Burberry describes the finish of their Lip Velvet Long Wear Lipstick as a “velvety matte radiance“. I don’t know about you but normally when I think about matte lipsticks, radiance is never in the picture. Velvety, yes, absolutely, but radiance? In a matte formula? It’s hard to imagine the two properties together but that’s exactly what I would describe the finish of their matte lipsticks, too!
Shown above are the two shades I picked up when they were first launched. Left is 301 Pink Apricot and right is 302 Peony Rose. Lip Velvets come in a matte gunmetal gray square casing with iconic tartan pattern on the cover. The bullet itself also has the same pattern all around it. I really like the masculine look here but the fun part of the packaging is the strong magnetic closure! In the photo below, I was trying to line the two tubes together but they kept pushing away from each other. This is as close as I could get them to align. :D
I really do like everything about the packaging but I’m not really a fan of the scent. They have this really vintage/old school lipstick smell that is quite strong and lingers for a good while. Definitely take a sniff in person if you could, especially if you are scent-sensitive.
Pink Apricot is a peachy nude with a hint of coral. Peony Rose is a rosy nude with a hint of pink. The two colors are very close, and from a distance may look almost identical. Pink Apricot is definitely a lighter shade, though, and more nude than Peony Rose once applied on the lips. They are both full coverage lipstick and go on evenly and completely opaque in one swipe.
The texture is very soft and creamy for a matte formula. Both shades do not emphasize dry patches but I noticed them settling into lip lines. They also form this, for a lack of a better word, unflattering “lipstick line” where my top and bottom lips meet if I over apply or don’t blot between layers.
The application truly feels like velvet gliding across the lips — super smooth with no tug or pull. The initial finish has a noticeable amount of luminous shine but will later set to a complete matte within a couple hours. During this time the color seems to transfer easily so pay attention if you are drinking or eating.
I wouldn’t describe it as a hydrating formula but it’s definitely more hydrating than most matte lipsticks I own. For a matte finish you would expect at least some sort of drying feeling over time but that’s not the case with Lip Velvets at all. I feel rather comfortable wearing them and never really feel necessary to top with an extra coat of lip balm.
The rich color of both shades wears well for about 4-5 hours and starts to fade evenly from there. Touching up is easy with these as you can apply more lipstick right on top of the existing layers without having to remove them first.
The amazing formula of Lip Velvets makes it one of my go-to matte lipsticks. It is truly one of the best only if you can get past the scent. I’m personally not bothered by strong scent as long as it doesn’t smell chemically, which fortunately this one doesn’t. Besides the scent issue, I really don’t see anything else of disadvantage.
Do you wear matte formula often? What’s your number one priority when it comes to a matte lipstick?
Jaa, thanks for writing yet another thorough and helpful review!! :) I have been tempted for a long time to purchase Pink Apricot but never did so as matte formulas tend to scare me. However, your review makes Pink Apricot even more compelling, although truthfully the settling in lip lines bit is not my favorite! I have one Burberry Lip Cover and even though I adore the color (Devon Sunset), that lipstick really settles in my lip lines, which I really dislike. Their Lip Mists on the other hand never do though. So, would you say that even though these lipsticks settle in your lip lines, their benefits outweigh the negatives by far? Thanks Jaa!!
Hey Carolyn, I only experience the lip line incidence when I over apply it (>3 layers)! If you are wearing only one or two coats and blot the “inner” part of the lips where the top and bottom lips meet, I think you’ll be OK! :) I don’t see a reason why you’d want to layer anyway because one coat is already completely opaque. You might want to smell it before purchasing, though, just to make sure the scent doesn’t bother you. :D
I’ve been eyeing Peony Rose forever! I got a mini GWP quite some time ago, and I actually like the formula. I just haven’t picked anything up yet!
I don’t wear matte lipsticks often. For me they really have to be hydrating, because there is less room for flaws! I do really like Givenchy Le Rouge for that :)
I think Peony Rose would look really nice on you, Sunny! :) I have yet to try Givenchy le Rouge! :)
love their lippies and totally agree about the smell!! ugh.
Yeah, not a big fan of the scent! :)
This was such a great, thorough review! I think both colours look really nice on you (although I fear probably a bit too close to my skin colour for me, LOL!), and I love how you took that one photo with them lying on top of (I assume) swipes of them on paper? Awesome!
Thanks, Syl! Yep! I swiped them on paper. :D
I really like how they aren’t a flat matte!
Great post! <3
Thank you so much! ♥