First Look| L'oreal Pro Matte Gloss

You'll notice that I have a "thing" for these certain nude colors and drugstore brands are starting to cater for this "thing." I mean, brown and warm nudes are universally flattering, aren't they? 

Tati on YouTube had great reviews for the L'oreal Pro Matte Gloss ($9.99 each) and I picked up 2 of the 3 nudes online: Statement Nude and Bare Attraction. I didn't trust the germ-fest of opened tubes in Ulta. I'm on the lookout for Nude Allude to complete my collection, but L'oreal offers a bigger range that includes deep berries, reds, and pinks. 

They're not quite liquid lipsticks (apocalyptic world-proof) since they feel like a gloss when you press your lips together. Still, it will look like a matte lipstick in the mirror. See what L'oreal did there with the name? They last for 2-3 hours before touch-up and they don't make my lips peel or crack though they do make my lips feel "tight" after an entire day of wearing and re-application.

Overall, they go on like a Jeffree Starr or KVD liquid lipstick with less staying power, if that makes sense. They aren't tacky or sticky and the wide doe foot applicator makes getting corners and edges a cinch. The best part? They don't have the typical L'oreal lipstick scents UNLESS you really take in a deep whiff. Otherwise, they're scentless and tasteless!

Here are swatches in different lighting. From right to left: Statement Nude, Bare Attraction, KVD Lolita, KVD Lolita II, Colourpop Grunge, TF La Creme in Sweet Maple, MAC Velvet Teddy. 

Under warm indoor lighting:

Natural (gloomy) lighting. You'll see that the KVD lipsticks actually set matte very quickly, while the L'oreal products stay glossy for a while longer and look like the other lipsticks in the line up. 

Flash. 

TLDR: These are the best "liquid lipstick" dupes that I've found at the drugstore so far. Soon, everyone will be able to rock the matte brown and nude lip trend without spending $20 and upwards at a department store. 

xo Be

Edit| Matte Mauve and Brown Lipsticks

According to my dear friend, only #basicbitches like the #basic #kyliejennerlipcolor.

D:

"Did she mean dusty nude pinks, mauve, and brown lipsticks?" I pondered as I shoved my newly acquired collection of the very same #basic colors underneath my shame rug. But they're so flattering! So classy! They're the new version of nude lipstick that doesn't wash me out or make me look demented.

If you're just dipping your toe into the pool, nude pinks that lean grey (or mauve) lipsticks can be a fun way (NOT to emulate Kylie Jenner) but to look polished and natural at the same time. Here is my modest collection.

From left to right: Milani Matte Moisture Lipstick in Naked, MAC Whirl, UD Matte Revolution in 1993, Milani Matte in Beauty, Maybelline Touch of Spice, MAC Mehr, and Sephora Lip Stain in #13 Marvelous Mauve. 

MAC Lipstick in Mehr ($16) and the Sephora Lip Stain in #13 ($11) are interchangeable colors of mauve that looks gorgeous on medium olive skin. Though I don't care for the formula, another dupe is the Stila liquid lipstick in Patina. Both are matte, longwearing without being drying, and easily layered on top of a nude lip liner. Milani Matte Moisture in Naked ($8 on EBay) is a lighter version that's friendly to fair-light skin.

As for browns, MAC Whirl ($17) and Urban Decay 1993 ($22) are similar but not exact dupes. While both are much darker on the lips than expected, 1993 is almost gothic and could lean costume-party if you're not careful to modernize the eye look. Milani Beauty ($8 on EBay) is a more terra-cotta brown that's ultra flattering on olive skin.

I've included swatches in outdoor lighting with various degrees of sun exposure for reference below. These are all one pass each. 

In the shade: 

Under sunlight: 

Again, matte mauve and browns are on trend for the season and I think anyone can pull them off. I used to think that mauve lipsticks were only for cool toned beauties but after some careful consideration, I've found colors that work with my "warm" coloring. There are a lot of affordable options at the drugstore if you don't want to commit!

xo Be