We've all been there: constantly reapplying lipstick, thinking, 'When are they going to invent something that can withstand a cup of coffee, let alone a light snack, not to mention a hot meal or a roast on special occasions?' And that's when we finally decide: we need a long-lasting lipstick. Reviews leave you wondering - are you buying chemical warfare or an unerasable Chinese marker?
But surely, there must be something that gives you peace of mind? A brand that won't poison you (remember when some lipsticks were banned because of toxic materials?) and one that society generally looks up to...
The star of today's review is the long-lasting lipstick that doesn't leave any marks - Rouge Dior Forever Liquid. We all dreamed of this in the 90s and noughties, remember? When makeup artists at weddings used lipsticks that didn't leave any marks, it seemed like something out of a sci-fi movie. They quickly fell out of favor, but now they're back in the luxury market.
Price: £39 (4000 rubles).
Country of origin: Italy.
Where I bought it: Selfridges.
Shade. 558 Forever Grace. The color is gorgeous, rich, and dark (much darker than on the website - take note of this). It's perfect for brunettes. I saw it on a Parisian model with my complexion and fell in love with the color. I wanted to buy it for ages. In the bottle, it looks lighter (like a dark nude), but in reality, it's very dark.
Before Dior Lipstick After Dior Lipstick Case. Matte plastic with a black glossy lid, in between - metallic coating in the style of Dior Lady Duffel Bags. It's all very in line with the company's aesthetic. I'd give them a plus for sticking to their own style. It's pretty comfortable to hold in your hand and use on the go.
Scent. Neutral, completely unnoticeable on the lips, which is more of a plus. I'm not a fan of heavily fragranced lipsticks, as it always worries me about getting an allergic reaction. I'd give Dior a plus for that too.
Texture is gel-like, which doesn't bleed. However, in my opinion, it's still a bit too runny. I mean, runny Dior lipstick is the star of the review - what's to complain about? The thing is, due to this, the layer ends up being a bit uneven: in some areas (especially around the edges) it's thick, while in others it's super thin. I end up having to apply it multiple times (and, funnily enough, the first layer doesn't dry quickly, so the second one doesn't increase the overall product usage), which takes up more time. If the lipstick texture was a bit thicker, I could've avoided these issues at least partially. Why partially? Because of the plastic applicator tip.
Applicator and Brush. The bristles are pretty dense and do a great job of coating the brush. But there's one catch: the plastic tip isn't super flexible and the very end isn't covered in bristles very well. That's the problem: it 'scratches' (without any pain or discomfort) the already-applied layer and that affects the finish. In other words, if you run it over the still-wet layer again, it'll partially remove it. That's why users are complaining about the product 'dragging'. It's a fact: the liquid texture + the poorly-covered tip are to blame.
The very end of the Dior Forever Rouge Matte liquid lipstick is poorly covered in bristlesFinish. The Dior Forever Rouge Matte liquid lipstick dries out pretty quickly. But that's when the problems start: it really pulls and dries out your lips. It's completely uncomfortable to wear. No weightless comfort like the manufacturer promised – I don't feel that at all because my skin is screaming 'take this off immediately!' Check out the photo below to see the border between the area without the lipstick and the area with it, and how much the lower lip is stretched (on the right-hand side of the photo). But the color is gorgeous.
Longevity. I wouldn't say the lipstick leaves no marks at all after it's dried. There are some, not greasy (not that typical Marilyn kiss on the packaging), but they're still there – on a cup, on clothes, and on your loved ones' cheeks too. So I'd still recommend being a bit more careful with surfaces.
If you don't eat much and don't drink a lot, the lipstick will stay put. But if you eat normally, things get interesting (I'll show and tell you on the photo below).
I have to admit, the lip gloss part of this product really showed me what I think is a major flaw in the overall quality of the product. Yes, the lipstick is long-lasting, but that makes it harder to remove and not very pretty when it fades off naturally. And don't even get me started on trying to wipe it off with a tissue...
Trying to remove Dior lipstick with a tissueSo, if you plan on eating, you'll need to carry not only the lipstick itself but also some wet wipes for removing makeup just in case.
Properties. There are no moisturizing properties to speak of - Dior's liquid lipstick dries out my lips ridiculously. Even a base (like NYX's primer, which is supposed to counteract the negative aspects of the product when applied on top) doesn't help much. Plus, if you apply the product on top of a base, the 'stripes' effect becomes more noticeable, and the longevity, of course, suffers.
Comparison to matte lipsticks from other brands. I recently reviewed Gucci's matte lipstick, which I'd give a 10 out of 10. Dior can't even compare to it - it's more like 2 out of 10 (just for the color). What's the point of comparing it to Gucci, anyway? This 12-piece set of matte lipsticks from AliExpress for 1000 rubles is way better in terms of how it treats my lips during and after wear.
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Short about Dior Rouge Forever LiquidMatte lipstick:
beautiful color;long-lasting;low waste;neutral scent.Cons:
dries out my lips;takes a while to apply, considering the applicator smoothes out the previous layer;can only be removed with makeup remover;unattractive when it fades off naturally;overpriced, and the quality doesn't justify the price.
Verdict. I'd give this product 3 stars solely for the color and the color palette, and the claimed durability.
I wouldn't recommend buying the Dior Forever Liquid Matte lipstick if you're not prepared to remove it with a special liquid and walk around all day with dry lips. It's a bit pricier than Gucci, which, although not as long-lasting, is still matte and doesn't dry out your lips, but that's about it for Dior's positives, aside from the durability.
Wishing you all successful purchases without any disappointments!