What I really need to do, is invest in some blutac because trying to take these photos was an absolute nightmare. But you know when you send this text DO YOU WANT TO PLAY A GAME? to your friends and get a 50/50 response of:
–Are you taking blog photos?
–ARE YOU WATCHING SAW!?
That your friends know you incredibly well. Also, the answer was both, of course.
Starting the lineup with my favorite of the drugstore brand options is the L’Oreal Infallible Pro Matte Gloss in Bare Attraction. Does it last through multiple cups of coffee and oil based pasta? No. In fact, I would recommend reapplying it every few hours. But it does have a true matte appearance without feeling dry, and the applicator is a dream. Plus even though it does have gloss in the name, it does not feel like a gloss.
I’ve written about the Ulta Matte Lip Cream before. It was probably the second or third liquid lipstick I put through the gantlet. While it applies nicely, has a decent shaped applicator, and a good range of shades… you’ll get more of your money’s worth by going for the Sephora or NYX options.
The NYX Soft Matte Lip Cream is a staple in anyone’s handbag. Despite including drugstore brands in the lineup, this is probably the most purse-friendly option at $6. My current favorite shades are London, and Copenhagen. With London, I really like using an opalescent eyeliner to make it look a little more ombré in application. It’s a great budget option if you don’t mind doing sheer layers. If you make them a little too thick they tend to pill in the middle and flake more.
The Revlon Ultra HD Matte Lipcolor was my least favorite out of all of these. It says matte, but never really fully dries down to actually being matte. I picked it up in Seduction, which is an absolutely gorgeous color, if only it would stay put for any length of time. If anything this is for people who like the idea of a matte liquid lipstick, but lean more towards glosses. As for me, I’m tossing it to make more room for all my new Gen Beauty Swag.
The Sephora Cream Lip Stain has really impressed me over the last couple months. I have Blackberry Sorbet and it is such a gorgeous shade that is wearable across multiple skin tones. Like with the NYX, I recommend light, sheer, layers so that it doesn’t flake. However, the staying power is a bit better. It lasts through happy hour and a decent wine-fueled hot tub session.
Tied for my favorite, Stila Stay All Day Liquid Lipstick is not joking when they say stay all day. It goes on so incredibly creamy, sets quickly, and does not transfer in the slightest. It’s not often that I like something well enough that I need it in all other color options, but this is one of them. When it finally does start wearing off, it’s really only in the middle and easy to reapply over. I have it in Beso, which is also an incredibly gorgeous true red. It might be sacrilege, but I like it better than my Ruby Woo.
With how hyped the release was, I wanted to be head over heels for Tarte Tarteist Lip Paint. Don’t get me wrong, I am so glad that I picked it up in TBT. However, despite it being incredibly pigmented, smelling faintly of peppermint, and applying like a dream… it never really feels like it fully sets. I think because it isn’t as dry of a formula as some of the others, that it just ups the transfer/smudge factor.
Other tied-for-favorite of course being the Kat Von D Everlasting Liquid Lipstick, which has all of the same selling points as Stila, but has a larger range of shades. I know, I have Berlin. It’s far from what anyone would consider daring. However, one of these days I will have enough confidence to rock something like Echo or Wicked.
The only thing I don’t like about the Mac Retro Matte Lipstick is the applicator. I just can not get it to work for me. Every time I break it out, I have to correct it with concealer or a q-tip doused in makeup remover. I’d recommend the makeup remover option, considering the Mac lasts longer than my concealer does and I have to keep reapplying it for a crisp line. Wearability wise, I’d rank it with Stila. User-friendliness is where it loses its points.
Tl;Dr: Top picks are Kat Von D and Stila. Toss picks are Revlon and Ulta. Which liquid lipsticks are your current favorites?
Shop this post: L’Oreal Infallible Pro Matte Gloss, Ulta Matte Lip Cream, NYX Soft Matte Lip Cream, Revlon Ultra HD Matte Lipcolor, Sephora Cream Lip Stain, Stila Stay All Day Liquid Lipstick, Tarte Tarteist Lip Paint, Kat Von D Everlasting Liquid Lipstick, Mac Retro Matte Lipstick.
♡Em
