Bargain to Bougie: 5 New Lip Products to Spend Your Hard-Earned Money On
Jas is the former Senior Content Specialist at Adore Beauty. A beauty admirer turned certified addict, she brings a sharp editorial eye and pop-culture pulse to everything she creates. Her words have appeared in The Age, Sydney Morning Herald, and Broadsheet. When she’s not producing viral content or podcasting about skincare, you’ll find her thrifting for vintage treasures or binging Bravo (strictly for research, of course).
Hi, my name is Jasmine and I’m a treat-a-holic.
I firmly believe that there’s no dinner without dessert. No bahn me without Coke Zero. And for every oat cap I order you best believe there’s a delicious little pastry in my other hand.
You know what I don’t believe in? The cost of living crisis.
I’m already out here with champagne taste on a beer budget, don’t you dare take away my sweet little treats.
Unfortunately, I have no skin in the economic game.
I prefer to leave all the “budget” business to my other half, who has graciously taken on the role of household treasurer so I can focus my time on more important matters… like how many more indoor plants I can fit in our house before it becomes an uninhabitable jungle.
But I like to think that what I lack in financial savoir-faire I make up for in budget beauty know-how.
Specifically, how to spend less and get more out of your routine.
One product that never fails to pay out in dividends is lippie.
No matter the state of my bank account, I can always justify spending my money on a new lip product.
One swipe can change my whole mood. Heck, sometimes it can change my life–like the time I discovered Clinique Black Honey. Game-changer.
And if the ‘Lipstick Effect’ is anything to go by, it seems as though you beauty lovers feel the same way, too.
(FYI: The Lipstick Effect is essentially a theory that suggests consumers are more likely to spend money on little luxuries like a new lipstick during periods of financial strain/recession.)
If you’re nodding your head right now then you’ve landed in the right place.
I’ve got just the thing(s) to treat yourself to.
Below you’ll find five brand-new lip products to arrive on Adore Beauty with mini-reviews by yours truly (your savvy shopping sis, remember?).
1. NYX Professional Makeup Duck Plump Lip Gloss, $23.99.
Calling all my thinned-lipped friends, this first one’s for you.
I had the pleasure of trying this spicy sister at a work event a while ago and have been eagerly awaiting its product release.
And I say spicy because it quite literally is–spicy ginger, to be specific. Not for the faint-hearted.
This spicy gloss enhances the lips to appear fuller.
It creates a warm tingling sensation when applied with a glossy finish that’s available in a variety of highly pigmented shades plus a transparent one.
I picked up Pure Plum, a deep purple shade, ideal for special occasions.
Here’s how my lips looked before versus after application.
I feel like pictures don't do this lip gloss justice.
But as someone who has previously had lip filler (just once a few years ago), I was impressed with how plump the gloss made my lips look.
It also had impressive staying power, withstanding coffee, food, etc. Even when the gloss waivered, the tint never did.
2. INNISFREE Dewy Tint Lip Balm, $26.
If lip balm is your emotional support beauty product, then you’ll love this new lip balm by INNISFREE.
It combines skin-loving ingredients–like hyaluronic acid, camellia seed oil and ceramides–with universally flattering shades to give your lips a natural, dewy pop of colour.
Its infusion of natural eucalyptus oil feels cooling on the lips, helping to soothe and aid dryness.
I snagged the shade Melon Coral, which gives my lips a hint of warmth and pairs perfectly with pink and natural-toned lip liners.
3. Ole Henriksen Pout Preserve Peptide Lip Treatment, $29.
Peptide lip treatments are having a serious moment RN. One in particular comes to mind (cough, Hailey Bieber).
While I’m not saying this new one by Ole Henriksen is a perfect alternative to said lip treatment (that’s currently unavailable to buy in Australia), having tried both, Pout Preserve deserves accolades of its own.
Available in four pigment-packed flavours, the Ole Henriksen Pout Preserve Lip Treatment helps counteract volume loss, while nourishing your pout with oils and butters for softer, bouncier lips.
I managed to get my hands on Cocoa Crème, a gorgeous chocolate tint with a rich hot cocoa scent.
Long story short, I’m in love.
It looks just as good combined with a neutral or brown lip liner (my pick is the Make Up For Ever Artist Pencil in shade Endless Cacoa) as it does on its own.
It also makes my lips feel soft and supple without tackiness.
I managed to borrow the Strawberry Sorbet shade from my colleague Ally during a recent work trip and can confirm it’s beautiful, too.
I’ll be picking up the remaining shades from the collection ASAP.
4. Napoleon Perdis Colour Cult Creme Lipstick, $68.
Is this not the chicest little cream lipstick you ever did see?
Napoleon Perdis’ new Colour Cult Lipstick is a long-wearing lippie with a satin finish.
It’s infused with candelilla and rice bran waxes to nourish and condition the lips for all-day comfort and pigmented colour payoff.
It’s available in over 15 complementary shades, ranging from neutrals to pinks to rich reds.
Like the good beauty journalist I am, I swatched every. single. shade.
These are my top three:
- 201: A light peachy-pink shade, the perfect everyday lipstick (pictured above).
- 210: A warm medium brown shade, *the* neutral shade of the season (below).
- 214: A rich blue-based red shade, ideal for date night and special occasions (below).
5. Yves Saint Laurent Rouge Pur Couture, $68.
YSL knows good lipsticks. (They’re not too shabby at fragrances too, just quietly.)
While Rouge Pur Couture isn’t technically new, it’s recently been renovated with pure pigments suspended in a creamy, gliding formula.
Upon application, this lipstick delivers a weightless, couture satin finish in just one swipe.
Its 80% lip care base feels nourishing on the lips and helps keep colour intact for decent wear-time.
Fab formula aside, the lipsticks are masterpieces in and of themselves, encased in a jewel-like golden tube with the YSL Cassandre logo stamped into the bullet.
In a word, stunning.
More than deserving of a spot on your treat-yourself beauty wish list.
Still in the mood to treat yourself? Here are some other beauty products we're currently coveting:
