We’re deep into this trend, and we’re not ashamed about it. Yes yes, Kylie Jenner might have a large part to do with it, but since liquid lipsticks entered the beauty realm and just about exploded in popularity, we’ve been hooked, reviewing all the different brands and their formulas out there. Sure, we have 5 of the same kinds of reds and maybe 10 of the same kinds of nudes, but as we said: we’re not ashamed. Here are our favourites.
Estée Lauder Pure Color Envy Liquid Lip Potion in 330 Lethal Red
$46, available at the Estée Lauder store and counters
Shortly after I joined NYLON last year, I had the pleasure of being introduced to this lipstick when it unceremoniously landed in my hands – in the shade Lethal Red, no less – and long story short, I now own three shades of it. Being honest, I never think about my lipstick when I’m eating, so it was a nice surprise to find my lips still coloured when I checked my face after lunch. In addition to its resilience, it has a nice moisturising factor that aids my dry lips so I don’t have to keep reaching for my lip balm throughout the day. I’ve been told by some that the sweet vanilla scent puts them off as it makes them feel like they’re slathering liquid candy onto their lips, but it doesn’t bother me. In fact, I’ll probably add another shade to my collection soon.
– Patrene Mathieu, Designer
Kat Von D Beauty Everlasting Liquid Lipstick in Lolita II
$31, available at Sephora and on sephora.sg
What I love about liquid lipsticks is that there’s an applicator, so you’ll never accidentally overdraw anything, while the formula spreads evenly. Also, most dry matte, which is all the rage these days. That does mean that they sometimes cause chapped or pruned up lips, but Kat Von D hasn’t failed me yet, and this shade happens to be a “terracotta nude” that feels edgy and natural all at once.
– Amelia Tan, Associate Editor
NYX Lip Lingerie in Bedtime Flirt
$20, available at NYX stores and Sephora
Meet my perfect nude – I love it so much, I wrote an entire piece on this shade. Last year, I couldn’t wait for this much-anticipated nude liquid lipstick range to hit local shelves, so I grabbed it from a CVS drugstore during a work trip to Los Angeles. Even there, stocks were running very low and there were only a few shades available, so I grabbed what looked to be the most flattering, without swatching it. Thankfully, Bedtime Flirt, a slightly red-toned pink, ended up being just the right kind of nude for me, and I’m quickly making my way through my first tube. Three standalone NYX stores – as of today, there’s a new one at Westgate! – have since opened here in Singapore, so I can easily stock up now – just that everyone else seems to think the same, as several shades seem to always be sold out.
– Tami Lai, Associate Editor
Jeffree Star Cosmetics Velour Liquid Lipstick in Mannequin
US$18, available at jeffreestarcosmetics.com
Those who know me will know that I absolutely adore and champion lipsticks by Jeffree Star Cosmetics. Sure, his packaging isn’t the most minimalist, but what better way to grab attention than a star-studded hot-pink component? Anyway, glossing past that — what you should be looking out for is really the formula of his liquid lipsticks. They are incredibly lightweight, so much that you hardly feel a thing on your lips. Swatch them, and you’ll realise that the formula is actually relatively runnier than most of brands. But the lipstick still go on so opaque, so matte, transfer-proof, non-streaky and non-drying at all. It’s mind-blowing. In fact, friends often mention that I’m so pampered by Jeffree’s lipsticks that some days my lips just can’t take mattes by other brands. I even have his campaign card stock tacked to the wall in the office, just because I truly do respect his products that much. It doesn’t hurt that he has a wonderful selection of bolds, nudes and mauves too. My all-time favourite is Mannequin, a cool-toned pinky-beige nude that goes really well with my skin tone.
– Chelsea Tang, Editorial Assistant
innisfree Real Fluid Rouge in No. 6
$20, available at innisfree stores.
I’ve only tried a few different brands of liquid lipsticks so far, so I wouldn’t say I have found the one I’m looking for. Based on my experience, the Colourpop Ultra Mattes are really drying that it almost feels like there is a thin layer of foil over my lips, which is not very comfortable to say the least. While the Kat Von D ones aren’t drying, I’ve noticed that the colour wears off into the day, leaving only the outline of my lips which is funny because people think I only used a lip liner.
So when Western formulas don’t really work for you, you know you can always turn to an Asian brand. I love Korean brands in particular because they thoroughly understand what women are looking out for – it has to be moisturising, long-lasting and does not transfer. The one I’m using is the Innisfree creamy tint lip mousse, which has unfortunately been discontinued – but the Real Fluid Rouge is a good enough replacement. What I like about it is that it stains the lips, fading into a natural red lip colour and I don’t have to constantly reapply the product. The formula also makes it easy to glide on. My only pet peeve with the product is that it smells really sweet, but that goes away after awhile.
– Phyllis Guo, Editorial Assistant
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