Quick Review: Ulta3 Lipsticks

I promise I will review things other than lipstick guys! It just so happens I have way too many in comparison to other products, therefore there are a lot more for me to choose from to review. Today I've decided to take a look at Ulta3 lipsticks, in specific the three I have - three of the regular line, and one of the matte line.

These are $2.95 from selected pharmacies (you can find stockists on their Facebook page here) or $3.95 for the matte lipsticks. And, I've got to say first off, that is an absolute steal for the sheerest, poorest-lasting lipsticks, and these are far from!

But before I go too far, let's take a look at what we've got:

Ulta3 Lipsticks, from top to bottom: Brown Sugar (matte), Firecracker, Coral Reef, Lilac Glow

Oooh pretty! Firstly, I love their packaging - sleek, matching, with a clear section at the bottom so you can see what colour your choosing, as well as a sticker that has the name printed on! For some reason I hate it when there isn't a sticker with its name or you can't see what colour it is (like Mac lipsticks) because there's no clear bit or coloured sticker or packaging. Grrrr. Anyway! So these tick the first box.

This photo kind of explains what I'm on about. When they're all packed into my lipstick container (which is really just like a mini open box sort of thing) I can see what colour I'm grabbing! Genius!

Ok onto some swatches. I am SO pleased with these swatches, my phone was cooperating for once and they are nearly completely true to life!

From left to right:

Brown Sugar (matte): THIS IS MY ABSOLUTE FAVOURITE LIPSTICK. Like I think we're talking Holy Grail territory here (I know, a $4 lipstick. I am so happy). I've nearly finished it (I've never finished a lipstick in my life) and I'm really worried that I'll go back and buy a new one and it won't be the same colour (I've noticed recently that a few of the testers at my local don't match the corresponding sealed lipsticks which scares me, I didn't check this one though). But it's such a gorgeous colour. I would describe it as a dark dusty rose colour with brown tones, a bit mauve-y? I'm really bad with colour descriptions. It does look a bit scarily brown in the tube, and in the swatch, but the rose colour really comes through when on the lips. When applied, it is super opaque, creamy and stays for as long as any comparable lipstick (I don't have huge success with lipstick lasting on me). I just wear it with everything. It is my perfect dark My Lips But Better, so those girls out there with light, cool-toned skin should check this out. Well, actually, everyone should for that matter. The only downside is it's not actually fully matte. Don't go expecting Velourlips or NYX Soft Matte Lip Cream finish, I would call it a semi-matte finish. Saying that, I am a massive matte lip fan and it's matte enough for me, so I really have no complaints. This will definitely be the first lipstick I actually repurchase!

Firecracker: This was the first Ulta3 lipstick I ever got. It actually featured in my battle of the oranges from my last post. It's such a great red-orange! When I bought it, I was looking for a true orange so I was a bit disappointed, but to be honest it's a bit more wearable than if it had been plain orange. As much as you might not believe me when I say this, but it actually isn't too bright. It's super wearable for daytime. It applies opaque, feels soft on the lips and doesn't slip around on my lips. Also a big hit with me - but check the above link for a bit more information.

Coral Reef: This colour is so pretty, it's a red-pink coral (no orange) that is bright and summery. It applies nicely, is opaque in one swipe, and smells divine (I think only this one and the Lilac one smell good, no idea why). However, it is a tad bit more slippy on my lips (one day I'll figure out how to describe that properly). It's fairly bright on the lips, leaning towards neon but not quite. Definitely a bold colour, but bold lips are my favourite!

Lilac Glow: A medium pink-purple. Also smells amazing - these are the two I've bought most recently so maybe that has something to do with it. As much as I like this colour, this is my least favourite of the four - it's not quite as opaque as the others, a bit slippy and doesn't seem to last quite as long. However, it doesn't apply patchily, feels great on the lips and may be better for those looking for a less bold purple lip.

My little lipstick photo shoot. I think I got over-excited.

All of these lipsticks are super moisturising and not drying - something I have a huge issue with (my lips are a desert). I think they're a great little choice if you have a little spare change to spend, or are looking for a particular colour for dressing up. There is a huge range, with something for everyone. I would recommend swatching each one individually, as there can be small differences in the formula (as you've seen above). But the greatest thing is, even if you've made a wrong choice, you're only the price of a coffee out!

Hope this has helped you guys, sorry that I babble on so much. Let me know if I really need to cut my words down.

Thanks for reading!

P.S. sorry I use brackets so often! It's honestly a weird writing habit of mine, because I write my exact thought processes, which apparently have a lot of tangents.