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| Photo from the gorgeous Leslie Alvadaro, check out her YouTube channel and Instagram. |
The Dose of Colors Matte Liquid Lipsticks ($18) are kind of a big deal, and the shade Cork is possibly the most perfect shade in existence, you can see it on Teni below, this photo is the sole reason for why I hunted this gorgeous liquid lipstick down in the first place. It just looks like the perfect brown-toned nude for olive/medium tan skin tones. Basically, it’s as if it was specifically made for me, hence I snapped it up sharpish it is available on both the Dose of Colors website and Beauty Bay (£14.50), the only reason I didn’t purchase from Beauty Bay is because they have only two shades. Other colours on my radar are Desert Suede and Chocolate Wasted. I shelled out for shipping ($30 total) and eagerly awaited Cork’s arrival. It arrived in perfect condition, within a week, I was very impressed with that.
This is the first liquid lipstick formula I have ever tried so you might be thinking “why on earth should I listen to you?”, but let me reassure you that all my reviews are 100% honest, this is absolutely a no-bullshit-blog. I want the same things out of my products that you do: pigmentation, longevity, comfort and aesthetic and if I don’t get what I am paying for, believe me, I write about it.
PACKAGING
I can’t fault the packaging, everything looks clean and classic. The cardboard packaging is pretty, I love the DOC logo and the splash of colour on the base of the box. The plastic bottle has a frosted glass effect which I think looks quite elegant, it is clear so you can see the colour of the lipstick easily. It’s not easily breakable and the lid is secure. I like the white lid and white logo.
COLOUR
Cork is a unique colour. an almost warm cappuccino brown with a slight orange undertone. It is difficult to describe and could be tough to pull off. I wouldn’t recommend this those with fair/cool skin; I think it might be a little too orange. However, on warmer skintones this would more than likely suit. It is very opaque, once dried on the lips it makes me think of dark caramel. I love caramel.
FORMULA AND APPLICATION
I love the wand, it makes the product almost effortless to apply as it hugs the natural curves of your lips. The formula is very smooth, I noticed the first time I applied it that it settled instantly into the little lines in my lips. To combat this I slathered lip balm all over my mouth to act as a base (you can see this in the video below) and this definitely improved the application. I would advice not to skip that step. It doesn’t feel drying in the slightest and I think that is because it doesn’t actually set on the lips. After applying it I could wipe away any smears with my fingers (again you can see this in the short clip below). You get a bit of play time with this product, which is a good thing and a bad thing. As it doesn’t set completely it’s not as long-lasting and smudge proof as I would like, but it is comfortable to wear and does pack a punch in terms of pigmentation. If you use a lip balm first, it applies evenly and looks great but I did get paranoid throughout the day that it was transferring.
OTHER DETAILS
A few extra points that might be of interest: it smells slightly sweet but is in no way overpowering; it is both cruelty-free and vegan; for me it lasted well for about four hours before I felt it needed a little tidying/touch up. The formula layers nicely so you don’t have to remove it and then start from scratch. It is also very easy to remove, all the cleansers I have remove it quickly. It says on the website to avoid oily/greasy foods so it is not designed to last through a nuclear war and I think that is the price you pay to get something that doesn’t dry your lips out like crazy but is still ultra-matte.
PROS
- Great colour for warm skintones, opaque, pigmented and looks completely matte
- Comfortable formula, nice texture, smooth, glides on the lips easily, not patchy at all
- Wand allows for precise application
- Nice packaging
- Easy to remove
- Can be layered
CONS
- Doesn’t set completely (pro or a con depending on your viewpoint)
- Can smudge/transfer throughout the day
- Don’t wear it to dinner
- Doesn’t look perfect after more than 6 hours of wear
- Needs to be worn on freshly exfoliated, smooth lips, apply balm first, otherwise it will settle into lines and look awful, but this can be said for all liquid lipsticks.
- The price – $18 isn’t too bad, but with shipping etc. it can really add up.
Thank you so much for reading, let me know your thoughts on my review below. I think a great alternative to these, as they can be a chore to get hold of, especially in the UK, would be the ColourPop Ultra Satin Liquid Lipsticks ($6). From what I have heard they sound very similar in terms of formula, only the shades might be hard to match as I think the DOC shades are quite unique. I hope you enjoyed this post, don’t forget to follow and comment it means so much to me. Take care.
What are your favourite lip products?
Love ❤
Kiran