping effect lasted about an hour. Felt lightweight and moisturizing on the lips for 5-7 hours.

The color wore through 1 meal and about 4 hours.

By 8 hours lips felt dry and peely, but there was no feathering or settling into lip lines.

Pros: Feel, application, & plumping.

Cons: Wear and drying.

 

Revlon Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stain in “Rendezvous” ~ $6.00 ~ 10 Shades

Marketing: A lightweight stain + moisturizing balm for a perfect flush of color.

Application: Chubby crayon stick is easy to apply. Goes on semi-sheer so color is not as bright as in the tube. Soft-satin-gloss finish, feels like a balm, feels moisturizing, a little sticky feeling.

 

 

Wear: Wore nicely for 3 hours and through 1 meal & drink.

Lips felt dry at 5 hours, balm worn off at 6 hours, but some color stain still left.

Made lip creases larger as the day wore on because of the drying. No settling into fine lines. Still a stain of color at 10h. A bit drying but no peeling or flaking of lips.

Pros: Long lasting color that stays put.

Cons: Drying.

 

Maybelline Colorsensational Lipstick Vivids in 870 “Shocking Coral” ~ $ 6 ~ 10 Shades

Marketing: Bright vivid color, never garish. Honey nectar nourishes lips.

Application: Smooth and easy to apply. Color payoff is good, it’s vivid, but goes on a bit sheer so color on lips doesn’t match the tube. Low luster makes lips look smoother. Feels lightweight and creamy, not sticky or greasy.

 

 

Wear: Wore well for the first 3 hours until I ate lunch, was quite faded after lunch. Slight feathering in deep wrinkle.

Wore off unevenly, but color stains lips so there was still a little color left after 6 hours.

Felt comfortable for 6 hours then started to dry lips, but not to the point of peeling and flaking.

Pros: Lightweight and creamy, low-luster finish.

Cons: Sheer so color isn’t true, Some feathering.

 

 

 

 

 

Here are the links to the other products I tested over the summer: 6 mascaras, The PMD (personal microdermabrasion) device, 3 Vitamin C Serums