Revlon Just Bitten Lip Stain + Balm

Product:  Revlon Just Bitten Lipstain + Balm for a beautiful wash of kiss-proof color and moisturizing, soft shine.  It comes in 10 shades.  I tried the stain in Twilight.

Price: $
I bought this at Walmart for $7.99

Packaging:  ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦
 This is actually a repackaged item from Revlon.  Just Bitten first came in a vile with a roller ball applicator.  Now it comes in a double ended plastic tube with a marker tip applicator on one end and the lip balm on the other.  The lip balm does not adjust thought.  It comes in 10 shades.

Claim:

• Kiss-proof color with soft shine
• Nourishing balm for supreme comfort
• Lip stain and balm in one convenient, dual-ended package
• Lip stain marker provides precise application
• Color does not smudge or streak
• Contains vitamin C for anti-oxidant protection
• Creamy, lightweight balm perfectly melts on lips for smooth, glide-on application
• Translucent balm provides instant moisture and soft shine

 Application:  According to Revlon
Apply marker directly to clean, dry lips. Build color and coverage as desired. After 30 seconds add extra shine and moisture by applying the balm. 

Ingredients: 
Lip Stain:  Water, Ascorbyl Glucoside, VP/Methacryalamide/Vinyl Imidazole Copolymer, Alcohol Denat., Fragrance, Sodium Hydroxide, Potassium Sorbate, Phenoxyethanol, Caprylyl Glycol, 1,2 Hexanediol.  May Contain: [+/-:  Red 33 (CI 17200), Yellow 5 (CI 19140), Red 28 (CI 45410), Yellow 6 (CI 15985), Blue 1 (CI 42090))].
Balm:  Octyldodecanol, Polybutene, Polyethylene, Synthetic Beeswax, Mica, Tocopherol, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Lecithin, Glyceryl Stearate, Glyceryl Oleate, Citric Acid, Benzoic Acid.

Pros:

• Comes with a Lip Balm
• Pigmented
• Lasted Well for At Least 4 Hours

Cons:

• Can Be Uneven
• Lip Balm Is Not Retractable

Final Verdict:  ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

This was my first time trying a lip stain.  The reason I chose Revlon over other drugstore lip stains was because of the lip balm that came with it.  I was worried that a stain might dry my lips.  I'm always excited to try something new so expectations are high.   The stain is like marker, making it easy to use.  I was really surprise on how deep & bold the color actually was.  It makes me thing that the other color are going to come out brighter or bolder then what you might expect.  Depending on how many layers you put on, the color can look deeper.  I did see that when I applied it, it was a bit uneven.  I think two layers of the stain was enough to give me the color that I want and make it more even.  Once dried, it did not come off or budge.  It lasted a good 4 hours before I felt the need to reapply.  It could last longer depending if your eating or drinking. 

As for the lip balm, it was really nice.  It made my lips feel moist and smooth and gave it a little shine, so it didn't look so matte.  It reminded me of Nivea's Kiss of Moisture.  However, the down side of the balm is that it's not retractable.  What you see is exactly what you get.  And since you can't retract it, there could be an issue of damaging or even breaking off the balm if you're not careful.

Overall I thought it worked great.  I've had it for at least 2 months and it has not dried out yet.  It's worth the try.

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Benefit Lip Plump

Product: Benefit Lip Plump is lip primer for full sexy lips.

Price: $ $ $
This cost $22 at Sephora or Benefit Cosmetics

Packaging: ♦ ♦ ♦
Benefit Lip Plump comes in a 0.09 oz tube with a doe foot applicator. The actual product is a nude/ beige cream.

Claim:

For full, sexy lips use lip plump before lipstick. This neutral-toned lip enhancer helps to smooth and fill in fine lines while building up the contour of the lips, making them appear fuller and younger. -Benefit Cosmetics

Application: According to Benefit
Apply two dots on upper & lower lips. Pat & blend. Let dry then apply lipstick.

Pros:

• Gives Lipstick a Smooth Surface to Stick To
• Keeps Lipsticks from Budging
• Neutralizes Lips
• Allows Lipstick Color to be Truer

Cons:

• My Lips Didn't Look "Plumper"

Final Verdict: ♥ ♥ ♥

I got Benefit Lip Plump from the Realness of Concealness gift set. When I first saw this product, from the name alone, I thought it was going to be a lip plumper. After all, it is called Lip Plump. But after testing it out and actually looking online at the Benefit website, it's actually a lip primer that helps give you the look of plumper lips. Either way it didn't make my lips plump or look plump. What this product actually does is neutralize your natural lip color and gives your lipstick a smooth surface and blank slate to be on. I thought it worked really well for me. My lips have an uneven pink color to them. This effect how some lipsticks look on my lips. With the Lip Plump, it concealed my natural lip color so my lipstick was truer. Maybe since my lipstick looks true to its actual color that it makes me lips seem plumper? Hmmm? I don't know. I guess... Anyways, my lipstick also lasted at least 2-3 hours longer compared to if I didn't have this primer on. Overall, it is a good product but I don't know if I would want to spend the money on it when I can use my regular concealer to do the same job. But if you were looking for an actual lip primer, then I would recommend this product.

DIY: Lip Scrub

Just as we exfoliate our body and face, we also need to remember to exfoliate our lips. Exfoliating your lips will keep them kiss-ably smooth. But why pay for an lip scrub when you can do it your self. Here are 3 do it yourself options that I've tried that work just as well as any lip scrub you buy.

Option 1: DIY Lip Scrubber
Materials: Washcloth, Soft Bristled Tooth Brush, & Vaseline

Step 1: Take a warm soaked wash cloth and place it on your lips. Keep it on your lips until they become soft.
Step 2: Put a little Vaseline on the tooth brush and gentle scrub your lips in a circular motion.
Step 3: Gently wipe off you lips with the washcloth and apply a lip balm (i.e. EOS, Carmax, etc.)

Option 2: Sugar Scrub
Materials: Vaseline, Sugar, Teaspoon, Small Container

Step 1: In a microwave safe container heat a teaspoon of Vaseline for approx. 20 sec or until it becomes soft enough to stir.
Step 2: And a teaspoon of sugar to the Vaseline and stir well.
Step 3: Apply your sugar scrub to your lips in a circular motion.
Step 4: Gently wipe off the sugar from your lips ( or lick it off) and apply a lip balm of your choice.

Option 3: Natural Sugar Scrub
This option is similar to option 2 but with natural ingredients.
Materials: Teaspoon, Extra Virgin Olive Oil, Honey, Sugar, Small Container

Step 1: Using the teaspoon, mix equal parts olive oil, honey, and sugar in a small container.
Step 2: Follow the instructions from option 2 steps 3 & 4

MAC Prep + Prime Lip

Product: MAC Prep + Prime Lip

Price: $ $
I bought this product online from MAC Cosmetics for $14.50

Packaging: ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦
This lip primer is 1.7 grams and is a clear product. It is in a sleek black tube that twist up (and down) to reveal the product.

Claim: A colour-free base to wear under lipstick. Adds light moisture, smoothes and refines the lips. Improves the appearance of applied lip products.

Pros:

• Glides on smoothly
• Makes my lips feel soft

Cons:

• Don't See a Difference
  

Final Verdict: ♥ ♥ ♥
I've been looking for a lip primer to keep my lipstick & lip gloss last longer through out my day. I was excited to try this to see how it would work. First, this product does not claim to make your lipstick/gloss last but instead give it a base to make it look better and truer to its intended color. I could live with that. Our lips isn't a clear slate, it has color and texture. It would be great to have something that would make my lipstick true color stand out. Did this product do that? Honestly, I really couldn't tell. This to me was an expensive lip balm. It's good to use a lip balm before applying lipstick because it gives a the lipstick a smooth surface to adhere to. I could get a regular drugstore lip balm to get the same effect. Ok, MAC's Prep + Prime Lip goes on and feels better then a regular lip balm but I don't think I need to pay $14.50 for a lip balm. I really do like this but I would have rather spent my money on something else.

Urban Decay Lip Primer

Product: Urban Decay Lip Primer
I've always been a big fan of Urban Decay. Not only are their products pretty but they're usually of great quality. I've been using their eyeshadow primer for a while now, so I was very excited to see that they came out with a lip primer. I had high expectation just from past experience with their other products.

Claim: Color is truer, applies smoother, lasts longer, and will not fade or feather. The easy-glide formula feels velvety-soft, without the drying feeling often associated with long-lasting lip color. The formula includes SPF 15 (yay!) and moisturizing Vitamins A, C and E for a primer that protects and perfects. And, Urban Decay's pretty roll-up tube and slanted bullet make for precise, easy application.

Price: $ $
I bought this at Ulta for $20

Packaging: ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦
This lip primer comes in a small, purple, metallic tube with silver flowery design. You twist the tube to reveal the primer. This contains only 0.07 oz of product.

Pros:

• Nice packaging
• Has SPF 15 & Vitamins
• Made my lipstick color seem truer
• Gives the lipstick color something to hold on to
  
• No Feathering

Cons:

• Does not apply smoothly or glide on easily
• Makes my lips feel dry
• Pricey
  

Final Verdict: ♥ ♥
I'm torn about this product. I think my expectations for it were to high and it just didn't meet them. The only great thing about it was the packaging. Everything else was kind of *blah*. This primer did not glide on to my lips when I applied it. It has a consistence of thick wax. It tugged on my lips. I had to apply it a little bit at a time. I even tried to warm it up my quickly rolling the tube between my hand but it didn't help in trying to make it glide on smoother. Because it was so thick, it felt like my lips were dry. It didn't dry my lips, it just felt that way.
As far as it's claim to make your lipstick last longer, it does but not by much. My lipstick just faded at a slower pace. With legless it really didn't help at all. I will say that my lipstick or lip gloss didn't feather. I will say that the lipstick seem to be attracted to this primer. It does give a truer lipstick color because it gives it something to hold on to. Over all I wouldn't buy this product again.

NYX Round Lipstick

Product: NYX Round Lipstick is NYX top selling lipstick offering long lasting and non-smudging color.

I have the colors in Thalia, Paris, Earth Angel, Champagne, Rose Bud, Saturn, Tea Rose, Indian Pink, & Sky Pink.

All the colors are matte or shimmery/luster with over 100 shades.

Claim: A velvet textured lipstick formulated with mineral oil to provide moisturizing benefits and rich color.

Packaging: ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦
Each lipstick comes in a black round tube with the NYX logo & writing on the outside. On the bottom of the tube is clear to see the actual lipstick color

Price: $
Originially, each tube cost $4 at retailers but I bought these lipstick for $1.99 at Cherry Culture. Either way it's still inexpensive.

Pros:

• Glides on smoothly
• Feels soft on the lips
• Great pigmentation
• So many shade choices
• Great price
  

Cons:

• It's as long lasting & non-smudging as any other lipstick.
  

Final Verdict: ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥
I love these lipsticks. They exceeded my expectation. I was surprised on how smooth they go on and how great the colors were on my lips. With so many shades, everyone can truly find the right shade for them.

Bare Escentuals Pink Delicious Lipgloss Collection

Recently, I went to Ulta and bought bareMinerals Pink Delicious gift set. It is a 4 mini size 100% natural lipgloss and cost $26. Each of these four mini, cake-inspired shades leave your lips drizzled in sparkling color. They come in a small black box with pink swirl designs. They are as big as a lipstick tube (0.08 fl. oz.) and come with a lip brush applicator. According to the discription these lipglosses:

Provides long-lasting hydration and the perfect glossy finish without any stickiness

Jojoba, Sesame and Sunflower Oils, as well as Cupuacu Butter, soften and hydrate

Pomegranate Seed Oil and Vitamin E provide antioxidant protection

Honeysuckle Flower Extract conditions your lips

Natural Vanilla provides a pleasant and soothing scent

Infused with 100% pure bareMinerals for an extra dose of healthy nutrients

I fell in love with these lipglosses. I've been using them everyday since I got them. They smell delicious, very pigmented, and most importantly super glossy. They are a little bit thick without being sticky and they make your lips feel so soft. They're everything you want in a lip gloss and at $26 for 4 shades it's a good price. I only wish they were bigger.

Birthday Cake: A fuchsia color with blue sparkling flecks.
Strawberry Shortcake: A soft pink with pink sparkling flecks.
7 Layer Cake: A nude pink with multi-colored sparkling flecks.
Cupcake: A copper color with gold sparkling flecks.

Final Verdict

Pro: Pigmented, Very Glossy, Not Sticky, and Makes Your Lips Feel So Soft

Con: The Tubes are Small

Buy Again: Yes

Price: $ $ $

Packaging: ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦

Overall: ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

Maybelline Color Sensational Lipstick

I'm not sure when Maybelline first introduced there Color Sensational line but I feel like recently I've been seeing the commercials more on TV recently. Maybe because I've started watching more TV? Anyways, I finally gave in and decided to get some to try. They were $7.99 at Walgreens but I bought it when it was Buy 1 Get 1 50%.
The lipsticks come in 4 groups: Red, Neutral, Pink, & Plum. The lipsticks tube is a color tinted plastic that is also coordinated according to the grouping, i.e. if you buy a lipstick in the red family the tube will be red. There is something about the packaging that I don't like. I can't quite really figure out what exactly.
I do love this lipstick. It has great consistence, pigmented, smooth and it doesn't dry out my lips. The colors in the collection range from soft to bold and anyone can find the right shade for them. Maybelline's site has a shade finder if you need help finding the right shades for your skintone.

Final Verdict

Pro: Smooth, Pigmented without Drying

Con: None

Buy Again: Yes

Price: $

Packaging: ♦ ♦ ♦

Overall: ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

Revlon Colorburst Lipstick

The newest line of lipstick from Revlon is their Colorburst Lipstick. "A luxurious, rich color that's virtually weightless." They come in 20 different shades. They were originally $8.99 at Rite Aid but I got it on sale for $4.99 each. The lipstick comes in a black square tube with a criss cross design on 2 of the sides giving it a more luxury look.I bought Blush, Nude, and Baby Pink. The colors are very pigmented on my lips. I love how it feels and it doesn't dry my lips. I like it so much I'm going to buy some more. Right Now the Revlon website is giving a $3 coupon.

Final Verdict

Pro: Smooth, Pigmented without drying

Con: None

Buy Again: Yes

Price: $

Packaging: ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦

Overall: ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

Smashbox Lip Enhancing Gloss

Smashbox claims that it's Lip Enhancing Gloss will keep your lips soft, smooth, and plump for hours. It comes in 3 colors: sheer, true color, and full color with over a dozen shade all together. I got mine in sheer at Sephora for $18. The gloss comes in a 0.2 oz tube with a wand applicator. The sheer colors come with a brush wand while the true and full color comes with a felt tip/ velour wand. The tube is long and thin so it's great for traveling around. I'm always a big fan of lip gloss and I was excited to try this product but it wasn't excited for me. I loved the texture, it wasn't sticky, and had a lot of shine but something in the ingredients irritated my lips. I tried it at different occasion, just to make sure it was the gloss and not something else and unfortunately for me it was the gloss. Other then that I would love this product. As far as plumping your lips, I didn't see any changes. It's probably the plumping ingredient that's irritating to my lips. Oh well, you win some, you lose some.

Review

Pro: Not sticky and high shine.

Con: Did not plump and irritated my lips.

Buy Again: No

Price: $ $

Packaging: ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦

Overall: ♥ ♥

Glossy

These are my personal favorite lip glosses that you can ealy find at any drugstore or shopping center.

Maybelline Shine Seduction Glossy Lip Color is a smooth, shiny lip gloss. It comes in over a dozen shades and cost around $7-8. It comes as a silver tube with a twist dial bottom. You twist the bottom to push the gloss up the tube and out to the tip. Depending on the shade you chose you can have a very nice, sheer color for your lips that make them feel moist.

Review

Pro: Sleek & Smooth

Con: You have to reapply often.

Buy Again:Yes

Price: $

Packaging: ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦

Overall: ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

Cover Girl Wet Slick AmazeMint is super shiny, non sticky, mint scent and flavored lip gloss. CoverGirl worked with Crest to get that minty taste to it. It come in over a dozen colors for around $5-6. It is a tube that uses a wand for application. I like this lip gloss but out of the four this is the most sheer & shortest lasting. You have to constantly reapply it. They don't ever last long for me because I have to use it to much. I go through these quick.

Review

Pro: Smooth, Minty, & Super Shiny

Con: You have to constantly reapply

Buy Again:Yes

Price: $

Packaging: ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦

Overall: ♥ ♥ ♥

Out of the four, Revlon ColorStay Mineral Collection is the longest wearing lip gloss. It's thick then the Maybelline & CoverGirl glosses. It cost around $7-8 and come in dozen colors. It comes in a hour glass shaped tube and uses a wand for application. It's almost a liquid lipstick because of the coverage it can give you but still gives you that shine.

Review

Pro: Long Lasting Shine

Con: None

Buy Again:Yes

Price: $

Packaging: ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦

Overall: ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

Burt's Bees Super Shiny Lip Gloss is a super shiny fruit flavored lip gloss. They only make 4 Colors for $7 each. It comes in a small squeeze tube. What makes this gloss different is it's natural ingredients and has citrus flavor to it. It's very smooth and gives you a sheer tinted cover. Because of the natural oils in it, it keeps your lips extra soft. It will help your lips while giving you that shine.

Review

Pro: Shiny, Natural, & Good for your Lips

Con: You reapply often.

Buy Again:Yes

Price: $

Packaging: ♦ ♦ ♦

Overall: ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

Lip Exfoliatens

Bath and Body Works is having a sale on their Liplicious 2-in1 lip moisturizer and sugar scrub.  It is a duel head wand with a tinted fruit flavored moisturizer on one side and a brown sugar scrub on the other.  They come in 3 flavors; Watermelon Slice, Strawberry Mint, & Mango Colada.  All three are different shades of red.  They are selling for $5 but are originally $12.  You rub the sugar scrub on your lips to gently exfoliate you lips and afterwards just lick the excess sugar off.  Then apply the moisturizer for soft lips.  

I thought that the product works well for everyday use.  It's compact, making it very portable.  I personally didn't like the taste of it however.  The brown sugar scrub followed by the fruit flavored moisturizer did not  mix well for me.  Separately, I thought they were fine.  Unfortunately for me I had an allergic reaction to this product.  I had only used it for 2- 3 days.  This was the first time that I had a reaction to any product from Bath & Body.  I was very disappointed.  I had liked it until that point.

Review

Pro: Worked Well

Con: Tasted weird when used together.  I had an allergic reaction

Buy Again: No

Price: $

Packaging: ♦ ♦ ♦

Overall: ♥ ♥

The best lip exfoliate I've ever used has to be Mary Kay's Satin Lips.  It come in two parts; one is the lip mask and the other is lip balm and come in 0.3 oz tubes.  They sell individually for $9.50 each or the set for $18.  You apply the lip mask to your lips to exfoliated.  When it drys simply wipe it off with a warm soak cloth. Then apply the lip balm afterwards.    If you use the lip balm before bed, you can moisturizer your lips while you sleep and wake up with softer lips.  I love this product.  I've used it for years and it's still the best.

Visit MaryKay.com to order from a representative near you.

Review

Pro: Definately works and leaves you with incredibly soft lips.

Con: None

Buy Again: Yes

Price: $$

Packaging: ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦

Overall: ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥