“What lip is that?” A professional lipstick critic reveals all.

I’m a serial lipstick dater. So many lip products slide onto my desk. Some I double-tap and have all the heart eyes for. Others I ghost and leave on seen. This is #BigLipstickEnergy, an honest breakdown of how I feel about the latest lip launches. Read on for the three lipstick flings I’m keeping in rotation for now. Next week, I’ll have a new roster.

A Hydrating Neutral

Serpent

THE DETAILS: 

Fempower Beauty is an activist beauty brand on a mission to empower, educate, and advocate for women around the world (via makeup, of course). Every lipstick you buy results in 10 percent of proceeds donated to organizations for equality. It’s nice to buy a lipstick you love, but it’s even better when it’s supporting human rights. Another great point: The line, ranging from bright pinks to soft neutrals, has every skin tone in mind.

WHY I’M OBSESSED: 

When I find a gorgeous neutral that works for my complexion, I feel like I’ve won the lipstick lottery. The uniquely-shaped bullet is what I noticed first when I picked this up. The pointed tip allows for a precise application, without a liner, which deposits a tawny neutral onto my lips. Depending on how much you apply, the hue has a hint of rusty red. And, the brand describes as such: “like getting caught in a hydrating, nourishing, and lubricating lip rain.” Sign. Me. Up.

 

 


A Sparkly Lip Topper

Pure Color Envy Gloss Kissable Lip Shine

THE DETAILS: 

With this gloss, you can achieve a subtle, tasteful shimmer. If you don’t want to go full on glitter, make this “boosted gleam” effect, as Estée Lauder describes it, your happy medium. Plus it offers the moisturizing benefits of hyaluronic acid.

WHY I’M OBSESSED: 

If you’re an avid reader of Big Lipstick Energy, you know I’m obsessed with a good neutral. My hack for livening up a simple nude-toned lip is to add a sparkly gloss on top. And this gloss’ formula doesn’t smear the lip color I’m already wearing. It’s the perfect complementary lip topper, and this metallic gold shade feels festive and fun.

 



A Non-Drying Red

Julep It’s Whipped Oh La La Matte Lip Mousse

THE DETAILS: 

If you’re in need of a matte, stay-all-day shade that won’t dry your poor lips out, try this lip mousse. Mousses have more of a velvety, whipped texture that nourishes your lips. This formula uses the richness of rosehip seed oil to keep this matte moisturizing, with a super-saturated color pigment that brings boldness.

WHY I’M OBSESSED: 

In New York City, it’s starting to feel like fall (sad to see you go, summer) and with dropping temps comes dry lips, which isn’t going to work for me. I love how this mousse feels like nothing on my lips, but I know it’s secretly hydrating. Its light-as-air feel is deceiving, though, because it coats my lips with such a vivid, blue-based red—a shade that feels fancy enough to hold me down during special occasions.

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This article was originally sourced from here.