BEAUTY: 10 Purple Lipsticks Under $10

You know what's the best? Fun lipstick. Even better? Fun cheap lipstick. I mean, I love those over the top, gilded designer tubes that are really more decor than makeup just as much as the next lipstick wearer, but I tend to just admire those from afar...really afar. Like, pinteresting-lipstick-pics-from-the-comfort-of-my-own-couch afar. If you choose to drop $50 on a lipstick, that's amazing for you! (I mean it! You probably have the best throw blankets ever and smell like some kind of exotic vanilla at all times. Let's hang.) 

I mostly do the drugstore thing when it comes to makeup, and while it can be hard to find "fun" colors there, purple lipstick has become so insanely popular that there are a bunch of budget options to choose from. Purple: the color of royalty, bruises, and my mother's birthstone. Plus, it looks rad on your face! Yes, you! Literally everyone can wear some shade of purple on their lips because purple lipstick is magic. You should definitely fall under its spell.

Left to Right:

Maybelline Color Sensational Lipstick in Brazen Berry
The PERFECT cool toned, medium purple, which I'm convinced looks amazing on everyone.

Milani Color Statement Lipstick in Sangria
A deep wine shade that manages to be creamy and NOT patchy - a feat for these kinds of colors!

Rimmel Moisture Renew Lipstick in Vintage Pink
Don't let the name fool you - this is a pale purple-pink, which makes a great "nude" for those of us with cool toned lips.

Blackheart Beauty Lipstick in Violet
A beautiful basic purple shade that compliments many skin tones.

Wet n Wild MegaLast Lip Color in Sugar Plum Fairy
Dark and vampy, this plum shade goes on matte and stays put, and is a near dupe for MAC Rebel!

Left to Right:

Revlon ColorBurst Matte Balm in Shameless
Gives the moisturizing (and minty!) benefits of a balm, and the deep, true purple can't be rivaled.

Rimmel Provocalips in Kiss Fatal
I've already professed my unwavering love for Provocalips and this shade is one of my favorites! Deep, almost berry purple with ALL day wear.

Wet n Wild Fergie Creme Lipstick in D-Vinely Chilled
When you want some sheen and shimmer grab this unique vino-inspired shade.

Jordana Modern Matte Lipstick in Matte It Girl
Matte, smooth and a perfect magenta-toned purple. Much more vibrant in person!

Revlon Super Lustrous Lip Color in Va Va Violet
For the violet devotees only; super deep, somewhat fussy, but totally royal.

Rimmel Vintage Pink, Blackheart Beauty Violet, Jordana Matte It Girl, Maybelline Brazen Berry, Wet n Wild Sugar Plum Fairy, Revlon Shameless, Rimmel Kiss Fatal, Wet n Wild D-Vinely Chilled, Milani Sangria, Revlon Va Va Violet

Sometimes I prefer lip swatches so here you go, but OH MAN is it weird to look at so many closeups of your own lips! I do it for you, America:

Left to Right, Top to Bottom:
Rimmel Vintage Pink, Blackheart Beauty Violet, Jordana Matte It Girl, Maybelline Brazen Berry, Wet n Wild Sugar Plum Fairy, Revlon Shameless, Rimmel Kiss Fatal, Wet n Wild D-Vinely Chilled, Milani Sangria, Revlon Va Va Violet

Do you love purple lipstick? What's your favorite shade, drugstore or not? What other interesting lip color shades are you digging lately?

BEAUTY: Ombre Lips Tutorial

Because sometimes one lip color just isn't enough.

WHAT YOU NEED

Light to Medium Purple Lipstick {Blackheart Beauty Lipstick in Violet}

Dark Purple Lip Liner or Eyeliner {Jordana Liquid Eyeliner Pencil in Purple Fix}

Clear Lip Gloss {Neutrogena Moisturizing Shine Gloss in Clear}

Lip Brush {ELF Retractable Lip Brush}

HOW TO DO IT

First, a lip-related PSA: 

For any bold lip look, I implore you to start by exfoliating your lips. I just rub a wet toothbrush over them. Otherwise, your awesome artwork is overshadowed by dead skin and lumps and we'll have to forever call you "Lumpy Lips" which is just so shameful. 

Thank you, this has been a lip-related PSA.

Start by applying the purple lipstick as you normally would. It's okay if the edges aren't perfect since we'll be messing with them later.

Next, outline your lips generously with the purple eyeliner (or lip liner, if you're lucky enough to have a source for colorful lip liners. If so, WHAT IS YOUR SECRET?!).

Use your lip brush to gently smudge the dark purple liner in toward the lipstick, using short strokes to blend. The goal is to lessen the harshness of the line you originally drew and make the two shades meld together peacefully so that you can't quite tell where one ends and the other begins. Think of this ombre lip as the makeup equivalent of Ice-T and Coco (the people, not the beverages) - you know, seamless, meant to be, etc. etc. 

You could stop here and call it a day (or a night - I'm all about options), and have a softer matte lip look (below), but I'm going to take it one step further because THAT IS WHAT I DO.

I applied a thin coat of clear lip gloss, using the gloss wand to further blend the shades.

Dramatic re-creation. Very pensive.

This version of the final look is a little darker and more blended than without the gloss. Like I said, I'm all about options. This version feels a little more "wearable" than the pre-gloss version, where the ombre is more pronounced, but your version of wearable is obviously up to you. Although, if you're reading a tutorial for a bright purple ombre lip then maybe you also don't care about blending in (unless it is blending in our lipstick in which case we care very much).

Would you wear an ombre lip? Is this just too much work for something that will eventually get lost in a bite of pizza? Are you already plotting other color combinations like I am? Gold and red are calling my name!

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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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