I'd be lying to you if I said this experiment was strictly about lipstick. When I was invited to tour the Los Angeles Museum of Ice Cream, my first thought wasn't whether I was going to wear a gloss or a matte lippie. It was more like, omg, I can't wait to eat my way through this museum (and since we're being 100 percent honest, I was also thinking about the Instagrammable potential that lay inside). After I let the excitement of the invitation sink in, I then realized it would be a great opportunity to test out what lipsticks would be best for summer's ice cream-filled barbecues and picnics.
There's a high chance photos of the Museum of Ice Cream have been clogging up your social media feeds lately. Pools of sprinkles, walls covered in dripping "ice cream," and life-sized Gummy Bears are just a few of the installations you'll find once you step foot into Maryellis Bunn's sweet masterpiece. This is all thanks to the popularity of the first Ice Cream museum which debuted in New York last summer. Now, Angelenos are getting a taste. The exhibition sold out a month's worth of tickets before it even opened its LA doors to the public on May 1, which prompted them to extend their stay through July 10 (as of press time, all tickets appear to be completely sold out). I finally had the chance to see what all the hype was about, and I came ready to eat, lipsticks in hand.
I tested out five different long-lasting lipsticks as I ate my way through the Museum of Ice Cream's 13 exhibit rooms. Here's how each one fared during my delicious journey.
1. Makeup Geek Showstopper Creme Stain in the California Room
The California Room pays homage to some of the state's most distinctive features with a very punny Hollywood Walk of Fame (stars read Dwayne "The Rocky Road" Johnson and Lady Fingers Gaga) and a palm tree leaf-covered wallpaper designed by artist Ramzy Masri. But the main event was a McConnell's Ice Cream cart. Before I took a bite into my scoop, I swiped on a pink cream lipstick from Makeup Geek.
Makeup Geek Showstopper Creme Stain in Bunny Hop, $12, Makeup Geek
Makeup Geek's Showstopper Creme Stain lipsticks are highly pigmented, super creamy and buildable, and are meant to last all day long. But did it pass the ice cream test?
Makeup Geek's Creme Stain lippies lasted through a couple of bites, but the color definitely transferred to the spoon. I did love how bright and bold the color looked on my lips and how comfortable it felt on my pout. This will definitely be a go-to this summer — I'll just have to remember to reapply after dessert! I give it an 8 out of 10 for ice cream consumption.
2. Too Faced's Melted Matte Lipstick in the Mint Room
When I walked into the Mint Room, I was greeted by a delightful smell and a man in a mint green uniform, spritzing water onto a garden of mint plants buried in chocolate "soil." He kindly took a break from "encouraging" the plants to grow to give me a My/Mo Mochi Mint Chocolate Chip mochi bite. I reached for my Too Faced Melted Matte Lipstick in Wicked and swiped it on.
Too Faced Melted Matte in Wicked, $21, Sephora
If you've never tried any of Too Faced's Melted Matte lipsticks, allow me to introduce you to one of the greatest matte lippie formulas ever made. Too Faced's Melted Matte doesn't feel too dry and delivers a ton of color, and once you put it on, you can tell it's not going to go anywhere.
After my mochi bite, I was pleased to find my Wicked-painted pout was still intact. I give it a 10 out of 10 for longevity, pigmentation, and ice cream consumption, ladies and gents.
3. Colourpop Ultra Matte Lip in the Gummy Bear Room
I was now two ice creams deep and ready for thirds, but the museum had other plans for me in the Gummy Bear Room. There were all sorts of Gummy Bear statues in different sizes — some even as tall as me — situated around the installation, which was created by Philadelphia-based muralist David Guinn and lighting director Drew Billiau (collectively known as “Percy Street.") A sweet woman scooped up a handful of gummy bear candies into my hand. I decided to try Colourpop's Ultra Matte Lip in Saigon for this one.
Colourpop Ultra Matte Lip in Saigon, $6, colourpop.com
Colourpop's Ultra Matte Lip formula goes on smooth and feels lightweight, but it totally stays put. The color is rich and the formula dries quickly, so be sure to apply a lip balm before you wear this lippie.
Although Gummy Bear candies were definitely harmed in this experiment, no lip color was transferred or lost. Another 10 out of 10 for ice cream consumption!
4. Kylie Cosmetics' Matte Lip Kit in the Black Cone Room
Another twist? The Black Cone Room, an installation designed by Peruvian artist Abel Bentin, did serve what looked like ice cream in a cone, but it was actually black cookie dough. Delish. I wore Kylie Cosmetics' Matte Liquid Lipstick in Merry while I indulged in this treat.
Kylie Cosmetics Matte Liquid Lipstick in Merry, $29, Kylie Cosmetics
Say what you will about Kylie, the woman knows how to make a damn good matte liquid lipstick. It's very similar to Colourpop's formula, but feels a tad bit different. It's a little more lightweight, in my opinion, but dries just as quickly and won't budge.
Confession: I don't think I allowed enough time for my lipstick to dry before consuming the cookie dough. Usually, my Kylie Cosmetics Lip Kit lasts through most meals, but sadly, it did not survive this black cone treat. I give it an 8 out of 10 for ice cream consumption.
5. EM Cosmetics Infinite Lip Cloud in the Ice Cream & Shop
All good things must come to an end. In the last room, I was served "Ice Cream for Breakfast," a pink pancake ice cream sandwich with a maple syrup soft serve center made by the Museum of Ice Cream themselves. I chose a darker lipstick hue from Michelle Phan's EM Cosmetics to match the sadness my soul felt that my ice cream adventure was nearly over.
EM Cosmetics Infinite Lip Cloud in Spanish Earth, $16, EM Cosmetics
EM Cosmetics' new Infinite Lip Cloud formula is light, velvety, and pigmented, and stains your lips upon application. It's long-lasting, but it's not as permanent-feeling as Too Faced's or Colourpop's lipsticks.
This might have been the most challenging bite of the day — a giant ice cream sandwich as big as a burger. I went in for the kill and my lips came out mostly unscathed. As you can see, the inner part of my pout lost a bit of color (but that's usually where any lipstick begins to fade when eating). I was still impressed, given how big of a bite I had to take. I'm giving a solid 9 out of 10 for this EM Cosmetics lippie!
While some lipsticks were better than others, I wouldn't think twice before eating ice cream (or any food for that matter) if I were wearing one that didn't score a 10 out of 10 during this experiment. You shouldn't have to be careful about your makeup when stuffing your face, especially at a picnic or a barbecue. No lippie is meant to last forever, so just carry your favorite tube with you, a small pocket mirror, and reapply after. After all, life's too short to worry about how long your lipstick is going to last — just eat the ice cream.
