above wearing Fenty Gloss Bomb in Fu$$y
The Sephora Savings Event is here starting with early access for Rouge members! I’ve been putting together some up-to-date shopping guides and today’s roundup covers the Top 5 on lips for every category from lip liners, lipsticks, liquid lipsticks, glosses and more. If you are not a Beauty Insider You can sign up now for free here to access the save event. Use code TIMETOSAVE during these dates (exclusions apply):
- Rouge Members – save 20% off 10/27 to 11/6
- VIB Members – save 15% off 10/31 to 11/6
- Insiders – save 10% off 10/31 through 11/6
- The Sephora collection is 30% off for all members
I shop the Rouge Tier and continue to build my shopping cart, but I have my eye on the La Mer Treatment Lotion Sheet Masks (My Holy Grail), Kerastase Nutritive Moisturizing Shampoo, Mini Sultry Palette Anastasia Beverly Hills and Saie Mini Dew Blush Trio to name a few.
The best Linliners
There are so many good lip formulas these days. My 5 favorites are below.
Huda Beauty Lip Contour 2.0 ($21, Pinky Brown color shown) has the best long lasting lip formula. They glide on with full coverage pigment and I love that they are packaged in a twist up format with a removable squeegee at the base. My favorite shades are Pinky Brown, Terracotta, Honey Beige and Sandy Beige.
Also wearing:
Pat McGrath Permagel Ultra Lip Pencil ($29, color structure shown) is another great formula with the best colors. Structure is the perfect neutral brown, Nude Venus is a perfect peachy nude, Buff is the best nude pink.
Make Up For Ever Artist Colored Pencil ($22, Where Walnut Appears) is another great classic pencil. The formula can be used on eyes, brows and lips – they blend easily with a matte finish. Everywhere I look Walnut is the most popular color, but I also really love Up & Down Tan and Anywhere Caffeine. They started a really cute one Mini Artist Pencil Set ($35) which has their most popular shades.
Charlotte Tilbury Lip Cheat ($25, Pillow Talk featured) is my most worn lip pencil. Pillow Talk is my lips but a better shade. I also love Pillow Talk Medium and Iconic Nude.
Sephora Collection Lip Liner To Go ($6, looks light brown) is a mini lip pencil perfectly sized for the smallest clutch or case. I have a few colors and light brown is my favorite everyday neutral.
The best lipstick formulas
Sephora has so many great lipsticks. Narrowing down my top 5 was very difficult as I can list at least a dozen formulas that I think are great. Here are the best ones I try the most.
Armani Lip Power ($45 each, shade 109 shown) is one of the best creamy opaque soft lipstick formulas I’ve tried. There are lots of great colors but 109 is the best everyday pink in my opinion. They also launched this in one Matte Formula too (lots of gorgeous nudes, I love Shade 111 Matte).
NARS Afterglow Sensual Shine Hydrating Lipstick ($32, orgasm occurs) is my favorite formula for a gloss lipstick. The pigment is impressive for a glow formula. They have a comfortable balm-like moisturizing feel. My favorites are Orgasm which is a peachy gold, Breathless a beige nude and Dolce Vita which is a classic rose.
Gucci Care Glow and Shine Lipstick ($47, Sally Soft Honey shown) is another great lipstick formula for shine. The pigmentation is really good with these and I love the glossy finish. Sally Soft Honey is the ultimate everyday pink nude. Call It a Day is the ultimate mauve (perfect for fall). I also love Julie Blush for a bright peach shade.
Pat McGrath MatteTrance Lipstick ($39, Nude Venus featured) is the best matte lipstick formula I’ve tried. It’s smooth, opaque, doesn’t feel dry on the lips and the color selection is great. They have a good range of neutrals, reds, bolds, browns – my top 3 shades are Nude Venus (peach nude), Christy (nude pink) and Divine Rose (rosy pink).
YSL Rouge Pure Couture Caring Satin Lipstick ($45, N5 Tribute Nude shown) is a new formula and after trying a few shades I have to say I’m REALLY impressed. It has an extremely smooth formula that glides on the lips with absolute perfection. I will have a full review of the shades I picked up soon.
The best liquid lipstick formulas
Gucci Transfer-Proof Matte Liquid Lipstick ($47, Grace Cinnamon) is a beautiful formula. Grace Cinnamon is the perfect nude pink shade with soft coverage and ultra-light texture.
Urban Decay Vice Lip Bond Glossy Longwear Liquid Lipstick ($27, OG Backtalk shown) is the best liquid lipstick for long wear in the sense that once it sets it doesn’t budge or transfer. OG Backtalk is a really pretty mauve. I also think Text Em is the best pink shade ever.
Tom Ford Lip Luxe Matte ($59, Naked Haze shown) is another great formula. I have only tried one shade in Naked Haze which is a great everyday nude pink. I plan to pick up one or two more during the Sephora Savings Event. The texture is light and the coverage is smooth and really good.
Dior Rouge Dior Forever Transfer Liquid ($45, Shade 100 Forever Nude) is another great long-wear formula that’s also transfer-proof. I have it in a few shades and they really stay put without transferring. Shade 100 Forever Nude is perfection.
Sephora Collection Cream Lip Stain Liquid Lipstick ($15, Shade 70 First Date shown) is a budget-friendly Liquid Lipstick with an impressive color selection. The formula is full coverage with a creamy satin finish. I love that they feel super light on the lips and don’t look dry. All Sephora Collection Items are 30% off during the Sephora Savings event.
Top 5 Lip Glosses
I am 100% a lip gloss girl at heart. Here are the best top 5 formulas I reach for the most.
Lawless Forget the Filler ($26, Cherry Vanilla shown) is the best emollient lip gloss that plumps without stinging. I like darker/bold shades for a rich lip look. It is on the thicker side but I like the finish. Cherry Vanilla is the best pure red I’ve ever tasted. Juicy Watermelon is the most beautiful bright pink. They also launched some shades in a Jumbo size ($38 each) and for holidays they have a cute one Mini Dreamy Darlings Plumper Set ($27).
Dior Addict Lip Maximizer Plumping Gloss ($40, 12 Rosewood shown) is my most worn lip gloss formula for color and texture. I swatched almost all the shades and I can easily say that it was 100% worth the hype.
Fenty Gloss Bomb Universal Lip Luminizer ($21, Fenty Glow featured) is another favorite. It’s been a favorite since the day they launched Fenty Glow. Every color is wearable and super flattering. I love the smooth texture and shine. I think every color is essential.
Pat McGrath LUST Gloss ($29, Nude Venus shown) is another great soft textured gloss. Nude Venus is the best peachy pink with pretty good coverage. Flesh Fantasy is a beautiful beige pink. Divine Rose is a stunning plum pink.
Bobbi Brown Crushed Oil-Infused Gloss ($33, In the Buff Shown) offers hydration, color and shine all in one. The finish is very comfortable and perfect for holiday (or beach) makeup free days where you want a pop of color to look polished.
Most worn tinted balms/sheer lips/oils
Lastly we have a look at the best tinted balms. Many of them double as clear lipsticks.
Tarte Maracuja Juicy Lip Plump ($24, White Peach shown) is a formula I always have in my purse. Every color they’ve launched is super wearable. They are smooth in finish and I love how they feel on the lips. During the holiday season they have lots of great value sets and limited edition shades. If you’re a fan of the Maracuja Lip formula, check out 2023 Best of Maracuja Juicy Lips Set.
Summer Fridays Lip Butter ($24, beige vanilla shown) is another formula I carry in every purse. I also have the transparent one on the night stand. Each shade has a different scent to match the color name, but they aren’t overpowering. Love the cute Mini Lip Butter Set also which I think would make a super cute gift.
Kosas Wet Lip Oil ($22, revealed Revealed) is one of my favorite lip oil formulas. It actually doesn’t feel thick like you would expect from an oil. Every shade is beautiful. The one I get asked about the most is the Revealed I’m wearing in this post.
Last but not least, I really like it YSL Rouge Volupte Shine ($43, shade 162 shown) and YSL Candy Glaze Lip Gloss Stick ($39, 15 Hand Nude Presentation, 13 Flashing Rose in Background). Both have a balm-like formula. Rouge Volute Shine has more glide with a sheer glossy finish, while Candy Glaze is thicker and has a jelly-like feel. Both are really amazing for formula and color.
That concludes my extensive shopping guide to the best lips! If you’re looking for the best of the best in lip formulas, I hope you found this roundup helpful. Happy shopping!
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