Lip Stains, Suddenly the Best Thing Since Sliced Bread


Funny how quickly we can change our minds on what is just The Best for us.  Clothes, makeup, gadgets, everything.  Well, sometimes that can get expensive!  This time though, the lip stain craze that has taken hold of me hasn't been too bad.  That picture of me though, that is a little crazed.



Let me start over and say though that I tried the marker style lip stain back when Maybelline or CoverGirl or whoever it was on the drugstore side some years ago marketed them.  They may have been around before, but there was a big push on the stain and it seemed like a new thing at the time.  Of course I had to try it out since supposedly it had some great lasting power.  And of course with my dry flaky lips, it was a disaster.  Those days I didn't really connect the dots that I need to have something protective and moisturizing on my lips 24/7 to keep them mostly flake-free.  So, I had a horrible experience with weird bright pink skin flakes and naked patches beneath and promptly chucked the lip stain idea forever.


Top to bottom: Philosophy lip gloss in Mimosa, CoverGirl Outlast Lipstain in Nude Kiss, Revlon Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stain in Rendezvous, one layer of YSL Glossy Stain in #8.

Fast forward to now and this summer the lip stain thing is being pushed for the season with Revlon releasing two somewhat new lip stains, the much posted about YSL Glossy Stains, etc etc.  I was bitten by the bug.  I was feeling irritable about lipsticks (again due to my lip texture issues) and wanted color that would be easy to wear a thick gloss over.  And color that wouldn't need reapplying every 2 hours from drinking coffee constantly would be a plus!  Aaand color that would wear off/fade in a pleasant way, not be all-or-nothing - or diseased looking.

I've already posted in length about the YSL stain, but I picked up two more in the past week (ugh it sounds worse than I thought when I say this).  I got the Revlon Just Bitten Balm Stain in Rendezvous which is a fairly bright orange coral.

Also picked up a CoverGirl Outlast Lipstain in Nude Kiss which basically matches with the deepest shade of my natural lip color.  It's nice that I can define the outer third of my lips which tend to be pale and less distinct and even out the tone in general, then slap on some warm lip gloss - lately it's been Philosophy's Mimosa.  I'm really pleased with that combination.

Here's my base level lips with nothing on them - basically varies on how much blood flow is getting up there to the deepness of shade it seems.


Next, plain old Chapstick.  I think this is an important reference point because things like glosses that are even basically sheer can seem like they have a big impact - but so does any product on your lips.


First up, Revlon Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stain in Rendezvous.


It's on the pink range of coral.  The stain it leaves is definitely on the pink side.  It seems to take 10-15 minutes for the stain to really set (and isn't as vibrant as the YSL glossy stain), but it does last well and fades nicely.

CoverGirl Outlast Lipstain in Nude Kiss.


In these extreme close up views, you can see some minor settling into lip lines but it's not noticeable from a distance.  I would say though that these need to be worn with something on top.  Outside of the dryness issues (I'm not sure if they are drying since I have abnormally dry lips), it can look ever so slightly.. patchy.

But with my friendly coating of Philosophy's lip gloss in Mimosa, I'm all set!  I find it interesting that on skin, Philosophy lip gloss is bizarrely sugar-syrup sticky.  I hate it.  But it doesn't seem to stick to itself on the lips, so you don't have that unpleasant lips-sticking-together-pulling sensation.


Face of the day:

  • Foundation: 3/4 MAKE UP FOR EVER Face & Body #38 mixed 1/4 Illamasqua Skin Base Foundation in White
  • Powder: Physicians Formula MineralWear Talc-Free pressed powder in Translucent
  • Blush: NYX Stick Blush in Orchid (not a fan, these are hard to blend and sticky)
  • Highlight: Dior Diorskin Shimmer Star in Amber Diamond all over cheeks into temples
  • Under eye concealer: Garnier Anti-Dark-Circle Roller
  • Lips: CoverGirl Outlast Lipstain in Nude Kiss with Philosophy lip gloss in Mimosa
  • Eye shadow: MAC Woodwinked on lid/crease, blended out with Urban Decay in Jones, highlight browbone and inner corner with LORAC on screen duo Champagne
  • Top and bottom liner: Urban Decay Flipside, lower lash line set with Bare Minerals Ready quad The Elements - Water shadow
  • Mascara: Maybelline Great Lash Lots of Lashes
  • Brows: Urban Decay shadow in Shakedown, Anastasia clear brow gel

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