Staff Picks: Matching with our perfect MLBBs
We hunt for the perfect reds, count our pinks by the dozen, and maybe even add a statement purple or black to our lipstick collections. Given that we have a full spectrum of colors to choose from, why would we ever want a lipstick that almost-exactly matches the natural color of our pouts? Why not just wear a clear lip balm or gloss instead?
Well, we could but the effect isn't the same. "My lips but better" (MLBB) lipsticks are a must-have for anyone who's into the no-makeup makeup look, and they serve a particular purpose. Because our lips are just another kind of skin, they can look just as uneven as our skintone. Some people also experience very dark or hyperpigmented lips, so an MLBB offers a way of evening its tone. Best of all, you can wear them with practically anything!
Den
Kim
Den: My lips are naturally pigmented and pull a lot of pink from lip colors, which is why they often look different on me compared to others. Finding my MLBB match in Human Nature's Perfect Flush Cream Tint in Hibiscus came as a surprise because it registers a reddish pink in the tube, but it actually works on my NC20 skin! I can wear this on just half of my lips and it would be hard to tell the difference, so I don't have to worry about my lips looking faded or uneven when the product slips off. I also love how light it is; it's like the thin texture of a liptint with the creamy pigmentation of a mousse! It also moisturizes my lips well so I don't need to bring or use a separate lip balm.
Kim: My lipstick collection is 50% MLBBs but my favorite one from the bunch, shade-wise, would be Pink Sugar's HD Lipstick in Butter. It's a peach medium brown that works so well on my light-medium, yellow-toned skin. The lipstick formula is also A+ as it's creamy and opaque in one swipe.
Crystal
Charlie
Crystal: MAC NC20 here! The quest for the perfect MLBB is really a tough one but I think I've gotten pretty close with MAC Brave. It's a pink-brown that looks warm with my strong yellow undertones. This is really great for everyday! The lipstick itself is a satin, so it has little shine but good color payoff and is creamy, too.
Charlie: I found my MLBB lippie at the pharmacy by accident. I was waiting for my number to be called and saw the then-new Ever Bilena Matte Lipstick shades. I didn't even swatch Mirrored Mocha as they had no testers but I was super happy when I tried it on. It's a bit of a mauvey shade that complements my NC35 skin, and makes my lips look healthy and pink. I am in love with it and it's very affordable!
Claire
Claire: My lips naturally have a pinkish tint to them BUT my upper lip is a few shades darker. My MLBB lippie matches that, a pinkish mocha that is Happy Skin Shut Up and Kiss Me Moisturizing Matte in Under the Sheets. I love the formula - it never emphasizes my dry patches and plumps up my lips while managing to look natural. My skin is a light to medium shade with neutral undertones, matched to MAC's NC25.
Katsy: While I feel like I still don't have my perfect MLBB, I find myself reaching for these two the most - L'Oreal Rouge Magique in Mont Blanc and MAC Kinda Sexy. My lips are really pale so my MLBB can go pinkish or nude-ish depending on my mood. I love both formulas as well as I can really wear them out all day and they don't dry out my lips. They also make my lips look better with a slight stain once majority of the lipstick has faded away. Oh, and I'm a MAC C3 when I last got shade matched!
Angeli
Angeli: My skintone is medium with strong olive undertone leaning towards NC30. My all-time favorite MLBB is Nars Lip Tint in Ephilide. I used to be so loyal towards NYX Cannes but this one trumped NYX in no time formula-wise. The lip tint has a glossy creme finish but once set, it dries down to a balmy consistency that's not sticky or goopy. It is very similiar to a tinted oil. I love the fact that it is very hydrating and plumping on the lips, and just adds a bit of glossy stain unlike how an ordinary lip tint would. Unfortunately, this one is Limited Edition in the Charlotte Gainsbourg collection so I'm hoping NARS adds this to their permanent collection. I'm glad that I took the plunge and got it because it was totes worth it. Bye bye dry chapped lips!
Nina
Nina: I actually just bought my first MLBB lipstick last weekend! I meant to buy one lipstick for my best friend’s birthday gift, but since I was already in the store… might as well get one for myself, right? It’s MAC’s Matte formula in Velvet Teddy. I’m more of a gloss-and-go type of girl, which means that I don’t really have many lipsticks, but this one is a definite game changer. I let the MAC counter girl choose the shade for me and wow, I have no regrets! It plays well with my morena MAC NC30 skintone. All it really does is even out the color of my lips since it’s that close to my actual lip color – which totally fits the criteria of looking like my lips, but better!
Do you wear MLBB lipsticks? Have you found one that matches you perfectly? Let us know what your picks are!