Besame Holiday 2016 Mini Lipstick Set Review, Photos, Swatches
Besame Holiday 2016 Mini Lipstick Set
Besame Holiday 2016 Mini Lipstick Set ($25.00 for 0.18 oz.) includes five miniature sized lipsticks, which are all available individually (should you only like one or two, or perhaps, minis aren’t your cup of tea). The Classic Color Lipstick formula is described as a “budge-proof finish that stays put” with “smooth” color and a “satin meets matte” finish. It’s a nice set of medium and deeper shades with two reds, one burgundy, one rose, and one copper/brown. The tubes are really small, and of the minis this year, the size did feel awkward to use, though I did not have issues with breakage.
Value
- Classic Color Lipstick: $22.00 for 0.12 oz. or $183.33/oz.
- Total Value: $32.08
Noir Red 1930 is a blackened red with warm, brown undertones and a satin finish. It had good pigmentation, though not quite full coverage, that went on fairly evenly. Of the five, this had slight patchiness towards the center of the mouth and noticeable color that had settled in my lip lines. The color wore for six hours, left a stain behind, and was lightly hydrating. Bite Beauty #048 (P, $18.00) is darker (90% similar). MAC Velvet Rebellion (LE, $19.00) is warmer (90% similar). Pat McGrath McMenamy (LE, $38.00)(95% similar). Fenty Beauty Underdawg (LE, $24.00) is less shimmery (90% similar). MAC Double Fudge (DC, $21.00) is glossier (95% similar). MAC Living Legend (LE, $19.00) is warmer (95% similar). Tom Ford Beauty Saboteur (Right) (LE, ) is glossier (95% similar). Make Up For Ever C407 (DC, $22.00) is warmer, glossier (95% similar). MAC Phenomenal Woman (LE, $19.00) is cooler (90% similar). ColourPop Paramour (LE, $7.00) is warmer (90% similar). Burberry Black Cherry (57) (P, $34.00) is warmer (95% similar). Too Faced Chocolate Cherries (P, $21.00) is warmer (90% similar). KVD Beauty Motorhead (P, $19.00) is cooler, glossier (90% similar). Makeup Geek Risque (P, $15.00) is lighter (90% similar). ColourPop Tutu (LE, $7.00) is lighter (95% similar). Urban Decay Disturbed (DC, $18.00) is warmer (95% similar). YSL Prune Power (89) (P, $38.00) is more shimmery, cooler (90% similar). KVD Beauty Vampira (P, $19.00) is lighter (95% similar). Anastasia #13 (Vol. 1) (PiP, ) is darker (80% similar). MAC Dionysus (DC, $21.00) is lighter, brighter, glossier (85% similar). Top 20 dupes listed, see the rest. See comparison swatches / view dupes side-by-side.
Cherry Red 1935 is a medium-dark red with neutral-to-warm undertones and a cream finish. It had good color payoff that applied evenly and smoothly. The consistency was lightly creamy, light-medium in weight, and felt comfortable over the six hours it lasted. NARS Shirley (P, $34.00) is glossier (95% similar). NARS Rouge Indiscret (LE, $28.00) is less glossy (90% similar). Shiseido Bloodstone (RD503) (DC, $28.00) is more muted (90% similar). Make Up For Ever M402 (DC, $22.00) is lighter, more muted, less glossy (90% similar). NARS Infatuated Red (P, $27.00) is less glossy (95% similar). Chanel Rouge Noble (857) (LE, $45.00) is lighter (95% similar). Bite Beauty Red Velvet (DC, $24.00) is lighter (95% similar). Dior Diorling (LE, $40.00) is lighter (95% similar). Besame Red Velvet 1946 (PiP, $22.00) is lighter (90% similar). Chanel Blast (146) (P, $45.00) is more shimmery, darker, warmer (85% similar). NARS Codie (LE, $34.00) is lighter, less glossy (90% similar). NARS Hell Gate (LE, $28.00) is lighter, warmer, glossier (90% similar). Urban Decay Rock Steady (LE, $18.00) is lighter, brighter (90% similar). Givenchy Pourpre Edgy (326) (P, $36.00)(85% similar). ColourPop Avenue (DC, $6.50) is warmer, less glossy (90% similar). MAC Dubonnet (P, $19.00) is warmer (90% similar). Chanel Experimente (154) (P, $45.00) is more muted, cooler, less glossy (90% similar). NARS Eva (LE, $34.00) is darker, glossier (80% similar). MAC Brave Red (P, $19.00) is lighter, brighter (80% similar). See comparison swatches / view dupes side-by-side.
Red Velvet 1946 is a medium red with subtle, warmer undertones and a cream finish. It had mostly opaque color coverage that was easy to apply, as the texture was lightly creamy without being too slippery or too stiff in the tube. The color wore well for six hours and left a stain behind. I found the formula slightly hydrating overall. MAC Dubonnet (P, $19.00) is darker (90% similar). Bite Beauty Red Velvet (DC, $24.00) is darker, cooler (90% similar). NARS Hell Gate (LE, $28.00) is glossier (90% similar). MAC Fire Roasted (DC, $21.00) is glossier (90% similar). Urban Decay Bad Blood (DC, $18.00) is darker, glossier (95% similar). MAC Brave Red (P, $19.00) is darker, cooler (90% similar). Bite Beauty Braised (DC, $24.00) is lighter, glossier (90% similar). NARS Mysterious Red (P, $27.00) is less glossy (90% similar). ColourPop Liquid Courage (P, $10.00) is darker (90% similar). Make Up For Ever C406 (DC, $22.00) is more muted (95% similar). NARS Codie (LE, $34.00) is more muted (90% similar). Urban Decay Bad Blood (DC, $22.00) is warmer (95% similar). Besame Cherry Red 1935 (PiP, $22.00) is darker (90% similar). Bite Beauty Fraise (DC, $24.00) is lighter, brighter (80% similar). Make Up For Ever M402 (DC, $22.00) is more muted (95% similar). Estee Lauder Drop Dead Red (320) (P, $32.00) is lighter (85% similar). Urban Decay Rock Steady (LE, $18.00) is darker, glossier (90% similar). Urban Decay Doubt (DC, $18.00) is lighter, less glossy (85% similar). Maybelline Dynamite Red (DC, $7.49) is lighter, brighter, less glossy (85% similar). Estee Lauder Red Ego (P, $32.00) is lighter, brighter (90% similar). Top 20 dupes listed, see the rest. See comparison swatches / view dupes side-by-side.
Dusty Rose 1969 is a muted, medium-dark rose with subtle, warm undertones and a creamy finish. It was richly pigmented with a lightly creamy, smooth texture that glided on without tugging on the lips. It was comfortable to wear over the five hours it lasted, and the formula was moderately hydrating. KVD Beauty Double Dare (P, $19.00) is lighter, warmer (90% similar). ColourPop Still Crazy (P, $10.00) is lighter (85% similar). Smashbox Stylist (P, $24.00) is lighter, brighter (90% similar). MAC Offshoot (LE, $19.00) is darker (90% similar). Tom Ford Beauty Cary (P, $36.00) is lighter, warmer (90% similar). MAC Del Rio (P, $19.00) is darker, warmer (90% similar). MAC Soft Sell (P, $18.00) is more shimmery (90% similar). Tom Ford Beauty Casablanca (P, $57.00) is lighter (95% similar). Pat McGrath Femmebot (P, $38.00) is lighter, warmer, less glossy (85% similar). Bobbi Brown Rose Blossom (DC, $37.00) is darker (85% similar). bareMinerals Love (P, $20.00) is lighter, warmer, glossier (85% similar). Urban Decay Hideaway (DC, $18.00) is lighter, cooler (85% similar). Bobbi Brown Babe (P, $29.00) is less shimmery, lighter, warmer (85% similar). Laura Mercier Sophia (LE, $26.00) is brighter, cooler (85% similar). Urban Decay Tampered (DC, $18.00) is more muted (85% similar). Burberry Nude Rose (No. 405) (P, $35.00) is lighter (85% similar). Ciate Pin Up (PiP, $19.00) is darker, less glossy (85% similar). Estee Lauder Incensed (P, $32.00) is lighter, warmer (80% similar). bareMinerals Queen (PiP, $20.00) is darker, cooler, glossier (80% similar). Natasha Denona Averyl (23P) (P, $25.00) is less shimmery, lighter (80% similar). See comparison swatches / view dupes side-by-side.
Chocolate Kiss 1970 is a medium-dark coppery brown with warm, orange undertones and a satin finish. This was the most pigmented–full coverage–shade in the set. The texture was a touch less creamy, but it didn’t drag on the lips at all, and it wore for just as long as the reds at six hours. The only thing I noticed was that the texture was thicker compared to the other shades, so it felt and looked heavier on. Urban Decay Epigram (LE, $18.00) is lighter, glossier (95% similar). Guerlain #04 (P, $33.00) is lighter (95% similar). Urban Decay Backseat (DC, $18.00) is lighter, glossier (90% similar). ColourPop Reign (PiP, $7.00) is cooler, glossier (90% similar). MAC Royally Riotous (LE, $19.00) is darker, more muted (85% similar). Bite Beauty Molasses (DC, $24.00) is lighter, cooler, glossier (90% similar). ColourPop Money Moves (P, $7.00) is lighter (90% similar). KVD Beauty Lolita II (P, $19.00) is lighter (90% similar). MAC Marrakesh (P, $19.00) is darker, brighter (85% similar). NARS Slow Ride (P, $26.00) is lighter (85% similar). Bite Beauty Yucca (DC, $24.00) is warmer, glossier (85% similar). Anastasia Spice (P, $18.00) is lighter, less glossy (85% similar). Giorgio Armani Sandstone (102) (P, $38.00) is cooler, glossier (85% similar). Sephora Yum Yum (10) (P, $8.00) is darker, more muted, cooler (85% similar). Hourglass I've Been (P, $34.00) is glossier (85% similar). MAC Brick Dust (DC, $21.00) is lighter, cooler, glossier (85% similar). Estee Lauder Mind Game (P, $32.00) is more muted, cooler (85% similar). NARS Femme Fleur (LE, $26.00) is more shimmery, lighter (90% similar). NARS Walkyrie (P, $27.00) is lighter, cooler (85% similar). Maybelline Maple Kiss (925) (P, $7.49) is lighter (90% similar). Top 20 dupes listed, see the rest. See comparison swatches / view dupes side-by-side.
Holiday 2016
LELimited Edition. $25.00.
Noir Red 1930
PiPPermanent in Palette. $22.00.
Cherry Red 1935
PiPPermanent in Palette. $22.00.
Red Velvet 1946
PiPPermanent in Palette. $22.00.
Dusty Rose 1969
PiPPermanent in Palette. $22.00.
Chocolate Kiss 1970
PiPPermanent in Palette. $22.00.
Besame Holiday 2016 Mini Lipstick Set
Besame Holiday 2016 Mini Lipstick Set
Besame Holiday 2016 Mini Lipstick Set
Besame Noir Red 1930 Classic Color Lipstick
Besame Noir Red 1930 Classic Color Lipstick
Besame Noir Red 1930 Classic Color Lipstick
Besame Noir Red 1930 Classic Color Lipstick
Besame Noir Red 1930 Classic Color Lipstick
Besame Noir Red 1930 Classic Color Lipstick
Besame Cherry Red 1935 Classic Color Lipstick
Besame Cherry Red 1935 Classic Color Lipstick
Besame Cherry Red 1935 Classic Color Lipstick
Besame Cherry Red 1935 Classic Color Lipstick
Besame Cherry Red 1935 Classic Color Lipstick
Besame Cherry Red 1935 Classic Color Lipstick
Besame Red Velvet 1946 Classic Color Lipstick
Besame Red Velvet 1946 Classic Color Lipstick
Besame Red Velvet 1946 Classic Color Lipstick
Besame Red Velvet 1946 Classic Color Lipstick
Besame Red Velvet 1946 Classic Color Lipstick
Besame Red Velvet 1946 Classic Color Lipstick
Besame Dusty Rose 1969 Classic Color Lipstick
Besame Dusty Rose 1969 Classic Color Lipstick
Besame Dusty Rose 1969 Classic Color Lipstick
Besame Dusty Rose 1969 Classic Color Lipstick
Besame Dusty Rose 1969 Classic Color Lipstick
Besame Dusty Rose 1969 Classic Color Lipstick
Besame Chocolate Kiss 1970 Classic Color Lipstick
Besame Chocolate Kiss 1970 Classic Color Lipstick
Besame Chocolate Kiss 1970 Classic Color Lipstick
Besame Chocolate Kiss 1970 Classic Color Lipstick
Besame Chocolate Kiss 1970 Classic Color Lipstick
Besame Chocolate Kiss 1970 Classic Color Lipstick
I like the theme of this set, and the colors are all nice, but the plastic slider on the side of the packaging just looks SO cheap to me. It reminds me of cheap kiddie inkpens I had in the late 80s.
It’s definitely very plastic-y in feel!
The packaging is actually inspired by (I’m not sure if an actual replica of) a mini vintage lipstick that Bésame’s creator owns. They shared side by side images on their Instagram. While I agree that it felt cheap (I own the set) it is also beautiful to me in a way, as a lover of cosmetics history.
This is a cute little set!
Noir Red is one of my favorite lipsticks of all time. I love it so much.
So glad you have that one, Alice! 🙂
I wish they had curated a collection of cool-toned shades as well. Dx
That would have been awesome!
Actually, I’m pretty sure Cherry Red is cool-toned, and Noir Red and Red Velvet are neutral enough that they take on the undertone of whoever is wearing them. =) Christine is just very, very warm toned, so they all look very warm on her. If you check Besame’s website, you can see that the same lipsticks can also go very cool!
I’m actually not very warm-toned, just to be clear 🙂 I am slightly yellow but am closer to neutral in tone than yellow. Most yellow-based foundations are too yellow on me. Hope that helps!
I think it might also be how deep one’s skin tone is. My undertone is also neutral to yellow, but I’m much paler, so Cherry Red is a cool blood red on me!
So true. Dusty Rose looks more like Mac hot chocolate on me. And chocolate kiss does not pull orange-ish at all on me. They are both considerably cooler on me, and I’m cooler than Christine. Truthfully, neither of the non-red shades look like the same lipstick. Wondered if they had been re-shaded. If C is mildly warm (virtually ALL foundations are to yellow on me; I think I have red, not pink undertones). Maybe it’s the lip, rather than the skin tones.). I wonder what red hot red (Doris day to me) looks like on C. Better check it, to see if C swatched it. So Gabriella pulled a NARS on me for Xmas. I have 4/5, like having 6/8 NARS. Where is my second home, to house these? Love Besame. Pretty authentic from my pov. Prob will get a Cherry eventually.
This set is on my list for Friday because I adore the formula but they are $27 lipsticks for me.
I also notice they slipped through the box packaging they are so tiny. lol
LOL! Yeah, they did NOT stay at all in the box. They are so small, and my hands are too large, I did not even trust myself to do a group shot with them all open!
I can see that being an issue, I’m constantly haveing to back tape down my lipsticks in photos because they all roll on a 60 degree angle on my deck. lol
I’m wayyyy too lazy to do that. I have museum wax, which is good, but then I have to clean stuff up, lol. Luckily, most things will stay in place, but *I’m* prone to knocking lipsticks over, haha.
I’ve been meaning to get UHU Tac (tack putty) but no one seems to sell it where I’ve been going. lol Way faster than rolling up bits of tape. 😉
Odd question…how firmly did the tubes close, and does it look like they’d stay that way? I love this brand, but their full-size tubes often open up in my purse (whether or not I put them in that annoying little sleeve). If the minis actually stay shut and would even stay that way in a purse, I might need this set.
I didn’t notice any issues when putting them on/taking the caps off, but I’ve never carried them with me.
I’m not sure how I feel about the lipstick shape!
It makes it easier to get around the cupid’s bow! 🙂
The V shape is actually one of my favourites for that reason. 😉
I’ve never used Besame, but Cle de Peau lipsticks are in the same shape and it makes it easy to get a precise line and edge. You might think it’s awkward, but it’s not at all.
For me personally, this shape doesn’t do anything to make application easier and it also wears down relatively quickly.
I think I’ll skip this one! I already have Noir Red, and Chocolate Kiss will probably not look good on me — and Dusty Rose is that color that I *love* that looks *horrible* when I put it on…. too bad, I do like this brand’s lipsticks. But I’ve got so many lip minis lined up already, I certainly don’t need more!
At least you have tried the formula 😀
Oh wow! Noir Red, Dusty Rose, and Chocolate Kiss have caught my eye. Especially Chocolate Kiss, it’s such a fall color – reminds me of the leaves.
Chocolate Kiss is very interesting! It’s a shade I don’t see that often.
Dusty Rose is the only shade I’d wear, probably, but I do like the shape of these, so unique.
Darn!
I’m so happy you tested these, so that they show up in the database! I own Red Velvet and while it’s a beautiful color that wears well, I find the shape makes it a pain to apply, so I don’t currently plan to buy any more.
Oh, that’s too bad! I didn’t mind the shape myself, thankfully!
I’ve been going back and forth on this set since it came out. I’ve wanted to try Besame’s lipsticks for a while, but then I worry that they look quite dupe-able, especially since I have a lot of reds. The one that looks most original to my collection here is the last one, and that’s because it’s the kind of colour that looks horrible on me, so I never buy them… 😛
Given how clumsy/ empty-headed I often am, I feel I’d be prone to losing really small lipsticks…
Haha! I’m with you – I would definitely lose these, lol!
This has been on my wish list since I saw it. Glad it got a good review! Thanks.
No problem!
I love this set! I bought it pretty much as soon as you posted that it was out, I think. It’s absolutely perfect for me, because I’ve been wanting to try Besame lipsticks for over a year at least and for some reason could never bring myself to. I have no idea why-I love their foundation powder. For what it’s worth, I am even more impressed than I thought I would be. Even with the tiny size, the application is so easy and the colors are SO gorgeous. I also don’t find them very drying, just the littlest bit, and that’s only after I’ve had one on for about two hours. I have so many lipsticks that I’m not sure how I feel about buying more, but…I really want to, lol.
So glad you’re loving the set, Nicole! Which shade is your favorite from the set?
So far, I have to say Dusty Rose. I love all of them, but that color in particular is just perfect for me. I know they’re not terribly similar, but it’s kind of what I wanted Nars Anna to be.
I bought Cherry Red last year and it’s incredible quality/pigment. I’m still waiting for Besame to branch out past 1970. I think they can do it.
Haha! That would be nice to see 😉
These are so cute! I love that they kept their trademark outside design, only everything miniaturized. But with my big ol’ butterfingers, I don’t think I’d have a particularly easy time fumbling with these! Good thing then that I’m duped out: UD Disturbed and Bad Blood, MAC Del Rio and Royally Riotous.?
Great dupes that you have, too!
I’ve been wanting to get some of these lipsticks for years (both 1930’s and 1946). I think I’ll get this set so I can try them out and get a fun brown. It’ll be really interesting to see how that will look.
A short update. Beauty Bay didn’t have the set on their site, in fact, they only had two lipsticks. I hope they will get the set in stock and that I was just way too early trying to buy it.
Bummer that Beautybay didn’t have the set! 🙁
A great mix of colors here! Dusty Rose is my fave
Agreed! I always think “red” with Besame, but it’s not true!
They also had (have? Some got d/c’d and brought back) a champagne color, forgot the year. I experienced a difference in tube mfg between company output and Sephora, with originals being superior. But, since S started having them, have not bought any direct. Maybe they all got cheaper.
I’m loving all the warm shades! Chocolate Kiss is also such an interesting color.
Happy to hear it! 🙂
Woot! Glad to see this reviewed well, since this has been on my wishlist since you first posted about this kit’s existence. Red lips are basically all I wear, so this set really appeals to me. I’ve never tried Besame’s formula, so I was definitely depending on this review. (I’ve tried and love Bite’s formula, but their set colour selections unfortunately just don’t appeal to me this year. And NARS’s mini lipstick set has a lot of gorgeous reds, but they look much more similar to each other than these Besame shades do, plus the two non-red shades in that set I’m pretty sure will look dreadful on me.)
Do you think you’ll get this set after all, JC?
Yes, I think I’ve decided to take the plunge on this one 🙂 Noir Red in particular is just <3 <3 and it will hopefully help satiate my Bite Nori lust.
Nori def pulls brown on me. Noir red is only a slight overlap, and not really a dupe on me. Noir is more of a blackened burgundy, with barely a smidge of brown. I say get both. They are only ~75% dupes on my cooler lips.
Omigosh, I love love love these lipsticks and I think I already own two or three of those reds, which I should really destash since I only ever wear Noir Red, but I will probably get this anyway since it’s not that expensive and I really want to try that pink and that brown! They might even look great mixed together!
They should mix well, too, since they are similar in texture! 🙂
Nice colours and love the push up applicator.
The colors are great!
I wish this brand would do more. I know of their reputation and the brand should appeal to me but the packaging just looks so cheap to me and they never seem to market their products.
I understand!
Thank you for this review! Cherry Red and Dusty Rose look amazing! (Already own Red Velvet)
I don’t mean to be rude. But I do miss a size comparison to a fullsize. (I am not from the USA, and always have to order online. To send something back is expensive.) Is it possible to include it?
I break down the value after the first paragraph. The set contains 0.18 o z. with five shades (0.03 oz. each) and a full-size lipstick is 0.12 oz.!
VALUE
Classic Color Lipstick: $22.00 for 0.12 oz. or $183.33/oz.
Total Value: $32.08
I’m sorry. I should have been more clear. I meant a picture of the fullsize next to the mini sized.
I don’t have any full-sized Besame lipsticks at this time (I only had a couple and donated them awhile ago), sorry!
So excited to pick this up! I’ve wanted to try these Bésame lipsticks for so long! 🙂
Enjoy, Emilie!!
I went ahead and got this set. I haven’t tried them on my lips, but swatched on my hand, I really like the texture. Especially looking forward to wearing Chocolate Kiss and Red Velvet.
Oooh, can’t wait for you to try ’em on 🙂
I love this set! I don’t wear reds as much as I used to, so I’m happy to see Dusty Rose and Chocolate Kiss included in the set. I usually pass on a lot of lip sets, because a lot of the colors in the sets don’t look flattering on me. I bought the Besame Lip Set during the VIB sale and loved each color, I was surprised at how flattering each shade looked on me. Chocolate Kiss looks more red on my lips than expected and Dusty Rose looks more dark on my lips, which makes me happy. I am definitely in love with Chocolate Kiss! Planning to the get the full size in the future!