Review & Swatches: Wet n Wild Fall 2014 Limited Edition Megalast Lipsticks and Nail Color Collection

Press Sample 

NOTE: If you're looking for this collection, be sure to check out the Interactive Sightings Map HERE to see if any of your fellow readers have spotted it in your area. And if you have found this collection, please consider helping others by leaving a marker on the map (and thank you!).

Wet n Wild has released two limited edition collections for Fall 2014. Today I'd like to show you the Megalast Matte Lipsticks and Nail Colors, which I received for review (CLICK HERE to see my previous post with pics of the display). There is also a second collection of limited edition Coloricon 5-Pan Eyeshadow Palettes and you can CLICK HERE to see what those look like if you missed my previous post.

Wet n Wild Fall 2014 Limited Edition Megalast Matte Nail Colors and Lipsticks

(retail: $1.99 each)

limited edition rubberized packaging

Before I get into the swatches, I want to mention that the packaging of these products is different from the core line. Since this is a matte-themed collection, the packaging reflects that in the rubberized material used for both the polishes and lipsticks. Very NARS-esque.

So Berry On Trend

(three coats, no top coat)

So Berry On Trend is a deep berry-wine creme with a satin finish. After one coat, the finish looked very matte to me, but after the second and third coats it became a bit more shiny and ultimately dried to satin, rather than matte, finish. I needed three coats for good opacity (after two coats this one was still a tiny bit streaky) but the formula was beautiful and very easy to work with. Dry-time on the first coat was excellent but it did take a little bit longer for the second and third coats to dry.

LAC-My Mani?

(three coats, no top coat)

In the bottle, LAC-My Mani? looks like cream-colored but on my nails it actually looks like a very, very pale butter yellow. I love colors like this but they rarely look good on my skintone (boo!). This polish dries to a bit more of a matte finish than So Berry On Trend but, just like with that shade, this one required three coats for good opacity. On the third coat I experienced some leveling issues  (which you can see in my pic) and that last coat was a tiny bit goopy to apply as well. To be fair, I can't really see the leveling issues and goopiness with my naked eye--I can only see it in extreme close-up. Dry time was average on all three coats.

Distressed to Impress

(two coats, not top coat)

Distressed to Impress is a medium-dark greige creme. It has a satin finish and it was almost a one-coater in terms of opacity. Starting with this shade, and for all of the shades below, I only needed two coats for complete opacity and could almost get away with just one coat. The formula of this polish was perfect--not too thick, not too thin and no leveling issues. Dry-time was excellent for the first coat, average for the second.

Careful, It's Vine-tage

(two coats, no top coat)

Careful, It's Vine-tage is a purple creme that, again, is almost a one-coater. Two coats for perfect opacity and no leveling issues. Again, this is more of a satin than a matte, but no issues at all with application. I can't wait to wear this one with a shiny top coat. Dry-time was good for the first coat, average for the second. 

Rouge 66

(two coats, no top coat)

Rouge 66 is a classic red creme that's a tiny bit more pink-toned than what you see above.  Again, this one dries to more of a satin finish; no applications issues at all. Dry time was good on the first coat, average on the second.

Echo Dark

(two coats, no top coat)

Echo Park is a navy creme that required two coats for good opacity. I didn't have any application issues with this one but like the others, it dried to more of a satin finish, rather than a full-on matte. Also this polish didn't quite want to dry for me. The first coat dried quickly, but an hour after applying the second coat, I was still able to scrape this polish off using my fingernail. I haven't tried this polish with a shiny top coat, but if you have drying issues with it, definitely apply a quick-dry top coat and hopefully that will do the trick. And by the way, this one did not stain my nails after removal (none of these polishes did, actually).

Additional thoughts: although not quite mattes in the truest sense of the word, these all have a pretty, satin finish that almost looks more like latex to me. The only exception is LAC-My Mani?, which does have more of a matte finish than the others. Overall, these are some lovely cremes and only the first two above required three coats (some of these are almost one-coaters). If  you don't like the satin finish, you can always slap on a glossy top coat (which I think will help with the dry-time as well). Removal was very easy for me for all six shades, and I had no staining left behind with any of these.

MY PICKS: Distressed to Impress and Careful, It's Vine-tage.

Bordeaux Boulevard, Urban Night, Sweet Cream, Sunset Siren

Although these are billed as mattes, I don't find them to be quite as matte as traditional matte lipsticks. On the lips, they read as cremes to me, with just a very slight "matte-ness" to them. That said, I feel that these lipsticks are some of the best that Wet n Wild has released in recent years, so let me explain why!

Bordeaux Boulevard, Urban Night, Sweet Cream, Sunset Siren
(two swipes of each shade on bare skin)

Here's a shot of these in lower lighting, so you can get a better idea of the amount of shine these have (without the glare of bright light getting in the way):

Bordeaux Boulevard, Urban Night, Sweet Cream, Sunset Siren

(two swipes of each shade on bare skin)

NOTE: If you would like to see how some of these shades compare to other shades from the permanent Wet n Wild line, CLICK HERE (there are no dupes from the core line in this collection). 

• Bordeaux Boulevard. This is a lovely grape-colored creme with excellent pigmentation. No need to build for coverage--this will get you there in just a couple of swipes. The formula is fantastic and I can see this one looking absolutely stunning on those of you with deeper skintones (but it works for me too, and I'm an NC20). If you gravitate toward purples, you need this. 

• Urban Night. This is like the lipstick version of my very favorite Wet n Wild Fergie Vicious Varnish shade called Global Fierceness. I LOVE colors like this because they're not quite reds, but also not quite berries. This color sort of straddles the border between the two, and it's a great alternative if you want the look of a red lipstick without the "Hey, look at me!" feel that reds can sometimes have. Excellent pigmentation with this one as well--no need to build for intensity.

• Sweet Cream. Every time I wear this nude, I think to myself, "J.Lo lips!" I swear this lip color gives me that signature Jennifer Lopez nude lip look. There's something about this shade--there's a touch of pink to it that comes out when it's on my lips and it really keeps it from looking too much like concealer-as-lipstick. Also, the pigmentation of this one is fantastic--it covers in a few swipes and no chalkiness. I dare say this might be my favorite nude that Wet n Wild has ever released (and that includes all of the fabulous Fergie nudes). 

• Sunset Siren. This is a classic Hollywood screen siren shade, for sure. It's a very orange-toned red that still manages to look like red on my lips (some shades like this end up looking more like dark oranges on me). If you are a fan of lip colors like MAC Lady Danger, you will love this one. Excellent pigmentation as well--no need to build for intensity. You'll get there with just a few swipes.

Additional thoughts: I know I'm raving like crazy about these, but they so deserve it. All four colors are winners, with excellent pigmentation and the formula, while not truly matte, is wonderful. None of these shades feel dry (some of the permanent shades from the Megalast lipstick line can get a bit drying) and none of them are cakey or chalky on the lips. There's a moistness in this formula that I don't find in all of the permanent Megalast shades, which makes them so easy to wear and so nice-feeling on the the lips. Plus, the staying power is fantastic (as is the staying power with the core line). There's no strong or strange flavor or fragrance to these--they're just like the core lipsticks and have a very mild vanilla flavor and fragrance.

MY PICKS: At this price, I say grab them all. Even if you don't think they'll all work for your particular skintone, you'll never truly know until you get them on your lips. They just might surprise you, and I think they're well worth the risk.

I hope this post gives you a better idea of what the Wet n Wild Fall 2014 Matte Megalast Collection has to offer. Do you already own any of these products? I'd love to hear from you!

If you're looking for this collection, be sure to check out the Interactive Sightings Map HERE to see if any of your fellow readers have spotted it in your area. And if you have found this collection, please consider helping others by leaving a marker on the map (and thank you!).

A sample of this product was given to Nouveau Cheap for editorial purposes, either directly from the manufacturer or from the agency that works on behalf of the manufacturer. All reviews on NouveauCheap.Blogspot.com are the honest opinion of its author and editorial samples do not, in any way, affect the outcome of product reviews. For more information, click here.