The popularity of transfer proof lipstick has grown exponentially over the past few years. This article defines this category of lipstick and discusses what makes it unique, the forms it comes in, and how best to apply and remove. 4 transfer proof lipsticks are reviewed with an eye to what matters most for many of us over 50 and whether they can live up to their marketing claims.
Finally, a short guide to lip scrubs to prepare the lips for lipstick is located in the Free Resource Library here.
TRANSFER PROOF LIPSTICK
Anyone who has known me for more than a couple of minutes understands how much I believe in the power of great lipstick (in particular Dior 999). In my world, lipstick holds transformative powers to instill confidence, talk smarter, be braver, and oh yes, complete or make a look
It is no coincidence that the women who fought for the right to vote wore red lipstick as a strategy during their protests. It was considered subversive, a way to bring attention to their cause, and a symbol of an independent emancipated woman.
I would hazard that lipstick (and all its many colors) holds similar psychological power today.
Therefore, when I heard about a type of lipstick previously unknown to me, I was all ears.
What is Transfer Proof Lipstick?
Its label describes the product perfectly. This is lipstick that stays on and does not smudge or transfer onto anything-or at least claims to be such. Imagine lips looking perfect all day even after eating, drinking coffee, masking, you can fill in the blank. The bonus is that it is one less thing to think about while going about a regular life.
If you are like me and you’ve never heard of it, surprisingly, it’s been around since the 1990s. At that time, both L’Oreal and Revlon brought these lipsticks to market nearly simultaneously. One company marketed them as “transfer proof” and the other as “transfer resistant”. Today, other descriptors include “longwearing”, “all day wear”, “zero color transfer”, “smudge proof” and more.
Over the past few years, these lipsticks have been having a moment, and I anticipate the traction will continue. I can only speculate that the reasons are two-fold: Covid and the desire for non-lipstick stained masks along with advances in chemistry that make this type of product more viable.
For me, smudge proof lipstick seemed like a fairytale. Is this type of lipstick even possible? And, if so, could I retrain my brain to stop checking on my lipstick?
So, with these questions in hand, along with a hope and a prayer, I dove headfirst into the world of transfer proof lipsticks.
Let’s explore what I discovered.
Best Everyday Lipstick
To assess this lipstick category, I began by taking an inventory of the qualities that were key to me in lipstick and for my over 50 lips.
Aside from having the right color options for my complexion, the most important aspect was lipstick texture. With age, my lips routinely tended towards dry and flaky most of the time, so lipsticks needed, at a minimum, to maintain lip moisture. This also meant smooth application and once there, feeling good on the lips.
The best lipsticks, therefore, were exclusively satin or glossy. The (very popular) matte formulas were out of the running since they made lips drier with the color tending to feather into fine lines around the mouth.
6 Qualities of a Good (Transfer Proof) Lipstick
Overlay the long lasting, smudge proof quality of a transfer proof lipstick and below are the key qualities roundup of a “best lipstick”:
- Selection of colors
- How it feels on the lips (emollience)
- How it looks on the lips
- Satin or glossy (non-matte) formula
- Ease of application
- A longer length of time before reapplication (than regular lipstick)
Transfer Proof Lipstick Truths
I discovered some surprising and overarching truths about this transfer proof category. Below is a rundown of some of them. Depending on your own best lipstick qualities list, these could be considered limitations.
*Most transfer proof lipsticks are liquid and applied with a “doe foot” (think gloss applicators)
*A high percentage of these smudge proof lipsticks come only in a matte formula (anecdotally at least 75-80%)
*Most of the remaining transfer proof lipsticks are glossy and highly pigmented
*Lipsticks in the familiar bullet form are satin and are few and far between in this category
*Bullet form lipsticks are more emollient and they are marketed as “full coverage” and “all day wear”
*It makes a difference to lipstick adherence and color to prepare the lips with a scrub. Some lip scrub options are located here in the Beauty Maestra Reference Library
Transfer Proof Lipstick Ingredients
As I discovered, the chemistry behind even the most efficacious transfer proof lipstick formulas still has a ways to go in terms of development. The science is sophisticated. It requires silicone resins and polymers that enable the color to sit better on the surface of the skin (instead of sinking and fading into it). There are also ingredients that form a film on the lips to help keep the color intact.
In contrast, bullet form lipsticks contain more waxes which makes them more moisturizing as well as more likely to fade quicker.
Transfer Proof Lipstick Product Reviews
I chose 4 gloss/satin finish products at varying price points to compare. Also included in the 4 products is a bullet form lipstick format. Here are my findings.
Urban Decay Vice Lip Bond
This product claims no flaking, cracking, or fading for up to 16 hours. Here are my lips with the product just applied and then 8 hours later and after drinking tea and eating a meal with a “mug” shot to measure color transfer.
Application: The product needs to be shaken for about 10 seconds prior to applying. It is a liquid lipstick that applies with a small doe foot that I liked. With that said, the formula consistency was more difficult to spread (than the other products) on the lips and had a tendency to feather into lines. In order to help with this, I used a lip liner.
Colors: There are 12 shades that range from nudes to reds. The Urban Decay brand often has a vivid biker chic type of look to their colors (even the more muted tones) and these shades fall in line with that spirit. The cherry red I am wearing was beautiful albeit very bold.
Price: $25
Final Verdict: The formula was drying and flaked a bit around the lips. To help with that, I ended up putting a gloss on top of the lip color about an hour after applying. Dry lips aside, it definitely had strong staying power and minimal color transfer.
Click on image above to buy from Amazon – $25.00
Other buying options include Sephora and Ulta – $25.00
Chanel Le Rouge Duo Ultra Tenue Ultrawear Lip Colour
Chanel describes this product as a high shine gloss with full coverage long-wearing color. Here are my lips with the product just applied, and in the photo below, transfer(less) on my mug, and 8 hours later after a long meal, drinks, etc. No additional application of anything at all.
Application: Application is a 2-step process. This is a liquid formula with a doe foot and also a top gloss coat. A base coat is applied to makeup-free lips. After waiting about a minute to dry, the brush applicator is then used to apply the top gloss coat. The gloss coat can be reapplied as needed.
The colored base coat went on the lips very smoothly and easily.
Colors: There are 26 shades, and it appears they will be adding more to the mix. I would classify the color selection as elegant and well-curated.
Price: At $42, it is a luxury price and the most expensive of all I tested.
Final Verdict: The formula was not drying at all even on my dry lips. Long-lasting (about 8 hours of drinking/eating etc), very little transfer (none on mug) and really beautiful color. Compared to the other liquid lipsticks tested, it was the easiest and smoothest to apply.
Click on image above to buy from Ulta – $42.00
Other buying options include Chanel – $42.00
Ilia Color Block Lipstick
Ilia is a “clean” beauty brand that describes this bullet form lipstick as full coverage with high-impact color, great hydration, and all-day wear and care. The claim is that it has 4 times the intensity as a typical lipstick with a creamy finish. In contrast to many if not all of the other transfer proof lipsticks, it contains no dimethicones (silicones) and instead has castor seed and apricot kernel oil. Given the potential hydration and good ingredients, I was really hoping this worked.
Here I am just after applying the lipstick.
Unfortunately, a few hours later:
Application: This is a traditional and familiar bullet type lipstick. Creamy and very easy to apply. Looks great and hydrating on the lips for the first couple of hours.
Colors: There are 15 shades that I would describe as more muted and warmer toned than the other glossy products reviewed here. Beautiful selection although somewhat limited.
Price: $28
Final Verdict: I loved the hydration and the bullet format for better easy accuracy. I would describe this as a highly pigmented lipstick with better than most moisture. While it’s a longer lasting lipstick than most, it is not transfer proof. Knowing this, the wear is so good that I would still buy it again for the right color.
Click on image above to buy from Amazon – $28.00
Other buying options include Sephora – $28.00
NYX Shine Loud Lipstick
This is a drugstore brand. NYX boldly describes this as a 16 hour lip color with zero color transfer. Here I am with freshly applied lipstick.
And, this is me after almost 10 hours of everyday wear along with tea and water. No lip marks on my mug.
Application: The application is very similar to Chanel Le Rouge Duo. It’s a 2 step process with a base color (doe foot) and then a gloss coat on top. The applicator is quite a bit larger than Chanel’s and as such harder to maneuver accurately. Over a 10-hour period, I reapplied the gloss twice to freshen the look. I couldn’t help myself.
Colors: 24 shades in all that run the gamut from warm to cool to reds.
Price: ~$12.00 – this is a drugstore brand and drugstore price
Final Verdict: For the price, this delivers amazing value and is a direct and viable competitor with the Chanel product. With that said, Chanel’s base color applied smoother and more precisely with the smaller doe foot. I also preferred Chanel’s color selection. Is all of this worth the additional money? You be the judge.
Click on image above to buy from Amazon – $11.96
Other buying options include Ulta – $12.00
How To Remove Long Lasting Lipstick
These lipsticks are truly built to last at least longer than traditional lipsticks and nowhere is that more noticeable than when trying to remove them from the lips. After experimenting a bit, I found that using a cotton pad with makeup remover with some oil in it was very effective. Less effective but workable were olive and coconut oils along with a washcloth to rub the product off.
Here is a remover that was very effective for me:
Click above to buy from Ulta – $7.99
Other buying options include Target – $5.69
Transfer Proof Lipstick Final Thoughts
The popularity of transfer proof lipsticks has grown dramatically in recent years. This article defined this category of lipstick and reviewed and compared 4 different smudge proof lipsticks to verify whether they really live up to brand claims.
While these lipsticks are somewhat limited relative to format and texture, I do see a place for them in the over 50 woman’s beauty arsenal. Arguably, some of the marketing descriptions are a little exaggerated, however, the beautiful, vivid and long(er) lasting colors in this category are undeniable. Transfer resistance is fact which means less fuss and muss. And how can anyone argue with a simpler makeup life?
Thank you for reading!
xO
Andrea
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