Beauty, Beauty on a Budget, Lips, Lipstick, Makeup, Swatches

I spent a lot of time in the drugstore aisles last year so it’s no surprise that I picked up an insane amount of budget beauty lipsticks. Believe it or not, there’s some really impressive formulas and colors hidden in drugstore aisles–all for under $10. I enjoyed quite a few drugstore lipsticks in 2015 but most of my favorites seemed to come from Milani. Which is no surprise because their lippies are freaking amazing!

Here’s the scoop on my fave drugstore lippies of 2015:

Maybelline Orchid Ecstasy Color Sensational Rebel Bloom Lipstick Last year was the start of some really great drugstore collections including Maybelline’s Rebel Bloom line for Spring. My favorite piece from the collection was Orchid Ecstasy Lipstick. It’s a vibrant violet with a glossy finish that’s a breeze to apply and super easy on the lips. Orchid Ecstasy dominated spring with its girly, playful vibes and juicy sheen.

Milani Power Pink Color Statement Lipstick Spring and summer are all about bold purples and pinks so it’s no surprise that I had a hard time pulling away from Power Pink during the warmer months. Power Pink was a new addition to the Color Statement lineup in 2015 but quickly became a fave in my makeup bag. It’s a bright magenta that really makes a statement (no pun intended) on my brown skin. It’s a must have for WOC who aren’t afraid to go bright.

Milani Matte Naked Color Statement Matte Lipstick Matte Naked was one of the first nudes I fell in love with last year. It’s a rosy pink-beige with a creamy matte finish that’s incredibly easy to wear and doesn’t dry out my lips. I found myself wearing Matte Naked a lot on my no/quick makeup days because it looks so natural against my complexion. Even without a lip liner. I recommend Matte Naked to anyone looking for a fuss free matte nude!

Milani Matte Fearless Color Statement Matte Lipstick I guess you can say Milani dominated all year round over here because Matte Fearless picked up where Power Pink left off. It’s a blackened plum that just screams fall and winter. Once the cold weather kicked in, I switched to vampy lips and fell in love with Matte Fearless because the color is beautiful and the formula is just so easy to wear. Creamy, long lasting and non-drying–but still matte.

Milani Matte Beauty Color Statement Matte Lipstick Just when I thought Matte Naked was nude lip perfection Milani dropped Matte Beauty on me. It’s peachy beige that’s darker and warmer than Matte Naked so it’s even easier to wear. Plus, it sports the same creamy matte formula that’s long lasting yet easy on the lips so it’s a win all the way around. Matte Beauty was my go to nude lip for fall 2015 but I doubt this will be the last time you see this Beauty.

Maybelline Nude Nuance Color Sensational Matte Lipstick Another great nude I discovered in 2015 was one of Maybelline’s new Color Sensational Matte Lipsticks, Nude Nuance. It’s a rosy pink-brown with a creamy matte finish that’s very easy on the lips. Nude Nuance is the kind of nude that just about anyone can wear as the color is effortlessly glam. I would slip it on in a breeze during the summer and fall months for a fuss free nude lip that’s classically pretty.

NYX Stone High Voltage Lipstick While I absolutely hated the packaging, I still had a hard time removing Stone from my makeup bag because it was a badass nude that was rather unique at the time of its spring release. Stone is a light greige that’s edgy yet still looks natural on my complexion. It still required a lip liner to look its best but once its blended into a deep brown lip liner the results are stunning. That’s the only reason I kept it in my makeup bag despite the top rolling around everywhere lol.

Maybelline Orchid Ecstasy Color Sensational Rebel Bloom Lipstick, Milani Power Pink Color Statement Lipstick, Milani Matte Naked Color Statement Matte Lipstick, Milani Matte Fearless Color Statement Matte Lipstick, Milani Matte Beauty Color Statement Matte Lipstick, Maybelline Nude Nuance Color Statement Matte Lipstick and NYX Stone High Voltage Lipstick