How do you feel about sheer lipsticks?

They need to apply evenly and not exacerbate the unevenness of my natural lip color (which some hues do and sometimes can be better/worse by formula), but I don’t mind semi-sheer coverage–ideally, I’d like something that has some buildable coverage to give it more versatility.

— Christine

17 Comments

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Lesley Avatar

I don’t like my mouth and generally avoid lip color so if I wear anything at all other than a neutral, it would be a sheer formula. Laura Mercier once had a color called Pomegranate that was somewhat sheer and it was perfect for me. Now I am just too lazy to look for something similar.

Nancy T Avatar

Because I have uneven lip color myself, I am in full agreement with everything you stated above, Christine. Sheer lipsticks aren’t the easiest for me to wear. When I do, I always use a lip liner to at least even up the borders of my lips. Some favorites include UD Broken, TMI, and Sheer Slowburn, Guerlain Air Kiss and MAC Among The Fireflies.

Mindy Avatar

I like them and find them generally pretty, but I hate it when brands charge $$$ for them. At the end of the day, they are basically glorified Chapstick that you have to frequently reapply because they are never long lasting.

Rachel R. Avatar

They’re not my favorite, but it depends on how sheer they are. I don’t understand the point of ones that barely have any color to them. I like sheer sparkly or duochrome lipsticks as toppers. Sheer or semi-sheer brights, berries, reds, and purples get the most use from me. I like them in warmer weather for a lighter look, or for when I have a really intense eye look that requires a bright that won’t compete with it too much. UD Sheer Rapture is my MLBB.

Lauren Avatar

I love them in nude shades for daily wear. I think they discontinued my beloved Too Faced La Creme Color Drenched Lipstick in Nude Beach ?

Barbara Henner Avatar

I love them! I have very pigmented lips and I find that sheers are much more natural looking o me. I like the “no makeup look”. I am a redhead and find the neutrals and browns and coppers are almost impossible to find!

Phoebe Avatar

I love them! As long as they aren’t tooo sheer you can’t see them that is. Being quite pale sometimes a fully pigmented lipstick can look quite a lot, but sheerer formulas kind of blend with my skin tone and look more natural on me so I like them for more casual looks or where I’m focusing more on my eyes.

Laurel Avatar

I LOVE sheer lipsticks. No matter how much makeup I put on my face, if I’m wearing an opaque lipstick I feel like I look like a clown. I typically like to just use a lip liner as color and then put a sheer lipstick or gloss on top.

Logan Avatar

I like having a mix of both sheer and pigmented. I don’t usually want something high maintenance, so I’ll go with something sheer (like Clinique Black/Pink Honey), but it’s nice to have a few pigmented options around.

Matilda Avatar

For a natural look or a professional look, sheer and semi-sheer lipsticks are the best. If you like the basic look of a gloss but not the texture or excess shine, that is when sheers come in handy. My favorite sheer texture is MAC’s lustre formula, and so many of the colors are flattering.

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