Let’s keep up with the Makeup Geek reviews, shall we? And today, we’re talking about the Plush Matte liquid lipsticks!
As a reminder, Makeup Geek released three types of lipsticks at the end of 2016:
– the Iconic Lipsticks: classic lipsticks in a tube, which exist in 2 finishes (matte and shine): I just did a review about them,
– the Plush Matte: liquid lipsticks with a matte finish,
– the Plush Creme: liquid lipsticks with a cream finish.
And the brand just launched some metallic lip glosses, the Foiled Lip Gloss. Phew! So many lip stuff! wink
The Plush Matte were certainly the most anticipated of the four ranges of lip products. The matte lips trend is still going strong, for several years now, and liquid lipsticks are absolutely everywhere and at the moment, every makeup brand already launched them or will launch some eventually.
So let’s see what these Makeup Geek matte liquid lipsticks have got! wink
Makeup Geek Plush Matte liquid lipsticks, presentation:
What the brand says about them:
“Across between a cream and mousse, this unique formula sits on top of the lips for a soft, “plush” feel. A wide variety of colors crafted in a soft matte finish, you’re sure to find a highly pigmented shade you love!
All our Plush Mattes are cruelty-free and vegan
These lip mattes are Talc and Paraben-Free”
The Plush Matte are matte liquid lipsticks. The brands talks about a very velvety finish. For me, it’s not completely matte but rather a luminous matte finish. It’s not like a dry and flat matte finish as you have with the MAC or ColourPop matte liquid lipsticks, for example.
The Plush Matte are not really transfer-free, they don’t dry completely and stay creamy on the lips.
There are 20 shades in total in the range, and they retail for $12.
I chose 2 colors: Cougar and Plain Jane.
Makeup Geek Plush Matte liquid lipsticks, my test and thoughts:
– Packaging:
A pretty plastic tube with a metallic rose-gold/ gunmetal cap with the logo of Makeup Geek embossed on the top. I’m also a fan of the mousse applicator which has a flat shape, which allows me to spread the product on the lips (not the easiest thing to do though because of the thick texture of the product but I talk about it below). I can draw a pretty lip contour with this applicator, no need for a lip pencil!
However, I must point out that the size of the bottle is super tiny. I was quite surprised when I received them. The Plush Matte lipsticks are half the size of the Plush Creme lipsticks from the same brand (see my picture below). The capacity is ridiculously small (1.8ml).
– Texture and feeling on the lips:
The texture of this lipstick is supposed to be between a cream and a mousse. For me, it’s more a mousse than a cream, and I find it quite thick, almost “dry” and not really creamy. I have a little trouble spreading it because of its lack of creaminess. If I tried to layer it, the applicator tends to remove the product I just applied, so it’s a little bit difficult to have an even result on the lips with just a single thin layer. You can have a good result, but it takes a little time.
The feeling on the lips is quite comfortable for 1 hour or 2, but afterwards, I find them a bit drying on me. They remain rather creamy on the lips, they never dry completely on the lips, but they still feel drying after a few hours.
– Finish:
The finish is as its name indicates: matte, but it remains quite luminous on the lips, it is not a dull finish at all.
– Scent:
They smell slightly like lemon or lemon lemonade, it’s very nice and subtle.
– Pigmentation and coverage:
They are well pigmented and opaque on the lips (well, if you pass the small difficulties I have to apply it due to the texture as I explained above).
– Color range:
20 colors and unfortunately I feel the same way as with the Iconic Lipsticks, I only like 5 out of 20.
Likewise, I don’t find the color range very flattering, it’s quite dull, and there are many dark colors and also some oranges shades that don’t look great with my skin tone…
However, I must say that I absolutely love the two colors I chose. Cougar and Plain Jane are both stunning!
– Application:
As I explained above, the texture is a little bit complicated to spread, but the applicator is good and precise.
– Lasting power:
They last about 4-5 hours on me. It’s an average lasting power.
However, the texture tends to get into the fine lines of my lips after 1 or 2 hours and to crack a little. It’s not too obvious, but I don’t find that these lipsticks “age” very harmoniously. After 5-6 hours, they even tend to crumble slightly, and small crumbs of products appear on the lips in the center and the corners. They don’t resist a meal, you definitely need to touch up after. Thankfully, they’re rather easy to touch up thanks to their foam texture.
– Value for money:
The Makeup Geek Plush Matte retail for $12. I’m not at all convinced by the value for money here because even if the formula is not too bad and the packaging is great quality, the capacity of these lipsticks is absolutely ridiculous: 1.8ml. (to compare, the Sephora Cream Lip Stain I reviewed recently are 5ml for $14)
Honestly, I have a travel size from Kat Von that contains more product! I know that Marlena usually chooses her prices fairly and that she puts a lot of work in her creations, but here, I really struggle to understand this price tag for such a small capacity… sad
Makeup Geek Plush Matte liquid lipsticks, the colors:
– Cougar: a gorgeous fuschia pink with a slight purple touch. It’s very bright, almost neon. This kind of shade is so luminous. It helps to give a beautiful radiance to the face and makes my eyes pop. I’m crazy about this color, it’s stunning.
– Plain Jane: a very pretty soft and light brick red, very flattering. It contains some pink in it, but also a touch of warm brown. It’s very easy to wear and goes well with a lot of makeup looks. I also love this color very much.
Finally, here are the swatches:
And on me:
– Cougar:
– Plain Jane:
In summary:
[wprs-pros][wprs-cons]
They’re not the worst matte liquid lipsticks I’ve tried, but they’re definitely not the best, and I was expecting better from Makeup Geek… Even though I’m crazy about the two colors I own, I’m not convinced by the formula, and it’s kind of frustrating.
If you have tried them as well, I would be very curious to know your thoughts, feel free to let me know in the comments!
The Makeup Geek Plush Matte liquid lipsticks are available on MUG website for $12.
And you, have you tried the Makeup Geek Plush Matte liquid lipsticks? If not, which colors are on your wishlist?
Photo credit: bonnie-garner.com