Aerin Rose Balm Lipstick in Pretty

Aerin Lauder offers a collection of 10 luxurious, creamy lipsticks with medium coverage. They are called Rose Balm Lipstick ($30). I purchased a shade called Pretty, a beautiful warm pink.

A collection of 10 effortless, universally-flattering shades, specially curated by Aerin. Featuring a luxe balm texture, medium coverage, and a shine finish, they help protect lips the way a flower protects its delicate petals, with a natural wax that helps seal in moisture.

I have said before that Aerin's Color Essentials have not excited me. They are exactly as described: essentials. Having more than my share of essentials has made me a little jaded, but I decided to give Aerin's Rose Balm Lipsticks a chance, selecting Pretty because it looked pretty online. Indeed, it is perfectly named. I'm wearing it now with my gorgeous new YSL green palette on my eyelids, and I think I look amazingly good with the perfect contrast of pink and green.

The Rose Balm Lipsticks do offer coverage. Fortunately, it's a medium intensity, as described, so I don't feel like my lips are coated with severe color. I like the finish with its very subtle sheen.

I took swatch photos of Pretty in full sun (although it was about to exit the scene for rain clouds). I applied it directly from the tube. The swatch application was analogous to a regular application on my lips.

Pretty looks the same on my lips as it looks on my arm. The warm pink color has a subtle shine that is enhanced by bright light. It feels great on my lips - moist and creamy.

I took this second photo in front of a blooming honeysuckle shrub with an indirect angle to the sun. While the honeysuckle blossoms are starting to yellow, they still offer a beautiful fragrance. It was nice hanging out there for a few minutes.

Aerin's Rose Balm Lipstick offers what I think is the perfect level of intensity. Any more, and I would perceive too much coverage. I'm a sheer lips kind of gal, but I still like Rose Balm Lipstick. I think I may pick up a few more shades the next time I go to a counter. I blind-ordered Pretty from the Estée Lauder Web site. It turned out to be a great color. Why tempt the fates, though, with Aerin's line so accessible at department stores. I'll go play with the other shades before I select new colors.

Photo at top courtesy of Estée Lauder; other photos by Best Things in Beauty