Hi there! I got so many people asking me about my lip color when I posted this picture on instagram last week:

posted on instagram (follow me @nedaneda)

So I thought now would be a good time to post about it!

The lip color I’m wearing is the Essence Stay Matte Lip Cream in the color Silky Red. I was not able to find this at any drug store, but was able to find it (finally!) at Ulta where it retails for $2.99.

The product only comes in 3 colors- this red, a pink berry and a pink nude.

The formula: The reason I wanted to try this out was because I was intrigued by the idea of a matte lipgloss. While this is in lip gloss packaging, do not be fooled, IT IS NOT A LIPGLOSS lol. This is more of a liquid lipstick, it’s super creamy and gel-like, not runny or sticky like lipgloss. It feels almost like a mousse going on, and the doe foot applicator yields a really precise application. It yielded a very opaque coverage, but is something you apply with a light hand to make it more wearable for daytime.

Take a look at the airy, mousse-like texture

The color: This is a bright red with orangey tones. It is definitely a statement lip, but a color that I think would look great on most.

Not quite fire engine red, but definitely a statement color.

The finish: While it’s called a matte, it really isn’t! It’s not shiny/glossy at all, but isn’t completely dry either. It’s somewhere in between – a perfect balance of the staying power of a matte formula and the comfortable wear of a moisturizing/glossy one. When you apply it it’s very creamy, but it does dry down. Since it’s not a stain, it will transfer onto your napkin or straw, but if you’re careful with it, I’ve found it to last on me for 6+ hours without any feathering, flaking, or noticeable fading.

In the picture at the top I wore it with a simple winged liner, but you can see how I wore it with a smokey eye when I wore this lip color in one of my Red Lips for the Holidays looks.

Paired with a bronze smokey eye

Bottom line: it’s a great color, super long wearing and really comfortable to wear. If you have been wanting to try a red lip but have been hesitant or afraid, this is for you. Very little money you have to commit to this, and you can wear this without having to constantly check on it to see if it’s still in place/looking good. If you already like wearing red or bright lipsticks, this is a great one to add to your collection. I’ve never had a product quite like this before with such a unique texture. It feels whipped on the lips, and the combintation between the comfortable texture, long-wearing formula and opaque color payoff is something that I’d be willing to purchase if it was more expensive, too. At $2.99 it’s an absolute steal! (And sometimes it comes on sale, too!)

Have you tried this? I’d love to know what you think, or if you what your favorite lip products are!