Maybelline offers a wide range of lipstick options, and one of their most popular choices is the Maybelline Superstay Matte Ink Liquid Lipstick. However, to some the formula feels too drying.
So, in this review, I’ll focus on a different liquid lipstick formula that is known for its gentle and nourishing characteristics: the Vivid Matte Liquid Lipstick.
Accordingly, in my Maybelline Vivid Matte Liquid review I’ll showcase some swatches, discuss its staying power, and give an honest review of the pros and cons I’ve experienced. Keep reading to discover if it’s a super buy or not.
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Maybelline Vivid Matte Liquid review
As a beauty blogger and certified makeup artist, I’m always on the lookout for different lipstick finishes to add to my makeup kit.
So, you can imagine my excitement when I had the opportunity to test out some different Maybelline Vivid Matte Liquid lipsticks, after being invited to an event hosted by L’Oreal (they are Maybelline’s parent company).
Being a fan of matte lipstick, I was incredibly curious to see how this drugstore liquid lipstick would perform. However, my curiosity quickly turned into confusion when I applied it to my lips.
Before I explain this in detail, let me first tell you which ones I tested.
I tested these Vivid Matte shades
The Vivid Matte collection has a shade range of 21 different shades, from subtle nude shades to bright reds and darker shades. I tested the following 6 lip colors:
- Nude Flush (10): a very light neutral shade.
- Electric Pink (15): a bright pink shade.
- Fuchsia Ecstacy (30): a bright purple shade with a pink undertone.
- Rebel Red (35): a classic red.
- Orchid Shock (42): a lilac-pink shade.
- Possessed Plum (45): a burgundy-plum dark shade.
Don’t feel like reading my in depth Maybelline Matte Liquid Lipstick review? Don’t worry I got you covered. Here’s a short bullet point summary about why you should or shouldn’t buy it.
5 Benefits
5 Benefits of using these Maybelline Matte Liquid Lipsticks are:
- Guaranteed color payoff.
- Easy to layer and to distribute (with a lip pencil).
- It doesn’t leave stains that can’t be removed, so it’s easy to clean up
- Doesn’t emphasize dry patches nor make your lips feel dry.
- Easily removable with just toilet paper or products like micellar water.
4 Possible turn-offs
4 Possible turn-offs of using these Maybelline Liquid Lipsticks are:
- The appearance is more like a lip gloss, it’s definitely not matte.
- It transfers easily, so it’s not kiss-proof or smudge proof.
- Takes a while to dry and it can feel a little sticky if not properly allowed to dry.
- The smell.
Interested in reading my in depth review? Keep on reading for more detail.
Maybelline’s Promise
Maybelline guarantees a smooth and creamy formula that provides complete color coverage, resulting in a luxurious velvety matte finish with an intense color.
Additionally, the different colors come with an ultra-soft flexible doe-foot applicator featuring a slanted tip. According to Maybelline, this allows you to effortlessly contour and define your lips.
Why the confusion?
When I applied the Maybelline Vivid Matte Liquid for the first time, I noticed right away that it absolutely didn’t have a matte finish at all. This kinda surprised me because the product name suggests otherwise.
So at first, I got confused and wondered if I’d had received a bad batch. Yet, when I bought Nude Flush and Orchid Shock months later, I concluded that it’s just how the formula works.
Accordingly, I’d say these liquid lipsticks are far from having a matte formula. They rather give more of a lip soufflé feel with a semi-glossy finish.
The gloss does decrease slightly during the day, but it will never become matte. Let me show you some swatches so you can see what I mean.
Swatches Maybelline Vivid Matte Liquid
Most of the Maybelline Vivid Matte shades I’ve tested are very easy to apply. They apply very smoothly and the colors are bright and vivid.
The color you see in the lipstick tube is also the color you actually see on your lips. There are no sudden color differences, so no surprises. They’re pretty much true to color.
Rebel Red provides an opaque coverage with just one layer. With shades Electric Pink and Fuchsia Ecstacy it’s best to apply a second layer to create a more vivid and beautiful coverage.
Nude Flush
I would describe Maybelline Vivid Matte Nude flush as a light beige shade. It’s very easy to remove with just a piece of toilet paper.
At first, I thought this shade was too light for my skin tone, but this would be a perfect lip color to combine with a brown lip liner. See the example below.
You should be okay by applying one layer, yet when you apply two layers it gives a more opaque and beautiful coverage.
As what happens with most lighter shades, it’s fairly easy to get a stripy effect. Luckily, this is something you can easily solve by starting with a thin layer, first.
Wait a couple of minutes and add another layer. Make sure you distribute both layers with a lip pencil or a cotton bud.
Fuchsia Ecstacy
Fuchsia Ecstacy is a very bright and vivid purple shade with a pink undertone. It’s best to apply a second layer to create a more beautiful coverage.
This shade will leave a stain on your lips, so you need a make-up remover to remove it properly.
Orchid Shock
Orchid Shock will give you an opaque coverage in just one swipe. Applying two layers is even more better.
If you want to remove this shade from your lips you’ll need to use micellaire water or any other make-up remover product.
Possessed Plum
Possessed Plum applies rather patchy. Even when you apply two layers it doesn’t really provide a full coverage.
In the video below you can get a good look at Possessed Plum, it’s the first shade on top. As you’ll see the finish is rather glossy and not as dark as you might expect.
Is it easy to work with?
Maybelline Vivid Matte Liquid has a creamy texture. One of the positive results of this is that it doesn’t grain on the inside of your lips like other other liquid matte lipsticks.
Another positive aspect is that because of its creamy texture it’s very easy to correct mistakes. I usually use do this with a cotton bud or fingers.
Even after a few minutes of applying it. So, Vivd Matte Liquid is a very easy lip product to work with.
Is precise application possible?
I’m very happy the texture is easy to work with, because I don’t necessarily like the “unique arrow applicator,” according to Maybelline.
I think the doe foot applicator isn’t really helpful when you want to distribute the lipstick evenly, especially in the inner corners of your mouth. Luckily, I can use my finger or a lip pencil to distribute it more evenly.
According to Maybelline the best way to apply their liquid matte lipstick is as follows:
- start by applying it in the center of your upper lip.
- Work from the center to the outer edges and follow the contours of your mouth.
- Lastly, glide the lip colour across the entire bottom lip.
Wear time
In my experience, you can get 4-5 hours of wear if you don’t eat greasy food. After this, most of the darker shades will fade and leave a beautiful stain.
To be honest, I expected the lip colors to fade a lot sooner since they aren’t transfer-proof. Also, glossy lipsticks don’t tend to stay on that long.
Guess I was wrong, these Maybelline liquid lipsticks do.
Is it smudge & kiss-proof?
As I’ve briefly mentioned, Maybelline Vivid Matte Liquid isn’t transfer-proof. When you have a greasy meal and a few drinks it’ll for sure leave a lipstick stain on your wine glass (or on your white shirt, so be careful).
Surprisingly, it’ll stay visible on your lips, despite eating and drinking. Even when you use a napkin to wipe your lips after dinner, there will remain a stain on your lips.
So, it seems Maybelline Vivid Matte Liquid act like lip stains and in doing so they remind me of Bourjois Souffle de Velvet.
How does it smell?
Another thing I noticed about Maybelline Vivid Matte Liquid Lipstick is its fragrance. It has a kind of floral sccent that reminds me of a detergent or a fabric softener.
It lingers for about half an hour. After that, it becomes slightly more subtle.
I find the scent more noticeable than MAC’s liquid lipsticks. This is something you need to keep in mind, especially if you’re sensitive to fragrance.
If that’s the case, a fragrance-free alternative would be NYX lip lingerie. This is actually matte liquid lipstick.
Conclusion: is it a super buy or Not?
Concluding, is this a super buy and the best liquid lipstick you could own? No, not necessarily.
Yet, whatever your opinion is about the claim Maybelline made about these lip colors, the Vivid Matte collection is designed to give your lips a bold and luxurious color while ensuring a long-lasting and comfortable wear.
They’re affordable liquid lipsticks and the application is smooth and easy. Also, the texture is lightweight, and it glides effortlessly on your lips.
However, if this is a super buy solely depends on your lipstick needs:
- Are you looking for a flawless matte finish? Then this is a big fat NO NO!
- Are you looking for a lipstick with an opaque cover that also looks super chic? Then you’ll probably buy the whole collection of Vivid Mattes.
Where to buy Maybelline?
These Maybelline lipsticks are available in 21 colors: 8 ml of lipstick that gives about 5 hours of wear.
Where can you buy Maybelline? You can buy it at local drugstores or online:
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.
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