Since the introduction of Clinique's chubby sticks a couple of years back, it seems like every brand has created their own version of the lipstick/balm hybrids in stick form. The hype doesn't seem to be anywhere near to dying down yet, with more versions and finishes seemingly being launched everyday, so after trying a number of them out, I thought I'd report back on the best of the bunch.
Now I haven't tried the original, the holy grail of lip pencils - Clinique Chubby Sticks (although they are on my foot long makeup wish list) but out of the couple that I have tried, it looks to me like Clinique should be worried for their crown. For everyday colours, I love the Zoeva pencils - pictured is the shade Second Chance. A sheer color on one swipe, which can be built up to full opacity by the time you use two, this has a lovely glossy sheen, is moisturising on the lips and lasts a really long time. Plus, the pretty peachy pink is one of those colours that just goes with every makeup look, so it is so easy to just chuck on in the morning. If I'm feeling something a tad more bold, but still want to keep it fairly neutral then it's the Collection Lip Butter in Vintage Rose that I will turn to. I'm not so sure on the name of this, I feel the color is a little too bright to be classified as 'vintage' but the almost neon pink is great at livening up your face, without being too much for everyday wear. It's only fall down - it's not particularly long lasting, but it's easy to reapply, even without a mirror, so it isn't something that tends to bother me too much.
One of the new ones on the scene, Seventeen's Lip Crayon - this, unfortunately doesn't have a name - is one of those instant face perker-upper shades that is perfect for brightening up your face when you are feeling a bit tired or worse for wear. Super smooth formula, and it leaves a stain after it has gone, it really reminds me of the Revlon Lip Butter in Sweet Tart - one of my favourites. This formula is definitely one to try and get your hands on. Sometimes a sheer wash of color isn't enough though, and that's when I turn to the NARS Lip Pencils - the only ones that truly bring it when it comes to a full opacity pout. The shade Amsterdam - a hot pink/red is my favorite from the line up, but there are shades to suit everyone, and the satin finish means that they will stay put on your lips through anything - always a necessity for such pigmented shades. Finally, for a truly matte finish, the Revlon offerings are the ones that float my boat the best. Pictured is the shade Complex, a gorgeous peachy nude, but there are about 10 colours in total throughout the line up, something impressive for a drugstore drop.
So, that's the best of the bunch in my opinion, the easy maintenance lip product that keeps leaving me wanting more. There are little niggles with all of them, and I haven't found my holy-grail version yet, but one things for certain - I don't want this trend to stop anytime soon.