The (95%) drugstore lip combo I’m crushing on

Hi friends!

I’ve been really loving a certain drugstore lip combo recently that I needed to tell you guys about! First off I should say, normally I’m not one to be too fussy with lipstick. Usually I pick one color and just swipe it on. I don’t tend to layer or blend colors into each other or anything like that.

That being said, a few months back I bought one of the Elf Matte Lip Colors in the shade Tea Rose, a very cool-toned greyish-mauve. Now, I hardly ever wear cool lip colors so it was a bit of a risk for me. (I have very pale, cool-toned skin so I tend to veer towards neutral or warmer nudes & pinks to pep up my complexion.) But it was just $3.00 from Harmon so I thought, why the heck not? I’ll figure out a way to wear it, and that’s how this particular lip combo was born.

Essentially what I create when I wear this combo is an ombre effect (i.e. lighter colors seamlessly fading into darker colors to create dimension). I’ll take you now through the steps & products first, and then show you swatches & the finished look!

STEP 1: APPLY RIMMEL EXAGGERATE AUTOMATIC LIP LINER IN ADDICTION TO THE OUTER CORNERS OF THE MOUTH, Line the lips & BLEND

I’m not the biggest fan of lip liners in general as I only have a few in my collection, but this one from Rimmel is awesome! The formula is creamy, ever-so-slightly waxy, yet quite long-wearing. I’d say the color is halfway between pink & brown; very wearable & lovely for everyday. It’s this color that helps blend the cool-tones of the Elf lipstick in with my skin’s undertone; it acts essentially as a barrier.

Buy this product here.

Step 2: apply ELF MATTE LIP COLOR IN TEA ROSE To the cenTer of lips & blend in

As I mentioned above, this is a very cool-toned, matte lipstick. It’s quite creamy upon first application and pretty long-wearing (although you will have to touch up after a big meal). It’s very easy to apply since the bullet is quite small and it’s a twist-up. (There’s actually a sharpener hidden in the very bottom!) The trick here is not letting this color get too close to the edges of my lips since it clashes with my skin’s undertone; that’s why I need the pinkier liner along the edges.

Buy this product here.

Step 3: Dab CLINIQUE CHUBBY STICK MOISTURIZING LIP BALM IN WOPPIN’ WATERMELON over the entire mOuth

So this is where it stops being 100% drugstore! I’ve spoken about my love for the Clinique Chubby Sticks on here before, but they really are some of the most moisturizing lip products I’ve ever used. In this case, I use it purely for hydration purposes and not necessarily for any added color. The combo of the Elf & Rimmel matte, long-wearing products can get drying after a few hours on the lips, so I just quickly dab the Clinique over the top and voila, problem solved! You could use of course any lip balm you’d like.

Buy this product here.

SWATCHES

FINISHED LOOK

I really like the effect that these three products create together. My lips look defined, more dimensional & a bit more juicy. While on a daily basis, I usually just wear one shade or nothing at all on my lips, I like to do this routine occasionally when I have a bit more time to spare.

What lipstick or lip combo are you loving right now?

Catch up on some of my other lip posts!

Maybelline’s new Made For All Lipstick Collection

Video: Mini review of the new Glossier Generation G Lipsticks

Video: Winky Lux Disco Lip Gloss

Xo, Erica

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