Bite Beauty Best Bite Set

Despite their generally non-existant customer service and one-sided social media presence, Bite Beauty puts out consistently good products. When I saw this little set - with the balance of good value and try-it-out variety - I jumped on it.

The packaging is cute, sturdy and travel friendly (should you feel the need to bring all four of the lip pencils with you at a given moment), with a very handy mirror to boot. It's also, of course, reusable for whatever else you'd like to carry neatly in your bag (personally I'll be using it for the twelve million bobby pins that inevitable find their way to the bottom of my purse).

The pencils themselves are a smaller version of the High Pigment Pencils, and are priced very favorably at 25$ USD for the set of four 0.05oz pencils (with the regular size coming in 24$ USD for 0.09oz). Essentially, you get four half-sized items for the price of one regular-sized item, which is both a good deal and a low-commitment way to test out a selection of shades. 

(If you can no longer find this set at your local Sephora - as it no longer seems to be available online - you can at least purchase the shades in the regular format.)

The texture of these is absolutely dreamy. They are intensely creamy and rich feeling when applied, and surprisingly hydrating for a lip pencil, particularly one that has a non-glossy finish. That creamy texture carries through the duration of the wear, so while they do dry down to a satin finish, they remain flexible. That translates to both a more comfortable wear, and a slight tendency to bleed, especially with the richer colors. 

They are also deeply pigmented, and appear opaque with the first swipe. That high pigment load is possibly what helps them adhere and last better, given their buttery texture. 

I also love the fact that they twist up, because, well, I'm lazy like that. And really, who wants to sharpen these things anyway?

Madeira, Cranberry, Rhubarb, Quince 

Now onto the colors!

Madeira is a slightly warm-toned nude. It's lighter than my lips and marginally deeper than my skin tone, and once on it basically just blanks my lips out entirely for that ever-so-sexy zombie look. Not something I would ever wear on its own, but a good base for a pink-nude gloss. This is also the only one that picked up on dryness, caking up a bit.

Cranberry is a deep but vibrant red, just a touch cool-leaning. It is classic and sexy and totally gorgeous. And makes your teeth as white as can be.

Rhubarb is mauve-rose, with a slight brown undertone that makes it the Most Likely To Flatter of the bunch. It's not the attention-getter of the set, but it's by far the one I'll be reaching for most regularly.

Quince is a stunning fuchsia rose - grounded by the rose tone to keep it wearable as opposed to searing. Quince is super-confident, but not overbearing, and as such is a beautiful alternative to the classic red for a 'power' lip. It's also just a fun, flirty, fabulous color. (Alliteration for emphasis!)

So aside from the minor issues I had with Madeira, I am very impressed with the Best Bite Set, and all the more tempted to own ALL THEIR THINGS.

What about you guys? Have you tried any Bite items that you love (or loathe)?

(I purchased this item. This post is not sponsored or compensated, all opinions are my own.)