Review: NYC Smooch Proof 16H Lipstain in Champagne Stain

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Some of you may remember when I first showed you the display for these new NYC lipstains back in December (click here to see). I picked one up when I finally found them at my local Rite Aid and let me tell you, there are some pretty shades to choose from--it was difficult to make a decision!

As many of you know, I am a lipstain junkie. I've reviewed every lipstain currently available at the drugstore including Maybelline, Revlon and CoverGirl (just search "lipstain" on this blog if you're interested). My favorite lipstain of all time is the Palladio lipstain, and that's pretty much the standard I use for comparison for every lipstain I review.

I've also owned several higher-end lipstains over the years including those from Stila, Benefit and Vincent Longo, so I'd like to think that I know a thing or two about these types of products at this point. After testing this new NYC lipstain out for a few weeks now, I'd love to give you my detailed review.

NYC Smooch Proof 16H LIPStain in Champagne Stain

(retail: $4.99, 0.10 oz)

Right off the bat, you'll notice that the NYC lipstain is the most inexpensive lipstain currently at the drugstore. It's almost half the price of the others, which is a huge plus. It's about the same size as all the others as well, so NYC is definitely not skimping on product here.

Visually, the biggest difference with the NYC lipstain is the applicator. As you can see in the image below, the tip is VERY fine. It's actually the finest point of any lipstain applicator I've ever owned, and it's pretty sharp as well. It took me by surprise because most lipstain applicators have more of a blunt tip, but this super-fine tip really allows for precision during application. Also, over time, the tip becomes softer and a bit easier to work with, so if it's too sharp for you at first, just know that it's going to become more pliable after a few uses.

With the hot-cold-hot-cold weather we've been having in San Diego lately, my lips are a real mess right now. They're in a constant state of dryness and they're chapped like crazy, so I'm not showing you many pictures of me wearing this product just to spare you the torture!

Instead of showing you traditional before and after shots, I chose to show you what my lips looked like after three hours of wearing NYC Smooch Proof 16H Lipstain in Champagne Stain. As you can see, the color is still quite vibrant and the best part is that this color does not wear off unevenly (no ring-around-the-lips!). Awesome!

But as with some of the other red-based lipstains I've owned, the color is VIBRANT when first applied. I was actually hoping that with a name like "Champagne Stain" this color would be a softer, rosy type of shade on my lips. In reality, this shade is BRIGHT and pretty much a neutral red lips. On my arm, the shade is more of a salmon-red, but on the lips it becomes much more intense and I can see more of a blueish undertone, although I think this is still a pretty neutral red (not too warm, not too cool).

As for flavor, this one's got the standard bitter taste that is the signature of just about every lipstain, but I don't find it stronger than most, and it fades quickly. The scent is standard as well--it's got a pleasant berry fragrance that fades quickly.

I found this lipstain to apply quite evenly and it didn't take many passes to cover both my upper and lower lips, so the pigmentation is right where I like it to be. It's not one of those stains where, upon application, you've got a sudden river of color spewing out onto your lips, yet it's not a stain that takes a million swipes to become visible.

Also of note: I applied this stain at 7pm the other night, before going out to dinner, and when I woke up the next morning I could still see a nice berry-red flush on my lips! It wasn't overpowering, and I have to say it was nice to see pretty, rosy lips in the morning! I was seriously impressed.

FINAL VERDICT: As far as drugstore lipstains go, this one ranks well above CoverGirl, Revlon and Maybelline for me. Compared to my beloved Palladio, I'd say it's a close call, but I'd have to try more shades from NYC to say they're neck-and-neck. Color-wise, this NYC lipstain didn't exactly yield the results I was hoping for (there's nothing "champagne" about it--it's pretty much a true red on my lips) BUT, I haven't tried other shades from this line yet, so I can't tell you if that's the norm. Other shades may represent themselves better in the tube and you may get the color you're expecting--it's impossible me for to have a verdict on that without having tried every shade in the range. But for the price of $4.99, I CAN say with 100% certainty that the NYC lipstains are an awesome value and I think the application, pigmentation and staying power rank much higher than the other drugstore stains I've tried to date. If you're a lipstain gal, I think you might fall in love with these.

Have you tried any of these NYC Smooch Proof Lipstains yet? What do you think of them? I'd love to hear your thoughts!