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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The Power Of Your Big 3: Understanding The Astrological Significance You Hold
Explore your sign’s 2024 horoscope predictions to learn what is in store for you this year in love, career, and more. Check out the love compatibility of each sign to learn more about zodiac pairings and all things compatibility.
Astrology has become even more mainstream and a phenomenon than it ever has in the past. We have gone beyond the, “What’s your sign?” and have moved into “What’s your big 3?” seemingly overnight, and rightly so due to the significance of knowing these important details. Your Big 3 in Astrology represents your sun sign, your moon sign, and your rising sign.
This trifecta is thought to be one of the most significant details of your birth chart and gives you and others more of a full-picture look at who you are beyond just your sun sign.
What Does Your Big 3 In Astrology Say About You?
Knowing your big 3 is important, especially if you are someone who has never really resonated with your sun sign. You read about what it means to be an Aries, but may not align with what you see or your experience with other Aries. Meanwhile, the whole time, you have a Libra rising, the complete opposite sign of Aries, and this is why you have always seen yourself as a more laid-back and less confrontational Aries.
Elements hold a key role in your birth chart and having a big 3 where the elements are all compatible or the same often signifies someone who knows who they are and is comfortable in their skin. Whereas someone with a different element for each part of their big 3 may have challenges with identity or defining who they are or how they want to present themselves. It’s a different type of perspective when looking into your big 3, and it helps you see where your strengths and needs are in life, and how to tap more into this potential.
Your Big 3 In Astrology Explained
Your big 3 can help you navigate life by understanding which part of you comes out more in different circumstances. At home, you are most like your moon sign, when you are out and about, you are most like your rising sign. Whether you are at home or out and about, your goals, purpose, and interests are most like your sun sign.
You can find out what your big 3 is by looking up a ‘Birth Chart Calculator’ on your search engine, typing in your birthday details (you will need to know your birth date, location, and the exact time you were born), and generating your birth chart.
Read below for your sun, moon, and rising signs.
YOUR SUN SIGN
Your sun sign represents the core of you and what motivates you to shine and be your best self. This is your personality, goals, purpose, identity, ego, interests, direction, and where you light up in life.
FIRE SUN (Aries Sun, Leo Sun, Sagittarius Sun)
If you are an Aries sun, a Leo sun, or a Sagittarius sun, you are outgoing, confident, fearless, and in tune with yourself and your personal goals and desires in life. You go after the things you want, and you are not afraid to take up space. You are someone who prefers to be more independent, and you are often in more leadership roles in life.
EARTH SUN (Taurus Sun, Virgo Sun, Capricorn Sun)
If you are a Taurus sun, a Virgo sun, or a Capricorn sun, you are grounded, dependable, loyal, hard-working, and logical. You prefer the finer things in life but also work hard to get where you are. You are someone others feel they can rely on, and you are often a support for other people in your life. You are very connected to the material sides of life, and have a gift for manifesting.
AIR SUN (Gemini Sun, Libra Sun, Aquarius Sun)
If you are a Gemini sun, a Libra sun, or an Aquarius sun, you are light-hearted, free-flowing, intelligent, and communicative. You speak what is on your mind, and you love to connect and communicate with others. People know you for the things you say and your out-of-the-box ideas, and you are someone who is open-minded and provides a safe space for people to be authentically themselves.
WATER SUN (Cancer Sun, Scorpio Sun, Pisces Sun)
If you are a Cancer sun, a Scorpio sun, or a Pisces sun, you are thoughtful, generous, emotional, loving, and compassionate. You care deeply about the people you love, and you are always there for others. You may be more emotional than most, and this is due to your strong intuition and open heart. You are creative, inspiring, and motivated towards connection in life.
YOUR MOON SIGN
Your moon sign represents your emotions. This is the way you express yourself emotionally, how you process your emotions, what you need in love, what makes you feel safe and nurtured, your desires, intuition, your inner world, and what’s going on beneath the surface.
FIRE MOON (Aries Moon, Leo Moon, Sagittarius Moon)
If you are an Aries moon, a Leo moon, or a Sagittarius moon, you are someone who is not afraid to communicate your emotions or how you are feeling, and you can feel your emotions from a mile away. You are confident in yourself and are someone who stands up for what you feel is right. You have a strong need to be seen and heard in your relationships, and a certain type of understanding is needed for you to emotionally thrive. You may have some challenges with anger or high energy and are working through emotional impulses in this lifetime.
EARTH MOON (Taurus Moon, Virgo Moon, Capricorn Moon)
If you are a Taurus moon, a Virgo moon, or a Capricorn moon, you are someone who is emotionally grounded, safe, comforting, and logical. You aren’t overly emotional and may not show your emotions to people much at all, but that doesn’t mean you don’t have them. You think before you speak, and you process your emotions before acting on them, and you tend to be more down-to-earth and understanding when it comes to other people’s emotional worlds as well. You are someone people go to when they need someone to talk to you as you are a very good listener.
AIR MOON (Gemini Moon, Libra Moon, Aquarius Moon)
If you are a Gemini moon, a Libra moon, or an Aquarius moon, you are someone who is fun, outgoing, and emotionally open-minded. You don’t like heavy emotions or too much emotional drama, and you tend to be more go-with-the-flow in this area of your life. Good conversation and mutual understanding are very important to you in your relationships and you want funny banter and inspiration in your connections with others.
WATER MOON (Cancer Moon, Scorpio Moon, Pisces Moon)
If you are a Cancer moon, a Scorpio moon, or a Pisces moon, you are someone who lives by their heart and values your emotional world deeply. You crave a deep type of intimacy in your partnerships and you need a partner who is going to give you that type of emotional connection. You are more private with your emotional world and you tend to hold a lot in, but this can often lead to sudden outbursts as well. Overall, you are the definition of emotion and others learn a lot from you on what it means to love and to feel.
YOUR ASCENDANT (RISING SIGN)
Your ascendant sign represents your perception and the energy you put out into the world. This is the way you come across to others, the way you express yourself, your physical traits and aesthetics, how you manifest, society, and what you expect from the world around you.
FIRE ASCENDANT (Aries Rising, Leo Rising, Sagittarius Rising)
If you are an Aries rising, a Leo rising, or a Sagittarius rising, you come across to others as confident, bold, and stylish. You are known for the way you look or the way you present yourself, and you are usually adorned in bright colors or wearing something that others take a lot of notice of. You are someone who walks into a room, and all eyes are on you, and you love that. You want to be on the move and on the go, and you love to show up in the world exactly as you are today. You see the world with a lot of possibilities and like it's yours to have fun and enjoy yourself in.
EARTH ASCENDANT (Taurus Rising, Virgo Rising, Capricorn Rising)
If you are a Taurus rising, a Virgo rising, or a Capricorn rising, you come across to others as responsible, beautiful, natural, and dependable. You are a hard worker, and you may be known for your career or the work that you do. You are someone who walks into a room and people feel an immediate sense of comfort and like you are someone they can trust. You have strong values and goals, and you are someone who knows what they want. People love to be around your down-to-earth energy, and you make others feel safe and grounded.
AIR ASCENDANT (Gemini Rising, Libra Rising, Aquarius Rising)
If you are a Gemini rising, a Libra rising, or an Aquarius rising, you come across to others as outgoing, friendly, and talkative. You see the world as a place to learn, connect, and be inspired, and you are on a quest for knowledge and understanding. You connect with people from all walks of life, and you tend to have a pretty open-minded and unique friend group. You care a lot about your style and aesthetic and always strive to be authentically you wherever you are. You can talk to people for hours and are often meeting new people and making new friends wherever you go.
WATER ASCENDANT (Cancer Rising, Scorpio Rising, Pisces Rising)
If you are a Cancer rising, a Scorpio rising, or a Pisces rising, you navigate life through the lens of your emotions, and you are deeply connected to the undercurrents of life. You are ruled by your emotions, and this side of you is not something you can keep hidden away easily. You get emotional when you think about society and others at large, and you want to be known for the kind and sincere person you are. When you walk into a room, you feel other people's energy right away and are highly empathic and intuitive.
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