By stufflovely
I typically don’t expect the most hydrating formula from a matte lipstick, but I don’t want it to suck every drop of moisture from my lips. Thankfully, the XXL lipstick feels comfortable — at times I forgot it was there — and it wears pretty well throughout the day. It lasted through various drinks and the last few bites of a pizza slice. If you’re worried about any potential dryness, you can apply lip balm beforehand, which is what I did, or exfoliate and use a hydrating lip treatment, as New York City-based makeup artist Tommy recommends.
Even if you don’t have a lip exfoliator, he says you can reach for your toothbrush, but make sure it’s dry. It won’t be as harsh as a scrub, but it will get the job done. When you’re finished exfoliating, apply a lip balm or another moisturizing treatment, but don’t immediately swipe on your liquid lipstick afterward.
“Lips can be moisturized but shouldn’t be oily or slick for matte liquid lipsticks,” Tommy explains. “I always give my balm time to ‘soak’ while working on other features, then I blot off excess moisture with a tissue before applying.”
When you’re ready to paint your lips, he says to start at the center then work your way to the corners. I applied a lip pencil beforehand, but Tommy recommends doing it afterward, giving the color a minute to sit first. “Pencil comes second in this case because, like overly-moisturized lips, we don’t want the pencil to compromise the formula’s dry-down and longevity,” he shares. Also if you’re a fan of gloss, let the lipstick dry completely before adding that layer.
Though I loved the shade Deep Mesh, a few others caught my eye. I love combining Low-Cut (dark gingerbread) with Turn-On (caramel) placed in the center of my lips. The brighter colors also wear beautifully. Both Stayin Juicy (fuchsia) and Pink Hit (hot pink) gave me the perfect Nicki Minaj-approved rosy hue to satisfy my inner Barb.
Wearing Stayin Juicy on the left and Pink Hit on the right
Courtesy of subjectThat said, Stamina might just become my new favorite red lipstick because — OMG it’s just so gorgeous. It’s got the perfect blue undertone. Commerce writer Angela Trakoshis tested out the red hue and enjoys its “fluffy, mousse-like” formula. “The Lip Lingerie XXL Matte Liquid Lipstick’s formula is close to perfect, if not is,” she shares. “It’s a long-lasting matte that doesn’t dry out your lips.”
These lipsticks are it for me. I found multiple shades that I really like, a matte formula that feels comfortable on the lips, and each color’s got an intense pigment. The lipsticks also have a slight vanilla scent that’s lovely but not too overpowering.
You can get one of these beautiful lippies for $9 each at ulta.com and nyxcosmetics.com.
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