Melt Cosmetics Besos, Recuerdos, Alma Gemela Ultra-Matte Lipsticks Reviews & Swatches

Besos

Melt Cosmetics Besos Ultra Matte Lipstick ($19.00 for 0.12 oz.) is a rich, deeper red-coral with moderate, warm undertones and a flat, matte finish. The texture seemed a little more silicone-heavy and velvety compared to most of the brand’s matte lipsticks, but I found it was unforgiving of lip texture and imperfections, as it tended to cling and clump around them (despite exfoliating prior). It had semi-opaque, buildable pigmentation that wore decently for five and a half hours, left a stain behind, and felt somewhat drying over time.

Top Dupes

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Urban Decay Tryst (P, $18.00) is cooler (95% similar).
NARS Famous Red (P, $27.00) is warmer (95% similar).
NARS Rouge Immortel (LE, $27.00) is lighter, warmer (90% similar).
NARS Flame (LE, $26.00) is lighter (90% similar).
Tom Ford Beauty The Perfect Kiss (P, $55.00) is darker, cooler, glossier (90% similar).
Makeup Geek Tango (LE, $12.00) is lighter, warmer (90% similar).
YSL Coral Revolt (29) (P, $39.00) is darker (85% similar).
Chanel Eclosion (134) (P, $40.00) is lighter, warmer (85% similar).
MAC A Little Tamed (P, $24.00) is cooler (85% similar).
Guerlain #40 (P, $33.00) is lighter, glossier (85% similar).

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Ingredients

RICINUS COMMUNIS (CASTOR) SEED OIL, ETHYLHEXYL PALMITATE, ISOPROPYL MYRISTATE, EUPHORBIA CERIFERA (CANDELILLA) WAX, KAOLIN, ISODODECANE, MICA, TRIDECYL TRIMELLITATE, MICROCRYSTALLINE WAX, ISOBUTYLMETHACRYLATE/BIS- HYDROXYPROPYL DIMETHICONE ACRYLATE COPOLYMER, OZOKERITE, ORYZA SATIVA BRAN WAX, AROMA, DISTEARDIMONIUM HECTORITE, PHENOXYETHANOL, PROPYLENE CARBONATE, TOCOPHERYL ACETATE. MAY CONTAIN: TITANIUM DIOXIDE CI 77891, RED 6 LAKE CI 15850, RED 21 LAKE CI 45380, RED 28 LAKE CI 45410.

Disclaimer: Ingredient lists are as available by the brand (or retailer) at the time of publishing. Please always check product packaging, if it exists, for the ingredient list applicable to the product you're purchasing, or the brand or retailer's website for the most up-to-date ingredient list.

Besos

LELimited Edition. $19.00.

C+

Product

Pigmentation

Texture

8.5

Longevity

Application

79%

Total

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Recuerdos

Melt Cosmetics Recuerdos Ultra Matte Lipstick ($19.00 for 0.12 oz.) is a medium-dark purple with subtle, warm undertones and a flat, matte finish. It looked pinker and lighter swatched, and while it was very stiff and dry, it actually applied a lot more evenly than I expected.

There was more sheerness than real unevenness, as it had more medium, buildable color coverage. The lipstick tugged noticeably on my lips as I applied it, though it felt thin and lightweight on. This shade stayed on well for five and a half hours, left a stain behind, and felt somewhat drying while worn.

Top Dupes

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Urban Decay Pandemonium (P, $18.00) is lighter, cooler (95% similar).
Urban Decay Jawbreaker (DC, $18.00) is more shimmery, glossier (95% similar).
Sephora Orchid (P, $14.00) is lighter, glossier (90% similar).
Urban Decay Pandemonium (DC, $18.00) is more shimmery, lighter, glossier (90% similar).
MAC Flamingo Road (LE, $21.00) is lighter (90% similar).
Smashbox Violet Riot (P, $21.00) is more shimmery, lighter, glossier (90% similar).
MAC Punk Couture (P, $21.00) is more shimmery, glossier (90% similar).
Maybelline Violet Vixen (DC, $7.49) is more shimmery, lighter, glossier (90% similar).
Smashbox Mongal (LE, $24.00) is darker, more muted, cooler (85% similar).
MAC Hellebore (DC, $21.00) is more shimmery, warmer, glossier (85% similar).

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Ingredients

RICINUS COMMUNIS (CASTOR) SEED OIL, ETHYLHEXYL PALMITATE, ISOPROPYL MYRISTATE, EUPHORBIA CERIFERA (CANDELILLA) WAX, KAOLIN, MICA, ISODODECANE, TRIDECYL TRIMELLITATE, MICROCRYSTALLINE WAX, ISOBUTYLMETHACRYLATE/BIS- HYDROXYPROPYL DIMETHICONE ACRYLATE COPOLYMER, OZOKERITE, ORYZA SATIVA BRAN WAX, AROMA, DISTEARDIMONIUM HECTORITE, PHENOXYETHANOL, PROPYLENE CARBONATE, TOCOPHERYL ACETATE. MAY CONTAIN: TITANIUM DIOXIDE CI 77891, BLUE 1 LAKE CI 42090, RED 27 LAKE CI 45410.

Recuerdos

LELimited Edition. $19.00.

B-

7.5

Product

8.5

Pigmentation

Texture

9.5

Longevity

4.5

Application

82%

Total

We hope you'll consider supporting Temptalia by shopping through our links below. Thanks!

Sephora Beautylish Ulta Nordstrom More

Alma Gemela

Melt Cosmetics Alma Gemela Ultra Matte Lipstick ($19.00 for 0.12 oz.) is a neon, warm-toned pink with a flat, matte finish. It had opaque color coverage in a single layer, which applied fairly evenly and felt very lightweight on, albeit somewhat on the clingier side.

The texture was denser, firmer, and dragged slightly during application but was more comfortable than most of the brand’s lipsticks that I have tried. It lasted for over six hours and felt somewhat drying over time.

Top Dupes

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MAC Bing Bang Boom (LE, $21.00) is cooler (90% similar).
Pat McGrath Polaroid Pink (P, $38.00) is lighter, cooler (90% similar).
Rare Beauty Motivate (P, $20.00) is darker (90% similar).
ColourPop Barely There (P, $6.00) is darker (85% similar).
NARS Low Rider (P, $26.00) is darker, more muted (80% similar).
Melt Cosmetics Fiesta (P, $19.00) is darker (80% similar).
Chanel Pivoine (832) (P, $40.00) is darker, more muted, cooler (80% similar).

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Ingredients

RICINUS COMMUNIS (CASTOR) SEED OIL, ETHYLHEXYL PALMITATE, ISOPROPYL MYRISTATE, EUPHORBIA CERIFERA (CANDELILLA) WAX, KAOLIN, ISODODECANE, MICA, TRIDECYL TRIMELLITATE, MICROCRYSTALLINE WAX, ISOBUTYLMETHACRYLATE/BIS- HYDROXYPROPYL DIMETHICONE ACRYLATE COPOLYMER, OZOKERITE, ORYZA SATIVA BRAN WAX, AROMA, DISTEARDIMONIUM HECTORITE, PHENOXYETHANOL, PROPYLENE CARBONATE, TOCOPHERYL ACETATE. MAY CONTAIN: TITANIUM DIOXIDE CI 77891, YELLOW 5 LAKE CI 19140, RED 6 LAKE CI 15850, RED 21 LAKE CI 45380.