Summer Picks: Pink Lip Products (and swatches!)

I don't know about you, but there's no other time like summer for me to break out all of my pink lip products and go to town. I'm more of a red kind of gal any day, orange in the fall, and mauve in the spring, but summer is time for pink to shine. Hot pink, frosty pink, doesn't matter, I always seem to reach for it! I think the great thing about a pink lip is that it suits a summer face. You can go with a bronzed, natural look and have fun with some pink color. Now, pink doesn't necessarily mean muted, though it can. The great thing about pink is that you can go as simple or as bold as you would like. Here are a few of my recommendations for great summer pinks...

Clockwise from top:

Lord & Berry Intensity Lipstick Glazed Pink
This is an amazing frosty pink lipstick that reminds me so much of a retro sixties look. Somehow, while maintaining its frosty, fun texture, it doesn't look dated since it is a warm pink rather than a blue-tinted pink. I think it's great to throw this on for a night out with some retro black liner and bright big eyes. Perfect for an unexpected summer look. I love bringing attention to lips with sparkle or some intense frost, and keeping everything else as far as accessories and jewelry minimal.

ARTDECO Hydra Lip Booster in 39 Translucent Wood Rose
I think this is such a lovely product for summer. It has great pigmentation (not sure where the translucent comes into the name!) and I feel like I can always wear this gloss on its own, though it does add something special to red and pink lipsticks alike. It's nearing that hot pink, warm magenta tone and is just a great all-rounder!

Pixi Icy Lip Lustre Lip Gloss Kit in Ice Petal
If you got your hands on this from a winter gloss kit, good on you. I can't say that this has much color payoff, but I LOVE the formula. It is glossy, but not sticky, and doesn't slide from the lips. It's also COCONUT SCENTED for all you coconut-lovers out there. I think this is fine on its own, but really shines when layered on top of another lip product such as a stain or lipstick. I like to use glosses in this way to revive lip products that look a little dry on my lips, especially if I've forgotten to use a balm beforehand. I think this also adds a nice sheen to matte products that really expands the wear of any matte lip product for multiple looks other than just matte. It's just a lovely light pink color that I'm absolutely loving this summer.

L'Oreal Infallible Lipstick Forever Frappe 814 (USA only)
Okay, so I know this is technically in the browney-mauvey range of lip colors but this is just to demonstrate how far a pink can stretch. I absolutely love this color, and keep it with my pink lipsticks because to me it's just a dark pink. It's a great option for a "my lips but better" sort of pink that's a bit more professional and serious. If I know my "fun" lip color is not going to be appreciated, opting for this or a more neutral color is easy. Plus I love how it looks! This was a lipstick inherited from my mom, and though I'm sure she got it on sale, this is not worth the $8.99 price tag in my opinion! Wow! I had no idea it was that expensive. Word to the wise this does tend to feather outside the lip line, which is why I don't think it lives up to the price tag. But man, do I love that color.

Cargo Long Wear Lip Gloss in Tuscany
This is a wonderful, pink gloss that amps up the class of any pink lipstick you may be wearing. It's a really nice warm pink as well, so it suits most skin tones.

Covergirl Continuous Color Lipstick 030 It's Your Mauve
I LOVE this color. I don't know how old this lipstick is, because I found it in my mom's house in one of her old purses. So the color may be different than the original, but the color on the lips is SUCH a nice deep pink coral color that doesn't wash out the lips or make my teeth look yellow. It also has a light staining effect, which I prefer, because I'm terrible about topping up on lipstick throughout the day and I hate the "lipliner" fade that some lip products leave behind. This is probably my most-reached-for color of all time, it's fantastic!

Maybelline New York Colorsensational Lip Color Summer Sunset 615
This is definitely a darker pink, but this particular lipstick has quite a sparkly sheen to it that makes this nice for special events and adds a little va-va-voom to your average pink. It's no demure rose hue, this one, rather it's a bold bright red-pink with a gorgeous sheen. I don't reach for this every day as I tend to keep my glitter in my lipgloss and my lipsticks matte, but it's a great summer option for special events.

L'Oreal Colour Riche Caresse Stick 174 Rose Taffeta
This is the perfect pink. I swear. The formula for this feels so moisturizing, almost like you're wearing nothing on your lips at all. It's just a nice pick me up. Rather than having to make a color choice and make sure this won't clash with an outfit, this is an easy, no fuss pretty light warm pink that suits every day wear. I think that I prefer this sort of formula to the Maybelline Color Whispers or the Revlon Lip Butters. It seems to give a more even color and the tube itself is quite precise for application.

Almay Color + Care Liquid Lip Balm Blooming Balm
Oh what a pink. I love this product as it is as moisturizing as a balm with a beautiful range of colors that Almay offers. This is a perfect light pink to wear alone or on top of any lip color. Alone it is a nice neutral, quite minimal look that evens out the tone of the lips and makes them look fuller, while moisturizing. It is also great layered with any other color to add a more light pink tone or to add moisture to the lips. I often use this if I have used a drying lip color or my lips are chapped from too much lipstick wear. It's great to throw in a handbag as you don't have to fuss to much with making sure you color in the lines with a bright lip. You can just swipe and go!

Each swatch is the same group of colors, I just thought I would provide some different lighting. 

Swatches top to bottom:
L'Oreal Colour Riche Caresse Rose Taffeta 174
Almay Color + Care Liquid Lip Balm Blooming Balm
Covergirl It's Your Mauve 030
Maybelline Summer Sunset 615
Lord & Barry Glazed Pink
Cargo Tuscany Gloss
ARTDECO 39
L'Oreal 814
Pixi Ice Petal

I hope you enjoyed this rather large post of all my favorite pink products for summer! What are your favorite summer lip products? Let me know in the comments!

Xoxo,
Kels

Project Make-a-Dent: Part II

Hello loves! In an effort to actually use my makeup before purchasing more and inspired by Lola's Secret Beauty Blog, I have decided to do "Project Make-a-Dent" which prompts me to try and use a specific selection of makeup. My particular set includes some of my oldest lipsticks. The points of Project Make-A-Dent are simple: 1) use what you have, 2) save your money and spend wisely, 3) think about what you purchase. These are all very important, especially as I am a grad student on a budget and I have recently found myself picking up lip products haphazardly without realizing that I'm doing it. I don't need another lipstick! Read my first post HERE to see what products I started out with.

Two months I had six lip products in the pile, this time around we're at four. I wish I could say I used up two products in two months, but honestly I just left them at my mom's house when I visited her! Regardless, I have really been loving the selection. These are all beautiful shades of pink and it's been nice to rediscover my favorites (and realize that I don't need any more pink lip stuff...ever). 

Left to right: L'Oreal Infallible Lipstick in Forever Frappe, Maybelline ColorSensational Lipcolor in Summer Sunset, L'Oreal Colour Riche Caresse Lipstick in Rose Taffeta, and Cargo Lipgloss in Tuscany

I've definitely made a dent in my L'Oreal lipstick in Forever Frappe. It's such a nice pink/brown/mauve/nude that is a good transitional color through the cold part of spring. I've also used quite a bit of the L'Oreal Caresse lipstick, it's such a nice fun pink for spring! I can also feel that I'm down to the bottom of the Cargo lipgloss. It has been such a nice color to use on its own and to pair with all of these lovely pink shades. I haven't used as much of my Maybelline simply because the color is quite glittery and I haven't wanted to reach for it as much as the others. I think it's more of a fall and winter pink, as it's not as bright, but I'll keep using it. 

Like I said, all of these products are the oldest lip products that I have. I'm trying to stay very conscious of use-by guidelines for makeup to ensure that I'm staying clean and safe with my makeup. It's very important to sanitize your makeup often. Also be sure to toss your makeup as soon as it starts to smell strange or waxy, or changes in consistency. Two years is about the time to either toss your lipsticks or start to keep a closer eye on scent and consistency.

Are you doing Project Make-A-Dent? If you are, be sure to follow @lolassecretand  and myself at @lovinswoonful on Twitter and use the hashtag #projectmakeadent!

Project Make-A-Dent: Part I

Hello lovelies! Today's post is inspired by Lola's Secret Beauty Blog, who has been writing about her "Project Make A Dent" series since October now. You can read her post and rules for the project here. I've been following her posts, and loving the point of the project: use what you love! While I'm nowhere near addict-level, my collection of lippies is a bit over-the-top with over twenty lip products in my collection. The points of Project Make-A-Dent are simple: 1) use what you have, 2) save your money and spend wisely, 3) think about what you purchase. These are all very important, especially as I am a grad student on a budget and I have recently found myself picking up lip products haphazardly without realizing that I'm doing it. I don't need another lipstick!



Another dimension I would like to add to Lola's original project is that of hygiene and makeup safety. We often buy so many products which we refuse to throw away, leaving us with dangerous chemicals on our lips, eyes and face, which should have been thrown away months ago. Buying within your means can help reduce using items past their expiration date, so to speak. Although makeup guidelines are iffy, I've had some of these lips products for at least two years now. I've done some digging and two years is about the point where you should start to pay attention to your lipsticks. Make sure the smell, color, and consistency haven't changed. If they have, especially if the lipstick starts to smell waxy, it's probably time to send that puppy to the makeup graveyard. I picked my five oldest lip products for my first Project Make A Dent, not only in an effort to use up products that I obviously love, but to make sure I'm using up products in a timely manner. I'm actually quite happy with the selection. Though veering towards the bright pink side of things, this gives me at least one red, a neutral pink, a brown-ish pink, and some brights to work with. These are all great colors heading into spring. Just a tip: all of these products (except gloss and the lipsticks with glitter) can double as a cheek tint, another great way to get multiple uses from cream-based products!

My lipstick picks...why do lipsticks have such long names? Whyyyy?

So here are the rules for my version of Project Make-A-Dent:
1) Products must be at the forefront of makeup stash to encourage usage (check!)
2) Products must be the oldest products in makeup collection (check!)
3) No spending ban, but it's highly encouraged that I follow the one-in-one-out policy during the project
4) Update on progress monthly
5) Have fun!

I'm really excited to be doing this project, as I've rediscovered some lipstick gems that I've shoved to the back of my collection. Are you doing Project Make-A-Dent? If you are, be sure to follow @lolassecret and myself at @lovinswoonful and use the hashtag #projectmakeadent!