Cruelty-free Matte Lips: Affordable options for the matte lip trend!

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, there are few things as classic and elegant as a matte lip.  If all the recent matte lip launches are any indication, this trend does not seem to be going on the wane any time soon.  Which is fine by me!  They tend to wear longer throughout the day, and, heaven forfend, you can avoid the wretched hair stuck to your lips routine that seems virtually inevitable in windy gloss-wearing weather conditions.

I thought I’d share some of my recent, and less so, acquisitions that I believe to be worth recommending.  Unlike some matte formulas I’ve tried, none of these is particularly drying on the lips.  They come in an ever widening array of shades and I’ve got both nude and dark picks.  I’ve never been one to be afraid of a dark lip in the summer 🙂  Best of all, none cost more than $6 a pop.

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Let’s start with my ELF Studio Matte Lip Colors, currently on offer for $3 a tube on their website.  They are also available at Target and recently have been spotted at CVS, but I’m not sure whether the prices are the same as the from their site.

I quite like the packaging on these, the narrow pencil is perfect for attempting precision, which is important, especially for dark matte lips.  No shine to obscure any messy borders… it’s a fairly creamy, wind up pencil, so no sharpening required either.  I have 4 shades, a range of nude through deep.  If I had to pick a fave, I’d have to go with… you guessed it, Rich Red!

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Next are my Milani Color Statement Moisture Matte Lipsticks.  I get kind of crazy for Milani lip colors for some reason; I snagged many of these during sales so got them for even less than their $5.99 sticker price from Milani’s website.  They’re also available at CVS and some Walgreens, but I’ve noticed with these that sometimes the sticker price is a bit higher in drugstores.  These come in a traditional lipstick tube (or bullet for any UK readers), and rather than the watermelon jolly rancher scent I swear the regular Color Statement Lipsticks have, these have more of a slight vanilla scent.  Happily, as with the originals, there is no discernible taste.

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Finally, my most recent acquisition, the Colour Pop Ultra Matte Lip, available on their website for $6.  These are a liquid to matte formula, so they come in a little bottle with a doe foot applicator.  I’ve had difficulty neatly applying other products that come in this form, but I haven’t found these difficult to apply at all.  As you can see in the photos, they start out with some shine, but dry to a matte finish.  You do have a bit of play time before they set to fix up any errant bits that sneak across the border of your lip line.  Once it dries, you’re good to go.  I did an impromptu smooch test on my furry angel, and she had nary a pink mark on her fur after the fact 😉

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A final word to the wise.  As forgiving as these formulas seem to be, you still need to make sure your lips are ready for them.  As with matte formulas in any makeup, any dry, cracked, unattractive bits on your lips will be front and center with a matte look.  So, I’d recommend some lip balm and maybe even a quick lip scrub a few minutes before you apply.

Let me know if you have any matte recommendations for me!

*These are only my opinions, formed through my personal experience as a consumer.  I am not a medical doctor, an aesthetician, or a health/beauty professional.  There is no guarantee what effect, positive or negative, these products may have on anyone else.

**All products were purchased by me from brands that, to the best of my knowledge, are cruelty-free.