vampy lipsticks
as fall approaches, my craving for deep, dark lipsticks increases... my dark metamorphosis.
OK, well, technically it's Vampire Season year-round here - i don't need Halloween as an excuse to embrace black clothes and dark lipstick. but still! i thought it would be appropriate to showcase some of my favorite vampy lip colors from my personal collection.
the lineup
from left to right:
Maybelline Vinyl Ink Lipstick in Royal
a rich, ruby red, with a slightly pinkish undertone. the Vinyl Ink formula is very glossy, yet surprisingly long-wearing. it dries down to a slightly tacky texture, but i don't find it to be overly sticky or uncomfortable. it's an interesting, if potentially polarizing, sensation. it's fairly inexpensive, being the only mainstream drugstore pick out of these lipsticks. also, it has a faint, slightly sweet almond scent, which i personally find inoffensive.
Lisa Eldridge Lip Pencil in Jazz
a deep red, with fairly neutral undertones; not particularly pink or orange-leaning. lip pencils are useful for drawing precise lines on your lips, and the slightly waxy texture helps increase longevity of the lipstick color. this one's fairly pricey, but i do love the formula. it's not too dry or stiff, but it's not so creamy and slippery that it defeats the point of using a lip pencil. this shade was meant to compliment a color from Lisa Eldridge's velvet lipstick range, "Velvet Jazz", inspired by vintage 1930s lipstick colors. no scent on this one. also, sorry for no photo here: i've always worn it with a lipstick on top, so it's kind of hard to see it. it'll be in comparison swatches below, though!
Lisa Eldridge Velvet Lip Colour in Velvet Decade
a muted, deep brown, with plummy purple undertones. tragically discontinued, but i treasure it in my collection, as it was a birthday gift from a dear friend. Lisa Eldridge describes this shade as being inspired by "hand-tinted sepia fashion portraits", particularly from the 1920s. this formula is quite opaque, with a satin finish. but it can also be tapped onto one's lips for a subtle berry-brown stain, which i quite like. here, i'm wearing it at full opacity. i really wish the lipstick bullet wasn't so prone to breaking off the tube, though... for how expensive it is, i'd really expect better. but i love the shade, and the vintage art inspiration is up my alley, so i try to be gentle with it.
Kaleidos Lip Clay in Rubino
a rich, slightly earthy red, with just the slightest bit of warmth to it. this is my favorite red lipstick of all time, no contest. i even wore it on my wedding day. the Kaleidos Lip Clay formula is excellent for bold colors: it's matte, yet very, very comfortable, not drying at all. the texture is a bit like a silky, creamy mousse that dries slightly down slightly, while remaining very "flexible". not to mention, it's opaque, and the shape of the applicator makes it very easy to spread out an even layer of color with precision. the longevity on it is great, too. like i said, i wore it on my wedding day! and it's completely scentless, so there's no risk of getting nauseous or headachey from a strange smell. ilu, Kaleidos Lip Clays.
Kaleidos Lip Clay in Queen of the Night
a deep, blackberry purple. this is also, tragically, discontinued. if you want a similar shade, look up NARS Train Bleu. i always forget how lovely this lipstick is until i wear it again. the deep and rich color is just so delightful. it's the same formula as the Rubino one, and performs about the same. bonus points that it's not patchy - formulating these dark colors can be tricky, but i find this one to work just fine without any real issues.
Kaleidos Lip Clay in Scorpion Fruit
this is, without a doubt, my favorite black lipstick i've tried. it lasts! it's easy to apply precisely! it's as dark as the deepest shadow! i've tried other black lipsticks before and felt vaguely disappointed in one way or another; too slippery and smudges right off, or too dry, or discontinued, or has a weird undertone... but Scorpion Fruit is perfection. if you don't mind the fact that Kaleidos ships from Shanghai and that it'll take two weeks to arrive in North America, i would highly recommend Scorpion Fruit to anyone looking for a solid black lipstick.
swatches
top to bottom: Maybelline Royal, LE Jazz Lip Pencil, LE Velvet Decade lipstick, Kaleidos Rubino, Kaleidos Queen of the Night, and Kaleidos Scorpion Fruit.
for skintone reference: i have very light, slightly olive-leaning skin. i wear foundation shades like Missha Perfect Cover 13, Lisa Eldridge #1, and MAC NW10 with a bit of light green color corrector mixed in.