A few favorite glosses

So far during this spring/summer, I've really been into lip glosses. I'm usually more of a lipstick person but I like the change. Here's a few I've been wearing a lot lately:

NARS Wonder (LE)

I love this gloss because it's a nice way to wear orange without screaming orange. Does that make sense? Point is, this color is just right. It makes your lips look lush and juicy.

MAC Viva Glam Cyndi

Cyndi is one of my summer colors and one of the few "reds" I like to wear. 

VG Cyndi lipstick on top, lipglass on bottom

Saving the best for last, my absolute favorite lipgloss is actually a drugstore gem, Revlon Colorburst lipgloss in  Rose Gold.

I really like to pair this with a nude lipstick (something like MAC Honeylove), but it wears well on its own too. It's a perfect everyday color, especially for the summer.

Some dupes for ya...

Looking through my lipstick collection, I'm noticing that I keep buying the same colors. Well, same colors with different names and finishes. I've become so redundant! Whatever, I love a nice blue-based pink.

So, recently I bought Snob from MAC. Just my kind of color... and finish. Lately, I've really been into Satin finishes. I did realize, however, that it kind of resembles Revlon's Pink Pout. MAC lipsticks are $14.50, Revlon is about $7-8 (don't quote me on that, because some places have different prices).

When comparing the two, I would say that Snob has more of a blue base to it and has an ever so slight sheen.

Then I whipped out I Like It Like That (In the Groove '10). Oh dear, I love this color. It has an amplified finish. So, it's not matte, definitely more glossy than the other two. Also, it's darker (and bluer) than Snob. Still, if you couldn't get your hands on this baby, Snob is a good alternative.

L-R: Revlon Pink Pout, MAC Snob, MAC I Like It Like That

And, for good measure, I figured I'd throw in an swatch photo from an old post featuring Viva Glam Gaga. That was all I wore last summer (made sure to buy a back up!). Gaga is discontinued, but will always be a favorite of mine. It has a glossy, lustre finish. It's not an exact dupe for any of these colors per se, but it does belong in the same color family. It's a lighter, brighter, blue-based pink.

Viva Glam Gaga

Snob and Pink Pout are the only two permanent colors. Gaga and I Like It Like That are limited edition, sadly.

Revlon Pink Pout Matte Lipstick

Thanks to Revlon for reigniting my lust for finding drugstore gems. They won me over with Soft Nude from the Color Burst line. Now I wanted to try the mattes. I've noticed on this blog that I rarely talk about drugstore cosmetics and I think it's because I've been disappointed so many times. And, since I dove into the world of high end cosmetics, I feel very put off by drug store lines. Once you go MAC, you never go back, right? Well... sort of.

About $7 USD. (It's pinker in person)

The color I felt instantly attracted to was Pink Pout. It's a more subtle blue-based pink. Just by looking at it, you can tell it's a winner among the masses for being so versatile. I was a little afraid of trying this though because it is a matte. I expected it to be very dry, perhaps even chalky. To my surprise, it wasn't like that at all. It applied smooth and evenly. It didn't feel drying and the color was very opaque. Trust me, it doesn't take much to achieve full coverage with this lipstick. I got a decent amount of wear out of it -- maybe 3 hours or so. I do recommend exfoliating before applying. However, I suggest doing this before putting on ANY lipstick.

This swatch most accurately represents the color,
but I still say it's just a little pinker (and bluer) in person.

I really like lipsticks with matte or satin finishes. I fancy shimmery shadows so a matte lip brings balance to my look. One thing I really liked about this line in particular is the packaging. It's a simple design with an ingenious little window at the top which allows you to see the lipstick inside. The thing that bothers me about drugstore makeup is that there's no testers and relying on the colored sticker as an indicator doesn't always work in my favor. Ever buy makeup from Walmart? People just open up the lipsticks and swatch them right then and there. Ick! Anyway, that's just a little perk that I appreciated.

Although Pink Pout is on the cooler side of the spectrum, this can definitely work for warm toned gals too. Have you tried this one yet? I've heard mixed reviews about this color but I really like it and I'd actually buy it again. I'm interested to know what you think!

Revlon Soft Nude 070

Rarely do I find a drugstore brand that I like. I know, that sounds kind of snobby, but it's true. I find that I'm often more disappointed than impressed. However, I do come across some gems from time to time. I heard a lot of buzz surrounding Revlon's lipsticks. Specifically, Soft Nude 070. So, I bought it! By the way, I originally talked about this color in my favorites post, but I wanted to save the details for this one.

I purchased mine for about $8 USD. I heard a lot of mixed reviews about the packaging. Some say it's cute, some say it's just a rip off of NARS and Dior. Frankly, I don't really care. When it comes to packaging, I expect the product to be durable. The cute factor is just an added bonus. What I did find interesting though, is the price tag. $8? Really? Drugstore cosmetics aren't as cheap as they used to be. So for my $8, I expect to get a bang for my buck. 

The color is a warm-peachy nude. If I had to compare, I'd say the finish is similar to MAC Lustres or Cremesheens. The finish is glossy but it has a nice color payoff that is quite opaque and buildable. The downside? It's not long wearing. I felt the need to frequently reapply. This lipstick clearly cannot last through a meal. However, most of my lipsticks can't so I'm used to this. 

The other problem, well, not really a problem but... I can't wear this on its own. I have to apply MAC Lip Erase before using this. As I've said before on this blog, I have very red, pigmented lips. On its own, this color doesn't look so hot. The lip erase is just an extra step but it's worth it for me. 

The thing I like a lot about this lipstick is how versatile it is. I'm a cool, NW20 and this, at first glance, would look better on someone with warm or perhaps even darker skin. This nude actually suits me very well. Truthfully, I didn't think I'd like this when I first opened it, but I was pleasantly surprised. Thumbs up!!

The only thing I dislike about buying drugstore lipsticks is that there's no testers. Have you ever bought a lipstick based off of the color on the sticker at the bottom? Then you go home, open it up, and say "What the hell?". It's happened to the best of us. On the top of these lipsticks, there's a hunk of plastic with the coordinating color. I must say, it was pretty true to color. I've seen their line of mattes, and you can see through the top of the lipstick which is pretty ingenious. 

Would I buy this again?

Sure! It's a great nude and though the prices have gone up, it's still pretty affordable. I'd like to try other colors from the line as well. The longevity of the lipstick is really the most I can complain about but again, most of my lipsticks wear off after an hour or two. **I forgot to add that it is kind of drying so be sure to exfoliate before applying!

Have you tried Revlon's lipsticks? What do you think? I'm going to try the mattes next....