May 26, 2016

E.L.F. Lip Lacquer Review & Swatches

I purchased this item and I receive a small commission if you shop using the links in this post.

E.L.F. Lip Lacquer

E.L.F. Lip Lacquer ($2) is a new addition to the E.L.F. Essentials Collection. This new Lip Lacquer formula has a high shine, pigmented finish and is available in five shade selections.

I should start this review by saying I find more keepers in the E.L.F. Studio Collection versus the Essentials one. This made me a little wary of purchasing a few shades of the E.L.F. Lip Lacquer formula but I indulged none the less because hey, two bucks each can’t hurt my wallet too much right?

One of the things that stands out the most about these is the fact they look very, very similar to the newly packaging Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics Lip Tars. I do think E.L.F. was intentionally going for that vibe as they are legendary for trying to create dupes of popular makeup and beauty launches. Some people might even feel like this formula is a bit of a dupe for Lip Tars.

Let’s take a look and fine out if that’s the case.

E.L.F. Lip Lacquer comes housed in simple barrels with a white top that resembles OCC’s packaging a good deal. Each Lip Lacquer is 0.08 and as I mentioned above a mere two bucks each.

At this price, for this formula, you really can’t go wrong grabbing a few shades, especially if you’re been interested in trying Lip Tar but not interested in splurging on them for $16 each. This isn’t to say E.L.F.’s formula is a dupe but the general idea is the same and the pigment is just as good as you’d get from a Lip Tar. So, if you’re interested in super pigmented lipglosses with a high shine that aren’t terribly expensive I’d say these are worth purchasing.

E.L.F. Lip Lacquer Swatches (Clear, Bold Pink, Burgundy, Natural, Purple)

E.L.F. Lip Lacquer Swatches (Clear, Bold Pink, Burgundy, Natural, Purple)

These are a lighter, thicker formula when compared to Lip Tar’s considerably thicker texture. I didn’t find them tacky or sticky in the least and they felt plush and slick on my lips with excellent color pay off on a single application that just got better as I built. The pigmentation is really, really incredible on all the shades and this is, in fact, where they might be compared to Lip Tar. I wouldn’t say the colors are as intense as Lip Tar or as pigmented but they do come damn close plus they aren’t exactly slacking in the color pay off department so, don’t expect muted, weak shades! These pop! The wear time varies but the darker shades had the longest wear at around five hours where as the lightest shade, Natural, wore for about four. They do have a fruity minty kind of flavor that I found pleasant enough but it disappears quick enough and doesn’t linger.

E.L.F. Bold Pink Lip Lacquer

E.L.F. Bold Pink Lip Lacquer

E.L.F. Lip Lacquer Bold Pink

E.L.F. Burgundy Lip Lacquer

E.L.F. Burgundy Lip Lacquer

E.L.F. Lip Lacquer Burgundy

E.L.F. Clear Lip Lacquer

E.L.F. Clear Lip Lacquer

E.L.F. Lip Lacquer Clear

E.L.F. Natural Lip Lacquer

E.L.F. Natural Lip Lacquer

E.L.F. Lip Lacquer Natural

E.L.F. Purple Lip Lacquer

E.L.F. Purple Lip Lacquer

E.L.F. Lip Lacquer Purple

I had problems with three of the five shades. Natural, applies a little patchy and falls into my natural lip lines where as Burgundy also has patchy issues and tends to sheer out as you swipe it on. I also felt like the Clear shade had a completely different consistency compared to the others! It almost felt like a jelly and didn’t provide as much shine as the colored shades. Ironically the clear shade works fabulously as a primer of sorts as applying it first and following up with a color shades provides a smoother, more even finish. This was particularly the case with both Natural and Burgundy!

As I said, I wouldn’t call these an exact dupe for Lip Tars but they will fill the need for those if you’re on a budget. I think it’s such a rarity to come across pigmented glosses that aren’t a liquid lipstick. It’s nice coming a cross a gloss formula with this much pigment and shine at such a great price.

I would recommend trying at least one as the formula is pretty nice!

E.L.F. Lip Lacquers are available now at www.elfcosmetics.com.

I purchased this item and I receive a small commission if you shop using the links in this post.

About the Muse

Isabella MuseIsabella is just an average everyday geeky girl who doesn’t blend her eyeshadow correctly, wears too much blush, and hopes she never finds her holy grail products because she likes the thrill of the chase so much. Her mission is to bring you super honest reviews on makeup, skincare, fragrance and all things beauty. She’s in no way an expert on the topic and she sure as hell isn’t a super model. But she’s passionate about makeup and is seeking like-minded individuals that like pina coladas, getting caught in the rain, and ones that enjoy spending hundreds of dollars at Sephora without feeling buyer’s remorse. If you’re that person feel free to reach out and leave a comment or follow me on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Bloglovin‘.

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