Above all other products, there is one that all makeup lovers will spend a lifetime searching for, and that's the perfect matte red lipstick. Red lipstick is utterly timeless, and it's just one of those things you don't question owning. That being said, however, when the formula isn't up to par, it can be extremely harrowing.
Bleeding, smudging, flaking, and fading are all major red lipstick problems that seemed unavoidable to me despite having tried at least a hundred different kinds over my lifetime and career as a beauty editor. That is, until I met my perfect match in the most unexpected place.
If you follow me on any form of social media, you already know that I wear a lot of red lipstick.
At this current moment, there are probably about 10 different matte red lipsticks in my collection that I rotate between — but there's only one I grab when I'm in dire need of something that really lasts.
And it's Sephora Collection Cream Lip Stain Liquid Lipstick in Always Red ($14, Sephora).
If bright, true reds aren't your bag, worry not — it comes in over 100 different shades.
Like a red that's more on the pink side? Try Cherry Moon. Fiery oranges your thing? A new shade named Chili Pepper might do it for you. Too goth to function? Look no further than Black Cherry.
I don't know why I was so shocked when I fell in love with this velvety, matte formula, because Sephora Collection's products have always been consistently good — nevertheless, I totally was.
But this is also coming from someone who's used to having Bite Beauty, Kat Von D Beauty, and Fenty Beauty lipsticks on hand at all times. Sephora Collection isn't a brand I think to reach for often, but when I do, I don't regret it.
Once I realized how long-wear and comfortable the Cream Lip Stain is, I started passing up all others and wore Always Red at every chance I could.
The office, date nights, brunch, press events — when I say everywhere, I really do mean everywhere.
And that's because it lasts, dammit!!! And it does so without drying out my lips and clumping up like some super matte lipsticks tend to do.
I even put gloss on top of it one time, and it barely budged.
To prove it to you, I documented an average day at work while wearing it. This is what Always Red looked like at the very beginning of my day before I left the house.
And I know what you're thinking by now — yes, I have exactly one selfie face. Don't fix what ain't broke, you know?
Important side note: This shit is pigmented, and its applicator is the perfect size and length for precision. No lip liner required.
A little goes a long way. I never have to double dip into the tube to cover both of my lips. It's also got a pretty quick dry-down time.
On my commute into work, a lot of my makeup deteriorated due to a severely delayed train with no cold air and a lot of sweaty bodies. But not Cream Lip Stain — she never disappoints.
The first photo was taken around 8:40 am; this one is around the noon mark.
Keep in mind that this lipstick looks drastically different under the gross fluorescent lights above my office desk.
Because I wanted to really challenge this lipstick, and because I'm me, I ordered the biggest burger and fries platter I could find for lunch.
Much to my surprise, it only wore away a little in the middle — unlike most other formulas, Always Red didn't transfer all over my chin or bleed when exposed to delicious burger grease.
If I'd eaten my usual lunch of a quinoa salad or soup and sandwich combo, this would've been way less severe. When I'm going out for drinks or any other activity where I know I won't be eating, I rarely even worry about bringing it with me for touch-ups. That's how much I trust this lipstick.
But with a little reapplication in the middle section, it's pretty much good to sit there the rest of my evening with no worry whatsoever.
Here I am again around the 6:45 mark, the time at which I'm usually dying to take my lipstick off (or have already done so).
That's why Sephora Collection Cream Lip Stain is my ride-or-die bitch. I'll collapse in shock the day another lipstick beats it for me.
It's not often as a beauty editor that I personally say you need to try a product, but this is one of those times. Just do it, for heaven's sake. You won't regret it.
