Lipstick Lust: Laura Geller Luscious Lips Liquid Lipstick (Review and Swatches)

If you don’t watch QVC you might not have heard of Laura Geller, a leading New York-based makeup range, founded by celebrity makeup artist Laura Geller over 20 years ago. Until recently it has only been available in the UK to buy on the TV shopping channel. That’s all about to change as the company is taking the High Street by storm launching in department stores up and down the country including a flagship counter at House of Fraser on Oxford Street (you can see pics of the carnivaltastic launch here)

Though I knew the name, I’d never actually used any Laura Geller products before. The core of the line is based on “baked makeup” made in Italy on terracotta tiles, and the iconic ‘Spackle’ a makeup primer. Of course with my lipstickmania I didn’t try those products but put the liquid lipsticks to the test.

Here’s what Laura Geller say about their liquid lipsticks:

“Formulated with Vitamin E and a special texturizing gel, our highly pigmented, full-coverage liquid lipstick glides on as a liquid and dries to a weightless, semi-matte finish—never dry or sticky—for long-wearing color you’ll love.”

Laura Geller Luscious Lips Liquid Lipstick Review

I love the idea of liquid lipsticks but the reality has often been very disappointing. Of the many I’ve tried, I’ve found the formulas to be very lip unfriendly. They are often very drying on the lips, tricky to apply and re-apply (basically breathe or open your mouth at the wrong time and they look a hot mess) and very heavy feeling. So I was keen to see how the Laura Geller claims held up.

There are six ‘Luscious Lips’ colours:

I’m more of a bold than nude lip lover so the brighter colours were calling. The first colour I tried was Cherry Sorbet and I’ve got to say it was love at first swipe.  Absolutely stunning saturated colour. Straight out of the tube the liquid lipstick is full of pigment so the colour looks the same on the lips as it does in the tube.

The lipstick stays where it’s put with no migration around lip lines. With the bold colours I didn’t need any lipliner as the firm doe foot applicator placed the lipstick exactly where I wanted it to go. A little goes a long way. One dip gives full coverage but you need to go over the lips a couple of times with the applicator to get even colour. It doesn’t set immediately so if you don’t want opaque coverage, you can apply just a little bit lightly as a stain. As described it’s a semi-matte finish.

The Luscious Lips formula feels light and comfortable on the lips and shortly after application I forgot I was wearing it. It doesn’t dry the lips out either. Usually with liquid lipsticks, I’m always conscious of something sitting on my lips. The more pigmented colours last several hours and wear off evenly leaving a stain. They survive drinks and light snacking but not smooching. They are not transfer proof.

Reapplying is a breeze, like lipgloss just swipe on. You don’t have to take everything off and start again. I also discovered the colours blend beautifully so you can layer the colours to “cocktail” new colours.

Ingredients* wise, aside from sunflower seed wax, it’s mainly synthetic emollients and softeners with minimal irritants or concerns about potential toxicity.

LAURA GELLER LUSCIOUS LIPS LIQUID LIPSTICK LIP SWATCHES

TOP ROW (left to right):

• Cherry Almond: a warm nude that could be perfect on paler skin with warm undertones. I’ve been wearing it under nude lipsticks to add longevity  
• Peach Buttercream: a pale light peach with a frosted finish. Though not a colour I can see myself wearing all over this works as a highlighter shade in the middle of the lower lip. I was surprised to quite like how it looked on. Maybe it’s flashback to my teens when I was shimmer queen 
• Candy Pink: bubble gum pink that Barbie would be swooning over. Not me at all and I found the formula a bit chalky compared to the other colours 

BOTTOM ROW (left to right):

Come to mama…..

• Fuchsia Fever: hot hot almost neon pink

• Cherry Sorbet: bright raspberry with a hint of magenta. Giving me lipgasm

• Chili Spice: deliciously deep plum. Giving me multiple lipgasms

The bold colours in particular are the best liquid lipstick formulas I’ve tried this year. I hope the line is expanded as I could use a good purple liquid lipstick.  No I don’t have enough lipsticks already.

Overall verdict: Serious pout power. Laura Geller gives luscious lips indeed.