• Lip & Cheek Products

    Lip & Cheek Products

  • Yves Saint Laurent Baby Doll Kiss & Blush

    Yves Saint Laurent Baby Doll Kiss & Blush

  • MAC Casual Colour in Young at Heart

    MAC Casual Colour in Young at Heart

I’m a sucker for a good beauty deal, so when I come across a product that has a dual function, I don’t think twice about trying it out. One type I gravitate to time and time again has been the lip & cheek combos. There are many advantages to purchasing this particular type of makeup such as:

  • Lip & cheek color are the same, so there is no second guessing what combination of colors you should use together. This feature is most important when trying to do makeup on the fly.
  • Ease of use: I normally use my fingertips to apply since brushes may be too large for these compact items, unless it comes with an applicator like the Yves Saint Laurent Baby Doll Kiss & Blush Lips & Cheeks ($40). I particularly like applying with my fingers because it gives such a natural look and feel to the makeup. However, it is buildable in case you’re looking for more than just a flush of color.
  • Cost benefit: These products tend to cost less compared to being purchased on their own.
  • Easier to travel with one product, which serves multiple purposes, then traveling with many products that only have an individual purpose.

The only negative some may find to a lip & cheek product is the staying power and texture. Now, all this will depend on the type of skin you have. For instance, if you have oily skin, a cream formula may not be for you. Also, depending on the brand, some stay on longer as a lipstick versus a blush. I have listed my personal favorite lip & cheek duos below, but it’s really important to try different brands to see which one is a better fit for you.

Lip & Cheek Duo Recommendations

  1. MAC Casual Colour ($22): This particular product is my favorite, so much so that I own five of the nine shades (found and purchased at my local CCO). Of the group, MAC Casual Color in Weekend Getaway is universally flattering and a great everyday cool pink color. The MAC Casual Colour collection also includes (as per MAC Cosmetic website):
  1. Benefit Benetint Cheek & Lip Stain ($30): Benefit does not have a wide variety of colors to choose from in comparison with the MAC Casual Colour line (four shades vs. nine), but the color payout is just as nice. What makes this product unique is the packaging and consistency. First, it looks like a bottle of nail polish. Secondly, the tint is in liquid form and is supposed to be applied with the included brush. It’s a bit peculiar applying makeup with a brush, but that feeling will subside once you get the hang of it. Included shades, as per described by Benefit Cosmetics:
  1. Yves Saint Laurent Baby Doll Kiss & Blush Lips & Cheeks ($40): I know what you’re thinking: why buy this product for $40 when you can practically buy two MAC Casual Colours for almost the same price? And you are absolutely correct! I would not usually purchase an item this expensive when there are clearly other options. However, my local CCO had several YSL products at a 30% discount and I simply couldn’t resist. I purchased the color #8 Pink Hedoniste because I figured I couldn’t go wrong with such a neutral color (FYI Most CCO’s have a no return policy). After using it, my only regret was not purchasing more because I love it that much! From the beautiful packaging (looks like a square nail lacquer bottle with a golden cap) down to the nicely shaped applicator. This design is definitely aesthetically pleasing to the eyes. The formula feels like a whipped cream as compared to the MAC Casual Colour, which has a much thicker/drier consistency. Another plus is that there are twelve shades to choose from; almost guaranteeing that there is something for everyone. So if you happen to have extra money in your beauty budget, this may be one of those products to indulge in.
  2. Travel Palettes: For those who travel, a lip and cheek palette with multiple colors is essential.  These ready-to-go palettes allow for maximum shade versatility while simultanously saving precise cargo space.  So Instead of packing multiple blushes and lipsticks on your next vacation getaway, try Stila’s Convertible Color Dual Lip & Cheek Palette $39 (either in cool or warm palette).