Buying lipstick online- the lows

[learieonthewildmoor]

In my search for a long wearing lipstick that does not cause an allergic reaction, I have tried a fair few lippies now.
It's a real drawback not being able to test the lipsticks, liquids, stains, glides, glosses and balms because- well, they lie and I am a dreadful sucker for these empty promises.
"Hydrating!" they say of the substance that causes my lips to burn after an hour. (Maybelline crayons)
"Lasts all day!" when it comes off during the drink before dinner. (Stila and Nars)
"Not sticky at all!" when they really mean "Will seal your lips together like glue". (oh, too many.)
I strongly suspect companies get their employees to post on sites.

The other difficulty I find is the sites where the colour charts bear no resemblance to the product. Click on a nude brown box to find you'll get a peachy pink. I always have a swatching site like Temptalia open while trying to pick a shade. Still find the lipstick that I thought was dusty mauve is more of an orchid pink.

If this wasn't an international multi-million dollar business selling $50 eyebrow brushes I wouldn't mind so much: but it is, so I do. It's not so bad when it's a $9.00 lippie from the chemist but when I'm looking at buying something like a YSL water stain I'd really like to feel more confident I am not throwing my money away.

Why aren't samples a thing?

I would suggest not actually buying on line. I would never spend more than a few pounds if I couldn't see the product. I have done before but I extensively research it and make sure that all the various shades of the same lipstick in the reviews are acceptable. The same shade of Lipstick does look different on everyone.

I obviously understand that you can't go the shops at the moment.

Avon do little tiny samples. They come sealed up and are 50p.

If you are familiar with seasonal colour analysis and know which season you are, then you could try this to direct your colour choices: www.truth-is-beauty.com/your-seasons-makeup-list.html although it won’t help you with formulations I’m afraid

Charlotte Tilbury do offer lipstick samples. I have found her lipsticks are generally very wearable colours and I've bought them online without issues.
I've also bought 3 different lipsticks recently from Beauty Pie and despite the online pics and descriptions being pretty poor/limited I've been really pleased with all of them and have worn one of the three pretty much every day since.

Allergic here.
Can you look at the ingredients of the allergy inducing ones and compare against the ones that don’t? You might be able to identify what’s on the bad list.

I’ve got a lot of pigment in my natural lip colour and I can’t be bothered masking it out to shove lipstick on and all but the thickest consistency lipsticks alter colour. Charlotte Tilbury included btw. Her best seller pillow talk looks brown on me (with the liner under) and many other women report the same.

I did go retro and buy lipcote. Stings but no allergies and does work for longevity.

I only buy lipstick online if I’ve already had the colour before. It’s just too difficult to find one that has the colour and texture you like if you’re buying for the first time on line.