Milani Embrace & Flirt Amore Matte Lip Cremes

Milani Embrace Amore Matte Lip Creme

Milani Embrace Amore Matte Lip Creme ($8.99 for 0.21 fl. oz.) is described as a “deep reddish plum.” It’s a brightened, medium-dark berry with strong, cool pink undertones and a matte finish. It had semi-opaque color payoff that went on fairly evenly, but there was some slight “streaking” where the color appeared lighter/darker in areas. The formula was thin and easily spread across the lips, but it was also easily spread past the natural lip line with the amount pulled on the applicator so be careful or wipe off excess prior to using. The color lasted for eight hours with minimal fading and was just a tad drying after six hours of wear. Tom Ford Beauty Velvet Violet (16) (P, $50.00) is glossier (90% similar). MAC Acai (LE, $17.00) is darker, brighter, glossier (90% similar). Kat Von D Bauhau5 (P, $20.00) is lighter, brighter, cooler (85% similar). See comparison swatches / view dupes side-by-side.

Milani Flirt Amore Matte Lip Creme ($8.99 for 0.21 fl. oz.) is described as a “deep vampy wine.” It’s a deepened–but a bit muted–burgundy with cool undertones and a matte finish. This one took forever to dry, even longer than the other shades, at ten minutes. It applied unevenly and only had semi-opaque pigmentation. While the color lasted for eight hours, it just didn’t look that good on as a result of the unevenness. I found it to be a little drying after six hours of wear. MAC Talk That Talk (LE, $17.00) is darker, glossier (90% similar). MAC Sin (P, $17.00) is darker, warmer, glossier (90% similar). MAC Fixed on Drama (LE, $17.00) is warmer, glossier (90% similar). Tom Ford Beauty Black Dahlia (10) (LE, $50.00) is darker, less pigmented, warmer (85% similar). See comparison swatches / view dupes side-by-side.

FORMULA SUMMARY | Milani Amore Matte Lip Creme ($8.99 for 0.21 fl. oz.) is a new, limited edition liquid lipstick that dries to a matte finish. You’ll mostly find them at your local drugstore (I got mine from Walgreens), but they are available online as well through Milani directly. These have a very thin, liquid-y consistency–they easily get outside the lines and in general, the applicator can apply far more than you need, so I highly recommend a little patience and maybe using a lip brush (if you can) to apply and get really precise, neat lines. The formula has a longer dry down–about five to ten minutes before you can press your lips together–and gets very tacky after two minutes or so (do NOT! press your lips together or else you will lift color in large patches!). They’re one of the lesser drying liquid lipsticks I’ve come across (but these did get a bit drying after four to six hours of continuous wear), and they are long-wearing and pigmented. They have a moderately strong sweet, vanilla scent.