New(ish) Lip Products from the Drugstore

There have been tons of new lip products recently, so I thought I would buy a few different ones that have been generating some buzz in the beauty world recently and do a review! These are all fairly new products. Some are very recent, but all have been released within the last 6-8 months. Enjoy!

1. Almay Liquid Lip Balm: I’m not usually a huge fan of Almay products. Rarely has anything from their line wowed me and you don’t often hear a lot of buzz around their products. However, I had heard good things about the new liquid lip balm. I love it. It’s very hydrating and smooth on the lips without being heavy or sticky. This makes it really comfortable to wear. It gives a translucent wash of colour to the lips with lots of shine. It’s not opaque or super pigmented (it doesn’t claim to be though), but still gives a solid amount of colour. It’s perfect for daytime or at night if you’re wearing a bolder eye look. It has a doe-foot applicator. I got it in the shade Apple a Day which is a nice red.

2. Revlon Colorburst Lacquer Balm: Youtube is going crazy over these right now. Everyone is trying them out. This was alright for me. It wasn’t too drying and felt alright on the lips. They give a lot of shine. What I didn’t like is that they have a lot of glitter in them. As the product wears off you’re left with glitter stuck to your lips. It’s not too noticeable unless you look close up, but still annoying and feels a bit gritty on the lips. Based on the swatches that I’ve been seeing this product seems to vary a lot in the look it gives based on the shade you get. If you get a bright shade they are quite pigmented, but there are also more neutral and sheer shades. They also come in a Matte formula without the glitter and shine that is supposed to be excellent. Very pigmented and not drying. These apply like a big crayon and twist up. I got this in the shade Demure which is a light, nude-y pink. Good for daytime or with a bold eye look at night.

3. Covergirl Lipslicks Smoochies: This was probably my favorite of all the products that I picked up. It has the texture of a lip balm so it’s very hydrating, smooth and comfortable to wear, but it gives a translucent wash of colour to the lips. It gives a little shine, but all in all a very wearable product. This is perfect for daytime or with a bold eye look at night. It twists up like a traditional lipstick or balm. I got this in the shade #text me which is a darker berry tone.

4.Rimmel Apocalips Lip Lacquer (called Show Off Lip Lacquer in the United States): This product was getting a lot of buzz around the summer time. While I didn’t mind it, I think I prefer a traditional lipstick to this product. It goes on smoothly, but it never fully set and dried. It feels more like a lip gloss, but it gives the look of a lipstick. They are highly pigmented and quite opaque. They have a bit of shine to them, but if you dab your lips with a tissue they become more matte. The colour did start to feather a bit throughout the day and I was always very conscious that it was on my lips. I didn’t want it to smear. I think it would hold up okay if you were just sipping a drink, however you can’t eat very well with it. It transferred onto everything and I had to reapply after lunch. This product is definitely for a bolder look, especially because there’s only one nude in the line. The colours are very bright and opaque. It has a doe-foot applicator. I got it in the shade Stellar which is a bright pinky red.

5. Covergirl Lip Perfection Jumbo Gloss Balm: This product claims to give “sheer colour and soft shine” which is exactly what it delivers. While these aren’t as pigmented or shiny as the Revlon Lacquer Balms I prefer this product because it isn’t glittery. It’s very hydrating and comfortable to wear. They aren’t very pigmented, but since they only promise sheer colour I think they deliver. This product would be perfect for during the day. It applies like a big, twist up crayon. I have the shade Ballet Slipper which is a very light baby pink.

Hopefully this review was helpful for those of you looking to try out some new lip products from the drugstore. I certainly had fun trying them all out. Let me know of any other blog posts you’d like to see or what you thought of these products if you’ve tried them! Thanks for reading!

-Carmen

Some of my All-time Favorite Makeup Products

For my first real post I thought I’d start off on a positive note with some of my favorite beauty products! These are the makeup products that are my most loved, most used, could barely live without (well maybe I could). The products I’ve chosen today range in price from cheap from the drugstore all the way to super high-end. I’ve tried to pick a variety of different types of products too. I’ve provided approximate prices for all of the items and where you can find them if you’re interested. All prices are in Canadian dollars and are only approximate because depending on where you buy them the price could vary slightly. These are listed in no particular order. Enjoy!

1. Maybelline Dream Lumi Touch Highlighting Concealer – $9.00: This concealer is great for using under the eyes to cover up dark circles and brighten the entire eye area. It has medium coverage and is light and creamy. It doesn’t crease, however I do usually set it with a bit of translucent powder so that helps. It’s a brightening concealer, so I would not recommend this for covering acne or hyper-pigmentation. This also makes a great highlighting pen. I use it to highlight my cheekbones, cupid’s bow or the bridge of my nose. I have this in the shade Radiant. You can also purchase the same product in a matte formula. This can be found at most drugstores.

2. Maybelline Fit Me Concealer – $8.00: If you are looking for a concealer to cover up redness, acne or hyper-pigmentation this is a good option. It provides medium to full coverage. It’s very creamy and blends nicely. It also doesn’t oxidize and turn a darker colour throughout the day. I have this is the shade Fair. This product can be found at most drugstores.

3. Rimmel Natural Bronzer – $7.00: I like this bronzer both for contouring and for an all over glow. It has a matte finish, so you don’t have to worry about looking too glittery or shimmery and it doesn’t look orange or muddy either. I like to use this to contour the outer part of my face and my cheekbones. The packaging isn’t the best, but otherwise a very nice product. I have this in the shade 021 Sun Light. This product can be found at most drugstores.

4. Wet ‘n Wild Color Icon Eyeshadow Trios and Palettes – $3.00 for trios, $4.00 for palettes of 8 colours: These are potentially the best beauty bargain I’ve ever found. These shadows are amazing and are so cheap! They are highly pigmented and feel soft and silky. They are not dusty or chalky and I don’t have much of a problem with fall out either. They blend beautifully and are very easy too use. I would recommend these for a beginner because they say on them which colour can be used for the lid, crease, browbone, etc so it takes some of the guess-work out for you. The only unfortunate thing is that Wet ‘n Wild is a little harder to find in Canada, (it is widely available in the United States) but Loblaws (Superstore, Extra-foods, etc) does carry the brand. My personal favorite shades are Walking on Eggshells (trio) and Comfort Zone (palette).

5. Rimmel Scandaleyes Waterproof Eyeliner – $6.00: This is a standard pencil eyeliner, so they do have to be sharpened. These liners are creamy and glide nicely onto the eye. They last a very long time without smudging and can even be used in the waterline or tightline. I have several of these in the shades 001 Black, 003 Brown, 005 Nude and 006 Deep Blue. This product can be found at most drugstores.

6. Maybelline The Rocket Volum’ Express Mascara – $7.00: This mascara rivals a high end mascara. It is incredible. It gives tons of length and volume without being clumpy and it never flakes or smudges on me. It holds a curl quite well too. It is a fairly wet formula, so if you prefer a dry mascara you may prefer something else, but it is definitely worth a try. I do find it a little hard to take off (and I don’t even have the waterproof formula), but since it’s so long lasting I think it’s worth it. It has a fairly large, rubber brush. I have it in the shade Blackest Black. This product can be found at most drugstores.

7. Revlon Color Burst Lip Butter – $8.00: This product is a cross between a lipstick, gloss and balm all in one. It goes on smoothly and is moisturizing on the lips. It gives colour and shine. The pigmentation varies depending on which shade you get. Some are as pigmented as a lipstick and some are just a light wash of colour. These are very wearable and are a little more low-maintenance than a lipstick which is really nice. They also don’t bleed and can be worn without bothering with a lip liner. I have these in the shades Juicy Papaya, Wild Watermelon and Pink Lemonade. This product can be found at most drugstores.

8. Mary Kay Lash Love Mascara – $21.00: This mascara is a little more on the pricey side, but to me it’s worth it. It gives amazing definition and length without looking clumpy. I also find it gives decent volume despite not claiming to be a volumizing mascara. It doesn’t smudge or flake and doesn’t make my lashes look too spidery either. I have this is the shade I ❤ Black.

9. Mary Kay Timewise Liquid Foundation – $23.00: Every time I wear this foundation, someone compliments me on my skin. It is wonderful! This foundation is great because you can get a different formula depending on your skin type. There is a luminous-wear formula for dry skin and a matte-wear formula for oily or combination skin. This keeps you from ever looking dull or shiny. It is also oil free and suitable for sensitive skin. I have very sensitive skin and it has never given me a rash or made me break out. It has medium to full coverage and feels creamy to the touch. They also have tons of shades so you are pretty much guaranteed to find a match, and your consultant can match you so you don’t have to worry about buying the wrong shade! I have this in the Luminous-wear formula in Ivory 6.

10. Mary Kay Nourishine Lip Gloss – $18.00: This is a highly pigmented gloss. It’s very thick and creamy without being sticky. It has a doe-foot applicator so it’s easy to apply. They have a whole bunch of shades and some are shimmery while others aren’t so you can go with your preference. I have this in the shade Pink Luster.

All Mary Kay products must be purchased through a Mary Kay consultant. To find one in your area go to marykay.ca or (marykay.com outside of Canada). Mary Kay is sold all over the world so finding a consultant is easy.

11. Urban Decay Naked 2 Eyeshadow Palette – $62.00: This is definitely more of a high-end product, but any makeup lover won’t regret this purchase. It is a neutral eye palette that comes with 12 shades (3 matte, 1 satin, 8 shimmer). It has golds, champagnes, browns, greys, taupes and even a matte black. This product is an investment, but it will last you forever! These shadows are soft and highly pigmented. They aren’t dusty or chalky. It also comes with a fairly nice double-ended brush. I personally really like the Naked 2, but you could also choose to buy the original Naked Palette or wait until December when the new Naked 3 is coming out. This palette can be purchased at Sephora or on urbandecay.com.

12. Chanel Rouge Coco Shine – $35-42.00 (I couldn’t find a consistent price): I know. This is falling into crazy territory. $40.00 for a lipstick?! This is an extremely expensive product and I know that certainly isn’t for everyone, (the Revlon lip butters are a nice alternative to this) but I am in love! The packaging is gorgeous and luxurious and the product inside is even better. This lipstick has nice shine without being glittery and is very hydrating. It gives a nice wash of colour to the lips, but it is not meant to be heavily pigmented. This product is very easy to wear. I have it in the shade Aventure (that’s French). This product can be purchased at a department store (in Canada The Bay) from the Chanel Makeup Counter.

So those are my all-time favorite makeup products. I hope you enjoyed my recommendations and found them helpful. What are your favorite products? Let me know in the comments and also tell me if there are any other topics you’d like me to write about another time. Thanks for reading!

-Carmen