I’ve been playing with more from Merit and the latest lip launch is gorgeous! They launched a lightweight, matte lipstick called the Signature Lip Blush ($28 each, Sephora and Merit). It is a pure minimalist lip product with a blurred matte finish. The formula is very light as described, but still has a balmy feel.
They launched Archival in a set over the holidays (see it reviewed here and in action here) and recently added 7 more shades to the lineup.
I tried two that were PR sent, Andie, the prettiest baby pink, and Vendome, a beautiful beige color. I love both colors and find them perfect for everyday use. I also still really like Archival because it has a nice mauve color that is cool toned, but not so cool toned that it looks blue. Combined each lip look with the Merit Flush Balm Cream in Le BonBon.
Also wearing:
However, there are a few drawbacks. If you’re a fan of color payoff or long wear time, this isn’t the lipstick for you. The pigment on the shades I tried is on the sheer side and while you can swipe and layer for more coverage, they still pull very sheer. Almost like a stain on the lips, but transparent. The lasting power isn’t there for me, although I haven’t tried them over a lip liner. I suspect this is due to its sultry character. It’s not a deal breaker for me, but I thought I’d mention it anyway since I know a lot of you want something that is super long-wearing and may require touch-ups 1-2 times throughout the day.
For a matte lip I prefer something with more coverage, although I really like the colors I’ve tried. I think the formula is very comfortable and easy to wear. I also love that it is slightly moisturizing, in the sense that they don’t dry out my lips.
Now available at Sephora and Merit.
