Hello and welcome to chapter three of the 2015 Favorites Saga! Today we’re going to take a look at a few of the lip products that really wowed me this last year. Now if you’ve been around for a little while you know this particular category can get kind of…intense. So let’s get started shall we? But first let me take a selfie make a disclaimer: This year I eliminated a couple of categories (best overall lipstick formula and favorite overall lipstick line) just because I didn’t have favorites in those categories. I also added a couple of categories.
Ok so NOW let’s get started.
Favorite Red – Jeffree Star Liquid Velour Lipstick in Hoe Hoe Hoe
Red is not normally my first color choice on any given day and it seems that this last year I reached for reds less than usual. HOWEVER, a sneaky red favorite snuck in at the end of the year and snatched a favorites slot for itself which was really very selfish considering it was limited edition and so it is no longer available.
Hoe Hoe Hoe is a nice cool Christmas red with purple glitter. It is magnificent. And I’m pretty pleased with the overall formula as well!
2014 Favorite Red – Revlon Cherries In The Snow. I would say this is still a runner up in 2015 because it’s just such a delightful color.
Favorite Coral – MAC See Sheer (lustre)
MAC describes this shade as a sheer grapefruit pink. On me it definitely leans a bit on the soft coral side and on one of my dear friends it looks like a gorgeous perfect apricot shade. It’s a bit of a chameleon and it’s really beautiful.
2014 Favorite Peach Shade – MAC Coral Bliss…closest color to coral really.
Favorite Pink Lipstick – MAC Bold Spring (Mineralize Rich) AND Kat Von D Bachelorette (Everlasting Liquid Lipstick)
Bold Spring lip swatch and Bachelorette lip swatch
(neither of which are a true pink but I do what I want)
Bold Spring is described as a bright blue pink which is fairly accurate. I purchased it when I was trying to re-create a limited edition lipstick/lip liner combo and Bold Spring was a perfect match. It was also a perfect match for the Radiant Orchid shade that was the color of the year in 2014 (and one of my favorite colors of the year…color of the years? I don’t know).
Bachelorette is described as a dark reddish fuchsia and it is absolutely stunning. It’s one of my overall favorite lip colors in general. It’s just that perfect balance between red and bright pink and the formula on this is really quite good. If I ever use up the sample tube that I have here I would absolutely re-purchase this shade.
2014 Favorite Pink – MAC Giddy
Favorite Berry/Plum – Estee Lauder Pure Color Envy Liquid Lip Potion in True Liar
You guys. This shade. It is so perfect. I just swoon every time I see it. It’s the kind of lip shade that you day dream about.
In a year dominated by matte liquid lipstick (seriously though. So much matte liquid lipstick. Everywhere.) Estee Lauder gave us a beautiful balmy glowing lip product that is somewhere between a liquid lipstick and a very pigmented liquid balm. I’m not really sure what I’m talking about. I was busy thinking about wearing True Liar tomorrow.
2014 Favorite Plum – Maybelline Plum Perfect
Favorite Neutral – MAC Viva Glam V (lustre)
Viva Glam V can also win an award for most worn lipstick. It’s a great neutral that just adds a hint of color and shine to my lips. It’s a “no I totally look this way naturally” kind of color.
New color category!
Favorite Nude – Estee Lauder Pure Color Envy Lipstick in Impulsive
This lipstick formula is really divine. It feels rich and smooth and it wears for a decent amount of time and fades gracefully. It doesn’t dry my lips out, it’s just an all around winner and possibly one of my favorite formulas to date (although I only own one shade in this formula so I can’t really say for certain).
Impulsive is a delicate peachy nude that is probably too pale for me but I love it anyway.
2014 Favorite Nude – Impulsive! A second time winner!
Favorite Gloss – Covergirl Lip Lava (ooh la lava)
This favorite kind of surprised me actually! The Lip Lava line has a weird consistency. It feels fairly full of silicone and almost has a greasy texture. At first I HATED the way these felt. But then I found that they wear for a really long time, like upwards of an hour. And they make my lips feel really soft. And they have serious sparkle. Like holy cow, those are some shimmery lips. But I dig it. A lot. In fact, I rarely wore much gloss this year but I often reached for Oo La Lava. Who’d of thunk it?
2014 Favorite Gloss LINE – tie between Buxom Full On Lip Polishes and L’Oreal LeGloss
Favorite Lip Liner – Urban Decay 24/7 Glide On Lip Pencil AND Rimmel Exaggerate Lip Liner
I like both of these lip liner formula’s equally. The Urban Decay formula has a little bit more grip (but still not as dry as say a MAC lip liner) and therefore longevity, but the Rimmel liner is the most comfortable lip liner I’ve ever worn. I prefer comfort over longevity in a lip liner and both of these liner formula’s fit the bill and offer great shade selections.
New category
Favorite Lip Treatment – Bite Beauty Agave Lip Mask
This lip mask is a total game changer. In the past I have suffered from VERY dry lips and nothing I did ever seemed to make much difference. Most lip balms made the issue worse and being the delicate flower that I am (HA!), I seem to have a sensitivity to quite a lot of ingredients that are common in lip products and that just exacerbates the whole situation. Since I started using the Bite Agave mask at night (or any time I feel dry, but really, every night before bed for sure) I rarely suffer from uncomfortably dry lips (I still have dry lips but they aren’t painful any more).
This stuff is amazing and I really can’t recommend it enough. I threw out most of my other lip balms this last year because they just can’t hold a candle to the magic that is the Agave Lip Mask.
New category
Favorite Balm – Nivea A Kiss of Milk and Honey
On the rare occasion when I feel like the Bite Agave Lip Mask is too much to deal with (it IS a very thick consistency so it isn’t ideal for prepping lips for lipstick as it’s difficult to wipe off. Plus sometimes you don’t want to hassle with the whole squeezy tube situation.) I reach for the Nivea A Kiss Of Milk and Honey lip balm. I don’t feel like this necessarily improves the condition of my lips but it IS comfortable and does create a nice barrier on my lips without feeling greasy or waxy. And the best part is that it doesn’t irritate my lips like many other lip balms.
New category
One odd thing about my lip favorites this last year is that I had very few drug store favorites. Normally I’m a huge drugstore lipstick fan but I just didn’t feel overly impressed with any of the new releases and I wore fewer of my tried and true drugstore faves on a regular basis. Maybe I’ll try to make a point to show my drugstore stash some love in the near future.
What were some of your favorite lip products this last year? Do you have any of the products mentioned here? I’d love to know your thoughts on these picks!
If you’re feeling that nostalgic vibe, you can check the 2014 Lip Product Favorites.
Gym Bag Makeup 
That’s it, I need MAC Viva Glam V. See Sheer was on my wish list but I think I felt it was too summery when I tried it before – I’ll have to revisit it in the Spring time.
Do you find Mineralize Rich lipsticks to be better formula? I’ve had Lady At Play on my wish list for ages.
Whoa, I have NOT heard about the Estee Lauder Pure Color Envy Liquid Lip Potion. Tell me more and why I should go try it… because I also think I need an Estee Lauder Pure Color Envy Lipstick. I heard that lipstick has a magnetic closure. 😀
I’ll probably get that BITE lip mask during VIB sale in April…
I used to use that Nivea stuff (I remember I bought a bunch of flavours in Paris that were not available in North America like pomegranate) but now I love the Dr Hauschka Lip Care stick.
You really do need Viva Glam V. It’s so pretty! See Sheer is definitely a Summer shade for sure. I don’t know that it’s a better formula bur it is a NICE formula! It’s somewhere between a cremesheen and lustre consistency. Its comfy and light but a bit more substantial than a lustre is that helps at all.
The Pure Color envy lipstick DOES have a magnetic closure! I really love the packaging, it’s sleek and gorgeous and feels very classy. And you should definitely try the lip potion! I would say that it falls into the “balm stain” category but it isn’t as thick feeling on the lips as the Lancom or L’oreal gloss stain hybrid things. I haven’t had coffee yet so i have no idea if that description made sense at all or not. You should at least stop by a counter and try them out.
The other day I was trying to remember what balm you had recommended recently! I’ll check out the Dr. Hauschka one for sure!
The other lip balm you need to try is the C.O. Bigelow Supreme 2X lip shine. That’s my nighttime lip balm – love that stuff!