Review -- Maybelline Color Sensational Creamy Matte Lipsticks

As a rule, I don't like matte lipsticks.

Not only do they tend to be drying and feel uncomfortable, they seem to highlight every crack, line, and dry patch that you have on your lips so they just require too much effort to make work.

But I do kind of like the way they look, particularly in fall and winter and especially when they're in darker shades. There's just something really bold and glamorous about them.

Still, I'd sworn off buying matte lipsticks a long time ago because the ones I did have just wound up collecting dust in the back of my drawer. When I started reading and hearing really positive things about Maybelline's Color Sensational Creamy Matte Lipsticks, though, I thought maybe it was time to reconsider mattes.


Especially when CVS had Maybelline BOGO-1/2 half off.

I picked up four of the shades --  Nude Embrace, a brown nude with slight pink undertones; Daringly Nude, a peachy nude; Touch of Spice, a rich mauve; and Divine Wine, a berry red.

The formula here is one of the best that I've tried for a matte lipstick. They're not moisturizing or hydrating by any stretch of the imagination, but they are creamy, just as their name promises, so they feel pretty comfortable on the lips. Their creaminess also helps them glide on really easily, so they don't snag on dry or cracked areas like most matte lip products do.

But they definitely have a matte finish on the lips and they last a good long while -- I can easily get six hours of wear out of them without touching up if I don't eat or drink too much.

(All that said, I'd still recommend exfoliating and moisturizing your lips before applying the lipsticks for the best results.)

As far as the shades go, I like all of them quite a bit.

Touch of Spice and Divine Wine are probably my favorites because they're lovely colors for fall and winter. Touch of Spice is a wearable everyday shade for my fair skin, while Divine Wine has been my go-to shade for when I want a bolder look.

Daringly Nude and Nude Embrace are the kind of shades that'll work pretty much any time of year or with any look. They're very wearable nudes, even on my fair skin, because they both have plenty of color. I think I prefer Daringly Nude simply because its peachy tones do a little more to brighten up my face.

From l. to r.: Nude Embrace, Daringly Nude, Touch of Spice, Divine Wine

I definitely recommend checking these lipsticks out if you're a fan of mattes -- and if you haven't been a fan in the past, you may want to try these anyway. I think they'll change your mind. They're available in 10 different shades and retail for about $7.50 wherever Maybelline products are sold.

Are you a fan of the Maybelline Color Sensational Creamy Matte Lipsticks? What's your favorite matte lipstick formula?