What No Smudge Lipstick Does Taylor Swift Wear?

When Taylor Swift went on her Eras Tour, she wore bold red lips. The megastar singer needed a lipstick that would not smudge during the length of her shows. The lipstick she chose was Pat McGrath Labs LiquiLust Legendary Wear Matte Lipstick in Elson 4, a vivid blue-red lipstick in a luxurious, long-lasting formula. Wearers like its comfortable, weightless feel that glides on seamlessly for velvety full coverage with one swipe. It’s designed to last 12 hours, but I have yet to find any lipstick that doesn’t need freshening up every few hours. Certain brands like this one will endure longer than others.

Frankly, I never wear a bold red lip color because it's high-maintenance. For it to stay put, you have to prep your lips with either a dab of foundation, concealer, or primer, next line your lips with a lip pencil, and then lock in the color with a dusting of powder. Unless I’m going to a special event, I just want to get out of the bathroom! So I lean towards nudes and naturals, sometimes with a little shimmer, often skipping the prepping, linining and powdering even for a night out on the town. It’s time you never get back!😉 A nude lip color can be worn on its own, but it wears off faster than red lipstick, and you must reapply it several times during a day or night. Even a subtle touch of color gives a face more polish, which Glamour magazine calls creating facial contrast. Creating facial contrast is also why we wear eyeliner or shadow. In the 21st century, society views wearing cosmetics as a sign of enhanced femininity but not masculinity. I was into bolder colors in my 20s than I am now.

That said, you bet I'd follow Taylor Swift's lead if I were going on stage in front of 1000s of eyeballs with iPhones recording me! She needs her fans in the top tiers of an arena to see her. Pat McGrath Labs LiquiLust Legendary Wear Matte in Elson 4 is a glamorous color on her.

There is a 2-area rule when applying vibrant makeup hues to our faces, for example, wear it on your eyes and lips, or your eyes and cheeks, or your cheeks and lips, but not on 3 areas. One area must remain minimal. Intense hues applied to all 3: eyes, cheeks, and lips, isn't flattering but starts to look cheap and overdone. You’re welcome!

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Clinique’s Black Honey Dupes

This is #6 Baisen Diary in Honey

Clinique’s Black Honey is a popular shade. First launched in 1971 as a pot of gloss, it was later reformulated and released as the "Almost Lipstick" in 1989, the form customers recognize today.

We can understand why it’s taken over the internet all these years later. Black Honey is a beautiful subtle berry color with sheen that is buildable and flattering on all skin tones! So lovely Liv Tyler wore it in her Lord of the Rings role. 

Clinique calls Black Honey almost lipstick because it is a tint that is sheer with a shine finish.

← Images of the original.

After discovering it at $25 a pop, SAVVY SHOPPERS start looking for inexpensive dupes. Below are six of them:

1) e.l.f. Cosmetics Hydrating Core Lip Shine in Delightful

2) Honest Beauty Tinted Lip Balm With Avocado Oil in Plum Drop

3)  Revlon Super Lustrous Glass Shine Moisturizing Lipstick in o12 Black Cherry

4) Maybelline’s Glaze Balm in Acai Glaze

5) Covergirl’s Clean Fresh Tinted Lip Balm in Bliss You Berry

6) Baisen Diary in Honey - This made BuzzFeed’s Wishful List. Fans of it like it better than the original Black Honey as it leans brownish over a more reddish tint. 👆Compare the Baisen Diary in Honey top image with Clinique's Black Honey image below.👇

Original Black Honey on 3 different skin tones.

I have linked the 2 dupes, wearers tend to be the happiest with as nearly identical to Clinique’s original Black Honey Tint, however all 6 dupes have their fans as close matches for less. Look for them on Amazon, Walmart, Target, CVS and Walgreens to find the lowest price. Feel free to highlight the brand and color names, then enter each one in the search boxes of the 5 retailers for comparison to find your honey of a deal!🍯🐝

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Let's Discuss The Rouge Dior Lip Coffret Gift Set: Less Is Not More Dior

Frankly, I've been keen on but never purchased Dior's annual holiday Coffret Lipstick Sets -- in 2022 it's called Rouge Dior Lip Coffret Gift Set (see above image👆) -- but I enjoy Christmas browsing and always look for the limited edition gift bag, um set after Thanksgiving.

 

2018 edition - photo pulled from the internet, it is my favorite design - a constellation

Over the last few years, it sold for $175 and included 6 lipsticks, a lipstick holder, and a popular cosmetic bag that customers enjoy using as a clutch purse, as well as, finding clever ways to add hardware, converting it into a small shoulder or crossover bag. It's become a convention among handy Dior beauty buyers.

2019 edition

This holiday season after a tough couple of years for many consumers, how are the luxury brands treating their loyal customers? By hiking up their already steep prices and giving clients even less value for their money. One retailer is Chanel whose, classic double-flap bag rose in price to just under $10,000 without improving its craftmanship.

2020 edition of the gift bag.

Dior is now charging $240 (a $75 price increase) for this year's Rouge Dior Lip Coffret Gift Set but has reduced the lipsticks to only 5. Adding insult to injury, the gift bag no longer has a faux leather outer surface, but is hard plastic! Dior added a gold metal clip-on chain to the plastic box, so consumers no longer have to be clever to turn it into a crossover bag, and yet it's plastic! Really Dior?

Here's a clever YouTuber showing us how to convert a 2021 Dior makeup case into a bag.

Why are multi-million dollar companies treating their customers this way? In fact, skimping them! Charging customers more and giving them less. And ... how will loyal customers respond?

As a longtime admirer of Dior and Chanel, I'm disappointed! I suppose I should thank the exclusive duo for removing all potential temptation, but I'd much rather appreciate top-of-the-line quality and fair pricing.

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Drew Barrymore's Valentine To Customers: Lip Kit Duo

Flower lipstick by Drew Barrymore has become one of my favorites. The reason? Because of its stellar quality in addition to its array of natural, gorgeous colors rivals the luxe brands at a fraction of the cost. If you wish to try it, now may be a perfect time because ...

For Valentine's Day, the beauty company is offering a limited-edition bundle lip kit duo pairing a full-sized lipstick with a full-sized lip liner to create cupid-approved lips at the special sale price of only $16 per kit. When I went to the website a promotional coupon also popped up to reduce the final price further, and free shipping was offered, making a purchase that arrives in your mailbox a steal!

Although you can mix and match the hues yourself, Drew has the following guide of complementary colors for those who seek help:

There's absolutely no reason to pay more when you get the quality and beautiful hues, bar none of Flower to create lusciously rich pigmented and moist lips. I have several Flower lipstick shades ... all of them super wearable, not to mention, relatively cheap! Plus the packaging looks as good as the luxury brands.

Now is your chance to splurge, save and discover a great makeup brand simultaneously!♥💋

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Dior 7-Piece Refillable Lipstick Set

For a makeup maven, Christian Dior is one of the Holy Grails of a luxury lipstick. And for the holidays you sometimes splurge on a gift when the rest of the year you try to save. 

Christian Dior is offering an awesome holiday 7-piece lipstick set selling for $180 but if you search retailers, you'll find deals to bring the price down to about $150. No, it's not cheap by any stretch of the imagination, but a single Christian Dior lipstick costs $40, so it is a "bargain" for Dior makeup. 

    

The colors in the set are gorgeous and very wearable. It includes:

Modified case by owner

• Rouge Dior 999 satin finish
• Rouge Dior 999 matte finish
• Rouge Dior 988 satin finish
• Rouge Dior 481 matte finish
• Rouge Dior 458 satin finish
  
• Rouge Dior 772 matte finish

The 7th item in the set is what everyone is raving about: A glittering star midnight blue limited edition couture case that customers say is reuseable as a Dior evening clutch bag. This Dior keepsake case seals the deal, making the 7-piece set a fabulous splurge .... for yourself or someone special on your list. Six Dior lipsticks will last for quite a while, then you are left with a glamorous bag for special occasions! 

Dior goes the extra mile by wrapping the set in ritzy, festive packaging that is fun to give or receive. So you get lots of jazz-and-pizzaz for the buck.

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Charlotte Tilbury Limited Edition Bridal Lipstick Collection

The proper name of the limited edition collection is a mouthful: Matte Revolution Love Filter Lipsticks.

"Angie Smith," said I, "what's exciting and new in the beauty world? What should I write about next?" Turns out, Angie has already ordered it! Charlotte Tilbury who has a whole line of beautiful, natural lipsticks recently launched a limited edition of 3 Bridal Matte Colors that universally flatter every skin tone. Creating shades that look fabulous on all complexions -- light, medium, or dark -- has become a trademark of the Charlotte Tilbury brand. The limited edition bridal collection is no exception.

Lined up in order of the top image, the new shades are:

1) Wedding Bells - It is a nude pink with a matte finish.

2) Ms. Kisses - A lipstick shade in golden peachy pink with a matte finish. (The iconic NARS Orgasm hue is also a golden peachy pink.)

3) First Dance - A blushed berry rose leaving you with a pretty rose petal pout.

The texture of Charlotte Tilbury's matte lipsticks never dry out your lips ... but is creamy and moisturizing which adds to their popularity.

Wow, all 3 of the bridal matte colors are gorgeous! You did great, Ang!

See a YouTuber swatch the colors. Cute bracelet, no?

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Dupes For Charlotte Tilbury In Pillow Talk

Unlike reds or bight pinks, nude lipstick is so wearable for daytime because it's also low maintenance. I can't bring myself to spend $34 for one designer lipstick, the price of one of my favorite brands, Charlotte Tilbury. Pillow Talk, a brownish (hint of peach, hint of pink) nude is a huge seller as you can wear it every day. A matte formula, it feels creamy on your lips and has staying power.

'Tis time to find its dupes. Costing $5.82 - $9 depending on the retailer, the following have a matt finish, the creaminess and staying power of Charlotte Tilbury in Pillow Talk the original:

1) Flower Beauty Pouty Lipstick: Spiced Petal - the #1 doppelgänger

2) Flower Beauty Pouty Lipstick: Naked Blush

3) L'Orèal Color Riche Matte: #633 Moka Chic

Even the 3rd choice, L'Orèal's Moka Chic, if not an exact match, is a near-perfect match and beautiful shade for less! So alike on your lips, you won't notice the difference.

Perhaps 6 times more for the luxe brand is never worth the price. Think of all the money saved in a year's time by buying a dupe.

You're welcome!


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Color The World Lipstick

Color The World artisan lipstick is founded by two internet start-up brothers, Stephen and Wayne along with Stephen's makeup maven wife, Stephanie. The company's goals are 2-fold: Make amazing lipstick that is 100% vegetarian; containing organic and natural waxes; and is cruelty free ... and then use some of the profits to support worthy causes around the world. 10% of the profits of each color of lipstick is targeted to go to a specific (listed) charity -- causes the company wants to connect with to make a difference.

For now Color My World focuses on just lipstick, but oh, what lipstick it is. The lipstick is hand poured, smooth and moisturizing. Created to be not too shiny or matte, the color doesn't feather out or bleed. The rich emollients are especially beneficial to lips that are 40+ years of age, but as you can see the beautiful array of colors appeal to all ages.

There are lots of flattering and everyday shades offered at a reasonable price. Mid-priced lipstick for top-notch vegan ingredients. Some of the multi-sets are good deals, and the (recyclable) cardboard tube packaging makes adorable gifts. 

What fun to try new, indy brands, and this one gives a little back to the world.

The one bit of oddness is the owners have an internet presence -- a  business website and facebook page, as well as, good customer (via Google and YouTube) reviews -- but no last names to be found! Transparency is an asset, so when will the world know?

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One Stroke Launches From L'Oreal And Tarte

There is something about a warm balmy climate and more daylight that sparks many of us to up our makeup game with lovely new colors.

👀Tarte has launched new eyeshadow with the Tarteist PRO REMIX Amazonian Clay Palette. Formulated with earthy, yet vibrate pigments, apply any of the 20 hues with a single stoke and be done. The new palette is sold at Ulta.com for $25 and comes with a free gift. (Ulta's free gifts are usually good ones, and customers earn points on purchases!)

💄I wear nude lipstick frequently. Often if it has staying power, it dries out my lips. But if it conditions my lips with moisturizes, the color fades licketysplit fast after applying.

L'Oreal Colour Riche has created a collection to overcome both annoyances. The 16 shades give you ultra matte highly pigmented nude lips that stay put. They are formulated with super intense hydration and a super matte finish. With one stroke, you get lasting lip color and "comfortable wear."

Some of the 16 "nude" choices, in fact, look more brown, pink or plum. Nonetheless all are natural, attractive colors, and one is a true classic nude. I'm fine with that ... and may even venture over to pink, rose or plum.

One drawback to be aware of: Customers say the lipstick bends and breaks easily. So to avoid a mess, don't roll it all the way up (i.e., out) to apply. For under $10 bucks, it's a steal!

The rule of spring/summer is: New makeup for new seasons!

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Yves Saint Laurent Babydoll Kiss & Blush Duo Sticks

Photo: Yves Saint Laurent

YSL is launching a new spring collection of creamy muti-tasking lip/cheek colors that the company calls Babydoll Kiss & Blush Duo Sticks. At $34 for 5 ounces, they are not cheap, but you get rich lasting pigments in two hues. Apply it sheer with one application, or heavy with two strokes. The mult-purpose color comes in a sleek and compact case, which makes it convenient to take on overnight trips. There are 6 duo color sticks ... all fresh with a smooth matte finish. Bring lips and cheeks to life with a swipe of flattering color! 

New makeup is eye candy for grown women. 👸🏻

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Two Faced La Creme Lipstick: Unicorn Tears

Unicorn Tears is one of the 10 new colors.

Two Faced has 10 new shades of their La Creme lipstick. The formula is a combination of creamy color and intense hydration. All 10 hues, ranging from naughty nude to candy apple red, are pretty and wearable.

Photo: New Beauty. A swatch of Unicorn Tears

I am wild about the shimmering Unicorn Tears color (above) for holiday parties, although I could also make a case for Wham!, an iridescent raspberry and Sugar Daddy, which is a lovely nude rose. 

Somehow the 10 new shades have a wow factor, as well as, an understated and classic look. As you can see from the color drenched Unicorn Tears in the images above, they flatter both fair and dark complexions.

A tube of Two Faced La Creme Lipstick makes a coveted stocking stuffer, or anytime gift. 

Do you like to pick out a shade for someone, or play it safe with a gift card?💋

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E.L.F Lipsticks Have A Hidden Feature

photo: livelifegorgeous.nl

Look closely at the tubes of the E.L.F Moisterizing Lipstick in the image above. Did you know that the color markers at the bottom of the lipstick tubes are removable? I sure didn't! Lipstick.com just sent me an email that says those bottoms aren't just "color identifiers." Actually, they are detachable pots of (matching color) lip balm! Well, knock me over with a feather ... that is cool!

Three other brands have the same hidden feature: L.A. Girl, Makeup Revolution and Sania Kashuk Satin Luxe Lip Colors.

How did we not know this? Hidden in plain sight!!! Twitter is blowing up over the discovery of this little bonus, and now the secret is out!

Photo: makeupfu. Lipsticks with hidden pots of matching color gloss

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Trust Fund Beauty

Photo: Trust Fund Beauty from Tumblr

The average person puts a ton of personal care products on their body in a given day. Ever worry about their safety? Many people look for non-toxic beauty products that are effective. That is to say, cosmetics without harmful chemicals, that are 100% vegan and not tested on animals.

Trust Fund Beauty is an indy brand that fits the need by offering creamy "Lipgasm" lipsticks with sassy names in vivid colors, as well as, provocatively named nail polish that is organic and cruelty free. They cost a bit more, but you have the assurance that the ingredients are clean, yet the quality of the makeup is good.

Lipsticks are $22 each while the nail polish costs $15 each, not an outrageous price for an organic line. (And too, when products are not mass produced, they tend to be more expensive.) You may be able to afford one, or two (sans a family trust fund :), plus think the higher cost is worth paying for clean ingredients. Select from an array of appealing colors!

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