I first heard of this range of lippies on Lisa Eldridge's video when she raved about a red shade from it. I didn't give it much thought after that until recently. You've got to be living under a rock or maybe simply offline (like me) if you haven’t heard about this range. Every blogger has reviewed these & most have given glowing reviews.
I’m not much different. So without much ado, here’s my view (I swear I didn’t mean for it to rhyme).
It cost
Rs. 525 for 3.3 gms
Shelf Life: slightly less than 2 1/2 years
Description:
- 14 hour Lipstick with an ultra-lightweight formula
- Stays fresh, light, and comfortable
- Super rich color that lasts for 14 hours
- Pigments are enveloped in a longwearing system
- 16 long wearing shades
For best and long lasting results
Apply your lip color by starting in the center of your upper lip. Work from the center to the outer edges of your lip, following the contours of your mouth. Then glide across the entire bottom lip.
There are 16 shades available in this range. I’m reviewing
Always Plum 260.
Packaging: This lipstick comes in a white-transparent packaging that’s really different from the previous Maybelline lipstick tubes. I like the transparent part as you can actually see the colour of the lipstick. But the packaging on the whole looks a bit dated (think 70s) to me & doesn’t look sophisticated or grown up & doesn’t gel with the vibe of the lipstick itself. I personally think this is the most “adult” of all the Maybelline lippies because the lipstick is perfect for working women (office-goers or home-makers).
Texture: Now for the lipstick itself. The texture of this is not the smoothest. It’s not as smooth as the Colorsensational range or the Moisture Extreme Range. It drags just a bit when you apply it. The main drawback of the texture is that it’s not moisturizing at all. If your lips are dry, you will need to moisturize first.
Having said that, it's not too uncomfortable to wear, especially in the beginning. But after a couple of hours, the dryness is more obvious. I feel tackiness on my lips with this on, and that tackiness does dissipate slightly as time goes on, but it’s still there. However, I don’t feel like I’m “wearing” lipstick. Also, the formulation emphasizes the lines on the lips.
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| all in natural light |
Pigmentation: It’s a very pigmented lipstick with 1 swipe depositing an opaque coat of colour. However, I always apply a second coat after blotting the first. But, I think this looks better as a stain. Though this is supposed to be matte, it doesn’t apply completely matte. It does have a slight sheen to it.
Lasting Power: This is supposed to last 14 hours and the lasting power is pretty good. It does survive meals (full Indian means), but for me it did fade significantly after my first meal. It faded even more over the course of the day. Also, it didn’t fade evenly with the inside of my lips losing colour faster. However, the uneven fading isn't very obvious and is not noticeable unless you're staring at you lips closely in the mirror (like I was). It is the longest lasting lipstick I own. Even colorbar lippies that stain the lips don't last this long. Not sure about the 14 hour lasting power though; I don't have the patience or time (I value sleep too much) to test that out.
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| 1 swipe freshly applied |
One more drawback is that it is not transfer proof - Boo! Also, the lipstick has a strong fruity smell, which does linger for a long time. Thankfully, the smell isn't artificial, but quite uplifting & sunny. It doesn't bother me, but I do prefer makeup to be unscented, especially lipstick.
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| Blotted |
Always Plum: The shade forever plum is a lovely sophisticated plum. It would look great for working women. Unfortunately, I haven't figured out how to wear this shade without my skin looking sallow. Plus, this shade looks purplish on my lips. I feel that in order to make this lipstick work, I need to have a full face of makeup on (which I never do well) or have flawless clear skin (which I've never had). But, I haven't given up yet. In any case, this is a gorgeous deep shade that would suit working women. It's bold without being too garish; it's a more serious colour, but sexy as well.
Pros:
♥ Lovely range of colours that are sure to suit all manners of Indian skin tones & tastes.
♥ The shades also come in different finishes (matte, creamy, frosty).
♥ Longest lasting lipstick that I own (even if not for 14 hours).
♥ Pigmented - 1 coat & you're good to go.
♥ Opaque coverage - it covers any & all lip pigmentation.
♥ Not completely matte. You can wear this without gloss.
♥ You don't feel like you've gone any lippie on (I hate that gloopy feeling).
♥ Vintage-like packaging - cheerful & not too serious.
♥ Can tell the shades apart if you have more than one.
♥ Study tube. Won't break easily.
♥ Easily available lippie.
♥ I love the width of the bullet. It makes the application easy for my small lips. (It's smaller than the other Maybelline lippies.)
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| L-R: Moisture Extreme, Superstay, Colorsensational |
Cons:
♥ Not transfer proof. :(
♥ Expensive! At over 500, it's the most expensive Maybelline lippie.
♥ It's only 3.3 gms!
♥ Emphasizes fine lines on the lips.
♥ Can feel drying. Especially after you've had it on for more than an hour.
♥ Feels tacky. However, this reduces over time.
♥ Scented.
♥ Fades unevenly; quite patchy.
♥ Doesn't survive meals as well as I'd hoped.
Rating: 7.5/10
Repurchase: Yes. I want an everyday neutral shade.
Recommendation: Absolutely! For anyone who hates touch-ups.
Love,
Poohkie
P.S. Product sent for review
