Hello everyone!

With so many up-and-coming new makeup brands emerging in the beauty industry, it can be hard to keep up but on the bright side (*cough*in denial*cough*), it allows me to explore more options which may be less damaging to my bank account as compared to the likes of MAC. ColourPop, for instance, is one makeup brand that is gradually gaining a foothold in my makeup stash with their dirt cheap liquid lipsticks. Also joining the ranks of beauty brands on my radar is Jeffree Star Cosmetics, a relatively new brand that is only turning a year old in three days’ time!

Founded by Jeffree Star, an American singer-songwriter, make-up artist, fashion designer and model from Orange County, his eponymous cosmetics line carries merely lip products (no regular lipsticks, strangely) and is widely known for his flamboyant and unorthodox liquid lipstick shades (100% vegan and cruelty-free too!). When I first learnt about his existence, I hadn’t really caught up in the liquid lipstick craze yet. But the more I looked at those perfectly filled lips on his Instagram account, the more I felt compiled to lay my hands on his products! However, the prices aren’t exactly affordable for an indie brand like Jeffree Star so I had to shelve that idea. Then, one day he decided to sell 3 of his newest shades at a bundle price of US$48 (savings of US$6, no longer available)! Ok lah, not a huge discount but at least it’s enough to cover the shipping fee of US$5.95!

Most lipsticks are limited to 2 per customer since it’s a new set-up (and this also makes me wonder how ColourPop, also a new brand in the market, is able to meet the high demands for their products?). Shipping speed was average and comparable to that of ColourPop. My order was received by my forwarder after 7 days it was shipped out although I had gotten the delivery confirmation on the same day I made my purchase.

But Jeffree Star definitely does better in terms of packaging. The thick glass-like plastic container that holds the liquid lipstick certainly feels a lot sturdier, more expensive and luxurious. I don’t really like the tiny gap between the cap and the lower part of the tube, though, because it always makes me think that the cap is not securely tightened.

And clearly, these liquid lipsticks dry down a lot faster than ColourPop! That alone already deserves a bonus point in their scorecards. But do the products live up to expectations? Let’s find out!

#1 Dirty Money

The highlight (newly released at that point in time) of the trio, Dirty Money is a funky shade of green inspired by the colour of American banknotes that would go well with all skin tones (if you’re daring enough to wear it). It goes on the lips opaque and smoothly and wears very evenly.

I did not exfoliate my lips before application (don’t have the habit, but of course you’re encourage to do so) so there were very obvious flakes of dead skin on the bottom lip. Interestingly, Dirty Money accentuates the fine lines on my upper lip more than the lower when it’s usually the opposite. It is slightly drying (just a teeny weeny bit) but felt like it could last for hours. I don’t think I’m gutsy enough to parade in public with this unusual shade (my boyfriend would kill me if I do) but it’s a unique colour to own as a memento. This is the only greenish lipstick I have so no swatch comparison is available for this.

Dirty Money is currently sold out on site but will return at the end of February 2016.

#2 Masochist

Another sellout from this trio (and probably not going to get a restock anytime soon), Masochist is more accurately described as a cool-toned berry, somewhat like a liquid lipstick version of MAC’s Heaux. Perfect for fall, this bold shade instantly brightens up my face but took a little longer to set on the lips. It has an ultra-matte finish with uh-mazing colour coverage that went on my lips smoothly without a fuss. It didn’t emphasise my lip lines and the applicator was very easy to maneuver around the outline of the lips. The lipstick is neither drying nor hydrating.

Masochist is a lot brighter and more opaque than the other pink shades I own.

#3 Dominatrix

Dominatrix is intensely pigmented, but tends to “crack” when it dries down completely. You can clearly see those fine lip lines in the picture of me not smiling. Extremely matte in texture, it has a thick and heavy (like chocolate, really) consistency that will make your lips more defined with a single stroke. In fact, it’s so much so that the product appeared in clumps when I lifted the applicator off the tube, thus making it more difficult for me to apply on the lips. I had to be really careful in the application lest my lips look like a monkey’s butt (a very sexy one, that is).

Dominatrix is darker than ColourPop’s Limbo and also a lot more opaque and even.

In conclusion, my first purchase from Jeffree Star was a very gratifying one. You’re literally paying for the quality – their liquid lipstick formula is way more superior than that of ColourPop (I know it’s unfair to compare the two since the price difference is so great, but it’s the only other liquid lipstick brand I own) because it has gives colour payoff and opacity. When Jeffree Star says “matte”, he really means it!

What are your thoughts about the finish? Let me know in the comments below!

Thanks for reading! (And yes there’s another batch of Jeffree Stars comin’ to me soon, so do subscribe or follow my Instagram for more first-hand updates! 😉 )

Jeffree Star Velour Liquid Lipstick is available at jeffreestarcosmetics.com and BEAUTYLISH for US$18 each. international shipping is free for orders above US$100 and US$35 on jeffreecosmestics.com and beautylish respectively.