And the old articles? Forget about it! We’re talking 2017 dupes? Seriously? The makeup world moves faster than my ex running away from commitment. Those products are probably extinct now, or, y’know, reformulated to be totally different. Ugh.
So, here’s the thing. I get it. YSL Glossy Stains are gorgeous. That whole “not quite a lipstick, not quite a gloss, but somehow magically amazing” thing is hard to replicate. Plus, the price? Sheesh. $38 for 0.2 oz? My wallet weeps. That’s, like, a small coffee and a sad bagel.
But… is it *really* worth that much? I mean, I love a good splurge as much as the next girl, but sometimes I just wanna find something that looks almost as good without having to sell a kidney on the black market.
I saw someone mentioning Bite’s Amuse Bouche Liquified Lipsticks. I’ve tried those! They’re definitely pigmented, but they’re *not* the same vibe. They’re more, like, “BAM! I’M HERE!” whereas the YSL is more of a “Oh, *this* old thing? Just effortlessly radiant.” You know?
Okay, so here’s my totally unorganized brain dump of thoughts, which might help, might not:
* Think Layers: Maybe instead of hunting for the *exact* dupe, we need to think about building it. Like, a slightly tinted lip balm, *then* a sheer gloss in a similar color family. It’s not the same, but it could get you closer.
* Drugstore Dive: Don’t discount the drugstore! Seriously. Sometimes hidden gems are lurking. I’ve had decent luck with some of the L’Oreal lip lacquers, but they tend to be a bit stickier, so fair warning.
* Swatch, Swatch, Swatch! This is crucial. Pictures online are *lies*. Lighting is everything. Go to Sephora/Ulta and swatch a bunch of similar-looking colors. Take pictures in natural light. Compare. This is basically a full-time job.
* Don’t Settle: Honestly, the search is half the fun. But don’t feel pressured to find a *perfect* dupe. Maybe you’ll discover something even better along the way.
Personally, I’m still on the hunt. I might even try mixing my own lip stain concoction one day, because why not? It’ll probably be a disaster, but at least it’ll be a *creative* disaster.
