Is it just me, or is the hunt for the perfect liquid lipstick a never-ending quest of frustrations? I mean, is it really so difficult to make a perfectly pigmented, super-hydrating and totally matte liquid lipstick? Apparently, yes, because season after season, I find myself disappointed by brands that falsely promise vibrant, 24-hour color and then their lipsticks barely make it through my morning cup of coffee. And sure, there are a few expensive-as-hell luxury formulas I could spend all of my earthly dollars on (I really couldn’t, but shhh), but I refuse to believe that there isn’t one, just one, drugstore formula that works just as well. So I made it my mission to find out.
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In an effort to find a knight in shining liquid lipstick for a cool $15 or less, I gathered seven of the top-rated drugstore formulas from Maybelline, NYX, Revlon, L’Oréal Paris, Wet n Wild, Milani and Rimmel, all in (almost) universally flattering mauve, berry and pink hues and diligently tested them for opacity, wearability and ease of application. After wearing each lipstick for a solid two days (sorry, no pictures of my face, but I did round up some photos of beauty bloggers testing the shades on themselves), it was clear that I had some winners and some, well, total losers. And best of all, I came out of this experiment with a new $9 liquid lipstick that defies odds by being both moisturizing and long-lasting. Look! Dreams do come true! Read on to see how the competition played out and get ready to officially end your liquid lipstick quest.
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Originally posted on StyleCaster.
Maybelline Color Sensational Vivid Matte Liquid
First thoughts: The applicator is somewhat fuzzy and plush, so it made it difficult to get a crisp, clean edge without coloring outside my lip lines a bit. And although I was obsessed with the dusty nude hue and the moisturizing finish (a rarity in matte formulas), it felt as if it never fully dried on my lips. After two hours, the color had almost fully faded off my lips onto my coffee cup, and it needed a hardcore touch-up.
Maybelline Color Sensational Vivid Matte Liquid
First thoughts: The applicator is somewhat fuzzy and plush, so it made it difficult to get a crisp, clean edge without coloring outside my lip lines a bit. And although I was obsessed with the dusty nude hue and the moisturizing finish (a rarity in matte formulas), it felt as if it never fully dried on my lips. After two hours, the color had almost fully faded off my lips onto my coffee cup, and it needed a hardcore touch-up.
NYX Lip Lingerie
First thoughts: OK, so the weirdest thing about this formula is that it has a slightly chunky, paint-like consistency. Yes, the chunks are easily smoothed away after a few strokes, but still, it was kind of alarming at first. I also loved that it was so thick and pigmented that one swipe completely covered my lips, which was a major plus, seeing as a gray-toned mauve would have totally washed out my fair skin and given me a corpse-like look had it been sheer.
NYX Lip Lingerie
First thoughts: OK, so the weirdest thing about this formula is that it has a slightly chunky, paint-like consistency. Yes, the chunks are easily smoothed away after a few strokes, but still, it was kind of alarming at first. I also loved that it was so thick and pigmented that one swipe completely covered my lips, which was a major plus, seeing as a gray-toned mauve would have totally washed out my fair skin and given me a corpse-like look had it been sheer.
Revlon ColorStay Ultimate liquid lipstick
First thoughts: I had to apply two thick coats of lipstick to get the same shimmer-flecked burgundy that appeared in the tube, and once it was on, it was pretty wet and tacky, like a gloss. Thankfully, after a few minutes, it dried semi-matte and still felt surprisingly soft and hydrating.
Revlon ColorStay Ultimate liquid lipstick
First thoughts: I had to apply two thick coats of lipstick to get the same shimmer-flecked burgundy that appeared in the tube, and once it was on, it was pretty wet and tacky, like a gloss. Thankfully, after a few minutes, it dried semi-matte and still felt surprisingly soft and hydrating.
L’Oréal Paris Infallible Pro-Last Lipcolor
First thoughts: This dual-ended liquid lipstick (there’s a sheer, vanilla-scented balm on the other side) is so insanely pigmented and long-lasting that it’s borderline permanent (no, seriously — I swatched it on my hand in the morning and despite multiple hand washings and scrubbings, it didn’t come off for a full day). All of which is to say you need to apply this bad boy precisely before it dries or you’ll be stuck with uneven color for a solid five hours.
L’Oréal Paris Infallible Pro-Last Lipcolor
First thoughts: This dual-ended liquid lipstick (there’s a sheer, vanilla-scented balm on the other side) is so insanely pigmented and long-lasting that it’s borderline permanent (no, seriously — I swatched it on my hand in the morning and despite multiple hand washings and scrubbings, it didn’t come off for a full day). All of which is to say you need to apply this bad boy precisely before it dries or you’ll be stuck with uneven color for a solid five hours.
Wet n Wild Megalast Liquid Catsuit matte lipstick
First thoughts: This matte lipstick is pretty clear-cut in its delivery. It’s got an angled applicator that hugs your lips for a precise line, it dries to a totally opaque finish and it stays flake-free for a solid four hours. Plus, the color looks like a Kylie Lip Kit dupe, which I’m totally OK with.
Wet n Wild Megalast Liquid Catsuit matte lipstick
First thoughts: This matte lipstick is pretty clear-cut in its delivery. It’s got an angled applicator that hugs your lips for a precise line, it dries to a totally opaque finish and it stays flake-free for a solid four hours. Plus, the color looks like a Kylie Lip Kit dupe, which I’m totally OK with.
Rimmel Provocalips 16 Hour Kiss Proof Lip Color
First thoughts: When I first swiped on this dual-ended lipstick, it felt sticky and thick, almost like a lip gloss. But after I waited three minutes (as per the instructions) and layered on the clear top coat on the other end, I was pleasantly surprised to find that the formula immediately dried into a soft, creamy matte that not only lasted through my lunch, but didn’t leave my lips dry or cracked.
Rimmel Provocalips 16 Hour Kiss Proof Lip Color
First thoughts: When I first swiped on this dual-ended lipstick, it felt sticky and thick, almost like a lip gloss. But after I waited three minutes (as per the instructions) and layered on the clear top coat on the other end, I was pleasantly surprised to find that the formula immediately dried into a soft, creamy matte that not only lasted through my lunch, but didn’t leave my lips dry or cracked.
Milani Amore Matte Lip Crème
First thoughts: OK, aside from the freshly baked cake scent (which was more delicious than cloying), this rosy mauve lipstick was shockingly creamy — like, to the point where the applicator basically slipped across my lips like butter. And despite being so smooth and hydrating, the formula managed to stay on my lips for a full five hours without needing any touchups. It felt a little magical, honestly.
Milani Amore Matte Lip Crème
First thoughts: OK, aside from the freshly baked cake scent (which was more delicious than cloying), this rosy mauve lipstick was shockingly creamy — like, to the point where the applicator basically slipped across my lips like butter. And despite being so smooth and hydrating, the formula managed to stay on my lips for a full five hours without needing any touchups. It felt a little magical, honestly.
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