Burberry Lip Velvet in 'Orange Red'. Once my tube of MAC 'So Chaud' became loved to a millimeter of its life, I decided to graduate to the big guns and found this Amazon in a Tube at the Burberry counter. What Burberry's marketing team lacks in imaginative naming, they more than make up for in luxurious packaging: the magnetic closure is everything and THE BULLET IS EMBOSSED IN PLAID, PEOPLE. All that, and it manages to stay put well past 3pm. 'So Chaud' was fun while she lasted, but now that I'm past 35, I don't mind spending $35 on a tube of lipstick to feel fancy.
Revlon Fire & Ice
Revlon Super Lustrous Lipstick in 'Fire & Ice'. In Pretty Iconic, in the same Revlon entry as 'Cherries in the Snow', Sali Hughes told a touching story about what this color in particular meant to her and her friend. The nostalgic, evocative power of makeup makes me happy and is nothing to be sneezed at. 💄💫
Revlon Cherries in the Snow
Revlon Super Lustrous Lipstick in 'Cherries in the Snow'. Was inspired to venture away from the Nordstrom counter and into the Walgreens for this lovely lady featured in Sali Hughes' inspiring book Pretty Iconic. At $8, it's worth a spot in the regular lineup.
Clinique Rose Pop
Clinique Pop Matte Lip Colour + Primer in no. 06 'Rose Pop'. This little beauty came free in a gift-with-purchase at the Bloomie's Clinique counter, and it made me realize I should revisit this humble line for some equally amazing mattes. It sits all day better than any other mattes I've tried by MAC, Chanel, or Burberry. And it's $18.50, whaaaatttt?
NARS Schiap
NARS lipstick in 'Schiap'. I picked her up after realizing my tube of MAC 'Girl About Town' had up and ditched me, that little tramp. Just as well, since I prefer Schiap's texture to GAT anyway. Also, I'm a sucker for the fuzzy feel of NARS's plasticized tubes. Side note: makeup counter folks and beauty vloggers alike seem to be all over the place in their pronunciations of "Schiap", but since it was named in homage to Italian designer Elsa Schiaparelli, I'm putting my money and 2.5 years of college Italian toward the pronunciation "Skyahp". Then again, I get great joy out of passive aggressive pronunciation battles at makeup counters ("I'll take 'skyahp'"// "Oh, 'shy-app'? Here it is."), so it might be nice to keep the mystery alive.
MAC Grande Dame
MAC Mineralize Rich Lipstick in 'Grande Dame'. Bought this several years back with my buddy Chaunette while on the hunt for a "daytime color with personality". It's since discontinued, but it was quite lovely while it lasted!
Tarte Birthday Suit
Tarte Tarteist Creamy Matte Lip Paint in 'Birthday Suit'. After spending approximately $9 bagillion in 2016, it was only fitting to receive this lovely little birthday token from Sephora in return. 🎉
Chanel Shocking Pink
Chanel Rouge Double Intensité Ultra Wear Lip Color matte liquid in 'Shocking Pink'. Bought this especially for a husband-/baby-free weekend L.A. getaway last summer, and it complemented the sunshine and poolside vistas swimmingly. Day to day, it wears a bit rough: SUPER drying, but it doesn't budge or transfer, and the gloss locks in just a touch of moisture pretty well. While there are certainly better mattes and glosses out there, in general, it made me feel like a million bucks.
MAC Ruby Woo
The one. The only. The unfuckwithable.
Elizabeth Arden Amethyst
Elizabeth Arden Ceramide Ultra Lipstick in 'Amethyst'. Got this in a gift with purchase, so sadly mine is missing the gorgeous gold packaging, but it's not a bad nude! It seems to have some kind of light reflectors in it that aren't typically my cup of tea, but they're making that photo look pretty hot, right? I should keep her out more often.