L’Oreal Infallible Paints Lips Matte Review & Swatches

Although matte isn’t my favorite finish I still decided to purchase L’Oreal Infallible Paints Lips Matte because I enjoyed the original Infallible Lip Paints formula so very much. I figure since that formula was so incredible how hard could it be with create a matte version of it? It should be an instant win right?

Not so much!

L’Oreal Infallible Paints Lips Matte come housed in the same tube packaging with attached sponge applicator as the original formula. When I originally purchased the Infallible Paints I thought it was a squeeze tube with a slanted tip applicator but they actually do have a removable wand with a sponge-tipped applicator for application. These are the same price as the original formula (around $9.99) and hold the same 0.27 oz amount. They are available in a much smaller range of shades. The original line contained many, many colorful picks where as the Paints Lip Matte Collection concentrate solely on nudes and a limited amount of them at that with only six shades on offer. I must admit the nude selection did factor into a key selling point for me as I was hopeful to find a nice, nude matte that would work with my skin tone in this batch of colors.

L’Oreal Infallible Paints Lips Matte Swatches (Tongue Tied, Peach Pit, Festival, Cinna-Bomb)

This formula is a big old dry mess sadly. The formula is quite thick out of the tube and saturates the sponge with a whole lot of product when you pull the wand free. I felt compelled to remove the excess lipstick before application as it’s a icky, clumpy mess on the sponge tip. Application was fairly smooth and even on my lips however, within a few seconds as the formula sets the color begins to fall into my natural lip lines and looks very, very drying and aging. Strangely enough the formula is a lightly whipped texture that was pleasant enough to apply and felt comfortable on my lips. I found it odd that it looked dry but in reality didn’t feel dry and felt very weightless and comfortable. That was a little bit of a surprising contrast.

L’Oreal Cinna-Bomb Infallible Paints Lips Matte

L’Oreal Festival Infallible Paints Lips Matte

L’Oreal Peach Pit Infallible Paints Lips Matte

L’Oreal Tongue Tied Infallible Paints Lips Matte

They are quite pigmented and a single swipe delivers opaque color. During the dry down they didn’t tighten but the color did settle into my lip lines but didn’t migrate nor feather. They are in a sense supposed to be a traditional long-wearing liquid lipstick but in reality they do transfer a bit if you sip from a cup. They do show signs of separation through the wear which leaves me with an outer ring of color towards my outer lips and my inner ones without color. I detected no fragrance or flavor in the formula and I got about an hour wear from them before I felt compelled to remove since the color looked faded, worn, and dry.

There’s a lot of success to be had with the slicker, creamier texture of the Lip Paints formula but this new Infallible Paints Lips Matte is would I’d recommend avoiding! It’s just a bit nasty mess on lips.

L’Oreal Infallible Paints Lips Matte are available now at ulta.com, target.com, and amazon.com.

Tried them?

Do share your thoughts!