Archived Post

What are your weaknesses when it comes to lipsticks?

Luminous/pearly finishes — it can be hard to find, particularly at sub-$30 price points. I love shine, creaminess, and a little shimmer in my lip color.

— Christine

28 Comments

Comments that do not adhere to our comment policy may be removed. Discussion and debate are highly encouraged but we expect community members to participate respectfully. Please keep discussion on-topic, and if you have general feedback, a product review request, an off-topic question, or need technical support, please contact us!

Please help us streamline the comments' section and be more efficient: double-check the post above for more basic information like pricing, availability, and so on to make sure your question wasn't answered already. Comments alerting us to typos or small errors in the post are appreciated (!) but will typically be removed after errors are fixed (unless a response is needed).

We appreciate enthusiasm for new releases but ask readers to please hold questions regarding if/when a review will be posted as we can't commit to or guarantee product reviews. We don't want to set expectations and then disappoint readers as even products that are swatched don't always end up being reviewed due to time constraints and changes in priorities! Thank you for understanding!

Comments on this post are closed.
Brittany Avatar

Long wearing, yet not over-drying (like matte liquid lipsticks). I’ve gotten rid of most of my matte liquid lipsticks because my lips have become very sensitive over the past year or so and I just can’t handle drying formulas anymore.

As for colors, I’m a huge sucker for “dead” shades, like greys, taupes, cool-toned browns. I also love cool/dark purples and unique shades like dark blue or green.

Mariella Avatar

I prefer a creamy or satiny finish over matte, both for feel and look. No nude lipsticks for this lady and the same for odd colours like blue, green, brown, etc. Cool shades in reds or berry tones (MAC Craving, Smashbox Red Rage and UD F-Bomb sort of illustrate my favourite colours) and sometimes, a slightly warmer or browned red – Guerlain Habit Rouge or UD Mrs. Mia Wallace – works well for autumn/cooler weather.

CeeBee Avatar

Lipsticks that have that “juicy” look to them (without having to use gloss over) – vivid pigmentation, satin creme finish and a little bit of sheen. Something that lasts well and doesn’t have a horrible scent is a bonus too.

Robin Avatar

Oh my, lipsticks are my weakness ! I don’t know why I am such a sucker for lipsticks ,especially Chanel . My issue is finding ones that don’t seep in to my lip lines right away . I’m with you on the shine and touch of shimmer , Christina. Thus I usually always combine two lipsticks .

Ginny Avatar

Thin, medium coverage, hydrating formulas that smooth the lips and have a nice shine. Like Chanel rouges or Guerlain Kiss Kiss. Expensive weakness!

Dominique Avatar

My favorites at this moment are the velvet finish liquid lipsticks the ones that aren’t completely transfer proof but don’t suck the life out of your lips. Like the Huda Beauty Liquid Mattes or the Kylie Cosmetics Velvet Liquid Lipsticks. I really love the Jeffree Star formula for a full on transfer proof finish. I had purchased his Summer Collection 16 and he mixed watermelon flavor into the liquid lipstick and it messed up the formula. I was disappointed and hadn’t bought any other of his lipsticks since then. I decided to take a chance and try the Mini Velour Liquid Lipstick set of nudes he recently released with 8 shades and I love them all. For a traditional lipstick I really love the Tarte Color Splash Lipsticks. For Gloss I’m into the Huda Beauty Lip Strobes and the Kylie Cosmetics and Anastasia Beverly Hills glosses. Toppers I love Lime Crime Diamond Crushers they are so iridescent,metallic, and sparkly. Every time I wear one I get tons of compliments they are just really different and eye catching. Obviously I’m have a serious lipstick obsession??‍♀️

Brenda C Avatar

Pat McGrath’s lip line has been amazing. The last matt lip glosses that I purchased came with little pots of glitter that you pat on before the lip gloss dries down, the effect is amazing, you can put as much or as little glitter on as you want. I just put a little hint on and it stays on for hours and the colors of the lip glosses are so nice I just can’t get over how nice they are, I’m obsessed.

Genevieve Avatar

Where do I start? I just love creamy, glossy lipsticks – not mattes at all. My particular weakness is in bronzy brown russet shades and reds. I also like ginger shades too.
My favourite brands are Milani (Colour Statement), Elizabeth Arden Ceramide, some Maybelline’s and Clarins Joli Rouge.

WildDove Avatar

Christine, I totally agree with you on the luminous pearly finishes, shine, creaminess, and shimmer preferences. Revlon and Cover Girl used to have great options in those areas, but not so much in recent years. NYX Round lipsticks still cover all of those bases, not long lasting, but I can reapply, and the price is very reasonable.

I’ve been enjoying Bobbi Brown Luxe lipsticks in the last year.

Betty Avatar

Like you I am looking for a creamy comfortable feel on the lips, and luminosity but doesn’t have to be high shine. Sometimes I want opaque and other times a sheer color is good, depending on time of day and occasion. I like a range of colors but not the off the beaten path ones like white/black/blue/green/grey. Absolutely non-drying or it doesn’t have a chance. I’d prefer a formula that doesn’t last a lot of hours and needs to be re-applied to one that lasts but looks cakey and or dries my lips.

Veronica Avatar

Gray-purples and muted berry shades, I’m a sucker for those regardless of price point! Still looking for the perfect dupe of ELF’s “Dusty Rose” aka my favorite lipstick ever.

Silvia Avatar

I prefer mattes I don’t find they dry my lips at all wearing Chapstick under everytime. I collected most of WetnWild colors and really love them they stay put and even after eating or drinking a nice stain remains on lips so I like them for that very same reason they don’t disappear easily and I can always choose to put a little gloss on top or not. But I’ll take lipsticks in any shape or form they are my main weakness followed by blush and eyeshadows. Some of my favorites are Cherry Picking, Cherry Bomb, Mauve Outta Here. Bare it all is a beautiful light natural shade and a light Peachy one they have are gorgeous but nudes don’t look too good on me being pale I like it bright. Really love them! Their pencil lip stains are great too beautiful shades! Liquid lipsticks are good also but for my next purchases I’ll be sticking to lipsticks. I find liquid ones a bit more of a challenge to apply on corners of lips. On WetnWild just wish the cap would stay better put but being careful I don’t mind when the quality is awesome for the price. ?

Gilad Avatar

I look for paraben-free, as ‘clean’ as possible list of ingredients, since basically we end up eating it.
Beyond that I want everything, and haven’t found it yet: precise definition, a plump smooth look, long lasting, uber flattering color, and I like me some pearl/shimmer, too. PML, Tilbury and Guerlain are on my list to try.

Jenny B Avatar

I love nourishing lipsticks that have a creamy, satiny finish, and the colours that make me swoon are the subdued raspberry shades that make me lips look extra full and kissable.

Nina Avatar

I LOVE frosted/Pearl lipsticks ! My go to (I’ve bought probably 100) since its been out is Revlon #420 Blushed. Also love Revlon Wine With Everything (Pearl) !!

We try to approve comments within 24 hours (and reply to them within 72 hours) but can sometimes get behind and appreciate your patience! 🙂 If you have general feedback, product review requests, off-topic questions, or need technical support, please contact us directly. Thank you for your patience!