This post is part of a series sponsored by Walgreens.
Don’t you just love fresh starts and clean slates? I do! — and that’s what Januarys (and sometimes Februarys) are all about. New year, new excuse/opportunity to try something new, like perhaps pink streaks in your hair. 🙂
But say you’re not quite ready for a full-on commitment to a funky hair color. No problem. You can still freshen up your look, starting with your lips (and you don’t have to spend a small fortune).
Thanks to drugstore beauty aisles and brands like Revlon, Rimmel, Covergirl, Jordana and Maybelline, your new lip look could be less than $10 away.
Here are five affordable lip looks to give you some ideas…
1. A bright reddish pink
Nothing says “new start” like a bright reddish pink, unless you apply Revlon Colorburst Lipgloss in Strawberry ($7.79) atop Rimmel Lasting Finish Lipstick by Kate Moss in 12 ($5.99), in which case it says it in all caps, with an exclamation mark, like this: “NEW START!”
Revlon Colorburst Lipgloss in Strawberry on the left and Rimmel Lasting Finish Lipstick by Kate Moss in 12 on the right
Revlon Colorburst Lipgloss in Strawberry on the left and Rimmel Lasting Finish Lipstick by Kate Moss in 12 on the right
2. A shimmery golden pink
How about a tender touch? Something soft and romantic, like a shimmery rosy peach? Here, I mixed both of the colors from Covergirl’s new Blast Flipstick in Snap ($9.79) and topped them with Jordana’s Lip Out Loud Super Shiny Gloss in TTYL ($1.99).
Jordana Lip Out Loud Super Shiny Gloss in TTYL on the top and Covergirl Blast Flipstick in Snap on the bottom
The two colors from the Covergirl Blast Flipstick in Snap (far left and center) and Jordana Lip Out Loud Super Shiny Gloss in TTYL (far right)
3. A shimmery violet
Fear not the purple! — for it can be flattering, especially when partnered with pink. Right now I’m crushing on this purple/pink duo from Revlon, Colorburst Lip Butter in Cotton Candy ($7.49), which I’m wearing here with Colorburst Lipgloss in Hot Pink ($7.79).
Revlon Colorburst Lip Butter in Cotton Candy on the top and Revlon Colorburst Lipgloss in Hot Pink on the bottom
Revlon Colorburst Lip Butter in Cotton Candy on the left and Revlon Colorburst Lipgloss in Hot Pink on the right
4. A peachy nude sheen
Do you need a break from your regular rotation of brights? Undress with a peachy balm like Maybelline Baby Lips in Peach Kiss ($3.99) atop a nude lip liner like Jordana Easyliner for Lips in Tawny ($1.99).
Maybelline Baby Lips in Peach Kiss on the top and Jordana Easyliner for Lips in Tawny on the bottom
Jordana Easyliner for Lips in Tawny on the left and Maybelline Baby Lips in Peach Kiss on the right
5. A vibrant reddish coral
Have you been neutralized by neutrals? A vibrant reddish coral like Maybelline Super Stay 14HR Lipstick in Keep Me Coral ($8.99) can help. It lasts for hours (realistically, on me, between 4-6), and I love the way it looks beneath Jordana InColor Squeeze N’ Shine Lip Gloss in Clear ($1.99).
Jordana InColor Squeeze N’ Shine Lip Gloss in Clear on the left and Maybelline Super Stay 14HR Lipstick in Keep Me Coral on the right
Maybelline Super Stay 14HR Lipstick in Keep Me Coral on the left and Jordana InColor Squeeze N’ Shine Lip Gloss in Clear on the right
The year has only just begun, and there’s a world of affordable lip looks out there just waiting to be discovered. 🙂
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
Don’t miss these other fall and winter posts sponsored by Walgreens…
You look gorgeous. Love your drugstore picks for lip products. Revlon’s colorbust range seems to be getting rave reviews..I shall have to check it out 🙂
The Lip Butters are really nice! They feel very expensive, and the packaging’s cute too.
How’s your day going so far? It’s just before sunrise here in Northern California… gonna be another sunny day!
My day is going well 🙂 Thanks for asking. I’ll definitely check out the lip butters if I see them here.
Have a good day Karen!
The Rimmel Kate lipstick is only $5.99???
Here I am paying £5.49 for the same lipstick! Do the maths and conversion! UK is such a rip-off! I thought of getting more colors from this lipstick range, but not anymore!
Hope someone from Rimmel UK is reading my comment!
I hear ya, Vonvon! I’m currently in Australia and it’s the same thing. I just had to replace my MAC Studio Fix powder and it was shocking. It’s $32 in Canada and $49 here! (The AUS and CDN currencies are pretty well on par.) The mark up on cosmetics is just silly!
Yes, Brandy! My friend in New Zealand also complained about the high prices of cosmetics there. And I know about Australia as well.
The brand I am talking about is a British brand. Rimmel is a British brand, but the prices locally are more expensive than in the USA? This is just absurd. Another British brand that is overpriced here compared to the US is Boots No7. *shakes head
Thanks for the affordable drugstore picks!!!!!! I love being able to try new things without breaking the bank!
You’re welcome, Callie!
i picked those maybelline baby lips @ walgreens over the wkend and id have to say im very impressed!!!
I’m digging Baby Lips, too. What color did you get? Is it sheer like the peach one?
i have Chery Me and Pink Punch — theyre kinda sheer but gives a stained look on the lips!
plus — the price cannot be beat!!!
Okay, I might have to get those two as well. My nearest Walgreens was cleaned out of the Baby Lips shades! I hope they re-stock soon. 🙂
i have seen them @ Target too, and they also have a double pack there!
Thanks for sharing the different looks! I’m digging the shimmery golden pink and peachy nude sheen colors.
I like checking out the lip products and the drugstore b/c it’s an easy (and inexpensive) way to try different colors.
Oh, me too! I especially love getting them when there’s a BOGO sale. Perfect excuse to stock up!
BTW, what shimmery golden pinks are you loving these days? They’re my weakness, and I’m always up for a new lipstick/gloss/balm/etc.
I like L’Oreal Paris Colour Riche le Gloss. I have Nude Illusion, Peach Fuzz and Chocolate Obsession. They have a pretty good range of colors!
Nyx’s Round Lipstick in Rosebud is a fantastic pink with gold shimmer!
Ahhh Karen you have yet again managed to put 100 more products on my wish list! Great news these are so affordable though haha. I really need to get it together and start doing my lips properly. I have been wearing nothing but my lip balm (not even tinted lol) for 2 FOTDs already and that’s just a bit… sad.
Maybe just add some liner? I love the undressed look you get with a fun pink or coral liner and some lip balm.
Ooo thanks for the tip Karen! I’ll be looking into lip liners now (probably a coral one because I heart coral)!
You’re welcome. 🙂 I love coral lip liners, too, so if you find a great one you’ll have to let me know!
One of my drugstore favorites is Revlon Colorburst Lipstick (the original) in Soft Rose, paired with Chanel Glossimer in Wild Rose (a beautiful rose-mauve-pink combo for those of us working as office drones) and Joe Fresh Lipstick in Strawberry paired with the above-mentioned Revlon Colorburst Gloss in Strawberry (a bright but wearable warm-red-coral-pink for casual days).
Love Wild Rose! 🙂
me too! it’s so easy to wear and versatile… and it has work-friendly sparkles to boot 🙂 i’m like a magpie, i love sparkles!
Lovely post! Loved the first and fifth look on you. I have Revlon Colorburst lip gloss in Strawberry Fraise and I love it!
It’s cool. I love how it’s so pigmented. Have a good Tuesday!
I l ove your 5th look Karen ! A recent ahppy purchase of mine has been Clinique long lasy/high impact lipsticks in Rose Spectrum and Berry Freeze ! So right for winter ! I am sure you’ll like them too ! 🙂
So many typos ! Ew ! Sorry ! I hate it when that happens !
No worries, Swathi. I know how it is when you’re typing fast or on a phone…
Anyway, I’ll look into those lippies. Thanks a bunch for the recs!
I’m starting to really love Jordana products. That Lip Out Loud gloss looks super!
Hi Chris,
Yes! They have some really great budget makeup. Have you tried their Lip Liner yet? So good.
How’s the new kitty doing? I hope the fur fam is getting along.
Ahh, layering! I’m such a sucker for a lip comb 😉 Love the shimmery violet lip you created – I can’t believe how much pigment is in that gloss!
Hi Rae,
I know, right? Those Revlon glosses have crazy good pigment! 🙂
I really love the first two lip looks. Personally, I find that the more expensive makeup brands have better lip glosses – Dior has amazing creamy gloss colors and my favorite is Laura Mercier lip glace because it’s a shiny gloss but really packs a punch with color! Have you tried her lip glace? ‘Rose’ would look great on you!
Hi Meredith,
I love Laura Mercier’s Lip Glaces, and yup, I have Rose. It’s really pretty.
If you like Rose you might also love her Lip Plumper in Ruby Glaze. Here’s a swatch and a review of it from last year’s Silk Road collection (it’s still available in the permanent line):
https://www.makeupandbeautyblog.com/product-reviews/take-an-early-spring-break-down-the-laura-mercier-silk-road/
I love how you paired Ruby Glaze with Pink Jewel – it really amplifies the look. The gold shimmer in the lip plumper is so beautiful – would really complement any skin tone. Thanks, Karen!
The color of that Kate Moss lip is really pretty. How is the texture? Does it wear well? It looks fantastic, I may have to head out to the drugstore…
Hi Courtney,
It has a medium weight texture that’s pretty smooth, and it stays on if I’m sipping on tea. I do have to reapply after meals.
How do you feel about taste and scent? This one happens to be very strong on both fronts (like Hawaiian Punch!).
Thank you so much for being so good about answering our questions Karen!
I actually like my lipsticks to smell/taste, as long as it is pleasing to me. Hawaiian punch? Hmmm. I think I will just have to give it a try.
🙂
Loving the Revlon lip butters! They’re pricey up here in Canada ($10.49) but that it didn’t stop me from buying one 🙂 I plan to grab more colors on my next trip down to Target!!
Hi Anna,
I plan on getting a few more, too. What are your favorite shades?
Right now I’m using Berry Smoothie which is totally MLBB for me. I would probably want to try one of the reds from the line (Red Velvet, I’m thinking)… Raspberry Pie… Pink Truffle… I’m gonna be standing at that display for a while, I think.
Although I loathe the idea of wearing something called Hot Pink, I love the #3 look (violet) which would be a new look for me. Thanks, Karen, always giving me ideas…
You’re welcome, AnieJ! 🙂
You pull all these colours off so well. Out of all the looks, I’m most comfortable sporting a golden pink or a nude.
Thanks for giving us these wonderful layering ideas!
Hey girlie,
You would look beautiful in both the golden pink and nude shades, but I think you should try one of the brights. 😉
What lip color are you wearing in the very top picture, where the title appears?
Hi Eileen,
That’s Jordana InColor Squeeze N’ Shine Lip Gloss in Clear and Maybelline Super Stay 14HR Lipstick in Keep Me Coral. 🙂
That Coral Maybelline lipstick looks great!
I go to the Walgreens down the street way too often! The cashiers all know me, my chocolate eating habits, and my school life. I have no occasion to wear bright lip color, but I might have to pick that up!
Hi Chelsea,
Hmm, how about getting it for your next big test? There’s nothing like a powerful, bright lipstick to set the tone. 🙂
When I worked in SF my office had three Walgreens stores within striking distance! I went there all the time to buy makeup, snacks, etc. It was like my refuge from the work storm, haha.
What are you studying in school right now? Are you enjoying your subjects?
I’m working on my Master’s in Business Administration, I’m in my second semester of the program. I love it! I’ll have to pick this lipstick up to brighten my day for big exams!
Gahh, I want all of those – they’re beautiful looks!
Hi Hyzenthlay,
Happy New Year! Did you have a good holiday season?
I really appreciate the recommendations of moderately-priced products. BTW, you have beautiful teeth!
I did! Although I didn’t get to visit my parents at all (Mom’s health is an issue again and she needed to rest), so I spent Christmas Eve, Day, and NYE with my boyfriend’s families. It was the first time I met his mom’s side of the family (his dad and step-mom had actually approved of me before we were set up), so that was a nice “hurdle” to jump 🙂 Now I’m approved of by all!
Tabs wears a lot of eyeliner, doesn’t he?
Is there a lip color you don’t wear well? Seriously! You look great!
I think I need to stop by Walgreens tomorrow… 🙂
Love the review, think I will be checking out the Revlon Colorburst glosses! I have a question though; quite often when I put colour on my lips, it makes them seem smaller, I have tried shades of red and nude and nothing seems to make them look plumper. I dont have thin lips naturally and wonder why this is?