As a vegan, its tough to find affordable and high quality lipsticks. Many lipsticks contain carmine which is essentially crushed beetle shells, beeswax, and lanolin oil which are all animal byproducts. Many formulas also contain petrochemicals, which is also a concern for many people. The E.L.F. mineral lipsticks provides a product free from all these ingredients and is also paraben-free.
Ingredients
The formula of these lipsticks is fairly moisturizing, but I would still suggest wearing a lipbalm underneath for the most comfortable wear. This formula uses Candelilia, Carnuba, and Ceserin wax instead of beeswax, which is a great for those who can't morally or religiously use animal byproducts. The Vitamin E, Coconut oil, Shea butter, and Almond oil keep the lips soft and makes the product comfortable to wear everyday.
Longevity
The formula has an average wear time of about 3-4 hours, and you will need to reapply after eating. The colors fade off the lips in a natural way, often leaving a pretty stain behind. The colors that are more sheer tend to fade a bit quicker than the cream based colors.
Colors
The colors do tend to run a bit sheer on some of the shades, but the product is buildable and can be layered till you achieve the desired look. Most of the colors are muted and aren't super bright, so if you are expecting that I'd look elsewhere. If you are looking for work-friendly, earth toned colors, these lipsticks are perfect. My favorites: Rosy Tan, Rosy Raisin, Party Pink, Cheerful Cherry, Ripe Rose and Cool Coral.
Packaging
The packaging is sleek, sturdy, and reminds me of NARS packaging. It comes in a squared black tube with the elf logo etched into the side of the product.
Price
Compared to drugstore prices, these lipsticks are a steal. They cost $5 on the E.L.F. website, and E.L.F. often runs 50% off sales on their mineral line, which is the perfect time to test out a color you're not sure if you'll love. You also have to consider how high quality the lipsticks are for the price.
Rating (5/5)
These are personally my favorite lipsticks. Lipsticks are something you ingest into your body, so you need to be careful with products you wear everyday. I feel safe using these products, and the color selection is muted and sophisticated. There are a good range of colors to suit warm and cool skin tones, but I would avoid using the swatches on the E.L.F. website as they aren't entirely accurate. This is my favorite lipstick, hands down and one of the few vegan formulas that are readily available and affordable.
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