Liquid lipsticks are increasingly becoming a dominant product category in the competitive beauty industry.
Switching from a solid lipstick to a liquid one is mainly a matter of preference. Many women have begun using it because, with the right product, you don’t need to touch-up as often.
However, in many cases, the formulation can be drying and messy. Read on to see which brands are worthy additions to your makeup bag.
Drugstore haul
Brands like L’Oreal, Wet’n’Wild and Revlon have come out with their versions of liquid lipstick in the last two years—to mixed reviews. Fortunately, other drugstore staples have fared better.
Maybelline Color Sensational Lip Polish (P248) looks like a solid lipstick from the packaging, but when you untwist the cap, out comes a sponge applicator. The formulation is a little sticky; this won’t be drying down to a matte finish. Color selection plays it safe with mostly pink, coral and mauve tones. However, what it lacks in pigmentation, it compensates for in moisture.
Rating: 3.5. Available at all Maybelline counters
I’ve gotten compliments while wearing NYX Soft Matte Lip Cream (P390). The formulation is moisturizing at first, but dries down matte. However, the product can flake off, especially if you don’t sip beverages through a straw. It can also be drying, so like any solid lipstick, it can be a little high-maintenance. Color selection is relatively daring with shades like Transylvania, which is a deep violet, but it also has plenty of wearable hues.
Rating: 4. Available at select SM Stores and Watsons branches
The Face Shop Ink Lipquid (P595) is at once runny and cooling on the lips, which is why it’s a pleasant surprise that it dries matte. Formulation is buildable: one coat for sheer color, two for full coverage. While it’s comfortable enough to forget you’re wearing a lip product, the formula isn’t very long-lasting. Most noticeable is how bright the pigments are. While they do have nudes, the pinks are almost neon and the reds are traffic-stopping. Not for the faint of heart.
Rating: 4. Available at all The Face Shop branches
Happy Skin Shut Up & Kiss Me Lip and Cheek Mousse (P699) gets bonus points for having dual purposes. Happy Skin’s best advantage as a brand is that all shades are wearable; you really can’t go wrong with any of the colors. However, for those looking to step outside of the box, you may find the color selection limited. The formula is incredibly moisturizing, considering how pigmented it is, but the color needs to be reapplied more often than a solid lipstick.
Rating: 4. Available at all Beauty Bar branches
Department store roundup
MAC Vamplify lip gloss (P1,200) appears to be the more pigmented cousin of its classic Lipglass product. While the formula is loaded with natural oils to make it more comfortable to wear, the color pay-off isn’t the strongest or the most even; you will need to wear this under a layer of lipstick. The color selection is trendy: bubblegum pink, wine and plum, even a glittery purple appear alongside safer beige options.
Rating: 3.5. Available at all MAC counters starting in September 2015
Laura Mercier Paint Wash Liquid Lip Colour (P1,250) was launched earlier this year and the reviews have been stellar. Beautypedia, a difficult-to-please reviewer of cosmetic products, gave it a perfect rating, lauding it for its rich color pay-off and moisturizing formula. Of course, if you prefer matte colors, this may not be for you, but if you want a lip product that doesn’t require constant retouching, this could be it. Color selection is generally flattering, so no goth or neon hues here.
Rating: 4.5. Available at Rustan’s Department Store
Stila Stay All Day Liquid Lipstick (P1,250) is another product that got a perfect rating from Beautypedia. However, unlike Laura Mercier which has a glossy finish, this product dries matte. The only downside is the color tends to settle in the lines of your lips, but I personally prefer that because I like the “lived-in” lip color look. The formulation is very long-wearing and, in terms of color selection, they’ve thrown in a fun, glittery mauve and a bright violet along with the more flattering berry, red and nude tones.
Rating: 5. Available at Rustan’s Department Store
If you’re looking for a lip product that lasts and lasts, then Make Up For Ever Aqua Rouge (P1,550) is a worthy investment. I’ve seen a beauty blogger on XOVain who tried different liquid lipsticks and made out with her boyfriend, and this was the only product that still looks pristine on her lips after. This stuff is magic. The color selection plays it relatively safe still, though it does have bright coral and fuchsia. Other than that, what else can you ask for?
Rating: 5. Available at all Make Up For Ever branches
The verdict
It’s quite clear in this case that in terms of overall quality and staying power, the department store brands win. However, in terms of variety when it comes to color selection, the drugstore brands have something to offer as well.
Of course, the overall winner here is you, as cliché as that sounds. With the sheer number of options out there, you can play around with the more affordable liquid lipsticks before investing in their high-end versions. At the very least, you have another excuse to try on new lip products again.