As an editor, I’m lucky enough to have access to the best beauty products in the world from top brands before they even hit shelves. As such, it’s hard not to become something of a snob about it, especially regarding one of my favorite categories: lipstick. The top of my vanity is reserved for a carefully curated selection of my favorite things, which include Tom Ford, NARS, Lipstick Queen, Dolce & Gabbana, and other things that I can’t actually afford and only have because from time to time they land on my desk.
So no one was more pleasantly surprised than me to discover that the best new lipstick of 2016 is $9.99 and available at drugstores nationwide. But let me assure you: The Infallible Pro Matte Gloss by L’oréal Paris is a game-changer, and I do not use those compound words lightly.
If you’re feeling confused by the juxtaposition of the words “matte” and “gloss” within a single product name, yeah—same. But it totally made sense once I got my paws on it. It’s a lot like a liquid lipstick, in that it comes with an applicator and is, well, liquid. Though unlike most other liquid lipsticks on the market, it dries to a velvet matte finish, which means it doesn’t feather or crack or dry out. The color is super-bold, too: I’m partial to this vibrant berry situation, which is proving to be universally flattering (at least around our office!).
Because the formula is so opaque, it makes it easy to over-draw your lips, if that’s what you're into. It’s also buildable, meaning the more you layer, the darker it gets, without ever getting cake-y.
Worth noting: I applied it once a few hours ago, and since the publication of this article, it literally has not budged. Guess I’m about to make room on my vanity for one in every color.
L'Oréal Paris Infallible Pro Matte Gloss, $9.99, available at L'Oréal Paris.
