Drugstore Matte Lipsticks: Revlon, Maybelline, L'oreal

The matte-ness is slowly growing upon me.

a small revelation here,
i have never thought of myself as a matte lipstick fan because i've always associated matte with "dryness".
plus, growing up under the influence of japanese makeup where juicy and plump lips are the desired look,
matte lips just never appealed to me,
until recently.

that's the up side of being exposed to different standards of beauty.
not only does it widen my perspectives, i learnt to appreciate a whole new range of lip products i've never laid eyes upon before.

from my lipstick collection, i picked out these 4 matte products (because the majority are still non-mattes).
they are all drugstore brands (revlon, maybelline and l'oreal) available in singapore.

from left to right: REVLON super lustrous matte / REVLON colorburst matte balm / MAYBELLINE colorsensational bold matte / L'OREAL moist matte

i feel like matte lipsticks aren't that popular in the singapore market because the selection is a lot smaller than other finishes.
but i managed to pick out a few good ones.



REVLON super lustrous matte (010 wine not) is a dark raisin colour, leaning towards a brownish/purplish shade. the lipstick is smooth on my lips and deposits a thin layer of colour that can be built up to my desired intensity in 2 swipes. settles into lip lines easily, works best with a thin layer of lip balm underneath it. not very moisturizing, but i can get 2-3 hours of comfortable wear out of this before reapplication.

REVLON colorburst matte balm (210 unapologetic) is a bright pink, it's closer to coral than hot pink. the lipstick glides extremely smoothly to deposit a generous amount of lipstick, you can probably get full intensity with just one swipe. just beware of getting too much product on as it might end up looking uneven. it doesn't feather, but the product does bunch up. doesn't feel drying, but it will sink into my lip lines after several hours. a complete removal before reapplication is recommended (to prevent overdose of product). thankfully, removing this stuff is as easy as wiping it off.

MAYBELLINE coloursensational bold matte (MAT 3 cheeky coral) is an orange! application is smooth but sheer, even after several swipes the colour fails to build up to the intensity of the bullet. probably works best as a blusher than a lipstick. it's not even a full matte as there's a slight sheen after application. feels more moisturizing than the previous 2 revlon lipsticks though!

L'OREAL moist matte (PR511 spring rosette) is dark dusty pink, even though it looks pretty dark on the swatch above it looks a lot lighter when on my lips (it's probably looking darker when compared to the white tissue) the formulation is perfect, the lipstick glides like butter and deposits just the right amount of products. highly pigmented, even, and moisturizing. it can feel dry after 4 hours and accentuate lip lines beyond that, so it's time to reapply. from memory, i can reapply straightaway without removing the remnants first.

MY FAVOURITE?

this is my ranking:

L'OREAL moist matte > REVLON colorburst matte balm > REVLON super lustrous matte > MAYBELLINE colorsensational bold matte

one thing for sure, my matte lipstick collection is only going to grow.

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MY PLUM/WINE/BURGUNDY LIPSTICKS

Just so happened that they are all from REVLON.

i have a thing for plum/wine/burgundy lipsticks, and i think my collection of such colour will grow in time to come.
it's definitely a colour i would wear any time,
not just reserved for fall or winter.
who am i kidding? there is no fall or winter in singapore!
i wear whatever makes me feel and look good.

wine shades are hard to find among drugstore brands,
this might be the reason why all three that i own belongs to revlon,
since they are the only brand (out of the drugstore brands in singapore) that releases such a colour.

i'll be comparing them against each other in terms of texture, finish, and how i like them.



the three lip products are:

1. SUPER LUSTROUS MATTE (010 WINE NOT)
2. COLORSTAY ULTIMATE SUEDE (035 BACKSTAGE)
3. COLORSTAY MOISTURE STAIN (005 PARISIAN PASSION) 

you can click on link to see more swatches and detailed review of the individual product!



swatches of the respective lipsticks on a piece of white tissue paper


COLOUR AND FINISH:
010 WINE NOT is the darkest of all, leaning on the brownish/purple side. it also has the least red in it. it's a true matte.

035 BACKSTAGE is in the middle, a little more red and less brown as compared to 010 WINE NOT. after it sets, it has a slight sheen to it but doesn't look gloss.

005 PARISIAN PASSION has the most red in it compared to the other two. the finish is downright glossy.

CONSISTENCY AND TEXTURE:
010 WINE NOT glides relatively smoothly and deposits a thin layer of colour on my bare lips with ease. requires building up to amp the intensity of the colour. the bullet is considered hard when compared to the matte balms.
 
035 BACKSTAGE glides too smoothly, resulting in a sheer layer of colour. will require more layers in between the setting time. the bullet is harder than 010 WINE NOT.

005 PARISIAN PASSION is a thick liquid that has a balmy feel, goes on evenly and easily.

MOISTURE LEVEL AND AFTER FEEL:
010 WINE NOT is hydrating for the first few hours, reapplication is necessary to re-hydrate your lips. doesn't have much of an after feel, especially when i smack my lips.
 
035 BACKSTAGE not very hydrating but it doesn't make me feel dry either. has the typical sticky feeling the ultimate suede line has.

005 PARISIAN PASSION most hydrating out of all since it's a liquid. makes my lips feel like cushion the first few hours of wear (until it dried down to nothing). lips can feel dry then.

LONGEVITY:
010 WINE NOT transfers to cups like it's supposed to be married to it. without eating, i get 4-5 hours of wear.

035 BACKSTAGE doesn't transfer to foreign objects, but they do transfer to each other when i smack my lips. without lip smacking or eating, it can last the entire day. but that's unrealistic, so i get about 2 hours of wear out of it because i can't stop smacking my lips.

005 PARISIAN PASSION might have transferred but it's not observable since the liquid just meld into each other. the gloss only stays for 2 hours at most, but the stain stays till next morning!

IN A NUTSHELL:
there're pros and cons to each lipstick. for a habitual lip smacker, i'd say the moisture stain is the best because both the matte and ultimate suede lipstick will result in some transfers between my lips. constantly worrying about whether my lipstick is even or not tires my mind out unnecessarily. but if you're not a lip smacker, you might like the lipsticks more than i do.

so in a very biased ranking, my favourite plum/wine/burgundy lip product:

MOISTURE STAIN (005 PARISIAN PASSION) > SUPER LUSTROUS MATTE (010 WINE NOT) > ULTIMATE SUEDE (035 BACKSTAGE)

HAVE YOU TRIED ANY OF THESE? HOW DO YOU LIKE THEM?

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REVLON Moisture Stain (005 Parisian Passion) Review and Swatch

My thoughts after using it for more than 2 months.

i've already done a first impression for this product, in this entry i'll just add a little more details shots and swatches.


the shade i got is 005 parisian passion.

i've been eyeing this shade ever since it was released in the U.S. because it's hard to come across such a gorgeous deep purple shade in the usual drugstore brands. after praying hard that revlon singapore will bring in this shade, my prayer is answered!!!


the paddle applicator has a tapered top, giving you more control and precision when maneuvering around the delicate corners/cupid's bow.

NUDE LIPS | ONE THIN COAT | 2 LAYERS OF PRODUCT

COLOUR:
i've colour corrected the photos so as to show a more true to life colour. i've mentioned in my first impression that this is a purplish wine-burgundy shade, that description still holds true. it's reminds me of black berry juice perhaps - a dark purplish shade.



PACKAGING:
the colour on the packaging is a good depiction of the product's colour. if you can't test this out in your local drugstore, it's useful to place the tube over your lips to imagine how this colour will look with your skin tone.

WEAR AND TEXTURE:
the product is slightly viscous and can go on a little too thick and cushiony initially, hence it's best to apply many thin layers instead of one thick layer or product. after several hours however, it will thin out and by the time i blot my lips with a piece of tissue, there is little emollient that transfers to the tissue. most of it either absorbed into my lips or evaporated away.

my lips continue to feel hydrated and moisturized for up to 3-4 hours, however do not be surprised when you realize your lips feel a little rough and hard at the end of the day unless you keep reapplying it. the long hours of no touch up definitely speeds up my lips' renewal process.

once the stain gets onto our lips, the colour of the product will change. i noticed that if i were to wipe off the products off my lips initially, the product looks just like it did from the tube (as in dark purplish). hours later, when i blot my lips the lip stick stain i get is a clear blackish shade. i have no idea what transpired, but it's probably the loss of water soluble stain that got stuck onto my lips.

despite the glossy/balmy texture, i'm happy to report the product DOES NOT feather.

STAIN:
the wonderful thing about this product is its staining power. i'm left with a berry-bitten lips after wiping it off after several hours. i'm not exactly sure how long it'll take to stain your lips, but the longer you leave it in, the deeper the stain. common sense right?



VERDICT:
i absolutely adore its texture and how it feels on my lips. it's hydrating, the colour payoff is amazing, and that stain is so lovely.

however, this might be the kind of product which will require the user to learn how to work with it. it's not idiot proof and one must be patient when applying - many thin layers instead of one thick layer. also, make full use of the paddle applicator by pressing it hard against your lips for the best application possible. just speaking from personal experience.

i mean, this is a very kissable product because you can use it as a lip stain. no transfers to your lover's cheeks or lips!

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Revlon Moisture Stain (005 Parisian Passion) First Impression Swatch and Review

My thoughts on the highly pigmented gloss after wearing it just once.

i have been keeping a look out for these lip gloss ever since they made their debut last year. i didn't buy it immediate because 1) i wasn't in the right condition or mindset to wear makeup last october, 2) the price is too jarring.

each pop costs SGD 20.90 normally.

i got it a few days ago as it had a 50% discount. it's a weekly special at watsons, so i took my chance and made my long awaited purchase. there's only one shade that have captured my heart since a year ago, so i brought it home.

005 PARISIAN PASSION is a deep purplish-berry shade. 

similar to the maybelline lip polish/elixir and innisfree creamy tint lip mousse, this lip gloss-lip balm hybrid has shine of a lip gloss, the colour of a lipstick, and the moisturizing capability of a lip balm.

COLOUR: you can call it a burgundy shade, to me it's more like a purplish-wine shade. 005 parisian passion doesn't contain any shimmer or glitter.

PIGMENTATION: the gloss is rather pigmented. one layer gave me a translucent wash of colour (photo below) while two coats fully coloured my lips (as seen above).

FINISH: it has a glossy finish.

PACKAGING: the colour of the squarish tube reflects the colour of the product within. i think it's quite true to how it looks on my lips!

a paddle applicator with a tapered end for precise application. the colour payoff is good and that's just one coat of product!

TEXTURE: a very thick liquid, some skills are required to spread it out evenly over my lips. thanks to the stickiness, it adheres to the skin very well. when i smack my lips, they didn't stick together like i had expected it to do so (as with the revlon ultimate suede lipstick), which is a pleasant surprise for me.

does it stain? see for yourself!

STAINING POWER: it stained my bare lips pretty well within 10 minutes. the longer i have it long, the darker the stain. i love the natural look of my wine stained lips! (note: my lips are clean and bare prior to application)

FORMULA: the product is very hydrating and can be worn on its own (without any lip balm). in fact, i think it's best to start off with a pair of bare lips if you want to get stained well. the viscosity of the product allows it to be spread out evenly, thus ensuring an even stain. even though it adheres well to the skin, it isn't overly sticky.

STAYING POWER: the gloss itself isn't long lasting, but the stain is.

SCENT: lightly scented, i can't quite pin point what's the smell but it doesn't smell unpleasant.

taken under yellow/warm lighting

taken under white/cool lighting

HOW TO PERFECT YOUR APPLICATION: when i said some skills are required to fully maximise the benefit of this product, i just mean for you to utilise the paddle applicator for a perfect application. i find that the best way to apply this new kind of liquid balm (similar to the maybelline lip polish/elixir and innisfree creamy tint lip mousse) is to use enough force to smooth the product over your lips. lip smacking pre-maturely may result in an patchy application. also, make sure your lips are clean and bare without a trace of lip balm for the best application experience.

OTHER PRECAUTIONS: you may also want to dip the applicator slowly back into the tube to prevent over spilling of the product because the thickness of it will increase the risk of trapping air and thus, spilling out of the tube. you don't want to get this sticky mess onto anywhere that's not your lips.

VERDICT: a lovely formula with amazing colour payoff. i love how it moisturizes my lip which packing the colour on so intensely. i would prefer it to the loreal shine caresse glossy stain as the former is more hydrating and pigmented. one layer of product gives you about 70% of the colour, but if you're aiming for super dark lips, two coats might be necessary.

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