Bite Leo Amuse Bouche Lipstick Review & Swatches
Leo
Bite Beauty Leo Amuse Bouche Lipstick ($26.00 for 0.15 oz.) is glittery mix of gold and copper sparkle and micro-glitter. It didn’t seem like it had much color, but it seemed to turn my lips a coppery-brown shade along with adding a fair amount of sparkle and micro-glitter. As a result, it ended up appearing deeper and more pigmented applied than swatched and in comparison to other sparkling golds Bite’s released in the past. It had semi-sheer, buildable coverage (to about medium coverage) with a fairly smooth, emollient texture that was thinner and less creamy compared to the standard Amuse Bouche shade. I didn’t find it gritty during application, and I only started to feel the sparkles in the last hour of wear (but to me it never felt rough/gritty/otherwise bothersome). This shade lasted for four hours and was lightly hydrating.
P.S. — I think this is the first time I’ve actually had a lipstick arrive melted — I could actually see where the lipstick tip sunk into the rest of it! Strangely enough, the lipstick was packed on its side in the box, but it melted right-side up as there was no product inside the cap. Bite Beauty did offer to replace, which I appreciate, but it’s unnecessary since it’s still quite functional as is!
FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).
Top Dupes
- UOMA Beauty Lady of Gold (P, $26.00) is more shimmery, lighter, glossier (95% similar).
- Fenty Beauty What's Your Numb'a (LE, ) is less shimmery, lighter, less pigmented (90% similar).
- Maybelline Pure Gold (P, $7.49) is more pigmented (90% similar).
- Bite Beauty Gold (LE, $26.00) is less shimmery (90% similar).
- NARS Miramar (P, $26.00) is less shimmery, lighter (90% similar).
- Sephora No Cell Service (42) (P, $8.00) is glossier (90% similar).
- Tom Ford Beauty Surge (LE, $56.00) is more shimmery, lighter, glossier (90% similar).
- Fenty Beauty Trophy Wife (LE, $19.00) is more shimmery, lighter, cooler (90% similar).
- Sephora Golden Party (63) (P, $14.00) is lighter (90% similar).
- KVD Beauty Thunderstruck (P, $22.00) is lighter (85% similar).
Formula Overview
$26.00/0.15 oz. - $173.33 Per Ounce
Bite Beauty Amuse Bouche Lipstick ($26.00 for 0.15 oz.) is supposed to have “bold, creamy color” with “extreme moisture, soft texture, and creamy wear.” The majority of the range is very pigmented–typically opaque with one pass–with a few shades being semi-opaque but usually buildable.
The consistency is very lightly creamy to lightly creamy with some shades requiring light-medium pressure and can pull the lip a bit when gliding it across the lips, though the color doesn’t appear ragged and the bullet itself doesn’t feel stiff (while other shades applied without tugging, so check individual shade reviews!) The majority of the shades I’ve tested have been lightly hydrating to non-drying and fairly comfortable to wear for the long-haul. They have a herbal, lemony scent but no discernible taste. They wear longer than average, from four to eight hours, depending on the intensity and propensity of the shade to stain.
Browse all of our Bite Beauty Amuse Bouche Lipstick swatches.
This is much prettier than I thought it’d be. It actually looks pretty wearable, even though it’s not a colour I would wear. I think your whole look in this post is just lovely; the purple eyes pair so well with the gold lip.
Thank you, Christina!
Wow, that shape startled me when I first saw it! How strange that it melted that way. It looks really pretty on the lips, but sparkles are a deal-breaker for me.
Yeah, I’m impressed that it managed to melt while being right-side up! Bite did offer to replace it, but it’s functional the way it is.
The way that it melted makes it look like someone got hungry and took a bite, lol.
Haha!
I wondered if the weird shape had something to do with the “Leo” vibe…that somehow it looked like a 3-d lion’s head or the astrological symbol for Leo….then I read your explanation.
LOL! I kept thinking that how it melted ended up looking kind of cool.
Lol. I thought it was supposed to resemble a crown.
Same here!
This is really pretty! When it was announced, I had no desire to get this one because I already have the Bite gloss in gold. But this lipstick is much more subtle while still being gold and having pigment other than the gold sparkles. Sometimes lipsticks look materially different on me than they do on you (big example comes to mind – MAC Spanish Fly looked plummy on you, but much more gray on me), but I may pick this up after all! Thanks for the swatches!
Definitely more subtle than the gold gloss, but I bet if you put a lil’ gold gloss on top of a brown or copper base, you’d get close.
Ha ha! My first reaction was “WT#” ! Then “oh actually it’s very pretty on you”
Since it was still totally usable (not like a shattered powder) and more on the weather, I figured I’d just roll with it. Didn’t want to waste another lipstick for someone like me who is only going to use it a handful of times!
Hi Christine!!
This isn’t a makeup question, but oh my god where did you get your earrings!! They are absolutely beautiful!! Thank you for your comprehensive and amazing makeup reviews!!
Vicky
They’re from Yukojewelry on Etsy!
Thank you so much for responding! You are the best!
Not born in August or late July. I don’t believe in astrology or signs. But, I am in love with this shade for going into autumn!
Btw; this is how horribly my initial tube of MAC Royally Riotous arrived to me 3 years ago, except that mine even went down the side of the metal interior tube. It looked like melted milk chocolate! And this summer has been far more brutal than 3 years ago, too. It was only a matter of time.
In all my years ordering makeup online, which I obviously do more than my fair share of, have I had this happen, in California or in Arizona – and I definitely don’t adjust my shopping habits in the summer at all, haha. It was solid when I opened after it was delivered so I wonder where it occurred!
One has got to wonder where these melt. I’ve often believed that it likely happens when the cargo planes sit too long on the tarmac on a very hot day. Just a theory, though. Or while on the truck possibly? Especially if delivery occurred in the p.m. Luckily, yours just became a rather cool looking design instead of a melty, gross Hershey Bar!
Yeah, that was my guess – maybe sitting somewhere but probably not on the truck (because it would be still solidifying!).
True… ?
And that’s why I never order l/s in the summer, even living in many degrees north in latitude from AZ, even if it’s ultra LE. Or leave it in the car for a short hop inside. I once had a l/s melt on the drive home from big Sephora, only ~15 miles. As most of us work away from home and cannot instantly grab the package, and a wrong delivery is always a possibility, summer delivery can be very risky. The more ‘natural’ the bullet, the more likely that is to happen, I think. I generally only order bullet lipsticks from October through May, as a rule. Maybe that’s why I have so many darker shades, lol!
In all my years of ordering online, this is the first time I can recall it happening. I’ve received plenty of lipsticks that appear sweaty but yeah..
Haha I thought that was intentional at first, like a lion took a bite out of it!
LOL!
This is more brown than I expected, but it’s very pretty. I like the shape it melted into. I thought it was molded that way on purpose.
I was surprised that it was more than just gold shimmer!
I’ve been ordering makeup online almost as long as you Christine, and never had this happen. I’ve been living in SoCal, south Texas and south Geogia, so frankly I’m surprised it hasn’t happened more often!! I kind of love that it melted! It looks pretty much as advertised, except for the shape. I’m on a no-buy but thanks for doing the hard work for us! <3
My pleasure, R! Yeah, I never change my buying habits online during the summer, even in AZ heat, for makeup… will be curious if it happens again, haha.
I really like this color and I bought it when it first launched and as I see it on different skin tones it looks lovely on everyone. I feel like it’s perfect for all seasons too. I enjoy different lip colors so this was a no brainer for me.
So glad you’re enjoying it, Lunasol!
I would use this shade on top of others, I love the gold aspect.
Great idea!
This looks to me like a good top coat rather than a stand alone lippie. I know it wasn’t meant to be that way but it’s how I would use it if I bought it. I am a Leo so may get it on principle next week if still available.
I think it would work well for layering!
I basically cannot wear a nude lipstick. They wash me out. And i just watch with amusement as people actually. collect nude colored lipsticks. But odd as it seems this functions like a nude but is brightening some how. I could wear this every day with green, gold, lime and lemon eye looks. Love it!
Glad you find this wearable, Alison!
Christine didn’t you move to AZ? I used to live in Phoenix/Tempe (go Devils) and I’d leave a cooler outside my door with a note directing UPS to put packages inside it to prevent makeup from melting. And they would actually do it lol. You could try that
I’m home all the time, so it wasn’t an issue with it sitting on my doorstep – it was already solid when it arrived since I opened it a couple of hours after it was delivered! 🙂 My guess is it’s sitting in transit somewhere and was left out too long!
Oh man that’s a bummer! I would be so heartbroken! All in all you’re coping with this tragedy really well lol
I love the shape of this after it melted! Also, I wonder how similar this is to the gold in a recent Sephora Bite Beauty reward (it was like two thousand points I think? More?), as I’m not sure I’d need both.
I didn’t pick up the reward – so I’m not sure!