clinique long last soft matte lipstick- review and swatches

Hey there guys. It's been a while, but I'm back with another post of another lippy that I just luuurve. It's the Clinique Long Last Soft Matte Lipstick, and I've got one in the shade 'matte crimson' to share with you today.

 

     First things first- ain't she pretty? Shiny and heavy and different to the usual gold or black casing higher end lipsticks tend to sport. 

     The shade is, as the name suggests, crimson red with a soft matte finish. But what does soft matte mean? Well, for me, I found the 'soft' part came through in both texture and finish, making it different to the standard matte. In terms of texture, it was comfortable and actually kept my lips moist throughout wear without the need for a balm. How rare is that for a matte? And it terms of finish, I think the main difference is that it was free from shine but not that full-on powder-matte. Just little differences, but overall they made the experience of wearing a matte shade much more pleasant and hassle free, and I definitely prefer it to traditional mattes. 

      As far as application goes, there were no problems at all. It was soft enough to glide on without drag, and one coat gave full opacity. It does initially appear to have a slight sheen that's more akin to a satin finish, but give it a while to set and the matte reigns. Because of the finish and opacity, this lipstick does indeed last a long while. For such a bright shade, it didn't transfer as much as I expected it to and there were no problems with bleeding or that awful red ring. The fade was actually even and flattering, wearing down to a 'just bitten' stain. In fact, I prefer to wear it applied with a light touch and blotted slightly, for a less dramatic day look. See below, bro.

Clinique long last soft matte lipstick- matte crimson

Clinique long last soft matte lipstick- matte crimson

 

    Overall, I think this lippy is a winner and worth trying if your budget stretches that far (£18). Personally, while I do love it, it doesn't beat my other matte lipstick with equally comfortable formula- Daniel Sandler's luxury matte lipstick. It's also about half the price of this one, so do check that one out if you like the look of this but don't got the dolla. 

     In fact, I think I'll give that one a review of its own at some point. Until next time, thanks for checking in, babeface x

review and swatches: Primark p.s love matte long last lipstick

My mum bought me a lipstick because I was sad. Isn't that cute? It's nowt fancy, but I really like it, and think you will too. It's from Primark, and is only £1.50! Poor kids rejoice.

   There she is. The packaging looks a lot like the Max Factor colour elixir lipsticks, though it definitely feels more lightweight. Alas, there are no names, so I can only point you to my shade by description. It looks a true red under store lighting, but is actually a sort of strawberry red, with a pinkish tinge. It's a lovely 'happy' shade, one of those reds that are easy to wear and never look stark. 

    The formula, thankfully, belies the price tag. It's matte without being drying or uncomfortable, and that's no small feat. We all know higher end brands that struggle to pull it off, right? Cough cough, mac. I really did find it to be long wearing, which I honestly wasn't expecting. Its texture really does stick, and I found it to have minimal transfer. It's well pigmented but not completely opaque. Which is good, because it makes the bright shade much more wearable. 

Primark p.s love matte long last lipstick 

    The only complaint I have (other than it not having a name, weep weep), is that it does have quite a strong stawberry scent. I didn't have too much of a problem, but some people might find it cloying. Overall though, it's a thumbs up for me, and just goes to show that budget beauty buys really can surprise you with their quality. 

What do you think? Have you tried any other shades or lip products from Primark? How did they fare? x