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| recent Revlon purchase |
It’s been a long time since I’ve used drugstore lipsticks. As someone who usually gravitates toward high-end makeup—think MAC, Chanel, YSL, Armani—I never really felt the pull toward more affordable alternatives. But the other day, I was watching a video on Marilyn Monroe’s lipstick collection and came across a mention of Revlon’s iconic shade, Fire and Ice. Out of pure curiosity, I picked it up at my local drugstore, along with a few other Revlon shades that caught my eye.
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| The packaging is unique, I like the window, so you know which lipstick you are using |
I’ll admit, I went in with an open mind. The packaging was decent, the formula glided on smoothly, and the colour payoff was strong. They were scentless, pigmented, and easy to apply. On paper, they check a lot of boxes. But once I saw the shades on my lips, it hit me: they looked like drugstore lipsticks. I can’t quite put my finger on whether it was the undertones, the finish, or the way the formula sat on my lips—but something about them just didn’t have that refined, flattering quality that higher-end lipsticks consistently deliver.
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| my "luxury" lipsticks (partial collection) |
There’s a certain richness and elegance to a luxury lipstick that drugstore options simply can’t replicate. It's not just about the price tag—it’s about the finish, the depth of colour, and how it wears throughout the day. And most importantly, how it feels.
Despite Revlon’s claims of a “moisturizing” formula, my lips told a different story. After just two days of wearing their creme lipsticks, my lips started to dry out and became sensitive. I had to slather on lip masks for three days straight to get them back to normal. For comparison, I had been wearing MAC’s Ruby Woo—a matte shade—for over a month with no such issues.
This experience only reaffirmed what I’ve always suspected: drugstore lipsticks can be fun, and yes, budget-friendly, but they can never truly be dupes for high-end products. Influencers often promote drugstore "dupes" as identical alternatives, but as a long-time high-end makeup user, I can confidently say: they're not the same. Drugstore lipsticks will always look and feel like drugstore lipsticks.
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| Revlon 720 Fire and Ice |
If you're on a budget, here's a quick breakdown:
Pros:
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Scentless
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Easy to apply
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Smooth texture
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Strong pigmentation
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| Revlon 435 Love that Pink |
Cons:
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The colour payoff lacks depth and sophistication
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It can look cheap or flat on the lips
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Dried out my lips (despite “moisturizing” claims)
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| light staining, but can be completely removed using Micellar water |
Call me picky, but I know what works for my skin and what doesn’t. If you find a drugstore gem that works for you, great! But for me, I’ll be sticking with my high-end staples—for the colour, the comfort, and the confidence they give me.
Until then, Fire and Ice can rest in my drawer as a piece of lipstick history… but not my everyday choice.
