Easing Your Way Into Color Is Simple With Simply Vera Vera Wang Cosmetics’ Smoothing Lip Color

Wearing Simply Vera Vera Wang Smoothing Lip Color in 709

If bright, bold lipsticks like MAC’s Dear Diary are the lipstick equivalent of a towering feathered headdress and a bedazzled rhinestone bikini, then the new Simply Vera Vera Wang Smoothing Lip Colors ($18.50 each, and available in five shimmery and matte shades) are like a sleeveless LBD that skims your curves — elegant, classic and feminine, yet not overly schmexy.

With a thick consistency and fully opaque coverage, these unscented, unflavored lippies remind me of the Bobbi Brown Rich Lip Colors. All it takes is a single layer for sophisticated color that lasts through a cup of coffee (but not a meal!) and lips that whisper, “I’m more hottie librarian than flashy Vegas showgirl.”

I’ve been getting cozy with two of them this week, shimmery brownish pink 702 and shimmery rose 709. Both apply smoothly without feathering or catching on to those annoying wayward flakes on my sometimes dry lips, and I think they deliver just enough color to balance well with the neutral eyeshadows from Vera’s Transforming Shadow Duos.

Wearing Simply Vera Vera Wang Smoothing Lip Color in 702

Smoothing Lip Colors in 702 (left) and 709 (right), $18.50 each


Swatches from the left: Transforming Shadow Duo in 402, Transforming Shadow Duo in 404, Illuminating Powder Blush in 315, Smoothing Lipcolors in 702, Smoothing Lipcolor in 709 and Smooth Shine Lip Gloss in 806

Center top: two of the Simply Vera Vera Wang Cosmetics Smoothing Lip Colors

As much as I love electric pinks and neon orange lipsticks, there’s always room in my makeup bag for “librarian lippies,” smooth, pigmented colors that quietly (shhh!) draw attention to my pout.

Oh, and I love that Vera kept the bottoms of the tubes clear, making it easy to identify which color is which.

But I don’t love the numeric names, which are not doing my memory any favors.

PRICE: $18.50 each
AVAILABILITY: Available now exclusively at Kohl’s stores and kohls.com
MAKEUP AND BEAUTY BLOG RATING: B+ (rather pricey, only available in five shades, and I also wish they weren’t quite so thick).

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

P.S. I hope you had a good week. It’s not over yet, but we made it through the tough part. I’m just resting here on the couch, digesting my din-din (Thai food) and watching the sunset. Ahhh… Could be worse. 🙂