When you have quite a few liquid lipsticks
lined up on your dresser, but the Smashbox Always On is the one you can’t take
your eyes off of… “Call it magic or call it true…”
Availability and Price
The
Smashbox Always On Liquid Lipsticks are available on Smashbox’s website and at
other Smashbox retailers, such as Sephora, Nordstrom, and Macy’s. These liquid lipsticks are a smidge higher in
price ($24/0.13oz) than some of the other mid-range high-end liquid lipsticks,
like Kat Von D ($20/0.22oz) or Anastasia Beverly Hills ($20/0.11oz).
Personally,
I don’t pay much attention to product quantity. Of course the lipstick price has to be within
my budget and that is why I wait to make my purchases during sales and
promotions. I purchased my Smashbox
Always On Liquid Lipsticks during their Friends and Family sale event (25% off
for a purchase over “x” amount).
I
care more about quality than
quantity. I would rather have one
excellent quality lipstick costing $20 rather than four $5 lipsticks that are
not as good or don’t meet my standards/expectations from a lipstick.
Pigmentation
The
Smashbox Always On Liquid Lipsticks (*6 of the 8 shades I tried) are richly
pigmented and have excellent full-coverage color-payoff in one swipe across the
top and bottom lip. This is demonstrated
in “Part 1: Demo and Swatches” portion of my video.
*I
did find that the shades Thrill Seeker and Girl Gang applied sheer and appeared
less creamy (more watery) in comparison to the other six shades I own. I layered Girl Gang three times and was able
to do so as long as I applied each layer patiently and gently. However, Girl Gang felt too heavy once it
dried down to the extent that I did not feel comfortable wearing it for longer
than half an hour or so. Thrill Seeker
is not as sheer as Girl Gang, but it also did not layer well.
Grade: Stepping Out (5/5), Driver’s Seat (5/5),
Out Loud (5/5), Thrill Seeker (4/5), Big Spender (5/5), Girl Gang (3.5/5),
Shockaholic (4.5/5), and True Grit (5/5)
Application and Texture
The
Smashbox Always On Liquid Lipsticks (*5 of the 8 shades I tried) applied
beautifully. These lipsticks are creamy,
yet lightweight. They don’t feel thick
and heavy or thin and watery. A little
amount of this product goes a long way and knowing this is key to a clean and
effortless application.
These
lipsticks set quickly so it is a good thing that you only need a single swipe
of product, but feel free to layer them if you need to tweak or perfect any
areas because I found that applying a second layer once the first layer has set
does not disturb the first layer.
*The
only three shades that did not apply evenly and required a lot of patience and
manipulation to look opaque and somewhat presentable were Thrill Seeker (I
completely gave up on this one), Girl Gang, and Shockaholic (listed in the
order of most troublesome to slightly troublesome). Thrill Seeker appeared patchy and streaky,
uneven, and settled into my natural lip lines.
I would not recommend this shade for people who do not have fully plump
smooth baby lips. Girl Gang on the other
hand is not streaky, but it is sheer and need layering, which can make it look
patchy if one is not meticulous with the layering process. Shockaholic is opaque and does not need
layering, but it settles into and exaggerates the lip lines significantly once
it dries down to a matte finish.
Shockaholic doesn’t look patchy or streaky per se, rather it breaks down
into the lip lines and clings onto any dryness or natural texture on the
lips.
The
applicator has a user-friendly, cupped tear drop shade. The teardrop applicator’s pointed tip is
great to navigate across the curvature and shape of lips. However, one major
point I want to highlight about this applicator is that it picks up more
product than you need (or at least that I need) for a single application so be
sure to wipe some of the product back into the tube if you’re worried that it
will go to waste. If I end up with too much
product on my lips I use my finger to smoothen it out. While we are on the subject on the
applicator, lets talk about the packaging as it is connected to the
functionality of the applicator. Also,
see the Comfort and Longevity section below to know more about the Texture
aspect.
Grade: Stepping Out (4.5/5), Driver’s Seat
(4.5/5), Out Loud (5/5), Thrill Seeker (0/5), Big Spender (5/5), Girl Gang
(2/5), Shockaholic (3.5/5), and True Grit (5/5)
Packaging
Although
the outer design of the Smashbox liquid lipsticks is aesthetically pleasing
–simple, sleek, petite, and chic – the opening of the tube is the part that I
have a slight issue with. However, I do
understand the intention behind the design of the opening. The opening of the tube is “small” meaning
that when I put the applicator back into the tube sometimes the applicator gets
stuck, slightly bent, and I have to use slight pressure to push the applicator
back into the tube. As I mentioned above
in the Application and Texture section, the applicator picks up more product
than what I need so as I am putting the applicator back into the tube, the
excess product coats the tube opening and eventually collects in that area. Now I know putting product back into a tube
like that (after being exposed to my lips and air) seems unsanitary even though
I cleanse my lips before applying my lip products and don’t share my liquid
lipsticks, especially using its own applicator, with anyone for hygienic
reasons. I am sort of in a dilemma! I don’t want to waste the excess amount
that the applicator draws out so I have started wiping the excess off and
pushing it back into the tube before
I put any of the product on my lips.
Grade: 4/5
Comfort
One
of the reasons why the Smashbox Always On Liquid Lipstick formula is my current
absolute favorite liquid lipstick formula is because of how comfortable they
feel on the lips. As I mentioned above,
only a few shades felt uncomfortable, either because of the way they dried down
or needed more than a couple of light layers.
This liquid lipstick formula sets to fully dry (non-drying) matte finish
quickly, like within a few seconds. In
fact it dried down to a matte finish so quickly that I wasn’t able to film a
segment demonstrating how the lipstick looks when its “freshly applied” as in
still wet or in the process of setting.
The Smashbox Always On Liquid Lipsticks set to a fully dry matte finish and yes your lips may look a bit extra “pouty” to put it delicately with the lighter and brighter shades, but what I mean to say is that ultra matte liquid lipsticks, especially lighter and brighter shades, do show your lip lines if you have them. But! But! Wait for it… They DO NOT make your lips look parched or dehydrated or unnaturally dry or unattractively wrinkly if you know what I mean.
Grade: Stepping Out (5/5), Driver’s Seat (5/5), Out Loud (5/5), Thrill Seeker (0/5), Big Spender (5/5), Girl Gang (3/5), Shockaholic (3.5/5), and True Grit (4.5/5)
Longevity
This formula is transfer-proof and kiss-proof as I show you in my video
towards the end while I am modeling the shade True Grit. Of course if you are consuming something
greasy, oily, and liquid and your lips are in constant contact with something
greasy, oily, and/or liquid, the product will break down and begin to wear off
in the area of immediate contact (i.e., the inner center part of your bottom
lip).
Grade*: Stepping Out (5/5), Driver’s Seat (5/5), Out Loud (5/5), Big Spender (5/5), and True Grit (4.5/5)
*I
did not mention the other shades because I did not wear those long enough to
test them for their staying power. I
docked .5 from True Grit only because it is a very dark color so it does not
wear off as “elegantly” as it lighter mates, but I will note that it is easy to
reapply/fix-up. None of the shades I
tested budged off my lips unless I consumed a proper non-dry meal (like Indian
or Thai food) and reapplication/touch-up is easy.
Overall: I recommend! If Smashbox were
to expand the already beautiful shade range of the Always On Liquid Lipsticks,
I would be more than ecstatic to explore more shades.
Please like, comment, share, follow, and subscribe!
♥ Yours Truly,
The Lipsticks-Ninja
Meesha ♥
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