I Tried 10 Budget-Friendly Drugstore Lipsticks And Here's My Review
Throughout my adolescent life, my mother would constantly tell me as she looked at my incomplete made up face, to “go put some lipstick on." I was a ChapStick girl for years! I've always loved wearing makeup and would do up my eyes, face, and cheeks, and finish it with lip balm.
Fast forward years later as a young professional, lipstick has become a staple in my makeup bag, as well as, my signature look along with bronzy clean skin and manicured brows. If I went into my bathroom and counted how many lipsticks I currently have, I wouldn't be surprised if the count exceeded 30. I know, lol.
As a beauty blogger, it's been a part of my job description to test and collect. But like most women, I like to have room to spend my money elsewhere and not break the bank due my slight obsession over makeup. So, I've rounded up 10 budget friendly, drugstore lipsticks from different brands, tested them out, and included an honest review on how they stand up next to some of our pricier favorites. Enjoy!
Wet & Wild Megalast Lip Color
Shade: 902C Bare It All
Price Tag: $1.99
Application: Initially goes on like a matte texture, but reapplied throughout the day it goes on creamier.
Pigment: Great pigment!
Tips: This is one of my favorite cheapie brands. I literally have every single color. I would recommend wearing a light lip balm underneath before you apply the lipstick.
Gripe: Some colors can be “stickier" than others after application, which could be due to the ingredients of the lipstick. You get what you pay for, right?
Worth It?: Definitely! Overall, the payoff is major and it's worth every bit of your $2. Thank me later.
Shop here
Rimmel London Moisture Renew Lipstick
Shade: In Love With Ginger
Price Tag: $5.49
Application: Glides on very smooth and creamy. I did not need to wear a lip balm underneath.
Pigment: The color is buildable which I love. More swipes equals more pigment. You don't even need a liner underneath.
Worth It?: Yes! I would compare this lipstick consistency with Dolce & Gabbana lipstick. Dolce smells better, but Rimmel London gives off max color for your dollar.
Shop here
Rimmel London Lasting Finish Matte Collection by Kate Moss
Shade: 103
Price Tag: $5.49
Application: Creamy application and dries with a matte finish.
Pigment: Incredibly pigmented.
Gripe: As it wears throughout the day, it fades away and leaves a ring of color around the outer edges of the lips.
Tip: For longer wear, apply a light balm, fill in your lips with with a lipliner, then apply the lipstick.
Worth It?: This shade is hot right now. I would definitely say it compares to some of your favorite MAC lipsticks.
Shop here
Milani Color Statement Moisture Lipstick
Shade: Matte Flirty
Price Tag: $5.99
Applications: Goes on smooth but matte
Pigment: Pretty good color.
Gripe: The color was a little uneven when applying. A lipliner underneath would help with even application. It also stained my lips a little after removing with a makeup wipe.
Tip: You have to be sure your lips are exfoliated before applying this lipstick. It will show every imperfection if you don't.
Worth It?: It's a hit or miss with this line depending on the color. I have colors from Milani with great pigment and others that just don't give me enough punch, but I still give it a thumbs up.
Shop here
Maybelline Color Sensational Creamy Matte Lip Color
Shade: Rich Ruby
Price Tag: $8.29
Application: Goes on smooth and creamy. Felt very soft with a satin finish feel, dries matte.
Pigment: Amazing color pay off! The kind that makes you say wow the moment it hits your lips.
Tip: You can apply a light balm first, but it wasn't drying at all.
Worth It?: LOVE LOVE LOVE this collection! This shade may be the runner up to my favorite NARS matte lip pencil this Fall. Total dupe to MAC Ruby Woo.
Shop here
Maybelline Color Sensational Creamy Matte Lip Color
Shade: Burgundy Blush
Price Tag: $8.29
Application: Applies satin and smooth, dries matte
Pigment: Another enviable shade with great pigment. Buildable color and you don't even need a liner underneath.
Worth It?: Another bomb shade from the same collection. There are so many colors to choose from, so you are bound to find something you love for Fall.
L'Oreal Paris Colour Riche Le Matte Lip Pen
Shade: 100 Matte For Me
Price Tag: $8.99
Application: This lipstick applies more like a lip liner and was very easy to use. It goes on creamy with a satin feel and dries matte.
Pigment: The color is vibrant which I loved!
Tip: I would recommend for women with two-toned colored lips to use a liner the same shade for even color. My lips are a little darker around the edges and pink in the middle and I could still notice the darker edges of my lips.
Worth It?: Totally! If anything, this could double solely as a liner under your favorite shade of lipstick for maximum staying power
Shop here.
L'Oreal Infallible Pro-Last Lip Color
Shade: 111 Passionate Petal
Price Tag: $12.99
Application: You apply this product using the gloss first, then top it off with the balm. As a gloss alone, it was very tacky and does not feel good on your lips. When I applied the balm over it, it moved the gloss around and made it uneven. It was just weird.
Pigment: The color wasn't bad.
Gripes: For it to be $13, it smelled cheap. It was also the hardest lipstick to get off and dried with an awkward ring around my lips. When they say long lasting they mean it. I had to scrub vigorously to remove this product with a makeup wipe.
Worth It?: No, I did not like this product at all. Not only is it the most expensive, but there are so many negatives behind it, I wouldn't recommend it to anyone.
Shop here
Revlon Super Lustrous Lipgloss
Shade: Sky Pink
Price Tag: $7.99
Application: For my girls who prefer gloss as opposed to a lipstick, you will love this line. It's light and applies more balm like than a sticky thick gloss (cough…MAC).
Pigment: Pretty soft color.
Tips: Great to wear alone or over your favorite baby pink or nude shade.
Worth It?: Yes, it's not quite as pigmented as the enviable MAC “Snob" yet, but a great runner up that won't leave that weird white ring on the inside of your lips.
Shop here
Black Radiance Perfect Tone Lip Color
Shade: Plum Orchid
Price Tag: $1.99
Application: Glides on smoothly and feels moisturizing.
Pigment: This specific color has ok pigment. It's a mild take on a purple lip.
Tips: For more pigment and punch, layer this lipstick over a purple liner.
Gripe: The consistency of this lipstick is soft, which makes me worry that it may break in half or melt down easily.
Worth It?: Yes. While there are competitive purple shades out there, I do have a red from Black Radiance that looks awesome. Just like Wet & Wild, it's definitely worth the two dollars.
Shop here
Now that I've sampled all these lippies for you ladies, which ones are you feeling? There are so many amazing brands in drugstores and I'm sure I left a couple of your favorites out, but hey, hopefully I was able to introduce you to some new faves as well!
What are some of your favorite drugstore lipstick brands and shades?
ItGirl 100 Honors Black Women Who Create Culture & Put On For Their Cities
As they say, create the change you want to see in this world, besties. That’s why xoNecole linked up with Hyundai for the inaugural ItGirl 100 List, a celebration of 100 Genzennial women who aren’t afraid to pull up their own seats to the table. Across regions and industries, these women embody the essence of discovering self-value through purpose, honey! They're fierce, they’re ultra-creative, and we know they make their cities proud.
VIEW THE FULL ITGIRL 100 LIST HERE.
Don’t forget to also check out the ItGirl Directory, featuring 50 Black-woman-owned marketing and branding agencies, photographers and videographers, publicists, and more.
THE ITGIRL MEMO
I. An ItGirl puts on for her city and masters her self-worth through purpose.
II. An ItGirl celebrates all the things that make her unique.
III. An ItGirl empowers others to become the best versions of themselves.
IV. An ItGirl leads by example, inspiring others through her actions and integrity.
V. An ItGirl paves the way for authenticity and diversity in all aspects of life.
VI. An ItGirl uses the power of her voice to advocate for positive change in the world.
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I think we all can agree that social media really is a double-edged sword. What I mean by that is there is just as much bad that can come out of it as good. At the end of the day, it really is about 1) having your own mind, 2) finding balance when it comes to how much time you spend online, and 3) doing your own research instead of taking random people’s opinions as the gospel (i.e., facts).
Gee, I wish more folks did all of this when it comes to if a man needs to have a large penis to sexually satisfy a woman (he does not) and if a woman who has had multiple sex partners will ultimately end up with a vagina that is too large for smaller penises to please her (a lie).
Science totally has my back on debunking both of those things (more on that in a bit). Know what else does? A particular type of sex method that is becoming more popular by the day. One that just might convince you to, as they used to say back in the day, focus less on the “size of the wave” and ride out the “motion of the ocean” instead.
It’s called shallowing. Here’s what it’s all about.
What Is Shallowing?
GiphyIf there’s one thing that I wish folks would say more thoroughly when it comes to women and orgasms, it’s that when it comes to75 percent of women not being able to orgasm from only intercourse, the accurate statement is they struggle with achieving a vaginal orgasm without the assistance of some type of clitoral stimulation. Yeah, we’ve really got to remember that very few things in this life are a complete monolith — orgasms included (check out “U-Spot Orgasm, Fantasy Orgasm & 6 Other Orgasms You Should Try Tonight”).
In fact, it was while I was reading up on pairing — a word that is used for when clitoral stimulation transpires during penetration — that I decided to do some deep-diving into shallowing (because it was mentioned inone of the articles that I read).And what is it? Shallowing is when a penis, finger, tongue, or sex toy of some sort is used in order to ever so slightly penetrate the vaginal opening of a woman.
And why is shallowing not just a current sex trend but something that every woman on this planet should try? It’s because of what I’ve said, more than once, on this platform: it focuses on the most sensitive part of a woman’s vagina, which isthe first two inches of her vaginal opening.
When the emphasis is placed there, not only does it increase your chances of experiencing “the big O,” but it can also build up anticipation, which can intensify your orgasms too — yes, shallowing can also be seen as a form of edging.
Another thing that’s cool about shallowing is — and it really and truly can’t be said enough — something that makes vaginal and blended orgasms easier to achieve for some women really has little to do with the size of a man’s package or even his technique; it’s straight up anatomy. Yep, the closer that a woman’s clitoris is to her vaginal opening, the easier it is for a penis to stimulate both. So, science makes it possible for vaginal orgasms to be easier for some women than others.
At the same time, shallowing can make it possible for more women who want to see what a vaginal orgasm actually feels like (because it’s easier for the head of the penis to stimulate the opening of the vagina while the shaft can rub up against your clitoris; based on the position that you are in, of course — the missionary with some pillows propped under the lower part of your back is ideal for this).
Now that you see what shallowing actually is, do you get why I said that penis size doesn’t matter when it comes to doing it — and getting the kind of orgasms that you want? Contrary to popular belief, your vagina is only around four inches. In fact, some health experts say that it ranges between 2-4”. Anything larger, your body literally has to stretch out to accommodate; this includes penises and babies. So, if your vagina is “making room” for more than four inches, why in the world do you think you need a 10-inch man? Yeah…exactly. It really is time to get over the silliness. The average penis continues to be 5.5”. Makes sense when you take it all in (no pun intended).
Aight, so now that you know what shallowing is all about, let me try and hard sell you on why it’s a sex technique that you should try as soon as tonight (if you possibly can).
1. It takes the pressure off of you and your partner.
I’ve been working with couples for almost 20 years at this point. This means that the topic of sex comes up quite a bit. And if there’s one thing that continues to be an issue is inconsistent orgasms (check out “Why Do Orgasms So Often Seem Like A ‘Hit-Or-Miss’ Experience For Women?”).
Listen, no matter how many articles you read or sex positions you try, if you’re anxious, stressed out, or overthinking, it’s gonna get in the way of you experiencing high peaks of pleasure on a consistent basis. Since shallowing is something that can easily be done even in foreplay (via fingering and/ororal sex) if you get that first “release” off, that makes it easier to just sit back and enjoy the ones that (hopefully) are to follow.
2. It teaches you more about your vagina.
A part of the reason why I keep repeating certain facts about vaginas in these articles is that it’s amazing how little certain things are discussed en masse — like the size of the vaginal tube. And since shallowing helps you to stimulate the nerve endings at the entrance of your va-jay-jay along with your G-spot (which is housed a little ways from your opening), shallowing is a great way to explore that area of your body as you figure out what truly works for you and…what doesn’t.
3. It’s the perfect merging of foreplay and intercourse.
When you really stop to think about it, shallowing is like the bridge between foreplay and intercourse because you can use so many different things to do it. So, if you want to experiment with a new sex toy or you want a bit more time to “warm up the engine” before full-on penetration begins, shallowing is one of the most sexually arousing compromises there is.
4. It can help to increase your partner’s stamina.
A few years back, I penned an article for the site entitled, “We’ve Got Some All-Natural Ways To Increase Stamina & Sensitivity.” Listen, even though I onceread a GQ article that said that over 60 percent of the people they polled were fine with intercourse lasting no longer than 5-10 minutes — that poll doesn’t speak for all of us, chile.
So, if you would like your man to build up to going longer, shallowing can help to make that happen. Since he’s barely putting beyond the tip in, he can learn how to be in you for longer periods of time without being, well, in you.
5. It helps you to appreciate whatever “package” he has.
Again — and it really can’t be said enough — if shallowing is all about exploring the mere entrance of your vagina, you don’t need a man with BDE (check out “BDE: Please Let The 'It Needs To Be Huge' Myth Go”) or honestly, even anything close to it.
I mean, even though, reportedly, the size that the average woman says gives her the most orgasms is eight inches — I bet those women have never really tried shallowing before. 10”, 8”, or the average 5.5” can certainly get the job done. And well.
6. It feels A-MAZ-ING.
Okay,so now that you know about shallowing, I promise that if you put the word into your favorite search engine, you’re either gonna see articles on golfing (LOL) or sex, especially as of late. That’s because more couples are trying it out and getting mind-blowing results from it. So, if you’re looking for something new to try, give shallowing a shot.
Hey, anything that’s designed to stimulate your most intense vaginal nerve endings has got to be something for the record books. I mean, how could it not be? Lawd.
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Featured image by Juan Moyano/Getty Images