Review: Revlon Colorburst Matte Balms in Shameless, Showy and Standout

Purchased by Me 

One of the most talked-about drugstore lip color releases of 2013, the new Revlon Colorburst Matte Balms and Lacquer Balms caused quite a stir here on the blog when I first showed you the display and color options back in September (click here if you missed my original post).

When I finally found the display a few weeks ago at Rite Aid, I purchased three of the Matte Balms and one of the Lacquer Balms (I'll be reviewing that one soon) but MAN was it difficult to narrow it down to four shades! Anyone else having that issue? I literally wanted them all.

Revlon Colorburst Matte Balms in Shameless, Showy and Standout

(retail: around $8 each, 0.095 oz)

These balms have safety stickers on them, but they're the kind that are made of vinyl (aka: easy to peel and then press back onto the product). So I'm afraid that this seal isn't going to do much to protect these balms from curious hands, but at least it's something. I do wish Revlon would seal the entire pencil in plastic, but don't get me started on the whole safety-seals-on-drugstore-products issue again!

I hate not showing you lip swatches when I review lip colors, so please forgive my chapped lips--they're not in the ideal condition to be showing you MATTE lip colors (due to the weather), but hopefully you'll at least get an idea of what these look like on the lips based on my photos:

Shameless is an eggplant purple with violet undertones. It's bold, it's gorgeous and it's definitely going to get you noticed! I love it, although it did go on a tiny bit patchy on the first swipe, so you might have to build a little bit to get more even coverage (but so worth it!). Also, Shameless has a true matte finish, even though it looks a bit shiny in my pic (I think that's just the light bouncing off my lips because, in real life, it definitely reads as matte).

Showy is a bright, bubblegum pink that actually has more of a blue undertone on my lips (it looks a bit warmer in the tube). Just like with any other light-colored matte lip color, you're going to need to exfoliate and make sure your lips are perfectly smooth before you wear this one, or else it's going to call attention to every patch of dryness on your lips (see above). 

Standout is a perfect neutral red, and when I say "perfect" I mean it in every respect. Perfect red, perfect texture, perfect coverage, perfect everything. For decades, Revlon has been the master of the red drugstore lipstick, and this color just underscores why their reds have been a perennial favorite for so many years. Revlon Knows How To Make Red. And this is one flawless. No feathering, no patchiness, just velvety smooth beautiful matte red. And don't let the tube color scare you off--the tube itself looks like a brownish-brick-red in person, but obviously that's not indicative of the actual color. The tube color really underplays the beauty of this one.  And just like with Shameless, Standout has a true matte finish even though it looks a bit shiny in my pic (it definitely reads as matte in real life).

Texture and consistency: If you loved the Revlon Super Lustrous Matte Lipsticks (RIP), then you are probably going to love these. The Super Lustrous Matte Lipsticks were my favorite matte lipsticks of all time because of their smooth, velvety, lightweight formula, and the Matte Balm formula is pretty much identical (in my opinion). The texture has that same light-and-velvety feel about it that really sets it apart from other heavier-feeling matte lip colors. Another thing that sets these apart from other matte lip colors is that they don't get cakey and they don't ball up or start to flake after a few hours on the lips. They feel wonderful at the beginning, middle and end of their wear-time. The weather has been cold lately and I do have chapped lips at the moment, but these don't seem to be contributing to my chapped lips (in fact, they make them feel better...probably due to the coconut oil and shea butter in the formula). 

Pigmentation and staying power: As you can see, there are absolutely no issues with pigmentation when it comes to the three shades I purchased. They're bold and intense on the very first swipe, although the coverage on Shameless can a bit patchy on the first go-around, so you might need a second pass to even it out. Staying power is wonderful with these, and very reminiscent of the Super Lustrous Matte Lipsticks. I can get about 4-5 hours of wear before they fade down to a soft stain. When I eat, these do tend to wear down faster, but that's to be expected. 

Flavor and fragrance: Oh yes, here's the polarizing part of my review! It wasn't until I started blogging about five years ago that I realized how many people don't like peppermint-flavored lip products. I always thought peppermint was a pretty neutral flavor/fragrance in lip balms and lip colors, and that it was generally loved by all. Boy was I wrong! I have since learned that the peppermint flavor/fragrance in the original Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stains is a deal-breaker for some of you. Thankfully that's not the case for me (I love peppermint and I love the Balm Stains so much it's ridiculous), but I'm sad to report that the Matte Balms have a very similar peppermint flavor/fragrance to them (peppermint oil is an ingredient in this formula). So if that didn't bother you in the Balm Stains, it won't bother you with these. But for the rest of you? Sorry!

FINAL VERDICT: An absolute love-match for me. I love the Revlon Matte Balms more than any other matte lip color I've tired in the past few years. I find them quite comparable to my beloved (and discontinued) Revlon Super Lustrous Matte Lipsticks, only now we have so many other shades to choose from, and who doesn't love the convenience of a twist-up chubby stick? If you're already a matte lipstick lover, these will probably win you over on the first swipe (unless you're anti-peppermint). If this is your first experience with a matte lip color, I've got news for you: not all matte lip colors are this light and velvety on the lips. These are the best of the best as far as I'm concerned, and I have some experience with this--I've been wearing matte lipsticks since the early 90s when they were heavy, cakey and tar-like on the lips! These are the exact polar opposite of old-school mattes, and I cannot recommend them enough. 

Have you purchased any of the new Revlon Colorburst Matte Balms yet? I'd love to hear from you! And please check back soon for my review of  one of the new Colorburst Lacquer Balms, coming soon.

The products featured in this post were purchased with personal funds. For more information, click here.