Hello everyone!

The brand that more or less amplified the fad of liquid lipsticks with their pocket-friendly prices has got me reached into my wallet once again with 5 new strikingly beautiful shades!

Economically priced at US$6 each, these limited-edition Ultra Matte Lip shades which were released in early October mirror the warm, rich and aesthetically-attractive colours of fall and hence automatically making them a crowd pleaser. In fact, they were so sought after that the sudden spike in traffic had caused the ColourPop website to crash for several hours on launch day! Luckily for me, it was up and running again with not a single shade sold out when I awoke from my slumber (because ColourPop launches always coincide with my bedtime pfft).

First Class wasn’t on my shopping list but I carted it out eventually to qualify for free shipping. Sales tactics like this are meant to entice shoppers to spend more and I unwittingly fell for it *sigh* But thankfully, I managed to save US$5 (that’s S$7 okay, equivalent to a plate of Ayam Penyet and a can of jasmine green tea from the coffee shop below my block) with a discount code which I didn’t expect would still work!

I know you guys are very eager to see more swatches so I shall cut the crap. Without further ado, let’s now find out how these five newcomers fare in the quality department!

#1 Instigator

A very cheery salmon pink, Instigator is extremely flattering on light to medium skin tone. It gives your lips a fuller and plumper look with its even and velvety coverage. It dries down rather quickly (in under a minute) and it does not emphasise the lip lines as long as you don’t stretch the corners of your lips laterally to the sides. If you’re looking for an affordable MLBB liquid lipstick, this would be right up your alley! Unfortunately, Instigator is already sold out on site and I doubt there will be another restock for it.

Bumble and Instigator would make a gorgeous ombre together!

#2 Chilly Chili

The best performer among the all the shades here, Chilly Chili doubles as a lipstick and a lip liner because it actually lines the lips – especially at the cupid’s bow -perfectly! The lips crumple minimally with this (only at the sides) and it is also one of the rare Ultra Matte Lip shades that doesn’t deviate much from its intended colour. If there’s anything I have to nitpick on, it would be the time it took to to fully dry down. Even so, it didn’t pose much problem while it was still damp. ColourPop might have hit the bull’s eye with this formula if it varies from the rest.

I had thought it would be very similar to Limbo as both looked equally dark to me but Chilly Chili turned out to be a lot lighter.

#3 First Class

I should have gone with my initial selection and forgone this shade because the finish is just… appalling. Not only did First Class fail at providing an evenly opaque coverage with one swipe, it also left a clumpy and grainy texture. It was terribly drying, like you could literally feel the moisture of your lips getting guzzled by that vile lipstick. Furthermore, my lips almost tore in the removal process because residue of the lipstick refused to go away! I had to apply tons of petroleum jelly to get my natural lip colour back. It’s a huge disappointment because I really liked the colour!

Perhaps you guys should stick to regular lipsticks for now if you like orange hues.

#4 Bad Habit

Seeing Bad Habit settle and dry on the lips is akin to watching a live magic show – the change in colour is so drastic! It was supposed to be some sort of a pink variant but then it oxidises into a pale burgundy. People living in Singapore must be receiving a special form of air, huh?

Jokes aside,  Bad Habit is opaque but drying and it is not as lightweight as I liked it to be because I could feel the product weighing down my lips. Also, this leaves a tacky finish so the lips tend to stick to each other when they open. I noticed that this shade in particular takes a longer time to dry down completely so you will probably need to manually dry your lips in front of a blowing fan. But do it when no one is looking because you’re gonna look silly for sure 😉

#5 More Better

I’ve got nothing against creative (or rather, weird) names that are totally irrelevant to the products themselves but as an amateur educator, I do have a beef with the terrible grammar in “More Better”. As you know, no two comparatives can be paired together (both “More” and “Better” are comparatives) but I guess as long as it stands out, what are rules, right? Besides, this strategy worked because it had obviously gotten my attention! And I’m sure it did for many of you grammar nazis as well 😉

Among the five shades here, More Better definitely has a more vibrant and eye-catching colour payoff and it is, without a doubt, one of my favourites from ColourPop thus far. It is in such gorgeous shade of berry which leans towards the dark spectrum. The lipstick wrinkled my lips but it wasn’t visible from afar. There were also uneven coverage on some parts (darker and more opaque on certain areas) but then again, it would only be noticeable if you scrutinise your lips. However, that would also mean more frequent touch-ups since the lighter areas are probably going to fade faster than the rest (especially after meals).

All in all, ColourPop seems to be doing a darn good job at being MAC for the money-conscious. Although there were a few misses in this collection, the choice of colours were interesting and atmospheric. I could also see slight improvements in the formula in terms of the staying power and the extent to which the colour changes when the lipstick dries completely. Just a little tweak and it’d be perfect! (And the lipsticks probably won’t be US$6 already LOL)

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

Thanks for reading! 🙂

COLOURPOP ULTRA MATTE LIP IS NOW AVAILABLE ON COLOURPOP.COM FOR A LIMITED TIME. SHIPPING WITHIN CONTINENTAL U.S. IS FREE FOR ORDERS OVER US$30. QUOTE “THANKSBABE” UPON CHECKOUT TO ENJOY A US$5 DISCOUNT WITH NO MINIMUM SPENDING.