Gia’s Beauty Blog: Tried and Tested – Long stay lipsticks that stay put without trashing your lips

Gia Mills works in the world of fashion, celebrity and advertising – as well as doing make-up tutorials and private client work. She counts Keira Knightley, Dervla Kirwan, Beverley Knight, Kevin Spacey, Sir Tom Jones and Annie Lennox among her clients.

Tried and Tested: Long stay lipsticks that stay put without trashing your lips

I have been busy trialling a range of long stay lipsticks that will really stay put but don’t give a nasty texture to your lips.

I know all to well that you can pop a lippy on in the morning and by your first cup of morning tea it is a mere shadow of its former self, let alone lasting through a lunch meeting.

So I hit the beauty counters and high street stores and picked up some that promised no budging, some even claiming a full 24 hours no less.

For each one, I put it on in the morning and then carried on my daily activities and checked them mid morning, lunch and the end of the day.

Which came out the best……drum roll:

Mac: Pro Long Wear

Why? Most crucially for those claiming to be long lasting, it does not make your lips all flaky and crusty. It stays put (all be it a touch faded) for a full 5 – 7 hours and has a creamy texture which most of the other brands can’t deliver.

Comments – more colours please Mac

Max Factor: Lipfinity Lasting Lip Tint

Why? This is not strictly a lipstick, but a tint or stain. However, it gives great bold colour which really lasted. I would suggest a bit of moisturising gloss top ups now and then to stop the lips looking too dull.

Comments – same as above, more colours please Max Factor

Worst performers:

Maybelline: Super Stay 24 Colour

Why? For first half hour, the colour looks great and lips still smooth. Cut to 1 hour, colour good but lips starting to look very dry with crevices.  Cut to 6 hours, colour still there but lips now have deep crevices and are flaky. I did keep applying more but it made the problem worse, even with the handy lip balm attached.

Comments – too many chemicals

Revlon: Color Stay Ultimate

Why? Very similar problems to the Maybelline, very nasty crevices created when it had dried and got worse during the day and also when more applied. Yes the colour was amazing and stayed even till the next morning (!), but my lips appeared very pinced and aged – not a good look.

Comments: Apply with caution

Love to know any brands you have found to be good as I’m sure there some I have not tried that may be worthy of a mention.

>> Check out Gia’s other exclusive beauty blogs for FMWF readers, or take a look at our fashion and beauty section.

>> Take a look at Gia’s website here – www.giamills.com

Tags: Fashion and Beauty, Gia Mills, guest blog, Long stay lipsticks that stay put, make-up advice

Posted by Gia Mills on Friday, May 27th, 2011 at 6:00 am.

Filed under Ask an Expert, Feature, Lifestyle, Tagged as: , Fashion and Beauty, Gia Mills, guest blog, Long stay lipsticks that stay put, make-up advice.