I love coming up with homemade, all-natural skincare recipes and sharing them with others.

Lip Oil for Dry Lips

My lips are perpetually dry and cracked—my skin generally is, too. Even though I know lip balm doesn’t help, I always carry it with me. If I don’t have it, we’re going to have a problem—it literally gets to the point where I can’t focus if my lips are chapped. I’m an addict.

Usually, winter and cold weather make it much worse, but year-round my skin and lips can struggle to hold moisture. Chapstick and other brands just don't work for me, and I know I’m not the only one! I started looking into the ingredients in typical lip balms that actually make your lips even drier! Can you believe the nerve?!

I decided to strip it all back and make my own recipe, with pure oils and without all of the other nonsense. The one thing that has really helped me keep my lips moisturized has been this simple recipe I can make at home.

How Do You Make Lip Oil?

There are many different oils that are beneficial for your lips. Pick a handful of your favorites, and go crazy refining your personal recipe! It’s really very simple and just requires blending your choice of oils in a container.

Types of Oils and Their Benefits

As I mentioned, you can choose from a pretty large variety of oils, all with different properties. I will share a giant list of great oils to use and then go into the specific blend I used for my results. Buying tons of pure oils can get pricey, so don’t worry if you can’t afford all of them, a blend of three to four oils will do just fine, and some of these will likely be around your house already!

• Vitamin E Oil: This is my favorite oil to add, and it even works great on its own for repairing dry and cracked skin! It is an antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and conditions the skin. There are many great oils to use, but Vitamin E is surely the best oil for hydrating dry lips.
• Jojoba Oil: This oil is botanical and very similar to the natural oil (sebum) that your body already produces. It’s great for combating dry skin, dandruff, and acne.
• Avocado Oil: Another oil beneficial for its antioxidant properties, avocado oil can also protect against UV damage from the sun.
• Frankincense Oil: This oil is typically used for wound-healing because it helps with cell regeneration. My lips are incredibly dry and cracked, so I added some Frankincense to my mix.
• Coconut Oil: Coconut oil is a wonderful, natural moisturizer that is commonly used in cases of dry, cracked skin. It will help your lips to retain moisture and is also antibacterial. Coconut oil is commonly used in wrinkle treatment.
• Almond Oil: This is another oil that helps protect from the UV rays of the sun. Almond oil removes dead skin cells, evens the skin tone, and with vitamins E, K, and A, it helps keep the skin looking young and healthy.
• Castor Oil: This oil contains ricinoleic acid, which helps your lips to retain moisture. Some people can have an allergic reaction to castor oil, so it is recommended that you speak with your dermatologist or test out a small patch on your arm before using it on your lips.
• Olive Oil: Here’s an ingredient that you probably already have around the house. Olive oil is an incredible moisturizer containing natural vitamin E.
• Rose Oil: Not only does rose oil smell great, it’s also anti-inflammatory like many other oils listed. It helps heal scars and promotes circulation.

DIY All Natural Lip Oil Recipe

Before you start mixing anything, you’ll first need a container to store your concoction in. Empty eyedropper containers are available for purchase at most beauty stores, or you can do what I did and recycle an old makeup bottle. The bottle I used previously held a facial serum, so I washed it out to use for my new lip oil! You could also consider using an old lip gloss container.

Some oils come with eyedroppers; some do not. So, for this, there is no exact science, and if you don’t get the formula perfect, it’s no big deal. All of the ingredients are good for your lips, so feel free to experiment!

Ingredients

• 3 mL of Vitamin E oil
• 3 mL of Jojoba oil
• 3 mL of Avocado oil
• 10 drops of Frankincense oil

Instructions

1. Clean out the container you intend to use with soap and water.
2. Add desired oils to the container until full.
3. Shake the container to mix the oils together.
4. Apply the mixture to lips daily.

*Some oils may need to be warmed in the microwave for a few seconds to become liquid if they are solid at room temperature. Be careful not to overheat them.

This Recipe Works Fast!

As mentioned above, you can really get to experimenting with lip oil combos. I loved this one because it worked almost immediately. I wasn’t expecting such a fast turnaround! I figured, for the purpose of instructional photos, I would take pictures every day for a week and show the progress of this particular recipe. As you can see, on the first day my lips were terrible. It was actually painful how dry and cracked they were (don’t judge me, it’s winter as I’m writing this!).

I used the lip oil concoction all day, making sure to reapply as needed. To my shock, by the very next day, much of the dryness and cracking was gone. My lips were back to normal overnight! I have since been using lip oil at least once a day to maintain moisture. You can also add sugar to your oil mix to create a DIY exfoliating lip scrub!

Variations of the Recipe

All of the ingredients above have their own benefits! So I say, grab what you already have or whatever is easiest for you to find and start mixing. Now, if you want to add some tint to your lip oil, read further!

How to Make a Tinted Oil

There are a few safe options you can use to tint your lip oil. If you already have a lipstick or liquid lip color that you like, add a scraping or a few drops to your lip oil mixture. To make sure the color blends evenly in, heat your oil mixture for a few seconds in the microwave (be very careful with hot oil). Add the coloring and blend it together evenly! For an unlimited amount of color combinations, you can also use eyeshadow or mica powder to create pigmented oil.

Why Choose Lip Oil?

Well, let’s look at what lip oil does. It will help your lips retain moisture, shed dead skin cells, and keep them from drying and cracking. It’s a safe, natural alternative to lip balms and other lip products that actively dry out your lips with additives like alcohol.

Lip Oil vs. Lip Gloss vs. Lip Balm

Many lip balms create a layer of moisture on your lips that admittedly offers relief, but only temporarily. That layer of protective moisture eventually evaporates and leaves your lips even more dry than they were to begin with! I am a repeat victim of this process, to the point where I can’t focus when I don’t have lip balm. Think of lip balm like this—it will prevent your lips from getting chapped because it creates a layer that sits on top of them. However, it will not repair your lips once the chapping has already occurred. You need oil for that.

Lip gloss isn’t even on the same spectrum. It’s truly just for cosmetic purposes. It only adds luster, sparkle, or shine. It might make your chapped lips feel better to have something glossy on them, but as with balm, it’s not actually working to solve the problem.

Lip oil is the champion here because if you continue using it enough, you won’t find yourself desperately saying, “I need to find some chapstick!” Your lips will no longer feel like garbage.

How and When Should I Apply Lip Oil?

Lip oil is honestly perfect any time. You can apply it when your lips are dry to help repair them, or you can use it when your lips are feeling moisturized as a preventative measure. You really can’t go wrong.

Use an applicator or your finger to apply the lip oil. I like to use mine daily in the place of any other products. If you want to moisturize but still have some color, apply the oil mixture while putting on the rest of your makeup. Allow it to soak in, and then wipe it off before putting on your lipstick!

This content is accurate and true to the best of the author’s knowledge and is not meant to substitute for formal and individualized advice from a qualified professional.

Comments

Mona Sabalones Gonzalez from Philippines on March 13, 2021:

This is a great article and it's nice to know we can make our own lip balm that is more effective than what is being sold in stores. Thanks!

Amber is a web writer whose articles focus on beauty, skincare, health, and wellness!

Chapstick is everyone’s go-to remedy for chapped lips. It comes in delicious flavors that won’t bother you when you lick your lips, can fit in a pocket or purse, and can be great for your lips during those dreaded winter months that are full of dry, cold air.

Yet, there are quite a few things to know about chapstick before picking up a tube the next time you’re at the store. Not all chapstick is created equal. There are even a few downsides that can go hand in hand with using this convenient remedy for dry lips.

Chapped Lips Happen to Everyone

Chapped lips seem to be a part of life. This could be because we drink less water during certain seasons because it’s not as hot. The air itself is unbelievably dry, which makes you more prone to getting dry skin everywhere, including on your lips.

Even though chapped lips are common, it doesn’t mean that you have to suffer for months on end. Lip balms, chapsticks, Carmax, lip scrubs, and other wonderful lip care products are readily available to keep your lips kissably smooth all year long. It’s important to make sure that you’re informed about these products so that you can pick one that will help you instead of making the situation worse.

What is Lip Balm?

These are small cosmetic tubes that are similar to lipstick. They are supposed to prevent chapped lips. Most companies have their own special formula. This means that some products might provide additional benefits, like nourishing your lips, providing protection from the sun, and preventing chapped lips.

The Most Common Lip Balm Ingredients

Because every company formulates its own lip balm, they all have their own ingredients. For example, some will contain beeswax as a base while others will consist more of petroleum. However, there are some ingredients that are seen more often than others. Learn more about the ingredients used in lip balms to make sure that you’re picking one up that is right for you and your chapped lips.

Beeswax

Beeswax is used to help coat the lips, which therefore reduces the chance that you’re going to suffer from dry, chapped lips due to the cold air. If the weather can’t reach your lips, it can’t hurt them!

On the downside, when beeswax is made by bees, it also contains something called propolis, something that bees use in their hives. Over one-tenth of people tested developed contact dermatitis due to this. If you are allergic to honey or have ever had a problem with contact dermatitis, pay attention to whether this ingredient is listed. It can cause peeling lips.

Fragrance

Fragrance is an umbrella term that companies use on the ingredients list. It can be used as a substitute for anything that makes the product smell good. Fragrance could mean one essential oil or several known carcinogens that you would never go near if you knew they were going to go on your lips. Because this is how companies make their products smell delicious is considered a trade secret, they’re not required to tell consumers what’s in them. Instead, they must simply label it as “fragrance.” Avoid this. You have no idea what they are using as a fragrance if this is the only word used on the ingredients list.

Coconut Oil

Coconut oil is making a huge comeback in lip products compared to where it was in recent years. This is because more of us are opting for natural products. It’s also because so many consumers already know the plethora of benefits that go hand in hand with coconut oil.

Toxic Ingredients

Some lip balms are loaded with toxic ingredients. This blogger did a wonderful article detailing all of the ingredients in Chapstick brand products. There are some that can cause contact dermatitis but aren’t otherwise concerning, like Vitamin E oil. There are others that will make you double-check the ingredient list before picking up some Chapstick.

Types Of Lip Balm

Personally, even though I am well aware of the toxic ingredients in Chapstick, I still have a tube. If it’s cold and my lips are dry, it’s right there in my purse. I have yet to have any adverse reactions to it, so I’m okay with the occasional use when I’m not wearing makeup. If you’re planning on picking up a tube of lip balm, it’s important to understand the different types of this product on the market so you have one that meets your needs.

Flavored Lip Balm

Flavored lip balm is widely popular, especially among children and teens. If you lick your lips a lot, you’ll appreciate flavored lip balm that tastes delicious! There are products available in every flavor imaginable, from candy, like Skittles, to Coca Cola. (My youngest daughter loves candy flavored lip balm!) Most flavored lip balm also comes with other benefits, such as having coconut oil or an SPF included.

Tinted Lip Balm

Tinted lip balm is usually available in a variation of pink to give your lips a touch of color while still protecting them from the elements. If you’re a bit irritated that you can’t wear your favorite lipstick because of your chapped lips, tinted products provide a nice compromise.

Lip Balm With SPF

Lip products with SPF are designed to protect your lips from being chapped and the harmful rays of the sun. The rays of the sun can damage your lips, making them more dry and prone to damage from the elements than they already are. Products with SPF are usually available as flavored or tinted lip balm, too.

Coconut Lip Balm

This is any lip balm that includes coconut oil. This is the most hydrating lip balm that I have ever used. In fact, I use coconut oil on my kids in place of lip products when they’re at home. It will keep your lips from becoming dry, and it’s available in a convenient tube that is perfect for keeping in your purse.

Pros and Cons Of Using Chapstick

Chapstick is one of the most popular items sold during winter, particularly if you live in a state that is known for having harsh winters. While it may be convenient, it does come with a few different pros and cons that you’ll need to keep in mind before picking up a tube the next time you’re at the store.

Pros

Convenient

No one can ever claim that Chapstick is inconvenient. It’s available in small tubes that fit perfectly everywhere, from in the car to in a guy’s pocket. It’s also readily available. Most stores have a Chapstick display by the register for those long, cold months.

Affordable

Chapstick is also one of the most affordable options. You can pick up a tube for a dollar. Some versions may be a bit more expensive, such as the flavored varieties, but that doesn’t mean that all chapstick is expensive. In fact, it’s more affordable than any other remedy.

Cons

Chapstick Can Make Your Dry Lips Worse

While Chapstick may provide temporary relief, that relief might come at a cost. Chapstick works by putting a thin layer of moisture on the top of your lips. As this thin layer dissolves, you will find that your lips are still dry. This is because it does nothing to help your lips heal. As it evaporates, it makes your lips drier.

Toxic Ingredients

The toxic ingredients that can be found in Chapstick are one of the main reasons that people are tossing the tubes in the trash and opting for natural remedies instead. Remember, if it says fragrance on the label, you have no idea what is in that little tube.

So, Should You Use Lip Balm?

There is no harm in using Chapstick on occasion. It should be used to protect your lips during winter weather or from the sun, not as a solution to dry lips. When using Chapstick, make sure to use it sparingly.

When you need something daily for dehydrated, chapped lips, consider an all natural home remedy like coconut oil. A proper lip care routine is also essential to keeping your lips as smooth as satin.

This content is accurate and true to the best of the author’s knowledge and is not meant to substitute for formal and individualized advice from a qualified professional.

© 2020 Amber Lynn

Tawny is an enthusiastic makeup and lipstick consumer and is excited to share her thoughts and findings about her experiments and products.

The Beginning of Something Wonderful

If you’re reading this, you’re either really bored or actually care about makeup enough to read about it instead of using it. But I can’t lie, I do the same thing. When Kylie Jenner first announced that she was starting a lip kit line, I really didn’t care too much. I wasn’t much of a makeup wearer, especially higher-end makeup. It was too expensive, and I didn’t have anywhere to wear it. But then I got a job as a server, so I figured I’d liven up my face a bit, so I eventually worked my way up to Kylie’s lip kits!

My first order was in 2017, and there was a sale, so I could get two kits, free shipping, and a free lip liner and a gloss for $54, which seemed like a good deal if I could use it for work and not look like my lips were the same color as my chin. So I looked around a lot, debated on if I should get velvets (which was a new formula at the time) or mattes (which started the company), but I liked the colors in the velvets better, so I went with Dazzle and Harmony velvet lip kits. The velvets were also $2 cheaper than the mattes. But I also got the lip liner Kristen and the gloss Candy K for free as part of their special.

The Packaging

When I got them about a week later, I loved how they come in a pale pink box. But me being a slightly older millennial, I wasn’t over-the-top impressed, but just thought it was cute. But inside the box, they put a piece of flexible foam wrapped around the boxes as protective packaging. They also include a “hand-written” note from Kylie thanking me for my order, which is a nice touch. I wish I had her handwriting.

The products themselves are really quite nice though. The lip liner is really creamy and pigmented for a lip liner. Most others that I’ve used are mainly just to keep regular lipstick in place (“regular” being “non-liquid” or “bullet” lipstick). I feel like if my lips were naturally a tiny bit plumper, I would wear them all on their own, the colors look that good! And they’re encased in a black, soft plastic-wood that is really easy to sharpen, and sturdy enough to use like a crayon or colored pencil.

What I’ve come to learn about Kylie Cosmetics is that the liquid lipsticks and glosses smell like vanilla! That’s actually one way you know you’re getting a genuine product as well. A lot of dupes or fakes will not smell exactly like what the original, genuine lipsticks do, so just be wary of that.

The Actual Products

Kylie’s velvet liquid lipsticks are quite amazing though. They have high pigmentation, smell like vanilla, and just feel really nice on the lips. They feel like blotting a regular crème lipstick but add a slightly moisturizing feeling while still delivering full impact color. I wouldn’t recommend rubbing your lips together upon application though, just pressing your lips together a few times to even out the tone is fine. And I was impressed by how long the color lasted and looked like I had just applied it. After working an eight-hour bartending shift, my lips were still the perfect shade as when I had first applied and not a bit out of line! That’s what I’ve come to expect with Kylie’s products, and she meets and raises the bar with every order.

A lot of first-time buyers of the velvets don’t realize that “velvet” doesn’t mean “smudge-proof” or “kiss-proof” like the mattes are, so use a bit of caution when using velvets. For me, lipstick is the last thing I apply before I leave the house so all my hair and clothes are done and ready so I won’t smear my lipstick across my face or clothes. However, the velvets are advertised as “a creamy matte look that does not dry down,” so that should be able to inform the general public that it’s not a matte. But I guess not everyone reads into things as literally as I do, and sometimes that’s for the best. Albeit, that is one perfect description that accurately details how it looks and feels—matte look, but doesn’t dry down. I’ll add that if you want to add a gloss on top of a velvet, you may want to try layering a gloss over a matte because the velvet pretty much won’t allow you to do that so easily.

The Colors Harmony and Dazzle

Harmony is described as a “warm mid-tone pink” and it’s a pretty shade for everyday wear.

So they’re kind of discontinuing Dazzle, which is sad, it’s such a pretty color, but I’m glad I got it when I did! It’s described as a “warm terracotta.” I’ve recently grown to love the “terracotta” family of lipstick shades, I love how they look somewhat retro 90s with a slight earth tone but also rosy at the same time. However, this particular shade isn’t exactly what I would say is “warm terracotta” in real life. The picture of it on the website looks like that, but in reality, it looks very similar to Harmony.

I Love These Lipsticks!

Needless to say that ever since my first Kylie Cosmetics purchase, I have made several more. Whenever I get an email announcing a new product or shades or formulas, I get a little tinge of excitement and check my bank account to prepare for it.

© 2020 Tawny

Taki loves to write about her experiences and products. She especially loves K-Beauty and only uses Korean cosmetics.

Many people have already been drawn to the highly-addictive world of K-Beauty. Others have settled with what they've got and don't look into the innovative products of Korea. It certainly is a hassle—some products can only be used if shipped from overseas. This means you could get the product weeks after you ordered it, and by then, you might not even need it. So, if everyone can't commit to the Korean product lifestyle, can they find a favorite product that is Korean?

Look no further than Tony Moly's Petite Bunny Gloss Bar.

What Is Tony Moly?

Tony Moly, a K-Beauty empire that specializes in adorable packaging, started up in 2006 and hasn't looked back since. In fact, it's only expanded its reign by two different countries. Now Tony Moly has stores located in California and in some parts of the UK, making it a little more available to those who don't live in Asia.

In their own words, Tony Moly is always 'fusing fun ideas with outstanding products,' including a soft solid perfume bar (WHAT!?!?!), cat-inspired blushes, and easy-to-use liquid eyeliner. To prove their cute packaging fetish even more, 'TONYMOLY' means 'putting style into packaging.'

Cuteness With Bunny Ears

Tony Moly is probably most known for its cute packaging, but it's not exactly clear which of their products is the most iconic of them all. However, it is certain that Tony Moly's Petite Bunny Gloss Bars are a well-recognized product among those who love K-Beauty. It's that nostalgic item that is the Korean equivalent to when you were a little kid and your mom buys you a kiddy lip gloss. It's pretty special, and lots of people, no matter why they like Asia, can say they own this little stick of cuteness.

The Tony Moly Petite Bunny Gloss Bar comes in nine different shades of pink, each one based off of a different yummy fruit, and each one bearing a sweet little bunny facial expression.

The darkest shade available is Juicy Cherry, a cute cherry red gloss in a red bunny with a little unimpressed face. (Perhaps he hates how cute he is?) The sheerest of them all is Juicy Grape, which is the most subtle of them all and has no pink color to it at all, but a delicious grape scent.

The Design

The design of the Petite Bunny Gloss Bar seems average or normal, but the thought process behind it all is quite interesting.

The fact that this product is so skinny and does not take on a similar shape of other lip gloss or balms has puzzled a few people on the web. The reason for it all? To look subtle, whether it's in your back pocket or your backpack. Because it's not so bulky, it takes up less space, no matter where it is, and while you might have bunny ears poking out of your jean pocket, it looks better than having a small, fat lip balm pod in your back pocket. It's so much sleeker and modern this way.

Petite Bunny Gloss bars are also infused with Vitamin E to keep lips soft, and the formula is long-lasting and looks natural. You get the right amount of glam, whether you're just heading to school or are ready for a banquet!

Are They Any Good?

While some shades are liked or favored more than others, the average star rating for these cute little glosses is 4 stars. Juicy Cherry has the largest fan base with a 4.5-star rating. While I myself am a Juicy Grape fan, all of the shades are so versatile that you can wear them anywhere, with any outfit, at any time.

They smell so good, look amazing, and have the best packaging on the market. Petite Bunny Gloss Bars are available on Amazon. However, they can take a while to ship. I did not get mine until three weeks after I ordered it, which really was terrible because I was so excited about it. I mean, it's worth the wait, but who likes to wait that long.

A Good Product in a Good-Looking Package

In conclusion, those who aren't into Korean beauty need to try this. For those who are curious about K-Beauty, you need to try this. For those who are into K-Beauty, you need to try this. If you have no idea what K-Beauty is, then you definitely need to try this.

This product is available on:

• Amazon
• The Tony Moly Website (the website format and prices will vary depending on your country)
• SokoGlam and other K-Beauty websites

Comments

Bree on March 29, 2019:

cute! I might try the peach one or neon orange one!

Ayexa has been a makeup and sfx enthusiast for the past four years. She loves to share her thoughts about things with others.

What's the Difference Between a Lipstick and a Lip Tint?

Nothing screams confidence like a woman wearing a scandalous color of lipstick. Even a hint of color can alter a woman's appearance in a way that changes other people's view of her.

While lipsticks have been a staple product in women's vanity bags for decades, some women don't enjoy continually running to the bathroom to touch up their lipstick and prefer something more natural and light.

This is where lip tints shine. With their sheer hint of color, and the ability to withstand rough treatment (like eating lunch), lip tints are slowly replacing the lipsticks that were once a staple in a women's handbag.

How Lip Tints Work

Lip tints, as the name implies, leave a tint or residue of color on the lips without a layer of product. The skin absorbs the tints, providing moisture while coloring them at the same time. The pigmentation is generally closer to a natural color; noticeable but not as obvious as lipsticks.

Some tints may fade when they come into contact with water, but most of them are quite water resistant. The pigment gradually loses intensity throughout the day but does keep the lips pigmented longer than a traditional lipstick.

Why Korean Tints Are the Best

Korea has astounded the world with its revolutionizing makeup technology while being budget friendly at the same time. Many of their products have exquisite and exotic ingredients not typically used, and the same goes for tints. Their tints have high adhesive properties, and they can withstand harsh treatment. They are smudge proof and non-transferable.

While Korean tints come in a large variety, here are my top four favorite budget-friendly products that I've handpicked for you.

Etude House Dear Darling Water Gel Tint

Etude House is a well known Korean brand with high-quality makeup and cute packaging. Their Dear Darling Water Gel Tints are one of their best sellers, and with its quality, it's not a surprise! The tint has a watery feel to it, and the color is buildable. The formula has a fruity scent, so if you are sensitive to smells, you might want to reconsider buying it.

This formula is packed with vitamins, pomegranate extract, and soapberry extracts to keep your lips ultra moisturized throughout the day. This makes it, so the product transfers vivid color to the lips, and keeps them hydrated and tinted all day long.

The tint is available in more than 10 shades, ranging from cool tones to warm tones, and we are sure you will find your perfect shade.

Etude House Dear Darling Water Gel Tint Ice Cream

Again the Etude House swayed our hearts when we discovered Dear Darling Water Gel Tint Ice Cream. That smooth, gel-like consistency glides on like a dream and gives a hint of gloss while enriching the lips with a natural flush. The tear-shaped applicator with space in between further simplifies the problems as it ensures that the color is applied smoothly and evenly.

Best suited for daily wear, this lip tint instantly gives a person a fresh and lively look, and the ice cream shaped bottle is a cute must have in your vanity bag! We assure you these adorable bottles will call to you the moment you lay your eyes on them!

The Saem Saemmul Real Tint

Gone are the days when you have to redo your lipstick after every few hours! The Saem Saemmul Real Tint is one heavy duty lip tint that will last hours before it fades away!

Enriched with deep pigmentation and a fruity citrus smell, this is the one for those who like their lipstick to stay put and endure whatever they put them through! This tint is infused with marine collagen, which is a treat for you and your lusciously soft lips!

The formula is more on the watery side and is perfect if you're trying to achieve a gradient lip effect. While the formula itself is not drying, the tint does dry down very quickly. So you have to work it in your lips with quick hands, or it'll be patchy.

Before you apply the tint, make sure you exfoliate your lips. Otherwise, the color will cling to the dry parts and enhance them.

Macqueen New York Creamy Lip Tint

A bit different from the others, Macqueen New York Creamy Lip Tint is neither a water tint nor a gel tint. The formula has a creamy, mousse-like feel, and because of the creamy texture, it is excellent for people who have dry or chapped lips.

The tint has an excellent adhering formula that will stay on your lip for hours, and the color is blendable and buildable.

It comes in a glass bottle with a long, tear-shaped applicator with a hole in the middle, which ensures the pigment is evenly distributed.

But I haven't told you the best part. The best part is that the product can also be used on cheeks to give a subtle, rosy effect. So yeah, it's like killing two birds with one stone!

© 2018 ayexa s

Comments

Shaaz on October 10, 2018:

Interesting information

darron thomas on October 09, 2018:

you should try this

Louise is a lip balm collector from the United Kingdom. She always has a tin of the stuff lying around in her bag.

Lip balms are something I use on a daily basis. My lips get very dry, and I hate that feeling. I have several lip balms which I have in my home, handbag and work bag. I know, it's crazy. On a recent visit to Norwich, Norfolk, I decided to treat myself to a lip balm from Lush. Unfortunately, we don't have this store in my town, although it can also be purchased online.

What's This Lip Balm Like?

The Rose Lollipop lip balm comes in a small silver tin with a pink label on the top. There are several flavours to choose from, but I opted for this one as I liked the smell of it and the taste of it on my lips. Lush is good at having testers out so you can try before you buy. It costs £6.95 for a 12g tin exclusively from Lush.

The balm contains cupuacu butter, which comes from the cupcuacu in the Amazon Forest. The cupcuacu butter is found from the seeds from these trees. The butter also contains rose oil which comes from the rose farm in Turkey. Rose water is also included in this which also comes from Turkey. Roses have a calming effect and soothes the skin. One of the other main ingredients is Sicilian Lemon Oil. Lemon has an uplifting and cleansing effect on the skin. Coming from the lemon tree, this is a lovely addition to the lip balm that will help moisturise your skin.

How Does It Feel?

The balm feels quite thick in the texture. When applying it to the lips, it has a bit of a gritty feel to it, but it goes on nicely. It is not too greasy, but it softens the lips well. It does have a slight taste of roses in it, and it smells really pleasant too. I like how it leaves your lips feeling hydrated. I didn't suffer any allergic reaction from this, and the balms lasts a good while before the need to re-apply it.

My Thoughts

I love this lip balm. I love how it leaves my lips feeling soft and moisturises. I like how it lasts a good while too before I need to use more. I know it's not cheap, but as I say, this was a treat. I'm glad I purchased this—not only does it leaves my lips feeling nice and soft, but it also smells lovely, and the rose taste really comes through in the lip balm. If you can't physically get to a Lush store, then you can order online.

Lush does not test on animals, and they buy all their products from suppliers who do not test on animals. All their products are handmade, and you can get a wide range of beauty products and products for the hair and body. All in all, I would highly recommend this product.

© 2018 Louise Powles

Comments

RTalloni on June 08, 2019:

I too battle dryness so am glad to see this product with rose as an ingredient. Thanks for sharing your experience with it.

Rajan Singh Jolly from From Mumbai, presently in Jalandhar, INDIA. on October 22, 2018:

Good to know their products are not tested on animals. Just wondering how they test their products?

Ethel Smith from Kingston-Upon-Hull on September 16, 2018:

Thanks Louise

I like Lush products but my problem with this would be in the tin form. When I have used before in winter I have ended up with more cold sores. Too easy to put some on when out and about and hands not really clean

Peggy Woods from Houston, Texas on August 25, 2018:

Thanks for your review. I like the fact that they do no animal testing with this product.

Louise Powles (author) from Norfolk, England on August 22, 2018:

Thanks Liz. I miss Ciao. Yes I agree, Lush is certainly good with original ideas.

Liz Westwood from UK on August 22, 2018:

It's great to see a review like the ones I used to read on Ciao. Lush is an interesting place to shop with a lot of original ideas.

Louise Powles (author) from Norfolk, England on August 22, 2018:

Linda - I wasn't sure if Lush had stores worldwide, so it's good to hear they do. I do love that store, but only shop there now and again.

Linda Crampton from British Columbia, Canada on August 21, 2018:

There's a Lush Cosmetics store in a shopping centre near my home. I like the sound of the lip balm that you describe so I checked on the store's website to see if they sell it in British Columbia. They do, though it's not cheap, as you say. I may try it, though. It sounds very nice. Thanks for sharing the review.

Lisa Jane from Washington on August 21, 2018:

Love this article. I wear lipstick but this sounds like something I would like to try.

Mary Norton from Ontario, Canada on August 21, 2018:

When staying in hotels, lips get really dry. I have not tried this product yet but it seems a good choice as it lasts longer.

BBYCGN from Uninhabited Regions on August 21, 2018:

Yum!!!

FlourishAnyway from USA on August 21, 2018:

I liked the unusual rose taste you mentioned but love the no animal testing.

Sheryl, a Transformational Therapist with qualifications in all areas of beauty, specialises in working with women from the inside out.

Introduction to the Application of Lipstick

Lips are a noticeable feature on the face! They are soft, sensitive, and pliable. Being an extension of the inner mouth and a tactile sensory organ, lips serve for many different functions apart from the application of colour. These include expression (smiling and making funny faces), along with verbalising sound. Falling under the classification of an erogenous zone, lips are also used for kissing and other intimate pleasures. When it comes to makeup and the introduction of lipstick, working in the industry myself as a beauty therapist and makeup artist, I quite often hear “play up your best facial feature”. While this is a general recommendation and one of course worth following, I believe and teach outside the box with that theory. The appearance and surface structure of your lips are different in shapes, with the categories for creativity being limitless. Before delving into lipstick application, let’s take a look at the lip structure and importance of personal care and hygiene.

Understanding the Lip Structure

The lips composition falls under three cellular layers. The outer surface is known as the stratum corneum; this is the protective covering. Once the cells reach this layer, they are dead. Underneath the stratum corneum, we find the epidermis. This layer is responsible for the production of melanocytes and new cells. Melanocytes produce melanin and give our skin its pigment. However the production of these cells are absent in the lips. The dermis is the innermost layer and is where the blood vessels are tightly compacted together giving the lips with their reddish/pink pigment. These delicate blood-filled capillaries are located just under the surface of the skin, and are visible due to the thin layers of the stratum corneum and epidermis.

The skin of the lips does not produce a hair follicle or sebaceous (oil) gland, which is the skins resource for moisturising. If your lips become dry or irritated, I do not recommend licking them, instead apply a moisturising lip balm 2-3 times daily. From the age of 25-30 years of age, our bodies become less capable of generating and producing collagen (firmness) and elastin (stretch) therefore we begin to experience the first signs of aging with fine lines, sagging, wrinkles and thinning lips. Hyaluronic acid is also an essential component as it adds volume and plumpness by binding cells and absorbing water 1,000 times heavier than its own weight. It promotes the youthful vibrant appearance and assists with the production of collagen, when it’s unavailable we see the loss of lustre and shape.

Maintaining Good Health and Personal Care of Your Lips

Due to the fact that the lips are without a sebaceous gland for moisturising, it makes them susceptible to irritation and vulnerable to the environmental elements and bacterial infections. The lips rely on saliva to keep them moisturised, along with the surrounding oil glands on the facial tissue. In most cases, this is the reason why lips become rough, dry and chapped, especially in harsh weather conditions. When it comes to home care and good maintenance, I recommend the use a good quality facial wash, one that’s formulation is devoid of soap or chemicals that will cause irritation and dryness-follow this with the application of coconut oil, olive oil or a moisturising lip balm. To promote healthy lip care and prolong the length of your lipstick coverage, it is best to gently exfoliate your lips once to twice a week, removing the layer of dead skin cells. Home remedies are often the best and most affordable.

What to Look for When Purchasing Lipstick

As with most cosmetic products on the market, there is a vast range of lipstick colours and manufacturers. Marketing from such manufacturers promotes and generates the belief that a particular product(s) is a necessity, and essential to your make-up kit. Most consumers purchase online, however if you are a tactile person and purchase your cosmetics from a department store, pharmacy or cosmetic distributor, I always recommend doing the research on the product prior to purchasing. Information and awareness with the composition of the ingredients in a lipstick is of great importance, as some companies still use lead and other undesirable nasties.

It has become a growing concern amongst consumers with hypersensitivity and allergic reactions to many products on the market. As beauty therapists and make-up artists, it is our duty of care to make all customers and clientele aware. When it comes to allergies of particular preservatives, emollients, perfumes, flavourings and ingredients, there are many make-up brands and organic alternatives within cosmetics available which cater for sensitivities and intolerances such as gluten, sugar and the likes. What is applied to the lips, is consumed into the body! Another valuable tip.. once in-store never apply a lipstick directly to your lips, proceed to ask the make-up representative to remove the top layer or do so yourself using an on-counter spatula or tissue, and apply using a disposable lip brush, you never know who has placed the tester directly to their lips prior to you.

What You Will Need to Apply Lipstick

• Lip liner (natural tone + matching lipstick shade)
• Lip primer
• Lipstick
• Concealer
• X3 fine lipstick brushes

Ensure lips are cleansed and moisturised before applying lip primer to the top and bottom lips with a fine lip brush or applicator stick, and allow for drying time (approximately 2 minutes). The use of a primer, promotes the long wear of your lipstick, and assists with filling in any imperfections, ridges or small scars on the lips. Primer combined with a lip liner will prevent your lipstick from bleeding.

Apply lip liner (natural tone) to the lips, ensuring the tip is sharpened with a point for a clean line. Starting at the Cupid ’s bow (centre of the lip), work your way down either side- proceeding to the bottom lip. When you have finished your line, fill in the entire lips with the liner, then proceed to apply the matching lip shade liner over the top of line that you have created. I recommend a natural tone liner to be used prior to colour, as it promotes longevity of your lipstick. A natural tone liner also assists with an uneven lip line, once you have applied the liner, stand back and observe, ensuring your lips are symmetrical, once even fill in with colour.

Using a clean lip brush, apply your lipstick over the top of the base that you have created. If you don’t have a desired colour in your make-up kit, improvise mixing eye-shadow with primer or lip gloss, the same applies with a lip liner. Apply gloss over the top of your lipstick if desired.

When you have finished applying your lipstick, to clean up the edges and give sharpness to your lip line, apply a small amount of concealer (matching your skin tone), using a fine lip brush to the outer edges of your lips and feather outwards with the use of your brush. This will disguise the concealer, creating definition to your lips.

Making Thinner Lips Appear Fuller

If you have thin lips and desire a fuller look, apply the lip liner outside of the edge of your lips and fill in with colour. Highlight the centre of your lips with a lighter colour or with gloss, this will promote a fuller looking lip. Using a lighter colour in the centre also accentuates an ombre look and creates a sexy pout.

Making Fuller Lips Appear Thinner

When applying your make-up base, cover the edges of a fuller lip with the make-up. Line the inner edge of your lips with a natural or coloured lip liner, then fill in with colour. This will draw attention away from a fuller lip, giving more emphasis on other facial features.

© 2018 Sienna May

I love sharing my favorite makeup products with others. I enjoy products that make me feel fabulous.

These makeup must-haves may not be absolute necessities, but if you love makeup and style as much as I do, then you definitely need these items. I got some of these products through my Ipsy bag, and the others are items I saw and was dying to try. Either way, they all made it to the top of my list. If you’re looking to spice up your makeup collection, pick up one of these, and you will fall in love with playing dress-up all over again.

1. Smashbox Cosmetics Insta-Matte Lipstick Transformer

Forget doing an entire makeup overhaul to stay up with the latest trends. Instead of tossing out the old lipstick to pick up the hottest new matte colors, go with Smashbox Cosmetics Insta-Matte Lipstick Transformer.

This stuff works great with lipstick. First, you apply your lipstick like you normally would. Then, you apply a generous amount of this stuff to your lips. It instantly makes the lipstick go from glossy to matte.

Even if you aren’t a trend follower, this is just a fun make-up product to play with and use. You can even pick up some in a sample size if you’re on a budget.

Keep in mind that you can only use this with lipstick, not lip gloss. I tried to use mine with lip gloss anyway, and it created a mess of sticky goop on my lips. And it was not matte.

Other than that, I love it because I'm in love with the matte look, and I don't have to buy new lipstick.

2. Lip Paint

I didn’t post a brand because there are so many great ones out there, and my favorite seems to change every couple of months. Right now, it’s Tarte. I wore it once and was hooked. I smoke a lot, and it’s awesome because it seriously does not come off. It doesn’t come off on my cigarettes, on my cups, and it takes hours to wear off. I had to reapply this stuff once towards the late afternoon.

I like the red for those dramatic days and the pale pink for those adorable girly days, but they have lip paint available in every color. If you are still using lipstick and re-applying it every hour or two, it’s definitely time for an upgrade.

3. Too Faced Lip Injection Gloss

This lip plumper can take your lips from thin and barely there to almost Kylee Jenner in a matter of seconds. It comes in a tube that looks like lip gloss. You put it on the lips just like you would put on lip gloss, and this lip plumper even looks shiny just like lip gloss does.

Then, you’re going to feel a “tingling” sensation. This is the part about lip plumper that most people hate. It seems like “tingling sensation” is a code word for “burns like hell” to make-up companies, especially when it comes to lip plumper. It does burn for a minute, but then it goes away and your lips will still look plump and juicy. I personally don’t think it’s unbearable, and I think it’s awesome how well this lip plumper works.

If you’re willing to deal with a few minutes of burning and tingling to get plump, juicy lips, you want to try this stuff out. And did I mention that it smells delicious?

4. Lip Exfoliator

If you have never tried a lip exfoliator product, add this one to the list, especially if you have dry, rough lips.

Lip exfoliators work just like face exfoliators, but they are made specifically for your lips. You simply wet your lips, rub the exfoliator on your lips like you rub soap on your face when you wash your face.

Then, you rinse it off with water. The result will be lips that are perfectly soft and kissable, and you won't have to fill them in with a lip primer because they are dry and rough, so you might wind up saving money in the long run.

If you want to try something different, check out these four lip products. If you love to play with make-up, you'll love the insta-matte product from Smashbox. Even if you don't want to play with make-up or feel pampered, if you have rough or dry lips, a lip exfoliate is where it's at.

I guarantee you’re going to fall in love.

Cynthia is a beauty enthusiast. She loves testing cosmetics, hair, and skincare products and sharing her opinions.

Lipsticks, stains, and colors: how do you know which ones will stick around all day? For most of us, it is trial and error. Half the time lip colors are not true to color. So once you get your brand new lipstick in the mail or store you open it only to be disappointed. Why? Because that color you loved so much is not what the actual product looks like. Happened before? You are not alone!

Lip color in general is a bit on the pricey side when you are looking for a great shade and quality brand. Sure, you can buy dollar store lip stain, but you are going to get dollar store quality lip stain. However, there are some drugstore lipsticks that do very well and are less expensive than some of the designer labels available.

Honestly, lip color for me has always been a pain. Having a fair complexion (okay, very pale), and freckles, some colors are horrid on me despite how great they look in the tube! It is also a huge hassle to have to stop and reapply my lip color every time I eat or drink, along with whatever else may smudge, crack, or completely remove it. So, I'm lazy. I find a lip color I love, only to find out it takes too much maintenance. So it gets tossed in my cosmetics stash and never graces my lips again. I should honestly probably get rid of most of them, as old as some must be.

I finally found a nice lip color that boasts long wear: the Maybelline SuperStay 24 Color. I recently tried two shades of this lip color, and it has its pros and cons.

Maybelline SuperStay 24

The SuperStay 24 lip color comes in a dual-ended tube with built-in applicator for the lip color, and a twist-up for the conditioning stick. This is a 2-step lip color product. The packaging is pretty standard for products like this. The new Maybelline SuperStay 24 Color lipstick makes several boasts as to why you will love it. Here are a few:

• It's long-wear.
• It's smudge-proof.
• It's anti-transfer.
• It has micro-flex technology (no flaking or cracking).
• It's moisturizing.

As you can imagine, they had me at 'long wear'. The thought of not having to endlessly reapply was optimal for me. It is just a pain to have to dig in my purse, grab the nearest mirror and apply lipstick at the drop of a hat all day (or the sip of a drink). I always look for an anti-transfer and smudge-proof product as well. Not having to worry that you will accidentally stain your favorite top is a bonus.

I recently tried out two shades in the SuperStay 24 color line:

• Constant Toast (a nice neutral pink taupe shade)
• Keep Up The Flame (a deep red with orange undertones)

First off, these are true to shade! So that was a huge score in my book. There was no shock when applying to my lips because they matched what the product actually looked like. I chose Constant Toast because with my fair skin and freckles I do best with neutral colors. My skin has a way of making bold colors look horrid. Keep Up The Flame is a great color for special occasions, though not something I will use for everyday wear.

There are many other great shades in the line, though I can't say if they all remain true to shade or not.

Pros

Without wasting much more time, I want to cover the pros and cons of Maybelline's SuperStay 24 lip color. There are some things I really enjoyed about the product and others that could use a bit of improvement.

• It has long-lasting color.
• It's moisturizing and non-drying.
• It did not smudge, even when I was eating or drinking.
• After wearing it for 18 hours, the color did not crack or flake.
• It's true to shade—no surprises in color or shade.
• It did not transfer to my cups when drinking.
• It's budget-friendly

The color really does last a long time. I applied first thing in the morning, and by 1 am the color was still as bright as if I had just applied it. I did enjoy that it was not at all drying like some other products I have tried. It actually seemed to moisturize my lips (they were starting to chap a bit). My color never smudged or cracked despite wearing it all day long. On an outing with friends (lots of talking and eating), it still held up.

I was very happy that it remained so true to shade, and I got the color that I actually wanted. The price is a bit lower than some other same quality products available on the market, though the price varies greatly depending on the place you choose to buy. Ulta has it for around $10, while the Maybelline website has it much higher. I do find that a lot of cosmetics items can be found on the cheap if you do a little online comparison shopping.

Cons

• It gets sticky if you do not re-apply the conditioner every few hours.
• You have to carry it with you.
• It feels sticky when applying.
• it dries a little too fast.
• It requires a makeup remover to take it off.
• The conditioner will run out before the color does.

Now that may look like a long list of cons; they are all pretty minimal, though. I just felt like sharing every single detail about the product. The main thing I have an issue with is that for 'long wear', I do not want to have to reapply at all. Of course I don't have to, though without using the conditioner every few hours the color feels so sticky it will drive you insane. I left the house without it the first day thinking that one application would be enough (I was wrong). While the color lingers, the conditioner needs to be reapplied all day long. So you have to take it with you or suffer sticky lips all day. Having to apply the conditioner so much means it will no doubt run out well before the color does! Though you can always buy a cheap chapstick or gloss when it runs out.

It feels sticky as you apply, so there is no applying to your bottom lip and rubbing to the top. Just slightly odd feeling, nothing that would prevent me from using or buying it. It dries extremely fast, leaving no room for error. Even the slightest misstep on the edge of your lip, and you have to start all over. Starting over means using a makeup remover; soap and water does not seem to help much. I was very glad I had some remover on hand; for the novice, take it very slow when applying.

Color Stay or Color Go?

As far as color-stay lipstick products go, Maybelline SuperStay 24 does indeed last. The color stays put without flaking or cracking. The downside is that if you want to avoid the sticky feeling you need to use your conditioning gloss all day. Still a time saver over many others since you can apply the conditioner without needing a mirror to do so. Knowing that as you apply you're not smudging color is a huge plus!

It does take a makeup remover to take it off at the end of the day. Even a low-cost remover will get it removed. There are some great colors in the line if these two shades are not for you. I look forward to trying out some more colors in the future. As far as lasting color, you just can't beat it for the price. I was so tired one night that I fell asleep before washing my makeup off. Despite my tossing and turning, my lips still looked as if I had just applied the color when I woke!

I received my two shades for free for testing purposes. All views are my unbiased experience with Maybelline SuperStay 24 lip color.

This content is accurate and true to the best of the author’s knowledge and is not meant to substitute for formal and individualized advice from a qualified professional.

Questions & Answers

Question: Which company do you go through to try makeup for free and write a review?

Answer: I am a social media influencer. I partner with a lot of brands that approach me directly to test out their products and to share my review on my social platforms. You may want to check out https://www.influenster.com/r/1411344. They have a lot of product tests they run with free full-sized items. They are not all cosmetics, and you can sometimes go months without getting anything.

Question: I’m frustrated that they no longer sell the conditioning balm separately. The company said to use “Baby Lips,” but it removes the lip color. Do you have any suggestions?

Answer: To replace the balm I have tried a few different products with a bit of success. 'Baby Lips' was a no go for me as well.

Fresh Sugar Lip Balm un-tinted , Kiehls's Butterstick Lip Treatment and Tarte Tarteist Holographic Lip Gloss are all excellent options.

Tarteist Holographic Lip Gloss I find works well as a top coat for night time. It adds a color change reflections that really makes the color pop. Great for parties, clubs and concerts-just a night on the town.

The Fresh Sugar and Keihl's Butterstick are a good option for a top coat to help hold color in an eliminate that 'dry' feeling.

Those mentioned are a tad on the pricey end, when thinking about a balm or top coat for lip colors. There are cheaper drug store options as well. Vaseline Lip Therapy will work, it comes in small tub though and not a stick or with applicator. I use it frequently, just be sure not to apply too much, a thin coat works well. But it also helps to soften lifts so you get the added bonus there too.

Question: I’m getting married in a week from today and I bought this lipstick in the shade ‘Eternal Cherry’. I bought it because it is anti-transfer and my hubby to be hates kissing me with lipstick on, but I want to wear it for the pictures. Will Mabelline's Superstay 24 be good for my wedding photos and not transferring? I also don’t want bright red lipstick on my white dress.

Answer: Yes, this is a very good option for that purpose. I have never had any transfer issues, and this can be a little stubborn to get off at the end of the day. So, it should stay put without getting on your husband or your dress. Congratulations on the wedding I hope you have an epic day!

© 2016 Cynthia Hoover

Comments

Doris James MizBejabbers from Beautiful South on February 17, 2020:

I don't understand you ladies' problem. What feels too thick? If I apply too much stain, it feels like it is too thick, so I've learned to smooth it out. I'm going for the color, not a bunch of thickness anyway. Then I apply the wax after I'm satisfied with the application of stain. As stated in my first comment, I carry a tube of Burts Bees with me anyway, so if my lips start feeling a little dry, I apply another coat of it. No problem because Burts Bees (the clear kind) is just a good quality wax anyway. By the way, I've never bought the remover because I found out the hard way that petroleum jelly removes the stain. I applied a coat of it one day when I was running low on the wax that came with it. When I blotted my lips on a tissue, the color came off with it. I swear by this product because repeated applications of lipstick chap my lips and sometimes breaks them out.

Remember, ladies, thin coat of stain, then thin coat of wax, lightly blot with tissue if needed, and that's it!

Cynthia Hoover (author) from Newton, West Virginia on February 17, 2020:

Sophia Ayala Gettys as I mention in the article I had to keep the product with me throughout the day to reapply the top or gloss coat. As long as I keep it in my purse and reapply the gloss as needed it works well. I do notice I feel the same as you if I apply and forget to take it with me and do not have it on hand to apply the gloss throughout the day.

Sophia Ayala Gettys on February 14, 2020:

Beaded on me and after an hr already feel like I need more or its all coming off... Did I put on too much color?

Judy on April 13, 2019:

I've been wearing this too many years to count and LOVE it! I must say I never need to reapply the gloss. It DOES tend to run out sooner than the color so I buy the cheapest one I can find on eBay (any color), toss out the color and put the gloss from that one on to my preferred color. Maybelline DID used to sell replacement gloss but that's no longer available. Second, I CAN press my lips together to transfer color if it's done soon enough. However, since my top and bottom liod are different shapes, I think it probably best to apply color to them separately anyway. :-) Finally, just some info in case you missed this--Maybelline now makes a tube of remover for this lipstain (black tube right near the stain display--looks just like a regular lipstick

tube.) It works very well to remove the stain--no SCRUBBING with a makeup wipe. Plus (and this is a real plus for ME!), if you make a little mistake while applying stain and "color outside the lines," you can just swipe over the error and wipe it off! Like you, I've never found a better, more long lasting lip product! If someone has problems with it...they're probably doing something wrong. I have had all 3 of my adult daughters try it and they are now all firm "converts!"

Michelle Mollohan from Looneyville, WV on February 10, 2017:

I love these! I hate traditional lipstick because it always gets on my teeth and feels tacky on my lips. With this, you have all day color without the mess.

Cynthia Hoover (author) from Newton, West Virginia on October 19, 2016:

MizBejabbers Thank you so much for the tip! I have some Burt's Bees I will try that!! That will fit into my pocket no problem when I don't feel like carrying my purse! I have the hardest time finding a good shade for my complexion, I am a firm believer that 'reds' are not for everyone (at least not for me anyway). I think the Constant Toast shade maybe my new favorite color. The other one, not so much ~ I may never find a good 'red' for me. Red lip color seems to wash me out so bad, and I am already fairly pale most of the time, despite all my freckles. Red has a way of making my freckles appear orangish too.

Doris James MizBejabbers from Beautiful South on October 19, 2016:

Good review, Cynthia. I've been using this product since it's inception and I hope that Maybelline continues to make it forever! I don't carry it with me because I found that a good lip product like Burt's Bees can be substituted for the wax stick throughout the day, and it makes the stick last longer. I got the chapstick habit when I was in high school, so this works well for me. Also, I have cosmetic allergies and I am not allergic to Maybelline, Yea!

The only con I've found with it is that it is difficult to find a shade that doesn't go on too light or too dark because I prefer a medium rose shade. I can't remember my favorite color, (something Cranberry, I think).

Alex is an esthetician from St. Catharines, Ontario with a passion for makeup and beauty.

All Liquid Suade Shades

As a makeup addict myself, I have spent HOURS walking through Sephora, Walmart, Shoppers and online searching for the perfect brand of liquid matte lipstick. Here are the ones I've found to be the best matte lipstick finds.

1. NYX Liquid Suede Cream Lipstick

WOW! Is all I have to say about NYX's Liquid Suede cream lipsticks. The colours are so versatile and they virtually match any skin tone! (Their bright colours look good on darker skin, as well as fair skin). Their formula is super hydrating and definitely lasts, but of course requires touch ups throughout the day. The formula leaves your skin feeling like suede! Comes in many unique colours, such as Stone Fox, Amethyst and Orange County. And if you're feeling a muted pink or a nude, their shades Sandstorm, Soft Spoken, Tea & Cookies, and Vintage are perfect. Check out all of NYX's Liquid Suede Cream shades below.

You can find NYX Liquid Suede Cream Lipstick at your local Rexall, or online at nyxcosmetics.com for 10.00$ CN.

Where to Buy It:

• Liquid Suede Cream Lipstick | NYX Cosmetics
  A waterproof, liquid lipstick infused with Avocado oil and Vitamin E. This super pigmented lipstick goes on opaque, dries to a matte finish and delivers long-wearing, vivid color in one creamy swipe.

My Collection of Liquid Suede: Nudes and Pinks

2. Kat Von D's Everlasting Liquid Lipstick

A bit pricey, I know. But I find that Kat Von D's line of Everlasting Liquid Lipsticks are the best I have tried! I own these in the shades Lolita (a classic), Exorcism, and Bow and Arrow. These shades I just find have been the best to match my skin tone (Olive-y beige). These liquid lipsticks are VERY pigmented and have vibrant colours to them making it important that you choose one suitable for your skin tone in order for it to look good. Is it drying? Yes. But most liquid matte lipsticks are, so I've learned to just get used to it. I find my personal favourite is Lolita, as it has lasted throughout a whole day of activities including eating and drinking without touchups, and still looks really good. Exorcism I find is very drying but I find that most darker matte lipsticks are. As opposed to the Colourpop matte lipsticks I've tried (the worst for flaking is Colourpop in LAX), these lippies do not flake throughout the day and require minimal touchup after eating (in darker shades).... and P.S, this one passes the kiss test ladies.

You can find the Kat Von D Everlasting Liquid lipsticks generally at Ulta Beauty (if you're in the United States), Sephora or online at Amazon.ca. It generally sells for 24.00$ CN.

Where To Buy It:

3. Colourpop Cosmetics Ultra Matte Liquid Lipstick

If you're looking for a wide variety of shades in an ultra-matte lippie for an incredible price, check out Colourpop's Ultra Matte Liquid Lipstick collection. Shades range from the lightest of nudes to the darkest of reds, to lavenders and everything in between. The formula for colour pop I find truly depends on the shade you get. The lighter shades (in my opinion) last significantly longer and look better throughout the day than darker shades. They last fairly well throughout the day, but the darker shades definitely require more touch-ups throughout the day (which is to be expected). Other than that, the formula is quite hydrating and looks good when applied! The wide selection of shades is just a bonus to the price of this great product! You definitely get the best "bang for your buck" with Colourpop.

You can find the Colourpop Ultra Matte Liquid Lipstick on colourpop.com for just 6.00$ CN!

4. NYX Soft Matte Lip Creams

Can you tell NYX is one of my favourite cosmetic brands? The quality of the products for the low price tag is just incredible! Anyone can afford NYX products, and they're high quality, especially for being sold at a drugstore. NYX Soft Matte lippies are the perfect portable size to fit in your purse, and they pack a punch of vibrant shades to give life to your lips. To start off, they smell AMAZING. Sometimes liquid lipsticks have overbearing scents, but these smell like they were kissed by just the right amount of vanilla. Secondly, they're the most hydrating lip cream on my list. They are not a lipgloss nor a lipstick, but a new formula that glides on silky smooth and surprisingly, lasts quite long throughout the day. For the price, this product is definitely worth it.

You can find the NYX Soft Matte Lip Creams at your local Rexall, or online nyxcosmetics.ca for 9.00$ CN.

Where to Buy It:

• Soft Matte Lip Cream | NYX Cosmetics
  Highly pigmented, matte lip cream.

5. Jeffree Star Velour Liquid Lipsticks

If you like high pigmented liquid lipsticks, Jeffree Star's Velour Liquid Lipstick collection is for you. They also fix the cracking and flakey issue that most liquid lipsticks have. (they also pass the kiss test which is a bonus). The only negative I have to say about these lipsticks is they leave quite an obvious line on the inside of the mouth after a few hours of wear. But that is to be expected with most liquid to matte lipsticks, as it also happens with Kat Von D's line. Also, they are quite pricey (about the same as KVD's), but the quality is definitely worth the price, and they're perfect for selfies because of the high pigmentation and amazing range of colours. What else would we expect from THE Jeffree Star himself?

Jeffree Star Velour Liquid Lipsticks sell (exclusively online as far as I know but leave a comment correcting me if I'm wrong) for 18.00$ CN excluding shipping fees and taxes on his website jeffreestarcosmetics.com.

Where to Buy It:

• Velour Liquid Lipstick – Jeffree Star Cosmetics
  

This content is accurate and true to the best of the author’s knowledge and is not meant to substitute for formal and individualized advice from a qualified professional.

© 2016 Alexandra Dianne

Comments

JG Hemlock on April 21, 2016:

I like some of their products...the bronze powder is awesome with my tan and the NY lipstick is actually better than the higher priced liptsticks. Go figure.

I’m not a big fan of lipstick. Why? Because it tastes terrible. I’m much happier with my cherry chapstick to keep my lips comfortable, and I figure my natural lip color is pleasant as is. However, I used to have a favorite lipstick. My friend bought it for me as a gift, so of course, I gave it a try. I fell in love with it.

The Avon Shine Divine Sheer Luminous in Strawberry Smash was the perfect color for my skin tone, made my lips look a little more inviting, didn’t dry out my lips, and, best of all, it even tasted good! I actually enjoyed wearing this lipstick. Sadly, Avon discontinued the product.

Why did Avon discontinue my favorite lipstick? They regularly change their products for no real reason, just for variety. If you ask me, that’s a poor marketing strategy. Sure, their customers enjoy new products, but they’d sell more if they’d practice some product loyalty by providing their customers with their favorite products for years and years, instead of just a few months and then on to something new. Though that’s my only complaint about Avon, they make great products; it’s just that they change them too often.

Ever since I have been unable to find a lipstick that comes anywhere near being as wonderful as my favorite—not even other products from the same brand.

This has led me to wonder, why does lipstick taste bad? It’s hard to find a direct answer from anyone, and you’re definitely not going to find a good answer from the cosmetic companies. So after some research, I’ve come to the following conclusions.

Chemical Ingredients

Makeup is full of all kinds of chemical ingredients, some that aren’t good for you, others that are harmless, and most of which we don’t really know much about. The ingredients used in makeup are scientific concoctions that paint on a pretty color, and usually, it ends there. Sometimes, other benefits are invented, such as moisturizing, plumping, conditioning, but rarely is taste ever even thought of. And all these unnatural ingredients often taste bad.

To Discourage Consumption

Despite my personal dislike for bad tasting lipstick, the average woman eats 4–7 pounds of lipstick in her lifetime. It’s only common sense that something you put on your lips will inevitably end up in your mouth, even if gradually. Perhaps lipstick shouldn’t taste good because if it did, women would be tempted to consume much more than the daily trace amounts that add up over the years. But I highly doubt it.

Sure, when a lipstick tastes pleasant, you are more likely to wear it often, but it’s not like you’ll spend your days licking it off your lips like candy. It just makes it less unpleasant when you happen to get a taste of your lipstick in your mouth. But that’s my take on the situation, perhaps those that create lipstick see it differently.

Consumer Rebellion

Why does lipstick taste bad? Because we allow it to! If we women as consumers would refuse to purchase the less-than-stellar lipstick options available, then we’d force the cosmetic companies to create products we’d actually want to buy. You hear all the time about how we women put up with too much for the sake of beauty. Why must we put up with foul-tasting cosmetics? And more so, why do we put up with unhealthy cosmetics?

We have more power than we think. We need to express our opinions to the cosmetic companies. We need to tell them what we want in our products. We need to stop settling for less.

This content is accurate and true to the best of the author’s knowledge and is not meant to substitute for formal and individualized advice from a qualified professional.

Comments

Brenda on August 28, 2016:

Actually I've found that only cheap lipstick tastes bad. I have never bought a lipstick over $8 that had that specific bad taste. So now whenever I spot a cool colour by a bargain brand I sniff the tester before I buy. Most of them smell as bad as they taste.

skaty on June 23, 2016:

I hate the taste of most lipstick, but I think this post is sort of outdated. There are a number of lipstick brands on the market that don't taste like "regular" lipstick. Personally, I'm partial to the flavors of Rimmel London lipsticks. Some of them have a chocolatey flavor to them, others have a more fruity flavor to them. If you do a quick Google search of "lipstick flavors," you should be able to find some to try out to see if you like them:)

Alisha Adkins is an author of horror and speculative fiction. A self-described "aging goth," she has a strong interest in creative makeup.

Dupes, Dupes, Dupes!

Why Purple?

Personally, I'm a bit of a purple lipstick enthusiast. If you ask me, one can never have enough purple lipsticks—I actually have more purple lipsticks than red ones in my collection.

Until recently, purple has been a relatively difficult-to-find color. MAC Cosmetics created several iconic shades of the color when other major brands were playing it safe with classic hues. In the makeup industry, the MAC name is generally considered synonymous with quality and, with 190 shades in their regular lipstick line, with variety as well. Their purples are gorgeous, but the quality comes with a price—at $17, a tube of MAC lipstick can be pricey.

If You Can't Beat Them, Copy Them!

So what about those of us who cannot afford to splurge on makeup? Luckily, as of late, purple lipstick has become the rage. Its popularity is encouraging even the more cosmetically conservative woman to be a little braver in her lipstick color choices. This means that other, less expensive brands have been emulating MAC's more avant-garde lipstick colors.

This puts us, as consumers, in an advantageous position—rather than paying for a MAC lipstick, we have a variety of knock-offs from which to choose. Will the knock-off lipsticks be as creamy or long-lasting? In most cases, no. But a lot of these dupes have formulas that aren't half-bad, and when it comes to appearances, they are remarkably similar to their MAC counterparts.

A Labor of Love

As you read this article, you may notice a lack of side-by-side swatch photos comparing a MAC lipstick with its dupes. That is because I don't own the MAC originals (I can't afford them). I have, however, done extensive research, watching more than 20 hours of video (the most pertinent videos that I found have been included here) as well as combing through blog posts, Google pictures, Pinterest, and Instagram posts. There is a lot of information out there, but it's scattered wide. My goal is to bring it all together for easy access and organize it into a definitive guide, at least as it relates to MAC lipsticks in the purple spectrum.

Here, the lipsticks are organized in the following categories:

• True Purples and Lavenders: Heroine, Pure Heroine, Violetta, Dodgy Girl, Up the Amp, Men Love Mystery, Feel My Pulse, Lavender Jade, Blooming Lovely, Lavender Whip
• Blackened Purples: Cyber, Smoked Purple, Gunner, Punk Couture, Instigator
• Purplish Reds, Wines, and Berry Colors: Rebel, Sin, Diva, Dark Side, Eugenie, Acai, Fixed on Drama, Hang Up, Vino, Nightmoth
• Purplish Pinks: Flat Out Fabulous, Pink Pigeon, Candy Yum-Yum, Girl About Town, Something New, Embrace Me, Lovelorn, Divine Choice, Pink Poodle, Daddy's Little Girl, Palmful, Craving, Pleasure Bomb, Toxic Tale, Happy Go Lucky, Silly, St. Germain, Petals and Peacocks, Pink Nouveau, Brave, Show Orchid

True Purples and Lavenders

MAC is known for producing strong, flattering statement colors. Many of MAC's purple shades are iconic. For instance, Heroine and Violetta are instantly recognizable names among the "makeup porn" beauty community set. Many cosmetic brands have tried their hands at producing dupes of these striking purple shades.

Heroine

Pure Heroine (Lorde Collection)

Pure Heroine is a shade somewhere between Heroine and Punk Couture—you can see the video below for a comparison.

Violetta

Dodgy Girl

Up the Amp

Men Love Mystery

Feel My Pulse (Limited Edition)

Lavender Jade (Limited Edition)

Blooming Lovely (Limited Edition)

Lavender Whip

Blackened Purples

There are several affordable alternatives available for many of MAC's deeper purple lipsticks.

Cyber

Laura Lee compares Cyber side-by-side with NYX's Dahlia.

Gunner

Punk Couture

Smoked Purple

Instigator

Purplish Reds, Wines, and Berry Colors

Besides all of the outright purple lipsticks in MAC's catalog, there are many plums, wines, berries, and other deep reds with heavy purple undertones. Here are dupes for some of MAC's more striking shades in this color range.

Rebel

The video below gives a side-by-side comparison of Rebel to Milani's Sangria and Wet-n-Wild's Sugar Plum.

Sin

Diva

Dark Side

Dark Side compared with Revlon's Black Cherry.

And here it is compared with Sleek Mulberry.

Eugenie (2015 Giambattista Valli Collection)

Acai (Julia Petit Collection Limited Edition)

Fixed on Drama

Hang Up

Vino Lip Pencil

Nightmoth Lipliner

Purplish Pinks

For those still hesitant to jump into wearing a full-on purple lip, you can always ease into it by trying a pink shade that has a hint of purple. Here are dupes for some of MAC's purplish-pink lipsticks.

Flat Out Fabulous

Pink Pigeon

Candy Yum-Yum

Here's Candy Yum-Yum compared with Milani's Diva.

And below, you can see it compared with Milani's Rose Hip.

Girl About Town

The video below shows Girl About Town side by side with NYX Black Label Lipstick in Beauty Queen.

And here you can see it compared to Covergirl's Spellbound.

Something New

Embrace Me

Lovelorn

Divine Choice

Pink Poodle

Daddy's Little Girl (Limited Edition)

Plumful

Craving

Pleasure Bomb (Rihanna Limited Edition)

Toxic Tale (Limited Edition)

Happy Go Lucky (Limited Edition)

Silly

St. Germain

Petals and Peacocks (Liberty of London)

Pink Nouveau

Brave

Show Orchid

But Some of These Dupes Are Limited Editions...

What if the dupe is no longer produced? For instance, Maybelline's "Midnight Plum" was part of a 2013 collection. "How am I supposed to find it now?" you may ask.

Well, just because the lipstick is no longer available in your local drugstore doesn't mean it can't be found. Products such as these are typically still available from multiple sellers on Amazon and eBay. Additionally, there are makeup clearance sites such as allcosmeticswholesale.com and buymebeauty.com that specialize in selling close-out makeup at reduced prices. Just run a quick Google search for the discontinued item you want—you'll probably find it selling for less than its original price!

Some Things to Consider About Dupes

1. Dupes Aren't an Exact Science.

A "dupe," or duplicate, is a close approximation of the original. It may vary slightly in color, as well as in texture, formula, and/or wear time. The lighting your lipstick is worn in can also change color perception, and many of MAC's lipstick shades (such as "Smoked Purple," "Cyber," and "Instigator" or "Fashion Revival," Julia Petit's Limited Edition "Acai," and "Rebel") are similar to one another.

Another thing to remember here is that lipstick can be built up to increase its intensity. A lipstick that may not look like a dupe after the first swipe over the lips might just be a perfect match after the third pass.

2. Will Buying the Dupe Really Save You Money?

If you were actually going to buy the MAC lipstick, then buying the cheaper alternative will definitely save you money. However, be careful. It can be tempting to go on a spending spree because these MAC alternatives are so cheap, but if you decide to buy dupes of MAC lipsticks that you wouldn't have actually purchased for full price, you're not really saving.

Embark on a New Cosmetic Adventure

Of course, saving money isn't everything. Buying lipstick shades you would have never gotten at full price will allow you to expand your collection and explore new horizons. Have fun on your journey of cosmetic exploration!

This content is accurate and true to the best of the author’s knowledge and is not meant to substitute for formal and individualized advice from a qualified professional.

© 2015 Alisha Adkins

Comments

Florencia on March 28, 2017:

Love this guide! You definitely should do a guide of red MAC lipstick dupes!

SmartAndFun from Texas on September 29, 2015:

I am too old and don't have the right coloring to wear purple lipstick, but I love makeup in general and the idea of your article. I love to save money and find great products that work just as well as expensive ones. Great job!

I love giving tips on how to make DIY makeup that is free of harsh chemicals.

Make Homemade Lip Balm

Commercial lip balms are loaded with scary, unpronounceable ingredients. I am on a journey toward living a natural lifestyle without harmful additives like refined vegetable oils. Store-bought lip balm often contains harsh acids to “medicate” lips and are chock full of synthetic fragrances. These ingredients cause your lips to dry out, and you have to keep reapplying the lip balm, which is exactly what caused the dryness in the first place.

The basic DIY formula is one part oil to one part butter and one part beeswax.

Note: Adjust this basic formula as needed. If your lip balm is too soft, increase the amount of beeswax. Too hard? Add more butter or oil to the mixture to soften.

DIY Madagascar Vanilla Bean Lip Balm Ingredients

• 2 tbsp. cocoa butter (you could use mango butter or even coffee butter instead).
• 2 tbsp. coconut oil (or sweet almond oil).
• 2 tbsp. beeswax. (I use the pastilles for this recipe but you can also find beeswax at craft stores and health food shops. Natural beeswax is a rich honey yellow and smells incredible. You can also purchase bleached beeswax which does not have the golden tone or the fabulous aroma.)
• 1 vanilla bean for flavor (you can also use several drops of essential oil or flavor oil). Mine came from the spice section of the grocery store. Buying these on Amazon is way cheaper but I was too giddy to wait.
• Coral mica in powdered form for color. This came from Brambleberry with a lip balm making kit.
• Plastic Lip balm pots. (Bead storage pots work well or you can buy empty lip balm tubes on Amazon for cheap...or for frugalistas simply wash out an empty lip balm pot and reuse).

How to Make DIY Madagascar Vanilla Bean Lip Balm

• Heat your ingredients (butter, oil and beeswax first) together in a glass Pyrex measuring cup in the microwave in 30 second bursts, to avoid overheating.
• Once your mixture is a liquid, add in your vanilla bean seeds. Slice the ends off the flattened bean, score the bean and scoop out the seeds.
• Add the powdered coral mica to the mixture and stir.
• Carefully pour the balm into the lip balm tubes or pots. Wrap a cloth or paper towel around the handle of your measuring cup. The handle is very hot and you need a steady hand for pouring.
• Let the tubes/pots cool. Your lip balm will solidify as it cools. The little specks in the mixture are the vanilla bean seeds.

Sweet Almond Oil, Mango Butter, Etc.

Sweet almond oil can also be used for this recipe. It is high in Vitamin E and antioxidants. Sweet almond oil is often used in massage oil because it is readily absorbed by the skin.

Mango butter has a long shelf life, about three years. It is a natural emollient with sin softening, soothing and protective properties. Mango butter is a great source of essential fatty acids.

Add Attractive Packaging

Start With a Pre-Made Lip Balm Base

Not quite ready to venture into Lip Balm Land? Start with a premade base like Brambleberry's Lip Balm Base. It is perfect for beginners because the ingredients are already measured and mixed for you. Simply add your favorite lip balm flavor oil and color, if desired. The lip balm base is easy to microwave. My Brambleberry lip balm kit included Cucumber Melon lip flavor oil, which smells heavenly.

I have experimented with adding bits of crayon for color but found the texture of the balm to be too waxy. I use Brambleberry's Coral Mica in powdered form for a hint of color. A tiny sprinkle of the powder is all you need. There are also lip balm kits available which take the guesswork out of mixing. Some of the flavor oils in these kits are too watered down for my taste. Essential oil are great for making peppermint lip balm. Steer clear of citrus oils which can cause photosensitivity.

Coconut Oil, Beeswax, and a Sense of Humor

Coconut oil changes from a solid to a liquid as the temperature increases. Beeswax is great for stabilizing your ingredients. The wax gives your lip balm stability. You can increase or decrease the amount of beeswax in your recipe. Beeswax is also great for making homemade salves. If you don't use enough beeswax, your salve will be more like a petroleum jelly.

Beeswax is amazing but can be very messy. Do not use your regular cooking utensils and cookware for your crafting. While heating beeswax in my makeshift double boiler (a glass dish inside of a pot of boiling water), I ended up with a thick coating of wax inside my favorite spaghetti cooking pot. The best method for cleaning up beeswax is to heat it up. Wipe spills up immediately before the wax has time to harden. Once it hardens, you can scrape it off the countertop but it is nearly impossible to remove it completely. Trust me, use separate containers for crafting lotions and potions. Always keep a sense of humor when cooking up a new recipe. I have had ever-growing bath bombs expanding all over my counters and sinks, wax drippage everywhere and a thousand other DIY disaster tales.

Vegan Lip Balm Ideas

Looking for a vegan lip balm recipe? I have come across recipes using soy wax and carnuba or candelilla wax, which are derived from plants. Know a great vegan lip balm recipe? I would love to check it out.

List All Your Ingredients

As you become confident in your DIY abilities, you may want to start selling your products to friends and at local craft shows. Here are a few tips from my own experience:

• Label your product. List your ingredients in order from the largest to smallest amounts. Include the product weight and your contact information. Lip balm tubes are generally 15 ml in size.
• Shrink wrap your tubes for safety. you can purchase shrink wrap bands online. Use a heat gun to keep unopened tubes secure so customers know their products are safe.
• Do not use food coloring for lip coloring your lip balm. It is water based and does not mix with oils. I love the smell of vanilla and have tried to use vanilla bean paste, purchased in the baking section at Michael's. It did not mix in well and clumped together at the bottom of my concoction. The vanilla taste was not there either. Use powdered mica to add color instead. You can also use a bit of an old lipstick for color if you are making this for personal use.

This content is accurate and true to the best of the author’s knowledge and is not meant to substitute for formal and individualized advice from a qualified professional.

Comments

Kimberley Clarke from England on September 07, 2015:

Mmm! This looks delicious! Great home made cosmetic tips, thank you!

Heather Walton (author) from Charlotte, NC on September 07, 2015:

Making lotions and potions is a great way to save money. Some of the ingredients are pricey initially (like beeswax) but you can use the same ingredients to make hand salve, foot cream and even aluminum free deodorant....my next DIY adventure!!!

peachy from Home Sweet Home on September 07, 2015:

this is cool and save money, great

A beauty consultant by profession, Jayne has been advising on correct skin and hair care, makeup, and other cosmetics for almost 20 years.

Learn how to apply lipstick like a professional makeup artist in five easy steps, plus all the tips and tricks you'd expect a pro to know: how to make lips look fuller, how to turn a wrong color into a right color, how to make lipstick stay on longer and more!

Five Steps to Perfect Lipstick

A pro applies lipstick in five basic steps, but putting on lipstick is the very least of it.

Step 1: Prepare Your Lips

Gently go over your lips with a soft toothbrush to remove any rough or loose skin.

When applying moisturizer to your face, massage a little into your lips too. Don't, however, use lip balm, since this would impair the indelibility of your lip makeup.

Step 2: Apply Foundation or Lip Primer

The best base for lipstick is foundation. It's full of moisturizing agents, it evens out lip color, helps lipstick stay on longer, and prevents color changes during hot weather—heat causes the pigment to separate from the base substances.

Products sold specifically as "lip primer" are only useful if you're not wearing foundation.

Step 3: Apply Lip Liner

Apart from defining the shape of your lips, lip liner also keeps your lipstick from feathering or "bleeding." If you look closely, you'll see that your lips have a natural white contour. Use this as a guide when you apply lip liner. It doesn’t matter in which direction you apply—whether from left to right, right to left, or corner to center—as long as you apply accurately.

Your lip liner should be the exact same color as your lipstick. You may find it difficult to find one that matches peach, apricot, or coral tones, but an eyebrow pencil in a light, warm brown also does the job.

For sanitary reasons, and to ensure that it draws a defined, long lasting outline, make sure your lip liner pencil is always sharpened.

Step 4: Powder Your Lip Liner

A light dusting of powder gives lip liner extra staying power.

Pick up a tiny amount of loose translucent powder with a cotton pad, curl it around your middle finger and press it against the back of your hand to remove excess, then carefully roll it over your lip liner. Don’t apply too much, otherwise your lip liner will appear blurred.

Step 5: Apply Lipstick

Your lipstick should cover your lip liner exactly. For accuracy, apply with a lip brush. This gives a more even and precise application than directly from the tube, and helps lipstick to stay on longer.

Once you've applied a first coat, blot with a cosmetic tissue, then add a second coat and blot again. Layering in this way makes it last longer.

Always be sure to blot your lips before adding lip gloss, too.

Tips and Tricks Only a Pro Knows

How to Make Your Lips Look Fuller

• Use light lip colors for fullness; dark colors make lips appear thinner.
• Instead of lip liner, use a concealer pencil two shades lighter than your complexion. But don't use a white pencil if you want natural-, professional-looking results.
• Apply lip liner in the usual way, then use the same lip liner to fill out your lips to a quarter of the way to the center from each corner. Fill in the remaining area with a satin or gloss lipstick one nuance lighter than your lip liner. This will make your lips look fuller. You may use a matte lipstick in place of lip liner.

Alternatives to Lip Liner

• Because matte lipsticks are more densely pigmented than regular lipsticks, you can use them as lip liner. Apply using a pointed rather than rounded lip brush.
• If you don’t want to wear lipstick, but would like more definition, line your lips with a blonde eyebrow pencil.
• Although the effect is dramatic, lip liner darker than lipstick makes lips look thinner. To get around this, use an auburn eyebrow pencil instead.

Other Uses for Lip Liner

• If you need a matte lipstick but don't have one at hand, use lip liner instead. An added bonus is that it's longer lasting than most lipsticks.
• You can change the shape of your lips with lip liner, but cover your natural lip contour with concealer first. This is most beneficial as a corrective measure to improve symmetry. It can also be used to enlarge lips, but don't overdo it if you want natural-looking results.
• If your top lip is thinner, don't apply lip liner to your lower lip. This balances size.

How to Alter the Color and Texture of Your Lip Makeup

• If you'd like a shimmery lipstick but dislike the usual mother of pearl finish, look for one with a golden sheen.
• If a lipstick is too vibrant for the occasion or too severe against your complexion, press a cosmetic tissue over your lips and leave for 30 seconds. When you remove it, the color will have lost its intensity.
• If you'd like your lipstick to seem more natural or discreet, blot ten minutes after applying, then add a little translucent powder with a cotton pad.
• To give satin or gloss lipstick a matte finish, place a cosmetic tissue over your lips and dab with translucent powder using a blunt brush—the tissue acts as a sieve, allowing only the finest powder particles through to make your lips look matte rather than powdery.
• Use lip gloss only if your lips are in perfect condition—it highlights every flaw and wrinkle.

Tricks for Lipstick and Your Teeth

• Blot the inside of your lips to prevent lipstick catching on your teeth.
• Make white teeth seem whiter with a blue based lip color.
• If your teeth have a gray or yellow cast, make them seem whiter with a yellow based lip color.

This content is accurate and true to the best of the author’s knowledge and is not meant to substitute for formal and individualized advice from a qualified professional.

© 2014 Jayne Lancer

Comments

Jayne Lancer (author) from West London, UK on September 07, 2014:

She's probably also taking the stage lighting into account.

She's absolutely right when she says lips get thinner as we age. There are various ways of making them look plumper, but most are not suitable when we get older. I explain more about that here: https://bellatory.com/makeup/Makeup-for-Mature-Ski...

Of course, you need more definition on stage, so lip liner is a good idea. If you line your lips beyond your natural lip line, however, don't over-do it, and cover your natural lip contour with concealer before you begin.

Judy Filarecki from SW Arizona and Northern New York on September 06, 2014:

The woman in charge of makeup for the chorus always wants us to make our lips look fuller because she says "Our lips get thinner as we get older." That's why she wants the liner.

She also has us put on a march darker foundation and blush because of being on the stage and so far from the audience.

Jayne Lancer (author) from West London, UK on September 06, 2014:

Thank you for coming by, Judy. Lip liner is actually very easy to apply, but it's one of those things many women are too lazy to do. Having said that, I think lipstick also looks good enough applied straight from the tube without liner for a more casual look. So glad I could be of help.

Judy Filarecki from SW Arizona and Northern New York on September 06, 2014:

Thanks for the great tips. I sing in a chorus and we always have to wear quite a bit of makeup. This year they are insisting on a lip liner, too. I've never been one to wear makeup on a regular basis so everything you said really helps.

Robin has been keeping bees and harvesting honey for many years. She enjoys being a backyard beekeeper.

Making Lip Balm From Scratch: Easier Than You Might Think

Below you will find recipes for the following lip balms that I love!

• Stress Relief Lip Balm: This balm, made with an essential oil made of several herbs and fruit flavors, feels like a spa product.
• Invigorating Peppermint and Honey Lip Balm: The pepperminty spice in this balm tastes delightful on your lips.
• Sweet Licorice and Honey Balm: This sweet, anise-scented balm is my kids' favorite.

What You'll Need to Make Lip Balm or Salve

1. A small crock pot. I use Crock-Pot Little Dippers that I found at a thrift store. I have two so that I can work on two recipes at once.
2. Beeswax or another type of natural wax such as candelilla or carnauba wax (you can buy these online). You'll need 2 ounces of wax for each recipe.
3. A scale for weighing your ingredients.
4. Honey.
5. Almond and coconut oils.
6. Shea and/or cocoa butter.
7. Flowers or herbs. The recipes that follow use german camomile, calendula, dried hibiscus, and anise seed, all of which you can usually find at health food stores.
8. Essential oils.
9. Containers for the finished balm.
10. Bulb syringe for transferring balm from crockpot to container.
11. Disposable spoons.

Recipe: Stress Relief Lip Balm

This lip balm feels like a treatment you'd get at a spa, and I highly recommend it as a gift. Refreshing and calming with a hint of citrus, it makes lips feel good, but is also great for dry and chapped hands and cuticles.

Ingredients

• 2 ounces beeswax
• 4 ounces shea butter
• 1 tablespoon honey, or more, to taste
• 25 drops Edens Garden Stress Relief Essential Oil, see product note, below
• 10 drops vitamin E oil, optional
• 3 tablespoons german chamomile buds, for garnish)
• 5 drops jojoba oil

Instructions

1. Measure out beeswax and shea butter on a scale.
2. Place wax and shea butter in a small crock pot. Heat, stirring with a plastic spoon every few minutes.
3. Once the mixture becomes a liquid, add the honey, essential oil, jojoba, and vitamin E. Have balm containers handy.
4. Spoon out a small amount of balm from the crock pot and let it sit on the spoon. If it hardens within a minute, you are ready to fill your containers. If the mixture does not harden, add more wax.
5. Using a bulb syringe, transfer lip balm to containers. Before the balm sets, top with a few dried chamomile buds.
6. Wipe any excess drops from the containers and enjoy!

Edens Garden Stress Relief Essential Oil

Recipe: Invigorating Peppermint and Honey Lip Balm

I love this lip balm and salve. It is a staple that everyone loves. The peppermint is refreshing and leaves a slight tingle on your lips and the honey gives it a sweetness that smells and tastes wonderful.

Ingredients

• 2 ounces beeswax
• 2 ounces cocoa butter (see product note, below)
• 2 ounces coconut oil.
• 2 tablespoons honey
• 25 drops peppermint oil
• 10 drops vitamin E oil (optional)
• 5 drops jojoba oil (optional)
• 2 tablespoons dried hibiscus flowers for decoration (more or less to taste)

Cocoa butter recommendation and tip

Instructions

1. Measure out beeswax, cocoa butter, and coconut oil on a scale.
2. Add ingredients to a small crockpot. Heat, stirring with a plastic spoon every few minutes.
3. Once the mixture becomes a liquid, add the honey, peppermint, jojoba, and Vitamin E. Have balm containers handy.
4. Spoon out a small amount of balm and let it sit on the spoon. If it hardens within a minute, you are ready to fill your containers. If the mixture does not harden, add more beeswax.
5. Using a bulb syringe, transfer lip balm to containers. Before the balm sets, top with a few hibiscus petals.
6. Wipe any excess drops from the containers and enjoy!

Recipe: Delectably Sweet Licorice and Honey Lip Balm

This sweet balm smells and tastes of honey and licorice, making it a great balm for kids!

Ingredients

• 2 ounces beeswax
• 4 ounces sweet almond oil
• 3 tablespoons honey
• 2 teaspoons anise seeds, crushed
• 1 teaspoon chamomile shavings
• 10 drops vitamin E oil (optional)
• 5 drops jojoba oil (optional)
• chamomile shavings for decoration

Instructions

1. Measure out beeswax and almond oil on a scale. Right before cooking, crush anise seeds and chamomile shavings as much as you can.
2. Add wax and oil to a small crockpot and heat, stirring with a plastic spoon every few minutes. Quickly add crushed anise and chamomile; if you wait too long, the anise seeds won't soften.
3. Once the mixture becomes a liquid, add the honey and jojoba and vitamin E oils.Have balm containers handy.
4. Spoon out a small amount of balm and let it sit on the spoon. If it hardens within a minute, you are ready to fill your containers. If the mixture does not harden, add more beeswax.
5. Using a bulb syringe, transfer balm to containers. Before the balm sets, top with a few chamomile shavings.
6. Wipe excess balm drops from the containers and enjoy!

Tips and Tricks for Making Lip Balm

1. If the balm doesn't set, add more beeswax.
2. If it's too thick, add almond oil.
3. You can add dried flowers to your containers for color. I wouldn't use fresh flowers as they can cause your balm to spoil.
4. If you don't have a crock pot, you can make your balm on the stove in a double boiler or in a microwave oven in a microwave-safe container, but be careful! Wax is extremely flammable, and if it reaches its flash point it could ignite.
5. Never cover your crock pot or heating element when making balm. The condensation could drip into your balm and ruin it.
6. If you are going to buy only two essential oils, I recommend getting peppermint and the Stress Relief oil.
7. I bought all of my ingredients (except the beeswax because it was from my own hive) from Amazon. They seemed to have the best prices and the best selection.
8. Be creative! Smell your balm as you're cooking it, and add ingredients that you think will improve the scent!

Video: How to Make Infused Lip Balm

Comments

Kristen Howe from Northeast Ohio on May 17, 2015:

Robin, great tips for making your own lip balm with beeswax. Very handy and useful for any time of the year with a variety of flavors. Voted up!

Akriti Mattu from Shimla, India on May 15, 2015:

My parents are scientists specializing in Bio-sciences. Their core field is entomology with a special focus on Honey Bees. I'm going to forward this post to them. It is informative.

Excellent Hub. Voted up :)

Robin Edmondson (author) from San Francisco on October 14, 2014:

Thanks for the comment, shegetscreative. I loved the Synergy oils.

Angela F from Seattle, WA on October 11, 2014:

Great recipes for homemade balms -- and great to see you spotlight Synergy essential oils. They're one of my favorites! Pinned

Eiddwen from Wales on January 28, 2014:

Very interesting and I look forward to many more.

Eddy.

Robin Edmondson (author) from San Francisco on January 27, 2014:

It is so much better than the chapstick that you buy. Plus, in the end I bet it's cheaper. The essential oils last a long time!

Robin Edmondson (author) from San Francisco on January 27, 2014:

It can easily be done with tubes! They sell them on Amazon. If you try it with tubes, let us know how it goes. I can't see it being any more difficult.

Robin Edmondson (author) from San Francisco on January 27, 2014:

Thanks for the comment, Glimmer Twin Fan. It is a great activity to do together. I have been making lip balm with a friend and we split the balms at the end. It's a great activity to do with kids, too.

Traci Ruffner from Raleigh, North Carolina on January 26, 2014:

That balm looks great!

Victoria Van Ness from Fountain, CO on January 26, 2014:

Great ideas! I would never have thought that making your own could be so simple. :) We go through TONS of ChapStick out here and would greatly benefit from this article. Thank you!

Donna Herron from USA on January 26, 2014:

These balms sound wonderful. I can imagine how wonderful they would feel on the lips. I wish there was a way to make homemade lip balms in tubes though. I prefer to just roll it on. But I love this recipe! Thanks for sharing!!

Claudia Mitchell on January 26, 2014:

These look divine and I like to treat myself with things like this. I always feel pampered. Beautiful hub with great photos. My daughter would love doing this too.

Robin Edmondson (author) from San Francisco on January 21, 2014:

Thanks, Crystal. The first time seems daunting, but you realize how simple it is very quickly. I hope you try it!

Robin Edmondson (author) from San Francisco on January 21, 2014:

Thanks! Please tell us what works and if you make any variations. It's such a creative endeavor. I don't think it can be messed up - thank goodness. ;)

Robin Edmondson (author) from San Francisco on January 21, 2014:

Let me know how it goes! I will add a link to your coconut oil Hub. Beeswax and coconut oil - a great combination!

Robin Edmondson (author) from San Francisco on January 21, 2014:

I agree, Marcy! It's the best dry lip salve that I have used. I use it on my cuticles, too. Thanks for commenting and visiting!

Robin Edmondson (author) from San Francisco on January 21, 2014:

Hi cclitgirl! I'm glad you're back and good luck on those three classes. I don't know how teachers go back to school while teaching- so hard! Beeswax has such amazing properties, and the balm is actually really easy to make. I had a great start of the year with my bees (no stings at all), but unfortunately, my bees died in December. I will be getting more in April, though. ;)

Crystal Tatum from Georgia on January 18, 2014:

I bet this is great for dry lips in winter. It looks a bit too ambitious for me, but I may give it a go at some point. Great job!

Sally Hayes on January 18, 2014:

Lovely hub! I've pinned this and plan to try making these next weekend! Thanks for sharing these great natural lip care recipes!

Anna from New York, NY on January 18, 2014:

Wow these are absolutely fabulous! I've been using Burt's Bees Beeswax lip balm for years and it looks like it's time for a change. In the spirit of DIY, I am off to buy the ingredients for the Stress Relief Balm, which sounds like it would smell so nice! I love your photos btw. Your articles are a huge inspiration :)

Marcy Goodfleisch from Planet Earth on January 18, 2014:

I love this idea - it would make me feel like I was spoiling myself, and it's good for you, too. Your photos are wonderful - thanks for these great ideas and instructions. This is perfect dry-winter weather for addressing chapped lips.

Voted up and shared.

Cynthia Calhoun from Western NC on January 18, 2014:

This is divine! I want to try this sometime! So good to see you! I have been away from HP for about six months due to a little bit of blogging, but mostly because I went back to finish my graduate degree in Spanish and have been busy with teaching. I still have three classes left (so close...but yet so far, haha). But, I have missed my beloved HP. :)

But back to this hub: beeswax is about the only thing I can use on my lips that I'm not allergic to, so this is so useful! And it sounds like you have quite the hobby going with bees. :)

PS - please don't let them near your eyes! No more swollen eyes. Haha.

mecheshier on December 30, 2013:

An amazing Hub! Thank you for the fabulous info, recipes and research. Voted up for useful and awesome!

SwiftlyClean from Texas on December 25, 2013:

Thx for sharing, great hub! This something you need year round.

Keely Deuschle from Florida on December 22, 2013:

Thank you for sharing this! I am definitely going to try this soon! I think I'll start with the Stress Relief recipe! Voted up, shared, and pinned.

Rose Clearfield from Milwaukee, Wisconsin on December 20, 2013:

Thanks for the detailed recipes! I've never made my own beauty products, but I would love to give it a try sometime. I appreciate the great resource.

mylindaelliott from Louisiana on December 20, 2013:

Those are great recipes. I love the one that is like the spa.

torrilynn on December 20, 2013:

thanks for this recipe. I never would have thought to make my own lip balm. also, I never knew you could make or made lip balm using coconut oil. voted up and pinned.

Robin Edmondson (author) from San Francisco on December 20, 2013:

I got my small containers from Amazon and the larger ones were from Michaels. They are in the wedding favors section. I really like the small containers because you can easily put them in your pocket. I agree, it is so much more cost effective to make the balm. Getting your wax from a local farmer's market is a great idea! Thanks for the insightful comment!

Kim Lam from California on December 20, 2013:

I'm a big fan of using natural beauty products! I'm currently using one with coconut oil, cocoa butter, jojoba oil, beeswax, and shea butter with a citrus scent and it's amazing. They do cost a lot, so I really want to start making my own. Especially when it looks so easy to do and I already have most of the ingredients! My beekeeper (from farmer's market) gave me a chunk of beeswax two weeks ago and it's just been sitting there. I also like the idea of dried flowers! Thanks for the inspiration, and good job on the hub.

Btw, where did you get your tin containers?

Robin Edmondson (author) from San Francisco on December 20, 2013:

Hi Kakuta! What do you put in your balm? I'd love more ideas!

Francesca27 from Hub Page on December 20, 2013:

Thank you for this wonderful hub...good job!

Kukata Kali on December 20, 2013:

I like this recipe more than the one I have. Thank you :) Voted up! Beautiful photos as well.

Robin Edmondson (author) from San Francisco on December 19, 2013:

Hi Lela! It's actually quite easy once you have the ingredients. Thanks for stopping by. :)

Lela Bryan from Alameda, CA on December 19, 2013:

Interesting! I never thought you could make lip balm!!!

Robin Edmondson (author) from San Francisco on December 19, 2013:

Thanks, Christy! I'm so glad you've enjoyed it! We used it up in the snow and it really was better than any store bought balm.

Christy Kirwan from San Francisco on December 19, 2013:

I'm so glad you made a Hub about this! I've been using your lip balm for the past few days and I LOVE it.

Robin Edmondson (author) from San Francisco on December 19, 2013:

It was really fun to make and they are my holiday gifts along with my jam and honey! It's a great project to do with kids, too. It's easy measuring, stirring, and tinkering with the ingredients. There are so many options with the essential oils that you can create almost anything! Thanks for reading, Rebecca!

Rebecca Mealey from Northeastern Georgia, USA on December 19, 2013:

This sounds like a fun project. Homemade gifts are the best to get and to give, I think, and homemade lip balm would really be a good one. Thanks!

I was shocked by how easy it was to make my own lip balm at home by using essential oils and other ingredients.

I love lip balms, lip glosses and lip moisturizers! I like them in all kinds of colors and flavors. But they're expensive, especially if you try to go with the products that are all natural, such as Burt's Bees brand. Eventually, I got tired of spending so much money on lip products, so I decided to start making my own.

Here's how you can also make your own lip balm.

Homemade Lip Balm Recipe

Gather your ingredients together and join me for the fun. Here's the recipe for my favorite, moisturizing, DIY lip balm

Materials:

• 2 tablespoons cocoa butter
• 1 tablespoon shea butter
• 1 tablespoon beeswax
• 10 drops of peppermint essential oil
• Red lipstick shavings
• Bain-Marie materials (glass container, pot, water, stove)

Instructions:

1. Place the cocoa butter, shea butter and beeswax in your glass container and begin the Bain-Marie process.
2. When all ingredients are melted, add the lipstick shavings.
3. Once everything is melted, add the essential oil, mix and place in lip balm container immediately.
4. Allow 1 hour to cool.

Your DIY lip balm is ready!

EO Safety

People with sensitive skin might develop irritation from the use of some strong essential oils, especially those with antibacterial properties. Therefore, it is best to perform a skin patch test prior to actual application and to follow proper dilution methods.

What Can You Put in DIY Lip Balm?

There are a plethora of ingredients you can add to your lip balm, and of course your ingredients will vary according to your goal. Do you want your lip balm to be moisturizing? Add cocoa butter. Do you want it to be super moisturizing? Add cocoa butter and shea butter.

Cocoa and shea butter are my moisturizers of preference, but you can also add other oils that have great properties, such as coconut, grape-seed, sunflower or even olive oil. The added benefits of adding oils to your DIY lip balm is that they will add gloss to your lips, while shea and cocoa butter will keep your lips looking matte.

Of course, you can also add vitamins, especially vitamin E which will keep your lips nourished. You can add the contents of 1 or 2 vitamin E capsules to your DIY lip balm.

Some people even choose to add chocolate chips to their lip balms, which gives you a heavenly chocolate taste and smell that will keep you hungry all day long. So if you're trying to eat less, refrain from adding delicious foods to your homemade lip balms.

Essential Oils Add Fragrance

The other great thing about making your own lip balms is that you can add any smell you please. I personally like the chocolate-mint smell (it's like having a junior mint in your mouth all day!). There are many essential oils you can add to your DIY lip balm to achieve your favorite smell:

• Peppermint oil is super refreshing and tingly.
• Lavender oil is calming and relaxing.
• Sweet orange will help you wake up and smell the flowers.
• Rose oil is ultra feminine.

I like to go to my local health food store and just check out all the essential oils they carry. Sprouts stores carry a nice selection of essential oils.

How to Add Color to DIY Lip Balm

If you want to add tint to your lip balm you can use different things depending on how natural you want your lip balm to be. If you're not particularly interested in keeping it all-natural, you can mix some lipstick shavings into your DIY lip balm mix.

However, if you want to keep it all-natural, you can use root beet powder, vegetable food coloring or even jello powder. I wasn't able to get the jello powder to mix, but others have done successfully, so I guess it's up to you whether you want to try.

How to Bind Your Balm

To keep your DIY lip balm together, you will need to use beeswax. Without the beeswax, you will end up with a liquidy lip balm that gets all over the place if not placed in the right container.

To mix all the oils and waxes together, you will need a double boiler, or a glass container, a pot and boiling water. This method is commonly known as Bain-Marie. What this means is that you will place all the ingredients in a heat resistant glass-container and place the container in boiling water. This will allow all the ingredients to heat evenly without burning any one of them.

Is DIY Crayon Lipstick Safe?

The whole point of making your own cosmetics is to reduce our exposure to harmful chemicals. Lately, there has been a trend of making lipsticks out of crayons to acquire the bold colors that celebrities such as Katy Perry or Lady Gaga wear.

But how safe are these DIY crayon lipsticks?

Consider these facts:

• Crayons are not made from cosmetic wax.
• Crayons are not completely lead-free regardless of what the package says. Crayons contain measurable amounts of lead, depending on the color of the crayon and can contain up to 5 ppm of lead. Lipsticks contain 1.1 ppm of lead, so you do the math as to which is more harmful.

For your own safety, stick to making all-natural lipstick or just buy one from the store. It will have less lead than its crayon counterpart.

This content is accurate and true to the best of the author’s knowledge and is not meant to substitute for formal and individualized advice from a qualified professional.

© 2013 Silver Q

Comments

Silver Q (author) on November 04, 2013:

Hi Meghan:

Yes, DIY projects are the best! Thank you for reading and commenting!

Meghan Chau on November 04, 2013:

Love this :) DIY projects are so fun

Silver Q (author) on November 03, 2013:

Hi Casey White:

Glad I could be of help! The best part about making your own lip balm is that you can add any color, smell and taste you want. I'm sure your grand daughters will have a bald making their own. Thank you for reading and commenting.

Mike and Dorothy McKenney from United States on November 03, 2013:

I have three little granddaughters and this is just what I have been looking for. They love to make their own make-up. Good job!!

Silver Q (author) on November 02, 2013:

Hello Angryelf:

Yes, weather can be quite harsh on the lips. For me it was hard to find a lip balm that matched my needs. But that's the great thing about making your own lip balm: you can control how much and what kind of moisturizers go in there!

Thank you for reading and commenting!

angryelf from Tennessee on November 01, 2013:

Ugh I need to make some! The impending weather is doing just something AWFUL to my lips!!! Great hub!

Silver Q (author) on November 01, 2013:

Hi Vishakha:

Thanks for reading and posting your comment.

Vishakha Bajaj on November 01, 2013:

Great Hub. Thanks for sharing this informative hub.

Suzanne is a qualified beautician and has worked for many leading fragrance houses over the years.

Pumpkin Pie Spice

Pumpkin spice, also known as pumpkin pie spice, is one of those spices that instantly transforms many popular and traditional dishes. From a Starbucks latte favorite to a traditional pumpkin pie recipe, this flavor is extremely popular.

It is strongly associated with the American Thanksgiving celebration, held on the fourth Thursday of November each year. You may be excused if you presumed this spice named after the pumpkin was made from pumpkin (which I originally thought), but alas, it is not.

Instead this warm spice is a blend of different spices which may be bought already blended or may be made from scratch, tailored to your own personal preference.

There are tons of recipes using homemade pumpkin spice which combine all or some of the following: cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, mace, ginger, and cloves.

Every home cook will have their own preferred blend of pumpkin spice for their tasty pumpkin treats, so why not use it in a lush homemade lip gloss or lip balm that you will enjoy and benefit from all year round!

Luscious Spicy Lips

Because pumpkin and pumpkin spice are so popular, I decided to look at using it in a homemade lip balm or lip gloss recipe. The beauty with making your own recipes is that a little goes a long way, especially for a gloss or lip balm. You can make quite a few containers, keeping you well stocked or leaving you with extra to give as gifts.

Using all natural ingredients, it brings you your much loved flavor all year round in a moisturizing, soothing lip product. In order to have moist lush lips, it is important to exfoliate the lips weekly. This will prevent dead skin cells accumulating and remove any dry rough patches on the lips.

Homemade Lip Gloss

Pumpkin Spice Lip Balm Recipe

If you love your pumpkin spice treats, you will love this rich, nourishing and soothing treat to go on the lips with a light aromatic scent.

Ingredients:

• 2 tbsp Sweet Almond Oil (or any other carrier oil will do)
• 1 tsp Beeswax (pellets or grated)
• 1 tsp Organic Honey
• ¼ tsp Pumpkin Spice (store bought or make your own blend below)
• 1 Vitamin E capsule (optional)
• Double Boiler
• Hand Whisk
• Lip Balm Containers
• Glass Pyrex Jug (easy for pouring lip balm mixture)

Method:

• Melt the beeswax and sweet almond oil together in the double boiler on a low heat.
• When beeswax is completely melted, remove from the heat.
• Whisk in honey and oil from Vitamin E capsule lightly.
• Let cool slightly (5-10 mins).
• Add in the pumpkin spice and stir to combine mixture evenly.
• Pour directly into the lip balm jar or pour into the glass pyrex jug to make it easier.
• Allow to cool completely and harden.

Homemade Pumpkin Spice Recipe

Save yourself money by making your own flavorful mix of pumpkin spice that is easy and quick to rustle up.

• 4 tsp Cinnamon Powder
• 2 tsp Ginger Powder
• 1 tsp Nutmeg Powder
• 1 tsp Allspice Powder
• Small Bowl
• Container for Storing (airtight)

Method:

Mix all ingredients together and store in an airtight container.

Pick Your Own Mix of Spices for Pumpkin Spice

Cinnamon Spice

Pumpkin Spice Lip Gloss

Ingredients:

• 2 tbsp Petroleum Jelly or use Coconut Oil (solid)
• ¼ tsp Pumpkin Spice Mix
• Piece of Lipstick (optional)
• Pinch of Cinnamon
• Lip Gloss Container
• Glass Pyrex Jug or Microwavable Bowl
• Microwave

Method:

• Melt the petroleum jelly (or coconut oil for a more natural lip gloss) and lipstick (if using) together in a microwave on medium for 10 second intervals and give it a stir.
• When fully melted, remove from microwave and add the spice mix and cinnamon.
• Mix well together to an even consistency. Allow to cool slightly.
• Pour into the lip gloss container and refrigerate till solid. Screw on lid.
• This will last providing it is kept in an airtight container

Tip: If you have a broken lipstick, this is an excellent way of reusing it for added color to your lip gloss. For a more natural recipe, use coconut oil instead of petroleum jelly.

This content is accurate and true to the best of the author’s knowledge and is not meant to substitute for formal and individualized advice from a qualified professional.

© 2013 Suzanne Ridgeway

Pumpkin Spice Lip Gloss or Lip Balm Recipe Comments

Courtney Miller on August 03, 2019:

How many tubes of chap stick will this recipe make? Thank you for sharing!

Suzanne Ridgeway (author) from Dublin, Ireland on March 31, 2013:

Hi Sam,

Many thanks for checking out this lippy! I am sure Terrence would approve! Hope you give it a try sometime! :-)

Samantha Harris from New York on March 30, 2013:

O I would love to try this in the Fall. I bet my hubby would like it too, haha!

Suzanne Ridgeway (author) from Dublin, Ireland on March 26, 2013:

Hi Sasha,

Glad to hear you enjoyed this lippy balm with wonderful pumpkin spice, do give it a try and try to refrain from licking it off! LOL Thanks for your votes and pins my friend!

Sasha Kim on March 26, 2013:

Oh my this looks delicious! I am most certainly going to have to make this.... although I'm afraid I might chew my lips off if I use it. ^_^ Voting a bunch and pinning!!

Suzanne Ridgeway (author) from Dublin, Ireland on March 25, 2013:

Hi Crystal,

Glad this rocked your boat, hope you give it a try sometime! I saw this title in Exclusives and thought that it would be intriguing!

Suzanne Ridgeway (author) from Dublin, Ireland on March 25, 2013:

Hi GTF,

I know how popular this spice is for more Autumn time and thought it would be fun to see it in a lip balm for fans of the flavor and scent. Thanks very much for sharing and your support.

Crystal Tatum from Georgia on March 25, 2013:

You are so knowledgeable! How do you come up with these recipes?

Claudia Mitchell on March 25, 2013:

Finally getting around to catching up on my hub reading. This looks awesome and what a great scent/flavor! I would use this all year round even though it reminds me of fall. Thanks for including my link! :-) Shared all around.

Suzanne Ridgeway (author) from Dublin, Ireland on March 24, 2013:

Hi Vespa,

So good to see you again, thanks a million for checking this out! Great to hear you have everything and will give it a try The spices are so warming and addictive, no harm to enjoy all year round in a balm. Thanks for your visit and comments as always my friend, hope all is well with you! :-)

Vespa Woolf from Peru, South America on March 24, 2013:

I love pumpkin pie spice. It always makes me feel like I've been wrapped in a warm blanket. I will definitely try your pumpkin pie spice recipe. We have all the ingredients here, including allspice and cloves, and I'm sure it would be fragrant and higher quality than the stuff we buy in the U.S. Thank you for another great Hub!

Suzanne Ridgeway (author) from Dublin, Ireland on March 20, 2013:

Hi Bill,

Thanks so much for dropping in delighted you enjoyed the latte and hopefully the ladies will give the lippy a go! Appreciate your visits so much! By the way where to this year for holidays??

Bill De Giulio from Massachusetts on March 20, 2013:

The Pumpkin Spiced Latte looks good. Will pass this along to the women in the family. Another great job Suzie.

Suzanne Ridgeway (author) from Dublin, Ireland on March 20, 2013:

Hi Gail,

Great to see you! Delighted you enjoyed this so much and are keen to give it a go sometime! Many thanks for your votes and share!!

Suzanne Ridgeway (author) from Dublin, Ireland on March 20, 2013:

Hi Rose,

Many thanks for dropping by! Hope you give it a go sometime! Appreciate your comments as always!!

Suzanne Ridgeway (author) from Dublin, Ireland on March 20, 2013:

Hi Ky Cardinal.

Welcome and thanks very much for commenting! I have many different homemade gift ideas for teens also in cosmetics and skin care which make great party favors or presents anytime of the year. Hope you both enjoy making this one, especially when you love pumpkin and fall!

Gail Meyers from Johnson County, Kansas on March 20, 2013:

This sounds absolutely wonderful, Suzie! This looks like one I am going to have to try. Voted up and shared.

Rose Clearfield from Milwaukee, Wisconsin on March 20, 2013:

I love pumpkin! How inspired to use it as a beauty product flavor. Thanks for the great recipes.

Ky Cardinal on March 20, 2013:

What a great idea for Fall gifts. My daughter is always looking for new homemade items to give to her friends. I think I will enlist her help. I can almost smell the pumpkin.

Suzanne Ridgeway (author) from Dublin, Ireland on March 20, 2013:

Hi Natasha'

Many thanks for dropping in, good to hear you are a fan of pumpkin spice. Hope you give this a try sometime!

Natasha from Hawaii on March 20, 2013:

I love pumpkin pie spice everything! This sounds like an awesome undertaking.

Suzanne Ridgeway (author) from Dublin, Ireland on March 20, 2013:

Hi Carol,

You should be careful using the computer! No internet I would think! Hope you get it sorted soon.

carol stanley from Arizona on March 20, 2013:

That was a rhetorical question...However all signs would love this great and tasty lipbalm. Thnking about our project. Just found out my computer has4700 viruses and the virus scanner was not working..Brand new computer...Hope it continues to work until we can take care. Just venting...

Suzanne Ridgeway (author) from Dublin, Ireland on March 20, 2013:

Hi Carol,

Hope you are enjoying your break! What sign?? That's your dept I think! LOL Glad you enjoyed this one, just thought it would be cool to have the lovely spices in a gloss or balm whenever takes your fancy!! Appreciate all your support, votes and shares so much!! :-)

carol stanley from Arizona on March 20, 2013:

Enjoy a latte while having smooth lips. Pretty cool. What sign on the zodiac would love latte and lips...??? I love the spices and ..wow..Cannot wait until the next recipe. Voting up, sharing, tweeting and pinning...

Suzanne Ridgeway (author) from Dublin, Ireland on March 20, 2013:

Hi Careermommy,

Many thanks for stopping by, good to hear you are another fan of all things pumpkin! Hopefully you will give this recipe a try to have a touch of Fall all year round!

Suzanne Ridgeway (author) from Dublin, Ireland on March 20, 2013:

Hi Kathryn,

So glad to hear you made it and were able to join in the madness! Look forward to seeing your experience in print! Thanks for letting me know :-)

Tirralan Watkins from Los Angeles, CA on March 19, 2013:

Suzie, I love all things pumpkin, so the idea of pumpkin lip gloss and balm is great. It also sounds like a good idea to make and give out as gifts, especially during the holidays. I will hold on to this recipe. Thank you.

Kathryn from Windsor, Connecticut on March 19, 2013:

Suzie, I made it to the parade, but didn't have a good enough spot to actually take photos. I enjoyed it a lot, though. It went on for hours! But I started writing about my experience befrehand, and have a few related photos, so if I can find some more material, I may still do a little (late) St Patrick's Day hub! Thanks for asking.

Suzanne Ridgeway (author) from Dublin, Ireland on March 19, 2013:

Hi Mary,

Lovely to see you! So glad you enjoyed this, I appreciate the comments greatly. It is something a bit different this time of year but one i think is great all year so why deprive yourself? LOL Cheers for your votes, always much appreciated!

Suzanne Ridgeway (author) from Dublin, Ireland on March 19, 2013:

Hi Kathryn,

Was thinking about you Sunday, did you go the St Patrick's Day parade in Boston with camera?? Thanks for leaving me such an upbeat comment! Delighted i hit a good note with pumpkin spice lippy!! I thought if Pumpkin is so popular and seasonal it would be great to have it in a lip balm etc . . .all year! I couldn't believe how popular Starbucks pumpkin spice latte is in America! When I was living in New Zealand it was my first introduction to eating pumpkin and I LOVED it, particularly done roasted in the oven and in soup. Enjoy making this and having a latte or 3!! Cheers so much for all your votes and shares!:-)

Suzanne Ridgeway (author) from Dublin, Ireland on March 19, 2013:

Hi Bill,

Hope i haven't caused you too much pain and blood spilling, biting that tongue of yours!! Your wit is always received with a big smile i can assure you so don't be shy . . . . . . it has never stopped you before!! LOL Cheers my friend, hugs from Dublin.

Mary Craig from New York on March 19, 2013:

There you go again, making a scrumptious homemade makeup item that you just know everyone is going to love! Your pictures are great and I know there are a lot of coffee lovers out there who will love the video!

Voted up, useful, and interesting.

Kathryn from Windsor, Connecticut on March 19, 2013:

Love it, love it, love it!!!! Did you know that anything pumpkin is my favorite? I also enjoy lip gloss and balms of any kind, and the thought of having it smell like pumpkin makes me wicked happy! As a bonus, the recipe video for Pumpkin Spice Latte sends me above the clouds! I buy pumpkin coffee every year, and being able to whip up a coffeehouse beverage like that sounds very good!

You made my day! Voted up and almost everything else, plus sharing it!!!

Bill Holland from Olympia, WA on March 19, 2013:

I'm going to bite my tongue and not allow my wit to take over here. Bev doesn't wear makeup, but I will pass this along to her daughter.

Hoping all is well with you and the Mickster. Have a great rest of the week.

Tea Pixie conducted her own experiments to create an easy sunless tanning solution.

Luscious Lips Through the Ages

This two-ingredient organic lip stain recipe is easy-peasy, as Jamie Oliver would say. What I am providing you with is a good old fashioned recipe for lip stain–a trendy lip colour trick.

The concept of lip stain was originated in the 1990s by Lip-Ink International, as reported by Wikipedia. It is considered a long-lasting, wax-free, semi-permanent lip colour. My mom tells stories of her mom using plants to make stains, and I am certain they were using those stains for cosmetics as well as for clothing—and that was long before the 1990s.

In ancient Mesopotamia, women were smearing crushed gems on their lips (again, this is reported by Wikipedia). Using healthy ingredients for lipsticks is not a historic practice, and there were many instances where women's health was put at risk.

Today, however, using healthy ingredients in cosmetics is gaining momentum.

Edible Lip Stain Experiments

The two photos above show the before and after photos. I know, I know—the lip stain was sloppily applied in the second photo. It was an interesting experience for the model to not talk!

Before you run away to make your lip stain, I want to tell you about the experiments I have done in trying to find a decent lip stain. I looked around the internet and couldn't find anything that worked.

First, I tried Kool-Aid. Yep, that sweet, sticky stuff that kids like to drink, that isn't called juice. I figured that I would at least try to use something deemed ingestible. It tasted good and lasted until I licked my lips, which wasn't very long because it tasted good.

Second, I tried Jello. It, too, is ingestible and lasts about as long as Kool-Aid for the same reason. My husband suggested using alcohol with it, but I wasn't too comfy with that recipe. He thought it might help the colour stick.

Third, I tried beets. I figured they do a good job of staining my dinner tablecloth, so they must work well at staining lips. It does work—but it is hard to regulate how much red you get on your lips.

So, now I've found lovely Sarah and her simple, easy lip stain recipe. And it's organic!

Shelf Life

Please note that organic homemade lip stain has a short shelf life. It may not be good to use after two weeks, although I found mine was fine for four weeks. You may consider keeping it in the fridge to extend its expiry date.

Simply Sarah Nagel

Lovely Sarah (she is such a cutie) shows you how to make simple lip stain that tastes good and doesn't have any toxic ingredients. How fab is that? I love finding little gems like this and I'm super glad I can share it with you.

Ingredients

• beets
• vegetable glycerine (see below)

Equipment

• pot
• glass bowl
• cutting board
• sharp knife
• parchment paper (optional)
• water
• lip gloss roll-on applicator or tube with wand applicator (see below)

I Have Tried This Recipe

And it is fantastic. I absolutely love the colour and the way it applies. It feels good on my lips and provides a little moisturizing.

As well, once I put this lip stain on, I add a little homemade organic lipstick to change up the colour. The best part? As the organic lipstick wears off, the stain is still there!

Make this with a friend or for Christmas gifts. You will have enough for two lip gloss bottles.

Where to Get an Applicator?

When I watched this video, I realized that this woman had a jar and a brush, but I didn't see a lid for the jar. Here is a link for empty lip gloss roll-on applicators and lip gloss tube with wand applicators. Very, very useful!

Vegetable Glycerine

Not sure where to find vegetable glycerine? Here's a link to a good product you can use.

I haven't got access to online ordering for vegetables, so I hope you'll visit your local green grocer to get some luscious beets. Or better yet, if you have a garden, grow some!

I live in the city and have been extremely excited to see people transforming their tiny green spaces into vegetable and fruit gardens. I have three gardens that I manage and it is fun to grow items like beets because they have so many uses. Not only can you stain lipstick, but you can also stain clothes.

In fact, many veggies can be used for dying clothing or Easter eggs! My granny stained clothing (on purpose!) with tea, onion skins, beets, coffee, blueberries, raspberries, and strawberries. It might take some testing to get the colouring right. My granny was a pioneer in the north of Canada, built her house on a patch of dirt and fed her family what she could muster up. I know that her use of these dyes was exciting for everyone because access to commercial products just wasn't possible.

Yes, using natural products is old school. And, in my eyes, there is nothing wrong with that, as long as it is healthy. You may or may not know, but some of those old-school habits were not necessarily healthy and people did not know any better. For example, arsenic was used to make faces look porcelain white in Victorian times. But we do know better, about many things, and, in the future, as a result of scientific research, we will know more.

I think our return to many natural products is occurring because we are learning about which so-called, natural practices are healthy, and which are not. If you are interested in healthy living, consider visiting PubMed, which is a website of research, some reliable, some not. You will have to discern between research with small sample sizes (not usually reliable) and larger sample sizes. In any case, looking further into quantifiable research will not hurt!

Do you think you will try this recipe? It's pretty darn easy!

Let me know what you think and, if you do try the recipe, let us all know how it works for you. Thank you so much for taking the time to read through this article.

This content is accurate and true to the best of the author’s knowledge and is not meant to substitute for formal and individualized advice from a qualified professional.

© 2012 Tea Pixie

Lippy Life

Jennifer on August 06, 2018:

Love natural products

anonymous on February 20, 2014:

it does look easy

Nicky is multispecialty Nurse Practitioner who is certified in Facial Esthetics (Botox and dermal fillers).

Red Lipstick Goes With Any Outfit

We all have one thing in common—a desire to look and feel our best. We search for ways to highlight our best features with the hope to catch a crush's eyes or maintain a spouse's attention. Even in the absence of a love interest, we are motivated to make ourselves look and feel attractive.

People always say to put your best foot forward. But before you follow such advice, be sure to put your best foot forward while wearing your finest stilettos and red lipstick. Why red lipstick, you ask? Because red is associated with energy, fire, passion, love, and intense desire.

If you are going to step out in style, you should do it blazingly. Get it? Red, fire, blazing. Nevermind all that, I tend to get a bit corny. But seriously, get your short shorts, mini dress, baggy pants or whatever you think sexy. You are about to embark on a makeup tutorial on how to achieve perfect red lips that guarantee to add glamour to anything you may wear. When you feel beautiful, you feel confident. When you feel confident, you are happiest. So let’s get happy in red lipstick.

How to Apply Red Lipstick

Step 1: Moisturize

Begin by moisturizing the lips. Allow the lips to dry for a few seconds, remove excess moisture if necessary. Lip balm helps to repair and soften the lips.

Step 2: Neutralize Your Lip Color

Apply concealer on your lips. This will neutralize your natural lip color and bring out the color of the lipstick.

Step 3: Apply Lip Liner

Use a red lip liner to create a border for the lips. Choose a liner closest to your natural lip color. The liner will prevent the lipstick from bleeding and help the lipstick to last longer. The lip liner will also give the lip a concrete shape, making them stand out more and look fuller.

Step 4: Choose the Shade

Choose your favorite red lipstick and apply it to the lips. Blot the lips to even the color across the lips. The one I use is Maybelline Moisture Extreme Lipstick in Royal Red. It is easy on the lips and flatters any skin tone. It also reduces lip dryness, cracks, and damage. If you are looking for a matte look, try MAC Retro Matte in Ruby Woo. Honestly, I usually stick to the cheaper brands, but this Ruby Woo is affordable and looks great. Keep in mind that your favorite lipstick works just as well.

Step 5: Correct With Concealer

Apply a bit of concealer around the border of the mouth. This will bring out the lipstick more and help the lips to look more shapely and plumper.

Step 6: Add Lip Gloss

You may choose to add some lip gloss for the finishing touch.

Tips

• Don't judge me, but I sometimes apply cayenne pepper to the lips for 5 minutes. This stimulates blood flow and creates an even better pout. Plus, it is rich in vitamin E. Hey, that's my trick- try at your own risk.
• Avoid wearing red lipstick with excessive eye makeup. Use the lightest possible eye makeup.

Who the Heck Am I?

But wait! Who am I, and why should you take my advice? After all, I am just a stranger behind a computer screen. Before you roll your eyes, allow me to explain why you may want to continue to read. I am a multi-specialty nurse practitioner with certification in facial esthetics. You read right. Among other things, I am certified in Botox and dermal fillers.

Okay, okay, so I’m not a professional makeup artist. Not many people are. But, wouldn’t you say that Botox and dermal fillers somewhat qualify me to speak on lipstick? If your answer is yes, read on.

If you're still unconvinced, then maybe my personal experience with red lipstick may appeal to you. So I got my first red lipstick as a Mother’s Day gift. At the time I wasn’t even a mother. Now that I think about it, It wasn't long after that gift that I became a mother. Wait, maybe my initial experience with red lipstick isn't the best story to tell. Let's get back on track. Anyway, the red lipstick gift was perfect and gave me the most exquisite, unmatched red lips.

© 2011 Nicky Fuller

Kayana has been an online writer for more than eight years. She enjoys writing about makeup, especially lipsticks and lip liners.

1. Lip Liners Work Like Matte Lipsticks

Almost all lip liners give you a creamy, highly-pigmented, non-shiny look. There are a few that have some shine to them (think "bronze"), but that is usually recognizable by its color and/or name, and if you want that, go right ahead; it's still a great lipstick. I have found that lip liners that don't need sharpening are creamier than lip pencils, so experiment with that to find your preference. Lip pencils, accordingly, tend to be drier, and you may want to put a lip balm on first. Like matte lipsticks, lip liners stay put, making them a no-fuss lipstick option.

2. Lip Liners Can Be Found in Many Colors

If you look at just one brand's lip liners, you may find a limited selection of colors. However, if you search a lot of brands together, say, at a drugstore, you will find a wide array of colors at your disposal. One brand's "nude" lip liner may be too pinkish for you, while another brand's "nude" will be more beige. My personal favorite nude lip liner is Jordana's lip liner in Latte, found in drugstores. It is a beige nude with hardly any pink in it. There are cosmetic brands that have a wide selection of lip liner colors; MAC Cosmetics has a wonderful palette of distinct, colorful lip liners, my favorite being Auburn, which delivers a rich brownish-red.

3. Many Lip Liners Are Inexpensive

For the most part, I can tell no difference between my drugstore lip liners and my department store lip liners. The only exceptions are the ones that come from the very inexpensive brands like Wet n Wild. These lip pencils, while usually costing about 99 cents a pencil, tend to be too hard and not deposit color on your lips easily. Other than that, you can get wonderful lip liners in the drugstore that cost anywhere from around $4.00 to $7.00. My favorite lip liner of all time is one by Rimmel called Cafe Au Lait, which is under $4.00 at my local drugstore. It is a brownish-red that gives me a rich, creamy, matte lipstick that stays on all day. I can't buy enough of them (even though I appear to be trying to given how many I have). If you are on a tight budget but want a department store-quality lip product, lip liners are well worth checking out.

4. You Don't Need an Extra Product to Line Your Lips With

It seems silly to point this out, but this really is a bonus. Instead of having two lip products in your purse, you only have one. This is handy for a small purse, and also if you just want to feel you have simplified your makeup routine. If you, like me, like the look of a line around your lips and are worried that you won't get that with just a lip liner, don't be; you can still create that look by going over the outline of your lips a few times more than normal, which will create that effect.

My Lip Liner Epiphany

I, like many women, bought lip liners when I needed something to line my lips and gave it no further thought. Then, one day, a co-worker of mine was re-doing her lips after lunch. I watched her, and I saw something that I'd never seen before: She was using a lip pencil to fill in her lips. The pencil was her lipstick. I know there are more important things in life to have an epiphany over, but I had one at that moment.

Beauty Inspiration From a Co-Worker

Since then, I have read beauty articles that have suggested that you should line your lips with a lip liner or lip pencil that is the same color as your own lips, then use that liner to "fill in" your lips, so you have a base for a lipstick or a lip gloss to stick to. However, it was only as a step, not as the finished product, and especially not an actual lipstick color—say, red or coral. (Because, really, no one has natural red- or coral-colored lips—not that I've met.) My co-worker was using a copper-orange lip pencil, making it clear that this was her chosen lip color and that she was not trying to match her lips.

I immediately began to experiment with the lip liners I had at home. I was overjoyed with the results, for all the reasons that I've listed above.

The One Drawback

The only downside, if you can call it that, is that it takes a little more time to fill in your lips with a lip liner as opposed to that quick swipe you can do with a lipstick tube. I have found that this is a minor issue, especially as I got faster through practice. Whether you use a lip pencil or a self-sharpening lip liner may not be much of an issue when you are just lining your lips, but you may find you have a distinct preference when coloring your lips full. Have fun experimenting!

Try It Yourself!

Since you most likely have at least one lip liner lying around (or not, that's okay, no judgment here), try making it your lipstick. You might have a little epiphany of your own.

This content is accurate and true to the best of the author’s knowledge and is not meant to substitute for formal and individualized advice from a qualified professional.

Comments

babette on January 25, 2017:

I've been doing this for years! I hate makeup in general, but lipstick in particular so I replaced mine with lip liners or lip pencils in natural colours and haven't looked back.

Rukhsar from Leicester, UK on December 12, 2015:

I love wearing lipliners on their own. It leaves a beautiful 'retro matte' effect

Jess H from Oregon on March 29, 2014:

I've been looking for an inexpensive matte lipstick forever! thank you :)

schoolgirlforreal on July 05, 2011:

That's good to know, thanks! :) ps. keep on hubbing!

Kayana (author) from Campbell, CA on July 05, 2011:

@schoolgirlforreal, thank you for your question! I do put lipgloss over lipliner sometimes, which will give you the same effect as a highly-pigmented lipgloss, and will stay put longer, in my experience. :)

schoolgirlforreal on July 05, 2011:

I used to use lip liner when I was younger but I've never since been a big makeup person..

I'm wondering if you ever put lipgloss over your lipliner?

Sherri from Southeastern Pennsylvania on July 05, 2011:

First I must tell you that I don't wear anything but lip gloss, and then, only sometimes. So, I have nothing to add, topically speaking. However, once I hit the last sentence in your first paragraph, I was hooked! And then amazed at how much can be said about using lip liners. Hey, I'm happy for any epiphany, and I had fun reading about yours. :)

Dianemae on July 03, 2011:

I also have a problem when my lipstick wears out before the lip liner, and it looks funny with just a thin line. There are many pros and cons and I quess it comes down to how you personally feel.

Your article is good..started off a little slow, but I certainly will read you again.