Fenty Beauty Schola Sista & Ballin' Babe Icon Lipsticks Reviews & Swatches
Scholar Sista
Fenty Beauty Scholar Sista Icon Semi-Matte Lipstick ($20.00 for 0.134 oz.) is a medium-dark pink with moderate, warm yellow undertones and a satin sheen. It offered opaque color coverage in a single layer that applied evenly and easily across my lips without dragging and was not overly slippery, so it stayed in place.
The product had a lightweight texture with a subtle creaminess and a silicone-like fluidity to it. This shade lasted for four and a half hours and felt lightly hydrating.
FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).
Top Dupes
- Guerlain Petal Blush (229) (P, $39.00) is darker, warmer (90% similar).
- ColourPop Strike a Pose (P, $8.00) is warmer (90% similar).
- Revlon Pink in the Afternoon (P, $8.49) is less shimmery, lighter, warmer (85% similar).
- Bite Beauty Honeycrisp (P, $24.00) is lighter, warmer (85% similar).
- Gucci Beauty Princess Naram Rose (412) (P, $42.00) is lighter, more muted (85% similar).
- Chanel Nuance (198) (P, $45.00) is less shimmery, warmer (85% similar).
- Guerlain Blossom Kiss (129) (P, $39.00) is less shimmery, darker, less pigmented (85% similar).
- Becca Melon (DC, $24.00) is warmer (80% similar).
- MAC King Salmon (DC, $21.00).
- YSL Nude Avant-Garde (91) (LE, $38.00).
- Dior Tutti Frutti (656) (LE, $38.00).
- Becca Blaze (DC, $24.00).
- Estee Lauder Unrivaled (213) (P, $32.00).
Formula Overview
$20.00/0.134 oz. - $149.25 Per Ounce
The formula is supposed to have a "plush texture" with "long lasting wear" that has a "semi-matte, creamy" finish and "high pigment." They had a lightweight, lightly creamy texture that was comfortable to apply and to wear, as they weren't prone to dragging, and they seemed to run between satin and semi-matte in finish. A few shades had a little more shine than others but none were truly matte, though they wore down to a more matte finish after two to three hours of wear (at most).
They were not as fully-filled with silicone as some of the other more modern, semi-matte/matte formulas have been in the last few years, but I could definitely feel that signature silicone glide when applying. There was enough slip, though, that they were fairly even and pigmented without catching on lip texture imperfections.
The formula had a sweet, fruity smell--same as the brand's lipglosses--but no discernible taste. Most shades wore for at least four hours with some of the richer/deeper hues lasting for six hours or longer. It was a lightly hydrating formula overall.
Keep in mind, the lipsticks are refillable but require you to purchase the refill ($20.00 each) and a case ($12.00) separately. The refills have a slim, translucent plastic cap that fits over the refill unit, which is secure enough for storing at home but likely not fit on snug enough to be kept in a makeup bag (perhaps in a small pocket in a backpack or purse where it won't roll around as much).
Browse all of our Fenty Beauty Icon Semi-Matte Lipstick swatches.
Ingredients
OCTYLDODECANOL, DIISOSTEARYL MALATE, DIMETHICONE, POLYETHYLENE, PENTAERYTHRITYL HYDROGENATED ROSINATE, ALUMINUM STARCH OCTENYLSUCCINATE, LAUROYL LYSINE, SILICA, NYLON-12, TRIMETHYLSILOXYSILICATE, POLYPROPYLSILSESQUIOXANE, HYDRATED SILICA, SYNTHETIC WAX, PARFUM/FRAGRANCE, OCTYLDODECYL NEOPENTANOATE, DISTEARDIMONIUM HECTORITE, AQUA/WATER/EAU, SORBITAN OLEATE, TRIBEHENIN, MICA, CANDELILLA CERA/EUPHORBIA CERIFERA (CANDELILLA) WAX/CIRE DE CANDELILLA, CAPRYLYL GLYCOL, AROMA/FLAVOR, PROPYLENE CARBONATE, HYDROLYZED HYALURONIC ACID, TOCOPHEROL, TOCOPHERYL ACETATE, TETRAHEXYLDECYL ASCORBATE, PENTAERYTHRITYL TETRA-DI-T-BUTYL HYDROXYHYDROCINNAMATE, CALCIUM SODIUM BOROSILICATE, CALCIUM ALUMINUM BOROSILICATE, SYNTHETIC FLUORPHLOGOPITE, TIN OXIDE, BENZYL BENZOATE, LIMONENE, IRON OXIDES (CI 77491, CI 77492, CI 77499), RED 7 LAKE (CI 15850), TITANIUM DIOXIDE (CI 77891).
Disclaimer: Ingredient lists are as available by the brand (or retailer) at the time of publishing. Please always check product packaging, if it exists, for the ingredient list applicable to the product you're purchasing, or the brand or retailer's website for the most up-to-date ingredient list.
Scholar Sista
PPermanent. $20.00.
Ballin' Babe
Fenty Beauty Ballin’ Babe Icon Semi-Matte Lipstick ($20.00 for 0.134 oz.) is a muted, medium plum with warmer undertones and a satin finish. It had opaque color coverage in a single layer, which applied evenly and smoothly across my lips without dragging uncomfortably but wasn’t overly slippery, which helped it adhere well.
The lipstick had a lightweight consistency with light creaminess that had some silicone-like glide to it. This shade lasted nicely for four and a half hours and felt lightly hydrating.
FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).
Top Dupes
- ColourPop Calypso (P, $7.00) is cooler (90% similar).
- ColourPop Daydream (P, $6.00) is darker, cooler, less glossy (90% similar).
- MAC Nude Fudge (LE, $19.00) is cooler (90% similar).
- Giorgio Armani Independent (200) (P, $38.00) is cooler (90% similar).
- MAC Natural Born Leader (LE, $19.00) is lighter, cooler (90% similar).
- Tarte Surf's Up (P, $21.00) is lighter, cooler (90% similar).
- Bite Beauty Chai (DC, $24.00) is lighter, warmer (85% similar).
- MAC Coffee and Cigs (P, $23.00) is darker, cooler (85% similar).
- Bite Beauty Jicama (DC, $24.00) is darker, glossier (85% similar).
- Marc Jacobs Beauty Sugar and Spice (P, $30.00) is lighter, cooler (85% similar).
Formula Overview
$20.00/0.134 oz. - $149.25 Per Ounce
The formula is supposed to have a "plush texture" with "long lasting wear" that has a "semi-matte, creamy" finish and "high pigment." They had a lightweight, lightly creamy texture that was comfortable to apply and to wear, as they weren't prone to dragging, and they seemed to run between satin and semi-matte in finish. A few shades had a little more shine than others but none were truly matte, though they wore down to a more matte finish after two to three hours of wear (at most).
They were not as fully-filled with silicone as some of the other more modern, semi-matte/matte formulas have been in the last few years, but I could definitely feel that signature silicone glide when applying. There was enough slip, though, that they were fairly even and pigmented without catching on lip texture imperfections.
The formula had a sweet, fruity smell--same as the brand's lipglosses--but no discernible taste. Most shades wore for at least four hours with some of the richer/deeper hues lasting for six hours or longer. It was a lightly hydrating formula overall.
Keep in mind, the lipsticks are refillable but require you to purchase the refill ($20.00 each) and a case ($12.00) separately. The refills have a slim, translucent plastic cap that fits over the refill unit, which is secure enough for storing at home but likely not fit on snug enough to be kept in a makeup bag (perhaps in a small pocket in a backpack or purse where it won't roll around as much).
Browse all of our Fenty Beauty Icon Semi-Matte Lipstick swatches.
Ingredients
OCTYLDODECANOL, DIISOSTEARYL MALATE, DIMETHICONE, POLYETHYLENE, PENTAERYTHRITYL HYDROGENATED ROSINATE, ALUMINUM STARCH OCTENYLSUCCINATE, LAUROYL LYSINE, MICA, SILICA, NYLON-12, TRIMETHYLSILOXYSILICATE, POLYPROPYLSILSESQUIOXANE, HYDRATED SILICA, SYNTHETIC WAX, PARFUM/FRAGRANCE, OCTYLDODECYL NEOPENTANOATE, DISTEARDIMONIUM HECTORITE, AQUA/WATER/EAU, SORBITAN OLEATE, TRIBEHENIN, CANDELILLA CERA/EUPHORBIA CERIFERA (CANDELILLA) WAX/CIRE DE CANDELILLA, CAPRYLYL GLYCOL, AROMA/FLAVOR, PROPYLENE CARBONATE, HYDROLYZED HYALURONIC ACID, TOCOPHEROL, TOCOPHERYL ACETATE, TETRAHEXYLDECYL ASCORBATE, PENTAERYTHRITYL TETRA-DI-T-BUTYL HYDROXYHYDROCINNAMATE, CALCIUM SODIUM BOROSILICATE, CALCIUM ALUMINUM BOROSILICATE, SYNTHETIC FLUORPHLOGOPITE, TIN OXIDE, BENZYL BENZOATE, LIMONENE, IRON OXIDES (CI 77491, CI 77492, CI 77499), RED 7 LAKE (CI 15850), TITANIUM DIOXIDE (CI 77891).
Disclaimer: Ingredient lists are as available by the brand (or retailer) at the time of publishing. Please always check product packaging, if it exists, for the ingredient list applicable to the product you're purchasing, or the brand or retailer's website for the most up-to-date ingredient list.
Scholar Sista is my type of shade and I like creamy lipsticks with that silicone slip to them. I find them to be most comfortable for my lips. These are a decent price too, so I’ve added this to my wish list!
Much as I LOVE Ballin’ Babe, I have a few dupes, so that one is not one I need.
However, I have nothing at all like Scholar Sista! And it looks amazing for a mid-tone pink. Probably a shade that many could wear, or so I imagine.
Ballin’ Babe is my favourite out of the two, but really they are both lovely.