I prefer medium coverage or higher as I find sheer coverage often emphasizes the natural unevenness in my lip color and that they aren’t that long-wearing. Like I don’t mind if it doesn’t wear like iron, but I don’t want to feel like I need to reapply every couple of hours!
— Christine
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I love sheer lipsticks for a more natural look. But what I don’t love is that they tend to bleed and feather on me.
I have quite pigmented mauvish lips (except when I’m sick an they go completely pale), so for me sheer lipstick doesn’t make sense. I always prefer a medium to opaque coverage, so I can rock the color of the lipstick; to me it’s not worth wearing a sheer lipstick, I might just apply a lip balm.
The only thing I don’t like is that the wear time on sheer lipsticks isn’t very good. It doesn’t bother me as much, though, if the lippie is $20 or less as opposed to $40!!!
I love how easy they are to apply, don’t have to be so precise, at least with the pinky colours I wear, and I love how they often have a nice glossy texture. I also love how, because they are sheer, they blend with your natural tones and end up fitting your face really well.
I’m okay with them as long as they have a formula the easily, and seamlessly, builds up to at least medium coverage. Certain ones immediately come to mind, ie; UD Bruise or Sheer Slowburn. Also, ones that have some shimmer in them can work on my lips, too. For example, MAC VG V or UD Broken.
Conversely, I really dislike deep, vampy sheer shades, as they almost always apply streaky or blotchy. Same goes for almost all light ones, as well. Add to that that I also have uneven lip pigmentation, and many sheer lipsticks just look funky on me!
Love: They can look juicy and polished, but at the same time not trying too hard
Hate: reapplication, tendency to migrate
Love: broad range of colors look good cause underlying tones show through. Like the glossy finish and more natural vibe. Especially like them with a tan.
They often migrate, don’t last long.
Now that the weather is warming up I’m starting to dig out my sheerer lipsticks. I love that they’re so moisturizing and don’t need a mirror for applying.
I like them when they wear off and leave a bit of a stain. (Chanel coco shine or the ysl Volupté shine). Some sheer lippies however I feel are a bit too sheer. Not worth it really imo. I don’t tend to be drawn to those formulas.
Same as for it not being long lasting. Also, the coverage, I’d just as soon wear a tinted balm for the price than a sheer lipstick.
LIKE: I liked sheer lipstick as a teenager–lipstick can feel intimidating when you’re unsure about putting a strong color on your lips. There is less stress for if you don’t apply the color on precisely whereas a dark high-pigment lipstick needs more care and precision. It’s also easy-breezy for the rest of the face too–a statement lip best stands against a backdrop of a flawless face and for me, that would require base–and some more time and effort. If I want to skip the base makeup and just put a little color on the lip–a sheer lip would do fine. For a glossy sheen topper, I also tend to prefer sheer lipstick bullets over a liquid gloss with a doe-foot applicator. Glossy lip bullets are better than glossy liquids as far as shelf life and plane travel.
DISLIKE: there’s not much I dislike. I feel like it’s in the nature of a sheer lipstick to have low opacity and anything with a juicy sheen to need more reapplication. I would not spend a lot on a gloss topper. I’m really glad brands are bringing back glossy lipsticks with sheer-medium coverage
I like sheer lipsticks bc they’re often moisturizing
However, I prefer pigmented lipsticks bc I have methods of thinning out the color
I just don’t like sheer lipsticks at all – the colours often end up looking wishy washy on me and they never last beyond 5 minutes.
I like ALL sheer lipsticks! I am older and find that heavy lippies and matte lippies look awful and aging on the older woman. Sorry lipsticks with a hint of color I think are more flattering on a face with lip lines. Sorry if you don’t agree but you’re not there yet (old that is). Have you ever seen an older woman with heavy lipstick? It’s not flattering.
LIKE: I like when they still have enough pigment to color my lips. I like them for when I have a colorful or dramatic eye look that I want to take center stage, but still want something bright on my lips. I like that they’re more moisturizing than mattes.
DISLIKE: When they’re under-pigmented and read as uncolored on the lips. They don’t last as long as opaque colors. They’re more prone to bleeding. Dark shades can look patchy or streaky.
I intensely dislike sheer lip products with high price points. There’s no need for me to spend $50 on something when the same color and staying power can be found for 1/10th the price.
I prefer more opaque lipstick. If I want something sheer I’ll opt for lip gloss which is pretty rare. It’s all just a personal preference.
I like lipsticks with stronger coverage. That said, sheer lipsticks do mix well with other lipsticks, so I like that about them.
They can be a fun topper to change the look of another lippie or good for a casual wash of color but honestly I just don’t think about them. If I’m reaching for something sheer it’s probably a tinted balm.
I guess I don’t understand the point of sheer lipsticks, especially from mid-tier to higher end brands. I can always sheer out a pigmented product with different application/blotting methods or application of additional products, but I can rarely build up coverage from a sheer lipstick. And there’s a myriad of tinted lip balms available darn near everywhere at a fraction of the price with greater moisturizing properties.
Of the few I’ve liked enough to buy, the common theme is they at least have enough pigment to make a noticeable tint to my lips and a difference between shades (there have been some releases I’ve seen swatched where if you told me all 10 swatches were the same lipstick I would believe you because there just wasn’t enough differentiation between shades).
Being pale as a ghost, sheer lipsticks are much better and more natural looking with my skin. Don’t get me wrong, I love a good, strong red as much as the next woman. But for everyday wear, sheer lipsticks just go better with my skin and pull less attention away from the colorful eye shadow that I tend to prefer.