I’m a neutral lip lover and in honor of National Lipstick Day I’ve narrowed down all my favorites to my top 5 neutrals. This includes lipstick only – I’m still a lip gloss and tinted balm lover at heart, but for lipsticks these are my favorites of the moment. I broke out my backups of these for today’s post. Each of these colors I’ve already gone through at least 1 full tube – this is how I narrowed down my picks for my top 5. If I have used them up and repurchased it must be good because it usually takes me forever to use anything up. On the nails in the top photo is OPI Samoan Sand (with three coats).
Sisley Phyto-Lip Twist #11 Litchi is the prettiest soft peachy nude, it was such a splurge but 100% worth it (never swatched it on the blog, but will be swatching more of this formula soon)
MAC Matte Lipstick in Yash is a great matte neutral nude, I can’t find lip swatches of this one on the blog but I do have it arm swatched here, also love Patisserie, Touch, Velvet Teddy and Mehr
I’ve also included a few more runner ups and I’ve linked previous lip swatches for each color below. These are some neutrals I love for their texture, lasting power, creamy feel and color. There’s one matte which is the Laura Mercier color below – I add balm to it because the formula can pull a bit dry but the color is perfect.
New lips just launched from NARS in a few different formulas and today I’ve swatches of all the new NARS Full Vinyl Lip Lacquer ($26 each for 0.17 oz/5.5 ml, currently available at NARS and Barneys New York). There are 10 shades in this formula and 1 special-edition color Orgasm (reviewed here). In addition there are 5 new colors of the Velvet Lip Glide (reviewed here) and 5 new shades of the Powermatte Lip Pigment (to be reviewed soon). The NARS Full Vinyl Lip Lacquer is an opaque, rich color, full coverage gloss with a high shine. They come with a flat applicator with a sponge tip on one side and plastic portion on the other. One will dispense a lot of color while the other blends it out more. There are 10 shades total, 6 creams and 4 sparkles. I believe there are hits and misses with this launch formula-wise.
Most of the colors have a beautiful smooth application. There are some however that apply streaky on bare lips and settle into fine lines. Color descriptions and thoughts on which ones are the best below. First a look at the shades and swatches.
Shown above from left to right:
Santo Domingo is a medium to light muted dusty pink, it settles into fine lines at first but once you let it set on the lips, it smooths out
Conquest is a perfect medium bright warm pink
Valencia is a bright coral hot pink, this also settled into my lip lines
Red District is the best cream formula, it’s a perfect bright red, smooth, opaque, glossy
Mississippi is a sheer mauve plum, it takes a few layers but applies smoothly
Baden Baden is a gorgeous deep plum, but alone it was streaky, I’d recommend applying it over a matte lip pencil
Abruzzo is a high sparkle metallic wine plum with gold and silver flecks, I thought this would be too glitzy but this is a truly stunning color, smooth coverage and no texture
Everglades is one of the scariest lip colors I’ve seen, having actually driven through the Everglades a couple times I’d say this color evokes the same feelings I had driving through alligator territory (they are probably the most frightening living creatures I’ve ever seen)
At First Sight is a sheer sparkling white silvery gold, it’s pretty sheer, almost transparent but has the prettiest sheen
Cape Town is an iridescent duochrome orange, pink loaded with multi-color sparkles, it’s very metallic but smooth
Overall the shimmers performed better on my lips formula-wise. I would say the cream colors Valencia and Baden Baden are the higher maintenance ones for me as the color settled into fine lines if I applied these on bare lips.
Overall some beautiful colors and lovely formulas (patchy colors aside). There isn’t really any detectable scent to these. Lasting power is pretty good, they are thicker than the Velvet Lip Glides due to the high shine so they adhere better to the lips. Lasting power is pretty good, not as good as their Powermatte Lip Pigments, but for a gloss they stayed put until I snacked. My favorites are Santo Domingo, Red District, Abruzzo and At First Sight. Compared to other lip glosses these are among the most full coverage that I’ve tried. Ones like the Pat McGrath LUST Glosses or Chanel Rouge Coco Gloss are a lot sheerer. Anastasia Beverly Hills Lip Glosses are probably the most similar (but hers are thicker), Bite Beauty Amuse Bouche Liquid is also thicker with a more lipstick feel.
You can find the NARS Full Vinyl Lip Lacquer now at NARS and Barneys New York. Starting July you will also be able to find them at other NARS retailers like Sephora and Nordstrom. Have you tried these yet? What did you think?
NARS Full Vinyl Lip Lacquer provided courtesy of NARS for review.
Marc Jacobs Beauty launched new lip glosses in stick form called the Enamored Hydrating Lip Gloss Stick ($28 each for 2.1 g/0.074 oz). I’ve been such a huge fan of the Enamored Hi-Shine Lip Lacquers I was eager to try the new formula. I ordered five sight unseen. I picked the neutrals which turned out to be a lot lighter in color than I anticipated but still lovely. My picks:
Sugar Sugar – sheer nude cream
P(r)each – sheer soft peach
One Mauve Time – perfect mauve
Sweet Escape – baby pink
Mocha Choco-Lata – perfect nude beige
These are emollient sheer smooth gloss sticks. They have a very shiny finish and moisturizing feel. Lasting power is medium – they won’t disappear quickly but they aren’t budge-proof. The gloss sticks have a melt-on texture. Packaging is slightly longer than the Enamored Hi-Shine Lip Lacquers but similar in style. The Enamored Hydrating Lip Gloss Stick has a removable pull off cap and the product comes in a twist-up tube that clicks with each twist. The only downside is you can only twist up, you can’t twist back down. The good thing is each click will only push a small amount of color up.
The two lightest shades Sugar Sugar and P(r)each were patchy with the first application, once you have it warmed up a little it smooths out. Close ups of each color below with lip swatches.
Mocha Choco-lata!
Sweet Escape
One Mauve Time
P(r)each
Sugar Sugar
All side by side:
For quick reference my MAC foundation shade right now is the Studio Fix Fluid in NC37. Lip swatches as always done on bare lips.
If you want something light and glossy these are great. I think the color selection is a lot more wearable for me compared to the Le Marc Liquid Lip Crayons. The glossy texture feels similar to me although the crayons are full coverage while these new gloss sticks are a lot sheerer. I’d say if you like the feel of the YSL Volupte Tint in Balms or Chanel Rouge Coco Shines you will most likely really like the Marc Jacobs Enamored Lip Gloss Sticks. In terms of glossy lips though my favorite product this season are still the Pat McGrath LUST Glosses although the formula is completely different and also in liquid form.
They are sheer so depending on how much color you want these might be too sheer if you prefer a lot of pigment. I give them a thumbs up – although I do wish the packaging would click up and down. The only shade I think is iffy is Sugar Sugar – this is mainly because I find pale colors challenging to wear in general. If you see the last photo of my natural lip you’ll see that there is going to be a contrast between pale colors and my lip. This is why you’ll often see a dark ring around the outer edge if the product is slightly sheer or transparent. It’s my natural lip color showing through. Since I have full lips if I cover it entirely with product it makes them look EXTRA huge.
Based on how light and sheer these colors are I was tempted to order the other three shades which are deeper/brighter. I have not seen them at stores near me yet but have decided to pass for now. My top two picks are Mocha Choco-lata! and One Mauve Time.
I have a few different products to review from Sisley for you today. One is the Phyto-Touche Sun Glow Bronzing Gel Powder which I’ve had my eye on for a while and the other is a new product for lips called the Phyto-Lip Delight. To me both are perfect for the upcoming summer season.
The Phyto-Touche Sun Glow Bronzing Gel Powder isn’t new but it is new to me. It’s been on my wishlist for months and I finally caved and bought it. It’s a unique formula that’s a bronzing gel powder, similar in concept to the NARS Dual Intensity Blushes where it’s a powder but not quite like a traditional powder. The one from Sisley is a warm bronze. It’s dense in formula and can be applied sheer for a soft wash of bronze. If you need more color you can use a dense brush for more color. It’s probably the most expensive bronzer I’ve ever splurged on. It was worth it for me but I still think the price point is very very steep.
Quick note that if you need a truly natural looking bronzer I’d still recommend the Becca Sunlit Bronzers. The Sisley Phyto-Touche Trio is also very natural looking, especially on lighter skin tones. The Chanel Les Beiges multi-stripe bronzers this year are also very natural.
Up next are the new Phyto-Lip Delights which are tinted gel-balms that transform into oils upon contact with the lips. They are sheer tinted oils but have enough pigment that you can see the color if you layer them a little. There are three perfect everyday neutrals in #1 Cool which is a nude beige, #2 Pretty which is a perfect pink and #3 Sweet which is a peachy coral. There is no shimmer to them to me they aren’t scented although they do have a subtle makeup scent. The finish is transparent and light for a soft tint. They plump and nourish the lips. You can wear them alone, under a gloss for more moisture or on top of a lipstick for added shine. The Phyto-Lip Delights have a nice comfortable feel that isn’t heavy or sticky. Right now they are available online at Sisley-Paris, they should trickle out to counters later in the summer. Circle straw bag shown from J.Crew. Sandals shown also from J.Crew.
Swatches:
On bare lips with around two to three layers:
Swatch comparisons below to some other colors. They’re really quite unique compared to others I thought they’d look like off the top of my head. Turns out the Sisley Lip Oils aren’t quite the same color-wise:
Bottom line my love for Sisley-Paris makeup continues. I’m a huge fan of the Phyto-Lip Twists (Baby is my favorite shade) and the new Phyto-Lip Delights are no exception. They are quite expensive but in my experience their products have been worth the splurge for me. I was fortunate to get an early sneak preview of the Lip Delights but have purchased a number of things from the brand. My top two tips are to 1) sign up for their Beauty Subscription Program to get a monthly sampling. I reviewed 6 months’s worth of boxes here and it is the only subscription program I’ve kept. 2) Make a list and save purchases for GWPs. The Sisley-Paris website often has promos running on a regular basis. I also like the Beauty GWPs you can find at Nordstrom.
The bronzer is a gorgeous addition for me but I do own a wide range of other bronzing powders so I cannot call it a must-have. I do think I will be getting regular wear out of it this summer though.
You can find the Phyto-Lip Delights available now at Sisley-Paris.com. The bronzer can be found at all Sisley counters. I bought mine from Nordstrom.
Phyto-Lip Delights provided courtesy of Sisley for review. Bronzer purchased by me.
My lip gloss loving self is overjoyed these days because gloss seems to be back! Becca launched a new Glow Lip Gloss ($22 for 0.18 oz/5 g) in ten colors. They’re a conditioning lip gloss that has the coverage of a natural medium-pigmented lipstick with a soft shine but cream finish. If you like a gloss that doesn’t have a super high shine but more of a natural shine these are the glosses for you.
The Becca Glow Lip Glosses have a soft mint scent and apply very smoothly on the lips. There’s enough density so they won’t slide off the lips like other glosses but they aren’t super thick and they feel comfortable on. Becca says they have 3D light reflecting pigments and ginger + peppermint oil. The colors were inspired by their best selling Shimmering Skin Perfector Highlighters and Luminous Blush shades so you can match your lip and cheek color.
Every single color is perfect. Pigment is natural but rich enough to cover the whole lip. There are lighter nudes in the collection that are wearable and do not wash my complexion out (yay!). All the shades are nice for everyday and there are a few bolder shades that can give a more dramatic look for something more fun. The packaging and design is the same as the Liquid Crystal Glow Glosses from last year, but the Glow Lip Gloss colors are a lot more wearable.
The product comes with an angled sponge tip applicator with a point for precise application. Colors descriptions and swatches below:
Rose Quartz is a soft cool light pink shimmer
Camellia is a cool-toned bright pink
Snapdragon is a medium coral pink
Opal is a nude opal pink shimmer
Foxglove is a perfect berry mauve
Champagne Creme is a shimmering gold
Tigerlily is a coral peach shimmer
Rose Gold is a neutral tan beige
Chocolate Geode is a chocolate sparkle
Dahlia is a plum (plums always look more red on my lips)
Close ups of each shade, let me know if you want me to keep doing these larger lip swatches or if you prefer the side by side better. Rose Quartz:
I cannot pick a favorite, every single color is perfect. I do find myself drawn to Opal, Foxglove, Snapdragon and Tigerlily though. A full look wearing the Becca Glow Lip Gloss + Shimmering Skin Perfector pressed in Opal:
Foundation: La Prairie Skin Caviar Foundation + Concealer in Satin Nude (review here)
Powder: Armani Luminous Silk Powder Foundation in #4
Cheeks: Becca Sunlit Bronzer in Bronzed Bondi (swatches of all the colors here)
Eyeshadow: Pat McGrath MTHRSHP Eyeshadow Palette in Platinum Bronze (review here)
Brow: Hourglass Arch Brow Volumizing Fiber Gel in Soft Brunette
Lips: Becca Glow Lip Gloss in Opal
Top: Tie Front Tank by 1.STATE
Bottom line lots to love. The color is perfect, pigment is smooth and flawless, texture is comfortable. Lasting power is average for a gloss but with these I don’t mind reapplying. Moisturizing properties are medium – on the lips they feel good and the formula did not dry out my lips or make them peel the next day, but they aren’t as hydrating as a lip balm. I think these are perfect year round but the colors have that fresh spring to summer vibe that adds life to the face without overdoing the color.
Today Pat McGrath launches a new lip formula in her makeup line called LUST: Lip Gloss ($28 each for .15 fl oz/4.5 ml). These are high shine glosses with a cushiony feel. They are super smooth with a glossy balm feel that doesn’t have any tacky or sticky and feel. The glosses are really comfortable and they have a nourishing feel. With the Lust Gloss my lips look full and plump without the tingle. There are 14 shades total with this launch and I was tickled with excitement to be able to get an early sneak peek at 7 of them. I have swatches and some first impressions of the neutrals as I just received these a few days ago. Based on my first round of testing I can’t wait to see the rest of the colors. Scroll down further for the full Pat McGrath LUST: Lip Gloss review.
These glosses come in a tube with a sponge tip applicator. There is a very soft vanilla scent to them which disappears almost immediately after I apply them on the lips. The final look is shiny with all the colors with three different finishes which include creams, sparkles, and soft shimmers. Every one is smooth and chunky-free regardless of how much sparkle there is. Pigment of these glosses is on the soft side which I’d describe as sheer to medium. I can only speak to the neutrals, but with some I can build color without layering too much. I’d say if you like the Chanel Rouge Coco Gloss or Marc Jacobs Enamored Hi-Shine Lip Lacquers, you will love these. The Pat McGrath LUST: Gloss is cushiony and shiny like the Marc Jacobs glosses but with more a bit more visible pigment. They also have that pretty shine and color the Chanel ones have but aren’t as thick in texture.
Aliengelic is a duochrome pink and white pearl, clear base with sparkles, sheer
Dare to Bare is a sheer milky pink gold duo chrome shimmer, sheer to medium pigment
Flesh Astral is a tan base with gold shimmer, medium pigment
Pale Fire Nectar is a duo chrome pink peach pearl, it swatches on the arm almost clear but the sparkles show up more on the lips with a reflective quality that adds color, sheer
Aphrodisiac is the perfect warm baby pink cream, coverage is medium
Flesh Fantasy is a warm neutral tan with a hint of pink, coverage is medium
Divine Rose is a perfect lush rose with fine shimmer, pigment is sheer medium
Swatches
Another set in direct sunlight so you can see how the shimmer shifts a little:
Lip Swatches:
Close Ups
Close ups of each shade as some of you have asked for bigger lip swatch photos. Note I have naturally pigmented lips. If you see something that looks like a dark line around the edges, it’s not lip liner, it’s just my natural lip color showing through as the finish of these is slightly transparent. Aliengelic:
Lasting power is pretty good for a cushiony gloss. They stay put for a few hours and don’t slide around for a long time. They aren’t transfer proof if you eat or drink, but that’s expected. I don’t mind reapplying. The sparkles are very pretty and super wearable. As a gloss lover I’m thrilled. Packaging is sleek and no-fuss with the sponge applicator. The colors are soft and pretty, easy to wear alone or on top of a liner. If you love ultra pigmented gloss or lip products you will find these too sheer but I personally love these. I cannot pick a favorite – all the colors are ones I would wear every single day, but I do have a soft spot for Aphrodisiac, Divine Rose, Pale Fire Nectar. Bottom line love.
These glosses will launch today online at Pat McGrath Labs. They retail for $28 each individually but there are sets available that will give you a nice price break for buying the bundles.
I have another round of Pat McGrath Labs lip products to review today including her Lip Fetish Lip Balm ($38) and more shades of her LuxeTrance and Matte Trance Lipsticks ($38 each, available at Pat McGrath and Sephora). I discovered her lip products last holiday and reviewed nine of her lipsticks in this post here. I think her lipsticks are among the best I have ever tried for the creamy texture, rich pigment, smooth application and color selection. If you haven’t tried them I highly recommend you do.
Since my initial review, I purchased two more lipsticks and her lip balm. She has also launched new shades and I received three shades as press samples. Everything is excellent in quality, pigment, and lasting power. They do run on the high side price-wise but I think her products are 100% worth the splurge. Update: The shade I labeled Full Bodied is actually called Full Blooded. Sorry for the typo!
Thoughts, swatches and lip swatches below.
Lip Fetish Lip Balm is something exclusive to her website and it keeps selling out. It has restocked a couple times it since the initial launch and I admit I did not have high expectations for this. $38 for a lip balm is steep although I do own more expensive options. I have been completely impressed with this formula. It’s smooth, nicely hydrating and feels amazing. I wish I had kept the box so I could share the ingredients with you, but unfortunately I did not.
La Beija (LuxeTrance formula) is a peachy beige, this one was constantly sold out at my local Sephora. I snapped it up as soon as I saw it back in stock and like it for a peachy color. It can run a little dark for my taste, I think Vendetta or Donatella have a more neutral undertone which make them both easier for me to wear.
Femmebot (MatteTrance formula) is medium pink with blue tones, it’s not too blue on my skin so it’s very wearable for me. Sextrology is a bit more neutral. It has a soft sheen to it even though it has a matte finish. It’s more of a modern matte to me.
Venus in Furs (MatteTrance formula) is a neutral-cool rose, to me this pulls almost grey on my lips. It has a similar vibe to the NARS Velvet Lip Glide in Paradise Garage. On my lips, Venus in Furs is a darker version of 1995.
Vendetta (MatteTrance) is a bold matte red. I’ve said that the Christian Louboutin Rouge is the best classic red I’ve tried. I think Vendetta comes in very close behind. This one has a more glossy finish in the lip swatch because at this point in lip swatching and wiping my lips were dry so I had to apply balm underneath.
Full Blooded (MatteTrance) is one of the prettiest bold plums I’ve ever seen.
Overall thumbs up on everything. I gravitate towards neutrals and she has a lot of amazing colors for neutral lip lovers. There is a nice range of different undertones to suit every skin color. They do have a soft vanilla scent but I love it. Lip products are full coverage but have a smooth finish. Long-time readers know I don’t like matte finish lipsticks in general. Her MatteTrance lipsticks have a velvety matte that doesn’t look flat or dry. They feel comfortable on the lips and last a long time. Her Lip Fetish Lip Balm was definitely worth the splurge for me. I’m not sure it’s something I’ll repurchase once I use up, but I do really like it and find it’s nice to have a balm in a twist up form that is dense enough that it doesn’t break at the base.
Out of all the new shades, my favorites are Femmebot and Full Blooded. In terms of her best neutrals for me I still like Realness and Sextrology the most. Bottom line there is a lot to love, formula and color-wise. I was really intrigued by Peep Show at Sephora but I swatched it on my hand and felt it was going to be a little too pale for me (Valletta is the best light-neutral for me in her lineup).
You can find Pat McGrath Labs products at Pat McGrath and Sephora. Have you tried any of her lip products? What did you think?
Venus in Furs, Vendetta and Full Bodied are press samples. All others purchased by me.
