Sephora Sink or Swim, Spark, Werk It Lipstories Lipsticks Reviews & Swatches
Sink or Swim (67)
Sephora Sink or Swim (67) Lipstories Lipstick ($8.00 for 0.14 oz.) is a light-medium pink with warm undertones and cooler violet and pink sparkle. It had medium coverage, which did not apply evenly and appeared clump across my lips. I’m not sure why the product built up on itself such that I couldn’t get it to smooth out during application. There was some product that sank into my lip lines, but all of the clumpiness was distracting from that (and not in a good way!). It had a more textured feel from the bullet due to the amount of sparkle in the finish. The color stayed on well for three hours and was lightly hydrating over time.
FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).
Top Dupes
- MAC Tease Maker (LE, $19.00) is warmer (90% similar).
- NARS Little Princess (P, $26.00) is less shimmery, lighter, warmer (90% similar).
- MAC Kiss of Stars (LE, $20.00) is more shimmery, lighter, warmer (90% similar).
- MAC Pink Power (P, $19.00) is lighter (85% similar).
- Charlotte Tilbury Pillow Talk Diamonds (P, $34.00) is more shimmery, warmer (85% similar).
- Wet 'n' Wild A Short Affair (P, $0.99) is less shimmery, lighter, cooler (85% similar).
- Tom Ford Beauty Marguerite (LE, $36.00) is less shimmery, darker, warmer (85% similar).
- Marc Jacobs Beauty Pink-kiki (568) (LE, $29.00) is less shimmery, lighter, warmer (85% similar).
- Guerlain Kiss Blossom (LE, $37.00) is less shimmery, darker, cooler (80% similar).
- MAC Glamour of Punk (LE, $19.00) is less shimmery, lighter, cooler (80% similar).
Formula Overview
$8.00/0.14 oz. - $57.14 Per Ounce
The formula is supposed to be "lightweight" with "full-coverage color in one swipe." The majority of shades were pigmented with semi-opaque to full color payoff in a single layer, as described. The more shimmery shades tended to be a bit sheerer overall, while the mattes and creams were usually closer to opaque in coverage.
The textures were typically creamy, lightweight, and not too thin or too thick on the lips, so they were comfortable to apply and to wear. There were some shades where the color pulled into my deeper lip lines upon application, and it was more or less noticeable just depending on the color and finish of the particular.
Some shades seemed hydrating and others were non-drying. They lasted anywhere from three to over six hours on me. There was a subtle, sweet, fruity scent (I couldn't detect it on, just in the tube), and I haven't noticed any taste after wearing them.
Browse all of our Sephora Lipstories Lipstick swatches.
Ingredients
Octyldodecanol, Pentaerythrityl Tetraisostearate, CI 77891 (Titanium Dioxide), Polyethylene, Diisostearyl Malate, Bis-Diglyceryl Polyacyladipate-2, CI 77492 (Iron Oxides), Polybutene, VP/Hexadecene Copolymer, CI 77491 (Iron Oxides), Cera Microcristallina (Microcrystalline Wax), Disteardimonium Hectorite, CI 42090 (Blue 1 Lake), CI 15850 (Red 7 Lake), Fragrance, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, BHT.
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.
Sink or Swim (67)
PPermanent. $8.00.
Spark (68)
Sephora Spark (68) Lipstories Lipstick ($8.00 for 0.14 oz.) is a medium-dark copper with warm, orange undertones and flecks of pink and gold sparkle throughout. It applied so poorly despite seeming rather promising when initially swatched on my arm. It had sheer coverage, which was partially due to the more emollient, slippery consistency that just moved and pushed around the sparkle and shimmer. What ended up applying was a sheer layer of product with shimmer poorly dispersed across my lips. It wore well for an hour and half and was lightly moisturizing over time.
FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).
Top Dupes
- Tom Ford Beauty Carolyn (LE, $36.00) is more shimmery, darker, cooler (90% similar).
- Charlotte Tilbury Lucky Diamonds (P, $34.00) is warmer, glossier (90% similar).
- Smashbox XO, Vlada (LE, $24.00) is more shimmery, more pigmented, warmer (90% similar).
- Tom Ford Beauty Commando (P, $56.00) is lighter, warmer, glossier (90% similar).
- MAC Digging for Gold (LE, $19.00) is less shimmery, warmer (90% similar).
- Revlon Caramel Glace (P, $8.49) is less shimmery, more pigmented (85% similar).
- MAC At Leisure (LE, $19.00) is lighter, more pigmented, warmer (85% similar).
- Fenty Beauty Parka Princess (LE, ) is more shimmery, more pigmented, cooler (85% similar).
- Estee Lauder Tiger Eye (P, $32.00) is darker, warmer (85% similar).
- Urban Decay Copycat (P, $18.00) is less shimmery, darker (85% similar).
Formula Overview
$8.00/0.14 oz. - $57.14 Per Ounce
The formula is supposed to be "lightweight" with "full-coverage color in one swipe." The majority of shades were pigmented with semi-opaque to full color payoff in a single layer, as described. The more shimmery shades tended to be a bit sheerer overall, while the mattes and creams were usually closer to opaque in coverage.
The textures were typically creamy, lightweight, and not too thin or too thick on the lips, so they were comfortable to apply and to wear. There were some shades where the color pulled into my deeper lip lines upon application, and it was more or less noticeable just depending on the color and finish of the particular.
Some shades seemed hydrating and others were non-drying. They lasted anywhere from three to over six hours on me. There was a subtle, sweet, fruity scent (I couldn't detect it on, just in the tube), and I haven't noticed any taste after wearing them.
Browse all of our Sephora Lipstories Lipstick swatches.
Ingredients
Octyldodecanol, Pentaerythrityl Tetraisostearate, CI 77891 (Titanium Dioxide), Polyethylene, Diisostearyl Malate, Bis-Diglyceryl Polyacyladipate-2, CI 77492 (Iron Oxides), Polybutene, VP/Hexadecene Copolymer, CI 77491 (Iron Oxides), Cera Microcristallina (Microcrystalline Wax), Disteardimonium Hectorite, CI 42090 (Blue 1 Lake), CI 15850 (Red 7 Lake), Fragrance, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, BHT.
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.
Spark (68)
PPermanent. $8.00.
Werk It (69)
Sephora Werk It (69) Lipstories Lipstick ($8.00 for 0.14 oz.) is a sheer lavender with iridescent shimmer and micro-sparkle. Unfortunately, this shade suffered the same issues I had previously experienced with other shimmery/sparkly shades in the range: terrible application, where the product clumped up, went on unevenly, and had poor dispersion of shimmer/sparkle. The texture was lightweight and felt a bit creamy going, though slightly textured from the shimmer/sparkle content, but I couldn’t get the product to go on evenly or build up in layers as the product built up on itself in clumps. This shade lasted for an hour and a half and was non-drying to me.
FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).
Top Dupes
- Pat McGrath Amethyst Astral (P, $36.00) is more shimmery, less glossy (95% similar).
- Tom Ford Beauty Isamaya (LE, $36.00) is more shimmery, darker, cooler (90% similar).
- MAC Pervette (P, $19.00) is more shimmery, darker, cooler (90% similar).
- Surratt Beauty Cultive (P, $36.00) is darker, warmer (90% similar).
- Dior Diorstellaire (595) (P, $37.00) is less pigmented, warmer (90% similar).
- Marc Jacobs Beauty Hips Don't Lilac (574) (LE, $29.00) is darker, warmer (85% similar).
- Too Faced Unicorn Tears (DC, $22.00) is more shimmery, darker, more pigmented (85% similar).
- Bite Beauty Opal (LE, $26.00) is more shimmery, lighter, cooler (85% similar).
- Tom Ford Beauty Lavender Extreme (LE, $57.00) is more shimmery, darker, more pigmented (80% similar).
- MAC Ice, Ice Baby (LE, $19.00) is less shimmery, more pigmented, warmer (80% similar).
Formula Overview
$8.00/0.14 oz. - $57.14 Per Ounce
The formula is supposed to be "lightweight" with "full-coverage color in one swipe." The majority of shades were pigmented with semi-opaque to full color payoff in a single layer, as described. The more shimmery shades tended to be a bit sheerer overall, while the mattes and creams were usually closer to opaque in coverage.
The textures were typically creamy, lightweight, and not too thin or too thick on the lips, so they were comfortable to apply and to wear. There were some shades where the color pulled into my deeper lip lines upon application, and it was more or less noticeable just depending on the color and finish of the particular.
Some shades seemed hydrating and others were non-drying. They lasted anywhere from three to over six hours on me. There was a subtle, sweet, fruity scent (I couldn't detect it on, just in the tube), and I haven't noticed any taste after wearing them.
Browse all of our Sephora Lipstories Lipstick swatches.
Ingredients
Octyldodecanol, Pentaerythrityl Tetraisostearate, CI 77891 (Titanium Dioxide), Polyethylene, Diisostearyl Malate, Bis-Diglyceryl Polyacyladipate-2, CI 77492 (Iron Oxides), Polybutene, VP/Hexadecene Copolymer, CI 77491 (Iron Oxides), Cera Microcristallina (Microcrystalline Wax), Disteardimonium Hectorite, CI 42090 (Blue 1 Lake), CI 15850 (Red 7 Lake), Fragrance, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, BHT.
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.
Oh lordy, these look and sound awful as regular lipsticks. Perhaps as lipstick toppers they’d be okay? Nevermind. That’s what a good lipgloss is for!
Maybe! I think they might be too emollient to work as well as toppers, though.
Dang. I hate when subsequent releases of a formulation isn’t as good as the original.
Yikes, that isn’t good. The lip stories have had some decent reviews overall. The top two are very pretty so stinks that they are a chore to work with.
Wow. Three consecutive F’s. Sink or Swim swatches beautifully but looks awful on lips. I still love sephora lipstories but will be sure to check reviews before purchasing.
10 bucks..still, I want it to work ?
Are these lipsticks possibly worse than the Fenty holiday eye sticks? Or the Tom ford glitter lippies? We should have a Razzy type award for “worst product ever”. There’s something just as exciting about it as “best product ever”.
I do a top 10 most disappointing products each year, actually.
I went down a trip into the temptalia archives and thoroughly enjoyed reading those top 10 most disappointing products! it’s a great feature!
Wow, this is a surprise after the generally good reviews!
So very disappointing. Such pretty colors. I’d buy the in a heart beat it the didn’t perform so poorly.
I love shimmery, shifting topper lipsticks like these. What a shame Sephora couldn’t get the formula right.
Ah what a bummer. I had such high hopes for these after you gave one of the metals your recommendation yesterday!!!
Lol, what stinkers! Maybe Werk It as a topper? Personally couldn’t tolerate the glitter texture though.
Whoa…three in a row! I bought Spiked based on your reviews and got so many compliments wearing it! But three F’s in a row is shocking (though not so shocking when I read your reviews).
Yikes.
My word exactly!!
I … was not expecting this. They do look relatively good on your lips — especially Werk It.
And they looked so pretty. What a downer!
I hate to sound like a broken record, but I’ve been wearing Sink or Swim on its own the past two weeks and I really like it. I do feel light texture, but have none of the clumping issue Christine talked about. I always feel bad when I have a polar-opposite experience than someone else.