Makeup Monday- Speed Review: theBalm Meet Matt(e) Hughes Long-Lasting Liquid Lipstick

The trend for matte lips combined with our desire for pigmented colour that doesn't need to be constantly reapplied means that liquid lipsticks are hugely popular at the moment, with brands ranging from Anastasia & Stila to Essence & Bourjois offering them.

ASOS recently sent me four of the five shades (there are 12 shades in total & a good range of hues) that they offer from theBalm's Meet Matt(e) Hughes Long-Lasting Liquid Lipstick line and I wanted to share my thoughts.

theBalm describe Meet Matt(e) Hughes Long-Lasting Liquid Lipstick as having a long-wearing formula with a comfortable matte finish.

On first impressions, I liked the packaging and quirky product name which is in line with theBalm's fun branding. The outer box features clear directions. The colour is referenced on the top of the box and is visible through the clear tube inside, making it easy to pick out your desired shade in a crowded makeup collection. The shades I was sent were Committed (rose toned nude), Honest (warm coral), Devoted (bright red with a hint of cherry) and Chivalrous (bright pink), as pictured from left to right.

I found that the doe-foot applicator allowed for a precision application of the product. Whilst the colour pay-off is good with one coat, I found that it built well with two coats to give fully opaque colour. The formula felt lightweight & it quickly dried down to a matte finish, without stickiness or gloopiness. I loved the vanilla mint fragrance, although I wasn't able to detect it following the initial application.

Whilst they're obviously not a hydrating formula, I didn't find theBalm Meet Matt(e) Hughes Long-Lasting Liquid Lipsticks to be drying, certainly not to the extent that MAC's Matte Lipstick formula is. I found them comfortable to wear.

The lipsticks aren't 100% transfer proof but there was very little movement throughout the day. I found that there was some slight bleed & as such, I'd recommend lining lips if opting for the brighter shades.

I'd say that the colour stays on lips for approximately five hours, throughout eating & drinking and wore off evenly and as such, feel that it delivers on the long-wearing claims. Even when the colour had worn off, a pretty stain was left on my lips. When it came to removing the liquid lipstick, I found that I needed to use an oil-based makeup remover but when I used one, it made light work of the removal process.

I'd highly recommend theBalm Meet Matt(e) Hughes Long-Lasting Liquid Lipsticks, which I feel are reasonably priced at £13.50 for a 7.4ml tube.