Review + Swatches: Comfortably matte with Milani Color Statement Lipsticks
I am tired of dry, crusty, flaky, uncomfortable lip products that make me want to take off all of my makeup in the middle of the day. I think the makeup community has been collectively sold on the liquid lipstick hype that some of us have forgotten what it’s like not to have to perform 70 lip preparation steps in order to appease the liquid lipstick gods. That’s why traditional bullets, like the American-made Milani Color Statement Lipsticks (P300 from Lannel Boutique), are a breath of fresh air!
Generally, the Moisture Matte formulas are smooth and easy to apply (no tugging!) and deposit a pigment ranging from minimal shine to velvet matte depending on the shade. I also got to test a regular Color Statement lipstick, and was impressed by its creaminess without the discomfort of a gloss. Available in a whopping 56 shades and two formulas (Moisture Matte has 24 shades while the Regular has 32), it won’t be difficult to find something for you. Here's what I got to try, ranked from my absolute faves to my least workable picks!
61 Matte Naked
The obvious Filipina-bait of the bunch, Matte Naked enhances the natural color of the light-medium to dark-medium girl. It’s almost a neutral nude with a hint of brown and pink that’s pretty much an MLLB shade for me (an NC 35-37 or yellow-toned medium leaning dark). Although some shine peeks through, it’s really a comfortable matte that deposits pigment evenly, goes over the small cracks of the lips, and smoothens it slightly.
Without much effort, Matte Naked turned my lips pillowy: perfect for date night, meeting the parents, or meeting your parents who are uncomfortable with your black lipstick collection. While bullet lipsticks won’t last as long as liquid lipsticks, this shade is close enough to my natural color that fading after six hours isn’t even noticeable. Reapplication is a breeze as well (something that is true for all of our samples) since they don’t tug on the lips or crumble up after layering, although one swipe is enough to get an opaque application.
69 Matte Beauty
Matte Beauty is the most matte of the bunch, with an almost powder finish, without the discomfort of a powder. This is your typical 90’s brown that’s perfect for when you want to project a light grunge vibe (chokers mandatory) or are just tired of MLBBs. There was a little tugging on the lips with this particular shade due to its more matte, stiffer nature, but that pays off in minimizing shine and lasting longer than the line’s smoother mattes. Matte Beauty’s effect is closest to that of the liquid lip without the dreaded inner-lip fading, crumbling, or general discomfort. Lasting about 6-7 hours before noticeable fading, the best way to reapply is to actually pat the color in and blend with fingers for a smoother finish.
25 Naturally Chic
The only regular formula I got to try, Naturally Chic has a cream finish that was lightweight and a dream to apply. Full color of a warm nudey-pink that could work for school or the office is deposited in one swipe, and works really well with dry lips. It’s not hydrating per se, but definitely comfortable and not drying. It doesn't last as long, at just around 4 hours (definitely gone after a meal). It’s also easy to spread around the lip to create a more even stain. I personally prefer blotting this for a more matte look, but this is a cream-lipstick-kinda-gal’s dream!
73 Matte Love
This red wine shade has the most velvet-like formulation, but unfortunately, it deposits pigment unevenly. Even with layering, you can’t really get 100% opacity, which calls for a lip liner. You can also just opt for a diffused or gradient lip look because this shade is truly perfect for a crushed berries kind of thing. This shade is also suited for those who fear deeper tones and want to start out with something mild. It would’ve fared better if it was buildable because the velvety look and feel were awesome. Due to its less opaque nature, this will definitely turn into a stain (and a nice one at that!) after a meal, or about 4-5 hours of wear.
60 Matte Innocence
I would’ve probably liked Matte Innocence more if I had lighter skin, but this warm nude was just too light for my coloring. It’s also the patchiest of the bunch, with my natural color still peeking through in some parts despite layering and blotting. Perhaps a lip liner will save the shade since the formula is akin to that of Matte Naked’s, but alone, it’s better just diffused and pat on the lips, or just used as blush. I tried to fix the look by loading up on blush (so I can pretend I did this on purpose) but I’m still incredibly washed out. Nevertheless, it’s still comfortable and lighter-skinned girls may enjoy the shade if they just want a hint of nude color. One girl’s concealer lips is another girl’s MLBB.
62 Matte Blissful
The most troublesome of all, Matte Blissful is a bubblegum Barbie pink that just doesn’t work on my coloring. (Look at me, I even went for a very shimmery blue eyeshadow to channel Barbie but I don’t know if that was the best decision. At least the fantasy was real.) However, the color really isn’t the problem since we can chalk that up to aesthetic preferences. The problem lies in its patchy formula that emphasizes cracks and flakes, and the dryness is evident both in person and in photos. I’m sure this can be remedied by better lip preparation, but that negates the thesis of this article. In any case, you can again opt for a diffused lip for such a strong color, and it will last a respectable 4-5 hours.
Overall, the Milani Color Statements are a great alternative to the soul-sucking, butthole-lip-creating über matte liquid lipsticks, and serve as a reminder that bullet lipsticks are still a staple in our makeup rosters. The formulation can be a little hit and miss, but with so many options, it will be easy to find the right one for you. (I’d personally go for the nudes since they seem to be more consistent.)
Do you still have bullet lipsticks in your rotation? What are your favorite formulas and shades?
Milani Color Statement Lipsticks are available at Lannel Boutique for P300 a pop. They are on buy 1 take 1 for P500 right now. You can also follow Lannel Boutique on Instagram.
