Lips Archives - Page 3 of 23 - The Beauty Look Book

New Hourglass Lip Launches: Unlocked Soft Matte Lipstick, Lip Liners + New Shades Phantom Glossy Balm

February 6, 2024

My spring lip testing continues with a look at the newest launches from Hourglass Cosmetics. They launched a new Unlocked Soft Matte Lipstick ($38 each), Shape and Sculpt Lip Liners ($29 each) and four new shades of their Phantom Volumizing Glossy Balm ($36). I hauled these from Sephora but they’re also available at Hourglass, Nordstrom, Bluemercury, Neiman Marcus and all Hourglass retailers.

Unlocked Soft Matte Lipstick

The Unlocked Soft Matte Lipstick is a soft blurred matte lipstick with full coverage. They’re very opaque with full coverage and according to Hourglass they’re infused with a primer for smooth application. I found they did indeed apply smoothly but there was some tugging and looked dry on my lips. Granted a matte finish can look dry, but these felt like they sucked all the moisture from my lips making them feel a little tight.

Most of the colors I tried pulled very warm on me. The matte finish made these look a little muted/faded on me, but it could just be the colors I picked out. They swatch beautifully on the hand. On my darker pigmented lips I did not really like any of these shades. Poppy is pretty and right along the lines of a shade I would wear, but in real life it emphasizes my lip lines and looks very dry.

I do think they are long-wearing but they felt so dry & uncomfortable on my lips I couldn’t leave them on long enough to see how long they would last.

Magnolia is a pale warm nude pink
Tulip is a cool-toned pink
Tigerlily is a burnt orange
Peony is a warm brown beige
Foxglove is a very warm berry
Poppy is a muted coral (not shown above because I dropped it and the entire tube was smashed)

Swatches:

For skin tone reference I am a match to the Veil Hydrating Skin Tint in Shade 9 right now (reviewed in this post here). I think the original/regular Unlocked Lipsticks are far superior in terms of formula, comfort and color selection.

Shape and Sculpt Lip Liners

There are seven new Shape and Sculpt Lip Liners. As a neutral lip lover I picked up the four lightest colors. Formula is very long-wearing. Application is relatively smooth. Shades pull very warm and I’m not sure the colors aren’t unique enough to justify if you already own a lot of neutrals.

Shade 1 Expose does not show up on my lips, but these days I feel like most of the new lighter neutral pencils do not
Shade 2 Flaunt is a warm pink rose beige
Shade 3 Tempt is a deeper brown pink
Shade 4 Undercover is a darker terracotta brown rose

Phantom Volumizing Glossy Balm

Last we have a look at the new shades of Phantom Volumizing Glossy Balm. I love this formula although in the hot summer months they can get a little melty in the tube. They’re soft, glossy, hydrating and have a slight cooling sensation. Hourglass added the 2 shades from their Holiday 2024 Duo Set and I’m thrilled they’re permanent! These are very balmy so the lasting power isn’t super long, but this is a formula I don’t mind reapplying. Just an FYI price for what you get is pretty high. A number of you have told me to me these were not worth it for you because you used them up in a matter of a few weeks with daily use and re-application. I kinda agree, but I like these enough to splurge on. New Shades include:

Crave – warm pink
Rouse – plum brown
Reveal – bluer-toned pink (cooler version of Crave)
Wish a pretty coral color

I swatched these next to some of the other Phantom Glossy Balms I own:

Overall the matte lipsticks are a miss for me. I think there are better matte lip formulas out there like from brands like Pat McGrath, Lisa Eldridge, Charlotte Tilbury and Armani to name a few. That being said I usually do not like or wear matte lips and I have seen a lot of positive reviews on these – I might be the only one who does not love these.

Lip liners aren’t bad. The colors don’t really jump out to me, but formula is long-wearing and I think they could be neutral staples if you don’t have a lot of lip pencils.

I love the new shades of Phantom Glossy Balm. I think they’re fresh, flattering and perfect for year round – they have me looking forward to warm weather months.

Available now at Sephora, Hourglass, Nordstrom, Bluemercury, Neiman Marcus and all Hourglass retailers.

That wraps up my Hourglass lip launch review! If you tried these let me know what you thought!

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Bronzer + Blush Lips

Valentino Beauty Eye2Cheek 03 Rosa Emozione + Satin Lipstick 100R Roman Grace

January 11, 2024

I have a mini review today featuring two things I bought recently. Valentino Beauty launched a few items in white and gold limited-edition packaging and I picked them up over the past few months. I picked up the Rosso Valentino Satin Lipstick in 100R Roman Grace ($45) and Eye2Cheek Blush + Shadow in 03 Rosa Emozione ($52). Both shades are part of the permanent lineup so if you can’t find the white packaging edition know they are still available in the classic red + gold.

Eye2Cheek Blush

It’s been a while since I’ve played with Valentino Beauty (review + swatches from several years ago when the line first launched here). Over the holiday I started playing with some of the Eye2Cheek shades in 04 and 08 which many of you really loved. I forgot how silky smooth they are! You can use them on both the eyes and cheeks, but since I have mostly pink and coral shades I’ve been using them as blush.

These have a very fine soft powdery texture. They’re so soft and silky they almost feel creamy to the touch. Finish has a very fine pearl sheen to most of them, but a few have a more noticeable shimmer. Shade 03 Rosa Emozione is a beautiful baby pink with gold shimmer. It can double as a highlighter since it’s shimmery. I think it’s beautiful!

Swatch comparisons below to a few other shades including RMS Beauty ReDimension Hydra Powder Blush in French Rose, NARS Powder Blush in Orgasm (a classic for me), a few other Valentino Eye2Cheek shades, Hourglass Ambient Lighting Powder Blush in Sublime Flush and Chanel Illuminating Powder Blush in Fantaise de Chanel (review here, discontinued).

Rosso Valentino Satin Lipstick

I bought the Rosso Valentino Satin Lipstick in 100R (shade in permanent packaging here) a few months ago while traveling and it’s the perfect neutral nude mauve pink for me. It has a satin finish so it has a little bit of a sheen to it. I think I tried this in a mini several years ago and I’m not sure why I didn’t wear it more often. I really love it now. The case is refillable for both the red and white packaging.

I did a few swatch comparisons below which I will say look a little off but I suspect it’s because my body has completely lost its tan. These rose mauve lips all look so darker on lighter skin tones because of any brown or mauve undertone they may have. On my face/lips they don’t look as dark.

Charlotte Tilbury Matte Revolution in Pillow Talk, Gucci Satin Lipsticks in Blaze of Noon and Bertha Blossom (review here), Anastasia Beverly Hills Lipstick in Rose Dream (on the lips here), Chantecaille Lip Chic in Freesia (review here), YSL Rouge Pur Couture in N5 (swatched here).

Overall really love. I think the Valentino Beauty line is really under-rated and I suspect it’s because of the packaging. So may of you have told me the packaging colors are a bit clashy looking and the plastic has a cheap look and feel. I have to say I agree. The packaging is actually well-constructed and sturdy but there’s something about the plastic in red that makes it kinda unappealing. The white plastic is the same material but somehow looks more elevated. That being said the actual products perform really well.

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I bought mine from Sephora. You can also find Valentino Beauty at Nordstrom, Neiman Marcus and Bloomingdale’s.

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Lips

Makeup By Mario SuperSatin Lipstick

January 8, 2024

There’s a new lipstick launch from Makeup By Mario called the SuperSatin Lipstick ($28 each). They just launched at Sephora in 18 shades and the formula is beautiful! I was fortunate to receive them in PR so I’ve swatched them all.

Formula is super creamy and opaque with full coverage. Texture is super smooth and while they’re called “satin” they pull more on the slightly creamy/glossy side in finish. They feel a little thick when you swipe them on but not heavy. Color adheres really well and has good lasting power as long as your lips don’t touch anything. Since it’s more of a traditional lipstick it’s not transferproof but I have been really impressed with the lasting power. The glossy/creamy finish makes them feel conformable on the lips and slightly hydrating. There is a subtle vanilla scent but it’s very subtle to me.

On the nails: Shade 175 Skieuse

Color range is pretty good with a mix of neutrals, reds, bolds. I do think the neutrals are a bit tricky to know how they’ll pull on your complexion until you try them. I loved the way so many of his Ultra Suede Lipsticks looked in the tube and swatched on the arm but most of them pulled a lot lighter on my lips. For me most of the new SuperSatin tones are easier for me to pull off although there are definitely a few that did not work for my skin tone.

Quick note that some of the tones looked warmer in the tube but on my lips they pulled a lot cooler/neutral. Most of you already know that I have a darker natural lip tone that almost looks purple sometimes. If you have a more pink or lighter lip color I think most of the light tones will look a lot better on you than they do on me.

Midtown is a stunning neutral light pink beige (but looks like concealer on me)
Flatiron is a light beige
South Shore is a nude pink (a bit deeper than Midtown)
Bronx Baby is a neutral-cool light brown pink
(917) is a neutral-cool pink mauve
Nolita is a mauve pink
Dumbo is a 90s-ish brown rose
Soho is the perfect soft peach
Uptown Girl is a burnt orange
Harlem is a classic red
Chelsea is an electric fire engine red shade
West Village is a fuchsia pink
Broadway is a cool-toned pink
Tribeca is a blue based red
Rockefeller is a classic bold brick red
Forest Hills is a plum brown
Central Park is a deeper brown
Downtown Girl is an even deeper brown

I lip swatched a few of them for the blog but if you want to see them all in action I posted them here on Reels (quick note the last shade featured is Downtown Girl, apologize for the typo!). For Skintone Reference I’m wearing the Chanel No1 de Chanel Revitalizing Foundation in B40 (reviewed + swatches here).

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A post shared by Sabrina Shorb (@beautylookbook)

Overall I really like these. Formula gets a solid A+ but not all the colors work for me which is expected. I think it’s rare that anyone would love every single shade in a lipstick launch. I think they have a great range. I would love to see some of the MoistureGlow Lip Serums or Plumping Lip Colors in this kind of full coverage longer wearing formula.

My favorite is Soho. I also really like (917) and I think I can make South Shore work sometimes even though it’s pale, I may need to add a liner. According to many of you Rockefeller is THE winning shade, I didn’t swatch it for the blog but you can check it out on my Reel. I agree it’s a really beautiful classic kind of bold lip with the perfect undertone.

Available at Sephora and Makeup By Mario.

SuperSatin Lipsticks gifted for review.

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Lips

Tarte Maracuja Juicy Lip Plump Shimmer Glass

January 3, 2024

Tarte launched a shimmery version of their viral Maracuja Juicy Lip Plump – Shimmer Glass ($24) and as a huge fan of the formula and shimmery lips I ordered nearly all the shades to try. There are 12 shades total available at Tarte Cosmetics and 8 are available at Sephora. (I picked up all the colors except for the purple one.)

After testing the colors I will say the shimmer is quite intense but there is no texture/gritty feel. They’re very smooth just like the other Maracuja Juicy Lips. Feedback from many of you based on my Lip Swatches here are very mixed. Some of you are LIVING for these 90s shimmer vibes. Some of you absolutely hate it.

I liked some of the shades – mainly the warmer ones or bolder colors. The cooler tones ended up looking significantly more frosty on my lips (almost blue) but I suspect that is mainly because my lip tone is on the deeper side. Colors I tried:

Pearl Shimmer Glass is a white frosty pearl, this one is the most contrasted with my natural lip for an icy white finish.
Soft Pink Shimmer Glass is a beautiful pale champagne pink with some violet/blue flashes, this one pulled very cool toned on my lips.
Peach Shimmer Glass is one of my favorites, it’s a soft pale peach champagne, similar to Soft Pink, but warmer so this one was more flattering on my lips.
Sunflower Shimmer Glass is a yellow shimmer, just like a sunflower, I feel like the stock promo photos with this shade are misleading and don’t match up among all the photos. Most of the stock photos show a very pale yellow shimmer, in real life it’s a true sunny looking yellow.
Coral Shimmer Glass is a beautiful bright coral shade, but this one pulls very frosty. I think I would love it in a non-shimmer version.
Pink Shimmer Glass is a cool baby pink, also very blue on my skin tone, not flattering, but it’s so pretty in the tube.
Rose Shimmer Glass is a beautiful soft pink rose.
Rosy Copper Shimmer Glass was one of the shades in their holiday sets, this is a very pretty coppery shade.
Rosy Mauve Shimmer Glass is a cool-toned mauve, it’s cool but not too cool, I really like this color.
Berry Shimmer Glass is a stunning plum red. Reminds me of MAC Sophisto with a bit more shimmer.
Ruby Shimmer Glass is another pretty one, it’s a soft red shimmer, not too deep, not too warm, just right.

I have all of them swatched on the lips in this Reel. I photographed my favorites along with one I didn’t love (the Pink one) to show how cool-toned it is.

Sweater is from Sezane, Nail Color is OPI Gemini and I, Anchor Chain Necklace Mejuri.

Lip swatches of all shades in action:

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A post shared by Sabrina Shorb (@beautylookbook)

Overall I’ve found a few I really like and have been keeping in my purse the last few weeks. I don’t think they’ll be for everyone – the shimmer is a bit intense, but for some of the shades the shimmer is only intense if you’re in direct sunlight or studio lights.

Top 3 favorites are: Rosy Copper, Peach and Berry. I’m undecided on this level of shimmer/frost. I didn’t like them in the most recent Dior Addict Lip Maximizers or the Chantecaille Holiday lip. I think it depends on the color and how the tones pull on your complexion.

Available now at Tarte and Sephora.

Have you tried these yet? What did you think? More beauty newness coming soon including the new Makeup by Mario SuperSatin Lipsticks, Chanel Beauty newness (just launched online here, here and here) and a tinted lip balm roundup too!

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Dior Lips

Dior Addict Lip Maximizers – New Fall/Holiday Shades

December 13, 2023

Dior added new shades of the Addict Lip Maximizer ($40) and as a huge fan of the formula I ordered them immediately in 065 Icy Blue, 066 Shimmer Candy and 067 Shimmer Rose Gold. You can see them in action here. Available at Dior and Sephora.

I also added swatches and lip swatches of the three that launched in the fall 049 Pure Copper, 050 Holo Silver and 051 Nude Bloom so I could do a comprehensive post (these are also swatched in action here).

Icy Blue

065 Icy Blue is a sheer milky pale blue. I thought it would be fun to try something a little more trendy. Based on the feedback on my swatch session here half of you love it, the other half do not. I think it’s really fun but it’s not really flattering on my lip/skin tone.

Look also wearing:

Foundation – Laura Mercier Real Flawless Foundation 3W0 Sandstone
Powder – Givenchy Prisme Libre Shade 3
Bronzer – Rare Beauty Warm Wishes Bronzer Always Sunny
Eyeshadow – Natasha Denona Mini Starlette Palette
Mascara – YSL Lash Clash

Shimmer Candy

066 Shimmer Candy was the shade I was most excited for but it’s a very frosty pale pink. Almost looks like a pale off white shimmer on my lips giving that 80s/90s vibe but not in a good way. It does work beautifully on top of a bright lip to add dimension.

Shimmer Rose Gold

067 Shimmer Rose Gold is probably my favorite of the three new holiday shades. It’s also very metallic, almost duo chrome but it doesn’t pull as frosty as the pink one.

The three that launched in September are much better and easier to wear I my opinion.

Pure Copper

049 Pure Copper is a stunning bronzey sparkle with different colored flecks. It is very similar to Shimmer Hazelnut so if you already own it you can probably skip this one.

Holo Silver

050 Holo Silver is a clear base loaded with silver and blue sparkles. I love the dimension in this, I think it’s beautiful alone or on top of another lip color. Photos in person do not do it justice!

Nude Bloom

051 Nude Bloom is my favorite. It has a peachy pink base with some ultra fine gold shimmer mixed in. It’s just SO beautiful. I bought a back up just in case it’s limited-edition. If you like Rosewood (more pink rose) I think you’ll love Nude Bloom which is a peachy shimmer version.

Overall love the fall shades Pure Copper, Holo Silver and Nude Bloom. Also really like the Shimmer Rose Gold. If I had been able to swatch or see the other two shades in person I would have passed.

If you had your eye on any of these, I hope you find these swatches helpful!

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Shades Available at Dior and Sephora.

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Lips

Refy Beauty Tinted Lip Gloss Review

November 29, 2023

Refy Beauty is one of those brands that keeps popping up on my radar. I’ve seen so many rave about their brow products so I ordered a few items to try like the Brow Pencil and while I really liked them, I feel like my tried and true brow staples from Benefit or Anastasia Beverly Hills were more my vibe.

I did a poll on stories asking you if you’ve tried the brand and what you loved. Dozens of you told me to try their Tinted Lip Gloss so I ordered all six shades along with a few of the Lip Sculpt. You can find them at Refy Beauty and most of the items also at Sephora.

Here are three things I’ve tried and love.

Tinted Lip Gloss

The Tinted Lip Gloss ($20) is available in six shades and clear. They also launched a limited-edition Red color for holiday but it seems to have sold out. The Tinted Lip Glosses are smooth with sheer-medium pigment, not quite super sheer and not quite medium, but somewhere in between.

They’re described as a lip gloss with the benefits of a balm. They feel very comfortable on the lips and while they don’t last a long time on me they last long enough that I don’t have to constantly reapply. They do not have any scent or taste. I love the glossy finish and every single neutral shade is amazing. A few of them look similar on me as my natural lip shows through.

Taupe, Blush and Rosewood are the lightest options all variations of a neutral pink. Fawn is a beautiful tan beige. Dusk is a beautiful warm pink. Sepia is a cool toned brownish plum. I think it’s hard to pick a favorite but I really love Rosewood, Dusk and Taupe.

Below swatches of all shades, also wearing:

Foundation – Too Faced Born This Way Healthy Glow Tint in Warm Beige
Powder – Givenchy Prisme Libre Shade 3
Eyeshadow – Patrick Ta Major Dimension Eyeshadow Palette
Brows – Benefit Precisely My Brow Shade 2.5
Bronzer – Refy Cream Bronzer in Tan
Tank – Reformation (wearing XS)

Overall really love. They have a metal tip applicator which can get kinda messy when you swipe them over the lips to blend the product. You will have to wipe it clean after use but it’s not a deal breaker. The only thing I would change is the packaging color. Right now they’re all the exact same color. If they had some kind of stripe or tinted exterior (like Summer Fridays or Rhode) it would make it so much easier to grab the shade you want just from looking at the tube (versus reading the tiny print on the back). Some shades have launched at Sephora but you can find all of them at Refy Beauty.

Swatches in action here:

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Lip Sculpt

The Lip Sculpt ($26) has so many mixed reviews and after testing some of the shades I also have mixed feelings. These are available in the same colors as the gloss. I absolutely LOVE the colors. Pigment is pretty good. I’m not the biggest fan of the formula though. If you have dry lips (ie if you don’t have lip balm on or a primer) they will tug. I know with any matte kind of formula there will be some level of tugging but these aren’t the easiest to apply because they set quickly. They have a pencil at one end and a setting product on the other side which I do not like at all. It has an odd texture and almost off-white finish.

Cream Bronzer

Last I tried one of the Cream Bronzers ($26) in Tan. I love the color and the formula is pretty good. It doesn’t have the best lasting power for all day wear on my skin type and in Florida weather, but it’s nice for a night out or if you have dry skin. For a cream bronzer I still swear by the Chanel Les Beiges Healthy Glow Bronzing Cream or Rare Beauty Warm Wishes Effortless Bronzer Stick for better formula and wear time, but the ones from Refy Beauty aren’t bad.

That wraps up my Refy Beauty review! I ordered the Tinted Lip Glosses from the Refy Beauty website and a few things from Sephora.

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Have you tried anything from the line? What did you think? Hit or miss?

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Bobbi Brown Lips

Bobbi Brown Luxe Matte Lipstick Review

November 18, 2023

Bobbi Brown launched a new lipstick formula called the Luxe Matte Lipstick ($41 each). This formula replaced the original Luxe Matte Lipstick which I don’t think I tried before so I’m not sure how they compare, but the new one is as flawless as it gets for a matte lip.

To this day I’m still a glossy lip lover but the matte lip formulas keep getting better every year. My top favorite formulas are from Pat McGrath and Charlotte Tilbury and the new Bobbi Brown Luxe Matte formula is better (although I still really love the Pat McGrath ones).

Formula is ultra smooth and non-drying. The best part is they don’t look super dry either. I’d say they’re more of a velvety soft matte. Pigment is opaque and full coverage with a single swipe. The colors are all on point for the holiday season and they have a pretty good range of tones from neutrals, brown tones, bolds and reds.

As a neutral lip lover I would have loved if they made some of their best sellers like Bare, Blondie Pink and Buff in this formula, but I do see how that would be redundant and I can appreciate that they have new shades in this formula. (I think Pat McGrath has the best matte neutrals.)

Sunset Rose is a neutral-cool toned nude pink
Neutral Rose is a dusty rose
Boss Pink is a healthy warm pink
Parkside is a cool-toned brown
Afternoon Tea is a peachy almost orange shade
Big City Pink is a hot pink
Claret is a muted soft red
Ruby is a deep red
Power Play is an electric orange
Traffic Stopper is a bright warm red
Red Carpet is a true red
After Hours is a wine red

They’re not scented and lasting power is pretty good. They’re not transfer proof but I like the wear time and they feel very comfortable on the lips.

Swatches of some of the shades on the lips, also wearing:

Sweater – Jenni Kayne Cropped Cocoon (also available in regular length)
Foundation – Chanel No 1 de Chanel Foundation in B40
Powder – Givenchy Prisme Libre Loose Setting Powder Shade 3
Cheeks – Bobbi Brown Luxe Cheek and Highlight Palette in Rose Glow
Eyes – Bobbi Brown Luxe Eye Duo in Last Dance
Mascara – YSL Lash Clash
Nails – Olive and June Quick Dry in Penny

Bobbi Brown sent over a selection of their holiday sets and palettes. I am absolutely in love with the Luxe Eyeshadow Duo ($48) in Last Dance. I love the luxe eyeshadow shimmers and especially love the tones in this one! There are a few other shades but it looks like they may have already sold out as I cannot find them anywhere online.

This holiday they have a lot of their best-sellers packaged in bundles at a value price. They make for some great stocking stuffers like the Extra Lip Tint Duo ($35, $70 value), Confetti Crush Lip Trios ($30 for minis, $59 value) and All Eyes Aglow Long-Wear Cream Shadow Set with Moonstone, Taupe, Cinnamon, Mulberry and Soft Bronze + Mascara ($99, $197 value).

There are a few cheek palettes out this season. I tried the Luxe Cheek and Highlight Palette in Rose Glow ($62). At first glance I thought it would be too light for my medium skin tone but much to my surprise it shows up beautifully for a natural glow.

Overall love. I think there are some really beautiful pieces to wear for a fresh look this holiday but classic enough to be able to wear come spring.

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Available at Bobbi Brown, Saks, Nordstrom, Neiman Marcus and all Bobbi Brown retailers.

Holiday launches gifted by Bobbi Brown.

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Older Posts

Newer Posts

Lips

New Hourglass Lip Launches: Unlocked Soft Matte Lipstick, Lip Liners + New Shades Phantom Glossy Balm

Unlocked Soft Matte Lipstick

Shape and Sculpt Lip Liners

Phantom Volumizing Glossy Balm

Valentino Beauty Eye2Cheek 03 Rosa Emozione + Satin Lipstick 100R Roman Grace

Eye2Cheek Blush

Rosso Valentino Satin Lipstick

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Makeup By Mario SuperSatin Lipstick

Tarte Maracuja Juicy Lip Plump Shimmer Glass

Dior Addict Lip Maximizers – New Fall/Holiday Shades

Icy Blue

Shimmer Candy

Shimmer Rose Gold

Pure Copper

Holo Silver

Nude Bloom

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Refy Beauty Tinted Lip Gloss Review

Tinted Lip Gloss

Lip Sculpt

Cream Bronzer

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Bobbi Brown Luxe Matte Lipstick Review

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