Berry Lips on a Budget - A Wallet-friendly List of Vampy Lip Colors!

Berry Lips on a Budget

If you want to experiment with dark, vampy lip colors this Fall and don't want to break the bank, I compiled a small list of some wallet-friendly options for you to give a try.

Speaking for myself, the only lipsticks I ever reach the end of are my every day shades, so when it comes to rocking trendy colors - such as hot pink, red, orange and deep-dark shades, realistically I'll never finish a full tube before they'll eventually get tossed. There's nothing wrong with splurging if you can fit it in your budget, but for something like a statement lip color that you probably won't get much wear from, you might want to look into the less expensive options to really get your money's worth. And, there are so many options at the drugstore!

The term "berry" is so vague as berry can refer to a huge range of shades. The colors I picked are very Fall appropriate wine/plum/berry shades, some of which should work on most skin tones. I apologize in advance that some are very similar.

Revlon Red Velvet Colorburst Lip Butter ($7.49) is a medium-dark, neutral wine-red with a shiny finish. With one layer it gives a sheer, semi-shiny stain. With a few layers, the color is completely opaque. The formula is moisturizing and feels great on the lips. This is one of the few darker shades that I can get away with without using a lip brush. It's one of the easier shades to wear because it's a very balanced red toned wine and doesn't wash out the complexion. I think it's a universally flattering shade.

Revlon Red Velvet

Revlon Bordeaux Colorburst Lipgloss ($7.49) is a rose wine/darkened raspberry with very fine golden shimmer and a glossy finish. It's sheer but buildable to full coverage. The formula is creamy, lightweight and feels comfortable on the lips. It makes my lips look fuller and juicy. This is easily my favorite from the bunch as it has a very "mod" vibe and there's a brightness about it that makes my face look healthy and youthful. 

Revlon Bordeaux

Revlon Black Cherry Super Lustrous Lipstick ($7.99) is exactly as the name states - a ripened cherry plum with a semi-shiny finish. I find it to be a little dark for me, but I really like the way it looks when I pat it off with a tissue - it gives off a more wearable cranberry shade. This lipstick poses a few problems as it seems to apply a bit uneven, and when I rub my lips together, it causes the lipstick to look streaky. I also notice that when I apply the color heavily, it settles a bit in my lines. Although it has very favorable reviews and is a popular shade I wasn't too impressed with the formula. It looks best when it's applied in one layer, or when a gloss is added on top. (I showed what it looks like when patted off with a tissue and added a clear gloss on top.)

Revlon Black Cherry

Revlon Black Cherry blotted with a napkin + clear lipgloss on top

Wet n Wild Cherry Bomb Mega Last Matte Lipstick ($1.99) is a very vampy black cherry with a satin finish. Despite it being in the matte range, it doesn't look flat and it doesn't look or feel dry on my lips. The color applied fairly even, and the lasting power is super good. Since the actual shape of the lipstick has a flat top like a chapstick, it's a bit difficult to apply because it's such a dark, pigmented shade. You're best off using a lip brush for this one, unless you have full lips, you may not have much trouble. It's fairly similar to Revlon Black Cherry, but it's slightly redder, whereas Black Cherry is a bit more plum toned. 

Wet n Wild Cherry Bomb

Wet n Wild Vamp It Up Mega Last Matte Lipstick ($1.99) is a deep eggplant purple with a satin finish. It's super dark and pigmented and works best when applied with a lip brush otherwise it can look a little uneven. For lighter skintones it may be a difficult shade to pull off (it looks rather gothic), but for deep/dark skintones it looks gorgeous. It's also a great shade to use to deepen other shades. You can mix it with your red lipsticks to create a darker, purple toned red/berry. 

Wet n Wild Vamp It Up

Wet n Wild Black Orchid 508A Silk Finish Lipstick ($0.99) is a medium wine with subtle plummy undertones and a shiny finish. It's slightly sheer with one coat, but builds easily to full coverage. Unlike some of the others, it won't get super dark if you layer it, and it's one of the more wearable shades from the lipsticks mentioned in this post. It's smooth, applies evenly and feels moisturizing on the lips. Because this lipstick is really easy to work with, and because it's only one dollar, it's a great lipstick to experiment with. 

Wet n Wild Black Orchid

NYC Wine n Dine Liquid Lipshine Lipgloss ($2.49) is a medium rose-wine with a fine sparkly purple sheen and an ultra-glossy finish. It's almost identical to Revlon Bordeaux, and on the lips it's very difficult to tell the difference between the two. Perhaps the plum/purple tone is the slightest touch stronger in Bordeaux, but it's not really a notable difference. The formula is fantastic. It's slightly concentrated so it doesn't run if a few coats are applied, and it feels ultra smooth and moisturizing on the lips. Love this gloss and I'm now curious to see the other colors in this range. 

NYC Wine n Dine

Swatches from left to right: Revlon Black Cherry, Wet n Wild Cherry Bomb, Wet n Wild Black Orchid, Revlon Red Velvet, Wet n Wild Vamp it Up, Revlon Bordeaux and NYC Wine n Dine.

Easiest to wear - NYC Wine n Dine, Revlon Bordeaux, Revlon Red Velvet and Wet n Wild Black Orchid. These are the lighter/sheerer shades that won't get super dark when layered and the shades that I found the most flattering on my skin tone. The lip glosses are the best choices if you're very intimidated by color since they are the least concentrated.

Most difficult to wear - Wet n Wild Vamp it up; which I'm sure isn't a surprise, Wet n Wild Cherry Bomb and Revlon Black Cherry. These are the darkest shades of the batch, and when layered, all three of these shades get darker and darker.

Just for fun...

I applied Wet n Wild Black Orchid Lipstick to my lips, then applied Revlon Red Velvet in the center of my lips for a pop of red. Then, I outlined and darkened each end of my lips with Wet n Wild Vamp it up and applied NYC Wine n Dine on top.

Would you wear any of these shades? What are some of your favorite vampy lip colors?

Wet n Wild Megalast 2% Milk and Milani Lavender Jewel FX Nail Polish!

I love anything that sparkles, and when I spot a pretty glitter polish, it's pretty hard for me to not toss it in my cart. Despite the P.I.T.A. glitter polishes are to remove, I think they're so much fun! Milani has a big variety of glitter polishes to choose from. If you like smaller, more uniform glitter, you have to check out the Holographic and One Coat Glitter polishes. But if you're a fan of large, chunky glitter, the Jewel FX polishes are for you.

I recently picked up Milani Lavender Jewel FX Nail Lacquer, and decided to experiment a little bit with it today. I painted some glitter tips, and thought I'd quickly share my NOTD!

I used three coats of Wet n Wild 2% Milk, two coats of Milani Lavender Jewel FX and then used the Milani Art of Silver Nail Art polish to create a silver, glittery line across the tip.

From the left to right: Wet n Wild 2% Milk Megalast Nail Color, Milani Art of Silver Nail Art Nail Lacquer and Milani Lavender Jewel FX Nail Lacquer.

Wet n Wild 2% Milk is one of my frequently used "no polish" polish. Most sheer, light nail polishes apply streaky, but because of the thick, flat brush of the Megalast polishes, it yields minimal streaks. I've gone through so many Essie polishes, and haven't liked any of them. This one is only $2 and it beats them all! I also like using Sugar Coat for a pinker alternative.

I think I might get a couple more of the Jewel FX polishes. They are great glitters to use for a statement nail, as the glitter is really chunky and metallic - it almost gives off a foiled look.

NOTD: Wet n Wild Mega Last Salon Nail Color in 205B Sugar Coat.

 Wet n Wild Sugar Coat Mega Last Salon Nail Color 

Early this year Wet n Wild launched new packaging and an improved formula for their Megalast Nail Polishes. The new formula claims to be long-lasting, promising 5 days of wear. They came out with some new colors along with some of the old, with eighteen shades in total (or at least 18 on Wet n Wild's website).

I wanted to give the new formula a shot, and purchased the shade Sugar Coat, which is a pale, milky peach-pink.

The brush is wide and flat, curving at the tip for a one-sweep application. It's similar to the brush of Sally Hansen Insta-Dri Nail Polish or Rimmel Lasting Finish Nail Polish. It's great for those with average to wide nail beds, but may be a little difficult for those with narrow nail beds. I really like the brush, and for my nails, it provides a very even application with less streaks.

 Wet n Wild Sugar Coat Mega Last Salon Nail Color 

(Three Coats with Seche Vite Top Coat)

Sugar Coat is a really nice natural shade that looks great on it's own or as a pale pink base for french tips. You really only need two coats, but once of my nails ended up a little streaky, so I ended up painting three coats.

The drying time is okay, it's not very fast, but with a fast drying top coat, your nails shouldn't smudge.

I really like this polish, and I'm hoping it lives up to it's 5-day claim. Regardless, a bottle only costs $1.99, so it's not a huge loss.

I'll be updating this post letting you know how long it lasts before chipping or peeling!

Have you tried any colors from the Wet n Wild Megalast line? What do you think of them?

Wet n Wild Within These Adobe Walls Megashield Lip Color Review, Photos and Swatches!

Wet n Wild #372S Within These Adobe Walls Megashield Lip Color SPF15 

Wet n Wild released a new line of lipsticks to their permanent range this past January called the Megashine Lip Color with a SPF of 15.

These lipsticks are promised to deliver sheer to moderate coverage and comfortable wear, while keeping the lips moisturized with it's buttery soft texture. (Contains: Vitamin E, Amino Acids, Avocado Oil, and Rice Bran Oil.)

There are fourteen (14) shades in the line-up: #360S Birthday Suit, #361S Peachy Keen, #362S Make Me Blush, #363S Arrest Me Copper, #364S Bare-ly Legal, #365S Ring Around The Rosy, #366S Pink Slip, #367S A Currant Affair, #368S That's Berry Beautiful, #369S Salsa Lessons, #370S Lolly Popstar, #371S It's A Girl, #372S Within These Adobe Walls and #373S Pink Cham-pagne.

I don't know if it was the dim lighting of my CVS, but none of the shades really appealed to my personal taste. Several of the shades have a frosty finish to them, and frost just isn't my thing.

I did manage to find a shade that I thought would be suitable for daily wear - Within These Adobe Walls, a warm, coral-pink. There is no shimmer or frost, just a lovely cream formula.

Wet n Wild #372S Within These Adobe Walls Megashield Lip Color SPF15 

The consistency is very creamy and feels nice on the lips. The consistency reminds me a little bit of YSL Rouge Volupte Lipsticks, but less thin, and more moisturizing (RV's aren't moisturizing at all). Maybe a little more similar to MAC's Sheen Supreme Lipsticks. Some reviews I've come across compared these to the new Revlon Lip Butters, but I haven't tried them yet, so I can't compare.

#372S in particular has fantastic color payoff. The color is opaque in just a few swipes. I also love that it has a shiny finish.

The color reminds me a lot of YSL Tender Peach Rouge Volupte Lipstick, but with a stronger pink tone, and less peach.

It's a very pretty color, and livens up my face.

Wet n Wild #372S Within These Adobe Walls

As an added bonus, these lipsticks have a SPF of 15, so they provide a little bit of sun protection.

Since I really like the formula of these, I might pick up a couple more shades. It's A Girl (A pretty pink) and Salsa Lessons (warm red) look like pretty shades.

You can find these at your local drugstore that sells Wet n Wild for $2.99.

Wet n Wild Don't Blink Pink Mega Last Matte Lipstick Review!

Wet n Wild #966 Don't Blink Pink Mega Last Matte Lipstick

If you haven't tried a Wet n Wild Mega Last Matte Lipstick by now, you ought to put some shoes on and check out your local store. Even though these little lipsticks are on the "lower"end of what your local drugstore has to offer, I believe they are some of the best!

Alright, so the packaging maybe isn't the best, and sometimes the lipstick bullet isn't completely secure (definitely double check before you purchase it by turning it upside down), but the variety of shades and the formula is awesome and comparable to matte lipsticks from the high-end brands.

There are a few new shades that popped up in the line, well, four that I'm currently aware of. All of the shades are bright and vibrant for the upcoming season. 

The shades are as follows: #965 Cherry Picking, #966 Don't Blink Pink, #967 Dollhouse Pink and #970 Purty Persimmon. 

Although I'd love to own all four, I only picked up one for now, which is the lovely Don't Blink Pink.

Don't Blink Pink is an intense, bright berry pink. It reminded me of MAC Impassioned in the tube, but a more pink, less red version. 

It's such a pretty shade of pink, and I don't own anything like it! Even though I own several fuchsia lipsticks, none of them have a cool red undertone like this one. I've been searching for a shade like this for a while, and I'm so happy to have found it - especially for less than $2!

You can also wear a very sheer layer and add a light pink lipgloss over top, such as Revlon Crystal Lilac Colorburst Lipgloss and you'll end up with a very pretty fuschia/hot pink. 

Here it is on my lips..

The formula is wonderful, like all of the others in the Mega Last Lipstick line. They apply smooth and completely opaque with a couple of swipes and have great lasting power. Even though the finish is matte, it's not a dull matte, and doesn't dry out my lips. I would recommend though, applying a layer of lip balm prior to application of any matte lipstick to avoid any dryness.

I'm not a big fan of the look of matte lipsticks in general, so I always pair them with a gloss. This one in particular could just use a teeny bit of clear gloss. 

I absolutely love this shade, and highly recommend it for Spring & Summer!