Lipstick Love | The Lip Bar Matte Lip in Rich Auntie

When is the last time you've worn a lipstick that made you feel like "the one" when you stepped out with it perfectly applied on your lips? I mean, when you look in your bathroom mirror, you feel confident giving yourself that last once-over? And as you go on about your day, you notice others are admiring your brilliant smile as well? Some may even stop you to ask you the name of the lipstick you're rocking. I don't know about you, but I love when someone asks me about lipsticks. Especially if it stands out as much as Rich Auntie from The Lip Bar.

If you didn't know, let me be the one to tell you: Rich Auntie is THAT GIRL. I usually go for nudes and chocolates for everyday wear, but there's something about Rich Auntie that makes me want to grab for her and rock her fearlessly every day. I don't know if it's the shade or the feeling she gives when I put her on, but I love it, either way! She has been holding a secured spot on my makeup vanity for months and now that she's BACK IN STOCK, I need to purchase a few more! Peep the details below to learn why I'm so obsessed with her after the jump.

LIPSTICK LOVE | NYX Lip Lingerie in Honeymoon and Beauty Mark

When the seasons change, I am always inspired to switch out items from daily wear makeup bag. The bright lippies and blushes from warmer months have now taken residence in the makeup cases in the bottom of my closet. My favorite plums, reds, burgundies, and deep browns have made a comeback! And while browns and nudes never really disappear from my rotation, I do forget many of my all-time favorites and have to bring them back out. 

If you've been here for a while, you know I love a good, affordable lipstick. And for that reason, I keep repurchasing lippies from the NYX Cosmetics Lip Lingerie line. Lip Lingerie boasts to have a "nude for everybody" with over 20 shades between the original and the XXL line. Two of them that I just can't seem to get out of my system are my beloved Honeymoon and Beauty Mark. 

I've been rocking these two for years and can always seem to find a replacement when I run out from virtually any big box store or drugstore. So, as long as these stores continue to feed my habit for the low, I'll continue to slather my lips with their product. Check out how they look on the pucker below.

Lipstick Love | Black Radiance Perfect Tone HD Lip Sculptor

As the seasons change, I always find a way to add a few new lipsticks to my makeup bag. It's such a habit! And while I like to peruse the beauty aisles for what's new, looking for long-lasting shades and finishes that promise to hydrate and show-out, I sometimes tip-toe back to the familiar. You know how it is. You get all the compliments from that lipstick you were rocking at the function last year only to find it has long run out. You recall that lipstick you used to wear before the pandemic that people passing by always said looked amazing on you and realize you need to see if it's still available in stores. Those were my feelings when I sought out to repurchase the Black Radiance Perfect Tone HD Lip Sculptor Lipsticks I swooned over in the drugstore a couple of years ago.

When I first purchased a couple of these beauties, I had not saw many reviews of them online. However, I haven't been disappointed by Black Radiance yet. With an array of shades to choose from and an awesome price point, I knew it would be no problem for me to purchase and repurchase these lipsticks for as long as they were in stock. And since I was so impressed with the formula, I bought quite a few as my local store started discounting them recently.

Read below the jump to learn more about these beauties!

LIPSTICK LOVE | Fenty Beauty Mattemoiselle Plush Matte Lipsticks

I know everyone is in love with so many of these new creamy lippies that have been showing up in the beauty world. Believe me, I do, too. But can we please take a second to pay homage to my favorite lipstick finish for a few minutes? Yes, ladies and gentlemen, I am talking about the ever-so-faithful matte. Once you get acquainted with a nice matte lipstick, she will stick closer to you than a supportive homegirl. 

And since we've been wearing masks, matte lipsticks are the only lippies up to the task of lasting through the extra layer of protection.  So how about we take it back to some of my favorite matte lipsticks for a bit? Fenty Beauty Mattemoiselle Plush Matte Lipsticks have been getting a lot of play around my way this winter and since I haven't shared any swatches here on the blog, I thought today would be a great day to do so. 

Lipstick Love | The Lip Bar Lipstick in Purple Rain

Have you ever had a lipstick that was just perfect for ANY occasion? I mean, you could be going out for groceries, going out for lunch, or even meeting up with a friend, and that one lipstick stays front and center for the choosing? I don't know about you, but I have a few of those lipsticks in my makeup bag. And for the longest time, creamy purple lipsticks seem to always go high on my everyday lipstick list. 

Don't get me wrong: I love my nudes, hot pinks, and my deep berries (especially during the fall). But there's something about one purple lipstick in particular that makes me feel like my best flirty and feisty self. And that lipstick is none other than The Lip Bar lipstick in Purple Rain. This lipstick has been holding a secured spot in my makeup bag for a minute and is definitely an instant repurchase when I run out. Peep the details below to learn why I keep running back to her after the jump.

Lipstick Love | Milani Bold Color Statement Matte Lipstick

Lipstick holds a special place in my heart and my makeup bag. So you know I brake whenever I see new-to-me tubes in my local stores. Sometimes I'm lured by the promise of being long-lasting in their titles. Other times I'm teased by their incredible range of shades. However, most of the time, it is the packaging of a lipstick that makes me stop and take notice immediately. Not only did the sleek, matte black packaging of the Milani Bold Color Statement Matte Lipsticks make me pause; the affirmation of each label made me want to add them to my cart ASAP.

According to the Milani website, the Bold Color Statement Matte Lipsticks are "extra in the best way." Now doesn't that sound like a lipstick you would feel confident wearing? These lipsticks have a guaranteed "no smudge, won't budge" formula that boasts to last all day.

LIPSTICK DIARIES | 3 Steps to the Perfect Pout

If you've been reading here for a while, you already know I believe in the power of lipstick. There's something about wearing a flattering shade of lipstick at any event that provides the best confidence boost. And as much as I've discussed alluring shades and formulas here in this space, I have yet to share how I make sure my lipstick is always looking flawless. Well that changes today!

In this space, I'd like to take the opportunity to REALLY talk about lipstick. I mean, we spend countless hours in the beauty aisles debating on which lipsticks get chosen and will be coming home with us. We stare at them in the tubes, we imagine what they might look like applied generously on our lips, and we might even sniff the lipstick to see how we feel about the fragrance. But how often do we talk about how to properly apply our lipstick to REALLY make it look the best on us?

Sure, we want to make sure our lipstick has the best chance of showing up and showing out for us. We want to make sure it's placed perfectly on our beautiful lips each time. We want to make sure our lips are primed and ready for a dope application. And we want to make sure that baby lasts for as long as we want it to each and every time. So if you're new to the lipstick game and want to make sure your lipstick is on point, keep reading to learn three steps for the best lipstick application and performance.

IN MY BAG | The Lip Bar Liquid Mattes

If you are a beauty lover like myself, I'm sure you're no stranger to beauty brand The Lip Bar. Often  introduced as the brand of colorful lipsticks first seen on Shark Tank, The Lip Bar is so much more. This Detroit-based vegan + cruelty brand created by Melissa Butler (that started off selling lip products online) has recently expanded to selling eye and face products as well. And for customers like me who hate running out of their favorite lipsticks and waiting for them to ship, the lip products are now sold in Target.

IN MY BAG | The Lip Bar Liquid Mattes

With the launch of The Lip Bar's new products, particularly the Fast Face Kits, I've been reminded of why I fell in love with this innovative beauty brand. After my first purchase of Purple Rain a few years ago (because, Prince), I knew this brand would be one to look out for. Not only were the lipsticks offered in vibrant, in-your-face shades, they were cruelty free AND created by a black woman. While there has been a boom in liquid matte lipsticks in recent years, one could get overwhelmed shopping in stores looking for shades that actually looked flattering to wear. Finding a brand that had all complexions in mind made me feel like I had found a winner in The Lip Bar.

And since I've been giving plenty of fall lipstick suggestions in my DMs, I decided it was about time I shared my favorites from the liquid matte line here on the blog. Keep reading below the jump to find out which four I'm keeping in my makeup bag this fall and how to catch them on sale for a limited time!

NEW Pixi MatteLast Liquid Lipsticks

If you've been reading here for a while, you already know how obsessed I am with lipstick. It holds a special place in my heart and my makeup bag, so I have a tendency to ramble about it. Besides, the only thing better than lipstick is NEW lipstick. So you also know talks of new lipstick send my antennas all the way up!

Earlier this spring, I had the chance to try out Pixi Beauty's MatteLast Liquid Lip and was quite impressed. And no sooner than I heard they had new additions to the collection, I received a beautiful package from Pixi that included their entire Pixi MatteLast Liquid Lip Collection. I couldn't wait to try out the five new shades so that I could share them with you guys here and possibly add them to my winter beauty arsenal.

But did they make the cut, though? Read below the jump to find out!

LIPSTICK LOVE | NYX Soft Matte Lip Cream in Copenhagen

There's nothing on a late summer or early fall evening quite like a deep burgundy or plum colored lipstick. It's alluring. It's mysterious. It demands attention. And something about wearing one makes me feel so fierce!

I've had my fair share of experience with deep wine, burgundy, and plum lipsticks over the years, forever chasing that power I felt when applying my auntie's burgundy Fashion Fair lipstick as a little girl. And now as an adult, I make sure to keep a few in my arsenal to remind me of that powerful woman I've grown to be. One that never leaves my makeup bag is NYX Soft Lip Cream in Copenhagen. This lipstick has been a hero in my beauty arsenal for quite some time and is an instant repurchase each time I run out. Read the details below to find out just why I always come running back to her after the jump.

Favorite Lipsticks To Transition from Summer to Fall

What lipsticks have you been reaching for the most this summer? My beautiful blogger friend Chantel and I have been talking about lipstick favorites lately and decided we should share some together on our blogs. Chantel is a dope beauty writer that blogs over at Chantel Keona and keeps her readers on trend with the latest beauty and style finds! I couldn't wait to collaborate with her to collectively share a few of our seasonal favorites with our readers. The trouble is, however, I have so many lipstick favorites. This summer I have been picking up shades randomly, as my mood saw fit, so I had no clue how I would narrow them down. Then I had the perfect idea that brought my transitioning makeup bag to mind.

One of my favorite things about transitioning from season to season is updating my makeup bag. And while we have plenty more warm days of summer left, I thought I would start thinking about my transitions early. As I'm transitioning my lipsticks from summer shades to fall shades, I pulled a few of my favorites that I knew would transition well from one season to the next. So without further adieu, check out my picks below!

My Favorite MAC Lipsticks of All Time

If you've been reading the blog for a while, and even if you know me well, you know I could talk about lipsticks all day. I could go on and on about my favorite shades, finishes, and even dupes if it comes to that. And if you aren't careful, I'll talk you into trying a new shade or two. There's just something about trying a new lipstick that empowers me (and empowers me to empower other women as well).

One thing I haven't talked about in a long time in this space here, however, are my favorite lipstick brands. After gushing over my all-time favorite lipstick on National Lipstick day via Instagram, many people asked me about lipstick suggestions via DM. In fact, a few of you guys even asked me what some of my favorite MAC lipsticks were. And since MAC is one of my favorite beauty brands when it comes to lipsticks, I decided it would be cool to share my favorite MAC lipsticks here on the blog, too.

Not only do these high-quality lipsticks come in so many shades, there's a finish to suit everyone's fancy-- 7 to be exact. Everyone can find a shade that compliments their skintone. And MAC lipsticks always meet the criteria for what I'm looking for in a lipstick: great color pay-off, long-lasting, and great scent/flavor. So without further adieu, here are some of my favorites from the brand.

REVIEW | Maybelline SuperStay Matte Ink

I have been curious about the Maybelline SuperStay Matte Ink liquid lipsticks for quite some time. When they first came out, I admired the color range, but didn't go grab them right away. As they began to pop up in my local stores (which take FOREVER to get the new-new), I grew even more curious, but still didn't budge. However, after flipping through magazine after magazine featuring all these beautiful women rocking various shades of matte ink liquid lipsticks, I decided I would go ahead and give them a try if I catch them on sale.

REVIEW | Pixi MatteLast Liquid Lip Collection

If you follow me on Instagram, you probably already know how excited I get about updating my makeup bag each season. And since spring is finally here, I've been all about finding the perfect hues of rose, blush, coral and other softer, neutral shades to add to my beauty arsenal. Last month, I received a beautiful package from Pixi that included their entire Rose Essence Collection. And in this collection were five pretty lippies from the MatteLast Liquid Lip Collection. When I tell you I was over-the-moon hype about this package, please believe me! I could not wait to put these lippies to the test and see if they would find a home in my spring beauty arsenal. 

The Pixi MatteLast Liquid Lip is infused with rose hip seed oil, giving lips the hydration you wouldn't normally expect from a matte lip product. And the fact that these lippies are also paraben-free/cruelty free made me even more eager to test them out. 

LIPSTICK LOVE | ColourPop Ultra Satin Lip In Baracuda

Just when I thought I had finally gotten control of my ColourPop liquid lipstick obsession collection, this beautiful rose colored lippie came along and changed my mind. I was minding my business. You know, I might have been browsing around checking a few lipsticks out, but had no intentions on getting serious about purchasing a new one. I remind myself each week that I have plenty of lipsticks in the stash that aren't getting any play. Then I vow not to buy any more until I hit pan on at least three or four. But then this one lipstick comes along, catches my eye, and I just can't stop thinking about her. That may or may not have happened when I met ColourPop Ultra Satin Lip in Baracuda.

I added Baracuda to my cart one week, abandoned it with about 4 other lippies that shall forever remain nameless, and kept returning to it on my phone later that night. And I promised myself I wouldn't buy it because I believed I already had a lipstick similar to it. Then I went over to my friend Google and started searching for swatches on various women in an attempt to convince myself that I did not already have said lipstick in this particular formula. Eventually reason kicked in and I decided against purchasing it, thinking that was the last I would see of Baracuda. That was about 3 months ago.

But you see, Baracuda has a way of showing up and showing out when she wants to. Do you know this lippie showed up in my Ipsy Bag out of the blue last month? Almost made me feel like we were meant to be together, y'all! Now the test would be if Baracuda could actually deliver like I hoped she would.

LIPSTICK LOVE | NYX Lip Lingerie in Honeymoon

There's nothing like having a nice, nude lipstick in your beauty arsenal. Nude lipsticks can be worn anywhere, at any time, and for any occasion. They pair well with natural eye looks, glamorous ones, or even smoky-eye looks of varying shades. And if it happens to be an affordable nude lippie? That's even better!

I'm always on the hunt for a perfect nude lipstick, and thankfully I've come across many. This feat, however, has been met with a lot of resistance. For one, the nude lipstick shades I see online rarely look the same on me once I get them home and on my lips. I have found quite a few "my lips but better" shades, but that's been well after testing out lipstick after lipstick. Last year, as I was trying out the popular NYX Lip Lingerie Liquid Lipsticks, I came across quite a few affordable nudes. A line from NYX Cosmetics that claims to have a "nude for everybody" brought us 24 shades of neutral lippies with cute lipstick names to boot.

On a whim, I grabbed up NYX Lip Lingerie in Honeymoon and it's been love ever since. And every time I rock it, someone is asking me about it. Since it's become a favorite lipstick of mine, I decided I'd share a bit more about it here on the blog so you can weigh the pros and cons and see if this is a great lippie to add to your collection as well.

LIPSTICK LOVE | ColourPop Ultra Satin Lip in Virginia

Were you here for the TNT Drama Claws that premiered early summer? If you know how much I stan for Niecy Nash, you already know I just HAD to check it out. And through my tuning in each week for lots of laughs, shocks, and clutching of my proverbial pearls,  I was introduced to some colorful characters. While it was evident that I would be mesmerized by Niecy Nash's stylish, "around-the-way-girl" character Desna, I was also intrigued by Karrueche Tran's character Virginia. Homegirl was a door-knocker rocking, booty-shorts styling, working-at-the-pyramid-tonight-type hot mama who didn't know a thing about doing nails, honey. How she ended up working at a nail salon was beyond me, but I still continued to watch her screw up nails (among other things) each week.

And as you can tell from my description of the show so far, Claws definitely grew on me. So much so, that I was sad to see the season coming to an end a few short weeks ago. However, I was excited to see that Karrueche would be debuting a new lippie from her ColourPop collaboration bearing her beloved character's name. Once I saw that bright red violet lippie come across my phone screen, I just knew I had to have it.

LIPSTICK LOVE | ColourPop Lippie Stix in Glam Bag

Hey ladies, have you ever fell in love with a lipstick at first swipe? Can you recall the sudden rush you felt when you puckered your lips to apply that smooth, creamy color and it showed up a little something like perfection? Like the color and finish were made specially for your lips? Well ladies, that's how I felt a couple of weeks ago when I received ColourPop Lippie Stix in "Glam Bag" through my monthly Ipsy subscription.

If you are unfamiliar with Ipsy, it's a subscription service that allows you to try the latest beauty products each month for $10. And while I enjoy the products I've gotten in recent bags, I don't always receive items from brands I use in my daily beauty routine. So receiving a ColourPop product in my bag was not only surprising, it also became the highlight of my Ipsy experience this month!

Back in the spring, Ipsy collaborated with ColourPop Cosmetics to give subscribers exclusive products to be featured on the ColourPop.com website and future Ipsy Bags. Subscribers voted for their favorite colors of Ultra Glossy Lips and Lippie Stix.  This month, Ipsy debuted the lippies, including one beautiful magenta lippie appropriately named "Glam Bag." So when I unzipped September's stylishly studded baggie and came across the ColourPop box, I was immediately hype! It was a matter of time before I put down everything else in my bag to go try this lippie on! And when I tell you it was LOVE at first swipe, I am so sincere.

BEAUTY | Everyday Nude Lipsticks

If you've been here for a while, you know I love talking about lipsticks around here. I've talked about pink lipsticks, I've carried on about red lipsticks. I've even shared some of my favorite liquid lipsticks and urged you to add these five "very necessary" lipsticks to your beauty arsenal. But the overlooked gem I haven't mentioned here in a while is the perfect nude lipstick. And while I don't give them much spotlight on the blog, nude, neutral shades are the lipsticks I spend the most time with. I can wear them all day, every single day, no matter the occasion. A nude lip translates well from day to night, from season to season, and from one occasion to the next. So without further adieu, let's get into what I  like to call my "week's worth" of everyday nude lipsticks.

HAUL + REVIEW | ColourPop Ultra Satin Lips

If you follow me on Instagram or read my last blog post, you know I am late to the ColourPop party. Nonetheless, I got my first little taste of the ColourPop life when I received my recent haul in the mail a couple of weeks ago. In this haul, I purchased three Ultra Matte Lips and three Ultra Satin Lips. Overall, I have been pleased with my haul and could not wait to share the details with you guys. Below are the satin lippies I purchased in the order they are pictured above: Echo Park, Mess Around and Frick 'n Frack.