I wanted to post about my haul yesterday, but things were too hectic.
'Gotta say, I am just THRILLED the Mattenes are back. The colors in this range are tightly edited and are all pretty much fabulous. There's something for everyone here - even you, Mac-Guy - 3 day stubble and all!
The texture on these is so wonderful; soft, light & moist. A little goes a looooong way.
Here's a tip: If you just want a stain, apply it and then wait a couple of minutes until you feel like it's really well set, THEN blot. Believe me, you will have a rich stain that will not budge. Yesterday I couldn't get Rare Exotic off my lips through 2 makeup removal wipes, drinks, a meal and then scrubbing hard with my cream cleanser at night. It was still lightly staining my lips when I woke up this morning.
Another thing, the cap on Legendary was loose and wouldn't snap back into place after the first time I removed it. I rang up my store and was told they had replacement caps they can swap it out with, so that's very nifty (not that I wouldn't mind getting a second Legendary - it's nice to have a brick red that's a mid-tone, instead of super deep).
These have a pretty thin consistency (which is why they're so great, imo) so if your lips are really cracked, you're going to have to stretch your lips flat when you apply to get proper coverage, but once it sets, the color and finish sort of fuses and will look velvety and smooth. No need to keep layering it on to get it even, just give it a couple minutes and a moderate layer will set up just fine. A lip primer that forms a second skin-like seal over your lips could come in handy here if your lips are very rough, but greasy lip balm that doesn't really sink in or a very creamy lip pencil might clash with the Mattene formula and prevent it from setting and giving smooth color coverage. The formula itself is so light and moist - my lips actually are in better condition today after wearing Rare Exotic all day yesterday and I didn't put balm on at night.
I'm perhaps a little too old for light nude mattes, or the colors were a touch too subdued for my skin tone - Naked Bliss and Delectable were flattering colors, but somehow dragged my skin down and made it look dull. If you're young enough to be able to rock a really matte finish on your skin or are a touch darker than NC15 or are an NW, these might be amazing. I bet even I could pull them off if I wore them with a very finished face using foundation and just the right highlighter or skin finish, but I can live without all that.
Surprisingly enough, the only light color that really looked fantastic was Fresh Amour. I've been accumulating lavender lippies and this is certainly the bluest one I own. It nearly glows with a bluish cast. It's not super matte either. I didn't have to make any extra effort to pat it on or rub it into my lips or blot it for it to work, although let's face it, it's not exactly a natural style color. I came into the store prepared to be very skeptical of this one and it won me over instantly instead.
Rare Exotic was another one I wasn't even going to bother with, but it's actually pretty unique looking due to its brightness and the matte texture. If Candy Yum Yum was too thick feeling or was too light and silly looking, check this one out - it's like the mature, serious, fall version with all the opacity and matte qualities with half the heaviness on the lips.
If you liked Temper Tantra Kissable Lip Colour, you're going to love Legendary. It's what I'd call the fall version, plus I think the matte finish is extra-suitable to a color like this. It's nice to see a brick red that's not blackened or too deep. Gives a much softer look for a pale person like me and is going to be seriously MLBB for darker skin tones. I'm wearing it today with Geo Pink c/s/g over it highlighting the full parts of the lip and it's soft and dramatic at the same time. This is a shade I can't always pull off, but Legendary is just right to easily wear without having to go through a lot of contortions. I can't wait to try Krazy Kahuna over it, too!
I've already posted about Potent Fig and Seeds of Desire. Short version: LOVE THEM - Seeds of Desire is the most wearable deep chestnut/mahogany brown I've come across - not too warm or cool, not too red or yellow. If you never thought you'd find a dark brown you could rock, check it out. Extremely fashion forward color. Potent Fig is very close in color to Faultlessly F/W from a couple years ago, which is great, because I missed that one when it came around. If you want a deep blue-purple with a wonderful texture, there's really nothing much closer to perfection than this, especially because it's nice and deep without being too dirty or blackened - it's still a rich, brilliant color, if not outright bright. If I back up any of these Mattenes, I should probably back this one up, since this is just a classic dramatic color in an excellent formula. It does take a little faith to apply properly, though, since when you're first putting it on, it might seem a little uneven. Don't panic! Just force yourself to do a moderate single coat and let it set. It'll smooth right out as soon as it dries down and you are good to go.
And now for my favorite color of the whole range: Deliciously Forbidden!! On me, it's a perfectly gentle, subdued rose color - not bright or flashy, but rich. More colorful than simply MLBB, but not a color that's going to hog your whole face, just accentuate it and make you look sexy and radiant. On my lips, it's quite different and less bright than Temptalia's swatch. I liken it to Flaunting It Kissable Lip Colour - it's a color that looks fresh and different that enhances the woman underneath the makeup rather than upstaging her. Seriously check this one out - it's magic.