Product Review -- bareMinerals Gen Nude Matte Liquid Lipsticks

Every makeup brand seems determined to throw their hat in the matte liquid lipstick ring, and bareMinerals is no exception.

As part of the Gen Nude line, which is compromised of a wide range of nude shades to fit virtually any skin tone, bareMinerals released their Matte Liquid Lipsticks several months back.

I've been curious about the entire Gen Nude lineup, which also includes the Buttercream Lipglosses, Radiant Lipsticks, and Under Over Lipliners, so I decided to give the Matte Liquid Lipsticks a try when I saw a set of 4 full size shades on QVC.

The lipsticks come in a clear, frosted plastic tubes with black tops. There is a doe foot applicator, which is flattened in the middle for an almost paddle-like shape. It deposits plenty of product, but still offers enough precision to make applying the lipsticks easy.

The shades that I purchased include Swag, a blushing mauve; Frenemy, a cool pink; Weekend, a honeyed pink peach; and XYZ, a cinnamon beige.

bareMinerals Gen Nude Matte Liquid Lipstick in Frenemy

bareMinerals Gen Nude Matte Liquid Lipstick in Swag

bareMinerals Gen Nude Matte Liquid Lipstick in XYZ

bareMinerals Gen Nude Matte Liquid Lipstick in Weekend

The Gen Nude Matte Liquid Lipstick formula is on the creamier side, so while they do dry down, they remain soft and comfortable to wear. I find that they don't ever set completely the way that more drying lipsticks do, though. For example, I still notice a faint ring on glasses when I'm drinking while wearing them.

However, because they aren't overly dry, they tend to be more forgiving on the lips so they don't emphasize every line and crack. They also last a good long while on the lips -- I get around 5 to 6 hours of wear without needing to touch them up -- and when they do start to wear off, they fade evenly, which means you don't have to worry about them creating an ugly ring around your lips.

All of the shades that I've tried are nice too.

Frenemy is a little too bright for my tastes, but I might feel differently in the summer. Swag is the perfect everyday lip color for me, while Weekend is a nice warm pinky peach, and XYZ is a brownish nude that's actually flattering on me because it has just enough red or pink in it to keep from washing me out.

From l. to r.: Frenemy, Swag, XYZ, and Weekend

If you like the idea of a long-wearing liquid lipstick but find most formulas to be too drying, I would definitely give the Gen Nude Matte Liquid Lipsticks a try.

You can find them on the bareMinerals website, at Sephora, at Ulta, and on QVC. They retail for $18 each. QVC is still selling the kit that I purchased with 4 full size shades for the featured price of $32.72 (the regular price will be $36, which is still a fantastic value because they would cost $72 if you purchased them each separately).

Have you tried the bareMinerals Gen Nude Matte Liquid Lipsticks? Which shades are your favorites?