From her first experience with Max Factor Rose Water lip/cheek stain (even though it gave one an unfavorable purple tint more commonly associated with asphyxiation), TPS has been on the hunt for THE perfect lip stain.
Benefit Cosmetics Benetint is definitely a winner for both cheeks and lips, though TPS much prefers it for a lovely cheek flush. It was created as a nipple tint for strippers, so OF COURSE TPS had to try it for herself. In its earlier incarnation, it only came in the glass bottle with the nail lacquer-esque brush. It worked well for cheek application, but was not very portable (as TPS was dismayed to find the bottle had shattered inside her purse after only owning it for a couple of days). But our friends at Benefit are packaging geniuses (or perhaps they just took a tip from Hard Candy's Stain 'n Shine - another winner), putting Benetint in a double-sided, mascara-sized tube. One side is your Benetint, the other is a handy clear lip gloss. Saved!
There are a couple of problem with lip stains. The limitations of color and the taste. Most of the lipstains that TPS has tried are either VERY hot pink(not her color) or a natural pink that, though pretty, didn't give a lot of oomph. She was delighted to discover that Stila Lip Rouge came in 5 different colors. She immediately grabbed one in Moue, a pretty rose-wine tint. Well, the color is indeed perfect. The felt-tip magic marker type applicator? Not so much. The color does not come out easily enough, even with storing it on end as suggested. It's too, too bad. As for taste, they either taste vaguely bitter or floraly. Benetint's rose scent is nice, but the boys don't like to taste it.
Let us digress for a moment. As you know, TPS was chomping at the bit to get the new lip topping, Sugar Sugar, from Revlon. This is a perfect example of how susceptible TPS is to good marketing, since she normally avoids Revlon products like the plague. Included the March issue of Marie Claire, Revlon advertising insert for their new Limited Edition line. The photo of sparkly pink lips immediately captivated TPS, awakening the "I-must-have-it" monster.
When TPS went to her local drugstore to check if this new wonder was in stock, she was pleasantly surprised to find another new addition to the Revlon Limited Edition Collection. Just Bitten Lip Stain comes in 4 colors, all as fruity/flirty as their names: Blood Orange, Cherry Tart, Plum Wicked and Berry Juicy. Each color tastes like its name, but not in an obnoxious Lip Smackers way. TPS picked up a tube of Blood Orange and one of Cherry Tart.
These lipstains are very versatile, as long as you're quick about it. Just Bitten's thicker product allows for more time to play before it sets, which can also be a drawback if you just want to apply and go. For a strong shot of color, apply directly to your lips with the rollerball applicator. DO NOT PRESS YOUR LIPS TOGETHER AFTER APPLYING THIS WAY. (It will result in a sticky line of stain across the center of each lip. Not hot - but repairable if you discover it quickly). If this is too much color for you, gently smudge with your pinky for a softer look that still pops. For a more subtle stain at the onset, apply with a lip brush.
