I recently came across a few lipsticks from a company called Kismet Cosmetics. Many of you probably have not heard of this brand. I hadn't either until very recently. Kismet is a boutique cosmetics brand that is based out of Louisiana and was created by a local makeup artist in the area.
I tried three of the semi-matte lipsticks from their Velvet Collection: Crushed Coral (a mix of pink and orange tones), Burnout (a classic red) and Vivianna (a rich plum). I also tried out their new Succulent Collection that just recently became available. The Succulent Collection is Kismet's 2015 Fall/Winter collection of liquid lipsticks. The collection has four shades: Elope (a nude), Flamingo (a vibrant pink "statement color"), Speakeasy (a classic red) and On Point (a pink with orchid and nude undertones).
When trying these lipsticks, I based my review of them on four points:
1) Color Intensity: Does the lipstick color transfer on my lips just as it looks in the tube?
2) Moisture: Does this lipstick hydrate my lips or leave them looking and feeling dry and cracked?
3) Resilience: How often will I need to touch up this lipstick? Is it long lasting?
4) Pliability and Wear: Does this product spread comfortably onto my lips without being so creamy that it bleeds through the lip line?
Without any further ado, here is my experience with each of the lipsticks I tried.
Velvet Collection of semi-matte lipsticks:
Crushed Coral: The name of this lipstick describes it perfectly. It is an orangey color that is very popular right now. Crushed Coral is a perfect blend between orange and pink that looks amazing in the summer months. I think this lipstick would complement any boho chic look perfectly!
The color transferred from the tube almost identically, which is always refreshing to see in a lipstick. It was creamy and glided nicely onto my lips. Since this color is on the lighter side it was not very noticeable when it began to fade. I only needed to touch it up once during the day. I highly recommend this for anyone that loves the summer beachy look.
Crushed Coral
Burnout: I am a sucker for a good red lipstick. The color transferred onto my lips exactly how it was presented in the tube. It went on smoothly and felt nice on my lips. The non-drying formula allowed the lipstick to glide nicely on my skin.
With that being said, there are a lot of red lipsticks out there and everyone looks for the red the suits them best. I think this color would look best on someone with a bit of a lighter skin tone than mine. Against my skin it looked a little on the pinkish red side rather than the deep red I usually go for. I used Kismet's liquid lipstick "Speakeasy" over top of this to darken it up a bit and it brought me to the desired deepness of a blue red that I love! Overall I think this is a great color. The color payoff is amazing and I only needed to touch up twice throughout the day.
Burnout
Vivianna: This lipstick surprised me. Looking at the color in the tube I thought it would be my least favorite of the semi-mattes. Turns out, it ended up being my favorite! In the tube it looked like it would be dryer than the other lipsticks and that it would transfer as a flat purple on my lips. Boy, was I wrong. This lipstick went on just as smoothly as the other two. The difference however was the other lipsticks seemed to remain true to their color in the tube when applied to the lips. Thankfully, in this case, the color transferred differently than what I was looking at in the tube. Once applied, it was a deep purplish pink color with hints of burgundy. It is the best deep berry color I have come across on the market. I will be using this on a regular basis (wearing it now actually!). I had to touch this lipstick up twice during the day and it was only after eating meals. It doesn't seem to fade very much on its own without something physically pulling it off. Love, love, love this color!
Vivianna
Color swatches from left to right: Crushed Coral, Burnout, Vivianna
Overall Comments: These lipsticks are vibrant, long lasting and extremely hydrating. I tried 3 of the 10 semi-matte colors that are currently part of the Velvet Collection and if the other 7 lipsticks hold up to the same standards I would highly recommend giving them a try.
The Succulent Collection:
Elope: This color is a mix of brown and pink. It offers nude look for those that still like to use lipstick but aren't all about the flare. I think this color would go great on people with fair and medium skin tones. The darker your skin is the less I think this color would work for you.
I noticed on me that the color was just a little to close to my normal skin tone to look natural. For someone like me with darker skin I would suggest using this color to help tone down brighter lipsticks. I used this with one of my hot pick lipsticks and I loved the results. The texture is creamy and the color on the lip is true to the color in the tube. The lipstick had long lasting staying power and did not need much touching up.
Elope
Flamingo: As advertised, this is truly a statement color! All you girls that love bold pops of color should look into this lipstick. If hot pink, baby pink and fuchsia had a baby I am pretty sure Flamingo would be born. The staying power of this lipstick is intense. I had to rub off the color with a cloth to fully remove it at the end of the day. The creamy formula keeps your lips looking hydrated and does not bleed through your lip line.
Flamingo
Speakeasy: As I mentioned earlier in the article, I used this liquid lipstick to help darken up the look of the Burnout semi-matte lipstick. I like this color both on its own or mixed with another lipstick to help darken it up. It is a true classic red in my mind, and has the deepness I look for in my red tones. The creaminess is consistent with the other lipsticks as well as its long wear formula. This is a highly pigmented lipstick so be very careful not to color outside the lines!
Speakeasy
On Point: This is my FAVORITE of the liquid lipsticks. It is the perfect Fall pink. The nude undertones of this color make it great for the season. The brightness of the pink however, makes it a wonderful all year around color as well. I highly recommend this lipstick. It is hydrating, long lasting and classically pretty. I think this color would look good on any skin tone across the board. It is truly on point!
On Point
Color swatches left to right: Elope, Flamingo, Speakeasy, On Point
Overall Comments: Liquid-style lipsticks are in high demand and offer a look that is turned up a few notches. I think these are great for anyone who doesn't prefer the classical application of lipstick and is looking for something that keeps up with the trends of the season.
I have to say I was overall pretty impressed with the products I tried. It shows that you don't need to rely on the big brands to deliver a quality product. I hope this encourages more boutique brands to start popping up and providing us with more great options to choose from.
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