Revisiting the Bite Beauty Lip Lab!

Hi, everyone! If you've been reading the blog for a while, you'll know that I was lucky enough to visit the Bite Beauty Lip Lab for the first time last June, where I had the opportunity to create my own custom lipstick. A truly dreamy experience! For those who are unfamiliar, Bite Beauty is a Canadian brand that focuses on rich, pigmented, moisturizing lip products that are completely non-toxic and food grade. They are among the best lipsticks I've ever tried, so when I first heard about this magical Lip Lab, I knew I would have to visit at some point. Indeed, the Lip Lab is any lipstick addict's mothership, as it allows you to sit down with a consultant and create the lip colour of your dreams, from the shade, finish, scent, and even the packaging!

Given how happy I was with my first experience, I was beyond excited when we revisited the lab earlier this month during our IMATS New York trip. 

The lab is quite a small space, as one would expect from Manhattan's cozy, bustling SoHo neighbourhood. Making a reservation is definitely recommended, essentially required during busier times of the week. But once your spots are held, the quaint, narrow shop is able to serve your needs perfectly!  

The space was as fresh and welcoming as I remembered, with larger-than-life lipstick graphics on the wall, trays and shelves of freshly molded pigments, and wallpaper plastered with the names of Bite's popular lipstick shades. 

A few of the other girls were up first this time around, so I watched the process unfold. There are spaces for three customers to work at a time, each sitting across from a Lip Lab consultant with a tray of lipstick pigments between you. 

The consultants first provide you with makeup remover to erase any existing product, then give you a swipe of Bite's deliciously-scented lip scrub to even out your lips (which helps them receive colour better!). Afterwards, they pass you a touch of Bite's cult favourite Lip Mask, essentially an ultra-moisturizing lip balm that leaves lips feeling so smooth and luscious. 

This visit to the Lip Lab was extra special for me, as my goal of the appointment was to create my wedding lipstick! After much consideration and some feedback from you, I've decided to go with a berry lipstick on my big day. Bright and colourful, while still being wedding appropriate, and utterly perfect for a Fall wedding! 

Sitting down, I knew exactly what I wanted- a matte berry that was neither too red nor too deep and vampy. Something rich and balanced, vibrant, but not neon. My lovely consultant quickly went to work!

The first shade she created was utterly beautiful, but a bit more red than what I was going for. She totally got my drift and went about concocting a second mix. 

On the second try, she got it absolutely perfect! To create the shade, she used a mix of Quince, Rose Cuvee, Red 307, and Scarlet pigments. Here I am wearing it- smiling ear to ear! 

For the formula, I actually opted for the No Finish finish, which is essentially matter than matte (as Bite's typical matte is more of a satin). I thought that would be perfectly long-wearing for the wedding! Given the berry hue of the lipstick, I chose a Wildberry + Mint scent- fresh and fruity! 

Once the shade is concocted, it is warmed, melted, and mixed to create a paint-like liquid. 

It's then poured into a mold and put on ice to set!

For the packaging, I selected the tube with the pointed cap. Although my lipstick never wears down this way (the lids are meant to emulate the different ways our lipsticks shape as we use them), but I liked the design!!

And here we have it- my fresh new beautiful baby! Seriously- lipstick doesn't get newer than this!!

Here I am wearing it under store lighting: 

... And in sunlight just outside of the lab...

... and finally, sporting it proudly back at home! I had brief thoughts that it might be bad luck to wear my wedding lipstick before the big day, but it's too pretty of a shade to let sit idle for the next 6 months! 

A neat finishing touch is that the Lip Lab stores your created lipsticks on file, in case you ever need a backup tube made. Given my plethora of lipsticks this will probably never be necessary, but it's a neat and handy feature nonetheless! 

My second trip to the Bite Beauty Lip Lab certainly did not disappoint in any way. My consultant was super friendly and receptive, the shade turned out exactly as hoped, and it was fun to visit with friends this time around! I can't imagine ever visiting New York without stopping in :)

Have you ever visited the Lip Lab? What kind of shade would you create?

Thanks for stopping by! xo

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