follow us on twitter, facebook, pinterest, youtube, foursquare and google+

 “a helpful & lucid review site for all things budget” — the new yorker

Home » Health & Beauty » Lipstick

Best Lipstick, Cheap Lipstick Review

Related Guides: Facial Moisturizers, Mascara and Women's Shavers

If you're in the market for a new lipstick -- maybe yours has run out, failed to live up to expectations, or you just want a change of color -- there's a staggering array of lipsticks to choose from and a number of decisions to make. Will you go for a matte or cream formula? A sheer or a gloss? How will you apply it? And of course, what color do you fancy?

One thing you don't have to spend much time worrying about is price.

Why? Because inexpensive lipsticks -- the drugstore brands available for as little as $1.50 and topping out at $10 -- perform just as well or better than their up-market counterparts, which sell for $15 to $50. In fact, many cheap and costly brands are manufactured in the same plant by the same parent company. Consider this: Revlon owns Ultima II; drugstore fixture Maybelline is a subsidiary of L'Oreal, as is department store stalwart Lancome; consumer goods giant Unilever produces both low-cost British import Rimmel as well as high-end Elizabeth Arden. So in some cases, what you pay for with expensive lipstick is the package and the name, when what really matters is the performance, the look, and the feel.

Cheap Lipsticks Formula.

There are several formula categories within the lipstick market: mattes, creams (sometimes called satins), and sheers and glosses. Two-step lipsticks, specially designed to be extra-long lasting, are a fast growing market segment. Each type has its strengths and weaknesses.

Matte lipsticks,

deliver saturated color, a flat (matte) finish, and seem to last for hours. They are the "in" thing right now. On the other hand, matte lipsticks are among the least moisturizing and are available in a relatively limited array of colors. Additionally, as Bellasugar points out, mattes tend to be pricey; matte lip color by Clinique and NARS, for example, will lighten your wallet by as much as $20. But manufacturers are hip to market trends and are responding with an increasing range of colors and some cheaper products. Revlon Matte (starting at $6.50, Amazon), for example, lets budget-minded consumers flaunt their inner fashionista, and Boots No7 Mineral Lipstick (starting at $7.50, Amazon), a British import, is now available at some outlets in the U.S.

Cream lipsticks

are sometimes called satin or frosted because of the resulting sheen. With good cheap cream lipsticks, such as Revlon Super Lustrous Lipstick (starting at $4.98, Amazon) and L'Oreal Endless LipColor (starting at $8.00, Amazon), the intensity of color depends on the finish you prefer (satin or frosted), with frosteds clustering at the lighter end of the spectrum. The cream formulas are the most popular lipsticks and come in the widest array of colors; Revlon Super Lustrous, for example, boasts dozens. Note that cream lipsticks are less dense and waxy than mattes, contain moisturizers that the matte formula doesn't, and tend to be less drying on the lips. This balance between full, rich color and moist comfort is one reason why Revlon Super Lustrous is so popular, as noted in blog postings on Latestbeauty.com. In terms of staying power, cream formulas hold the middle ground -- they last longer than discount sheers and glosses but fall short of the budget mattes and the latest two-step lip colors.

Sheer and gloss lipstick

, such as the super-cheap ELF Super Glossy Lip Shine SPF 15 (starting at $1.50, Amazon) and moderately-priced Neutrogena MoistureShine Lip Sheers SPF 20 (starting at $9.00, Amazon), are the lightest and most transparent of the lip color choices. These formulas often incorporate sunscreen in addition to the moisturizers found in the denser, more opaque cream options. Sheers and glosses go on quickly, give great shine, and keep lips soft and smooth. They are not the product to choose if saturated color is your style even though they come in distinct tints and shades. Nor should you expect a cheap sheer or gloss lipstick to last all day; their staying power ranks well behind the mattes and creams. And because of their thinner consistency, they are more prone to feathering (i.e., when lipstick seeps into the tiny lines around your lips) than mattes and creams.

Two-step formula lipsticks

are an option if you prefer your lip color to last for 12 hours or more, through errands, lunch, cups of coffee, whatever. Indeed, the color is so enduring that you'll probably need makeup remover to clean it off. This formula combines a long-lasting lip stain with a top coat formulated to add shine and moisture to what is often a very drying bottom coat. Max Factor Lipfinity (starting at $12, Amazon) was one of the first two-step lip colors on the market and was soon followed by long-lasting products from Revlon (ColorStay Ultimate, starting at $6.99, Amazon, incorporates the conditioning feature in the color coat, and ColorStay Overtime, starting at $2.99, Amazon, is a typical two-step product) and from CoverGirl (Outlast All-Day Lipcolor, starting at $8.09, Amazon). Note that Max Factor is phasing out its cosmetics lines in the U.S. in 2010, but you may find this brand at some outlets, such as Drugstore.com, until inventory runs out.

Discount Lipsticks Applicator/Application.

Most inexpensive lipsticks come in the traditional tube or column that is applied directly to your lips. Some cheap lip colors come in small pots and are applied with a brush (generally sold separately). And finally we have the two-steps, which call for a bottom coat of color (wait anywhere from 30 seconds to 2 minutes for it to dry) and a top coat of moisturizing conditioner that can be reapplied as often as needed to boost shine or moisten your lips without smudging or thinning the color layer underneath.

With the inexpensive tube lipsticks, the shape and edges of the column affect how sharp or soft the finished line will be. Cheap lipsticks with distinct edges and smaller surfaces -- such as Neutrogena MoistureShine Sheers, with a fairly narrow, round head and sharp edges, and L'Oreal Colour Riche Lipstick (starting at $4.99, Amazon), wider with blunter edges and a pointed tip -- let you to create a more defined line. If you prefer a softer, blended look, the beauty mavens at About.com say a lipstick brush is the way to go.

Of course, how you choose to apply your lipstick is a personal matter. You can use a lipstick brush with almost any cheap lip color product, whether it comes in a pot, like the tinted shimmers from the Body Shop (starting at $8.00), or the common tube (just swab the brush across the product and apply as much or as little as you want). Some consumers feel they have the most control by using a finger as the applicator, but you might have second thoughts about that practice with some of the semi-permanent two-step formulas, which could leave a stain. Not to worry -- budget two-step lipsticks come with their own special applicator: a small dense sponge, somewhat like a felt tip pen, for the color and a similar sponge or a brush for the conditioning coat. Revlon ColorStay Overtime has a sponge-tip applicator for the color product and a small -- too small, say some ColorStay reviews on Reviewstream.com -- brush for the top coat. The color coat of CoverGirl Outlast has a sponge-tip applicator for the color while the conditioning coat comes in a tube that's used like a regular lipstick.

Low-cost Lipsticks Color

. With so many colors and shades to choose from, it's hard to know where to start. But a good rule of thumb for a flattering, everyday look is a shade just slightly deeper in tone than your natural lip color. No matter which color you select, remember that color intensity or saturation depends on the formula. Matte lipsticks deliver more concentrated product than sheers, so the color will be more intense. Depending on the specifics of the formula, creams range from an almost-matte intensity to lighter frosted tones that have the tinted transparency of sheers and glosses.

The color palette of cheap lipsticks varies widely from brand to brand and formula to formula. Some products are available in a fairly limited range; Neutrogena MoistureShine Sheers, for example, come in only 10 shades of nude to natural. Indeed, some users grumble about the limited number and range of MoistureShine shades, and one reviewer grouses on Epinions about the difficulty of judging the actual shade based on what you see through the packaging. But other bargain lipsticks feature a vast assortment of colors. One of the most popular budget lipsticks, Revlon Super Lustrous, is the one with the greatest variety -- an incredible 72 colors, including Spicy Cinnamon, Sparkling Cider, and Iced Amethyst -- although don't count on finding them all at the local drugstore.

Red is one of the hardest colors to wear -- and the color many users would die for. Red is more than a color, it's a statement, or, as the experts at Marie Claire suggest, red is the favorite of style icons through the ages. Images of red lips abound in pop culture (think the Rocky Horror Picture Show logo and Marilyn Monroe) and are often perceived as alluring, frightening, or both. Indeed, red lipstick can be intimidating. Many consumers believe they can't wear red, thinking it too strong or simply "wrong." But red is actually a panoply of colors, as fashion and style magazines such as Glamour regularly point out, so experiment -- find one suited to your skin tone and you may feel empowered. If your skin has a warmer color hue, look for reds with orange or brown undertones; if you have cool skin tones, seek out reds with a blue undertone. Marie Claire named Wet n' Wild's Hot Red (starting at $2.00) one of the ten best red lipstick shades.

Cheap Lipsticks Staying Power.

If your lipstick fades, feathers, or comes off on everything that touches your lips, you'll have to touch up and reapply it over and over during the day. Who has time for that? Among the cheap cream lipsticks, durability varies by brand and line. Lipstick reviews at Skincarecompany.com say Revlon Super Lustrous meets, and often exceeds, user expectations about staying power. L'Oreal Endless Lip Color (starting at $8.00, Amazon) also has its fans at Drugstore.com, who say it lasts but doesn't dry, smudge, or smear .

For users looking to "go the distance" from breakfast to dinner and beyond, several specially formulated but inexpensive two-step lipsticks may be the answer. In a comparative lipsticks test by Good Housekeeping , staffers determined that two bargain two-step lip colors -- CoverGirl Outlast and Revlon ColorStay Overtime -- have more staying power than department store brands costing at least twice as much. Both products are also popular with consumers, whose cheap lipsticks reviews on Mysears.com note that CoverGirl Outlast stays on for more than eight hours; users posting budget lipstick reviews on the same site praise the durability of Revlon ColorStay and are delighted with the wide range of colors. Maybelline's Superstay Lipcolor 16-Hour Color + Conditioning Balm (starting at $7.99, Amazon), reportedly holds up over night, and budget lipstick reviews by users on Drugstore.com say all you need in the morning is a quick touch up with the step-two balm. But all two-steps are not created equal. Almay's Truly Lasting Color Lipcolor (starting at $9.25, Amazon), doesn't last the advertised 12 hours, according to a lipstick review on Associatedcontent.com, although it will get you through a normal work day.

Budget lip color products needing the most reapplication and/or touch ups are sheers and glosses. Users readily agree these formulas are moisturizing but note that they fade faster than mattes and creams. The feathering that sometimes occurs can be minimized by using the cheap sheer and gloss lipsticks in conjunction with a lip liner, a practice that also delays fading. (If the color is sheer enough, though, you might not notice the feathering.) Cheap lipstick reviews on Buzzillions comment that the ELF Super Glossy lives up to its "super glossy" name but requires frequent reapplication. On the other hand, Neutrogena's MoistureShine Sheers have caught the attention of users posting on Total Beauty for decent staying power and un-goopy feel.

Cheap Lipsticks Moisture Level.

Cream and satin lipsticks are the middle of the road moisture-wise - not as drying as the budget mattes or lip-staining, long-lasting two-steps, but not as moisture-drenching as low-cost gloss and sheer lipsticks. Revlon Super Lustrous may be a top seller, but it took more than the impressive assortment of pretty colors to convince Real Simple and In Style to name it "best inexpensive lipstick." What won over these beauty experts is the Super Lustrous formula, which contains moisturizing vitamins C and E that keep lips from looking or feeling dry - an attribute that particularly appeals to users posting cheap lipsticks reviews on TotalBeauty.com.

Matte lip colors are among the most drying due to the minerals and high wax content that create the flat finish. So users face the dilemma of style vs. comfort. Consumers are thrilled that the budget-friendly Revlon Matte (starting at $6.50, Amazon) has staying power and intense color, but budget lipsticks reviews on Amazon indicate that some users find the formula leaches moisture from their lips.

Glosses and sheers are all about moisturizing, so it's not unusual to find that most comments from fans of these lipsticks focus on that performance characteristic. Still, some sheers stand out for their moisturizing qualities, not to mention the look and feel of an appealing lip color. Neutrogena MoistureShine scores points with users commenting on Drugstore.com for the lip feel and natural, finished look in subtle shades. ELF Super Glossy Lip Shine delivers tons of moisturizing and impressive shine, and is available in a nice assortment of vibrant, (for gloss, that is) colors. Although some ELF Super Glossy users find it slightly thick and a bit sticky, according to inexpensive lipstick reviews on Bedasbeautyblog, they're willing to overlook these faults given its incredibly cheap price point.

When it comes to two-step lipsticks, the moisturizing vs. drying issue largely depends on the second step. If a lip color comes with a special conditioning coat, you might expect the first (color) coat to feel or look a little dry until you apply the conditioning coat. Revlon ColorStay Overtime earns mixed reviews with users posting on Epinions, some of whom write that their lips seem dry even after the second step. Postings on Drugstore.com suggest constant reapplication of the conditioning coat is the only solution, but one that ultimately feels sticky rather than soothing or conditioning. And a related product, the one-step long-lasting Revlon ColorStay Ultimate, is roundly dinged by a makeup expert and users in long-lasting lipstick reviews on Bellasugar.com, and Amazon, for flaking off and leaving lips feeling parched; one user, commenting on the Walgreens site, suggests applying a clear gloss.

Final Note: Cheap Lipstick Tips and Tricks.

Remember that in the lipstick world, higher price doesn't equal better product. The bargain lipstick market is awash in color choices and a range of sheens and formulas -- not much different from what you'd find at department store and make-up boutiques. With all that choice at such attractive prices, you can afford to experiment, indulge, and even build up a lipstick wardrobe without busting the budget. So here's our list of tips and tricks that will help you get the most out of your cheap buy.

• All lipsticks -- no matter what the formula, but especially matte -- look better when applied on a smooth surface. So, make regular exfoliation and moisturizing of your lips part of your regular skin-care regimen.
• When choosing a lipstick color, pay attention to the warm or cool undertones. Reds with an orange undertone can make teeth look slightly more yellow than they are, while cooler reds (those with a blue undertone) can actually make teeth look whiter.
• If you've discovered your perfect lipstick shade only to find it doesn't last very long, you can boost its staying power by using lip liner across the lip area first and then applying the lipstick on top. This trick is especially useful for sheers and glosses.
• Most people know that using a "tester" tube of lipstick on your lips is pretty unhygienic, so they'll test the color on the side or back of their hand. The problem with this is that the color of the skin on your hand isn't the same as the color of your lips. The color of your fingertips, however, is closer to your lip color and will give you a much clearer idea of what the color will look like when applied on the lips.
• There is no right or wrong way to apply lipstick. Some women just rely on the tube it comes in. Some use a lipstick brush and others use a finger. However you are most comfortable and confident getting the color to your lips is the right way for you.
• Lipstick on the teeth may not be the worst social faux pas but it is right up there with food stuck between your teeth. Luckily, this is easy to prevent: After you've applied your lipstick, place a finger in your mouth and pull it out. Any lipstick close enough to end up on your teeth will be wiped off.
  

For users looking to "go the distance" from breakfast to dinner and beyond, several specially formulated but inexpensive two-step lipsticks may be the answer. In a comparative lipsticks test by Good Housekeeping , staffers determined that two bargain two-step lip colors -- CoverGirl Outlast and Revlon ColorStay Overtime -- have more staying power than department store brands costing at least twice as much. Both products are also popular with consumers, whose cheap lipsticks reviews on Mysears.com note that CoverGirl Outlast stays on for more than eight hours; users posting budget lipstick reviews on the same site praise the durability of Revlon ColorStay and are delighted with the wide range of colors. Maybelline's Superstay Lipcolor 16-Hour Color + Conditioning Balm (starting at $7.99, Amazon), reportedly holds up over night, and budget lipstick reviews by users on Drugstore.com say all you need in the morning is a quick touch up with the step-two balm. But all two-steps are not created equal. Almay's Truly Lasting Color Lipcolor (starting at $9.25, Amazon), doesn't last the advertised 12 hours, according to a lipstick review on Associatedcontent.com, although it will get you through a normal work day.

Budget lip color products needing the most reapplication and/or touch ups are sheers and glosses. Users readily agree these formulas are moisturizing but note that they fade faster than mattes and creams. The feathering that sometimes occurs can be minimized by using the cheap sheer and gloss lipsticks in conjunction with a lip liner, a practice that also delays fading. (If the color is sheer enough, though, you might not notice the feathering.) Cheap lipstick reviews on Buzzillions comment that the ELF Super Glossy lives up to its "super glossy" name but requires frequent reapplication. On the other hand, Neutrogena's MoistureShine Sheers have caught the attention of users posting on Total Beauty for decent staying power and un-goopy feel.

Cheap Lipsticks Moisture Level.

Cream and satin lipsticks are the middle of the road moisture-wise - not as drying as the budget mattes or lip-staining, long-lasting two-steps, but not as moisture-drenching as low-cost gloss and sheer lipsticks. Revlon Super Lustrous may be a top seller, but it took more than the impressive assortment of pretty colors to convince Real Simple and In Style to name it "best inexpensive lipstick." What won over these beauty experts is the Super Lustrous formula, which contains moisturizing vitamins C and E that keep lips from looking or feeling dry - an attribute that particularly appeals to users posting cheap lipsticks reviews on TotalBeauty.com.

Matte lip colors are among the most drying due to the minerals and high wax content that create the flat finish. So users face the dilemma of style vs. comfort. Consumers are thrilled that the budget-friendly Revlon Matte (starting at $6.50, Amazon) has staying power and intense color, but budget lipsticks reviews on Amazon indicate that some users find the formula leaches moisture from their lips.

Glosses and sheers are all about moisturizing, so it's not unusual to find that most comments from fans of these lipsticks focus on that performance characteristic. Still, some sheers stand out for their moisturizing qualities, not to mention the look and feel of an appealing lip color. Neutrogena MoistureShine scores points with users commenting on Drugstore.com for the lip feel and natural, finished look in subtle shades. ELF Super Glossy Lip Shine delivers tons of moisturizing and impressive shine, and is available in a nice assortment of vibrant, (for gloss, that is) colors. Although some ELF Super Glossy users find it slightly thick and a bit sticky, according to inexpensive lipstick reviews on Bedasbeautyblog, they're willing to overlook these faults given its incredibly cheap price point.

When it comes to two-step lipsticks, the moisturizing vs. drying issue largely depends on the second step. If a lip color comes with a special conditioning coat, you might expect the first (color) coat to feel or look a little dry until you apply the conditioning coat. Revlon ColorStay Overtime earns mixed reviews with users posting on Epinions, some of whom write that their lips seem dry even after the second step. Postings on Drugstore.com suggest constant reapplication of the conditioning coat is the only solution, but one that ultimately feels sticky rather than soothing or conditioning. And a related product, the one-step long-lasting Revlon ColorStay Ultimate, is roundly dinged by a makeup expert and users in long-lasting lipstick reviews on Bellasugar.com, and Amazon, for flaking off and leaving lips feeling parched; one user, commenting on the Walgreens site, suggests applying a clear gloss.

Final Note: Cheap Lipstick Tips and Tricks.

Remember that in the lipstick world, higher price doesn't equal better product. The bargain lipstick market is awash in color choices and a range of sheens and formulas -- not much different from what you'd find at department store and make-up boutiques. With all that choice at such attractive prices, you can afford to experiment, indulge, and even build up a lipstick wardrobe without busting the budget. So here's our list of tips and tricks that will help you get the most out of your cheap buy.

• All lipsticks -- no matter what the formula, but especially matte -- look better when applied on a smooth surface. So, make regular exfoliation and moisturizing of your lips part of your regular skin-care regimen.
• When choosing a lipstick color, pay attention to the warm or cool undertones. Reds with an orange undertone can make teeth look slightly more yellow than they are, while cooler reds (those with a blue undertone) can actually make teeth look whiter.
• If you've discovered your perfect lipstick shade only to find it doesn't last very long, you can boost its staying power by using lip liner across the lip area first and then applying the lipstick on top. This trick is especially useful for sheers and glosses.
• Most people know that using a "tester" tube of lipstick on your lips is pretty unhygienic, so they'll test the color on the side or back of their hand. The problem with this is that the color of the skin on your hand isn't the same as the color of your lips. The color of your fingertips, however, is closer to your lip color and will give you a much clearer idea of what the color will look like when applied on the lips.
• There is no right or wrong way to apply lipstick. Some women just rely on the tube it comes in. Some use a lipstick brush and others use a finger. However you are most comfortable and confident getting the color to your lips is the right way for you.
• Lipstick on the teeth may not be the worst social faux pas but it is right up there with food stuck between your teeth. Luckily, this is easy to prevent: After you've applied your lipstick, place a finger in your mouth and pull it out. Any lipstick close enough to end up on your teeth will be wiped off.
  

by Maralyn Edid (Google+ Profile)

Back to top »

 

 

 

L'Oreal Lipstick Review
ELF Super Glossy Lip Shine SPF 15 Review
Boots No7 Mineral Lipstick Review
Neutrogena Moisture Shine Lip Sheers SPF 20 Review
Almay Truly Lasting Color Lipcolor Review
Body Shop Tinted Shimmers Review
Revlon ColorStay Ultimate LipColor Review
CoverGirl Outlast All-Day Lipcolor Review
Wet n Wild Review
Maybelline's Superstay Lipcolor Review
Revlon Lipstick Review

 

Health & Beauty Women's Shavers Acne Treatments Bathroom Scales Bras Cheap Eyeglasses Diet Pills

Diet Plans Electric Toothbrushes Facial Moisturizers Hair Dryers Lipstick Mascara

Men's Electric Shavers Shampoo Sunglasses Sunscreen Watches Wedding Dresses

blog  about us  contact us  sitemap  in the news  privacy  terms of service  jobs

Follow us on Facebook Twitter Sign up for our Free Newsletter