Have I been sneaky about how much I've been loving mauve lipsticks in 2015? I feel like they're really on trend right now, but they're also incredibly wearable - which definitely isn't always true for trend items. For me, when it comes to lip products I really feel like there's no need to break the bank because there are amazing options at the drugstore. However, when it comes to BITE Beauty lippies, I tend to feel like they are more than worth the high end splurge and tend to be one of my favorite makeup indulgences. So how do two of my favorites from the drugstore stack up against my favorite brand for high end lippies. Like my other SPLURGE vs. SAVE posts, this isn't really about dupes as much as it is about products that perform the same function and how they measure up quality wise.

The three products that I'll be comparing today are as follows. First, on the high end side of the scale we have the BITE Beauty Matte Crème Lip Crayon in the shade Glacé. The two lower price options I have here are the Sonia Kashuk Velvety Matte Lip Pencil in Mulberry Nude and the NYX High Voltage Lipstick in the shade Flutter Kiss.

Keep reading for the comparison & swatches! Also, if you're interested in my full reviews of all three of these products, there will be links at the bottom of the post!

VALUE:

Sonia Kashuk Velvety Matte Lip Pencil: $7.59for 0.08oz ($95/oz)

BITE Matte Crème Lip Crayon: $28 for 0.05oz ($560/oz)

NYX High Voltage Lipstick: $8.99 0.09oz  ($100/oz)

WINNER: Sonia Kashuk by a hair over NYX... and by a mile over BITE.

DESIGN/PACKAGING:

Sonia Kashuk Velvety Matte Lip Pencil: This product is a traditional pencil that you have to sharpen, which I have to say is not my personal favorite since it requires a fairly big sharpener and can be a pain when you're on the go. I do like the design of the packaging, though. It's a sleek and sophisticated black tube with a plastic peice at the bottom showing the shade. One pet peeve I have is that you really have to pay attention to making sure the cap is secure, because it's a little difficult to get on there firmly.

BITE Matte Crème Lip Crayon: Like all BITE products, this comes housed in a matte grey tube with a rubberized outer. When you open the cap, the plastic shows the shade but there's no other unique indication of what shade you're grabbing for until you open it or look at the label. For me, that's a negative, but it's a minor one. I love BITE packaging in general and I feel like this does live up to that.

NYX High Voltage Lipstick: This packaging is cheap and I don't love it. I personally don't like any products with this type of plastic lid, because they never seem to stay secure and will often pop off in my purse, ruining the makeup and the lining of my bag in the process. No bueno. Not my favorite.

WINNER: BITE. This packaging lives up to the price, if you ask me.

PERFORMANCE/FINISH:

Sonia Kashuk Velvety Matte Lip Pencil: This is a true matte product. It applies smoothly, which is a huge win for me, and sets very quickly to a fully matte finish. I find that, while it can be a little bit dry, it isn't uncomfortable on the lips and it wears a very long time. It's also very lightweight on the lips and really doesn't feel all that much like you're wearing product there, other than the slight dry feeling. 

BITE Matte Crème Lip Crayon: This is a much thicker, creamier texture that I feel falls somewhere between a matte and a crème finish. It's incredibly pigmented and comfortable on the lips. For me, because it doesn't quite set the way the Sonia Kashuk does, it doesn't really have as lightweight a feel or as long a wear time, but it certainly isn't uncomfortable and it lasts a decent amount of time.

NYX High Voltage Lipstick: This has a completely different finish from the previous two. This is a true crème finish product with a smooth feel on the lips. This would be the better choice for someone with really dry lips or who doesn't like a truly matte lip. It's very pigmented and easy to apply and I find that it wears very well and longer than most products with a similar texture. 

WINNER: Sonia Kashuk - though this is subjective and could really depend on personal preference. Each product has pros and cons.

As you can see in the swatches, there are slight differences in depth and distinct differences in finish, so those things will definitely all be about preference. However, as much as I absolutely love BITE products and think that they're worth the money, I do think that the 2 drugstore options get the job done really well and are worth the money. I would personally purchase one of the drugstore options and save my splurge for one of the Luminous Crème Lipsticks from BITE, which have a formula that really can't beat as far as I'm concerned!

Thanks for reading! Will you be picking up any of these?

FULL REVIEWS:
Sonia Kashuk Velvety Matte Lip Crayons
BITE Beauty Deluxe Matte Lip Crayon in Glacé 
NYX High Voltage Lipstick in Flutter Kiss