Style July 29, 2019
Disclaimer: don't let the title of "liquid lip" fool you, this is a GLOSS
Via Instagram/@beautybypopsugarI am a die-hard makeup fiend. I can’t leave my house without a thick black wing-tip, and for me, a day without lip gloss is a day wasted. If I run out of foundation, plans are decisively cancelled. I rarely shop for makeup online, and when it comes to in-person makeup sampling, I have my favorite destinations. In other words, Ulta is my country, but Sephora is my hometown. But I recently tried something new: PopSugar Beauty. I sampled PopSugar’s Be Cosmic Crystal Liquid Lip, and I have some thoughts.
I don’t know about you, but I am ballin’ on a budget. I’m not above forking over a decent amount of money for a good lip gloss, but the quality has to match the price-point. If I’m planning to pay more than $10 for a lip gloss, it better make me look like Kylie Jenner. With that in mind, let’s talk about the results. Is this gloss worth the cash?
The first thing I noticed about this gloss was the packaging. And I can’t lie to you, I’m obsessed. The outer packaging the gloss arrives in is sleek and floral, and when you open it up the tube is clear so you can see the lip gloss inside. And let me tell you, the appearance of this gloss gives me MAJOR Ariana Grande God is a Woman music video vibes. If I had enough of this PopSugar Beauty lip gloss, I would pour it into a bathtub and recreate her iconic pastel, body-painted moment. Seeing the colors swirling around inside the tube got me beyond excited to put this gloss on my lips.
The first thing I noticed about this PopSugar Beauty lip gloss when I opened it up was the applicator wand. It’s a little flimsy for my taste, but it really depends on what you like. I tend to lean toward more sturdy applicators with a more sponge-like tip, while this one was more of a thin brush tip. It still went on my lips fine, and its texture is thinner and more watery than some glosses, so it doesn’t necessarily need to be applied with a sturdy applicator.
In terms of appearance, I was a little disappointed that it didn’t produce the multi-colored effect that it has in the tube. It goes on pretty clear, so if you’re looking for something that just produces a shiny effect on top of an existing color, this could be a good option for you. It could also work as a stand-alone clear gloss, but I personally prefer it with another color underneath to get the effect of fuller and more defined lips. I gravitate towards nudes as a base, and I do think this gloss complemented my existing lip stain well.
One other thing I noticed about this gloss was that it doesn’t really have a smell or a taste. I’m sensitive to scented makeup products, so this aspect of the gloss was actually a positive for me. The gloss is also vegan, which I always look for in a product. This is a huge positive for me, but I still wish the gloss checked a few more of my boxes in terms of wearability.
Um, no. Sadly. If you’re looking for a gloss that you won’t need to reapply often, this is not the product for you. I’m on the go a lot, so I need a gloss that can withstand the events of my day. I also drink a lot of coffee, so I need something that stays on my lips, and doesn’t end up on the rim of my cup. In order to look fresh, I found myself reapplying this gloss every 20 minutes or so, and even more often if I reached for my latte. If you don’t mind reapplying, this gloss does feel refreshing, and isn’t as sticky as some of the other glosses I’ve tried, so if you’re judging a gloss on whether or not your hair gets stuck in it, it might be worth a try.
Personally, no, but I’m not against using up my existing tube. It looks nice when first applied, so for a quick outing or a nice looking selfie, it doesn’t hurt. However, I have a few tried-and-true favorites that I prefer when it comes to lip gloss, and wouldn’t spend the money on this particular gloss in the future.
Anastasia Beverley Hills is my go-to lip gloss brand if you’re looking to buy in a similar price range. My personal favorite is the Anastasia Metallic Finish in the shade Gilded, which retails for $16. Still on the pricier end for lip gloss, but it’s worth it to me because of the texture and how long the product lasts. It’s also less expensive than the PopSugar gloss.
When I want to reach for a clear gloss with a similar finish to PopSugar’s Be Cosmic, my favorite is the TooFaced Lip Injection Extreme, which retails for $29. It’s also on the pricier side, but I’m willing to invest because I like the effect it has on my lips, and really do see results when it comes to plumping. If the PopSugar gloss had a plumping component, I’d be much more inclined to reach for my wallet a second time.
If you’re wanting to stay within a drugstore budget, I would suggest the Maybelline Shine Shot Lip Topcoat, which retails for only $6. The Maybelline gloss has a similar appearance on the lips, but lasts longer than the PopSugar Be Cosmic Crystal Liquid Lip.
If you’re looking for a vegan gloss that will provide a nice shimmer and don’t mind reapplying throughout the day, the PopSugar Beauty gloss isn’t a bad option. That being said, you might be better off with a drugstore brand like Maybelline that has longer staying power and is more inexpensive. The Be Cosmic Liquid Lip might not have been my personal fave, but let’s be honest, anything that I can relate back to Ariana Grande is worth a try.
