Revlon Colorstay Soft and Smooth Lipcolor

Whenever a lip product is marketed as "long-wearing," I always mentally file it in the "too good to be true" category. I have never had good luck with so-called long- wearing lip color. Either the product doesn't really stay on, or it gets that rough, crumbly texture or wears off to just a ring around the lips. Plus, the whole top-coat thing is just too much for me--why not just reapply lipstick then?

But when Revlon Colorstay Soft and Smooth Lipcolor first came out a few years ago, I had to try it (already having fallen in love with the the Soft Flex foundation).

It's a creamy, one step long-wearing lip color that feels moist and comfortable on the lips. Like the foundation, this lipstick also is formulated with Soft Flex; those two words are music to my ears.

I have shades in both the Sheer and Full-Coverage formula. Both formulas deliver color that is vibrant, doesn't dry out the lips and stays put through drinking and light eating.

How long a lipstick will stay on seems to vary quite a bit from person to person depending on that person's habits. So, for a frame of reference, in situations where my lipstick would be gone, this product is still going strong.

While I do think this lipstick has the potential to stay on perfectly for hours on end, I always seem to be enjoying a beverage or a snack, in which case it will need a touch-up. But still, it is the best performing, longest-wearing lipcolor I have discovered to date.

Maybelline Moisture Extreme Lipcolor

Whenever I pop into the drugstore and there's a Buy-One-Get-One Free sale, I'm in trouble. I mean, how can you turn down free makeup? You just can't.

I picked up a couple Maybelline Moisture Extreme Lipcolor lipsticks on a BOGO sale, and they are fabulous for the price.

Everything from the watermelon scent, to the burst of moisture for lips, the SPF 15 and the wide array of colors makes this a great springtime lipstick.

The formula goes on smooth and slick, giving a good dose of color that feels light on the lips. Like most semi-sheer, glossy lipsticks, it won't stay put for hours, but it can be reapplied in a snap--without drying out your pucker.

LORAC Cream Lipstick in Baby Doll

Anyone who has searched for that perfect pale pink lipstick knows it's like finding a needle in a haystack. Most end up being too sheer and therefore not showing up that well, on top of needing to be reapplied every two minutes.

And then I found LORAC Baby Doll lipstick--a pink pastel that packs a punch. The cream formula goes on with substantial satin coverage and has stupendous staying power--not to mention it smells like candy.

Lining lips for dimension seems to be especially critical when dealing with light shades--and this one is no exception. Try pairing this with a shimmering grey smoky eye for a look that says "meow!"

Victoria's Secret Perfect Lipstick

Do you have a certain shade of lipstick that makes you feel extra-pretty? My latest feel-good shade is Victoria's Secret Perfect Lipstick in Sweet Release.

This bright berry-pink glides on silky and smooth. The slight shimmer adds pouty dimension. A couple swipes of this very pigmented lipstick gives great coverage, but still feels light and moist on the lips.

Vitamin E, Coconut Oil and Tiare Flower hydrate and add sheen to the lips.

This product doesn't seem to be available online anymore, but there's a wide array of colors available in the stores. So the next time you're picking up some pretty skivvies, be sure to snap up a lipstick, too!

Benefit Silky Finish Lipstick

In the formative stages of my life, when I was busy learning the alphabet and how to tie my shoes, I discovered lipstick. It soon became the gateway into my unwaivering love for all things cosmetic. To this day, there is still nothing like cracking open a fresh tube of lipstick, inhaling deeply and pressing that perfect, unadulterated bullet to my lips for the first sweep.

Benefit Silky Finish Lipstick in Sugar Cookie is the latest addition to my hundred-strong lipstick collection, and boy, is it a beauty. The golden-peachy shimmer shade shows up as a glowing nude. There's a healthy dose of shimmer, which manages not to look juvenile, but it is ever so slightly grainy-feeling. Otherwise, the texture is light, sheer and slippery. Although sheer lipsticks don't stay put as well as thicker formulas, there is something so casually sexy about sheer lipstick that makes it worth while. It somehow makes the mystique of that girl who just gives off a natural aura of sex appeal attainable--you know, the kind who isn't trying to be sexy, but she just is.

Benefit says this lipstick is buildable, but beyond a couple coats it starts to look unflattering (in this shade). Keep it sheer and try pairing this up with your favorite nude lip liner for a fuller pout.

Guerlain Kiss Kiss Lipstick Precious Colours Silky and Delicious

The mere sight of Guerlain Kiss Kiss Lipstick makes me weak in the knees. The shiny gold metal case practically screams "Glamour!" and the lipstick feels and looks like a dream on the lips.

Infused with pigments that mimic the look of precious stones, the Precious Colours Silky and Delicious formula creates the illusion of fuller lips. The texture feels moist and light on the lips, thanks to a blend of their Cream-Soft complex, oils and Vitamin E. This make this lipstick highly emollient, yet it doesn't slide off the lips. Even though the fragrance of this lipstick isn't my favorite (it smells just like Loreal lipstick), the good far outweighs this minor offense.

I have the shade Rose Entetant, a romantic plum hue with golden shimmer. It's flattering and versatile--appropriate for grocery shopping or a candlelit dinner. And now, I have my heart set on this to kick off the holiday season!

MAC So Chaude Matte Lipstick

While the thought of orangey-red lipstick sends most women running for the hills, there are a select few who embrace it. I fall in the latter camp. And for my orangey-red lovin’ sisters, I present to you Mac’s So Chaud matte lipstick.

The color is opaque and vibrant, and the matte finish means it stays in place for hours. I usually pair this lipstick up with MAC lip pencil in Redd.

A quick swipe and I feel transformed into a silver screen siren of yore, the type who wouldn’t leave home without her face on. So Chaud is so glamorous!

Smashbox Photo Finish Lipstick

My weakness for lipstick dates back over two decades (I started young), and still, there is nothing like a fresh tube of lipstick. Smashbox Photo Finish Lipstick is one of the standouts in my massive collection. The ultra sleek, futuristic-looking tube makes me feel like this lipstick could double as a camera for a Bond girl. In person, this lipstick casing is a gun-metal gray, with a mirror finish and looks so bad-ass.

Infused with Sila-Silk technology, this lipstick has the same smooth feel as the legendary Smashbox Photo Finish Primer. It glides on looking moist and luscious, and wears comfortably and evenly on the lips. While I'm not sure about the other shades, mine has a good color-payoff despite its sheer texture. (My shade is Smashing Lush; I think it has been discontinued).

Photo Finish lipstick is available in cream, sheer and shimmer finishes.