I’m a lip product girl.
There are certain beauty products I will happily splurge on, and lips are definitely one of them. Dior Lip Glow? Love it. MERIT Shade Slick? Always in rotation. If something makes my lips look glossy, healthy and pulled together without requiring a mirror and 20 minutes of concentration, I’m interested.
But you know what I love just as much as a splurge?
A really good score.
So welcome to Splurge & Score, where I’m putting luxury beauty favorites up against products that give us something fabulous for less.
And no, these aren’t necessarily “dupes.” I actually think that word gets thrown around a little too much. Sometimes two products can be completely different and still compete for the same precious piece of real estate in my makeup bag.
For our first round, we’re talking lips.
THE SPLURGE: Giorgio Armani Lip Maestro
Retail: $47
Lip Maestro is what I reach for when I want an actual lip.
It has that unmistakably luxe Armani feel, with rich color and a velvety finish that makes the whole look feel more polished. This isn’t the product I mindlessly swipe on while running out the door. It’s the one I choose when I want my lips to be part of the outfit.
And at $47, it absolutely qualifies as a splurge.
Why I like it:
The color payoff is gorgeous, the texture feels much more comfortable than the old-school liquid lipsticks we all suffered through, and there’s just something fun about pulling Armani out of your bag.
Necessary? No.
Fabulous? Yes.
THE SCORE: Laneige Glaze Craze Lip Serum in Raspberry Jam
Retail: $22
And then we have Raspberry Jam.
This is an entirely different kind of lip love.
Laneige Glaze Craze is sheer, glossy and juicy, with peptides and ceramides in the formula. Raspberry Jam gives your lips that pretty wash of red without making you feel overly “done.”
This is the one I want by the pool. In the car. Running errands. Going to lunch. Basically anywhere I want to look a little more put together without actually putting much effort into it.
And THAT is my favorite kind of beauty product.
It retails for $22, but finding products I love for less than retail is kind of the whole reason Rosie’s Scores exists. 😉
So…Splurge or Score?
Here’s my answer:
It depends on the day.
If I’m getting dressed up, going somewhere special or want my lip color to make a statement, I’m reaching for the Armani Lip Maestro.
If I want glossy, juicy, easy everyday lips, give me the Laneige Raspberry Jam.
And honestly?
There is absolutely room for both.
Because sometimes beauty is about treating yourself to the beautiful $47 lipstick.
And sometimes it’s about finding something fabulous for less and thinking…
Now THAT was a score. 💜
— Rosie