Application Matters
In addition to selecting the right color and formula lipstick to meet your skin tone and your needs, how you apply the lipstick can also contribute to the final effect you achieve. For instance, outlining your lips with a nude liner can help give you a very polished look, while filling in your lips with a darker liner shade can actually tone down a bright color lipstick. Using a lipstick brush instead of applying directly from a lipstick tube, can also change the finished look. The brush gives you additional control and can help to prevent going outside your natural lip lines. Finally, if you have dry lips or lips that are creased or lined, consider using a lip primer to create a clean slate before the lipstick is applied.
What It Costs
The great thing about lipstick is that no matter what your budget, there are sure to be some options that you can afford to buy. If you are happy with drug store quality options, which include brands like Rimmel, Loreal, Clairol and Maybelline, just to name a few, there’s no reason not to buy.
The majority of the lipstick choices you can find in this group will be in the $5 to $10 range. In this price point, there are plenty of fine quality lipsticks in great colors with results that most people seem to really like. (You can also find a few trendy lipsticks selling for as little as $1 and $2 each and some higher-end drug store buys that may be as much as $15.)
When it comes to department store brands, there are a host of better choices that can find in the $20 to $35 range, which is what most women are willing to spend on these items. There are also many other high-end options with special effects that can sell for as high as $100.
The bottom line is that you can spend from $1 to $100 on a lipstick, but the majority of them fall between $5 and $35, no matter where you shop or what you buy.
Looking For A Bargain
If you like changing your lipstick as often as you change your shirt, but you can’t afford to spend a ton on too many lipsticks, you can also become a regular at your local dollar or bargain store, where last year’s color may be your perfect find. You might also shop the clearance bin at your favorite discount houses and drug stores. Since many over-the-counter lipstick companies change their colors quite often, the discontinued products go on sale. This can enable you to get a $5 or $10 lipstick for considerably less. The only catch is that if you find something you like, keep in mind that you may not be able to get it again. Therefore, if possible, buy multiples when the price is right.
The Most Extravagant Buy
On a final note, if you’ve ever wondered what it would be like to buy makeup without even asking the price, consider the most extravagant lipstick that money can buy. One amazing lipstick available through Guerlain is encased in a tube of 18 gold encrusted with 199 diamonds. The price for this luxury is $62,000. Now that’s one lipstick that better make your lips shine.
