Are these soft mattes or matte mattes? Let's find out!

Today's product feature got me thinking that it has been a good while since I've used (and even had) matte lipsticks. As a 30-year old makeup girlie, I feel like I've gradually shed my affinity for anything matte and now prefer dewy and hydrating products. My most used and current go-to lip products are all cremes and though they aren't the most long-wearing, they're super moisturizing and comfy which is the most importing thing for me. So after years of not wearing mattes, let's see how I find these very matte lippies from Dazzle Me!

These are the Ink-Matte Lip Creams, kiss-proof, waterproof, and transfer-proof lip creams that offer up to 12 hours of full coverage and comfort on the lips. Their formula has 4x nourishing boost as it contains moisturizing and hydrating ingredients like carrageenan extract and 8D sodium hyaluronate, and nourishing ingredients like jojoba seed oil, coconut oil, and avocado butter.

These lip creams are free of alcohol and are not tested not animals. Each lip creams retails for ₱149 and contains 2.5ml of product.

I gotta say, among the lip products of Dazzle Me, the Ink-Mattes have the most chic and almost grown-up look in terms of packaging! The muted metallic pink color and the almost frosty-looking tube make these lip creams look like the big sisters of the Misty Mattes and Glossip Girls! She's giving "she's in her early 20's" vibe and I dig it!

The Ink-Matte Lip Creams come in five shades:

(NOTE: Left side photos are freshly applied Ink-Mattes, right side photos are dried down Ink-Mattes) 

P01 Peach-Ink is a peachy blush and probably my least fave shade because I find it too light on me. I also find that it's really more of a blush shade than a peach and it kinda gives highlighter vibes on my pigmented lips. I think this will look better on fairer skintones or as a base for a gradient lip.

O05 Lush-Ink is a muted sunset and the peachy one among the lippies. This one has the same milky light tone as Peach-Ink but I think this is more wearable on its own, especially if you have a light or fair skintone. This shade actually reminds me of Sooper Beaute's Bebe, only Lush-Ink has a stronger orange tone.

R08 Joy-Ink is a dusty red and my second fave shade in this line. I like that this is a medium-deep red with a slight brown undertone- my kind of red! It's one I can definitely rock day or night and when topped with a gloss, this'll be a perfect red for the Christmas season!

P04 Wonder-Ink is a toasted rose and the "proper" pink in this line. I quite like that even though it's a bright color, the pink itself is muted enough to wear for everyday.

Lastly, we have B06 Worth-Ink, a cocoa spice. This shade is my most favorite in this line because it's perfect for everyday and well, I think I'm back in my brown lippie era. B06 is a nice brown because it has a pink undertone that makes this looks soft and still girly. This will be my most used one for sure!

       As these are matte lip creams, it is really recommended that you do a quick lip prep before using them. I suggest doing a quick lip scrub first then letting your lips soak in a lip balm or lip treatment before applying these lip creams. Remember: matte lippies look better, apply smoother, and last longer on prepped lips!

When I used them for the very first time, I had a hard time making them look even on the lips because they would set easily and would move when I go back and forth on the lips. After a few tries (and a good read on the product pamphlet), I was finally able to apply them properly and evenly.

The trick is to: 1). Make sure you have lip balm on before applying them. These lippies can feel a bit draggy and lip balms help them slide on the lips better.

2). Scrape off the excess product on the doe foot applicator before applying on the lips. Too much lip cream can result in a thick layer and can also be quite hard to spread. Scraping them off will also help you achieve a less streaky layer of lip cream on the lips.

3). Work section by section and only go in one direction. Either go inwards to outwards or the opposite but just don't slide it around like a normal lipstick. If you apply these lip creams back and forth, they have the tendency to move and lift, and your lips will look patchy and uneven.

4). One layer is enough with these lip creams. However, if you want to apply a second layer, make sure to let the first layer fully dry first before applying your second. 

Who knew there's a learning curve with these lippies huh?

    These lip creams do have that creamy feel but I noticed that some are creamier than others. For example, Lush-Ink has a creamy but thin consistency with a medium pigmentation while Joy-Ink is proper creamy and has more a bolder, more solid pigmentation. I think the difference in consistency within the shades is a huge factor because I'm more likely to reach for the creamier and pigmented ones as they're easier to use! The lip creams with a thinner consistency dry quicker and are more prone to streaking which, let's be honest, can be quite frustrating to work with.

    Though they claim that these are comfortable on the lips, I hate to break it to you, but these lip creams just aren't. Once they dry down, they will feel tight and dry on the lips, which is why loading up on lip balm is essential beforehand. However, here's my issue with these lip creams: even though they have set and dried down, they don't really feel fully dry because they stick with each other when you press your lips. They're not like the Kat Von D liquid lippies that are dry to the touch; the Ink-Mattes will make your lips stick to each other and it'll feel like velcro when you pull them apart. That's why you can't smack or press your lips when you wear the Ink-Mattes, which can be a challenge especially if you're like me who likes pursing my lips. 

    Longevity on the lips: a 3 out of 5. After drying down, I tested the lippies by drinking water and I found a light lip mark on the rim of the glass. It's waterproof enough but it won't be as transfer-proof if you eat anything oily. If you do put a gloss on top, all the -proof gets thrown out the window as these lip creams become a regular lippie that's prone to transfer and fading.

    Now let me talk about the things I liked with these lip creams. Firstly, I quite like the shade range. I can use 3 or 4 of the shades here for everyday and Joy-Ink, Wonder-Ink, and Worth-Ink look so nice on my morena skintone. The packaging is also quite chic- definitely prefer the Ink-Matte's packaging than the Misty Mattes'! Lastly, I love the scent of these lippies! They smell like chocolates and remind me of Too Faced's chocolate era!

    Would I recommend the Ink-Matte Lip Creams? Only to those who are fans of matte lippies that are okay sacrificing comfort. But generally, probably not. Honestly, there are other matte lippies out there that are less drying and less comfy than these. I hate that I don't like these as much as the Misty Mattes because I prefer the shades in this line but the Misty Matte's texture and feel on the lips are better than the Ink-Mattes' and when it comes to lippies, comfort is superior above all else. The only way I can make the Ink-Mattes work is by applying a gloss or balm on top to make them more comfy and less crackly-looking on the lips. Hope Dazzle Me creates a "regular" or glossy version of this line so they're more user and lip friendly!