Do The “Matte” With New Inglot HD Lip Tint Matte Shades
Many moons ago, when my 12-year-old son was still shorter than me (sigh) and playing with Happy Meal toys, I took him to a press preview for the Makeup Show in New York City. He was bored out of his mind for most of the event, but I did bribe him with the aforementioned Happy Meal, so he was on his best behavior (and yes, like most parents, I sometimes had to resort to bribery to coerce my restless, then-six-year-old son to stay still for longer than 20 minutes). In any case, the Makeup Show press preview was incredibly informative and, during the actual trade show, we had the chance to become better acquainted with many of the brands exhibiting that year — some of them well-known entities like Make Up For Ever and other indie and up-and-coming brands like nail polish company Knockout Cosmetics and then-nascent brand Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics. Among the companies exhibiting their wares that year was Polish makeup brand Inglot Cosmetics, which has a history that spans over 30 years but which only began its international foray in 2006, expanding first into Canada and then into the US. I hopped from booth to booth at the event, but I found myself lingering at the Inglot Cosmetics counter, admiring the intrepid lipstick shades, the sleek eye shadow duos, and the three-dimensional lip glosses. I wound up scooping up four lipsticks, an eye shadow palette, and a gloss. I’ve been an Inglot lover ever since.
The brand’s latest launch, the Inglot HD Lip Tint Matte ($18 at InglotUSA.com) will earn plenty of heart-eyed emojis on social media. Available in 10 shades, ranging from a perky coral pink to a sumptuous chocolate brown and a vampy blackberry, the HD Lip Tint Matte can best be described as a liquid lipstick that offers full coverage and boasts a completely matte finish. Packaged in a rectangular tube and featuring a handy wand with sponge-tip applicator, the lip color is intensely pigmented and lasts for hours on end.
As with any new product, however, these might take some getting used to. First, the formula is more fluid than you might expect so it’s important to be extremely meticulous when applying color to the contours of the mouth or the cupid’s bow since any mistakes will be hard to cover up by virtue of the product’s intense pigmentation (in other words: you’ll need concealer and foundation to do the job). I find that the sponge applicator is great for the center of the pout but that, when applying color to the contours of my mouth, I’d rather use a lip brush that can offer greater precision. Second, because the formula is so liquid, once it dries and sets in place, your lips might feel tight for a few seconds. Fortunately, the sensation is short-lived: your lips won’t feel dry or tight as the day progresses; it’s just a momentary feeling as the color really settles into place. Third, the shine you get when you initially apply the color dissipates completely once the color sets — a quality I personally appreciate since a matte color should, after all, actually have a matte finish — but, again, it’s important to realize that the lip product transforms shortly after application. And fourth, and most importantly, while it does have serious staying power, I’ve found that as the hours go on, the color tends to fade along the center of the mouth, leaving most of the remaining color along the pout’s perimeter and creating a not-too-appealing pastrami effect, making it look as if you’d lined your lips with a bold shade then left the inside area bare. In order to avoid the pastrami pout effect, then, I strongly recommend using a lip liner below the Lip Tint, having it be the base shade for your look, and also reapplying every few hours. Even then, you’ll need less touch-ups than with your standard lipstick or gloss, and your lips won’t feel dry or achy as can happen with liquid lipsticks and mate formulations.
I’ve been playing with the Inglot HD Lip Tint Matte in 12, a classic candy apple red, and in 14, a blue-toned fuchsia that’s ’80s perfection. Check out swatches of the shades below:
As you can see, the colors deliver full opacity and the HD pigments in the formulation ensure that each lip tint is robust and statement-making.
Next, here are some pics in which I’m wearing the Inglot HD Lip Tint Matte in 12:
This is the kind of shade that makes you feel sexy and desirable — and the color won’t transfer onto your mate’s pout when you smooch, so that’s yet another reason to love it.
Next, here’s a shot of me wearing the Inglot HD Lip Tint Matte in 14:
As you can see, the colors are delightfully intense! Again, they do wear off and feather a bit along the very inside of the mouth after a few hours, but if you apply a lip liner beneath the Lip Tint, it will help to lock in the color for longer spans of time. Besides, with the sponge-tipped brush, reapplying along the center of the pout is a breeze while on the go.
I’m already eyeing the No. 15 shade, so that’s an indication of my overall enthusiasm about these!
