So after around a year since it first made it’s launch in the US, Maybelline have finally decided to bring the highly anticipated (for us UK beauty bloggers anyway) Colour Sensational Creamy Matte Lipsticks across the big ol’ pond. Coincidently, I was holidaying in the grand US of A only a few weeks before the launch not realising at the time that the launch was about to happen, so admittedly I was feeling slightly smug about getting my freshly Californian, manicured mitts onto them. Just as well too, as to my absolute dismay (first world beauty blogger problems just get bigger), they decide to only launch 6 of the 20 shades available in the US *mind boggles*. I am sure there is a justified reason for this (a soft launch to test the waters to see the UK’s reaction to the creamy mattes before going in all guns blazing with the introduction of the remaining 14 shades, if we’re lucky, or just the anticipated best selling shades for the UK market) just as I am sure there is a science (historical sales/ UK consumer preference/ foretasted trends) behind the selection of shades. The 6 shades that were lucky enough to make it to the UK are as follows:
Siren in Scarlet
Craving Coral
Divine Wine
Nude Embrace
Rose Rush
Magnetic Magenta
The two shades I picked up were Lust for Blush and Touch of Spice. Now looking at current trends, we’re still very much experiencing a return to the 90’s and therefore brown/mauve/grey hued lips are still very much the lip look du jour, whether it’s a neutral pink with just a slight earthy tinge to it (think Mac ‘Twig’), a mauve with a strong stone cast (think Gerard Cosmetics ‘Underground’) or a full on deep, decadent brown (think Anastasia Beverly Hills ‘Sepia’). Whilst Lust for Blush is more of a cool, mid tone pink with a touch of mauve to it, easy to wear and non-offensive, Touch of Spice is more of a marsala pink; warm, earthy and flattering against many skin tones, and totally a missed trick in my eyes! It’s a 90’s lip without the full on commitment. This is the perfect lip for those who aren’t quite prepared to throw on a bold, brown lip yet it’s effortlessly chic and understated at the same time.
Anyway, enough of ranting about my disappointment in Maybelline depriving the UK of such fantastic shades, let’s get down to the formulation. Mattes get a bad wrap for being drying, despite being long wearing but many people don’t mind the compensation. Others like myself, will not be dabbling in drying formulations, however long lasting the formulation. However, I think lipsticks have come along way, and lot of brands out there are doing a great job at producing creamy, pigmented formulations that are matte in finish but not dry in texture such as the YSL Rouge Pur Couture The Mats, Revlon Colorburst Matte Balms, Colorpop Lippie Stix, Gerard Cosmetics Lipsticks, Rimmel Lasting Finish Matte Lipsticks by Kate Moss. I think matte formulations are fast shedding their bad reputation and the Colour Sensational Creamy Mattes will only go towards reinforcing that. The lipsticks apply with ease and no drag yet I wouldn’t call it the same kind of ‘creamy’ that you would get with say, a satin finish, or something like the Revlon Colorburst Lip Butters . They are definitely not that kind of ‘wet’ creamy, infused with oils and impart a hint of gloss and shine. It’s a dry kind of creamy, which I know is almost a contradiction, but trust me, it’s good.
For me, it’s a total thumbs up for the formulation and Lust for Blush and Touch of Spice are most certainly my favourite colours. I guess the UK will have to wait and see whether anymore of the range will come over, and if it does, whether or not it will include my two faves beats me as I don’t think the shade selection they brought over here are anything spectacular. However, there’s a pink, there’s a nude and why, theres even a couple of reds, so they have got most bases covered considering theres just six shades. It’s just a basic line up of shades but theres certainly nothing basic about the formula.