Steph Might Actually Start Wearing Liquid Lipstick Now, Thanks to This One
The past few years have seen an overwhelming rise (and arguably, relative decline) of the liquid lipstick trend. But even as Kylie Lip Kits made their long-lasting mark on the cosmetics industry, I never really got into the stiff, chalky matte, crazy-intensely pigmented formulas every YouTuber swore by. I tend to prefer a more natural makeup look, and when I do dress things up with a lip color, I care a lot about its finish, how it wears throughout the day and how it feels on lips. It wasn't until I encountered Honest Beauty's new Liquid Lipstick that I finally found a version of the trend I actually want to wear.
Honest Beauty's formula gets right what every other one out there gets wrong: With kaolin clay and hyaluronic acid, it has a pretty, matte and powdery finish that sets and stays in place — but doesn't dry out lips. It remains pliable and feels weightless on lips, even as it holds in place throughout the day. And rather than forming a film-like layer of pigment that sets into fine lines and makes lips look shriveled (eeek!), it gives a diffused, velvety effect. My favorite shade from the seven-hue range is a dusty rose called BFF, which was actually developed to be Honest Beauty founder Jessica Alba's ideal nude (on her warmer skin tone it's a definite neutral; on my paler complexion it reads a bit more pink, but still neutral).
Beyond the way this lip color wears, it's also appealing to me because it omits the synthetics, film-formers and chemicals associated with so many other liquid lipsticks out there, in favor of Honest Beauty's interpretation of "clean" ingredients and patent-pending long-wearing technology.
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It shouldn't be surprising that this product is so good: The entire range of shades has a stamp of approval from makeup artist Daniel Martin, aka the talent behind Meghan Markle's wedding-day glam and and so many of Alba's best looks over the years. (He also serves as "Chief Color Consultant" for the company.)
I'll be keeping this lip color in heavy rotation — so what if the overwhelming liquid lipstick trend seems to be tapering off?
Honest Beauty Liquid Lipstick in BFF, $12.99, available here.
Scroll through the gallery below to see more of Steph's picks.
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