In the current beauty world, no brand is complete without a collection of liquid lipsticks. The trend of the liquid lip blew up just as quickly as Kylie Jenner’s pout, and at around the same time (which is probably not a coincidence). With every brand competing to see who can create the holy-grail liquid lipstick that is a staple in every YouTuber’s “Favorites” video—and makeup junkie’s beauty bag—one brand stands out above the rest: Jeffree Star Cosmetics.
Makeup artist, guru and lover Jeffree Star started the brand two years ago, saying “It’s been a dream of mine since I discovered my first lipstick, to create and own my very own brand.” The first product that Star created was the Velour Liquid Lipstick, which is a vegan and cruelty-free product that is also long-lasting and lightweight, and offers full coverage.
I’ve tried a lot of liquid lipsticks, from a variety of brands. Before I discovered the JSC formula, I found many brands that were almost perfect, but always had something missing. Most of my common complaints, that I’m sure many other makeup fiends can relate to, had to do with the formulas of each product. The liquid lipsticks that lasted all day were so dry I felt uncomfortable and self-conscious about how chapped my lips looked, while the formulas that were hydrating rarely lasted more than a couple of hours, and generally ended up looking patchy and dry after a few touch-ups.
Jeffree’s formula combats both of the major issues that I had with previous liquid lipsticks. The lightweight formula doesn’t dry out my lips, and is so comfortable that I generally forget that I’m even wearing lipstick… which is convenient, since it’s so long-lasting, I don’t need to remember to touch it up during the day. I generally find that other brands have inconsistencies with their formulas; many of their darker shades have a poorer quality than their lighter ones. On more than one occasion, I’ve been hesitant to wear a darker shade from other brands to an important event, in fear that any flaws in the formula will be even more visible due to the attention-grabbing shade. One of the greatest things about JSC is that the formula is consistent throughout his light, dark and metallic shades; so dark, vampy shades like the gorgeous “Unicorn Blood” will feel the exact same way as (in my opinion) the ultimate nude, “I’m Nude.”
Unlike many other brands, Jeffree designed his formula so that it is unnecessary to use a lip pencil with it. The doe foot applicator makes it easy to paint precise lines, and the formula dries quickly, and does not bleed throughout the day, eliminating the usual step of using another product to line your lips.
Jeffree Star himself is anything but ordinary, so naturally, neither is his brand. Jeffree has created some stunning neutral everyday shades, with my favorites being the girl-next-door pink “Rose Matter,” barely-there nude “Mannequin” and the ’90s-inspired terracotta “Gemini.” That said, some of my other favorites are some of his more “out there,” daring shades, such as the bright orange “Flamethrower,” Barbie-pink metallic “Dreamhouse,” and the deep purple-gray “Scorpio.” Regardless of what color you’re looking for, with an extensive permanent collection, and seasonal limited shades, JSC has something for everyone—and constantly pushes you to get out of your beauty comfort zone.
The Velour Liquid Lipsticks retail for $18, and can be found on the company’s official website. If you’re in the market for the perfect formula, this is the one for you. While I haven’t abandoned all other brands yet, JSC is my go-to for a fuss-free, stunning look—you can’t go wrong!
Be sure to check out the brand’s collaboration with YouTuber Manny MUA that will launch on April 8!