I can't remember all of the details, but some time ago I read an article featuring an interview with a French woman and something she said stuck with me. She said something to the effect of older women need to wear a bit makeup because after a certain age they look ridiculous without it. I got her point at the time, but it didn't really resonate with me then.
Sometime last year I caught a glimpse of myself in the mirror and realized that everything was getting duller. Maybe it was because I haven't been on a beach in ages, but I realized I needed some color on my face. I was no longer a spring chicken and that I couldn't walk around with no makeup because the fresh-faced look of youth was extinguishing. Plus, on the quest to become more glamorous, I realized that glam women wear makeup!
But I really can't be bothered to put on a face of makeup everyday. I need something that I can put on in the car while it was warming up in the morning, so I decided on a lip color and mascara. While any black mascara will work in a pinch for the day, I had trouble figuring out what to put on my lips. I liked the dark pink lip stain that I already had, but I wanted something more obvious. I also need something long-lasting (because I hate worrying about makeup) and that won't irritate my lips (because lipsticks have usually made my lips peel, but more on that later). Lip gloss was out because I hate the look and the shine. Lip sticks with a pearl finish was also out because it reminded me of my mother. Sad, but true.
Two weeks ago I told the girl at Sephora that I wanted something easy to put on and she showed me Nars' lip pencils, but the there were no "My Lips But Better/Brighter" shades. Wonderful red shades (Cruella is on my list), but nothing suitable for work.
What I needed was something easy to apply and similar to my natural lip color. And I think the creators behind Buxom's
Big & Healthy Lip Stick
created this product for women with precisely my demands. My bottom lip is pink
and my top lip is purple, so I wanted something in the berry pink/purple
shade region. While they do have some fun colors, most of the colors in this line are variations of pink and nude. I am confident that most women can find a MLBB shade. I thought to myself that the team behind this product have to be women! The colors are phenomenal.
So now I am excited to try different colors. Vienna is next on my list, in case I want to emphasize the pink in my lips some days.
I have yet to use the sharpener, since I don't need a sharp point. I usually put it on at 8:30, and then some of it comes off during the morning at work when I drink water or tea, but I wipe off most while at lunch, which is around 12:30. I reapply* after lunch and forget about it for the rest of the day. For the most part I would say that it is long-lasting matte lipstick, and I can't comment much of the lip plumping effect, since my lips don't need it! But the minty sensation is very nice - not too strong.
The only complaint I have is that it's bloody expensive for its size. Regular sized lipsticks are about 0.12 ounces and this is 0.03 ounces. So if I were to quadruple the price, it would weigh in at a hefty $72. I apply it around 5 or 6 times a week and have had it for 11 weeks and have about 1/3 of it left. I'm actually surprised that it has lasted so long and I will most definitely repurchase.
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*I can't use my trusty Alba Botanica lip balm under or over this lipstick. When I did my lips peeled! So I apply balm around 15 mins before applying, then wipe off the balm before putting on the lip color. I don't want to call the lip stick moisturizing, but my lips did not feel dry or irritated at all during the day. Make sure you use this on product-free lips.
