It looks like everyone is tired of matte lipsticks nowadays, but nevertheless, brands keep launching new ones. Red, pink and bordeaux seem to be in trend this year.
So I couldn’t be happier when I received a free sample of the Smitten Lip Tint Mousse from LASplash, in Hermes.
Packaging and appearance:The lipstick comes housed in a cardboard box with the most beautiful starry design ever.
The lipstick should be used within 6 months after opening. Its shelf life is 2 years. Not too much, if you think about it.
Open the box,
and there is an adorable tube with a lilac cap:
I love these vivacious colors. The tube is made of plastic.
The names of the product line and the brand are to be found on the tube, written in the same lilac color.
Made in the USA.
Applicator:The sponge applicator has a sharp angled tip, which allows to draw lip contours precisely.
In order to prolong the shelf life of the lipstick it’s recommended to close the cap tightly after each use and avoid direct sun rays.
Fragrance: sweet, chemical, isn’t annoying at all.
Shade:
I got Hermes.
It’s a vivid pink with mauve undertone, cold, shimmer- and glitterless. The finish is matte, and the pigmentation is rich.
Such shades should be carefully combined with make up.
I wouldn’t recommend it for girls with yellowish skin tone, because it would make you look a bit like a mummy.
I achieved this effect with my everyday makeup:
However, when I applied my makeup differently, using products with matte finishes only, the result looked way better.
Formula:
The formula is mousse-like and applies smoothly. When it’s still fresh, you can easily correct tiny imperfections. The lipstick doesn’t dry instantly, the process takes about 3 minutes.
Taste:
I don’t feel anything, even when I’m eating with my lipstick on.
Ingredients:C9-C11 Isoparaffin, Trimethylsiloxysilicate, Dimethicone, Silica Dimethyl Silylate, Quaternium -18 Bentonite, Propylparaben. May Contain: MICA (CI77019), CI77891, CI 15850, CI45410, CI77492, CI 77499, CI 77491.
You can easily spot mica and parabens among the ingredients, which means the lipstick is hardly natural. But I can forgive it when it comes to makeup.
Peculiarities of application:
I prep my lips thoroughly. First, I make a sugar lips scrub with lemon juice (self-made). Then I apply a Carmex Pomegranate Lip Balm in a thick layer and let it soak in for 15 minutes. Afterwards, I remove the excess of the lip balm and apply foundation onto the skin around my mouth. Thus, I make it possible to use the lipstick without any lip pencil.
The lipstick should be applied quickly, any flaws can be corrected within the first two minutes.
Effect:
As I have mentioned above, the lipstick applies easily and dries within 2-3 minutes. As a result, I get a bright highly-pigmented color all over the lip surface. No flaking or dryness highlighting.
As you can see, these wrinkles are usual for my lips, and such finishes accentuate them. Here is a photo with another lipstick on, this time a moisturizing (!) one.
The lipstick can be applied in several layers, without looking spotty, but it’s not recommended since the lipstick may appear too heavy and crumbly. In one thick layer everything is totally okay.
The lipstick feels on the lips like any other.
Different looks:
Luckily, I have a nail polish in the same color!
How surprisingly cool the lipstick looks with a red outfit!
Can the lipstick be used in combination with other lippies or whatsoever?
I tried to apply a lip gloss. See my grumpy face? 
That’s all because the fat it contains started crumbling and dissolving the lipstick. Once the gloss was removed, I got a plenty of gaps.
Maybe one can found a suitable oil-free lip gloss or lip topper, but why not demonstrate the great matte finish the lipstick provides solo?
Longevity:
The lipstick is really waterproof, you can eat non-fatty meals and drinks. It’s kissproof too. Unlike the Soft Matte Lip Cream from NYX, this lipstick applies in an unmoving layer which can be removed with cleansing oil only. Once, I wore the lipstick for 12 hours and everything was fine!
How to remove?
Since the lipstick is waterproof, you need a two-phase makeup remover or a cleansing oil.
Currently I don’t have any of these, and I remove the lipstick with coconut oil, and only then use a L’Oreal micellar water. It works:)
I don’t use this lipstick daily, so I think it’ll last for a while.
So, this was a great discovery for me. First I liked the lovely design and fragrance, and then I was charmed by the matte effect and the waterproof coverage.
5 stars. Definitely recommended to all those lipstick junkies out there!
Will I buy it again?
Yep, but I think I’ll choose a brighter color like Inflamed or Sculpt.
