L’Oreal Rouge Lightweight Matte Colored Ink Review & Swatches
Is it L’Oreal Rouge Lightweight Matte Colored Ink or Liquid Lipstick or Lip Color or Lip Stain? I’ve seen this new lipstick called so many different things I’m terribly confused what exactly is the right name! I feel the need to stick to lip stain or ink as that seems the best way to describe this formula.
L’Oreal launched Rouge Signature Lasting Matte Liquid Lip Ink in 12 shades and I have to admit to I only purchased one as I am really not a fan of Maybelline’s SuperStay Matte Ink Lip Color. I was expecting L’Oreal to come out with a formula that’s fairly similiar to Maybelline’s which is why I decided to just test the waters with L’Oreal’s version first and decide later if I needed more shades.
I know many of you like the Maybelline version but I thought it was dry and felt oddly sticky at the same time. If you’re anything like me and hated those you’ll be very relieved to know L’Oreal perfected the formula beautifully and Rouge Signature Lasting Matte Liquid Lipstick is super easy to wear and quite lovely!
L’Oreal Rouge Lightweight Matte Colored Ink arrives in a rather elegant barrel with a matte back cap with a raised L’Oreal face plate. For drugstore makeup it’s presented quite nicely and could easily be mistaken for something purchased at a counter. The barrel holds 0.23 oz of lip stain and ranges in price from $9 to $12 depending where you purchase it.
I used to love lip stains and they were my go to product back in the day but lip stains have evolved a good deal and most of the ones I see that are toted as stains are actually long-wearing lipstick formulas that have a matte finish. I think L’Oreal does bring back more of a traditional cream lip stain with this formula that has a strong wear and lasting staining effect which is easy to wear without feeling too dry or heavy.
One thing that deserves mentioning is the doe-foot applicator which is slightly bent. It seems the bent applicator combined with the lighter formula made application very easy. I always feel like I’m making such a mess with creamier, long-wearing lipsticks during application. They are just so runny and thick that I always feel like like I’m going outside the line of my lips when applying them. This formula is also runny but thinner and almost watery in texture and this combined with the slight bend in the applicator made application really easy and mess-free compared to long-wear lipstick formulas. I’m not sure I’d go so far as to call this a lipstick. It’s somewhat of a hybrid that’s more of a cream stain versus an actual lipstick although, the pigmentation is that of a lipstick.
L’Oreal Rouge Signature Lasting Matte Liquid Lip Color (I Am Worth It)
At first application it has a hint of a shine which sets to a silky matte within a few seconds. I was a little worried it would tighten up and cause drying but it is so lightweight you can’t even feel it on your lips not to mention it isn’t drying at all. It’s doesn’t migrate or feather during the wear nor does it dry up and fall into the natural lines of my lips during the wear. Some lip stains can sort of ball up or get crusty on my lips but I had no such issues with this formula. The best part about is the fact it’ll wear for hours but you can easily tissue off the top layer and you’re left with a stain under it that lasts for hours more. It’s not like a long-wearing lipstick that you need makeup remover to remove. It easily tissues off should you wish to apply a new layer as the day progresses. However, once removed it does leave behind a very bold stained look which does need a bit of remover to get off completely or at least some soap and water. The initial application does in fact have a long wear though and doesn’t really move or transfer.
As I said I never felt like it was sucking moisture from my lips and I honestly forgot I was even wearing it due to the weightless feel. It does have a very subtle perfume-y flavor and fragrance but this disappears quite quickly once applied.
L’Oreal Rouge Lightweight Matte Colored Ink was a win! I was pleasantly surprised by this formula as I have to admit I went into the purchase expecting to hate it. The finish was smooth, the wear long, the formula very comfortable and weightless. It showed all the great perks of a stain without the horrible dryness of a more traditional liquid lipstick!
Love it!
Where to buy
L’Oreal Rouge Lightweight Matte Colored Ink is a new, permanent liquid lip stain or lip ink that launched for Spring 2019 in twelve shade selections for $9 to $11 each that are 0.23 oz in size. L’Oreal takes us back to a more traditional cream liquid lip stain with this formula and managed to create a great texture that’s incredibly lightweight and barely noticeable on lips, easy to apply, and easy to wear with excellent pigment on a single application with a lasting wear that can get you easily through a 8 hour day but also, can be wiped off for easy re-application (although, it does leave behind a rather bold stain when wiped off). I was pleasantly surprised how weightless and non-drying this formula was!
- Non-drying, weightless, easy to wear without sucking moisture from lips!
- Pigmented.
- Easy to apply formula that’s thin and spreads easily.
- Wears for 8 plus hours but easily removes for re-application if needed (does leave behind a staining effect though when tissued off).
- Has a light perfume-y flavor and fragrance.
Anyone who enjoys lip stains should get on very well with this formula as it’s lightweight, easy to apply, and easy to wear without being drying!