The Sultry Season: Milani Black Cherry Lipstick

Milani Black Cherry Lipstick ($4.99 for 0.14 oz.) is a blackened berry-red with nearly opaque color–it did not apply quite as nicely as other Milani shades. It looks a little dry, though it didn’t feel that way, and the color seemed to get drawn into my lip lines.

my thoughts on the formula: Milani’s Color Perfect Lipstick is a nice formula that delivers opaque color and are usually creamy, though Black Cherry seemed rather dry and seemed to settle into lip lines. They do have a rather a synthetic/waxy scent, though, which may be too much for those with sensitive sniffers. I typically get three to four hours of wear on average with this formula.

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• Product: 24/30
• Value: 8/10
• Ease of Use: 4/5
• Packaging: 4/5

final thoughts: It’s not my favorite Milani, just because the texture isn’t the same as other shades.  It’s not as creamy and doesn’t look as flattering when worn.

where to buy: Milani

Milani Black Cherry Lipstick

Milani Black Cherry Lipstick

Milani Black Cherry Lipstick

Milani Black Cherry Lipstick

The Sultry Season:  Cle de Peau #113 Extra Silky Lipstick

Cle de Peau #113 Extra Silky Lipstick ($52.00 for 0.07 oz.) is a reddened brown berry with gold and ruby micro-shimmer in a semi-opaque color base.  It is a really nice shade during fall, because it is vampy enough to be deep and dark but not overpowering.  This should look amazing on cool-toned beauties!

my thoughts on the formula: Extra Silky Lipsticks are one of my favorite lipstick formulas, for their lightweight feel, moisturizing properties, and the way colors look on. I average around four hours of wear, sometimes getting five, and with lighter shades, between three and four. I haven’t met a shade that wouldn’t work on a variety of skin tones. I recommend applying less than you think, because it’s easy to over-apply the product here due to the creamy nature of the formula. At this price (and the amount you get), you don’t want to waste a single bit! These are also scent- and taste-free as far as I can tell.

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• Product: 30/30
• Value: 6/10
• Ease of Use: 4/5
• Packaging: 4/5

final thoughts: If only these had more product in a tube, these would be some killer lipsticks. As is, the formula is amazing, but it’s so easy to use a tube up.

where to buy: Neiman Marcus

Cle de Peau #113 Extra Silky Lipstick

Cle de Peau #113 Extra Silky Lipstick

Cle de Peau #113 Extra Silky Lipstick

Cle de Peau #113 Extra Silky Lipstick

The Sultry Season: MAC Capricious Lipstick

MAC Capricious Lipstick ($14.50 for 0.10 oz.) is a rosy plum with subtle gold shimmer. MAC describes it as a “fanciful rose plum,” and it has a lustre finish. Lustre finishes are “demi-sheer with wet-look lustre finish … Very slick … Makes lips look soft, smooth, ultra-moist.”

If you can’t tell by the photo, Capricious has been a long-time favorite, and I’ve always found it an infinitely flattering shade. It’s got that pop of natural color that enhances lips but never overwhelms a look. It has a cool-tone edge to it but the play of gold shimmer works well to make it very wearable for both cool and warm undertones.

my thoughts on the formula: MAC Lipsticks are vanilla-scented but taste-free. I typically get four hours of wear, but some of the lighter lustre and glaze finishes tend to disappear by hour three. Amplified cremes and amplified finishes, however, tend to go beyond four. I find the formula comfortable to wear and not drying (but not moisturizing–a couple of the matte and lustre shades can be drying).

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• Product: 28/30
• Value: 8/10
• Ease of Use: 4/5
• Packaging: 4/5

final thoughts: Capricious is such a great way to wear plum without being too dark or bold.  It is as pretty in springtime as it is in fall.  It was one of my first MAC lipsticks and still a favorite.

where to buy: Nordstrom

MAC Capricious Lipstick

MAC Capricious Lipstick

MAC Capricious Lipstick

MAC Capricious Lipstick

The Sultry Season: Shiseido Tawny (BR 735) Lipstick

Shiseido Tawny (BR 735) Perfect Rouge Lipstick ($25.00 for 0.14 oz.) is a warmed up caramel brown with a hint of coral. It’s semi-opaque and finishes with a noticeable glossiness.  I have always felt that Shiseido’s Perfect Rouge is rather under-appreciated, because it is such a flattering formula.

my thoughts on the formula: It’s moisturizing and applies evenly, while it wears for about four hours before beginning to fade. It is also scent- and taste-free. Perfect Rouge has a really beautiful color range and ranges from semi-opaque to opaque in color. The finish is a semi-gloss with very subtle micro-shimmer.

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• Product: 28/30
• Value: 8/10
• Ease of Use: 4/5
• Packaging: 4/5

final thoughts: This is a beautiful shade for warmer skin tones; it is a color that works alone or paired with a brighter eye/cheek.

where to buy: Nordstrom

Shiseido Tawny (BR 735) Lipstick

Shiseido Tawny (BR 735) Lipstick

Shiseido Tawny (BR 735) Lipstick

Shiseido Tawny (BR 735) Lipstick

The Sultry Season: NYX Espresso Lipstick

NYX Espresso Lipstick ($4.00 for 0.14 oz.) is a muted red-toned berry with a creamy feel and semi-glossy finish.  The color applies evenly and opaquely with very little product, and it feels comfortable to wear.

my thoughts on the formula: NYX Round Lipsticks are really creamy and generally opaque in color. The texture and shade range are great. However, the scent of them can run from waxy to synthetic sweetness (neither are particularly pleasant)–and sometimes they smell like nothing at all. I typically get two to three hours of wear.

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• Product: 27/30
• Value: 9/10
• Ease of Use: 4/5
• Packaging: 4/5

final thoughts: This shade works well on both cooler and warmer skin tones, but it is particularly lovely on cool, pale skin.

where to buy: NYX

NYX Espresso Lipstick

NYX Espresso Lipstick

NYX Espresso Lipstick

NYX Espresso Lipstick

The Sultry Season: NYX Brown Sugar Lipstick

NYX Brown Sugar Round Lipstick ($4.00 for 0.14 oz.) is a rich bronzy, reddened brown with copper shimmer.  It has opaque color coverage with a frosted finish, so it is less creamy than some other NYX Round Lipsticks I’ve tried, but on the plus side, lasts for four hours as compared to my usual two to three.

my thoughts on the formula: NYX Round Lipsticks are really creamy and generally opaque in color. The texture and shade range are great. However, the scent of them can run from waxy to synthetic sweetness (neither are particularly pleasant)–and sometimes they smell like nothing at all.  I typically get two to three hours of wear.

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• Product: 26/30
• Value: 9/10
• Ease of Use: 4/5
• Packaging: 4/5

final thoughts: If you tend to stay away from brown lipsticks for fear of wearing a more dated shade, this copper-shimmered brown is a modern take on a classic look.

where to buy: NYX

NYX Brown Sugar Lipstick

NYX Brown Sugar Lipstick

NYX Brown Sugar Lipstick

NYX Brown Sugar Lipstick

The Sultry Season: MAC Sophisto Lipstick

MAC Sophisto Lipstick ($14.50 for 0.10 oz.) is a semi-sheer berry pink with gold shimmer. It is a lustre finish, which means it is on the sheerer side but has a glossier finish (more like a lip gloss than a traditional lipstick).

my thoughts on the formula: MAC Lipsticks are vanilla-scented but taste-free. I typically get four hours of wear, but some of the lighter lustre and glaze finishes tend to disappear by hour three. Amplified cremes and amplified finishes, however, tend to go beyond four. I find the formula comfortable to wear and not drying (but not moisturizing–a couple of the matte and lustre shades can be drying).

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• Product: 27/30
• Value: 8/10
• Ease of Use: 4/5
• Packaging: 4/5

final thoughts: This shade will work well across all skin tones, because it’s not too bold, bright, or pigmented; it’s soft and sheer but still deposits noticeable color on the lips. It will work best on those with less pigmented lips, however, because it is a sheerer shade.

where to buy: Nordstrom

MAC Sophisto Lipstick

MAC Sophisto Lipstick

MAC Sophisto Lipstick

MAC Sophisto Lipstick

The Sultry Season: Bobbi Brown Blackberry Lipstick

Bobbi Brown Blackberry Lipstick ($22.00 for 0.12 oz.) is a deep red-brown with opaque color coverage and a glossy, cream finish. It’s a nice way to go brown without going full-on chocolate, and it’s also a way to go red on a much deeper, less in-your-face kind of way.

my thoughts on the formula: Bobbi Brown’s Lip Colors are scent- and taste-free. With a vibrant shade like this, I easily get four hours of wear, but it usually extends to five or six. Many of the shades from the Lip Color range are incredibly rich in pigmentation–lots of creamy, opaque shades to go around.

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• Product: 28/30
• Value: 8/10
• Ease of Use: 4/5
• Packaging: 4/5

final thoughts: This is a suitable shade for both cool and warm skin tones, and it should look lovely on light to dark complexions, too. Pair it with neutrals to let the lips be the star!

where to buy: Bobbi Brown

Bobbi Brown Blackberry Lipstick

Bobbi Brown Blackberry Lipstick

Bobbi Brown Blackberry Lipstick

Bobbi Brown Blackberry Lipstick