Swatch Watch

I'm sorry if I invoke CBK while talking about lipstick I'm making everyone buy because it's perfect

I have heard in my many years of reporting on beauty that lipstick has the least amount of loyalty to any other product. It’s the opposite of foundation, which has the most amount—you find one you like and that works with your skin tone and you hope it never gets discontinued. Lipstick, on the other hand, is the thing you buy when you want a small treat, or you want to feel like you got a haircut but didn’t change your hair, or whatever. In a world of uncertainty, lipstick allows us to feel free. Or something.

I’m bad about wearing lipstick? I put it on most mornings or before an event and then I never reapply it. I have friends who constantly refresh theirs and it always looks really perfect and pulled together but I can’t deal. I hate the cake-y feel of lipstick on lipstick. I’m also a total sicko about formula because I want something sheer but not glossy or sticky or oily. But I also want it to last. And not be totally drying.

Then Westman Atelier came out with HydroBalm and I kind of lost it. In a good way. I asked their PR team to send me “as many as possible,” and got to work swatching it on my pale, bruised, wintry skin that depressed me. It looked much better on my actual lips. It felt like spring on my face. Maybe it will for you.