Maybelline New York SuperStay Matte Ink | Liquid Lipstick | Review | Swatch Post | Dusky Skin | Founder, Seeker, Transformer, Voyager

If you are looking for a liquid lipstick that will survive you through a storm, your search ends right here!

One glance at the range of shades that are available for the Maybelline SuperStay Matte Ink Liquid Lipstick, and you will be spoilt for choice. Nykaa alone stocks 29 of its shades, ranging from nudes, to peaches, pinks, corals, plums, brown and red. The website carries 33 of its shades. But are they really worth the hype?

I still remember the first time I had tried the shade Voyager from this range. It felt so sticky on my lips that I hated the formula. I felt as if I had applied glue on my lips. However, within a couple of hours, it settled down, and by the time I sat down to remove my makeup, I had to literally struggle with removing it.

When I learnt that their formula had improved since what I had tried last time, I got swayed by the discounts available online, and ordered a couple of shades. These shades, in my opinion, really flatter dusky skintone. So if you are anywhere between NC 42 to NC 45 in MAC, you can give them a try (provided you love dark, bold shades).

Maybelline’s website describes this range as

Ink your lips in up to 16-hour saturated liquid matte. SuperStay Matte Ink™ features a unique arrow applicator for precise application and is available in 10 super saturated shades.

Packaging: It comes in an opaque tube with a doe foot applicator, that is hollow in the middle. The applicator does make it quite convenient for me to apply the product on my lips. The opaque tube carries the colour code, and the name of the shade along with the number is indicated at the bottom. The cap is uniformly white in colour. You can tell one shade from another in a hurry, even if you have more than one in your kitty. Some shades are numerically coded, while others are not!

Texture : The texture has already been described before; thick, creamy sticky matte formula that takes time to dry on your lips. However, once it sets in, you will have a tough time removing it. It is pigmented and gives rich opaque coverage in a single swipe. However, it does take more than a couple of minutes to set in.

I tried the shades Transformer (230), Founder (115), Seeker (245) and Voyager (50) from this range.

Transformer is my favourite of the lot! A beautiful maroon that really suits me to the tee!

Founder is a beautiful pink, and is a perfect dupe for Mac D for Danger. It brightens up my face in a jiffy, and is an everyday wear shade.

Seeker is an orangish rust! Something I would not reach out for everyday, but nevertheless wouldn’t mind having one in my collection.

Voyager is a deep burgundy. Definitely not for the faint hearted! It might look deceptively similar to Transformer, but is not.

Longevity : 16 hour wear is what the brand promises. And indeed, the staying power is too good to be true. The lipstick survives oily meals throughout the day. By the end of the day, you will notice it fading only from the inner corners of your lips. It is transfer proof, and does not stain your cups/bottles. However, removal might be a bit too much of a work. You surely need an oil based cleanser to remove it properly. I use my Garnier Micellar Oil-Infused Cleansing Water to get rid of all the traces of this product from my lips effectively.

Thumbs Up for:

1. Unique convenient applicator that gives precise lines
2. Lasts upto 10 to 12 hours, so does not require touch ups
3. The formula is very pigmented
4. Variety of shades to choose from (there is always one for everyone)

Thumbs Down for:

1. At Rs.650/- it seems a little pricey for a drugstore brand
2. The formula might fail to impress everyone

Price : Rs.650/- (Available on Amazon, Nykaa and Myntra at a discounted price on most days, so get it while they host a sale. I got mine for Rs.500/- each from Nykaa)

Have you tried the Maybelline  Super Stay Matte Ink? Which one is your favourite? Let me know in the comments!

Disclaimer : The products have been purchased by me, and the reviews are totally non-biased!