Monday, June 24, 2013

Lipstick Review: Lipstick Queen Lipsticks in Red Sinner and Scarlet Sinner

Yesterday, I met my sister and niece for a day of shopping at Tyson's Corner Center, located in Tyson's Corner, Virginia. Tyson's is part of the Northern Virginia/DC Metro area.

During our fun day out, I went to MAC Cosmetics for a few basics and we browsed the stores and had a lovely lunch at La Sandia (a new, upscale take on classic Tex-Mex cuisine). We ordered table-side guacamole and dined on enchiladas, black beans, and tortilla soup.

After lunch, we made our way to the makeup counters in Bloomingdale's. I saw a few things that peaked my interest but I decided I didn't need anything. As we were leaving, I spotted something that caught my eye and lo and behold, there it was! Lipstick Queen!!!!

I have wanted to try Lipstick Queen lipsticks for a long time but no store carried them in the DC area. I have read countless online reviews that detail the quality, pigment, and color. One review said Lipstick Queen "Sinner" lipsticks are "not for the faint of heart" or the "shy." Well, you got my attention!

Nevertheless, you can imagine my joy and excitement when I saw the pretty colors just packed with pigment. According to the sales associate and Lipstick Queen packaging, these lipsticks boast 90% pigment and after trying on "Red Sinner," they were not foolin' around! These lipsticks mean business!

After swatching a few colors, I decided to buy "Red Sinner" and "Scarlet Red Sinner." (Lipsticks retail for 20.00 USD each).
Red Sinner is on the left and Scarlet Red Sinner is on the right. Red Sinner is a neutral bright red that leans slightly cool. The color is similar to Besame Cosmetics, "Besame Red" lipstick. The lipstick goes on opaque with one swipe. The texture is very smooth and rich. These are touted as matte but they have a little creaminess and feel very soft. Moreover, despite the matte description, they are not drying at all. Not one iota.

Here is me wearing Red Sinner:
The other color I purchased, Scarlet Red Sinner, is a berry red. It has a little bit of a claret undertone. The shade reminds me of a lighter, brighter version of Besame lipstick in "Cherry." MAC lip pencil in "Beet" pairs well. Beet is a touch darker than Scarlet Red Sinner.

Me wearing Scarlet Red Sinner:
Another thing I want to mention is how Lipstick Queen classifies their lipsticks. The full pigmented version is called "Sinner" and the more sheer, less pigmented formula is called "Saint." Many of the shades have a light and full-bodied version of each other.

So, how do these lipsticks compare with Julie Hewett? Besame? MAC? I think these lipsticks have more pigment than both Besame and Julie Hewett but only slightly more. The texture is heavier than Julie Hewett and Besame and as a result, the lipstick lasts much longer throughout the day and survives eating and drinking better.

However, when I compare Lipstick Queen to MAC, Lipstick Queen wins out hands down. I am usually a MAC girl but in the last few years, small companies like Julie Hewett, Besame, and Lipstick Queen are out-pacing MAC in spades. For example, I recently purchased RiRi Woo (a retro matte) from the "Rihanna loves MAC" Collection and as much as I love the color, the formula is so dry. It literally tugs at my lips when I apply it. In addition, the texture dries my lips out. I find that I can only wear MAC's Retro Matte lipsticks (ie Ruby Woo and RiRi Woo) for a few hours at a time (ie date night).

Overall, I am pleased as punch with my two Lipstick Queen purchases! If I didn't already have a huge cache of lipsticks on my vanity, I would go out right now and buy more shades. I cannot rave enough about them!





11 comments:

  1. Those colors look great on you! I've been wanting to try a darker berry color. Except I'm always afraid I'll end up looking like a Chola instead.

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    1. Thank you! This darker berry red, Scarlet Red Sinner, is a great color that is rich and intense without looking like a dark, 90s red. Those 90s-era reds leaned very brown but these berry shades in recent years are more vibrant.

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  2. That red sinner color looks amazing! I have noticed my lips getting extremely dry lately on the weekends when I wear MAC all day long. I should try something new to mix it up and it might just have to be Lipstick Queen! Thanks for the intro to that brand!

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    1. I know what you mean about MAC mattes! I used to be a "dyed in the wool" MAC girl but after trying other brands, I am discovering great color paired with awesome, semi-matte textures. Lipstick Queen, Besame, and Julie Hewett Noir reds all have that great combination of creaminess and long-lasting texture. However, some companies like Guerlain (especially their Rouge G line) and YSL think pigment has to be "moisturizing" and the end result is color that slips and bleeds. Lipstick Queen really takes strong pigment and great texture to a level that is beyond my makeup dreams! Someone finally got it right!

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  3. Hey, Tara!
    Dina here...a fellow Foxy Fox! I was just searching online for how to refill a vintage compact, and I stumbled upon your blog...I saw your little profile pic on the side, and said to myself, "hey, I know that pretty face!" Pretty great blog you have here. I just added myself to your "followers", and now I'm going to have lots of fun looking back through your earlier posts :-)

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    1. Oh wow! Hiya, Dina!!! Great to see you here in my little corner of cyberspace! Thank you for joining and thank you for the kind words! :)

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  4. I hadn't heard of Lipstick Queen but I must say I am now intrigued. I love the Scarlet Sinner on you. What a fabulous color.

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    1. Thank you for the compliment! Lipstick Queen is a little brand but it packs a big punch in terms of color selection, texture, and quality! I am fastly becoming addicted! The Scarlet Red Sinner is wonderful! It is a berry that is intense and bright without being dark and flat. Think MAC "Dubonnet." I used to love that color but it's ratio of brown undertones is not pleasing to me anymore. I am quickly becoming drawn to colors that have vivid blue and pink undertones. Scarlet Red Sinner has a nice blend of blue and pink without being too much.

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  5. lovely blog!You mentioned tyson's corner in your post. Is it the Tyson's corner that is pretty close to Ashburn, VA ? We are visiting our friends in Ashburn in October. So I was wondering if you could recommend some vintage shops or thrift store in that area?

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