View The Vibe’s Erinn Stewart set on a quest to find the best matte lipstick for the season. See how 8 matte lipsticks survived through breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
Matte lipsticks are the way to go this season, but are they actually as “long-lasting” and do they really “stay all day” as they promise? We put 8 different brands to the test, from super cheap to super expensive, to see if they can last the entire day (and multiple coffees). The results? See for yourself!
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Charlotte Tilbury
Charlotte Tilbury Matte Revolution in Love Liberty, $39, sold at Charlotte Tilbury’s website, Holt Renfrew, and Nordstrom.
9:30 AM: Easy to apply and went on in a thin, super pigmented layer.
1:30 PM: After lunch (a wrap and a beet juice), the colour was still pretty strong (not sure if it was the lipstick or the juice).
5:30 PM: The colour definitely faded but it left a lightly stained look, which I’m okay with!
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Final Verdict: If you’re a one-and-done kind of person, this is the lipstick for you. The colour faded throughout the day but it did so evenly, which didn’t make me rush to apply a second coat.
Revlon
Revlon Ultra HD Matte Lip Colour Lipstick in Devotion, $9.96 at Walmart
9:30 AM: This lip colour felt really nice to apply, smelled amazing and dried almost instantly.
2:30 PM: The colour lasted the better part of the morning but I had to reapply after lunch as it was more or less gone at this point.
5:30 PM: The second application lasted the rest of the day. Score!
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Final Verdict: Other than the colour migrating off my lips throughout the day, this lipstick is a great low-maintenance option in a pretty pink shade.
Essence
Essence cosmetics matt matt matt lipstick, $4.49 at Shoppers Drug Mart
9:30 AM: The lippy went on really well – just one swipe left me with a super bold, almost neon red colour.
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12:45 PM: Other than a bit of fading on the inner part of my lips (probably from all the coffee), the colour was still quite vibrant.
5:30 PM: I reapplied after lunch and this is how the colour looked 4 hours later. Amazing!
Final Verdict: Red lipsticks are usually too high-maintenance for me but this one proved differently – it stayed in place and didn’t drastically fade. Out of all the lipsticks I tried, this one gave the most bang for the buck.
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Chanel
Chanel Rouge Allure Velvet Luminous Matte Lip Colour in 59 Rouge Audace, $46, Hudson’s Bay.
9 AM: Not only was the colour amazing, the formula was creamy and non-drying.
1 PM: After a late breakfast and two cups of coffee, the colour was pretty faded, especially on the inside of my lips.
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5 PM: I reapplied after lunch (the colour was pretty much non-existent after devouring a wrap) but the second coat lasted the rest of the afternoon with minimal fading.
Final Verdict: This lipstick faded more than I would’ve liked it to but the colour is awesome so it made up for it. I also love that it barely feels like you’re wearing lipstick, which is especially important for a constant lip-smudger like me.
GOSH
GOSH Velvet Touch Matte Lipstick, $14, Shoppers Drug Mart
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10 AM: The colour went on a little bit sheer (I had to layer on a few coats) but it felt really nice and creamy.
2 PM: After a coffee, lunch and a green juice, I wasn’t left with much colour so I had to reapply.
6 PM: The lipstick stayed on better in the afternoon (probably because I consumed a lot less liquid) but still faded over time.
Final Verdict: I loved the colour and the soft, moisturizing formula, but it requires multiple coats to last you throughout the day.
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Smashbox
Smashbox Always On Matte Liquid Lipstick in Stepping Out, $28, Sephora
9 AM: My lips dried almost immediately after applying and it felt as if I wasn’t wearing anything.
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2 PM: After 2 coffees and 1 tea, the colour was pretty faded in the middle but still strong on the outside. It also stayed put and didn’t smudge all over the place.
5 PM: I decided not to reapply after lunch and the colour was still quite strong after a full day.
Final verdict: This lipstick stays true to it’s name and if you drink as much coffee as I do, one application in the morning will leave you with a trendy contoured lip by night.
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NYX
NYX Full Throttle Lipstick in 06, $10 at NYX
11 AM: A colour this bold takes time and a steady-hand to apply, but I managed to do it without looking like a clown (I think). It went on uneven in some areas so a couple of coats was necessary for this one.
3 PM: Surprised at how long one coat of a colour this dark has lasted!
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7:30 PM: I reapplied once this afternoon and by night, the colour disappeared in the middle of my lips and started cracking. After 8 hours of wear, my lips felt pretty dry and I was glad to wipe it off.
Final Verdict: I was impressed with how long this bold lippy lasted and I was glad I didn’t need to touch it up every half and hour. I would recommend this shade for a shorter wear, like a night out, as it requires constant mirror-checking to make sure it’s stayed put.
Joe Fresh
Joe Fresh Beauty Matte Lipstick in Fuchsia, $10 at Shoppers Drug Mart
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11:30 AM: With a name like “Fuchsia” I was expecting a bolder colour, but it took a few layers to achieve my desired shade. Once applied, it felt smooth and moisturizing.
2:30 PM: The colour faded but it did so fairly evenly, making it still wearable.
7:30 PM: I reapplied once after eating and was left with stained pink lips by the end of the day.
Final Verdict: Moisturizing and comfortable to wear everyday but requires a couple of layers and reapplications for a solid colour.
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Do you have a go-to matte lipstick? What’s your favourite? Let us know in the comments section below or tweet us @ViewtheVibe