I recently found myself perusing the Lime Crime website *just for fun*. And we all know how that ends. Here I am a few weeks later with 5 matte liquid lip colors that I totally don’t need. But I wanted them. And who am I to deny myself the joy of bringing my lipstick collection from 26 to 31? Plus how could I say no when the description of the lipsticks is so enticing?

The original liquid matte lipstick inspired by rose petals.

I mean come on. Who doesn’t want rose petal lips, am I right? I’ve had bad luck in the past with matte lipsticks that pretty much felt like clay on my face. But the promise of rose petal lips gave me hope. So, after splurging a little, I ended up with these colors: Jinx, Polly, Prairie, Riot, and Cement. I wore them around for hours on end, ate, drank, and otherwise abused my lips so I could give my full and honest review of Lime Crime Velvetines Matte Liquid Lipstick. I’ll take you through each color and then give an overview of the product.

1. Jinx (Normally $20–On Sale For $10)

Jinx (natural light)

By far my favorite color of them all, Jinx is a very deep purple. I could wear this shade every day and never get sick of it. I love it because the color is so unique and isn’t something you could find at your average drugstore. It’s obvious Jinx is from a more specialized line.

Jinx (with flash)

Undertone: Cool/Blue

Jinx has cool undertones and therefore is a true purple. It has a deeper hue and is a lot more “vampy” than a lot of lipsticks out there. For these reasons, if you’re looking for a true burgundy, Jinx would not be a good option. But if you’re looking for a funky and different color, Jinx is the jackpot.

2. Polly (Normally $20–On Sale For $14)

Polly (natural light)

Polly is a medium pink. I thought I would like this color a lot more. It is nothing against the color itself, but more about the fact that I do not usually like how pink lipstick looks with my skin tone. My skin has yellow undertones, which clash with the pink. That aside, the shade is rich and feminine and I think it would be beautiful on someone else.

Polly (with flash)

Undertone: Cool/Blue

While this is a pink lipstick, it does have cool undertones. I say this because Polly is not a your typical barbie pink. It has a tiny hint of purple, which tones down the brightness. I actually appreciate this because I don’t tend to go for lipsticks that might as well be highlighters.

3. Prairie ($20)

Prairie (natural light)

Prairie is a very light pink that I didn’t expect to like very much. I took a chance in buying something that I wouldn’t ordinarily, and it paid off. This is the perfect lipstick to pair with a smokey eye. It’s soft, pretty, and natural enough to not compete with the rest of your outfit or makeup.

Prairie (with flash)

Undertone: Warm/Yellow

Prairie has warm undertones with hints of yellow. This is probably, in part, why I like it so much. I’ve finally found a pink that goes with my skin tone.

4. Riot (Normally $20–On Sale For $14)

Riot (natural light)

Riot is a an earthy red. It is great for when you want to wear red, but don’t want the bright pop of color it comes with. It’s a lot more toned down, neutral, and therefore more versatile.

Undertone: Warm/Red/Orange

Riot has warm undertones and a reddish-orange hue. It could be described as having the warmth of clay or orange mud but in a muted shade.

5. Cement (Normally $20–On Sale For $5)

Cement (natural light)

Cement is a slate grey. Wow, what happened here? According to the picture on the Lime Crime website, Cement looks straight up grey. But don’t let that fool you. It’s not. It has a lot more blue than I was lead to believe. I was looking forward to owning a true grey because I thought it would look awesome if I ever decided to go back to having silver hair. Don’t get me wrong, I still like Cement. It just isn’t something that I will wear every day. It’s a cool shade, and it might look good in a photoshoot or with a really specific outfit, but nothing more than that.

Cement (with flash)

Undertone: Cool/Blue

I need to emphasize that Cement has some serious blue undertones. In certain light it looks grey, but the majority of the time it just looks plain old blue. If you want a grey lipstick, I wouldn’t pick Cement. It has more of a frost bitten or ice princess feel than steel metal.

Overall Product Overview

From left to right: Jinx, Prairie, Cement, Polly, Riot

Here I’ll rate different aspects of the product on a scale from 1 to 5, with 5 being the best and 1 being the worst.

First Impression: 5/5

When I first opened my package, I remember thinking, “Why does it smell like cupcakes in here?” It wasn’t long until I realized the smell was coming from my lipstick. It was that strong! I actually don’t mind the sweet smell. But if you’re sensitive to strong odors, Lime Crime Velvetines might not be for you.

These come in a matte glass container with a rose-patterned lid, which I think is super cute. It also has a nice feel when you’re holding it. It is very soft and fun to touch! I’m always more interested in makeup products when they have great packaging. Somehow it makes me feel like the product is going to work so much better.

Application: 3/5

Application isn’t the easiest thing, but it’s manageable. The consistency straight out of the tube is super liquidy and basically feels like I just poured water all over my lips. The texture is actually really smooth and nice at first, but it’s difficult to maneuver before it dries. It’s hard to get a consistent color going because it feels like you’re just wiping the product all over the place. Also, it’s easy to step out of your lip liner boundaries on accident. Despite this, the doe foot applicator is a good size, shape, and texture, so it makes the whole process a little less painful than it could have been. After applying, I have to sit there with an open mouth so that I don’t smear any off before it has a chance to set. But once it’s dry, you’re golden.

Wearability: 5/5

I couldn’t be happier with how this lipstick feels on. Sure, you’re going to lose a little comfort with any matte liquid lipstick, but this is the best matte liquid lipstick I have found. My lips don’t stick together or feel extremely dry when I have Lime Crime Velvetines on. I can definitely feel a weight on my lips, but it’s something I got used to really fast. See you later cracked, desert lips!

Jinx

Staying Power: 4/5

The colors last all day without the need to reapply. Should I say that again? This is huge because you can only apply matte liquid lipsticks so many times before they become a cakey, cracked mess. The only reason I docked a point is because the inside of my lips (where your top and bottom lip meet) lost their color a little. You couldn’t even tell this was the case when my lips were together, but as soon as I opened my mouth, it was super obvious (especially with the darker colors). I had to reapply on that area a few times throughout the day. No big deal, though. I’m still majorly impressed with the staying power.

I had a burger and a coke (among other things) and barely any color came off my lips. Granted, I cut each bite with a knife and fork (the struggles of wearing lipstick), but I was still shocked at how well the color stayed. Usually I’m scrambling to reapply my lippie before the waitress comes around and notices I’m a lipstick wreck. But not this time. I also loved that I could share a coffee with my beau without also sharing my lipstick remnants. You’re also in the clear for a quick peck (or two), in case you were wondering.

Difficulty of Removal: 5/5

Upfront it might not sound like a good thing to be difficult to remove, because the last thing you want at the end of a long day is to scrub your face off trying to get rid of your lipstick so you can just lay in bed and scroll Instagram already. But if you think about it, that just means that you have a good lipstick on your hands that withstands the pressures of daily life.

Soap and water won’t cut it for these matte shades, no mater how hard you try. Pro tip: Grab some oil (I usually use olive oil), pour a little on a cotton ball, and wipe your lips. It will come right off. That being said, don’t go out on that hot date wearing your fav Lime Crime Velvetines shade and order a huge plate of chicken alfredo. The oils in the sauce will leave you looking like you just outlined your lips and forgot to color them in. I know this from first hand experience. Yikes.

Would I Recommend This to a Friend?

Yes, absolutely! I seriously love this lipstick, the way it feels, and its durability. In fact, I’ve already recommended it to quite a few people. You can trust that I will only share products I love and have tried myself. Good makeup is hard to come by. So when I find something worthy of getting excited about, you better believe I will share it with you all!