L’Oreal Infallible Pro Matte Gloss swatches and review

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The newest drugstore makeup must-haves from We Heart This: The L’Oreal Infallible Pro Matte Gloss collection with swatches and a review.press sample affiliate link

Drugstore Makeup Must Haves…if you can find them!

For Spring 2015, L’Oreal has come out with their very first matte-finish liquid lip color: the Infallible Pro Matte Gloss. You may be thinking, “Matte AND gloss? What doesn’t that even MEAN? Isn’t ‘matte gloss’ an oxymoron? How would that even work?!” Honestly, I didn’t quite understand until I tried it for myself.

The newest drugstore makeup must-haves from We Heart This: The L’Oreal Infallible Pro Matte Gloss collection with swatches and a review.

The L’Oreal Infallible Pro Matte Gloss initially applies with a slightly wet, glossy finish and dries down to a demi-matte finish. It’s not like any other liquid lip colors that I’ve tried; with a consistency and feel in between a gel-stain and a long-wearing liquid lipstick, and packed with pigment but still having a good amount of translucency to it. Even with multiple layers, it doesn’t reach the level of opacity of a truly matte finish lipstick nor a matte finish liquid lip color.

The newest drugstore makeup must-haves from We Heart This: The L’Oreal Infallible Pro Matte Gloss collection with swatches and a review.

The applicator is a flocked teardrop shape. I haven’t seen too many other glosses with this type of applicator. I was skeptical at first, but quickly fell in love with them. They are perfect for applying just the right amount of Matte Gloss, getting your lips lined precisely with the pointed tip and edge, and spreading the gloss evenly and quickly with the flat side.

The Pro Matte Gloss also has a sweet, slightly perfumey scent to it. I didn’t mind the scent too much, especially since after a few minutes it had mostly dissipated.

I felt like the formula was neither drying nor moisturizing, but it had a very nice feel on my lips, and it doesn’t have that tendency to “ball up” like some long-wearing liquid lipsticks do. These do a good job of staying put, and stain my lips slightly, although it does tend to fade in the middle a little faster than I would prefer. Still, I would say these are a great option for people who prefer to apply lip color using a liquid product with a wand, or for anyone nervous about their bright colored lip product smudging. It will transfer slightly on to a glass or napkin, but it does a nice job of staying put.

There are six shades of Infallible Pro Matte Gloss, and I had the opportunity to try three.

The newest drugstore makeup must-haves from We Heart This: The L’Oreal Infallible Pro Matte Gloss collection with swatches and a review.Blushing Ambition, Fuchsia Amnesia and Nude Allude

The newest drugstore makeup must-haves from We Heart This: The L’Oreal Infallible Pro Matte Gloss collection with swatches and a review.

The newest drugstore makeup must-haves from We Heart This: The L’Oreal Infallible Pro Matte Gloss collection with swatches and a review.

Shown from left:
Blushing Ambition – A cool medium pink.

Fuchsia Amnesia – This Barbie-esque hot pink color is really pretty, and very bright. Definitely one that will get you noticed!

Nude Allude – Not nude at all, it’s a very pretty medium reddish brown.

The newest drugstore makeup must-haves from We Heart This: The L’Oreal Infallible Pro Matte Gloss collection with swatches and a review.Fuchsia Amnesia applied

The newest drugstore makeup must-haves from We Heart This: The L’Oreal Infallible Pro Matte Gloss collection with swatches and a review.Rouge Envy, Aphrodite Kiss and Tantalizing Tangerine

The newest drugstore makeup must-haves from We Heart This: The L’Oreal Infallible Pro Matte Gloss collection with swatches and a review.

The newest drugstore makeup must-haves from We Heart This: The L’Oreal Infallible Pro Matte Gloss collection with swatches and a review.

Shown from left:
Rouge Envy – A classic, cool-toned red that is simply glamorous. A good basic bold red, particularly for those nervous about trying a red lip, since this won’t budge once it sets.

Aphrodite Kiss – Neon reddish pink (the color our co-editor Stef couldn’t pass up!)

Tantalizing Tangerine – This orange-red is gorgeous, and perfect for summer. It’s bold and flirty.

The newest drugstore makeup must-haves from We Heart This: The L’Oreal Infallible Pro Matte Gloss collection with swatches and a review.Rouge Envy and Tantalizing Tangerine applied

If you tried the L’Oreal Colour Caresse Wet Shine Stain, these are similar in terms of initial texture and applicator, but with a matte finish instead of a glossy finish. Additionally, the Infallible Pro Matte Glosses aren’t streaky at all, while I feel that the Wet Shine Stains are very streaky. I definitely feel that the Infallible Pro Matte Gloss formula is much better overall.

If I were to rename these, I would say they’re translucent matte liquid lipsticks, but to sum them up in two words, I’d say they’re “pretty neat.” I definitely prefer them to lip stains in terms of pigmentation, but personally, I prefer a true matte lipstick in a tube.

This limited edition product is no longer listed on the L’Oreal website, but you may still be able to find it at your local drugstore. They’re worth purchasing if you can get your hands on them.

Marilyn is a makeup maniac and slow but stubborn runner. She loves color coding her day planner, reading celebrity gossip and drinking good wine. Marilyn blogs about makeup and fitness over at her blog, Lipgloss and Spandex.
skin tone: NC25
Skin type: oily, acne-prone
Favorite beauty product: eyeshadow

Author

  • Marilyn

    Marilyn is a makeup maniac and slow but stubborn runner. She loves color coding her day planner, reading celebrity gossip and drinking good wine. skin tone: NC25 Skin type: oily, acne-prone Favorite beauty product: eyeshadow

7 Comments

  1. As a matter of fact, I WAS thinking “Matte AND gloss? How would that even work?” Haha. Sounds like a good way to split the difference between wanting decent color and not wanting full-on lipstick. This might even be worth braving the super slow lines at my local CVS!

    1. As far as liquid lip color/stains go, I definitely like this formula. I’m really surprised that it was a limited edition formula!

  2. I didn’t realize these were limited edition–I have two of them and like them a lot. They are less high-maintenance than true matte lip products and good when you’re in a hurry, and I think the formula is SO much better than the Colour Caresse Wet Shine Stains.

    1. EXACTLY, @amity! Definitely less maintenance than true matte lipsticks, and I think more comfortable to wear than lip stains–it’s a really nice balance. I wish they weren’t limited edition :( It’s a good formula. The Wet Shine Stains were too much hassle to get to look good.

  3. I got to try Blushing Ambition and it’s a serious, gorgeous Barbie pink on me. It screams “SPRING!”. I love how these feel soft on the lips while appearing matte—I swear it’s some sort of wizardly behind this formula. I think I need to pick up Rouge Envy ASAP :) Great post, @lipglossandspandex!

  4. I got to try Nude Allude, and you’re right, it’s not nude at all, but a dramatic (on me at least) reddish brown. I did initially think, “What on earth is a matte gloss?” When I tried it, I liked the formula a lot! The velvety texture and matte finish makes the color work even for day. I really like the texture, and love the pointy applicator! The color stays put and fades evenly on my lips. Sorry to hear this is a limited edition product. Hopefully L’Oreal will consider it for their regular line.

  5. Rouge Allure is so pretty! I totally would not have tried these prior to the review but now I sure will. I have a much better sense of what the product is. Thanks @lipglossandspandex!! great review!!

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