Lipstick is, without a doubt, my favourite beauty product. No matter how terrible your skin looks that day, or if you came out wearing two different sorts of shoes, lipstick manages to give you the appearance of being well put together. The downside to having a penchant for a statement lip? Good lipstick can be very expensive, and on a student budget, sometimes you have to prioritise the essentials over what your heart really desires.
Fortunately, over the years, I have taken it upon myself to carry out
the selfless task of trying out all
the lipsticks and discovering some cheaper versions of high-end items. Here are
a few of my best findings.
Lady in Red
Every girl needs a classic red lipstick in her make-up bag. Obviously at
the top of the line is the practical deity that is Chanel. Their blue-red shade, ‘Passion’ (no.14), was supposedly Coco
Chanel’s favourite, and after wearing it for years it certainly became mine
too. However, on reaching the end of the tube at the same time as reaching the
end of my loan, I had to find a cheaper alternative.
‘Kiss of Life’ (no. 111) from Rimmel’s Lasting Finish by Kate Moss collection is the perfect red, whether
you’re on a budget or not. Its creamy texture and pigmented formula manage to
create a sophisticated, matte red lip, worthy of Marilyn Monroe herself. At
£5.49, it’s certainly a bargain and I would even go as far to say that I prefer
it to its Chanel counterpart.
Passion (Chanel): £25
Kiss of Life (Rimmel): £5.49
Think Pink
If you want a statement lip but can’t wear this season’s vampy shades, a
bright pink is definitely the way to go. Lime
Crime’s lipsticks are to die for and totally vegan (for all you moral
people out there), but at $16 a pop, they’re not very wallet friendly. ‘Centrifuschia’ is a vibrant shade of
pink and leaves your lips feeling moisturized and smelling of vanilla.
My substitute is Barry M’s ‘Punky Pink’ lipstick (no. 145), which I would recommend as highly as ‘Centrifuschia’. It’s bright yet wearable, matte yet not drying and is affordable at just £4.49, yet doesn’t feel cheap. I also feel like it gives my complexion a lift, which never goes amiss, and its staying power is phenomenal.
My substitute is Barry M’s ‘Punky Pink’ lipstick (no. 145), which I would recommend as highly as ‘Centrifuschia’. It’s bright yet wearable, matte yet not drying and is affordable at just £4.49, yet doesn’t feel cheap. I also feel like it gives my complexion a lift, which never goes amiss, and its staying power is phenomenal.
Centrifuschia (Lime Crime): $16
Punky Pink (Barry M): £4.49
Orange You Glad It’s
Not Expensive
MAC’s ‘Lady Danger’ lipstick is still in the red
family, but is for those days when you really want to stand out. The colour is
a highly pigmented orange/red and has so much staying power it would even pass
the ‘kiss test’ in Corp.
However, to avoid MAC’s notoriously high prices, I have found that Rimmel‘s lipstick in the shade ‘Retro’ is a cheaper alternative and is almost exactly the same colour. Why spend £14 when you can look just as fantastic for £4.99?
However, to avoid MAC’s notoriously high prices, I have found that Rimmel‘s lipstick in the shade ‘Retro’ is a cheaper alternative and is almost exactly the same colour. Why spend £14 when you can look just as fantastic for £4.99?
Lady Danger (MAC): £14
Retro (Rimmel): £4.99
Words and Photography by Victoria Beardwood
Words and Photography by Victoria Beardwood
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