Last up in my hidden gems mini-series is lips! If you haven’t read the other two posts in the series, you can check them out here -> Face Makeup Hidden Gems and Eye Makeup Hidden Gems. New lip products are so fun to spice up your makeup routine. It’s not as big of a commitment as a new foundation or setting powder. Lip products are my guilty pleasure. I have way too many and think I need all the shades and all the formulas. You just never know when you are going to grab for that metallic berry lipstick that you’ve been saving for just the right occasion 😉 So let’s jump into affordable and underrated hidden gems for your lips.
I didn’t focus on any shades in particular but more of the whole line. Meaning you could pick any shade from the lines I mention below and will hopefully love it. I know there can be differences in certain shades even within the same line so keep that in mind. But these lines come highly rated and yet are underrated.
I’m no discriminator when it comes to lip products, I love glosses, liquid lips, classic lipsticks, hybrids like matte lipsticks, lip toppers and lip liners. Give ’em all to me! My lip collection is a little out of control. I actually recently purged a bunch. This is so embarrassing…..but who remembers when Mary-Kate and Ashley had a makeup line? I used to be obsessed with them when I was younger. I collected their books, merchandise, makeup, movies…I loved it all. I still remember this creamy white eyeshadow stick I bought from their line and would wear it all over my lid. It would crease so bad but my middle-school self didn’t care!
Well anyways, the embarrassing part is that I recently threw away a lip gloss from their line that I’ve held onto for YEARS…if not decades! I just loved the shade so much and it was a sentimental purchase. But I realized that I needed to let it go and say my goodbyes. There is no way I could use it with it being years upon years expired. The product just looked goopy and gross so I finally tossed it. But I’m still a little sad about it. I should have tried to color match it first. RIP Mary-Kate & Ashley makeup line. You are missed.
Back to the affordable and underrated hidden gems for your lips…
There is no easy way to categorize these into groups like gloss or liquid lip. So I’m just going to list them all in the order they are pictured in my graphic (left to right). Plus, I will note any personal experience I’ve had with the products or tips on who these might work best for.
// NYX Powder Puff Lippie
This looked gimicky to me but apparently it’s worth trying out! The applicator doesn’t look like it gives you great precision but just use a lip liner and you should be fine!
// Maybelline Color Sensational Creamy Matte LipcolorÂ
True to its name, this line has a creamy matte formula that’s really comfortable to wear and non-drying on your lips. You can achieve the matte liquid lip look with a traditional lipstick and a comfortable formula. Win-Win!
// Milani Color Statement Lipstick
I love love love this line! One of my all time favorite neutral lip shades is Nude Creme – probably my most used lipstick shade ever.
// Maybelline SuperStay Ink Crayon Lipstick
This line is a newer release and piggy backing off the popularity of their Superstay Matte Ink Lip Color line that has a wand applicator. However, these have a crayon tip which will be more like a traditional lipstick application. If you are into more neutral and deeper tones, check out this line.
// Flower Beauty Petal Pout Lip Color
A great lipstick line and it includes Spiced Petal which is a spot on shade dupe for Charlotte Tilbury’s Pillow Talk lipstick. I talk about it more in my Charlotte Tilbury Dupes post. It’s been sold out online but I’ve seen it in Ulta stores so snag it if you see it!
// Revlon ColorStay Overtime Lipcolor
Would never take a second glance at this line if I saw it but I must be missing out. There was a while there where I wasn’t into lip gloss and wouldn’t have preferred this product but I’m back into it. So the idea of a dual ended lip product with a gloss sounds appealing! You could use just the lip color, just the gloss or layer the two.
// Almay Goddess Gloss
Surprisingly, this metallic gloss from Alway is a showstopper! Wouldn’t guess this brand would have prismatic lip gloss that I would need in my life but here again, I’m pleasantly surprised. The definition of a hidden gem.
// Ulta Juice Infused Lip Oils
Like a lip balm but in a glossy and slippery formula. They will go on clear so can be worn alone or on top of a different lip product.
// Physicians Formula Healthy Lip Velvet Liquid Lipstick
Another comfortable liquid lipstick formula which won’t be overly dry or flakey on your lips plus lots of rich ingredients in the formula. Their “Healthy” line in general is really great so don’t pass these up if you see them!
// L’Oreal Rouge Signature Lightweight Matte Colored Ink
These are really similar in formula to the Maybelline SuperStay Matte Ink Lip colors that I mentioned above (not the crayon). Basically a comfortable satin finish liquid lip with a rich color payoff.
// I Heart Revolution Lip Gloss
Looking for a new gloss in a rich color? This line has a lot of warm brown tones that would be perfect for fall and winter! I think I’ve seen these in store at my local Ulta on an endcap.
// Milani Color Statement Lipliner
Can’t forget the liners! A hidden gem lip liner that’s one of my favorites is this Milani line. It’s a wood pencil that will need sharpening which I don’t mind. Usually they are a little drier in formula which I tend to prefer because I think they stay in place better.
And that folks is the last part in my hidden gem mini series. I sure hope you have discovered something new you are excited to try in one of these 3 posts. I have so many new things to try. All these hidden gems have made me excited about shopping for new makeup again. Every once and a while I get in bored ruts but all I need to do is find a few new things to try and I’m back 🙂
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