Back In Matte: The Best Highly-Pigmented, Non-Drying Matte Lip Formulas

If you were a teenager or a 20-something during the 90s, you most likely remember matte lipstick as that browny-beige color everyone from Jennifer Aniston to Alicia Silverstone wore. They usually matched it with big hair and some thick bronzer. Have no fear, matte lipstick is back and version 2 offers a huge variety of colours, lip-nurturing ingredients and long lasting, non-drying formulas.

Back In Matte: The Best Highly-Pigmented, Non-Drying Matte Lip Formulas

I ask a lot of my lip color. It has to do the following:
Glide on easily
Stay in place for hours without drying my lips
Withstand drinking from a water bottle regularly
Fade to a flattering color evenly
With this checklist, I put on my investigator’s hat and made it my goal to uncover the best matte lip products available.

NYX Cosmetics have a thorough range of matte lip formulas, including my favourite, the Soft Matte Lip Cream. Milan is a flattering medium-toned pink that would suit pale through to dark skin. The deeper plum-based pink, Prague, is universally flattering also. For a knockout burgundy pout, Copenhagen is the ultimate choice. Their Matte Lipstick range gets rave reviews from across the world and understandably. My favourites include Shocking Pink (needs no further explanation!), Sierra (a bronzy pink that would look marvelous on pale and olive skin), Sweet Pink (a dynamite violet-pink) and Audrey (beige-pink).

Back In Matte: The Best Highly-Pigmented, Non-Drying Matte Lip Formula

Back In Matte: The Best Highly-Pigmented, Non-Drying Matte Lip Formulas

International mega brand, L’Oreal can always be trusted to bring out the must-have colours and packaging of the moment. Their Colour Riche Moisture Matte range is everything it promises in its name: rich, moisturising and matte. From the smashing electric pink of Glamour Fuschia to the citrus bomb of Orange Power, there is a rich and dynamic shade of matte color for every skin tone.

Back In Matte: The Best Highly-Pigmented, Non-Drying Matte Lip Formulas

Not far from the backstage of fashion shows, Maybelline experts always know what’s coming before the rest of us. Color Sensational Bold Matte comes in 5 hydrating, bold shades. Though the range is much smaller than the other brands, the colours and texture are gorgeous. The price makes it worth scooping up a couple, if not the whole range! Matte 7 Nude is a flattering beige tone while peach is a soft coral-pink. The other three colours in the range are varying shades of red from light to dark.