My Experience At Lip Lab In DC

Considering a visit to Lip Lab DC? Here is my honest Lip Lab review after visiting the Washington, DC location at The Wharf to make custom lipstick!

I recently had the chance to visit Lip Lab at The Wharf in Washington, DC, and I was impressed with the experience from start to finish. If you’ve been considering a Lip Lab appointment in your town or are coming to DC and curious, I’m sharing my full Lip Lab review (including cost!) and whether or not I think it’s worth it.

My Experience At Lip Lab In DC

The Lip Lab in Washington, DC is located at The Wharf, which has 3 different parking garages you can park in. The downside to this is that they are not cheap at all. The Lip Lab experience is about 1.5 – 2 hours, which is going to cost you $28 in the parking garages. My best advice is to find street parking using ParkMobile and save some money, or walk if you are staying/live close by.

What Is Lip Lab?

Lip Lab is a custom lipstick experience where you can create your own personalized lipstick shade. At Lip Lab, you work with a color expert to choose the perfect color, texture, and finish for your lipstick. They mix and mold the lipstick right in front of you, ensuring it matches your preferences. You can also add personal touches, like scents or engraving. Lip Lab offers a unique way to create a one-of-a-kind lipstick tailored specifically to your tastes.

Lip Lab Review

I had never done anything like this before, so I truly had no idea what to expect, but I came with ideas of what lip colors look best on me. More on that in a minute.

The customer service stood out right away. As soon as I walked in, the staff greeted me warmly and made me feel welcome. They were attentive and eager to explain the process, which put me at ease, even though they had a full bar of customers lined up. I got to my appointment (highly recommend a reservation, as it books up quickly) a little bit early, and took a seat on one of the couches while I waited.

When it was my turn, I sat down with a color expert who guided me through selecting the perfect shade. There were so many options to choose from, which was exciting. They had an extensive variety of colors (truly more than I can adequately explain), ranging from bold reds to soft nudes. On top of that, they offered different textures, including matte, satin, and gloss. It felt like there was something for everyone and if I’m being honest, this was really impressive, because I guess I still sort of thought that they had base colors and then just went off those, but it’s truly custom custom – anything you want, they make.

Once I decided on the color and texture, the expert mixed the pigments right in front of me. It was interesting to watch as they blended the colors to create my custom lipstick. They made sure I was happy with the shade before moving on to the next step. It took two tries for each lipstick I got, where I was able to say “this is a little too orange” or “could we make this a bit lighter” – my color expert was excellent! After the color was finalized, he poured the mixture into a mold to set.

While waiting for the lipstick to set, the staff chatted with me about the different options for customization, like adding symbols or engraving the tube. It added a personal touch to the experience and I chose to name my lipsticks and have the name engraved.

The cost for a custom lipstick at Lip Lab is $65 or $55 for a gloss. They also have combo packages and deals they offer. Given the level of personalization and the quality of service, I found it to be worth the price. It’s a bit of a splurge, but for a unique, custom product, it felt justified.

Is Lip Lab Worth The Cost?

Overall, my visit to Lip Lab was enjoyable and informative. The great customer service, the detailed color-making process, and the wide variety of options made it a memorable experience. And for what it’s worth – the product goes on just as well, if not better, than lip products I’ve purchased at stores like Sephora and Ulta. If you’re looking for a special treat or a unique gift, I highly recommend checking it out and I would absolutely say it’s worth the cost. I think it would be fun for a mother/daughter date, girl’s night, bachelorette party, or like I did – just for fun.

If you liked this post, you might also enjoy Best Bakeries in Washington, DC and NoVa or Why Eating At El Presidente in DC Is A Must