Drugstore Gem: Maybelline First Class Fuchsia Lipstick

Out of all the drugstore brands, I very rarely pick up something from Maybelline - I don't really know why, as their Volume Express mascara used to be my favorite in high school. But since the summer really started here, I've made some changes to my daily make-up routine and decided I wanted to get the much raved about Color Tattoo cream eyeshadow, and because Maybelline was BOGO 50% off at RiteAid, I started to peruse the aisles looking for the second item to put in my basket.

And that's how I stumbled upon the Color Sensational High Shine Lipstick in First Class Fuchsia no. 115 ($7.49) from the Summer 2012 Exotic Escape collection. I wasn't really looking for a fuchsia (God knows I have way too many), but when I sneakily opened a space-age looking tube, the shade appeared very similar to what I was wearing on my nails that day... Essie Cute as a Button, a beautiful pinky coral.

The Color Sensational High Shine formula is a light gel type of lipstick that is just made for the summertime. The pigmentation is a bit sheerer and more glossy than that of a typical 'creamy' lipstick, somewhat reminiscent of Revlon's Lip Butters in terms of pigmentation, but thinner and more comfortable on the lips. I expected the High Shines to be somewhat alike the Giorgio Armani Rouge d'Armani Sheers lipsticks, but they're a lot more pigmented and more stain like in comparison. First Class Fuchsia appears more satiny than glossy on the lips, applies very evenly without accentuating any lines and lasts a good 6 hours on my lips, looking a bit more matte and stain-like after some 3 hours.

Maybelline First Class Fuschia, Catrice Call the Ambulance, Wet'n'Wild Hot Paris Pink, Revlon Strawberry gloss 

When swatched next to some of my other summer favorites, First Class Fuchsia is a vibrant warm corally pink, a beautiful bright shade to compliment my cool-toned complexion. It's a pinkier and better-formulated version of another summertime favorite, Wet'n'Wild Hot Paris Pink. It's simply stunning!

I have to admit that for the past couple of weeks, I've been abandoning my lipstick collection in favor of lighter lip glosses, but Maybelline's First Class Fuchsia makes me want to whip out my colorful tubes again. I like it so much that I might go back and pick up another shade - Parisian Pink looked beautifully understated and flattering on the display.

Have you tried Maybelline Color Sensational High Shine lipsticks? Any exciting finds at the drugstore lately?