TheBalm Meet Matt(e) Hughes Review

TheBalm launched a range of 8 liquid lipsticks, called Meet Matt(e) Hughes, over a year ago now. They recently added 4 new shades to the range, but as with everything, Australia is the last to receive any new release. I have been waiting to post this review until the 4 new colours launched here but I haven’t been able to obtain any potential launch date, so I am going to review theBalm Meet Matt(e) Hughes lipsticks for you today, and you can refer back to this when the new colours launch if you want to. If you don’t know yet, theBalm launched in Target Australia late last year and they are also stocked at David Jones – see my The Balm and Sleek Now At Target Aus blog post for more information on which Target stores have theBalm stands.

TheBalm are a cruelty free brand with many vegan options. The Meet Matt(e) Hughes lipsticks are vegan along with many other products. This is the current vegan product list from theBalm: Mary-Lou Manizer (Highlighter, Shadow & Primer), Sexy Mama (Anti Shine Translucent Powder), Bahama Mama (Bronzer), Read My Lips (Lip Glosses), Overshadows (Eyeshadow), What’s Your Type? (Mascaras), Schwing (Eyeliner), INSTAIN (blushes), balmShelter (tinted moisturizer), Put a Lid On It (eyeshadow primer), Stainiac (Lip & Cheek stain), Mr. Write Now – except Raj and Scott (Eyeliner), Meet Matte Hughes (long-lasting liquid lipstick).

The 8 original Meet Matt(e) Hughes colours are Adoring (merlot), Charming (rich mauve), Committed (pinky nude), Honest (warm coral), Chivalrous (bright pink), Sentimental (warm magenta), Devoted (bright red) and Loyal (deep red). The 4 additional colours that have been added (and aren’t available in Australia yet) are Trustworthy (warm nude), Sincere (light mauve), Doting (nude coral) and Dedicated (berry red). I purchased Charming, Committed and Sincere when there was a big sale on the USA website, which ships to Aus but it is quite expensive. They sell for $17 usd on theBalm website and $19.95 aud at Target Australia.

It is very hard to find any of the Meet Matt(e) Hughes colours in stock in store in Australia as they are very popular products. The liquid lipsticks come in a similar tube to many other brands with a doe foot applicator on the wand. They are very opaque and you can also build them up and not have the bottom layer flaking off, like many other formulas will do. There is a very strong minty smell but I love it, it’s the nicest smelling beauty product I have. I have tried to apply the lipstick with the applicator alone, but my skills aren’t good enough to get a neat line. Instead, I either start with a lipliner in a similar colour or use a lip brush to get the neat outline and then I can fill my lips in with the applicator. They dry down matte, but not a drying matte, I can actually wear these for many hours without wanting to rip my lips off. Once dry, they don’t feather and have very little transfer. The colour can slightly dull with eating (especially if the food has oil), but the formula is easy to re-apply. I have to use a facial oil like Rosehip, Argan or Almond to get these lipsticks off as they really do stick to the lips. To get the nicest finish, I always exfoliate my lips beforehand and use a lipbalm or lip primer like the Australis About That Base lip primer.

Overall, I really love this product. The formula and applicator work well together and most of all, the product isn’t too drying. I do however have one big problem. Two out of three of mine leak product into the lid, so it can be really messy when opening. I am now keeping mine stored upright to reduce that problem, but I’m not game enough to leave one lying down in my bag for an extended period of time. I don’t know if I just got two duds, or if this is a common issue. I have seen that the Balm have a special christmas release that includes a kit of 6 mini Meet Matt(e) Hughes liquid lipsticks, so I’m interested in trying that to see if the lid issue has been solved with them. When all 12 colours are on sale in Australia, I will go in store and get swatches of the whole range so that you can see how they all look.

I love theBalm as a brand and enjoy a lot of their products. The Meet Matt(e) Hughes liquid lipsticks have a great formula and I like that all the colours in range are easy to wear on a day to day basis. I will wear the three I have often, and I would buy a few more if I knew the lid issue was fixed. I have some other new releases that I will blog about soon including the Meet Matt(e) Trimony eyeshadow palette and the Batter Up eyeshadow sticks, so sign up to email updates and you’ll be notified when they go live. I am trying to get my hands on the new Balm Beach blush so that I can do a review and swatch comparison of the Balm highlighters and blushes plus they also have some new lip liners I would love to try. Will you be picking up any of theBalm Meet Matt(e) Hughes liquid lipsticks?

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