A lipstick sample should help you make a production decision, not only choose a colour in a photograph. Start with a written brief covering the intended finish, shade range, packaging and destination market. Keep a reference sample and identify each version clearly.
## Review the product and applicator together
For a lipstick, assess application, colour appearance, comfort and how the stick operates in its case. For a liquid lipstick, also check the applicator, the amount it picks up and how the product is removed at the neck of the container. A formula that feels suitable in one package may need further evaluation in another.
Compare samples in similar lighting and record observations using the same method. Screens, photographs and individual lip colour can affect how a shade appears; an approved physical reference is more useful than a screenshot alone.
## Record decisions instead of vague feedback
– Sample identifier and formula or shade version.
– Desired finish, coverage and application experience.
– Observations that require adjustment, with a clear priority.
– Container, closure, applicator, decoration and artwork version.
– Checks still outstanding and the person approving the final sample.
A user trial does not replace any product testing required for the intended market. Claims such as transfer resistance or wear duration should not be copied from a reference brand without appropriate support.
## Approve a defined specification
Confirm which sample and packaging version represent the proposed order, what inspection criteria apply, and whether further changes require a new approval. A sample approval is not a promise that every custom formula or package is already available.
Explore [lipstick options](/{lang}/collections/makeup/lipstick) or [liquid lipstick options](/{lang}/collections/makeup/liquid-lipstick). Use the [sample service](/{lang}/pages/samples) to discuss the product numbers, shades and packaging you want to evaluate.