Can’t get enough of the Kylie Jenner matte lip look? Here’s the low-down on popular liquid lipsticks and lip creams. Sorry Kim K, but your infamous butt has now been upstaged by your little sister’s Instafamous lips.
1. Colourpop Ultra Matte Lip
Available on ezbuy, Pucker, Qoo10 and Colourpop.com (via a forwarder), $9 – $13
Ahh..Colourpop, the brand that everyone is talking about. And why not? Colourpop’s popular Ultra Matte Lip is a long-wearing lip colour that comes in a whole array of shades – from Kylie Jenner-esque nudes to striking berry hues.
The only catch? Colourpop isn’t readily available in Singapore yet, so you have to pay a bit of a premium on reseller sites like Qoo10 and ezbuy. It’s still quite reasonably priced after the markup though, especially when compared to other brands in the market.
True to its name, the Colourpop Ultra Matte Lip gives a matte finish with intense colour payoff. The formula applies glossy, but dries matte with a smooth finish. It can be a bit drying, but that’s not unexpected for a matte lip product. Besides, nothing a little exfoliation and lip balm can’t solve right?
I have to say though, application isn’t the easiest thing in the world. You need steady hands (and a mirror for sure), because the product leaves almost no room for mistakes. The lip colour sinks into the skin quite quickly, so you can’t exactly wipe away the smudges with ease. This stuff is like paint for your lips, I swear.
If you’re having trouble removing the product from your lips (which you probably are), I recommend using Vaseline to soften the formula. Use a cotton bud to layer Vaseline all over your lips, then wait awhile before carefully scrubbing off the colour. Works like a charm and your lips won’t be raw from all that scrubbing.
Colourpop Ultra Matte Lip in More Better
2. LASplash Cosmetics StudioShine Lip Lustre
Available at LASplash Cosmetics, $23
LASplash Cosmetics has a few different lines of liquid lipsticks, but their StudioShine and VelvetMatte ranges seem to be the most popular ones. The VelvetMatte line consists of your standard matte liquid lipsticks, but the StudioShine one is a bit more interesting.
The StudioShine is matte in the sense that the formula isn’t glossy, but the colour has a hint of sheen to it. In fact, I dare say that the StudioShine range is better than Colourpop’s Ultra Matte Lip, because it gives your lips a bit more dimension.
In terms of staying power, StudioShine seems to be on par with Colourpop, although the formula is a bit less drying on the lips. The biggest difference between the two would probably be the price – LASplash’s lip products are about twice the price of Colourpop’s.
LASplash does have a local site that offers free shipping in Singapore though, so the products are definitely much easier to get than Colourpop. They also have a pretty wide range of colours, many of which are dupes for popular Lime Crime colours.
LASplash Cosmetics StudioShine Lip Lustre in Aurora
3. Lime Crime Velvetines
Available on Limecrime.com and Dolls Kill, $25.95 USD ($35.60 SGD)
Lime Crime has had some controversy surrounding it (Google ‘Lime Crime website hack’ and you’ll see why), but the products are actually pretty good. In fact, Lime Crime Velveteens are quite possibly one of the best liquid lipsticks in the market. Besides excellent colour payoff, the formula is probably one of the most long-wearing ones in the market. You can have the greasiest lunch, drink multiple cups of coffee and the colour will still be there. Can anyone say chicken rice-approved lipstick? #ohyeaaa
The product also has a strangely addictive vanilla scent, so don’t be surprised if you find yourself sniffing the wand for no reason.
(Or am I the only one who does that? K this is awkward. Moving on.)
Lime Crime’s Velvetines range has quite a wide selection of colours, but I wouldn’t say that it’s any more extensive than Colourpop or LASplash. They do have some standout colours though (see Red Velvet below – the perfect red, if you ask me). Also, can we take a moment to appreciate the pretty packaging?
Lime Crime isn’t stocked in stores here (yet), but you can order from the US site. International shipping is a hefty 10.95 USD (and there’s no tracking) but hey, all the more reason to buy more lippies right?
Lime Crime Velveteens in Red Velvet
Lime Crime Velveteens in Riot
4. Sephora Cream Lip Stain
Available at Sephora, $25
If you can’t be fussed with ordering Lime Crime online, Sephora actually has a pretty good dupe for the Velvetines. The Sephora Cream Lip Stain is quite comparable to Lime Crime in terms of staying power and colour payoff, and the formula even has the same vanilla scent (yes I had a few sniffs, if you must know *guilty*).
In terms of colours, Sephora’s range is quite limited in stores here. There are only eight colours available, most of which are bright reds and nude pinks. The packaging is also not as nice as Lime Crime’s, but everything works fine so who’s complaining?
Perhaps the main thing about Sephora’s Cream Lip Stain is that the range is readily available at Sephora stores, which means you can swatch the colours before buying them. I don’t know about you, but sometimes I order lipsticks on impulse (“Ooh such a pretty colour!”) and when I actually apply it, I’m just like yeah no. Plus, who doesn’t love swatching at Sephora am I right?
Sephora Cream Lip Stain in 01 Red
Sephora Cream Lip Stain in 06 Pink
5. Silkygirl Matte Junkie Lip Cream
Available at Watsons, $11.90
This one was a bit of a surprise, really. I’ve never been a fan of Silkygirl products because uhh..let’s just say that they’re not the best drugstore makeup brand around eh?
However, someone at the company must’ve been like, Wow this Kylie Jenner Lip Kit thing is cray, let’s cash in on it and make an affordable dupe to redeem ourselves.
Enter the Matte Junkie Lip Cream, a surprisingly good dupe for Lime Crime’s Velvetines. I mean, it’s not exactly the same but the colour payoff is pretty good for a lipstick that’s only $11.90. Plus, it even has the same vanilla scent as Lime Crime Velvetines.
The formula is also unexpectedly long-wearing, yet it’s not difficult to remove. The only drawback of Silkygirl’s Matte Junkie would probably be the limited range of colours. However, if there’s one colour you should get, it’s 04 Vintage – a flattering My-Lips-But-Better shade that is neutral enough for everyday use.
SilkyGirl Matte Junkie in 04 Vintage
6. L.A. Girl Matte Pigment Gloss
Available on Smoochiezz, $11.90
L.A. Girl is not usually a brand I would buy from, but my sister is going through a liquid lipstick phase and has taken it upon herself to try out all the brands in…the world, maybe.
Anyway, she lent me the Matte Pigment Gloss from L.A. Girl to try out and I must say, it’s not too shabby. Not too shabby at all.
The colour payoff is admittedly not as great as some of the other products in this list, but you do get a fair bit of product in the tube. The formula has a matte finish with a hint of shine (it is a gloss after all, not a lip cream) and is not drying on the lips at all.
The product can feel a bit sticky on the lips though, so skip this if you’re not a fan of thicker, more gel-like formulas.
L.A. Girl Matte Pigment Gloss in Frisky
7. Maybelline Velvet Matte Liquid Lip Colour
Available at Watsons and Guardian, $21.90
Well, here’s yet another brand that has jumped on the matte lip colour bandwagon. Ironically, Maybelline’s Velvet Matte Lip Colour has a glossy rather than matte finish. That’s not to say that it’s a bad product though – it just may not be what you’re expecting.
In terms of application, the mousse formula applies smoothly and it’s easy to build up colour with the applicator wand.
While its staying power is average at best, the Maybelline Velvet Matte Lip Colour is good for beginners because it’s much easier to apply than Colourpop or LASplash. The formula doesn’t sink into your lips quickly, which makes it easy to rectify any smudges. It also has a certain glossy finish that is reminiscent of the YSL Beauty Glossy Lip Stains.
Maybelline Velvet Matte Lipstick in Mat 11 Red
8. Too Faced Melted Liquified Lipstick
Available at Sephora, $33
Too Faced’s Melted Liquified Lipstick is somewhat of a cross between a lip stain and liquid lipstick. I know, what’s the difference right? Basically, the formula is supposed to be a long-wearing one that also gives intense colour.
I wouldn’t say that the Melted Liquified Lipstick is as long-wearing as Lime Crime or Colourpop (because that stuff is pretty much like paint for your lips), but it does give decent colour payoff. The doe foot applicator also makes it easy to apply on your lips, which is always good when you need a touch-up on the go.
The formula has a glossy finish though, so if you’re looking for a matte lip colour then this isn’t it.
Most of the colours in the range are quite flattering, but at $33 a pop, I’m not sure if I’ll be obsessed with these anytime soon you know? Although the product does smell like berries, which almost makes you want to taste it. Almost.
Too Faced Melted Liquified Long Wear Lipstick in Melted Berry
9. CLIO Virgin Kiss Silkuid Lip
Available at Watsons, $22.90
Korean makeup brand CLIO has some star products in their range (the Gelpresso Gel Liners, for one), so it’s no surprise that their Virgin Kiss Silkuid Lip is good too. I’m not sure how I feel about the name though. I mean, Silkuid? Really?
Questionable name aside, the Silkuid Lip is a good option for ladies who want the intense colour of a liquid lipstick, but without the drying matte finish. The mousse formula is surprisingly long-wearing and even – dare I say – quite moisturising on the lips. It also doesn’t feel sticky, which can sometimes be the case with glossy lip products.
The colour range available is quite limited though, and some of the colours are a bit too orangey for comfort. After all, it’s hard to pull off funky colours when you’re not a Korean star you know?
Thankfully though, the colour 05 Godpink is a flattering fuchsia shade that will work on most skin tones. Time for a trip to Watsons, perhaps?
CLIO Virgin Kiss Silkuid Lip in 05 Godpink
Swatches
