Hailey Bieber’s Rhode is an internet darling, and rightfully so. Everything the brand puts out is a smashing success. Because it’s quality. The brand’s Peptide Lip Treatments are a staple in my pocket and my handbag. Now, they’ve launched the Lip Shape pencils, which are a cross between a lip liner, lipstick, and shaper. There is crayon-like, creamy matte product in a variety of pink and neutral shades on one end and a shaper on the other, to help you line, buff, and define as you wish. I love that I can pull it out and apply without needing a mirror. The Lip Shape is quite the user-friendly lippie. You can wear it a la carte or swipe your fave PLT over top for some additional, blinding shine.
Say it out loud. Vitamasque. It just sounds like a good for you product and that’s because it is! Vitamasque’s Lip Butter Balm is buttery and balmy and the Pink Vanilla scent is just what you need as winter fades into spring.
It’s plush, packed with peptides, and the price is beyond nice at under four bucks! It’s a squeeze tube with a slanted tip and it tastes and smells like vanilla cupcakes. Need I say more? Go forth and stock up.
If you regularly read this column, you are aware that I love lip balms, masks, oils, and gloss. And honestly, most masks and oils… are merely modernized glosses. Lots of these BMOGs land on my desk and on my lips for review. EXO LIPS™ Hydra Healing Lip Balm comes in a heavy black pot, and it slathers and swipes on clear and boasts the brand’s signature eXo3 exosomes, which aids skin cell renewal and collagen synthesis. If that’s too science-y for you, the takeaway is that it calms and comforts chapped lips and adds the glossiest, slightly silvery sheen. You can wear it during the day or let it absorb into your pout while sleeping so wake up smooth and sumptuous, and flake-free. And you can always smooth any excess product on your cuticles to soften and moisten. I wore it on a work Zoom and two people entered the chat to tell me my lips look gloss-some.
Melt Cosmetics is like an indie MAC. It’s edgy, rock ‘n’ roll inspired, and always on trend. The brand’s Melt-It Liquid Eyeshadows are ALL gorgeous, smoky drama. You can use them as primers or a base to amplify powder shades and give the formula something to adhere to! Or use them as your shadow to create a messy, sexy, “I slept in my makeup because I got in at 2am and couldn’t be bothered to wash my face, even though I know it’s a bad idea to crash out with makeup on!” looks. The packaging looks like liquid lipstick with a tube and doe foot wand. But the formula is glorious and buildable, as it hugs the lids. I have oily skin and my shadow and liner don’t budge with a layer of this stuff. I like to buff with my pointer finger or a small shadow brush.
If you don’t want to or can’t splurge on Dolce & Gabbana handbags or clothes, but love the brand’s luxury aesthetic, you can indulge in their makeup brushes. The gorgeous gold aluminum handles are weighty and feel expensive in your hand, while the black, vegan bristles are lush and plush like velvet. Look and feel aside, they perform with perfection. These are literally some of the softest makeup brush bristles to ever touch my face. I have said this a billion times over the course of 20 years of writing for this publication and others — you can purchase the priciest eye shadows or blushes but if you don’t have the RIGHT or PROPER or quality tools with which to apply them, you are just wasting your hard-earned cash.
I am a sucker for an effective product with a cute source of inspo. You call it a gimmick. I call it adorable.
MIXIK SKIN’s Gumball Lip Collection is packaged in the cutest vessel with a gumball-like topper. But the product works! The collection features Plumping Lip Ampoule, which lets you plump and shine. The finish is mega glossy with some pigment and a peppery, heating action as it dries down. The Juicy Lip Tint has a richer color payoff and it can be pinch hit as a blush, so you can rock it on those no makeup days where you want some glam — so, basically Sundays. The Glossy Lip Serum is just that. Glossy and hydrating, thanks to olive and avocado oils. It also BEARHUGS lips but isn’t uncomfortable or sticky. It holds on and stays there.
I never thought I’d say this, but salmon sperm is good for you. No, really. Kahi Wrinkle Bounce Multi Balm is a twist up, baby pink balm stick that you can swipe on lips, lids, cheeks, or your neck for some radiance and luminosity. Right, but so many other products do that. What makes this product special? Salmon sperm. It boasts collagen extracted from salmon sperm. Go ahead, raise your eyebrows, wrinkle your nose, shake your head in abject disbelief, and ask, “But why? Why is salmon sperm an ‘it’ ingredient?” It’ll wait. OK, now that you got that out of your system, I’m here to tell you what the PR team told me. Salmon sperm improves skin elasticity, shrinks pores, creates a moisture barrier, and lets you glow, baby, glow. I tried it on my cheeks, my Cupid’s bow, and along my brown bone. The result was a pinky flush and glow, with some skincare benefits. I’ll try anything. You should, too.This much cheaper than the salmon sperm facials, too!
