Fab or flub? Revlon’s new matte lip color goes high-def
One look around my local Walgreens last week and there was no denying that matte lip products are still as trendy as ever.
From Maybelline’s Color Sensational Vivid Matte Liquid Lip Color to L’Oreal’s Infallible Pro Matte Gloss, I counted at least four new matte lip products on display. With so many options to choose from, it can be hard for budget-conscious buyers to figure out which matte product is worth buying.
Do you go for the product that has lasting power? Or do you go for the one that has the widest range of shades?
For me, it’s all about what makes the product different from other lip colors I’ve come across. I’m a sucker for anything that has a little flash to it, from special formulas to pretty packaging. Which is why I probably instantly fell for (and ended up buying) Revlon’s Ultra HD Matte Lipcolor ($8.99, Walgreens).
Not only did it come in a really pretty tube, but I was wowed by the potential high-definition power of this product.
First impression
Housed in a sleek, frosted tube with a flat, velvety applicator, Revlon’s Ultra HD Matte Lipcolor comes in eight gorgeous shades with names like Obsession and Seduction (perfect for Valentine’s Day). At Walgreens, the product’s display had been picked over, so I ended up settling for the last two remaining shades, Devotion and Love. Devotion is a pretty mauve shade, and Love is a bold red.
Revlon’s website describes its Ultra HD Matte Lipcolor as having a wax-free, gel formula, which I found to be strange since it has a very creamy texture (nothing gel-like). The lip product is heavily pigmented and requires a light hand when applying. Also worth mentioning is the product’s intoxicatingly sweet smell.
Much like LUSH Cosmetics’ Santa’s Belly Shower Jelly, the lip product smells good enough to eat (though I strongly suggest not doing that).
Revlon describes it as a cross between creamy mango and whipped vanilla, but I couldn’t help but envision a red velvet cupcake with cream cheese frosting every time I took a whiff.
Fab or flub?
Flab. Although it has the words “matte” and “HD” in its name, Revlon’s Ultra HD Matte Lipcolor turned out to be lacking in both areas.
Like a hybrid between a traditional lip gloss and a true matte lipstick, the creamy product doesn’t dry to a completely matte finish. Because some matte lip products can be too drying and unforgiving on the lips, I found this to be a positive. However, if you are looking for a true matte lip product, you’d be left disappointed.
I’m not exactly sure why Revlon chose to sell it as high-definition, other than to attract more buyers. From my experience, high-definition products help blur imperfections that show up when using 4K technology like the camera on your cellphone.
Looking on Revlon’s website, I found no information provided regarding what makes this product HD or how it works. Since my natural lip lines were still apparent in photographs, I think it is safe to say that this product doesn’t offer the HD power it claims.
With all that said, I enjoyed this product as just a regular lip color. While it won’t dry to a matte finish or erase all fine lines from your lips, the product smells amazing, its formula is lightweight, and it has great pigmentation.
As someone who sticks to mostly tinted balms, I felt comfortable wearing this all day and didn’t feel once like I wanted to run to the bathroom and wipe it all off.
This story was originally published January 8, 2016 at 3:52 PM with the headline "Fab or flub? Revlon’s new matte lip color goes high-def."