Review: Melt Cosmetics

This past spring season I became absolutely infatuated with matte lips.  From lip creams and stains, to opaque lipstick; any color, as long as it was perfectly UN-shiny.  I did plenty of searching, plenty of research, and of the many options out there, I was intrigued by melt cosmetics.  "Ultra-matte.  Bold.  Radioactive."  It sounded like the perfect motto for a cosmetics brand.  As if that weren't enough, all of their lipsticks are vegan, cruelty-free, gluten free and paraben free.  Melt offers twelve unique shades from pinks that would make Barbie envious, to a curious shade of slate gray - all matte, all gorgeous.

I purchased two of the company's twelve shades to try when they were offering a free-shipping promo: Summer! - a soft, creamsicle orange, and By Starlight - a deep, dark true purple. 

Above:  Summer! The photo is not retouched or filtered, and it was taken in natural light - no flash.  I did not use any primer or lip liner.

Above:  By Starlight. The photo is not retouched or filtered, and it was taken in natural light - no flash.  I did not use any primer or lip liner.

The Pros:

If you are looking for creamy, super opaque lipstick, you want Melt.  The shades cover completely and offer rich, deep pigments.  Melt does not offer lip liners at this time, but I didn't find myself needing a liner.  I had no bleeding or feathering around my lips - this stuff REALLY stayed in place, particularly By Starlight.  Both lipsticks applied beautifully right out of the tube so reapplication (although rarely necessary) was a cinch.  Some smaller retailers don't offer refunds, but Melt has a fine policy on returns.  I didn't need to use it, but it is nice to know it's available.

The Cons:

Melt only offers lipsticks, twelve shades in total.  If you are a fan of lip gloss, or are seeking a different formula, you won't find it.  They do one thing, but they do it well.  Depending on your budget, $19 per lipstick can be pricey; I'd love to see them offer more promotions and sales in order to attract new buyers (or those wanting to stock up, like me...).  Finally, popular shades sell out... FAST.  The only way to determine when colors will be restocked is to sign up for Melt's mailing list and wait. 

Application Tips:

As with all matte lipsticks, you don't have the benefit of shimmery pigments and an oily, glossy texture to help even things out.  Before you apply, exfoliate your lips.  I use a warm, damp washcloth and rub in a circular motion until smooth.  You may also want to look into a good primer if you find flakiness or dryness a problem.  Lastly, these shades allow for excellent blending so you can create custom colors.  Too fun!