28 Day Lipstick Challenge

Spurred on by *Lisa Newport’s most enjoyable 21 Day Style Challenge in January (she gave a group of us a task of wearing specific items for 21 days), I embarked on my own little experiment and thought because I have 28 lipsticks in my personal make-up kit and there are 28 days in February, I would sift out the ones that I truly love (and suit me) and transfer the rest into my pro-kit as who needs 28?  Really?  One in red, pink, nude, burgundy and a brown should do?

I do prefer matt and long-lasting so I don’t own many sheer, glossy lipsticks.  I also want my lipstick to feel comfortable (which is very important seeing as ‘long-lasting’ usually means ‘drying’) and one that needs one touch-up per day (preferably after lunch).

So here we go.  The truest place to test a shade is actually your fingertips as this skin is the nearest to the texture and colour of the lips but I’ve gone for the inside of my arm as I can show more than 8 shades!

I have sallow, freckly skin but my undertones are cool so anything yellowy just disappears into my skin (and I look grubby, ill or worse: dead) so I’m better with blue-ish tones to my lipsticks which give my skin a pop.  I love the Jo Wood/Kate Moss rock-chic look but I do find it hard to find a ‘nude’ lipstick that suits me so this has been an interesting challenge (and I didn't realise how many reds I had either).  

The lipsticks that I thought suited me don’t!  One way of finding out if a rock-chic nude suits you is to cover your lips with your foundation.  If you look like a corpse (like moi) then don’t go there.

Below are my photos and all the lipsticks are photographed Right to Left:

Day

1             Charlotte Tilbury KISSING – Nude Kate - KEEP

A bit on the yellow side but I do like it and it just about suits.  Looks good with a navy eyeshadow on me.

2             NARS Satin Lip Pencil – Rikugien – PRO-KIT

Too satin/sheer and didn’t stay on.  Plus there's no sharpener, its a twist-up and its now blunt; hard to do a perfect lip-line.

3             Kat von D Everlasting – Lolita - KEEP

Stays on all day and is so comfortable to wear.  Fabulous colour.

4             MUA – Shade 11 – PRO-KIT

          Too sheer and had to keep applying it.  Doesn’t really suit me (yellowy).

5              MAC Lipstick – Diva – KEEP

Love MAC due to their longlivity.  Can’t stand the smell of them though – too sickly sweet.

6             Makeup Revolution Lip Hug  – I am Reddy – KEEP

Love the colour but its not that long-lasting or comfortable throughout the day.  It seems to be a true red on me, better than Rimmel’s #1 – I need to road test it again to make sure.

7             Catrice Crayon – Mauve - Discontinued - PRO-KIT

Due to its finish, its not long-lasting.  Good neutral though.

Days 1-7

Day

8             Dr Hauschka Lipstick – Soft Sandy Brown #3 – KEEP

It’s gritty in texture but it smells like a spa.  I'm on my second so I must like it.

9             Bobbi Brown Lip Color – True Rose – KEEP

Looks a lovely dark red on the lips but on my arm it looks browny/orange.

10          Rimmel London Lasting Lipstick Kate Nude Collection - #48 – KEEP

Very glossy but long-lasting.  Love these lipsticks as they are so comfortable, fab shades and long-lasting.

11          MAC Lipstick – Retro – KEEP

Lovely colour, a red-brown and doesn’t smell as sweet as the others.

12          Primark PS Pro Sheer Shine - Marvellous Mauve – KEEP

Perfect for Summer.  I didn’t realise how pink this was and I quite like it.

Days 8-12

Day

13          Rimmel London Lasting Lipstick Kate Nude Collection - #45 – KEEP

Seeing this one and #3 side-by-side, I realise that this one suits me better.

14          Rimmel London Kate Lasting Finish - #3 – PRO-KIT

A bit too yellow I have realised.  Shame, as I have two of these!  Lovely shade, very comfortable and great long-lasting finish.  Everyone should have a Rimmel Kate in their collection.

15          MAC Lipstick – Viva Glam I – PRO-KIT

Suddenly realised that I’ve not been wearing this much lately.  Great lippie just don’t like the smell and I’ve always thought it was a bit on the pink-side.  There are other reds I like more.

16          NARS Velvet Matt Crayon – Infactuated Red – KEEP

Colour is divine!

17          Catrice Ultimate Shine Gel Colour – Better than Nude – KEEP

Very glossy finish and perfect moisture.  This is discontinued so I better keep hold of this.

18           Primark PS High Sine Lipstick Crayon – Amethyst – PRO-KIT

This is such a shame as I love the colour, finish and it’s a comfortable wear.  It just goes patchy after a while and its hard to do a good line as its gone blunt.

Days 13-18

Day

19           MAC Lipstick – Myth – PRO-KIT

Oh dear, you can’t see it on my skin! Don't know if you remember the Instagram photo, but I looked dead. 

20           NARS Velvet Matt – Consuming Red – KEEP

This is very similar to others I have but I love the crayon, colour, comfort and finish.

21           Kat von D Studded Kiss – Lolita – KEEP KEEP KEEP!

Fab shade, long lasting, comfortable.  Also comes in the Everlasting too so would love to try that texture.

22           Kat von D – Studded Kiss – Underage Red – KEEP

Thought this was a bit too bright for me but I quite like it.

23           MAC Velvetese Lip Pencil – Reddy to Go – KEEP

Stays on, great colour – one of my favourites

24           Lancome Lip Lover – Framboise Etoile #355 – KEEP

Such a surprise as I don’t like bright pink but very comfortable and suits me.

25          Rimmel London Kate Lasting Finish - #1 (Red)

Do go out and buy one.

26          Primark PS Velvet Matt Lip Crayon – Shameless – KEEP

Unlike the last one in Amethyst, these little beauties stay on and don’t go patchy.  I bought two more of these because I kept losing them!  They are only £3!

27          Chanel Rouge Coco Shine – Satisfaction #89 – BIN

The only good thing about this is the packaging which is awesome.  Everything else is neither use nor ornament…hmm, I take that back, it looks good as an orname.nt  For such a sheer lipstick, its not moisturising enough.  It’s a huge disappointment and its £28 (the most expensive lipstick in the bunch)… Get yourself to Primark.

28          Kat von D Everlasting – Outlaw – KEEP

I met Kat von D while wearing this so this little beauty ain’t going anywhere.  I am not sharing!!!!!

Days 19-28

Therefore, it looks like I’m only going to transfer 8 of my lipsticks to my pro-kit.  OK, not many but I'm a sentimental old fart and I’m not great at getting rid of things so it might be a while till I get to my dream of 5 lipsticks!  (The key to this is not to buy any more, Sal!).

I hope you’ve all enjoyed my journey on Instagram over February!  For more tips on how to find the perfect Lipsticks, you can read a Blog I wrote back in 2015:  http://youlittlebeauties.blogspot.co.uk/2015/09/lipstick-tips.html

For more information on Lisa Newport - Stylist and Image Consultant, please go to Lisa's website http://myrubyslippers.co.uk/