Fall Lips, Darker and more Subdued

It is officially fall which means my makeup will be much darker and more likely heavier than before since the burning heat won't make me sweat it off. Anyway, the past trend for me was always vibrant lips. Hot weather meant vibrant pink and cold weather meant vibrant red. This time around, I'm not going for vibrant lips *gasp*. I don't know why but I'm just more fond of more subdued and neutral colors this time around. Here are three lip products that will probably be my staple this fall.

It Cosmetics Your Lips But Better Waterproof Lip Liner Stain "Blushing Nude"
My friend and I were swatching things all over ULTA for a nice lip color reminiscent of the Kylie Jenner lip color (whatever you may say about her, you can't deny that her lip color is fab). I was specifically looking for something that was pinkish brown, a little bit like my lip color but better type of thing (how fitting considering the name of the product). Anyway, this fulfilled my kind of specific criteria: something thin for a more precise line, pinkish brown color, an automatic liner (aka something I don't have to sharpen), and within my budget of $20. This was right on the max of my budget at $20. The sales lady also recommended the product as she says it is one of her favorites as well.

Anyway, this product sure boasts a lot of things. It is waterproof and also a stain. It is paraben free and no animal testing. It has collagen, peptides, hyaluronic acid, shea butter, argan oil, jojoba oil, and avocado oil for an easy to apply creamy consistency and hydrating/nourishing effect. It also has anti-aging anti-oxidants like vitamin A, C, E, acai, green tea, and white tea. You can read the long description on the ULTA website here. All of that is nice but to be honest, I only bought it because it fit my criteria above. This is all really just a lucky bonus.

Unlike what they claim, I don't find this lip liner very hydrating. It feels just as dry any other lip liner. It does dry with a matte finish which makes any peeling dry skin much more obvious. You really need to exfoliate or do some type of lip scrub beforehand. However, the lip color does last really long and does leave a stain even after you try to wipe it off. It only faded a bit even after a meal. Obviously, the middle faded more than the edges. So far, I really love this lip liner.

Clinique Different Lipstick "A Different Grape"
My mom gave me this after she saw me sporting the It Cosmetics "Blushing Nude" since she said the darker colors look good on me (a rare show of approval). I don't know where she got it nor do I know much about the product but I usually like Clinique products. It's a good brand.

It's a little hard to be precise with this lipstick so definitely use a lip brush. It is very creamy and easy to apply. It is very pigmented and it doesn't dry out my lips. Despite having the word "grape", it doesn't really have a purple hue. It is more like a cranberry red and brown mix.

Mary Kay Liquid Lip Color "Cherry Coffee"
This is another hand-me-down from my mom. At one point in time, she was super into Mary Kay products but now she has moved on to Younique. Anyway, I believe this lip gloss came in a set that also had three eye shadows, a blush, and a double ended brush.

The applicator of this lip gloss is nice and makes it easy to really draw on the edges of the lips. The color is very pigmented and it doesn't dry my lips out. It has a shiny, glossy finish. This is also a mix of a red and brown but the red is more prominent rather than being an even balance. Rather, it has just a hint of brown.

Sometimes, I like to use all three of them together. First, I use the "Blushing Nude" lip liner to give then Clinique "A Different Grape" then Mary Kay "Cherry Coffee" for a shiny finish. I think the three look pretty nice combined.