BEAUTY: 30 Day Lip Color Challenge

Last month I decided to embark on a 30 Day Lip Color Challenge. Well, okay, embark is kind of a strong word for what ultimately boils down to wearing a new lip color every day for a month. Because I found myself often reaching for the same few lipsticks, yet still mentally (and actually) shopping for more, despite my overflowing stash, I wanted to try this experiment. 

The rules were simple:

1. I must wear a new lip color from my stash every day for 30 straight days
2. I can't buy any new lip colors along the way

My reasons for trying this were also simple:

1. I have way too many lipsticks, glosses, stains, etc. and I don't wear most of them
2. I want to discover new favorites within my lipstick stash
3. I want to try new looks inspired by new shades of lip color
4. I want to see what colors I like best (and worst) on me and organize my lipsticks accordingly
5. I want to stop buying new things when I have 30+ lipsticks (I mean, really!)

The Results:

1: ELF Matte Lip Color in Rich Red  //  2: Wet n Wild Megalast Lip Color in Pinkerbell

3: Wet n Wild Megalast Lip Color in Purty Persimmon  //  4: Revlon Super Lustrous Lip Gloss in Coral Reef

5: Revlon Super Lustrous Lipstick in Love That Pink  //  6: Sephora Ultra-Shine Lip Gloss in 07

7: Wet n Wild Megalast Liquid Lip Color in Back to the Fuchsia  //  8: ELF Essentials Lipstick in Captivating

9: Blackheart Beauty Lipstick in Violet  //  10: Wet n Wild Megalast Lip Color in Cherry Bomb

11: Revlon Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stain in Smitten  //  12: Jordana Lip Gloss in Sugar Cookie

13: NYC Ultra Moist Lipwear in Retro Red  //  14: Revlon Super Lustrous Lipstick in Va Va Violet

15: Revlon Colorburst Lip Butter in Cherry Tart  //  16: NYC Up to 8 Hour Lip Gloss in Blush Forever

17: ELF Essentials Lipstick in Sociable  //  18: Jordana Lip Gloss in Dazzling

19: Wet n Wild Fergie Lipstick in D-Vinely Chilled  //  20: Wet n Wild Mega Last Liquid Lip Color in High-Pitched Wine  //  21: Wet n Wild Megalast Liquid Lip Color in Click My Hyper-Pink  //  22: NYC Ultra Last Lipwear in Berry Rich  //  23: Lancome Juicy Tubes in Pink Horizon  //  24: ELF Jumbo Lip Gloss Stick in Pink Umbrellas

25: Covergirl Outlast All-Day Lip Color in Ever Red-dy  //  26: NYC Ultra Moist Lipwear in Blossom

27: Wet n Wild Megalast Lip Color in Just Peachy  //  28: Revlon Super Lustrous Lipstick in Fire & Ice

29: Revlon ColorStay Ultimate Suede Lipstick in It Girl  //  30: Revlon ColorStay Mineral Lipglaze in Perennial Pink

What I Learned

The most noticeable lesson for me is that it's really annoying to take a picture of yourself every day. How are all you selfie addicts managing to do this? I just didn't always feel like posing, putting on makeup or, in some cases, putting on clothes. It got a little tired around day nine, but I pressed on in the name of science.

Swatches: Top row is lip colors #1 - #15 and bottom row is #16 - #30

More importantly (well, relatively anyway), I learned that: 

• Safe/subtle shades just aren't going to get much play from me so I might as well toss them.
• NO FROSTY LIP GLOSS EVER. To be fair, mine was super old, but more reason to let it go.
• The subtle differences between red lipsticks mean it's totally okay to have a lot of them.
• Covergirl All-Day Lip Color (#25) is REALLY good, which I totally forgot. I can wear this all day for a reliable matte red lip and it even lasts through pizza and a Halloween party - what more are you really looking for?
• Wet n Wild's Megalast lipsticks are out of this world and only, like, $2. Highly recommended, especially Cherry Bomb (#10) and Purty Persimmon (#3).
• I like dark lip colors on me more than I thought I did. Not longer just for special occasions.
• I probably don't ever need to wear Revlon's Va Va Violet (#14) or Wet n Wild's Click My Hyper-Pink (#21) ever again. I'll save them for when I want to look like a weirdo.
• No more glosses that aren't opaque - don't waste my time.
• Matte lips > glossy lips.
• I need more purple lipstick!

Top picture is lip colors #1 - #15 and bottom picture is lip colors #16 - #30

The goal was to keep me from buying lipstick by "shopping" my own stash and making me realize how many I already have, but in reality this experiment just made me focus so much more on my lips that now all I can think of is trying new colors. Oops. I will definitely be using more of my own first, though!

After scrubbing the swatches, ALL of the Wet n Wild Megalast Liquid lip Colors stayed put! I know I've mentioned it before, but those things are pretty amazing.

Would you try a 30 Day Lip Color Challenge? If you do, let me know so I can follow along!

How many lipsticks is too many? How long would it take you to wear all the shades from your stash? What's you favorite lip color right now?

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