With the new wave of moisturizing, highly pigmented “Lip Butters” that each brand is releasing, which one reigns supreme? Well that’s what we’re going to explore! In comparing products from the different drugstore brands, I hope to help you choose the best “Lip Butter” that is suited for your needs~!
Up for your consideration are Revlon Lip Butters, Wet n Wild Megashield Lip Colors, Wet n Wild Wild Shine Lip Lacquers, Loreal Color Riche Balm, Covergirl Lip Perfection and Maybelline Baby Lips. When doing this comparison I had to add the Wet n Wild Lip Lacquers – they totally fall into this category, as well as the Covergirl Lip Perfection~! (By the way – a little sidenote – to make the color swatches stand out on my hand more – I added more light in photoshop. As a result, my hands showed up looking ghostly white… they are normally an olive skin tone. My hubby came into the room while I was adding pictures to my post and asked “What’s with the ghostly white hands?” haha)
THE CONTENDERS
Revlon “Lip Butter”
http://www.revlon.com/Revlon-Home/Products/Lips/Lipcolor/Revlon-ColorBurst-Lip-Butter.aspx
Revlon says: Buttery balm with beautiful shiny color to give you baby soft, healthy glowing lips 94% of women felt lips were softer, smoother, and instantly hydrated.
On the left we have #045 Cotton Candy, a beautiful soft and light pink. Cotton Candy was definitely on the lighter side when it comes to pigment – a more sheer pink. On the right is #010 Raspberry Pie, a gorgeous hot pink! I have to say, I was shocked with how highly pigmented this one is – definitely don’t need to apply much to get a nice raspberry shade! Both went on smoothly, with a subtle hint of shimmer, and were very moisturizing. These are little tubes of heaven!
Wet n Wild “Megashield Lip Color”
http://wnwbeauty.com/product.php?cid=16&pid=913&subid=28
Wet n Wild says: Color, comfort, and care! Luxurious color delivers hours of sheer-to-moderate coverage that glides on buttery-soft for a smooth, moist-looking pout. Lips are pampered with Vitamin E, Amino Acids, Avocado Oil, and Rice Bran Oil that moisturize and condition for silky, soft comfort. And with SPF 15, lips are cared for and protected from harmful UVB rays.
On the left we have #361S Peachy Keen, a peachy nude color. Peachy Keen was very high in pigment, and leaning more towards the matte side with little, to no shimmer. On the right we have #373S Pink Champagne, a peachy light pink. Pink Champagne was also very highly pigmented, and although this one had more shimmer than Peachy Keen – it was still a very subtle shimmer. These were smooth, moisturizing colors but felt more like a moisturizing matte lipstick.
Wet n Wild “Wild Shine Lip Lacquer”
http://wnwbeauty.com/product.php?cid=16&pid=63&subid=28
Wet n Wild says: Two-in-one lipstick provides full-coverage color and a brilliant glossy shine. Creamy color moisturizes lips while light-reflecting particles give a luminous sheen.
On the left we have #922 Enamoured, a pretty cotton candy pink. On the right we have #920 Fling, the quintessential peachy color. With the Lip Lacquers, I found both to be highly pigmented, moderately shimmery, beautifully smooth and very moisturizing! One thing that set these apart, was that both colors were equally pigmented and equally shimmery. With other brands I find sometimes the pinks and peaches can be so lightly pigmented, while the reds/browns hold more pigment. I guess you could say I’m “passionate about pigment” – I feel every color should be equally pigmented! So if you want a beautiful cotton candy pink – you shouldn’t have to apply 2 or 3 times more to get the color you see in the tube. Although if a lip product is created to be more sheer, that’s great – just keep the pigments equal across the board.
Loreal Color Riche “Balm”
Loreal says: This tinted SPF 15 Lip Balm provides a hint of luscious, kissable color, smoothing lips instantly and for a full 8 hours of continuous hydration. Lips are soft and supple all day long – and keeps conditioning after its been removed.
Here we have #219 in Plush Plum, a very soft mauvey plum. Loreal “Color Riche Balm” kind of surprised me – with the name “Color Riche” I was expecting a great deal more pigment than what was delivered. Having said that, it is still a beautiful, soft, and moisturizing mauve lip color.
Covergirl “Lip Perfection”
http://www.covergirl.com/lipperfectionlipcolor
CoverGirl says: Bright, gorgeous color that can transform your day and your lips. Enriched with a silk moisturizing complex, our formula helps sustain moisture levels and helps create soft, smooth, beautiful lips in just 7 days. Also a 2011 Cosmopolitan Beauty Award Winner!
Here we have #390 in Sweetheart, a bright, frosty, light pink. I was really happy with how highly pigmented it is, while still going on smoothly and staying moisturizing! With Covergirl’s “Lip Perfection” you really DO get the color in the tube, on your lips without having to apply much at all!
Maybelline “Baby Lips”
http://www.maybelline.com/products/154
Maybelline says: SPF 20 Moisturizing Balm. No more basic lip balm Lip renew formula and 8-hr hydration for visibly renewed lips in 4 weeks. Clinical care for baby-soft lips.
Here we have#25 in Pink Punch, a bright, vibrant bubblegum pink. I was shocked how much I loved this line! These little tubes come deliciously scented, with a moderate amount of pigment, some shimmer and lots of shine! I can definitely see myself getting more of these~!
POINTS TO CONSIDER
Most Moisturizing (Ranked in order)
1. Maybelline Baby Lips (Felt very glossy)
2. Revlon Lip Butter (Glossy and rich – no stickiness)
3. Loreal Color Riche Balm (Glossy without being sticky)
4. Wet n Wild Lip Lacquer
5. Wet n Wild Megashield Lip Color
6. Covergirl Lip Perfection
Having said this – each one of these was highly moisturizing and not one of them was even close to dry! So even at the bottom – Cover Girl still felt amazingly good!
Highest Pigment (Ranked in Order)
1. Wet n Wild Lip Lacquer
2. Wet n Wild Megashield Lip Color
3. Cover Girl Lip Perfection
4. Revlon Lip Butter
5. Loreal Color Riche Balm
6. Maybelline Baby Lips
I just want to point out that I was impressed with all of the pigments in every one of these! The drugstore cosmetic brands have really stepped up their game and could EASILY compete with, if not beat out, any department store brand!
Best “Luxe” Packaging (Ranked in Order)
1. Revlon Lip Butter (No brainer – gorgeous case!)
2. Loreal Color Riche Balm (Beautiful!)
3. Covergirl Lip Perfection
4. Wet n Wild Lip Lacquer
5. Maybelline Baby Lips
6. Wet n Wild Megashield Lip Color (Although I DO adore Wet n Wild, these tubes felt and look kinda cheap)
While coming in very close in the pigment and moisturizing categories, the best packaging category was another verdict entirely. They were all so different – from Fun, Youthful, Sporty packaging (Baby Lips), to Luxe (Revlon, Loreal and Covergirl), to kind of non-descript (Wet n Wild). Having said that, I don’t purchase products based on this category – this is just an “icing” on the cake kind of thing. At the end of the day – the best “performing” product will ALWAYS win out for me~!
A WINNER EMERGES….
I honestly love ALL of these products for different reasons, so they are all winners in my book~! So this will definitely be a personal preference, that’s why I broke it down above into different categories. But for me, the winner is definitely the REVLON LIP BUTTERS! Super duper moisturizing, moderately pigmented and gorgeous “luxe” packaging~! As moisturizing as Maybelline was, I couldn’t choose the Baby Lips because I was looking for much more pigment. And as much as I LOVED both of Wet n Wild’s products and Covergirl’s, theirs came in higher in pigment and lower in moisturizing – which for me likened them more to a lipstick. Way to go Revlon, this product could definitely hold its own against its more expensive department store counterparts!!!
I hope you feel more “informed” the next time you hit your local beauty counter – so you are able to buy the right lip product that will suit your needs~! Till next time my beauties- keep those lips glam while ALSO keeping them moisturized~! 
Comments
Trackbacks for this post