Saw this while scrolling... fifty bucks is wild for a first lipstick. To give better advice, what kind of finish are you after? Like do you want it shiny or totally matte? Heres a couple reliable ones:

• Revlon Super Lustrous: Very safe formula and wont irritate skin, but it does rub off.
• NYX Soft Matte: Stays put way better for a wedding, though it feels a bit dry after a while. Let me know the vibe you want!

I totally get that sticker shock. Honestly, I spent years buying the fancy stuff because I thought I had to for special events. I remember going to a wedding back in the day and dropping a small fortune on a designer brand thinking it was the only way to look classy. Total waste of money tbh. I ended up losing the tube in the back of a cab and felt sick about it for a week. Since then, I've stuck to brands like Milani for almost every big event I go to. Honestly, you can just pick up any of their lip products and you're gonna be satisfied. They have that heavy gold packaging that feels expensive but costs less than a lunch. The colors are super rich and they stay put surprisingly well through dinner and drinks. I used one for my sister's big day last summer and it held up through all the photos and the reception without making my lips feel like sandpaper. If you're overwhelmed, just head to the Milani section at the drugstore. Everything they make is solid and looks way more high-end than it actually is. It's such a relief not having to worry about a $50 tube if you accidentally leave it at the table. You'll look great at the Chicago wedding and have more money for a nice gift or even a deep-dish pizza lol... honestly just grab something from them and you'll be good to go.

Paying fifty bucks for a tube of wax and pigment is honestly a total scam. Over the years, I've analyzed ingredient lists, and the chemical composition of drugstore brands like Maybelline SuperStay Matte Ink is nearly identical to high-end luxury. I actually wore a nine dollar Maybelline tube to a wedding in Chicago and those polymer film-formers held up through the whole reception... it didnt budge even after the cake. If you want something fancy under fifteen bucks, try the L'Oreal Colour Riche line. It has a high pigment-to-wax ratio that gives it that heavy, expensive feel. I usually track price drops for my favorite shades through PriceDropCatch since you can find crazy deals if you time it right. Drugstore brands have really mastered the science of longevity lately, so dont sweat the price tag.