If you follow me on Instagram then you’ll have seen Stiks a fair few times on my page. If you don’t you should as it’s where you’ll see first glimpses of exciting new discoveries.  Anyways I thought I’d give you a closer look at the most innovative lipstick line that has crossed my lips in the past year.

It’s no secret that I like lipstick #understatement. I also love great design. Add the two together and you get STIKS. It’s lipstick but not as we know it. The packaging and lipstick bullet shape are unlike anything else I’ve seen. Trust cult beautique BeautyMart to be stocking them.

There’s something a bit Fritz Lang’s Metropolis about the packaging’s Art Deco looking lines. We all know smoking is the least cool thing you can do but lighters are fun aren’t they? Flicking open the lid feels like playing with a Zippo. In the hand the tube feels very lightweight and therefore a wee bit plastic-y. However there is a most satisfying click when the lid snaps shut.

STIKS is designed for our multi-tasking, multi-screen watching age. You can hold a glass of wine in one hand (or some other productive task), and just flip the lid and apply the lipstick with the other. No lid to remove a lid and have to go hunting in your handbag. The flatter shape saves space so it easily fits in pockets and clutches.

The lipstick can be applied by just popping upon the lid, though when used up it took me a few attempts to figure out how to twist up the lipstick. Don’t be a dunce like me and end up performing lipstickotomy – it’s the join half way down the tube.

The range is cruelty, paraben and gluten-free with a synthetic but safe base of ingredients. So irresistible packaging aside how do the lipsticks actually perform?

STIKS LIPSTICK SWATCHES

• STIKS Mauve: on me this is an absolutely gorgeous plum. Smooth creamy texture,  great colour payoff in one swipe, comfortable on the lips, easy to wear, creamy matte finish that lasts ages and wears off evenly. LOVE LOVE LOVE.

Mauve, Stiks

• STIKS Naked: on me this is a sheer, chalky pink. The swatches shown are numerous swipes. No matter how much I layered I couldn’t get much more colour than this – you can see my lip colour showing through. Maybe that’s why it’s called naked.  Also it highlighted any dry bits on the lips. This colour didn’t rock my world but I know many people love a 60ish pink like this.

I also love that Stiks are savvy and show their lipsticks on a variety of skin tones, making it easier to pick a colour. Inclusive beauty FTW.

credit: stikscosmetics.com

With the right colour, Stiks has it all – fab packaging, pigmentation and a pleasure to wear.

Stiks, 3g, £15, in the UK find online at BeautyMart and in-store at TopShop Oxford Circus.

NB: includes samples provided for review purposes.

STIKS lipstick ingredients: Tridecyl Trimellitate, Ceresin, Hydrogenated Polydecene, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Polybutene, Microcrystalline Wax/Cire microcristalline (Cera Microcristallina), Polymethyl Methacrylate, Ozokerite, Phenoxyethanol, Caprylyl Glycol. (+/-): Mica (CI 77019), Titanium Dioxide (CI 77891), Iron Oxides (CI 77491, 77492, 77499), D&C Red No. 6 (CI 15850), D&C Red No. 6 Lake (CI 15850), D&C Red No. 7 Lake (CI 15850)