As a Woman of Colour, I am always looking for shades and hues that translate boldly and evenly across my two-toned lips. My top lip is brown and my bottom lip is a peachy-pink. When I’m hot or flustered, they’re both cherry red. (A name my peers called me in university.) This being the case, I often go for highly pigmented colours that create a new solid canvas across my lips. In fact, I’m always delighted to see swatches on many skin types and skin colours by makeup companies because we’re all a little different and pink on you may actually be brown on me. Sometimes options within a colour are what a company or brand is going for, but I just love when I pick up the colour and know what I see through the packaging is the colour that I will be wearing on my lips. My picks for this week’s blog are both popular and newer to me and I appreciate them a lot. Whether it’s a drug store or luxurious brand, I’m going to look at which provides the best coverage and has the best-staying power out of my top 5 brands to use! Feel free to see what I pulled from the lipstick drawer this time around.

1. SuperStay Matte Ink by Maybelline

A few years ago, my friend Jilly mentioned that she had gotten a couple of matte lip glosses from a drugstore that lasted all day. They were about $15 and she loved them. I think I might have ignored her because I thought $15 for a drugstore brand should have gotten me at least 2/3rds of a luxurious anything at Sephora. Fast forward to two years ago and I’ve discovered these lipglosses I vaguely remember hearing about on sale for $9. So naturally, I buy 5! The colours I chose are Artist, (which I gave to my mom) Visionary, Fighter, Ruler, and Escapist. I wore Visionary all day through a Subway 6-inch sandwich and quickly made a little video to tell some other girlfriends to go get some toot sweet! (If I love something, I will always share the information on the product, event, service with my loved ones.) I was surprised by the intensity of the colours and their staying power. I was hooked. I quickly purchased a few more (most of my lipglosses are these by Maybelline.) I called Jilly to tell her so and she was still impressed with the lipglosses, but not with me! 🤷🏽‍♀️Be careful though, this one may make you work for it when it’s removal time. Maybelline did create a lipstick remover for this product but I’m not sure if it’s available everywhere yet. I usually use some organic Coconut oil or my eye-makeup remover. Both are great for complete removal. 

2. Tartiest Quick Matte Dry-Lip Paint by Tarte

I got this as a sample in a beauty box I used to subscribe to. It was a beautiful colour that acted like a nude on me. I usually used lipliner with it but I loved it and was sad when it was finished. It layers on with an opaque finish that isn’t drying or cracking. Tarte also has a vast array of colours in their Matte and Shine portfolio that transfer really well to any lip. 

3. MAC Matte Lipsticks

I was a lipstick virgin until I met MAC many years ago. I loved glosses but lipsticks scared me and the thought of the weird-smelling lipsticks of old my mother wore had me running in the opposite direction, but one swipe of colour from a MAC lipstick completely changed this.  Bullet-shaped lipsticks with an array of colours so beautiful, there’s something for everyone in every shade. My favourite purchases are tied because they make me feel amazing and every time I wear any one of these three colours I’m totally in love all over again. Easy to layer, do it over a lipliner, in your nude, or not OR let it fade throughout your day and reveal shades of goodness on your lovely lips. Men Love Mystery, Flat Out Fabulous, and Lady Danger are my MAC favourites. An honourable mention would be Heroine . (See Pics below) Not to be confused with the Matte Lipglosses by MAC which are also fabulous. 

4. The LipBar Matte Lipgloss by The LipBar

This one is new to me but I LOVE THEM. Their colours are bold, highly pigmented and are easy to come off when you’re ready for them to. These prices are also cost effective if that’s something you’re looking out for. They retail online for $6 USD and the site often  has many sales. These wonderful lip glosses go on opaque and are also layer able for more intensity. My absolute favourite colours from this brand are Playmate, Boy Trouble, and Crown Me. How can you not feel royal in any of these shades?!

5. Pat McGrath Anything!!!!

Really this one needs no explanation but alas I will give it a go. I learned about this one a while ago but my dedication to Pat McGrath lip wear has since been renewed. I’m always looking for an occasion good enough to wear these. The Mothership as her entity is referred to produces luxurious quality makeup and their lipsticks are no exception. The most expensive lipstick in my cache but you won’t find regrets here, Love. This lipstick feels like a soft velvety touch. There’s no pull when applying and you won’t ever feel dry. This will have some staying power but please don’t take it out for pizza or fried chicken. This is the lipstick you will have pleasure re-applying if you want to. Thankfully Pat McGrath and the Mothership have made mini versions of all of this goodness sold in sets of threes that are affordable and available for purchase on both PatMcGrath’s website and at Sephora online and in-store. 

Stay tuned for the next post and combinations of great colours I’ll find in my lipstick drawer. We’ve barely scratched the surface and I’m hoping you’ll find something helpful as we explore it through my eyes, or should I say my lips? Whatever you’re wearing, gloss, sticks, pencils, stains, or the beautiful bare you, #WearItLikeYouMeanIt!