What It Is:

Why This Should Be in Your Bag:
Like most girls I know, my collection of lip products is overflowing. I have more lipsticks, glosses and colors than I can EVER possibly use up. However, one department I’m lacking in is lip stains. I’m not exactly sure why, but I only have a couple and can’t say I reach for them very often. Most disappoint me with their less-than-stellar wear times and boring finishes.

But, I’m always willing to give a product a second chance. New York Color says that their Smooch Proof 16HR Lip Stain gives “a sheer to intense flush of color that sticks around longer than most guys in the City.” The packaging makes the product look like a more baby-pink shade, when in reality, I would deem this a true, natural pink.

How To Use It:
Lip stains are really good at highlighting any lip imperfections, so make sure you heavy-duty exfoliate before putting this on. You can purchase lip scrubs or just use some coarse sugar.

This lip stain comes in the usual marker-like packaging. You just need to put some pressure on the lip when applying, and product flows out! The sharp-tipped marker did make it easy to create a really defined lip. If you can color with a marker, you will have no problems with these!

CC Rating: B

I did like this product, but overall, lip stains aren’t my favorite. I prefer a lipstick or a gloss and find that the finish lip stains leave needs to be topped off with a gloss.

The New York Color Smooch Proof 16HR Lip Stain didn’t wear close to 16 hours. I’ve never met a lip product that stayed totally put for that long and I’m not sure a drugstore brand is going to be able to fulfill that promise. That being said, this stain did wear perfectly for a good 4 hours and didn’t fade much with eating or drinking. At the end of the day, I still had some lip color but not nearly as much as that morning when I applied it.

I think that as far as lip stains go, this is a pretty good bargain! It’s only going to run you $4-5 and works just as well as my higher-end lip stains. Persistent Pink was a lot darker than I expected, especially considering the packaging color, but I still liked it. I think someone purchasing just based on the packaging might want a baby-pink lip stain instead of a deeper color, but I thought it was gorgeous.

If you’re a lip stain kinda girl, this is definitely worth a try. As for me, I’m gonna stick with the 1,567 other lip products in my makeup bag.

[Need some new makeup but not sure what to buy? Check out Alex's other beauty reviews here.]

Lipsticks are more opaque, lip glosses are shiny (sometimes sticky), lip stains are like markers, and lip tints are like tinted moisturizers for your lips. But lip tints also have many other uses, which is why they’re oh so fabulous!

I love it when a product can multitask, especially if it’s expensive because it makes me feel better about using my grocery money for beauty products. (And no, I do not have a problem, OK?) Lip tints are the best multitasking beauty products out there; they’re great for travelers, awesome for those who aren’t into using a lot of products, and wonderful for makeup lovers like myself who just need something new in their beauty arsenal!

And that’s why I’m dedicating this video to them. So watch, learn and fall in love with lip tints.

Got something you want me to cover? Post it in the comments below. And don’t forget to check out my other videos right here!

And now that I’m actually old enough to be wearing the stuff…well, lipstick scares me. Although it defined icons like Marilyn Monroe and Christina Aguilera, I find the whole thing a bit stressful. There is a very fine line between looking glam like Gwen Stefani and looking like you’re just trying too hard to look glam like Gwen Stefani. And I always worry I’m in the latter category.

But I still want it! Lipstick is classic. And if it’s done right, it’s glamorous.

So how does one do it right? How do we college girls find the right lipstick to enhance our lips without making us look like a clown? I’ve been doing my research (OK, so it was for my own selfish reasons, but I’m sharing it with you now!) and I found some general lipstick guidelines for choosing the best shade and wearing it well.

Picking a Color: For everyday wear, choose a color that is only a few shades darker than your natural lip color.  Remember, your lips are naturally a few shades darker than your skin tone so if you’re testing a color on your hand (you know, to avoid germs…I’m a freak) keep that in mind.  Choosing a color this way will enhance your lips naturally and not scream, “I’m playing with my mom’s makeup bag!” In general, the lighter your skin tone, the lighter shade you should choose. 

If you are going for a less-neutral/more dramatic nighttime look, light skinned girls should go for pinky tones, medium tones should choose berry shades, and those with dark skin can go for deep browns or reds.  This article on eHow talks more about undertones and specific shades of colors, but in general the simple guidelines above work well.

Pick a Type: Lipstick comes in several different types like matte, long-lasting, liquid, metallic… Matte and long lasting lipsticks are great to provide a defined look, but if you are looking to make your lips appear fuller, a lipstick with shine or gloss will be a better choice.  Another option is a lip-stain, which provides intense, lasting color and shine.

Lip-liner: My girl New York is known for her beautiful lip-liner, but I’m guessing you don’t necessarily want to emulate her style.  Basically, most of us college-aged girls don’t need lip-liner.  Our lips are pretty full already, so lip liner isn’t necessary until we get old and our lips thin.  At this point lip-liner is just going to look ridiculous and over-the-top, so stay away.

Don’t be afraid to use some color on your lips. If you do it right – i.e. pick the right shade for your skin – you can look beautiful and glamorous just like Marilyn, Gwen…and your mom.

Makeup is supposed to help your look out and enhance beauty, but what happens when you mix makeup with humidity, sweat, and waves? Raccoon eyes, that’s what.  Raccoon eyes aren’t even a good look for raccoons, so they definitely won’t add to your summer style.

Luckily there are tons of waterproof makeup products out there to prevent this problem, whether you’re hanging out in the ocean or laughing-so-hard-you-cry at The Hangover. And here are a few of the very best ones  to keep you from sporting a Hamburgler look this summer.

Mascara: First of all, know what you are looking for.  Obviously most mascaras that are waterproof are labeled as such, but just in case, the ingredient you are looking for is isododecanne.  Other than that ingredient, waterproof mascara has essentially the same ingredients as regular mascara.  If you have really sensitive eyes this ingredient might irritate them, so discontinue use if that is the case.

If you’re in the mood (and money) to test out a bunch of different waterproof mascaras, try out Sephora’s Splashstash Waterproof Deluxe Sampler.  For only $36 you can try out several mini-sized mascaras and eyeliners, and it even includes a makeup remover.  If variety isn’t your thing, try one of my personal favorite waterproof mascaras:  Tarte’s Lights, Cameras, Spashes! (check out that super cute case!) and Clinique’s Gentle Waterproof Mascara.  Remember, because waterproof mascara includes an irritable ingredient you must make sure to remove it at the end of the day.

Foundation: Yes, there is such a thing as waterproof foundation! And Dior created it. This foundation is perfect for a day at the beach.  Not only is it waterproof, but it also includes SPF 25! It comes in so many colors and is designed to feel lightweight on your skin while still providing coverage and protection.

Blush: Benefit’s Benetint is a liquid cheek and lip stain that won’t come off with sweat, tears, or even kisses.  It looks natural so it’s perfect when you want to add a little color for the beach, without looking like you’re wearing makeup. Because you really shouldn’t look like you tried too hard, right? Right.

Lip Gloss: Many long-wear, waterproof, lip glosses can dry out your lips, but this gloss from MAKE UP FOREVER is non-drying and smells deliciously vanilla.  With many colors to choose from you can be assured that you will look kissable, even underwater.

Let’s face it—chapped lips are neither comfortable nor pretty. I don’t know about you but I’d rather sport a perky pout than a shriveled set of lips. So whether you’re in need of some major lip hydration or you’re just looking for a shiny tint, here’s a list of 5 poppin’ lip products (in price order!).

1. Chapstick. A classic. A bargain. A beauty-bag must. Chapstick is the queen of all lip balms—it has the smooth texture our lips crave, a tasty hint of flavor for our buds, and it now comes in a variety of choices, from Ultra Moisturizing to True Shimmer. If you don’t already have a stick, it’s time to spend that $2 and give your lips some luvin!

2. Badger Brand. When organic meets cheap, the world is a happy place. Badger Lip Balms are olive oil based and packed with antioxidant-filled extracts as well as soothing aloe vera. They come in seven “natural” flavors, and are cheap as can be. Stock up.

3. Labello. Labello is to lips as chocolate is to my taste buds. In other words, it’s a-freakin’-mazing. It’s incredibly silky, and it comes in a variety of color-tinted flavors (strawberry is my fave), so you can add some color to your smile. The only glitch – you can’t get it in the U.S.! But you can order it. Three bucks plus shipping = SO WORTH IT.

4. Benefit Benetint Lip Balm. Not only is the packaging pretty, but the lip balm inside it is too! It’s also got everything lips need- moisturizers, SPF30, glossiness, and a hint of red color. It’s on the pricier side, but for something that functions as a lip balm, a lip stain, and everything in between, it’s pretty much a bargain (err…kind of). Get it at Sephora.

5. Fresh Sugar Lip Treatment. Fresh is the Anthropologie of body products: earthy and all-natural, but a bit pricy. Nevertheless, this colorless lip balm is the quintessential lip healer. Some might say it’s absurd to spend $22.50 on a lip balm, but I say it’s absurd to let your lips miss out on this sugary treat! So indulge, and let your lips do the same! If nothing else, the smooth, shimmery golden case is worth the investment.

I had pretty much resigned myself to a life without lip color–I’ll play up my eyes, I thought–and figured I’d just never be as glamorous as those gals with a deep slick of ruby red on their lips.

But then, like a blessing from heaven, beauty companies everywhere introduced me to my saving grace: the lip stain. Neither lipstick or lip gloss, the stain does as promised–it actually stains your lips, so you get a really deep color that says “oh yes, I just wake up looking like this.“

The color sinks into your lips and doesn’t rub off, plus it rarely needs re-applying. Sound too good to be true? It gets even better–most lip stains can double as cheek color as well, for a really natural flush that stays put.

Here are some of my favorite stains (they can be pretty pricey, but since they do double duty and one application lasts all day, it’s totally worth the extra cash):

The Balm: Stainiac

Benefit: Benetint

Vincent Longo: Lip & Cheek Stain