After buying a Limecrime Velvetine in Suedeberry a couple of years ago (and subsequently pretty much every other shade they do) I have been a matte lip product convert. I’d tried matte and semi-matte lipsticks like Mac’s Ruby Woo before, but they don’t quite give the same super bold, super opaque effect as the liquid matte products. I’m still an advocate of the Limecrime Velvetine, but at £13.50 plus shipping they’re not cheap and they can’t be bought in store in the UK. Consequently, I was keen to try out some more affordable high street alternatives, especially as they’re becoming more and more popular at the moment. I tried one of MUA’s Velvet Lip Lacquers (£3) but wasn’t a fan – although the colour was great and they did dry matte, the texture was sticky and it crumbled off very easily.
Sleek Matte Me in ‘Birthday Suit’
My latest matte lip purchases have been two Sleek Matte Me ‘ultra smooth matte lip creams’ (£5 each – currently buy one get one half price in Boots). They have been around for a while, but I thought I’d post about them as I think that a lot of people are yet to experiment with matte lips.
Although Sleek offer some great bright and bold shades, I wanted to try the more subtle ones ‘Petal‘ and ‘Birthday Suit‘, and I’m so impressed! Although the texture isn’t identical to that of the Limecrime Velvetine, they are very similar and (more importantly) the effect given once dry is just as good. Sleek Matte Me dries completely matte, and once dry is totally touch and smudge proof. They claim not to need a second coat and I would agree that a second coat isn’t necessary, but I personally apply a second coat anyway to ensure I get a totally opaque look. I have found that it needs touching up if I wear it when eating, but that’s true of any lip product, otherwise the staying power is fantastic. The shade I’m wearing in these photos is ‘Birthday Suit’, and is my favourite of the two. I would describe it as a dark nude, and I think it’s so wearable! Plus it looks a lot like the shade Kylie Jenner has been coveting recently.
One of the biggest concerns I hear about matte lip creams is, ‘aren’t they really drying?’. As would be expected, they are more drying than a glossy sheer lipstick (for example), but providing you’re not wearing it all day every day and apply a lip balm before you apply Matte Me (or any other matte lip cream) I personally don’t find dryness a problem. This might be different if you suffer with particularly dry lips to begin with, but otherwise do not let dryness put you off!
So if you’re looking to experiment with a matte lip cream, Sleek Matte Mes are fairly inexpensive and come in six colours, making them the perfect place to start! Similarly, I think they’re great if you’re already a fan of the matte lip product and are looking to expand your collection.
Have you tried any of these matte lip creams? What do you think? Do you have any other matte lip recommendations, or would you like to see me review and swatch any of the other products I mentioned?
(Visited 10,456 times, 1 visits today)
I just posted a review for one of these on my blog the other day in a brighter shade…. However this post has definitely persuaded me to go and try one of the nuder colours, Birthday suit looks great, definitely going to pick it up!
Tilly Enn // A Beauty and Fashion Blog
Oh my that colour and finish looks gorgeous! I'm a huge fan of matte lips, especially in nude shades so I can't wait to try these <3
wow I love the colour!
Eilidh from Velvet-Winter
I've been wanting to try more matte colours for a while now & at a more reasonable price…I think these may be the ones I try next!
This colour & finish looks beautiful on you 🙂
<a href="http://timetoseethestars.blogspot.co.uk/>-sarah xo</a>
Looks so pretty and different, and I'm loving your blog make-over too! xo
Aliona | fromalionawithlove.com
This reminds me of the colour Kylie Jenner has been wearing and I have wanted to find a similar shade for about 20435445 months haha, it really suits you darl. xx
I reviewed Birthday Suit a couple of days ago. Love, love, love the colour!
Emma x
BEAUTY AND RAGS
love a matte lip, it looks amazing on you! x
cat // je suis cat
Yeah, I would definitely avoid Lime Crime at all costs for many reasons. But these look great on you. I always look a bit dead in nudes, you wear it extremely well!
Have you tried NYX's Soft Matte Lip Cream? They came out with a ton of colors not too long ago. I adore them. I've heard really good things about Pretty Zombie Cosmetics as well.
It suits you down to a T! I'm so impressed, I probably wouldn't use matte lipstick/lipgloss myself, but it looks hella cool on you and I do love the dark nude-y colour.
Ellie xxx
http://elleshastafford.blogspot.co.uk/
Totally agree they look like Kylie Jenner lips, suuuuuch a beautiful colour too!
beautyandtheb1.blogspot.co.uk
B xx
I'm a huge fan of the NYX & Borjoius lipcreams so I really want to try these too!
I know LLYMLRS said she wasn't a fan, and I hadn't seen any reviews since so I had no idea what other people thought! But now I've seen a good review I may as well give it a go as they're so well priced anyway!
Bethanyxalice xx
That looks so nice! I should probably go to Boots and check if these are available because so far I sadly haven't seen them, but would love trying them out!
http://livialinette.blogspot.co.uk/2014/08/whats-in-my-bag-every-day-in-scotland.html
did you use a lip liner underneath it ? 'cause I've seen other swatches of the birthday suit matte lip cream and it isn't as dark.
No I'm not, perhaps it's the lighting, or the contrast with my pale skin!
If you're looking for a liner to match / make it slightly darker, Rimmel's 'Addiction' is good x
That color looks amazing with your pale skin and red hair. Your lips are also the perfect shape!!.
I have the same coloring as you and I wonder if I could pull of this color as good as you.
Hi, I've got olive tan/south asian skin time and just bought bithday suit – it's makes me look washed out and looks like a pale nude – looks absolutely gorgeous on you btw! I'm wondering how I make it look as dark as your lips?
Oh my god, how are your lips so full yet not.. wrinkly? Mine are bigger than the average but not too big, but I’m afraid of wearing any lipsticks because they get cakey and the wrinkles on my lips look more obvious when I apply matte lip products. Is that something that you do prior to applying your lipstick or are you just lucky? Loved your review!