Brand: Rimmel
Range: Kate Moss Lasting Finish Matte Lipstick
Shades: 107, 111, 113
Swatched by yours truly: Yishan

• Further to my other Kate Moss Lasting Finish lipstick swatches (Part 1 and Part 2), today I have the Matte Lipstick which comes in a total 6 matte shades in a new matte red packaging.
• Formulated with Ruby Powder, the velvety matte finish is incredibly lightweight and flexible, making it comfortable to wear.  It does grip well to the lip surface, which means you get a richly pigmented seamless coverage, but the “character” of your lips stays visible with no particular smoothing effects other than the diffused matte finish.
• Out of the 6 shades available I received 3 shades – 107 (deep red), 111 (rich red) and 113 (nude).  In real life, shade 111 (rich red) is a richer red closer to how it looks on the tube, as opposed to a bright red which the swatches suggest.
• The formula is non-drying & looks much softer when applied on moisturised lips, or on top of a moisturising lip stain.   I only swatched 2 shades as I wasn’t so lucky with the nude shade 113, which clashed with my lip tone & accentuated every little lip flaw, even flakes I didn’t even know I had.  Therefore I only recommend the nude shade if you have a pale lip tone & no issues with dry lips.
• Long lasting rich pigments that fade gracefully
  
• Verdict: The matte red lip trend is here to stay, so if you’re looking to add a matte shade or two to your lipstick wardrobe that won’t break your wallet I recommend trying Rimmel Kate Moss’s matte lipstick range.  It’s pigmented enough that you only need a lip brush – no lip liner required.

Swatched over a layer of Nivea Lip Butter.

RRP: $12.95 AUD

These products were provided for consideration.

Brand: ck One
Range: Dark Matter Collection (limited edition)
Shades: Velvet 320, Vinyl 620
Swatched by yours truly: Yishan

• Taking inspiration from embellished leather and velvet, ck One’s Dark Matter Collection features 2 limited edition lip colours in bold rich finishes.
• Vinyl is a described as vinyl red (luscious warm red with a gold sheen), and Velvet a dark berry (purply wine).
• Luminous, saturated colour that glides on silky smooth without drying lips & sets into a satin finish.
• The packaging is minimalist monochrome – half matte black (similar to Nars packaging) and half glossy white.
• Verdict: Vinyl applies more smoothly than Velvet, with Velvet showing tendencies to settle into lip lines (a typical problem in dark wine lipsticks).  Vinyl applies beautifully with a gold sheen that would appeal to warm skin tones.  Overall I highly recommend ck One lipsticks for those seeking saturated yet satin finish lipsticks & it’s also quite moderately priced.

RRP: $35 AUD limited edition, available exclusively at Myer (Australia)

These products were provided for consideration.

Brand: Estee Lauder
Range: Violet Underground Collection
Shades: Pure Color Velvet Lipstick (Black Cassis, Violet Crush) and Pure Color Gloss (Chaotic Currant, Rebellious Violet)
Swatched by yours truly: Yishan

• The inspiration for Estee Lauder’s 2013 spring collection is the “ultimate fusion of high style and street chic”, with deep, vibrant violet and fuschia tones.
• The violets in the collection consist of Pure Color Velvet Lipstick in Violet Crush (plush matte violet), and Pure Color Gloss in Rebellious Violet (dazzling violet) that has layers of crystal reflection.
• The deep wine shades consist of Pure Color Velvet Lipstick in Black Cassis (plush matte deep wine) and Pure Color Gloss in Chaotic Currant (plum wine) that’s high in shine.
• The lipsticks are matte & non-drying, however I recommend wearing them on well conditioned lips to prevent lip flaws from being accentuated.
• I also found the lipstick sit well on some lip balms over others – my first attempt at swatching was not nearly as successful as the second attempt where I used Nivea Lip Butter, which softened lips without altering the lipstick texture.
• The lipsticks look fine on their own provided your lips are in excellent condition, but I find they have more oomph once paired with the matching gloss – not to mention that it also hides a few lip flaws or two.
• As for wearing glosses on their own, Rebellious Violet gives lips a polished wash of violet and sit better on lips than Chaotic Currant.
• Verdict: Whilst both shades are beautiful in their own ways, the violets in this collection were the ones that really pulled at my heart strings.  Tom Pecheux has really nailed the violet shade that I’ve been coveting, giving it a sophisticated edgy look.   Whichever shade of the two that pulls your heart strings, I recommend getting both the lipstick & gloss.

[Image source: Estee Lauder AU Facebook Page]

Random fact: I have a habit of drawing over the lip line with dark shades for an opulent look, whereas I tend to “stay within the lines” with feminine shades.

Both lip images are swatched over a layer of Nivea Lip Butter that’s been pressed into the lips.

Rebellious Violet on its own.

Chaotic Currant on its own

These products were provided for consideration.

Brand: Guerlain
Range: Rouge G de Guerlain L’Extrait
Shade: Orgueil M69
Swatched by yours truly: Yishan

• A hybrid between a lipstick and a gloss, L’Extrait is liquid yet creamy, velvety yet lightweight and SUPER pigmented.
• The liquid formula takes moments to set – thankfully not immediately, which gives you time to define your lip shape & correct bloopers.
• It sets into a velvet matte finish that’s surprisingly soft, comfortable and not at all drying and doesn’t feather.  However it’s not transfer proof – even after blotting and setting it will still transfer a little.
• It will last for as many hours as you can go without eating, and softens in intensity over time but not in pigment.  If you don’t wipe down your lips after eating, the pigment remains at around 80% even 4 hours after application.  But I can’t resist a good wipe down after a meal to make sure my lips start off with a clean canvas when touching up.
• The soft formula is thanks to an exotic blend of Guggul resin (smoothing),  hyaluronic acid (plumping), and Tiger Grass (collagen stimulating) which moisturise lips continuously for hours until you wipe it off.
• Orgueil is a deep wine with warm tones.   I chose this shade over the others because I have a weakness for matte textures in decadent shades.
• Verdict: My decadent velvet wine lip attracted compliments left right and centre, and it’s now my new favourite statement lip colour! I recommend applying the bulk of the product in the centre of the lips, using only the excess to define lip edges to avoid any gloopy bits that can be tricky to correct once set.  A must-try for lipstick lovers.

I drew over my natural lip line to show you that the texture is fluid enough to create a crisp line with this doe wand applicator.
As you can see it’s not a dry matte finish but looks soft and comfortable with amazing coverage.

I purchased this product.

Brand: Arbonne
Range: Lipstick
Shades: Runway Rouge, Candy, Bordeaux
Swatched by yours truly: akisa

• Fragrance free, hypo-allergenic, paraben-free, formulated with micro-pigments for a lightweight yet pigmented finish.
• Available in 14 shades, I was given 3 to try – Runway Rouge (raspberry red), Candy (metallic pink) and Bordeaux (wine with a wash of bronze).
• The texture is high in grip, making it long-wearing and feather-resistant.  Full coverage is achieved in just a few sweeps.
• Whilst I wouldn’t describe it as moisturising, it is non-drying and feels comfortable on lips.
• Verdict: My favourite shade out of the three – Runway Rouge – looks like a classic creamy red with lip balm. But if you apply the lipstick without any lip balm, you immediately notice a subtle metallic sheen which I feel is a look that’s dated.  Especially when the current lipstick trends are all about creamy, soft and moist lips.  To bring out the best in this lipstick, I recommend wearing a hydrating & smoothing lip balm underneath to add moisture and soften the metallic finish.

Generous layer applied on top of Maybelline Baby Lips.  Without lip balm, my lip lines become much more accentuated.

Some of the shades have alternate names, possibly due to regional differences.

RRP: $36 AUD

Available online.

These products were provided for consideration.