Maybelline Color Sensational Powder Matte Lipstick Review & Swatches

Maybelline Color Sensational Powder Matte Lipstick ($4.99) is a new extreme matte, full-coverage formula that launched with the Maybelline Spring 2018 Collection in five shade selections. I’m not sure why Maybelline feels the need to continuously release a variety of different matte lipsticks. There’s an entire range of Maybelline Matte Color Sensational Lipstick and as well as the Creamy Matte Lipstick Collection and Color Sensational Matte Metallics so, why we need a range of Powder Matte Lipsticks is beyond me. Particularly because this formula sucks so hard it hurts.

As they say, if it isn’t broken don’t fix it. I think they could have successfully stopped with the Creamy Matte formula was it was a good one but I guess they want to be an affordable competition for brands like Urban Decay that have a range of finishes and colors in their lipstick formula. However, if they are going to release a wide variety of finishes and formulas at least take the time to create something wearable. The texture of this lipstick is horribly dry and painful to apply.

Sigh.

Maybelline Matte Color Sensational Lipstick is available in a very small range of colors. They launched these in five shade selections which seems odd to me but hey, maybe they knew the formula sucked and they could quickly pull the wool over our eyes and have us buy them before discontinuing them in a few months time.

I purchased the shade Cruel Ruby which I love. It actually looks amazing on me or at least I think it does. It also happens to have a great long wear without migrating or feathering while the finish remains relatively smooth (which does require work to achieve). However, the application is horrible. It tugs painfully during application and the color applies extremely patchy and dry. You have to go over it several times, which hurts like hell, to get the smoothest most even finish.

Maybelline Color Sensational Powder Matte Lipstick Swatches (Cruel Ruby)

According to Maybelline the formula is two times more mattifying than any of their other creamy lipsticks but why it has to be such a thin, dry texture that pratically tugs the skin off your lips during application is beyond me. Couldn’t we have a lighter, creamy matte texture?! Interestingly enough the normal play-doh fragrance and flavor that I associate with Color Sensational Lipsticks is very subtle in this formula and barely there. I also noticed this contains kaolin which could account for the horribly dry formula.

Maybelline Color Sensational Powder Matte Lipstick is a complete waste of money. Do not pass Go. Do not collect $200. This formula is awful, save your money and buy something else.

Maybelline Color Sensational Powder Matte Lipstick is launching now at drugstores and available at ulta.com, amazon.com, and target.com.