In search of a won’t-kiss-off-on-my-boyfriend lip color

By Archana Ram

The contenders, CoverGirl Outlast All-Day, Lipstain, and Illamasqua

I’ve been pretty proud of my minimal makeup routine of eyeliner plus concealer for years (12 to be exact), but once I hit my mid-twenties, I wanted to step up my game. Eyeshadows quickly proved to be too tricky, leaving me looking like I got a black eye. And with my already-rosy complexion, too much blush makes look like I’m trying to channel Bozo. Instead, I’ve recently become enamored by lipstick. But with a voracious appetite and a boyfriend I’m not afraid to smooch in public, I needed one that was long-lasting (for food) and wouldn’t rub off (for him).

And so was my mission. I tried three highly recommended lip colors: CoverGirl’s Outlast All-Day Lip Color, CoverGirl’s Outlast lipstain and lipstick by U.K. brand Illamasqua. For all three, I wore them for about four hours, which included a dinner.

First, I went for CoverGirl’s All-Day Lip Color in Red Satin. What I loved about this one was the accompanying top coat, which felt just like a lip balm. For someone with perpetually dry lips, this was much appreciated.

CoverGirl Outlast before

CoverGirl Outlast after

Though less glossy after a few hours, the color stayed incredibly well. I could eat my meal, kiss my boyfriend and not have to worry about reapplying. Plus, with the top coat ready to re-moisturize, my lips never felt dry. The only downside? It took a lot of effort to wipe off, and even then, there was still a bit of color left.

Next was CoverGirl’s Outlast Lipstain in Wild Berry Wink. It looks like a magic marker and since it’s a stain, it’s meant to give you the kind of color you get after you’ve taken off your lipstick. This may not be desirable for some people, but for me, that minimal look was nice for someone easing into lipsticks.

CoverGirl Lipstain before

CoverGirl Lipstain after

Dry. Dry. Dry. That was my takeaway from this one. When I first applied it, it had a nice feel and sheen – not to mention a sweet flavor – but by the end of the night, I was ready to take that sucker off and bathe my lips in Vaseline.

Finally, I tried Illamasqua’s lipstick in the shade The Box. The brand, which specializes in highly pigmented makeup, claims its lipstick is creamy and long-wearing. Well….

Illamasqua before

Illamasqua after

Both claims were spot-on. I loved how hydrated my lips felt and how vivid the color seemed even after dinner. It did give my boyfriend nice ruddy lips post-kiss, but, unlike the two CoverGirl lip colors, Illamasqua’s lipstick doesn’t claim a no-rub-off policy, so I can’t knock them for that.

It came down to CoverGirl’s All-Day Lip Color and Illamasqua’s lipstick, but I think I can find room for both in my life. For nights when I need the color to stay put, I’ll reach for CoverGirl. But when I want that bright, colorful pout, it’ll be Illamasqua in my purse.

What’s your favorite long-lasting lip color?

All pictures by Archana Ram. Archana also writes her own “flexitarian” food blog at LettuceVeg.com


“Like” Beauty and the Feast on Facebook
Follow Beauty and the Feast on Twitter

3 Comments

  1. eaman wrote:

    nice post. glad to be a part of the research ;).

    Posted 5.16.11
  2. shyema wrote:

    haha that’s love <3

    Posted 5.16.11

Comments are closed.