Meet one of my personal most highly anticipated lip releases of the year: the L’Oréal Infallible Matte Max lip pens. This unique gel-to-powder formula originated in Asia and is now finally available here in 6 vibrant colours, ranging from nude to bright purple.
Besides the innovative formula the pens have an unusual way to dispense the product. The built-in sponge applicator picks up the product that is stored in the cap. By twisting the cap to open the pen, a decent amount of product is rubbed onto the sponge, which you then use to go over the lips. This leaves a soft hue yet pigmented matte finish on the lips that you can build as you please.
After much consideration, I decided to pick up 004 Oops I Pink It Again, a vibrant fuchsia pink shade that goes on quite sheer yet very opaque once layered. The pointed tip of the sponge helps to follow the contours of the lips, yet a lip liner will help you out a lot if you’re going for a very crisp contour. I usually don’t bother (see swatches below on the left hand side). Instead, I often use this product to create more of a gradient effect where I leave the outer contours sheer and build up the coverage towards the center of the lips (see swatches below on the right hand side).
To be honest I expected the formula to be quite drying on the lips, but in the end I found it to be a lot more comfortable than I thought it would be. The Matte Max lip pens will crawl into the fine lines of the lips after 2-3 hours, so reapplying will be necessary, especially after consuming food or drinks. I’d recommend wearing this when your lips are in good condition, but on the flip side you can wear a lip balm underneath which won’t take away the matte effect. I personally love my creamy lip formulas over these but if you love a good matte lip, these are worth looking into, even if it’s just because it’s unlike anything else on the market.
L’Oréal Infallible Matte Max – € 14 / £ 7
(aka Color Riche Tint Caresse in Asia)
Available at the drugstore.
Disclaimer: The product in this post was purchased.