Rimmel The Only 1 Matte Lipsticks

Rimmel The Only 1 Matte Lipsticks* (also available here and here)

I’m a little bit of a lipstick junkie (if you hadn’t already guessed…), and typically, my lipstick of choice has to be a good matte; something that’s comfortable on the lips, and that I can apply and forget about – for most of the day at least.

So, I was pretty excited to try out one of Rimmel’s latest lipstick launches, The Only 1 Matte Lipstick* – a matte lippie which promises to glide on to the lips with smooth full coverage in just one swipe, that lasts for hours. To say I was intrigued is a bit of an understatement… as much as I love a matte lip, I’ve found a lot of formulas to feel a little too drying, and in the case of a nude matte, with little to no staying power.

It’s safe to say that while there’s a few shades out of my comfort zone (the bold violet hue – Run The Show – I’m looking at you..), the overall mix is really balanced, from some beautiful nudes, to petal pinks, and classic reds. Applying like a dream, the formula is so rich and creamy that you won’t find it dragging across your lips, and while they do feel lightweight, some shades feel more comfortable than others. One of the other things I noticed is that a few shades required a couple layers to even out the pigment, so like any matte lipstick, I’d highly recommend fully lining your lips before application for a more even finish. They’re also heavily scented, which is fine if you love the nostalgic scent of grape and strawberry flavored Hubba Bubba (two of my favorites as a kid), but if not, you’ll probably want to give these a miss, as it can be quite overpowering.

From L to R: 110 Leader Of The Pink, 120 Call The Shots, 200 Salute, 500 Take The Stage, 610 High Flyer, 700 Trendsetter, 750 Look Who’s Talking, 800 Run The Show, 810 The Matte Factor

110 Leader Of The Pink – while I typically prefer nudes and bold reds for the most part, this is a very pretty mid-toned pink with cool undertones, perfect for every day during those warmer months.

120 Call The Shots – This is a hyper bright pink raspberry, that delivers a strong hit of colour on the lips. I sometimes find shades like this a little intimidating, but a great way to wear it is to dab a bit of the pigment on your lips, and dab it in to get a softer looking stain across the lips.

200 Salute – I’ve reached for this muted rosey pink a few times; it just looks so pretty on the lips. I like to line my lips before I swipe this on, or dab the pigment into my lips a little after application as I’ve found it just tends to sit on top of the lips, on me anyway!

500 Take The Stage – I’m a huge fan of bold red lips and this really hits the mark for me. This is a fairly neutral red (in my opinion), perhaps slightly on the orange toned side. This is one of my favourites; it lasts all day without any need for top ups!

610 High Flyer – this is a lovely muted pink with cool undertones; the perfect everyday lip for the Spring time.

700 Trendsetter – a true peachy nude, this is one of the shades I’ve been reaching for the most. The wear time on this isn’t as great as some of the bolder hues but it wears off pretty evenly, and it’s nothing that a top up can’t fix.

750 Look Who’s Talking – this is that perfect grungy deep brown ‘nude’, and one I think would look gorgeous during the cooler months. I found this shade didn’t apply evenly so opt for a lip liner with it if you can!

800 Run The Show – without a sliver of a doubt, this bright violet is completely out of my comfort zone, and one I know I won’t be reaching for. This is great if you love a bold – and different – option, but unlike some of the other shades, I found this one to be quite streaky so definitely one that you’ll need to line your lips first for.

810 The Matte Factor – a cool toned raspberry red, this shade has a slight pink undertone to it. I prefer a warmer red as I find they really pop but I feel like this would be gorgeous come Christmas time.

Overall, I’ve been really loving playing around with these lipsticks, and I think they’re a great affordable beauty buy if you’re looking to add a punch of colour to your lipstick wardrobe. And if you could only buy one? Go for ‘Take the Stage’ – it’s a bold, classic red lip that actually lasts all day long (lunch, tea, snacks and all!).