Welcome to what I’ve decided to call Lipstick Wednesday, where I’ll be cataloguing swatches and thoughts on the sixty-eight lip products that currently live in my makeup stash. This week, I’ll be covering the first half of my collection of Lisa Eldridge’s lip products. Let’s get started!

I’ve followed Lisa Eldridge’s beauty and makeup videos for (*checks notes*) about ten years, so when she launched her own beauty line back in 2018, I was thrilled. Her original line was just three red lipsticks – Velvet Morning, Velvet Ribbon, and Velvet Jazz, and while I loved every shade, I couldn’t justify buying them at launch. And by the time I did justify buying them a few weeks later, they had completely sold out. Not to worry! It took me some time, but I did eventually buy them, along with several other shades, all of which are equally lovely.

Since I already find myself reaching for my Lisa Eldridge lipsticks (and gloss!) on the regular, I figured it was a good place to start my lipstick-wearing journey. I wasn’t brave enough to hop right in with red lips, so you’ll have to wait until next week’s Lipstick Wednesday installment to see the original trio of red shades. For my first week, I started out nice and slow with the nude and pink shades I own from her collection.

Lisa Eldridge Gloss Embrace Lip Gloss in Muse

Lisa describes this shade as “an immaculate smoky rosewood” and I think that’s pretty spot on. The formula feels very buttery and nourishing, with less slip and stickiness than a traditional gloss. Right in the sweet spot of neutral pinky-browns, this shade is super-easy to wear for a quick polished look.

Lisa Eldridge Luxuriously Lucent Lip Color in Kitten Mischief

Kitten Mischief is a pink toffee that wears quite similarly to the Muse gloss on me – I’d say it’s just a touch deeper in comparison. The real difference is in the formula: while the gloss has a higher shine and slightly lacquered effect, this formula wears like a traditional satin lipstick and gives a more luminous finish.

Lisa Eldridge True Velvet Lip Color in Velvet Fawn

Moving on to the matte formula end of the spectrum, we have Velvet Fawn. And, yes, it’s another brownish-pink (notice a trend?), though I think this shade is quite a bit more brown-nude than the previous two. Lisa’s website says it’s inspired by the 90’s heavy naturals, and I can totally see it! This reminds me so much of my go-to lipstick back in my early high school days. As for the matte texture, I really enjoy it. It’s not too drying (though I do prep with lip balm) and the finish maintains a luminosity, without flattening out like so many matte formulas do.

Lisa Eldridge True Velvet Lip Color in Velvet Muse

Ah, here we are with another rosewood nude. Velvet Muse is ever-so-slightly rosier and deeper than Velvet Fawn and darker than both the Muse gloss and Kitten Mischief.

Lisa Eldridge True Velvet Lip Color in Velvet Affair

Lisa calls Velvet Affair an “earthy, soft caramel brown” but I think, at least on me, it pulls quite pink. That said, it’s definitely more brown-y than Velvet Muse; to me it feels like Velvet Fawn’s older, cooler sister. Looking back through photos, I’m actually surprised at how much I like this shade on myself! Usually it’s one of the ones I shy away from as just a tad too statement-y for everyday, but I think now I’ll be reaching for it more often!

And that’s a wrap on the very first lipstick Wednesday! Next week, I’ll be working my way through the remaining Lisa Eldridge lipstick shades I own: Painterly, Velvet Morning, Velvet Ribbon, and Velvet Jazz. See you then!