You'll Never Look at Your Lipstick the Same Way After Seeing It Under a Microscope

Updated on 3/12/2017 at 8:30 PM

When you buy a new lipstick, you probably note its color, texture, and longevity, but have you ever stopped to think about why your favorite lip products look and feel the way they do? Well if you have, Reddit user Amy Oyler (also known as The Scientific Mom) has some answers! Oyler swatched some of her favorite lip products from Tarte, Benefit, Wet N Wild, and more, then inspected them beneath a microscope. The results were a colorful, crystal wonderland!

Comment from discussion I compared 11 shades of lipstick under the microscope, ranging from high end to drug store brands! I found crystal gardens in MUA, Jupiter in Tarte, Unicorn pigments in Benefit, and more! Plus, a whole breakdown of the science behind the dazzling displays of color in our makeup!.

Oyler's experiment revealed a seriously gorgeous side of makeup chemistry, and luckily for us she's not finished. She promised commenters in the Reddit thread of her microscope photos that she'll try eye shadow, highlighter, and blush next! We can't wait to see how our favorite shimmery highlights look close up — we're prepared for a magical, Frozen-esque wonderland.

Read on for some of Oyler's fascinating lipstick images and takeaways, then check out her full breakdown of the curious science of makeup production on her blog.