These Gem Sticks Are the Only Lipsticks I'll Wear

Growing up, I always admired the women who were prepared for every situation. To me, that meant keeping three things in your bag at all times: a piece of dark chocolate, a few hair ties, and at least one lipstick. My mom learned this trick from my grandma, who said the right shade of lipstick can change everything.

A couple of years ago, I decided to adopt this motto. Even if I didn't put on any other makeup, I would be wearing some kind of lip product. But this got harder and harder every single day. Some of my lipsticks would dry on my lips and look horrible by the end of the day; some matte formulas were so hard to get off that I would have to scrub my lips every single night. Just like that, after three months of wearing lipstick daily, I stopped completely.

Then, after a few weeks into my internship at POPSUGAR, my curiosity over the Beauty collection came over me. Of course, I really wanted to try the new Gem Sticks lipsticks, hoping that somehow they would change my mind. I had three shades in my hands: Gosh Garnet, Ruby Rising, and Precious Pink. All of these lipsticks were easy to apply, and they smelled amazing.

You can see what the colors look like, plus my full review, in the slides ahead. Spoiler: I think I finally understand what my grandma was talking about all along.

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This lipstick is exactly what it sounds like: precious. You would think that just because it's pink, this lipstick would be subtler, but you would be wrong. This shade not only emphasizes the shape of your lips but also creates the illusion that they are bigger. The slight sparkle inside the formula gives your lips a kissable look, which will make you want to wear it every day.

Beauty by POPSUGAR Precious Pink Gem Stick ($22)

Beauty by POPSUGAR Precious Pink Gem Stick $22 from beautybypopsugar.com Buy Now Beauty by POPSUGAR Precious Pink Gem Stick Photo

What the Precious Pink lipstick looks like on me.

Beauty by POPSUGAR Ruby Rising Gem Stick

"Wow" was the word that came to my mind when I saw myself in this lipstick. Some reds can be very overwhelming, but this shade was exactly what I needed. The glitter made it flirty, but not too extra. It reminded me of the holiday season, and I felt like a present wearing this lipstick. It made me feel confident — and maybe a little narcissistic, because I couldn't stop looking at myself in the mirror.

Beauty by POPSUGAR Ruby Rising Gem Stick ($22)

Beauty by POPSUGAR Ruby Rising Gem Stick $22 from beautybypopsugar.com Buy Now Beauty by POPSUGAR Ruby Rising Gem Stick Photo

What the shade Ruby Rising looks like.

Beauty by POPSUGAR Gosh Garnet Gem Stick

I was excited to try this one because I love bold colors. When I applied it, I realized that this color was not exactly burgundy, but not purple either. It was a cool dark shade that could be used on nights out or just casual days when you want to enhance your lips. The shiny formula was also creamy and definitely more hydrating than the other lipsticks I've tried. It's an attention-grabber.

Beauty by POPSUGAR Gosh Garnet Gem Stick ($22)

Beauty by POPSUGAR Gosh Garnet Gem Stick $22 from beautybypopsugar.com Buy Now Beauty by POPSUGAR Gosh Garnet Gem Stick Photo