YSL Rouge Volupte’s were the ones I tried to talk myself out of ever considering to buy. I was like “Oh no ma’am, I will not!” but who are we kidding? Do those lovely makeup restrictions ever work for long? Not for me. But as I kinda danced around earlier, Sephora only does this once a year so screw it — 20% off is better than 0% lol.

ROUGE VOLUPTÉ
Silky Sensual Radiant Lipstick SPF 15
What it is:
An extremely smooth and creamy lipstick with a formula that transforms into a fluid veil of radiant color when it touches the lips.

What it does:
One of these Yves Saint Laurent ROUGE VOLUPTÉ Silky Sensual Radiant Lipstick SPF 15 is sure to be your new signature color: they’re sensual, radiant, and strong. With shades that drench the lips with densely pigmented color and a unique color-shine complex, lips are visibly smoothed, plumped, and radiant with luminous satin color.

What else you need to know:
It’s made with a long-lasting and highly comfortable formula that contains SPF 15.

Size: 0.12 oz

The two colors I have are Red Taboo, which is described as a true blue red — and it is, but it’s not the bluest red I’ve seen (MAC Ruby Woo still wins that category as far as my stash goes). Then there’s Exquisite Plum, which is described as a deep rich plum. Both shades are very pretty and perfect for Fall!

Let’s check out a few photos shall we?

YSL Rouge Volupte lipsticks
l-r: #18 Red Taboo, #22 Exquisite Plum

YSL Rouge Volupte lipsticks
l-r: #18 Red Taboo, #22 Exquisite Plum

YSL Rouge Volupte lipsticks
l-r: #18 Red Taboo, #22 Exquisite Plum

YSL Rouge Volupte lipsticks

YSL Rouge Volupte lipsticks

YSL Rouge Volupte lipsticks – mirror on top of each tube

YSL Rouge Volupte lipstick
l-r: #18 Red Taboo, #22 Exquisite Plum

YSL Rouge Volupte lipstick
l-r: #18 Red Taboo, #22 Exquisite Plum

YSL Rouge Volupte lipstick
l-r: #18 Red Taboo, #22 Exquisite Plum

wearing YSL Rouge Volupte lipstick #18 Red Taboo

wearing YSL Rouge Volupte lipstick #18 Red Taboo

wearing YSL Rouge Volupte lipstick #22 Exquisite Plum

wearing YSL Rouge Volupte lipstick #22 Exquisite Plum

YSL Rouge Volupte lipstick
l-r: #18 Red Taboo, #22 Exquisite Plum

YSL Rouge Volupte lipstick swatches
l-r: #18 Red Taboo, #22 Exquisite Plum (w/o flash)

YSL Rouge Volupte lipstick swatches
l-r: #18 Red Taboo, #22 Exquisite Plum (w/ flash)

I have a few other YSL lipsticks, but these are my first two from the Volupte line. They’re expensive, but you should expect that seeing as how they’re YSL The formula is really smooth and creamy with a nice slip — the slip reminds me of NYX’s round lipsticks but without that cheap plastic scent. I wore Exquisite Plum for about 4 hours before it started to fade to the point of reapplication. It left me with a nice flushed stain and semi-hydrated lips. My lips weren’t totally dried out, but they weren’t as lush prior to putting this stuff on of course. I’d still say they’re hydrating because they don’t dry to a thick pasty flaky mess like most lipsticks. I love the packaging and I love the little mirror on the top of the lipstick cap — which would honestly allow you to just throw this into a clutch or your pocket and reapply without having to worry if it’s properly on your lips.

OVERALL

Overall, I absolutely LOVE these lipsticks. They feel amazing, they’re long-wearing, and they’re hydrating. I can’t wait to try a few other shades. Do I recommend these? Only if you’re looking to splurge on a nice luxury lipstick. These are by no means “must have’s” for the average cosmetic buyer, but they’re more than likely “must have’s” for those used to spending this kinda cash on a single item. I love cosmetics — from the low/drugstore stuff to the mid-high end stuff to the luxury stuff. I’m at a place where I can sometimes spend a little more to spoil myself and not feel guilty about it. Don’t think you have to buy all this expensive stuff to have a nice solid collection, because you don’t…cuz Lord knows some of my favorite lipsticks cost less than $10

RATING

Availability: Sephora

There are 15 total shades. Each gloss has 3.5ml/0.11 fl oz. of lip smacking product for $26 a pop. However, if you are lucky enough to catch the 50% off sale then you’re only gonna pay…$13 — we call that a win!

They’re described as…

* Ultra high gloss finish
* Vitamin A for skin cell renewal
* Vitamin E for conditioning
* Perfect consistency and texture
* Can be layered to be sheer or bold

Rock & Republic Luxe Lip Glosses

Rock & Republic Luxe Lip Glosses

Rock & Republic Luxe Lip Glosses – the handle

Rock & Republic Luxe Lip Glosses – the wand

Rock & Republic Luxe Lip Gloss – Tyrant

Rock & Republic Luxe Lip Gloss – Loudmouth

Rock & Republic Luxe Lip Gloss – Sexy Beast

Rock & Republic Luxe Lip Gloss – Cougar

Rock & Republic Luxe Lip Gloss – Hot Sauce

Rock & Republic Luxe Lip Gloss – Mistress

Rock & Republic Luxe Lip Gloss Swatches
l-r: Loudmouth, Tyrant, Sexy Beast, Hot Sauce, Cougar

Rock & Republic Luxe Lip Gloss Swatches – Mistress

Rock & Republic’s lip glosses are different from any product I own. They almost feel like a liquid lipstick but aren’t anywhere near as drying as your typical liquid lipstick. The product feels great on, and they’re nicely pigmented and opaque. I really love that the doe-foot applicator wand doesn’t soak up too much product, so you’re not slathering too much gloss on your lips. All of these colors here are very women-of-color friendly (if you’re not a chicken ), but they’d look amazing on anyone. I’m gonna try my best to describe the colors here:

• Mistress – golden rose with shimmer
• Loudmouth – creamy muted bubble-gum pink
• Tyrant – creamy reddish brown
• Sexy Beast – golden deeper rose with shimmer
• Hot Sauce – golden peach/tangerine with shimmer
• Cougar – creamy neutral red

You can sheer them out or build them up. Most of the colors (as I’m typing this) are gone but they should restock soon — at least they usually do during these sales. At this very second, Cougar is my favorite — being the red lip fanatic that I am. That lil baby is FIERCE! I love them all though, they’re fabulous — don’t sleep!

I’ll post lip swatches soon, I just wanted to hurry and get this up while I had a few minutes — I am SLAMMED at work. I don’t really have time to do anything but work/sleep/repeat!

-Stay beautiful

Availability: Rock & Republic (use code: ROCKCOSMETICS for 50% off)

NARS Strawberry Fields is described as a “bright strawberry pink”, but I’m gonna have to say it’s more of a bright raspberry color. Regardless, it’s absolutely beautiful and reminds me a little of MAC’s Rebel lipstick. Gorgeous color, great pigmentation, and I’m sooo loving the formula!

Serious shine and sexy color in sheer, creamy and semi-sheer formulas. Extremely wearable and versatile shades, lip gloss may be worn alone or over other lip products for heightened drama.

* Ultra-shiny and highly pigmented

* Convenient wand application

* Iconic shades

* Ideal alone or over other lip color

NARS Strawberry Fields lipgloss

NARS Strawberry Fields lipgloss

NARS Strawberry Fields lipgloss

NARS Strawberry Fields lipgloss

NARS Strawberry Fields lipgloss – wand

NARS Strawberry Fields lipgloss – wand

NARS Strawberry Fields lipgloss swatch

NARS Strawberry Fields lipgloss swatch

NARS Strawberry Fields lipgloss swatch

NARS Strawberry Fields lipgloss – worn on lips

NARS Strawberry Fields lipgloss – worn on lips

NARS Strawberry Fields lipgloss – worn on lips

As for the formula, it’s fairly opaque and rich — almost like a liquid lipstick. It’s a creamy formula that has a slightly sticky texture, but not as sticky as a MAC lipglass and I can get about 3 hours of wear before it starts to get a little tacky. A lipgloss will get tacky depending on whatever it is you’re doing because as more and more air is exposed to it (from breathing, eating, wind, etc.), it’ll start to dry out a bit and shrink up on your lips. This is pretty unavoidable, but these aren’t products that are meant to last on your lips for many hours on end. Even when this gloss starts to get tacky around hour 3 or 4, it still has a beautiful color and moderate shine and you may or may not need to reapply. It leaves a nice natural looking stain as it wears off throughout the day too. I love how smooth and creamy it is, it feels awesome on freshly exfoliated and moisturized lips. I can’t find anything wrong with it — oh wait, there is one small thing…it can settle into fine lip lines if you have a bunch of those (most of us do), but it’s not anything totally major. This gloss would be absolutely fierce on ANY skin-tone!

But dude, isn’t it gorgeous? I just wanna eat it, it is such a yummy color! I have several NARS glosses and this is by far my favorite. It makes my mouth look extra juicy and sweet *rawr* — it’s everything. I realize not everybody wants to drop $24 on a lipgloss, and you don’t have to if you don’t want to. But if you’re looking for something a little special, this might be the item for you to splurge on

Availability: NARS, Beauty

*this post contains an affiliate link

Kat’s “Painted Love” lipsticks are exclusively sold at Sephora, and described as follows…

Designed by reality television star Kat Von D especially for Sephora, Painted Love Lipstick takes Kat’s signature lip color, a sophisticated red, and expands it into a range of smoldering shades, from crimson to blood red. It comes housed in a deluxe tube with a clear Lucite bottom that shows off the color inside, and the cap is stenciled with silver roses on matte black—inspired by Kat’s favorite tattoo.

Each lipstick retails for just $18 (0.11 oz), in cute tattooed packaging. The color Hellbent, is described as a “blood red” and that’s incredibly accurate. It’s a very smokey blue-based red that would look awesome on every skin-tone due to the smokiness, which can calm some of the blue down for warmer tones. It’s dark like blood when it’s in bigger amounts, but also cool like it when it’s just a drop smeared out. I know that’s kinda gross, but it’s true lol.

Kat Von D lipstick in Hellbent

Kat Von D lipstick in Hellbent

Kat Von D lipstick in Hellbent

size comparison to a MAC lipstick

Kat Von D lipstick swatch in Hellbent

Kat Von D lipstick swatch in Hellbent

Kat Von D lipstick swatch in Hellbent — worn on lips

Kat Von D lipstick in Hellbent

Kat Von D lipstick in Hellbent

I’m not wearing a lip liner here but you’re more than welcome to. There’s not much of a scent to these lipsticks and while this is the only one I own, I do plan on buying more.

It has a very nice sheen to it and it isn’t super drying either — in fact, this lipstick isn’t as drying as any of my MAC lipsticks (and I love those). I got many hours of comfortable, non-peeling wear and didn’t have to reapply at all. They’re very pigmented and long-wearing. I can get about 4-6 hours of strong wear out of this shade, and a very nice amount of staining after the sheen goes away (from eating, drinking, etc.), giving me a total of up to 8 hours of wear — which is amazing. Ya’ll, I  murdered a bowl of cereal (ok, two bowls) and you’d never tell because this lipstick stayed completely on.

I love this shade, it’s so pretty and appropriate for the Fall season. If you’re a bold one, pick up this shade and try her entire line — there’s a color for everyone

When I first wore this red I thought it was waaay too much for me, but that’s just because I wasn’t used to shades like this. That’s really why most people aren’t comfortable in brighter or different shades, they’re not used to it. Well I say, what the hell do you have to lose? It’s just makeup — stop being chicken . There’s no reason you can’t wear a fierce red lip color, so stop telling yourself that.

I’d normally give this a typical “pro/con” rating but I don’t have any cons and I’ve stated all of my pros. This lipstick is worth the money seeing how it lasts so long and stains very well.

RATING

Availability: Sephora

NYX Black Cherry round lipstick

NYX Black Cherry round lipstick

NYX Black Cherry round lipstick *taken with flash*

NYX Black Cherry round lipstick | lip swatch *taken with flash*

NYX Black Cherry round lipstick | lip swatch *taken with flash*

NYX Black Cherry round lipstick | lip swatch *taken with flash*

DUPE ALERT!

I did find two higher-end dupes for this lipstick So if you’ve ever wanted NARS Scarlet Empress or MAC Hang Up cremesheen, but didn’t wanna drop $14 or $24 on either one of those, Black Cherry is a suitable enough dupe.

• MAC Hang-Up – similar to Black Cherry but more mauve, with the slightest hint of microscopic shimmer
• NARS Scarlet Empress – very similar to Black Cherry, but cooler

l-r: NYX Black Cherry lipstick, MAC Hang-up cremesheen, NARS Scarlet Empress

l-r: NYX Black Cherry lipstick, MAC Hang-up cremesheen, NARS Scarlet Empress

*my bad for spelling it wrong in the pic lol

NYX round lipsticks are a great bargain for the novice to the advanced. I love them. They’re very creamy, pigmented and have a great amount of sheen. Depending on what you’re doing with your mouth (lol), you may find these to be pretty long-wearing or not very long-wearing at all. If you’re eating, kissing, etc. it won’t last too long, but if you’re just chillin, these stick around for a while. They may lose some of their sheen, but the color remains.

If you’re looking for glam on a budget, check out NYX’s entire line of lipsticks. They’re a nice little bang for your buck.

-Stay beautiful

Availability: NYX Cosmetics

**this post contains an affiliate link. To read more about the disclosure policy, click here.

This palette has a ton of silver and grey eyeshadows of different depths and shades, enough to give you many smokey combinations. You may also find these colors appropriate for the upcoming freeze-ball months, as most of the shades are frosty/shimmery (but not a hot mess).

1st eyeshadow column, plus blushes from opposite side

lip gloss swatches

2nd eyeshadow column

For the look above I used eyeshadow colors from the second column of the palette (2, 6 and 7) and the second blush to the right. For lip color, I used Rock & Republic lip gloss in Mistress with NYX Cocoa lip liner.

PROS

• Affordable
• Lots of grey’s and silvers to choose from
• Pretty good quality shadows — I’m impressed!
• Blendable and easy to work with
• Dumb easy to create a smokey look with this palette, even for the makeup novice
• Super easy to travel with
• Convenient — packs different items for multiple uses

CONS

• None of the colors have any names or numbers to associate themselves with. So you have no idea what color you’re really using…so you have to make something up
• The magnetic closure could be better, I find this palette can open very easily and possibly create a mess in your purse/makeup bag, etc.
• The plastic divider between the eyeshadows and the blushes and lip colors is loose, and it would be better if it were enforced down the middle so that it stays in place. If it slides around, you can find eyeshadow dust in your lip products and that’s no good.
• The spongetip applicator…c’mon now…

OVERALL

I really like this palette, and I’m quite impressed with it. The one thing I don’t like, are the super gummy vaseline’y lip glosses. I don’t like the way they feel at all, despite the cute colors they come in. The blushes and the eyeshadows are equally soft in texture, and crumble easier than a higher-end product, but it’s not as bad as E.L.F. lol! NYX made it very easy to create a simple and sexy smokey eye and because of the low price, it’s also easier on your pockets. The shadows range in taupey-greys to mushroom silvers to standard blacks. For the look I did above, I used colors 2, 6 and 7 from the second column — I wish I could tell you their names, but they’re incognito I guess lol. I used my MAC brushes for this, and it came out pretty well and was so easy to do. It’s really nice to see that NYX is stepping up their pigmentation game too I packed these on top of the NYX Eyeshadow Base (white) and I didn’t have any creasing from that product, which is really good. I’ll have to review it for you guys in the future.

RATING

Availability: Rock the Catwalk

I’m not really one of those who are easy to say something is fabulous, but I’ve been thru enough glosses to know what’s good and what isn’t. But in my opinion, Dolce & Gabbana make some pretty awesome lipglosses and that’s just my own personal truth. The first color I tried was Ruby because I’m a red lip-color freak, and I layered it on top of some MAC Dubonnet that I was already wearing…dude…seriously, I had to hang up the phone just so I could admire my sexified lips in the mirror. I was like “Holy sh*t! I gotta go, I’ll call you back…I have to admire my lips in the mirror for the next 9 minutes — bye!”

Sensual and tempting, Ultra-Shine Lipgloss imparts a dewy glass look for the lips. The professional applicator ensures perfect application. When paired with lipstick or liner, intensity abounds.

Dolce & Gabbana Ultra Shine lipglosses: Gold, Passion, Dahlia, Ruby (no flash)

Dolce & Gabbana Ultra Shine lipglosses: Gold, Passion, Dahlia, Ruby (with flash)

Dolce & Gabbana Ultra Shine lipgloss in Ruby

Dolce & Gabbana Ultra Shine lipgloss in Ruby (this is just with one dip)

PROS

• They feel amazing on the lips
• Creamy formula helps keep lips hydrated and plush
• Not as sticky as a regular MAC lipglass
• Pigmentation is awesome
• Great for layering with your favorite lipstick
• Great for wearing alone
• Brush-tip applicator, although I’ve seen these with doe-foots as well..

CONS

• This isn’t a personal con for me, but it may be for you…there is a very heavy rose scent to these. I got used to it right away but if you’re sensitive to floral scents you might wanna skip these. The scent loses it’s punch as time goes on, but still…just be aware of that.

OVERALL

These sexy lipglosses come in 16 delicious juicy colors and as far as pigmentation goes, you can really build these up or sheer them out as much as you’d like. I find that the creamier matte shades are the most opaque, whereas the shimmery ones are slightly more sheer but still pack a nice punch. The shimmer and sparkle is very gorgeous and you cannot feel the glitters at all — which is fabulous! I found that these glosses swatch beautifully with just one swipe (as you can see above). They are slightly sticky, which allows for longer wear — but they’re not heavy or thick like honey either. I recommend these for the gloss addict, but wouldn’t say they’re an absolute must have item. They’re kinda expensive, so…these are a total splurge.

RATING

Availability: Saks Fifth Ave.

To be honest, when I first tried it — I’m talking very first use…I said to myself “Um, this aint nothin’ but high end Vaseline”. I jumped the gun and even reviewed it on Sephora as such. I feel terrible for giving it such a mediocre review — it deserved better. I learned then that I have to give products time before I open my big mouth. Oh Rosebud, will you ever forgive me? ♥

Rosebud Salve — a beauty staple

You wouldn’t apply this much to your lips,  just wanted to show you the consistency

PROS

• Hydrating and protecting
• A little goes a LONG way…
• Silky smooth formula that doesn’t leave any heavy residue like Vaseline
• Melts beautifully wherever you apply it — it isn’t waxy at all
• Great for de-ashifying yourself (yea I totally made that word up)
• Soft rose scent
• Small and compact for your purse or pocket (although if you keep it on your pocket, it can melt so be aware)
• Has many uses — not just for lips
• Great for helping to exfoliate your lips

CONS

• Hard to find in stores — I have to order it online
• Comes in a tin tub, which some people may dislike because they have to use their fingers

OVERALL

It has some of the same benefits as Vaseline as far as healing burns, itchy skin, dry skin patches, etc. But it doesn’t have that thick, goopy and cheap consistency like Vaseline. When I slather Vaseline on, I feel like I’m wearing a coat made of petroluem jelly It’s got this heavy thickness to it that may be fine for our ashy kneecaps and elbows, but if you want something that melts a lot better, try Rosebud Salve. I feel like when I wear Rosebud Salve, my skin can breathe — it doesn’t feel that way with Vaseline.

My main use for it is for my lips. I use this in place of my many other lip balms because I love the way it feels on my freshly exfoliated lips and it even helps me exfoliate my lips better. I’d apply a generous amount of it, take a moist washcloth and gently massage my lips until all of the dead skin comes off. It prevents my lips from being torn apart and ripped open, its so soothing. It makes for an awesome lip balm underneath a drying lipstick as well. I love that it doesn’t give me that waxy feel like Burt’s Bees or Carmex — I find that those don’t sink into my lips at all, they just sit on top and eventually dry them out. But Rosebud Salve makes my lips so silky smooth and juicy – LOVE LOVE LOVE it!!!

RATING

Availability: Amazon

The color I purchased is called Top Tomato. It’s actually a very beautiful and sexy shade of red with tiny little specks of gold, yet it somehow seems to tilt blue. I can’t really describe it, but its very pretty.

One-step, food-proof lipcolor with a patented ColorStay™ technology that lasts up to 12 hours.

• Food-proof lipcolor with a built-in, ultra-conditioning topcoat
• One-step application- No topcoat required for comfortable wear
• Stays comfortable and wears beautifully for up to 12 hours
• Does not feather or fade; no touch-ups required, even after meals
• Available in 20 full-coverage, soft satin shades

Size comparison between a MAC Lipglass and Dazzleglass

worn alone

with gloss on top

Alright, so let’s get down to the brass tax here…

I’m truly on the fence with this product. On one hand, its gorgeous…and on the other, it’s annoying. So here are my pros and cons for this particular shade, as its the only one I’ve tried so far.

PROS

• Beautiful rich color, very sultry
• Long lasting formula
• Moderately opaque
• Generous amount of product for the price (ranging from $8 to $11, depending on your location)

however…

CONS

• Sticky, almost fuzzy and uncomfortable formula
• Very drying…without a gloss on top
• The packaging isn’t that exciting. When you pull the wand out, it literally sounds like a queef
• It’s also messy. The stopper could have been made better to prevent the product from being so messy around the opening of the tube. I don’t know if I got a bad tube or not…
• It smells like a semi-old mascara

OVERALL

To elaborate, the stickiness is uncomfortable but it’s also what allows this product to last as long as it does. I cannot wear it alone because it dries the crap out of my lips — even when I have a balm underneath. With a gloss on top, it’s really not that bad. It has those typical staining qualities, the drying, the annoyance, etc. They say you don’t need a top coat, but I say you do. At the end of the day, this isn’t a terrible product, but its definitely lacking something — called moisture. You should absolutely wear a gloss on top because then most of the cons go away. I actually quite like it when worn with a gloss, I can tolerate it. But without — no ma’am. It definitely lasts and is long wearing…and again, the color is really gorgeous…I just wish it wasn’t so sticky/fuzzy/drying..

I paid $10 for it at my local CVS but I’ve seen it at Walmart for around $8.50 or so…it depends. So honestly, I don’t like it but then again I do. You ever feel that way about a product? It’s like, there are things about it you hate and things about it you love but you can’t quite put your finger on it.

I think that if you’re a lip junkie and curious about this product, you should try it. You may hate it, you may love it. I’m somewhere in between all that. If you don’t like it, return it. I don’t like it when worn alone, but I do like it with a clear gloss on top. And for that, I give it a…

RATING

Availability: Amazon, Drugstore, and wherever Revlon is sold

Bobbi Brown has released a limited edition Shimmering Gloss Palette ($40) that should suit you subtle ladies pretty well, because it’s sheer drama — literally. I understand that not everyone likes bright, bold colors and sometimes even I like to tone it down and just allow my natural features to shine thru with a tiny bit of help. These colors are beautifully sheer and add just a bit of something special without being too crazy. I find it to be a very soft and feminine approach palette.

WHO SHOULD USE THIS?

If you like subtle shimmer with your sheer gloss, then this palette is right up your alley. This would also look good on a makeup-shy teen, a wear-to-work look, or even a blushing bride A great lip palette for those who do not like a lot of color on their lips. Perfect for brides!

WHO SHOULD’NT USE THIS?

If you’re only into bright bold glosses no matter what, then skip this because you’ll be pissed lol.

Six gorgeous Shimmer Lip Gloss shades – all in one sleek palette that are wearable at any age. These shades can be worn alone or layered over Lip Color. Includes a Mini Lip Brush for mess-free application.

l-r: Bellini, Papaya, Orchid, Posey

l-r: Orchid, Posey, Grape, Berry

The shades are very sheer and would look best over a lipstick, but are just as pretty alone for that slight nude sparkle. If you have really pigmented lips all of the colors may end up looking the same on you.

OVERALL

This palette really nice, but it isn’t for everyone. As I said before, if you’re into opaque glosses, this is not the palette for you. However, if you’re one of those ladies (or gents) who like a beautiful barely there color with a lil shimmer, then this may be your thing. So many ladies love and adore this palette — so that just goes to show not everybody is into “HAYBOO!!” kinda colors lol. I didn’t find these to be drying on my lips at all, so that’s a great thing. This is a great item for a makeup artist to have in their kit, especially for bridal makeup.

As far as the texture goes, these feel moisturizing on the lips — kinda like a balm. They have a relatively normal stickiness to them, but they’re not goopy or heavy at all. The lip brush that is included makes application easier and cleaner so you don’t have to dig your fingers in it. The sparkles aren’t chunky and irritating — you won’t even feel them (at least I didn’t).

RATING

Availability: Rock the Catwalk (for just $18.95)

**This product was sent by Rock the Catwalk for consideration. Please read our disclosure policy for more details.