I received an interesting email from reader, Tuti quite recently. Here’s an excerpt with her question:-
Ohya, just an idea and I am so curious, maybe you can raise up the issue like: how many girls out there do really finish their lipstick and how many lipstick is enough? I think this is an interesting topic, especially for the group “lipsticks bandits”
Ah, Lipstick Bandits and fellow readers, have we got a conundrum on our hands!
What do you reckon your answer to Tuti’s question is? As for myself, its going to be tough questions to answer! LOL! But I’ll try. (If lipsticks aren’t your thing, weigh in anyway with your thoughts on lipgloss if that’s what you prefer 😉 )
Q1: Do I ever finish using my lipsticks?
Well, yes I have. This was back in the day when I’d only have 1 lipstick, or at maximum, 2. The ones I would regularly finish were initially by Maybelline and then by Kanebo T’estimo. These days, I’d be lucky to make a dent in any of them and its been the case ever since my collection started growing. I used to buy quite a few each time from warehouse sales so that was the start of a slippery slope 😛
The one lipstick I’ve been using a lot of, and which I keep in my bag at all times is Dior Addict Icone. Its a very versatile colour that I use for touch ups or when I forget to apply lip colour (yes it happens) and I love my Dior Addict lipsticks. Yet look, this is about all I’ve managed to use so far! 😛
Icone is on the left and Incognito is on the right to give you an idea of what a newish tube of a similar lipstick looks like. Hardly made a dent in it. Yet, its an achievement to even get it down that far 😛 Red lipsticks are worse. I wear them a lot, but the deeper and brighter colours are less wearable daily so those are barely used.
Q2: How many lipsticks does a girl need?
Ahem! You mean me? Ok I’ve lost count of how many I own. The answer I would give is “A Lot” because I have one for every occasion or tone LOL!
But as for how many a girl really “needs”, I’d say maybe 2 – one bright creamy colour for impact (think Red), and a lighter textured rose or pink or whatever colour gives you a brighter outlook, or that “My lips but better look”, for daily wear. A slick of lipstick can help you look a little more polished and brighten up your complexion in a jiffy 🙂
So that’s my answers to Tuti’s questions. How about you?
Have you ever finished a lipstick? How many lipsticks do you think a girl really needs? One? Two? Many?
xx Paris B
Sze Ling says
Have I ever finish a tube of lipstick/lipgloss? Nope. Never. Have yet to. Though I’m working towards that. 😛
As you know, all my lipsticks are from the Back-to-MAC program. So, I have quite a few of them. I’m aiming at using up 2 tubes before buying myself a Guerlain. 😉
Paris B says
Wow you use a lot of MAC then? I”ve never back to mac anything. Not too surprising since I don’t use any LOL! 😉 An upgrade to a Guerlain would be quite something – some new and very pretty colours coming out in the Fall collection 😉
Liyeun says
Hhmmmm, interesting! This actually made me run to my drawer to start counting my lipsticks. Lipgloss excluded, I just realised I have 12 red lipsticks which I bought during my confinement period as I was too bored at home! Yes, 12 reds within a month! And I dont think I cud ever use them up. Lol. I dare not say I will refrain myself from buying more as there’s always something new every season, but whatever it is, I never could buy a nude lipstick. Ever. I just couldnt understand the term NUDE in lipsticks. Is nude even a colour?
Paris B says
Haha its so cute Liyeun that you were shopping during your confinement. Thank goodness for online shopping eh? 😀 I don’t get nude lipsticks either. I look quite dead in them though. Dior is coming out with a range of “nude” lipsticks later in the year, but there is nice discernible colour in them so I’m quite excited about it. At last, a nude I can wear maybe?
lazeny says
I currently own 48 lipsticks, 2 lipgloss and 2 lipliners. 😀
I recently finished one gloss (Guerlain Terracotta) and one lipstick went bad (Lunasol).
I use particular shades from brands as “special occasion” lipsticks, from Cle de Peau, Guerlain, Edward Bess and Tom Ford. My “everyday” lipsticks are shades from brands such as Chanel, Bobbi Brown & NARS.
While I mostly use Shu Uemura & Kryolan for Clients.
I love lipsticks! 😀
Paris B says
Wow you counted them all! 😀 I love your lipstick collection already – loads of lovely brands. Do you recommend anything to try from Edward Bess? I haven’t tried anything from them. May want to get another Tom Ford but will have to wait for it to be available closer to home so I can see all the colours properly 😀
Lisa says
Those were the days…I used to finish up my Elizabeth Arden’s Lip Spa’s lipsticks and Kanebo’s Testimos maybe like 15 years ago? Back then, i have two lipsticks to rotate and use up before making new purchases. Now….er…. i just counted…i have about 35 lip products (mainly lipsticks, 2 lip balm and ‘a couple’ of lip glosses) and I often proclaim that i’m not even a lipstick fanatic. I still say i’m not. 😉
Paris B says
LOL!! I think your collection is looking quite modest compared to some of those we are seeing here 😉 So no Lisa, you aren’t a fanatic yet 😉
Veronica says
I understand the lipstick obsession! I have so many that I now need to seriously contemplate a better organization system rather than dumping them into a basket. I have so many reds that I have the nickname the Red Queen haha.
Oh yes PB I remember that you had a NARS lipstick. How does the packaging fare now? I read about your experience with the NARS blusher packaging and I wonder are the lipstick’s packaging any different?
Paris B says
Woot! Red Queen! I like that 🙂 The Nars lipstick packaging isn’t as rubbery as the blush case so its held up quite well so far. I do wish Nars would do away with that silly rubber packaging though. It attracts dust like nothing else!
Dot and Lil says
I regularly finish lip balms and glosses and tinted glosses, as I’m a total junkie to them. Lipsticks seem to last me forever! I recently realized I don’t have enough, I freakishky seem to have a lipstick dead-zone in my makeup collection, only having 3 or so and them all being reds. I need pinks! And sheers! And corals! Looking forward to remedying this situation. 🙂
Paris B says
Haha what a happy problem you have there! Time to remedy it that’s for sure!
jean says
gosh ur collection is A LOT! I have like five lipsticks and hardly use any of them. I am more a lip balm/lip gloss person but I never even finish up a lip gloss before. the only lip product that I really finish up is hada labo lip balm (super love it), that’s all. I think it’s because I lazy to reapply, especially i always drinking water/ eating..
Paris B says
Yeah I do have a lot of lipsticks (and that’s not all of it 😛 ) Not many people are into it locally I realise. Most prefer balms or glosses which might be something to do with our weather. Doesn’t stop me though and I still don’t use lipbalm! 😛
Wojis says
The answer to that question is easy. This girl could not have enough lipsticks ever, I always need and want more! It’s always a new colour or a new finish, sometimes it’s just something to fit an outfit or nail polish. I think adding and using is the best, I seldom to never throw them out, unless they’ve gone bad. Bur of all make-up I am a lipstick kinda girl, I could go without all of my stash but nog nog lipsticks en gloss.
Paris B says
Haha I love your answer Wojis 🙂 I have to agree with you too. Even if I already have a similar colour, I may still get a new lipstick because its a different finish or a slightly different tone that only I can see 😛
wendy v says
honey, it s never enough!
and do I wear lipstick normally? no, I don’t but I need lots of them. 😛
Paris B says
Haha! What do you do with them then Wendy?!
Tine says
A girl needs as many lipsticks as she can afford, that’s what I always say 😉
Having said that, I have finished lipsticks back in the day. I still remember the ones I’ve finished – Clinique’s Almost Lipstick in Black Honey and several Maybelline Watershine lippies (that you recommended yonks ago!). Now, err, not so much 😛
Paris B says
I still have one Watershine that I use quite regularly. One of the best drugstore lipsticks EVER!
Ting says
I find lipsticks taste funny (bitter, to be precised) after a few years. I had to throw them away. What a shame. So the answer is… I’ve never finished a tube of lipstick. In my makeup routine, lipstick is the last thing I put on so most of them time I run out of time to do it and bare lips look sufficiently good with the rest of the makeup usually. 🙂
However, having said that, I’m now in a lipstick phase so I tried wearing it everyday. I even put it in my pocket so that I can touch up every time I go to the ladies room. The real purpose? I’m trying hard to finish a tube… Hahaha
Paris B says
Ah a pity your lipsticks went bad. I don’t usually have a problem and unless they smell weird I don’t toss them 🙂 Good on ya for trying to finish one though
Jen says
Have you ever finished a lipstick?
>Never. I usually throw them away after 2 years.
How many lipsticks do you think a girl really needs? One? Two? Many?
>Maybe 3? Pink, coral & nude. But I have “a thing” for lipstick, I carry about 5 lipsticks with me even if I don’t wear them = =”
Paris B says
Haha lipstick is the only thing I carry in my pouch everyday 🙂
KS says
Have you ever finished a lipstick?
– YES! I have finished I think 2-3 lipsticks. There is a TBS lip crayon which I love very much and would love to finish but couldn’t bear to cuz it was discontinued! 🙁 The more I like something the more I couldn’t bear to finish it as it’s too precious (esp for discontinued or LE items).
How many lipsticks do you think a girl really needs? One? Two? Many?
– Whatever rocks your boat! I have about 15 in rotation with another 4-5 still to open. 🙂
Paris B says
Oh I know what you mean about not wanting to finish discontinued or LE items, knowing we can’t get it again. So sad right? Yet for something like lipstick we can’t even back up or it might go bad!
Jesz says
Do I ever finish my lipstick? Yes, I do, including lipbalm, gloss too.
Back then, my lippie will be used out faster as I only own 2 lipstick at a time, one berry and the other brownish or coral. Now, it take longer time…however, lipbalm & gloss finished up faster than lipstick coz I always make it a habbit to layer lipbalm before lipstick or gloss, to protect my lips, and layering gloss over lippie is a must for me most of the time. =)
How many lipstick does a girl need? I would say…hmm…countless, depends on individual =P
Paris B says
I find that layering lipstick over lipbalm lightens the lipstick. But for those with dry lips it is very useful 🙂
Jesz says
try waiting for 5-10 minutes after applying lipbalm before applying lipstick than applying your lipstick straight after lipbalm. The waiting time is to let the lipbalm settle on your lips as a shield of protection against the colour pigment or wax in most of the glosses. Once the lipbalm settled on your lips, the lip colour won’t be lighthen by the balm. It’s the same principle apply for letting the blush/foundation settled on the skin.
Hope this is useful. =D
Paris B says
Thanks 🙂
April says
I really wish to ask this question to PB long time ago. Thanks to Tuti of asking.
I think I’ve only sort of finished 1 Dior lipstick. I was like addicted to buy lipsticks since I’ve visited to beauty blogs and read beauty magazines.
Wish to ask, how long can we keep the lipstick? What is the life span of a lipstick? How to see if it is not good to use anymore?
Hope there is someone can anwser my questions. Thanks!
Paris B says
Isn’t it great to have our questions answered here? 😀 usually lipstick has a shelf life of about 2 years I think but it will depend on the lipstick, formula, storage and weather. Usually, the easiest way to tell if it’s gone off is to see if there is any mould on it, or if it smells off and rancid. You’ll know when it smells off cos it’ll stink
Stacey says
I have never finished using a lipstick before… I usually throw them out when I feel that they are close to the end of their shelf life.
Paris B says
I do the sniff test 🙂 can’t remember when I open them otherwise lol
Cindy Tong says
i have only 2 but never finished even one for years….
Sam says
I’ve done 2 tubes of MAC Viva Glam V…but as I probably have er, 50, lipsticks at the moment. Some will get used, others fit a very specific criteria.