TESTING TESTING . DRUGSTORE LIP PRODUCTS

Drugstore lip products have come a long way since the Bonne Bell Lip Smackers & Glosses I used to collect by the dozens as a lil babe. Nowadays, it feels as though I can barely keep up with the new drugstore releases for lips, let alone face, eyes and skincare. But this year there are two stand out lip products that are absolute must haves, hailing from the drugstore: the Rimmel Provocalips ($10) and Annabelle Lipsies ($5).  

The Rimmel Provocalips[*] are a new kissproof lip colour, which in my opinion resemble the Make Up For Ever Aqua Rouge lipsticks in both their formulation and swatch, and boast up to 16 hours of wear. While a lot of the the time claims like this one are simply an exaggeration, the Rimmel Provocalips will do just that – lasting 16 hours without fading or transferring. The product is dual-ended, featuring a long-wear liquid lipstick on one end, and a high-shine gloss on the other. The duo provides an intense colour that boasts a beautiful shine thanks to the gloss, however I often wear the shades sans gloss to acheive a matte finish. 

I've got my hands on the shades Skinny Dipping, Pucker Up and Heart Breaker. Pucker Up, a beautiful baby pink packed with golden shimmer, is without a doubt my favourite shade – most likely due to the fact that I've been dreaming of Spring and envision myself wearing this shade daily. Whereas Skinny Dipping, a light brown, and Heart Breaker, a deep wine red with a hint of brown, will be better suited for my more demure looks. Now if only packaging was slightly more sophisticated – think a clear tube for the gloss. 

THE SWATCHES

L-R // Rimmel Provocalips in Skinny Dipping, Pucker Up & Heart Breaker.

The Annabelle Lipsies[*] are a completely different breed of lip product compared to the Rimmel Provocalips – their goal: hydration with a hint of colour. The lighter shades are perfectly suited for a day at the beach as long as they are layered atop a lip balm with SPF – they add a subtle, glossy finish and are packed with incredibly moisturizing ingredients. The brighter colours provide a surprisingly pigmented swatch, making them a staple in my purse for days of running errands. However, given their junior packaging I'm whether I truly want anyone to see me applying them – yes, I am that much of snob. 

The two shades I've been testing are Lychee and Cherry, which both feature bright, fruity aromas unique to the fruit they are named after – making them the perfect way to welcome Spring. Lychee is a great everyday nude with a subtle golden shimmer that appears thanks to the glossy finish, while Cherry is a bright cherry red that provides a subtle stain as it wears. They, of course, aren't the most long-lasting lip balm I've tested but their twist-up design, and hydrating properties help me look past this small flaw. 

THE SWATCHES

L-R // Annabelle Lipsies in Lychee & Cherry

What's the last lip product you tested from the drugstore?

AM¥     XO

[*]The items featured in this post have been sent to THE PRETT¥ VAIN for purpose of review. All views expressed reflect my own opinion on the product. For additional information please see the Disclaimer.

GET THE LOOK . ZENDA¥A GRAMM¥ AWARDS LIP

Each and every year I highly anticipate the arrival of award season – although, my excitement has little to do with the award shows themselves and more to do with the televised red carpet events. I merely want to see the stars flaunt their perfectly done hair and makeup, model a custom gown, and fingers crossed, drunkenly tell Ryan Seacrest how much the jewels their adorned in cost. 

But my favourite red carpet event of all: the Grammy Awards – the reason being the stars are able to take more fashion and beauty risks given that this is a celebration of music and creativity. This year Zendaya, a disney starlet/young Miley Cyrus if you will, wowed at the Grammy's with a pixie cut and the most stunning, sensual lip colour I've come across in a while – see her complete look here. To my surprise this lip was so easy to re-create that I may end up wearing it daily until Spring. Simply begin by filling in lips with a dark brown lipstick – here I've used the Bite Beauty Matte Créme Lip Crayon in Cognac. I swear I'll own every shade of this lip crayon by the end of the year – they apply beautifully, feel comfortable on the lips, and provide a pigmented, long-lasting lip colour with a matte finish. To add some dimension, making my lips appear fuller, I've added a touch of Benefit's Watt's Up to the center of the lip before applying a bit of my Buxom Full-On Lip Polish in Amy with my finger. This golden nude lipgloss is packed with gold shimmer and adds a beautiful shine, completing the look. 

What look caught your eye this award season?

AM¥     XO

LIP SERVICE . AU REVOIR DRY CHAPPED LIPS

The drastic drop in temperature we've experienced this week took quite the toll on me, both emotionally and physically. And in an instant I realized that the days of fall jackets, smooth lips and co-operative hair would quickly be replaced with winter parkas, chapped lips, and that dreaded frizz. We've been dealing with this weather, or what I consider the 'prelude to the polar vortex', for less than a week now, and yet somehow my skin and lips have already taken a beating – most likely due to how sudden the change was. Rough, dry patches have begun to form on my chin and cheeks – cue the Origins Drink Up 10 Minute Mask – and my once kissable lips have been transformed into a battlefield of rough skin.

Times like these call for a dynamic duo that will rejuvenate your lips and remove any signs of dryness so that you can once again compliment your outfit with your favourite lipstick, and not your favourite lip balm. A good dynamic duo MUST feature two things: exfoliation and hydration. To exfoliate the lips there is one product that I will never stray from, the LUSH Lip Scrubs, and there's a rather simple explanation for my dedication; you will never find another lip scrub for $6.95 that works as effectively, and is as delicious. The lip scrubs are available in four sugar-based flavours, and are meant to scrub the lips to smooth perfection and then be licked off when done –  when my lips are seriously chapped I steer clear from the temptation because, well... no one wants to eat their dead skin, right? Gross. That aside, your lips should now feel smooth, kiss-worthy and ready for a burst of moisture. I personally like to match the scent of my Lush Lip Scrub to an intensive lip balm that has a co-coordinating scent. This can be a difficult task since not all lip balms are powerful enough to tackle winter dryness, but lucky for you I've mastered the mix and have a few of my favourite combinations to share.

Lush Lip Scrub in Bubble Gum & Josie Maran Argan Lip Treatment ($23) – This is my go-to  combination for days of 'girly vibes'. The bubblegum flavour is fun and youthful, yet pairs beautifully with the green apple scent found in the Argan Lip Treatment, which is loaded with Vitamin E to soothe and condition lips.
When I use this pair: after a sweetly-scented bath, and anytime I'm watching Mean Girls.

Lush Lip Scrub in Mint Julips & Jack Black Intense Therapy Lip Balm in Natural Mint ($8.50) – If your lips get seriously dry and cracked then this is the combination for you – but be prepared to man up before you use it. The Jack Black Intense Therapy Lip Balm is my HG lip balm – it features the most intense mint scent I've ever experienced (seriously, beware) and has a thick formula that instantly brings lips back to their original condition. Together, Mint Julips and the Intense Therapy Balm compose the dream team for combating sore, winter lips – and the combo is totally unisex!
When I use this pair: whenever my lips feel like they are going to fall off, and before a date – the minty scent remains fresh for hours and my lips are left kissable ;).

Lush Lip Scrub in Popcorn & TokyoMilk Dark Lip Elixir in Salted Caramel ($8) – I almost hate to admit it... but this pairing is so good taste-wise that sometimes I have a difficult time not using the scrub twice just to get a little more of that intoxicating flavour. That being said, this combination is more about pleasure and less about purpose for me. The Popcorn Lip Scrub still works as effectively as the rest, however pairing it with the TokyoMilk Salted Caramel Lip Elixir provides a fantastic taste, but doesn't result in the same improvement in the look/feel of the lips as the other balms do.
When I used this pair: after a vanilla-based bath, and whenever it's snowing outside – the scent instantly gives you that comforting feeling and pairs well with your Salted Caramel Latté.

How do you combat your dry, chapped lips?

AM¥     XO