LOSSES BECOME GAINS

Your gain: Discover my favorite lipsticks and shades that I think are fun and quintessential for the holiday season!

I don’t know about you, but lipsticks just make me feel powerful and beautiful. I could have little else on except a touch of mascara, eyebrow gel (gotta keep the girls in line!) and lipstick and feel perfectly put together. Under-eye bags be damned, because I simply can’t be bothered to put on a full face sometimes.

For me, lipstick is just something that really perks me up if I’m having a tough day. I know, it seems so silly and maybe materialistic. But you know what? When you’re having a tough day with grief, need something to help spark some joy and you find something that makes you feel better… you go with it!

Other than my handbag obsession, I have a pretty serious lipstick addiction and I’ve amassed a larger-than-I’d-care-to-admit collection. My mom was the lipstick queen and imparted a lot of wisdom (and favorite brands) on me before she passed. She’s always someone I think of when I put one on.

As the great Mademoiselle Gabrielle Chanel always said…

And yes, I do have this actual card with this expression in my bathroom as something to remember!

Whether you’re an avid lipstick lover or are just starting to dabble, finding happiness in the smallest things like lipsticks can lift your spirit if you’re going through a loss. I love this quote and playing with lipstick because it truly does make me feel like I can take on the day a little more confidently—and, whatever loungewear I’m rockin’ gets a little more elevated. I know, it might sound goofy, but let’s appreciate the small joys in life… mkay?!

What You’ll Discover Here

Let’s preface these ones I’ve chosen, then we’ll get to the content, I promise…

While some of these lipsticks are more expensive than others, beauty is an area in my life where I’m sometimes willing to spend a touch more for something of higher quality that’ll last me a really long time vs. something cheaper that I’m not as excited about. 

You’ll see I’m a big Chanel fan, and I swear it’s not to be that boujee. I truly just adore the products, the shades, the brand, the quality, and I get SO much use out of them for so long… I see it worth a little more of an investment. But, I do include some more budget-friendly lipsticks, too! I threw a fun lip gloss in here for ya as well.

I’ve categorized these lipsticks by high-level color families in case you’re on the hunt for something in particular. I also want to note that I typically put on Burt’s Bees Beeswax Lip Balm, Vaseline Lip Therapy, or something similar as a base before putting most of these on.

So, with that, let’s get into it.

Nude & Brown Lipsticks

L’Oreal Paris Colour Riche | Toasted Almond

Price: $7
Shade: Alive
Why I love it: If you see my photos here and compare it to what the packaging is now, you’ll see how long I’ve had this lipstick and how much I love it! It’s the perfect mixture of a classic nude with a hint of brown pigmentation that’s rich in color. It hydrates, it plumps, and feels luxurious for a $6 price point. This one is also enriched with nourishing ingredients like Omega 3, Vitamin E, and Argan Oil.

Chiara Ferragni | Hot Mama’s

Price: €22 (~$22)
Shade: Hot Mama’s
Why I love it: This is a fun international favorite you may not have heard of. Hailing from my favorite country in the world, Chiara Ferragni is an Italian blogger and influencer who I’ve come to really enjoy following over the years. Her two bambini are SO cute and I totally keep up with them on IG.

This lipstick is another one of those Fall must-haves. It’s a beautiful “natural rose nude” hue, as the brand perfectly describes it, and leaves your lips feeling soft and super pigmented for longer than most lipsticks I’ve used. The creamy texture is a huge selling point, and it has green tea extract and golden root so your lips will get a little dose of hydration, too. And, how fun is this lipstick tube?! I always get comments on it whenever I bring it out. 

Maybelline Lifter Gloss | Stone

Price: $10
Shade: Stone
Why I love it: If I’m being perfectly honest, this gloss is a little thick going on and occasionally my hair gets a little stuck in it at first. But it truly does an amazing job of giving a hint of bronzed, sun-kissed, glossy lips and a fuller look. I have thinner lips (especially my top lip), so I’m always looking for a way to fill that out a little more if I can. This lip gloss does just that, and the formula comes with hyaluronic acid which gives you hydration and that fullness you’re looking for.

Berry & Darker Lipsticks

Chanel Rouge Allure Velvet la Comète | Bois de Rose Astral

Price: $42
Shade: Bois de Rose Astral
Why I love it: This lipstick honestly just sparks so much joy. It’s this beautiful berry shade with the slightest hint of “astral”, which gives the effect of little specks of stars (I like to think that’s where they were trying to go with it). It has a really lovely consistency and, for me, has always stayed on well. I love this shade because it’s not too berry, but is just a truly classic shade you can’t help but love.

Charlotte Tilbury | Pillow Talk Medium

Price: $34
Shade: Pillow Talk Medium
Why I love it: I can’t even express how iconic I think this lipstick is. Also, it goes on so smoothly and is really just the best in terms of quality. I LOVE the classic Pillow Talk shade. For Fall, I like to go with a slightly more berry shade. Enter–Pillow Talk Medium. It’s more of a matte berry-pink and absolutely perfect for Fall and Winter.

Chanel Rouge Allure Velvet Extrême | Chestnut

Price: $42
Shade: Chestnut
Why I love it: This one is on the darker side but it’s not TOO dark, which is why I love it. It’s really the perfect chestnut hue, and I’m kind of obsessed with it. Also, unlike most of these on the list, this one is “extreme matte” and has this amazing non-drying texture that goes on smoothly, but has an intense, longwearing color and I love how it settles with a little time.

This lipstick is created with a combination of natural rice powder and a unique antioxidant complex, which is composed of sweet almond oil, sappan wood and vitamin E and makes me feel even better about wearing it. Also, I absolutely love the click case this one comes in.

Reds & Holiday Hue Lipsticks

Chanel Rouge Coco Bloom | Alive

Price: $42
Shade: Alive
Why I love it: This lipstick, to me, is one of the most perfect red shades I’ve come across. Off to a holiday party? This one is your go-to. It’s insanely classic, and I’m here for it! With mimosa, jojoba and sunflower waxes, it goes on so smooth and soft while giving incredibly vibrant color. It hydrates, it plumps, and like the “Chance” shade I mentioned above the creamy texture is a huge selling point.

Maybelline Color Sensational | Copper Charge

Price: $8
Shade: Copper Charge
Why I love it: This lipstick is just the right amount of creaminess, but with the little specks of sparkle you can feel that going on, too, to deliver a super vibrant color. This particular color is definitely pretty shiny, but I honestly think it’s really fun—especially for a holiday party or special outing for a little “wow” factor.

If you’re interested in other personal favorites of mine, be sure to check out the “Personal” section of my blog for more run features and recommendations!