Your Lipstick Guide: Matte vs Satin Lipstick & Every...

Ever wondered what the difference is between a matte vs satin lipstick? A lipstick with a matte texture will give you full coverage but can be challenging to use when you have dry lips.

If that’s the case you’re better off using a satin lipsticks since it has more moisturizing ingredients.

Yet, there are a lot more alternatives to choose from, even if you prefer an opaque coverage or just sheer pigmentation.

Let’s have look at what that means and which lipstick products are best for your lips. I will explain and show the differences in this blog post.

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Shopping for the perfect and right lipstick might feel like searching for a needle in a haystack. You have to think about:

lipstick color,
the finish
and even the type of lip product itself.

matte vs satin lipstick — As you can see there are different lipstick finishes. I’ll explain the pros and cons of every finish.

It’s not just the pigment that should catch your attention, it’s also the lipstick finish. Not everyone enjoys the texture of creamy lipstick and matte lippies can irritate dry lips.

Understanding different lipstick finishes help you find the ones that best suit the texture of your lips as well as your complexion and makeup style.

This guide gives you an insight into the different lipstick finishes, along with the lip products every makeup bag needs.

Matte vs Satin lipstick and everything in between

When you want to buy a new lipstick you probably think about lip colour and great colour payoff first. Yet, this isn’t the only thing you should be looking for.

You should also consider what formula texture you would like to buy. This will influence your lip look and a poorly chosen finish might emphasize dry patches or fine lines around your lips.

In other words, you can have 2 lipsticks in the exact same color, but the finish can make them look worlds apart.

swatches different lipstick finishes — Swatches different lipstick finishes

The Different Finishes

Back in the days I thought there was only one type of lipstick finish. When I went to Make-up School to become a Make-up Artist I found out this wasn’t the case at all.

There are different finishes and lip products to create different kind of lip looks and signature lips. Because there’s a wide range of finishes I’ll tell you more about the different textures your favorite brand might have.

1. Satin lipstick

Pros: high coverage, matte look but with added hydration.
Cons: if you love a good sheen, you won’t like the modest shine

If you want a signature lipstick, look no further than a satin lipstick finish. These are the lipsticks that are instant showstoppers.

Consider this the love child of a creamy and matte lipstick. If you mix them together you get a satin formula.

They give you the boldness of a matte look but with added hydration. Bold without being overpowering, giving your lips a modest sheen.

No wonder satin finishes are amongst the most popular lipsticks for their high coverage and intense color. It’s the best of both worlds.

Satin lipsticks: Mac Pro Lip Palette — I Love this MAC Pro Lip Palette. It’s called 6 Select Plums and has different lipsticks finishes in it: satin lipsticks and Cremesheen (glossy finish).

Top 5 Satin Lipsticks

Examples of great satin lipsticks are:

2. Cream lipstick

Pros: super moisturizing and creamier formula, doesn’t emphasize chapped lips.
Cons: transfers easily, not super lasting, easily bleeds into fine lines.

Ever seen a white collar with a lipstick mark on it? This is what happens when you wear cream lipstick.

It’s easily transfers onto your cup of coffee in the morning, mouth mask or your partner’s white collar.

Although it doesn’t stay on your lips for hours, cream lipsticks have a moisturizing formula that leave your lips perfectly kissable.

Lipsticks with this formula glide onto your lips thanks to added ingredients like shea butter or castor oil (made from ricinus communis).

One of the boldest finishes within this formula are metallic lipsticks. They typically come in bold and vibrant shades with a sparkling of gold and silver to catch the light.

Pro tip: wen you’re buying cream lipsticks, it’s worth investing in a coordinating lip pencil to stop the colour from bleeding.

creamy lipstick — Cream lipsticks are one of the most sold lip products

Top 5 Cream Lipsticks:

Examples of great cream lipsticks are:

3. Sheer lipstick

Pros: if you love a natural lip without a lot of color, this will be your favorite finish.
Cons: not long lasting, so you need regular touch ups.

Sheer lipsticks give your lips a wash of colour due to sheer pigmentation. This lipstick is designed for all day wear and gives you a more natural look, even with darker shades.

Expect healthy looking lips looking Parisian casual chic. They even come with a shimmer finish.

Sheer lipsticks aren’t long lasting due to their moisturizing oils, so it’s worth having a backup to carry with you for touch-ups throughout the day.

Also, if you want a natural look, make sure you buy one without lot of shimmer or a metallic shine.

Top 5 Sheer lipsticks

Examples of great sheer lipsticks are:

4. Glossy lipstick

Pros: creates illusion of fuller lips, doesn’t emphasize dry and chapped lips.
Cons: transfers easily, you have to apply regularly.

Fans of lip gloss can take their love for high shine finishes to the next level with a glossy lipstick.

This lipstick gives your lips a glazed or glass-like effect while keeping your lips hydrated and smooth. Some even come with a fine shimmer.

Lipsticks with a glossy finish tend to have medium coverage and a shorter staying power and offer more shine than an opaque colour.

You can create the same effect by layering a gloss over different finishes to get you the best of both worlds.

Pro tip: keep your glossy lipstick in the fridge if you live in a warmer climate, otherwise it will melt easily.

swatches matte vs satin lipstick finish — In this picture you can see the difference: matte vs satin lipstick vs a creamy finish.

Top 5 Glossy Lipsticks

Examples of great glossy lipsticks are:

5. Matte formula

Pros: super lasting, super high coverage
Cons: emphasizes dry patches

If you are into a bold color, go matte. Matte shades are never off-trend and they usually have excellent color payoff. Though this type of lipstick finish isn’t for the light-hearted due to vibrant color combinations.

This formula is very popular, but it can be difficult to find the perfect matte lipstick as many leave your lips feeling dry with an uneven look.

Most matte formulas don’t have any moisture to them, making them emphasize your lip lines and dry patches. Luckily there are some solutions to this:

you’ll want to use a lip scrub and balm before applying your matte lipsticks
or buy a semi-matte lipstick, it’s less drying to your lips.

Matte formula lipstick — These are one of the best matte lipsticks

Top 5 Matte Lipsticks

Examples of great Matte lipsticks are:

Pat Mcrath Labs MatteTrance lipsticks (semi-matte finish)
NYX Suede Matte lipstick
Charlotte Tilbury Matte Revolution
MAC Ruby Woo Retro Matte Lipstick (ultra matte, if you prefer a slightly creamy matte finish just go for MAC Matte Lipsticks)
Bourjois Rouge Velvet

Musthave Make-up Bag Lip Products

Also add the following 2 lip products to your make-up bag:

Lipliner

Get a perfectly even application every time by using a lip liner. It’s applied to the outline of your lips to prevent bleeding and give your lips the perfect shape.

You can use a matching lip liner or go one shade lighter or darker for more definition.

Lip balm

a lip balm gives your lips a boost of hydration to reduce irritation and keep them soft. You want to use it every day and apply it before using lipsticks with a drying formula for a more even application.

Lipstick guide lip liner — Lip Liners are essential if you use lipstick with a creamy texture. They prevent your lip color from running all over the place, but also increase longer wear.

Different Lip Products You’ll also Love

The easiest way to add a full-coverage colour to your lips is with one of the different finishes above. You can apply it directly from the lipstick bullet or use a lip brush for a more precise application.

But perhaps traditional lipsticks aren’t your cup-a-tea. The secret to getting the perfect finish is also knowing what other products you can use to meet your needs.

swatches different lip products — Different lip products you might prefer

2) Liquid lipsticks

Pro: this is the most pigmented and smudge proof lip product. Can be very drying on the lips, but liquid lipsticks don’t transfer, especially when wearing a mouth mask. This also depends on the brand you buy.

Con: it can be hard to apply, you can’t close your lips until it’s dry. This means you have to wait a few minutes.

Also, it can be hard to remove depending on the brand you buy. You’ll most likely need a special lipstick remover.

best liquid lipsticks — Liquid lipsticks are the most smudge proof lip products. They come with different finishes.

Top 5 liquid lipsticks

Liquid lipsticks come in different finishes, from metallic, to velvet and (semi-)matte. Examples of liquid lipsticks:

Beauty Bakery Lip Whip (this won’t budge)
Lime Crime Plushies Soft Matte Liquid Lipstick
Kat von D Everlasting Liquid Lipstick (vegan)
Maybelline Super Stay Matte Ink Liquid Lipstick
Anastasia Beverly Hills Liquid Lipstick

4) Lip gloss

Pro: Lip gloss is one the most popular lip products besides lipstick. It creates a high shine gloss and glazed look.

Very multifunctional: you can either use it solo or layer it over a lipstick or lipliner.

Con: some may feel it’s sticky compared to lipstick. Transfers very easy.

Be careful if you live in a windy area: somehow your hair strands will always stick to your lips when wearing a lip gloss.

best lipgloss — Lipgloss come in different colors and even with or without shimmer.

Top 5 Popular lip gloss

5) Lip stains

Pro: a lip stain gives you a bold colour but with less coverage compared to a liquid lipstick. It’s doesn’t dry your lips and also gives a more natural finish with little to no transfer.

While lipstick has a wax base, stains are typically a gel or water base that is hydrating for your lips.

Con: it may be difficult to remove compared to a creamy lipstick. Depending on the brand you buy, you might need micellair water with added oil.

best lip stains — YSL Tatouage Couture Lip Stains are amongst my favorite lip stains. They’re very lightweight.

About the author

Angela is a curly girl and has been a beauty blogger since 2012. Because of her passion for beauty and hair, she has been a certified makeup artist since 2016 and has done multiple hair styling trainings. As a cosmetics lover, she writes reviews on cosmetics and provides different solutions that facilitate your daily beauty and curls routine.

Your Lipstick Guide: Matte vs Satin Lipstick & Every Finish in between