As a lipstick lover, I am no stranger to all kinds of formulas and finishes available on the market.
And while I don't have a preference for the finish, what I won't tolerate is a long-wear formula that gives up on me as soon as I have my morning coffee. Who wants to apply “long-wear" lipstick four times per day?!
I put five longwear lipsticks to the test to see how well they hold up for the coin spent. To make it fair, I prepped my lips the same way for each lipstick by exfoliating and wearing the same lip primer. I also wore each one for 8 hours without touching it up.
Here's how they did:
Colourpop Ultra Matte Liquid Lipstick: $6
I tested this one with a teeny bit of bias. I love makeup, so this was unavoidable. I have six Ultra Matte Liquid Lipsticks from this brand, so I chose a lovely berry shade from my collection called Notion. I'm a sucker for a nude, but I wanted to make sure I'd be able to see the results.
The Application:
The application was fairly easy. It has a doe foot applicator, so you don't have to turn your hand at weird angles. But with this particular one, it takes some concentration to get a straight line around the edges of your lips. The formula is thin, almost like water, but very pigmented. It took two layers to get full coverage and was dry in about 10 seconds. When it dries, it is MATTE! They don't call these Ultra Matte for nothing.
The Wear:
It held up pretty well after eating. It was only thin in one spot close to the inside of my mouth. It wasn't even noticeable with my mouth completely closed. I did run into trouble shortly after eating at the four hour mark. It felt extremely dry so I was dying to take it off, but I pressed on with the experiment. Once 8 hours was up, it looked no different than it did after lunch.
The Verdict:
For $6 each, this is a pretty good deal. Sure, it's drying, but this could be fixed with a little lip balm and a touch up. You'd probably only need to do this once throughout the day.
Anastasia Beverly Hills Liquid Lipstick: $20
I came to test this one with a little bias also. I have another color (Craft) from this line and the one I tested, Kathryn, had been sitting in my drawer, waiting to be used. I had a wonderful experience with Craft and was hoping Kathryn would be the same.
The Application:
Application was simple enough. This one has a flat applicator with a rounded tip and the formula is creamy. This combo usually means that it's easy to get straight lines around your lips and even application. I got straight lines, but that application was every kind of patchy that there is. It was bad. I had to do three coats and touch up specific spots and it still wasn't all the way even. Plus, it took about 30 seconds to dry. I wouldn't see the dry time as a negative if the application was even.
The Wear:
Two hours in, I wanted to scrub my lips off my face. They were so dry and screaming for any kind of moisture. It almost hurt. It was flaking up around the inside of my mouth after I ate too. I was walking around looking crazy for another four hours until I could take it off and when it was time, the color was pretty much gone from the inner part of my mouth.
The Verdict:
You should pass on this one. For $20, you should get even application and your lips shouldn't feel like you've been on an island for days with no water. You should also be able to expect some consistency with wear throughout the line for that price too.
Fenty Stunna Lip Paint: $24
With the well-deserved buzz around Fenty's foundation range, I couldn't pass testing a universal red. To be honest, I didn't think a universal red was possible, but somehow Fenty pulled it off. Every Instagram photo I've seen of this shade has looked amazing.
The Application:
The application of Uncensored is nothing short of amazing. I thought I was going to pass out from how pigmented this stuff is! I had to collect myself after the first swipe. The applicator has a very unique shape that can be off-putting at first, but after using it, I like it. I don't know what the thought process behind it was, but it works. I was able to get nearly straight lines with it. The formula isn't creamy or watery, but about halfway between the two. You'll get full, vibrant coverage in one coat.
The Wear:
It's rare that a red lip looks good on me without liner, but here I was liner-less and void of all other makeup, and I felt like I was the baddest thing walking. Plus, it felt like I wasn't wearing lipstick at all.
I started to feel it on my lips after about four hours, but every bit of the initial color was still there. The color rubbed off on the inside of my bottom lip after eating, but I committed a longwear lipstick sin by eating a greasy food…pizza. Other than that, the color was just as vibrant as when I first put it on.
Six hours in, I noticed a teeny bit of dryness, but nothing that made me want to grab a makeup wipe. When 8 hours passed, I noticed no difference in the look or feel after eating and didn't bother taking it off for another three hours. Still no difference. This stuff is bomb!
The Verdict:
Buy this right now. For $24, you'll get every bit of bang for your buck.
Dose of Colors Liquid Lipstick: $18
This Instagram-favorite brand piqued my interest with their color options. Every shade always looked so great on my favorite Insta-beauty, Queens, so I had to give them a go. I went with Plum Queen because it swatched like a nice mauve for darker skin.
The Application:
The applicator has a point on it, so getting close to the edges of my lips was very easy. It has a creamy soft formula that takes about 20 seconds to dry to matte. It took a little longer than I'd like it to, but since it's not immediately drying, I'll take that. It looked AMAZING! The color payoff was intense. Not Fenty intense, but still worth noting.
The Wear:
My lips felt dry after about 2 hours, and the color was starting to lift on the inside of my mouth. A lot came off after I ate. If I had allowed myself to touch up the color, it probably would have been fine. I didn't touch up for the sake of testing, and the next 6 hours weren't fun at all. I kept wanting to pick at my lips or at least put on lip balm.
The Verdict:
This gets a green light from me because of the color payoff and application. The color applies very easily and evenly. You'll still have to touch it up if you eat, but that's not a deal breaker for me. Plus, the price is only $18, a little more than a drugstore brand, but not as pricey as most prestigious brands.
BH Cosmetics Long-Wearing Matte Lipstick: $6
I had been meaning to give BH Cosmetics lipsticks a try for a good minute. Their first edition 120-eyeshadow palette was the first one I ever bought and I loved it. The brand is definitely on the drugstore side in terms of price and has great quality. I chose the shade Icon since it looked like a lovely, deep burgundy/purple.
The Application:
The formula is mad thicc. Like, Thiccsgiving thick. I had to dip the wand back into the tube a couple of times to get my lips fully covered. It applied very evenly, though, and dried to completely matte in ten seconds. It wasn't sticky at all. I kept mashing my lips together to make sure I wasn't mistaken.
The Wear:
I was very pleasantly surprised by how it wore. I was expecting insane dryness since it's a drugstore brand and is on the lower end of the price spectrum for drugstore too. I barely noticed it was on my lips. I saw some of it transfer on my coffee cup, but on my lips, there was no difference.
The Verdict:
This one is my favorite. Buy it! Buy every color! This one has the comfort and longevity of Fenty Stunna and is only $6. My Ulta cart is loaded up with these!
What are some of your favorite tried and true longwear lipsticks?
- The 12 Best Long-Wear Lipsticks At Every Price Point | HuffPost ›
- The Best Long-Wear Lipsticks That Actually Stay Put | Allure ›
- The Best Long-Lasting Lip Products To Get You Through Your ... ›
- 14 Best Long-Lasting Lipsticks That REALLY Last All Day ... ›
- 17 long-lasting lip colors that won't wear off ›
- The Best Long Wear Lipsticks (That Won't Kiss Off) | InStyle.com ›
- We Tested Long-Lasting Lipsticks And Found Which Ones Actually ... ›
Although this might seem like a heavy way to intro this particular topic, because the O Method is an orgasm-achieving technique that centers around housing energy, embracing the mental practice of manifestation, and the attempt to achieve the best climaxes ever — it all works together pretty well if you ask me. If you want to take your orgasms to the next level, it’s important that you get out of yourself (to a certain extent), that you see the spiritual role that manifestation plays, and that you are open to trying new things. No doubt about it.
So, let’s learn more about what the O Method is all about and how it very well could be just what you’ve been looking for…even if you didn’t know it.
What Is the “O Method” All About?
GiphyQuestion: When’s the last time you’ve had an orgasm? Not just any orgasm — I mean a really mind-blowing one (I’ll give you a second to think about it). Now, what if you could manifest that experience to the point where it wasn’t a rare occurrence but something that happened almost every time that you and your partner had sex with each other? How absolutely awesome would that be?
That is pretty much what the O Method is all about — helping you achieve the kind of orgasms (and sexual pleasure, in general) that you desire through the practice of manifestation. And since your biggest sex organ is your brain, it would make perfect sense that even with all of the tips and techniques that you might learn to do as far as your body is concerned, honing in on what you think about is super imperative to sexual fulfillment, too. And that’s just where manifestation comes in.
What If You’ve Never “Manifested” Anything Before?
GiphyBefore we get into a quick lesson on manifestation, I think it’s important to mention two things. One, for the cynics, there is a lot of truth in the fact that it’s got some solid spiritual basis to it because even the Good Book says that as a man thinketh in his heart, so is he (Proverbs 23:7). At the same time, that same Good Book tells us that faith without works is dead (James 2:14-26). So, while it is always a good idea to focus on good, positive, and productive thoughts, just thinking about them isn’t enough — at some point, you’ve also gotta get out here and DO something (bookmark that).
Okay, with that mini-sermon out of the way, whether it’s in the bedroom or not, manifestation is basically about focusing on something tangible that you desire, harnessing your energy in such a way that your words and actions are directed towards that longing until what you want, well, manifests. For the record, aside from this having a spiritual backing to it, in many ways, science cosigns on manifesting, too. There is actually a scientific process known as neuroplasticity that consists of reframing your mind so that your actions ultimately end up aligning with your goals — and that is another way to look at manifestation.
So, what if you’re someone who has never set out to do a manifestation practice before? No worries. Something that’s awesome about it is there are several different approaches that you can take.
Some people manifest what they want in their lives via:
- Journaling
- Visualization/Creating vision boards
- Writing down their desires before going to bed (so that they can “download” them into their dream state)
- Creating mantras and affirmations
- Applying the 369 Manifestation Method (you can learn more about that here)
- Meditating
- Learning more about what you want to manifest (which brings forth clarity)
This is important to keep in mind because, when it comes to manifesting the types of orgasms that you want to have, as you can see, you can try different manifestation methods until you find one (or ones) that you are truly comfortable with. One that can ease you into the entire process rather smoothly is something known as sex journaling.
How Sex Journaling Can Actually Help You to Have an Orgasm
GiphyAs a writer, I’m a big fan of journaling. Mostly because it’s a way to get out some of your deepest thoughts and feelings so that you’re able to really process what is happening inside of you in a private setting. And when it comes to sex journaling, specifically, it’s all about centering yourself on the things sexually that you want to “unpack,” get clarity on or come to some revelations about. For instance, if there’s only been one partner from your past who’s been able to help you achieve the type of orgasms that you wish to manifest, journaling about what makes him different from the other guys can provide you with some solid ah-ha moments.
Or if you need help getting as specific as possible about the sexual experiences that you’re after, journaling can help to make that happen for you — because one thing that manifesting reminds us all to do is be as specific as possible.
Yeah, simply saying, “I want to have better sex” isn’t detailed enough when you want to get your energy to match with your desires — instead, describe how all of your senses should feel in the experience, along with why, that can get you so much closer to achieving your goal. Once those things are documented, you can segue into creating mantras and/or meditation that are based on them. Yeah, sex journaling really is an underrated superpower on a lot of levels (check out “The Art Of Sex Journaling (And Why You Should Do It)”).
5 Tips for Making the O Method Work for You
GiphyNow that you know more about what the O Method is and how manifestation plays a direct role in its process, let’s talk about five ways to make the O Method truly effective in your own (sex) life.
1. Focus, FULLY, on your feminine energy. What do rose quartz, amethyst, moonstone (which is a Gemini birthstone as well; yes, I’m a Gemini), selenite, and rhodonite all have in common? They’re crystals that help you to go deeper into your divine feminine energy. Traits that are associated with this include compassion, creativity, kindness, gentleness, and sensuality (feminine energy is also accepting and forgiving). If you were to study energy from a biological standpoint, it’s about producing change, responding to stimuli, and having the ability to do what needs to be done (work). So, when it comes to manifesting the kind of orgasms or sexual experiences that you want, using things like your creativity and gentleness in your thoughts and actions can play a role in bringing balance to your partner’s masculinity, which can create a profound sense of pleasure — after all, opposites do attract.
2. Don’t hold back on what it is that you desire. Whenever I interview sex therapists, something that they all say is, a huge mistake that people make as far as sexual satisfaction is concerned is, they have walls up — not just with their partners but even within themselves. Sometimes, there is intimidation, fear, or even shame around what they really want to happen during sex to the point where they aren’t able to channel their energy fully in those directions in order to manifest what they want. For the O Method to work, you can’t let those types of negative emotions hinder you; the more you are able to articulate what you want and how you want it, the better chance you have of making it happen. So yes, get graphic. As graphic as possible.
3. Make manifestation a daily practice. Repetition is important when it comes to manifestation. That’s because the more you declare what you desire (a mantra), get still and think on it (meditation), or look at the “art” that you’ve created surrounding it (visualization), the quicker it becomes a part of you. So yes, make manifestation a daily practice. For instance, if one of your mantras is, “I am going to have intensely passionate orgasms, one right after the other,” don’t just state that 15 minutes before sex is going to happen. Wake up and declare it. Then say it on your lunch break. And again before turning in. The more your thoughts are “streamlined” in this way, the easier it will be for your body to follow suit.
4. Share this practice with your partner. If you were to do even more research on the O Method, one thing that most of the articles will mention is it’s a practice that you can do alone or with your partner. Indeed. However, I just want to make sure that you get into your psyche that great sex is, in part, about good communication. And so, the more comfortable you are sharing with your partner what you are doing as far as the O Method is concerned and what you ultimately want to happen as a result of the practice, the easier it will be for him to “match your energy” — both in and out of the bedroom. And when your partner is on the same page as you? That definitely increases the chances of attaining your sexual desires — exponentially so.
5. Stay in the moment. While I was reading one article on manifestation, I really appreciated something that the author said: manifestation isn’t some supernatural power. In other words, while it can be beneficial, it’s not like you can just think of something, and it instantly appears out of nowhere. Manifesting is a discipline, and it must be accompanied by action, consistency, and patience — this means that you must also practice mindfulness. Meaning, now that you know better what you’re looking to achieve as far as sex is concerned, every time that it transpires, maintain a level of positive energy, remember what your end goal is, and then determine in your mind to enjoy the moments as they come. Remember, manifestation isn’t to add stress…it’s to cultivate clarity.
_____
At the end of the day, the O Method is simply a way of reminding you that your mind plays a huge role in your sexual pleasure, and when you channel it and your energy exactly where you want them both to go, you’ll be amazed what your body is capable of doing…and accomplishing.
So, what kind of orgasm are you wanting to achieve? You’ve got a tool to get you there. USE IT.
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Featured image by Giphy
