Anything really, really drying is something I wouldn’t wear by choice unless I needed 110% forever wear and nothing else would do, but I almost never opt for something drying. I’m more inclined to wear lip liner and a darker shade than wear something really drying. If there is a perfume-y taste, that’s also a hard pass!
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I’m not into multi-step ombre lipsticks or glosses that are designed to be layering products. Basically, I don’t like lip products that need to be paired with something else. Touch-ups are a nightmare.
I like many different finishes so I don’t have too many deal breakers. I guess fragrance can be a deal breaker or anything with too much glitter bc it irritates my lips!
1.) Anything that wears off in a New York minute! Like under 2 hr.’s is pretty pathetic.
2.) Drying! I already live in the desert, so I really can’t deal with most liquid matte lipsticks at all. So far, only Cheap Thrills by Colourpop, the 2 by Ofra, and the CP Ultimate Satins work for me.
3.) Any sort of soapy or “off” taste, or strong odor, won’t do!
4.) Easy feathering/bleeding is a big no-go! Usually not an issue, but it can happen with some rare, random shade.
Definitely any strong perfume taste. I don’t mind a vanilla or light citrus/fruit scent, but please no straight up perfume, it’s just gross.
Peppermint oil as an ingredient. It strips my lip skin right off, and it’s in SO MANY lip products!
It’s amazing how many lip products have that, or have menthol in them. They feel good for a couple of days, then I realize that I have a dry, hard layer on my lips that needs to be manually peeled off. It’s awful. It took me awhile to figure out what the heck was going on. I’ve learned to read the ingredients on all lippies very carefully now before buying.
Peppermint or menthol should never be in lip products. It is horribly drying and irritating to the skin. They put it in though bc people like the smell and that cooling sensation which really just your lips telling you they are being irritated lol
A really strong perfume scent and/or chemically taste. And anything that fades or wears off within a couple of hours (unless it’s a sheer gloss or something is not likely to get a lot of love either…
Price and ingredient lists. If it’s not drugstore and prone to many sales and coupons, then I really critically judge the ingredient list. I know the profit margins and they’re usually high in cosmetics(not an easy economic feat) and if I’m paying more than if I did it myself, then I better be paying for an ingredient list that doesn’t cause any damage, if not a skincare ingredient list.
My next pet peeves is colors. I try to limit the colors I should buy per season and year to prevent picking up every color I get the whim for(which I do have a problem with). For me this year, it’s all cool toned colors that bring to mind the seasons, and since it’s still technically spring, I buy cool pinks, cool blues, silvers, whites, black, taupe mauves, gray toned colors(mauve, greige,etc), pink toned browns/beiges, taupes, etc; andI avoid gold, orangey, yellowy colors for peevish reasons(and I also have such colors abundantly in my collection). The only exception is when I’m looking for the warmest(red-orange) toned MLBB color for my lips. I’m very particular. I know there’s no good reason to like really cool toned colors and really warm toned colors but not any colors too inbetween, but it’s a system that works for me. Otherwise, I’d be frollicking in crazy lipstick hoarding land and spending all my money for no good reason since I’m not a professional nor equipped to run a good beauty blog. It’s less of a hobby or job than an obsession(or passion I guess) but I don’t mind at all
A dry formula that tugs, something that dries out my lips throughout wear, and also a formula that bleeds beyond lip line.
If the formula is drying or contains irritants I’ll pass.
Anything stronger than a mild fragrance is a no-no for me, barring certain exceptions (YSL Rouge Volupté smells like papayas!). Anything too drying. Anything that feathers a ton. I also don’t like any products with shimmer in them.
why would you opt for a darker shade?
Horrible smell and being drying.
The texture of applying it (not even) and funky scents/taste. I can usually tolerate those shampoo/soapy lipsticks but some are really bad.
if it’s extremely drying, and if it’s EXTREMELY hard to take off with makeup remover. i love when lip sticks/stains actually last, but i do want it to come off eventually.
Bleeding w/ or w/o a lip pencil. I fell in love with a Milani and Rimmel darker shade. Both bled.
Too much slip. Nothing drives me crazier than when I absolutely love a color and most things about a formula but can’t keep it on my lips for the life of me. Also taste. I don’t want my lipstick to taste like perfume or anything really. Too drying is definitely a factor but my lips tend to hold moisture well so too much slip becomes more of a problem for me.
Nothing that stings, is dry or smells like peppermint.
My answer is pretty much the same as Christine’s. Anything even remotely drying is a pass, but so is anything really creamy. I like my lipsticks to be somewhere in between. Anything too dry will make my lips even drier than they already are. But anything too creamy will require frequent touch ups and I’m not about that. I also don’t like anything scented; I’m really sensitive to fragrances and can get headaches.
If it is drying ( I have a problem with matte lipsticks) and if it taste like perfume.
Color & cost. I rarely even look at a product over $10, and I’m really picky about color. Availability will also factor in. As much as I would love to try Colour Pop, there never seems to be enough products at a given time to merit an online order, as too many have been LE. Although out of my cost guidelines, there are a few Bite Beauty lippies I’d be willing to buy, but they’re not available in-store (I also have strong feelings about supporting actual B&M stores, as they provide jobs & help the economy). While they are pricier than I normally spend, the fact they contain food grade ingredients justifies the cost. Otherwise, I have yet to find a $50 product that blows away any $5 product…
Obviously, if I do decide to try a new formula, and have any adverse reaction, I will discontinue use. Fortunately, this has happened only once.
Also, “wear time” is irrelevant; lipsrick is the easiest/quickest product to reapply, and I’ve never not been able to find 30 seconds to do so. If I’m really going to be pressed for time, that’s when I reach for lip balm.
1. Anything that has a strong chemical, perfume, or soapy scent/taste. I am fine with vanilla, fruity, chocolate, and even minty scents, but as a general rule, if it’s something inedible, I don’t want to smell it on my lips.
2. Overly streaky formulas.
3. Excessive tugging.
4. Excessive bleeding/feathering that even a lip liner can’t fix.
5. Drying formulas, other than matte lipsticks where a certain level of dryness is to be expected. But even with mattes, it becomes excessive at a certain point.
Lip peeling, I’m not sure what it is but some formulas just make my lips peel. Drying is another problem too. I’m with you on the perfumey taste too.
For me the deal breaker is when the application is bad. Like when it brings out the flakiness in your lips or just goes on patchy and the like. I can deal with lack of longevity or if its not transfer proof. But going out with those flaky patchy lips is just out of the question.
I have easily irritated lips so I avoid anything drying and opt for lipsticks with some hydrating properties. Long lasting, liquid, matte are usually synonymous with dry flakey lips for me. Lip plumping formulas with cinnamon or mint are a complete no-go as well. As for fragrance or flavor, if it is mild and pleasant, I really don’t mind.
I pass anything drying. I would rather sacrifice long wear for wrinkled up lips. On the other hand, I can’t stand greasy lipsticks either. Shiseido Perfect Rouge RS656, I’m looking at you. If a lipstick needs lipliner on my whole lip to stay in place, it’s an easy pass or toss.
The formula can’t be drying, scented (unless faintly & disppears whwn wearing) and too sheer.
My lips tend to dry out super easily so I tend to gravitate to specific formulas. I also have a few lipsticks where the scent completely turns my stomach. I thoughtlessly got some By Terry lip baume on one of my travel water bottles that has one of those pop up sippy tops and the scent stuck to the plastic even after going through the dishwasher. I now find the scent so ridiculously overpowering that I cannot wear it without feeling nauseous..so I don’t. This lip balm is essentially ruining anything rose scented for me. Yuck.
Too much slip, patchiness right away or as it fades, hollowed out lips when it fades, any that dry lips, any that have yellow or orange in them (that make teeth look yellow), any peaches or ones too warm, any mattes.
Dry…can’t stand a dry lip
A Strange Taste
Too much glitter particles which Are everywhere in my Face When I Take Off the lipstick
I don’t wear matte lipsticks (which appear to be drying to me) – instead I choose creamy or lipsticks with shine. A deal breaker for me would be a lipstick that doesn’t look good on me.
My favorite right now is Tom Ford Moisturecore lip colors because it lasts and isn’t too heavy but has substance; the colors especially otranto and pipa are sooo pretty. But most of all they are moisturizing which I need because my lips are always dry. I am not a fan of his regular lipsticks I find them to be very drying and I’m not a fan of his prices for any of his lipsticks!
I’m very picky. But I usually go for Mac lipticks specially Matte or Creamsheen. I can’t buy loreal because of the smell, wet n wild and cover girl neither
Which formula fron WnW did you try? I don’t seem to detect any scent in the few I own.
Definitely “perfumey” smell/taste and I also have an objection to mint .Dry texture, patchy application and difficult or cumbersome packaging is also a definite “no, thanks”!
For me anything on the orangey side. Ugh! Has to be moist. Always a lip liner, filling in lips. Reds are an iffy shade for me too.
Really drying or really slippery formula. The dry ones Crack and thread slippery ones look like you’re drinking Kool aid
Love to wear comfortable lipsticks… Not too hydrating nor too drying or matte. Next is transferability… Love lippies which donot transfer/ or transfer very minimally. Fragrance is something which i can do without; but it does not bother me too much if the smell is really not tooo much. Pigmentation… It should cover my lips evenly… Apart from that, dont mind even if i have to apply lipsticks frequently after meals. And lastly the stain… I like my lipsticks to be not too staining… That is.. It should be easy to remove with a makeup cleanser at the end of the day.
I cannot stand anything too drying on my lips, usually if a lip product feels too dry then it doesn’t look very good anyway. I am also not the least bothered when I have to reapply lipsticks every couple of hours so the whole advantage of wearing liquid lipsticks is lost on me. I can handle pretty strong perfume scents but if it has a bad taste I will rarely wear it again. On the flip side, anything that bleeds outside my pipelines is a no go as well. I love the feel and taste of the Bite lipsticks but they are just so creamy that they slide right into my fine lines.
DRYNESS! Dryness is such a problem for me, it is the ultimate deal-breaker no matter how much I love the color. If there is the slightest bit of drag when applying…NO! I am not a fan of matte lipsticks for this particular reason. I’ve never found a matte that didn’t drag when I put it on and didn’t completely dry out my lips within two hours of application.
STRONG SCENT OR ODOR…deal-breaker
STRONG TASTE OF ANY KIND…deal-breaker
LIP PLUMPING LIPSTICK…deal-breaker
Good question! Anything with a “perfumey” a is a deal -breaker for me too. I can think of a certain brand that has had the same scent for years. Even when I was younger and played in my mom’s makeup, I would hold my breath because it was so offensive and even now (in my 40s) I can’t stand it!
Any formula that’s really drying, regardless of whether it’s a Matte or not. Dry is out. Oh and lip gloss. Ain’t got no time or love for lip gloss.
I don’t like luster or cream finish. They bleed through my lip lines and the lack of pigmentation is not worth paying $20 or more for a lipstick. I do like satin or matte finish . I usually add lip balm to my lips at night time . So it’s not uncomfortable for me to wear matte lipstick .
1) A very expensive lipstick is a no no for me, specially if it will be wiped off on the first bite I take or the first kiss my husband gives me, that is why I love the long wear ones.
2) A strong waxy odor and taste.
3) Very gloss or glitter are not for me either.
4) Feathering/bleeding lipstick is a nightmare.
Despite the following, I actually get along with most lipstick formulas and don’t encounter a lot of problems.
1) Cinnamon oil in the formula. Not terribly common, but it’s in some plumping formulas. It always makes my lips itch like mad.
2) Strong perfume, chemical, or play-doh scents that do not go away. I recently had to return Covergirl x Katy Perry Katy Kat Mattes because of the perfume taste that never went away.
3) Mattes that are super-dry and thick, and tug like crazy. Melt’s mattes and the original formula for Urban Decay 714, for example.
4) Extreme feathering/bleeding, or settles too much in the liplines.
5) Low wear time, say less than 2 hours. Most lipsticks last much longer, fortunately.
6) In liquid lipsticks: Anything super-drying or that pulls the lips in and makes them look shriveled. Anything that flakes or peels. ColourPop’s Ultra Mattes are the worst offenders for me on all these counts.
Hmm. I a,m very picky with lipsticks, at least with those I am really wearing… buying is something else :-/ I am still in the process to become much more selective in my shopping habits. But I can’t stand if a ls is too drying as well as if its too slippery. As I am having quite pigmented lips, I need opacity, if it is not a rose-pink colour. So I prefer opac matt or satin formulas, but still try others which do not have a realistic chance to be worn regularly…
Anything with a strong perfume sent is definitely a deal breaker for me. I bought one loreal lipstick when I was first getting into lipsticks and was in LOVE with the color. But the smell was horrendous. I think it was raspberry rush. Also anything that is to sheer is usually a deal breaker unless it’s a lip oil etc. if I want to wear lipstick, I want it bold and bright!
Taste & scent. It’s one reason why some brands don’t feature as prominently. I like mint, vanilla & fig, whereas rose, chocolate and citrus are just OK. Scents that really put me off are tropical fruits, bubble-gum or if it tastes so synthetic it’s unrecognisable.
How it sits on lip lines. If it sinks or slips around, it’s not going to be of much use the moment I apply it.
Shade. I admit I am a bit of a snob on color – it has to be sophisticated for me to justify diverting dollars to a lipstick instead of other more responsible ways to use my money.
Opacity. I don’t mind translucence, but for a barely-there tint, I’d rather go with lip balm or gloss. When I fork out good money for lipstick I expect my money is worth in pigment / coverage!!
Moisture. I can put up with a moderately moisturizing lipstick, but the line is drawn on lipsticks that causes lips to shrivel or flake.
Lasting Power. It always seems to be a trade of between lasting power and comfort. If push comes to shove I’d rather touch up more often with a comfortable lipstick, than have it last the whole day only to leave me with dry lips.
My ultimate lipstick formula is one that has minimal or no scent, that’s plush with a good grip and sculpts lip contours.
And saturated with moisture, to the extent that I don’t need lip balm beforehand.
The right colour – browny-golds, burgundy, red
Moisturising lipstick – not matte – I need a lipstick that is hydrating for my lips
Longevity – I don’t lipsticks that last for five minutes
Perfume – you don’t need a perfume in a lipstick.
No feathering or bleeding on the lips.
Feathering, bleeding, smearing, staining, turning a weird color, extremely drying, strong scent, wearing off quickly.
It cannot be drying, first of all. Second, if there is a fragrance and/or a taste that I cannot tolerate it. If the formula is not long lasting. Also if there is not a color range that will make me happy it will make it hard for me to get into it.
Yes, I absolutely agree Christine. Anything that looks too matte also. It has to have something smooth in it. I don’t care for products that have a strong scent. Like a mascara that smells like tar. Ugh. But mostly, it’s anything that looks or feels dry. For example, I used to have really bad acne and oily skin. I used to never moisturize my face, because I had a fear of being more shiny and oily and making my acne worst. Today, being 45, I know better and know that you have to use a moisturizer on your face. While you have oily skin, your skin still needs moisture. And it actually helps with balancing out your skin and heals the acne up. Whoa, way off topic! L. . But, I agree with everything you said Christine. 🙂
Hmm, maybe that should be the next question on here. But how to word it? How about… What’s the biggest misconception about skin care or makeup products, that you were told growing up and now know it’s an old wives tale or not true? Or something like that. It would be awesome to read some of the answers! 😉
No stain – I hate anything that wears off but leaves color in the lines on my lips. Ugh. This is the case for most long-wearing lipsticks. I would rather reapply every hour than have this happen. Also color – no red or super darks.
And nothing crazy sticky. Luckily most glosses now aren’t the same as they used to be. No hair stuck to the lips from riding in a car.