2012 was definitely the year of liquid lipsticks, and Hourglass also launched their version, Opaque Rouge Liquid Lipsticks (RRP: 28 USD). It took me a while to pick up the color I was dying to try the most, an incredibly loud coral red, Muse.
Hourglass Opaque Rouge Liquid Lipsticks comes in an interestingly-shaped packaging. The tube is rather flat, and you can see the color clearly from the transparent part. The only critique I have is the packaging is rather light, and I was expecting something with a bit more heft!
Hourglass Opaque Rouge Liquid Lipsticks promise to be richly pigmented, exceptionally long-lasting, and dramatically matte. It is supposed to resist to flaking and dryness, protect and nourish the lips. Like other Hourglass products, it is free of paraben, fragrance, sulfate, phthalate, and synthetic dye.
Muse is an extremely vibrant matte coral red. It is a color that you can’t fail to notice in the crowd! Depending on your skin tone, it could look more coral, more red, or more orange. On my lips it’s rather orange. The finish is matte with a bit of a silky sheen. The applicator is rather soft and comfortable on the lips. Muse goes on opaque, smooth, and you do have enough time to reach the desired shape before it sets.
Once it dries down and sets, Muse scarcely transfers at all when I drink. However, I have the funny impression that Muse sets almost too well. I have played with it several times, and the best way to stop it from looking a little “cracked” too soon is using a thin layer. Muse doesn’t need any building-up to look opaque and vibrant, so don’t be tempted to do that. I have tried to wear two thin layers, but that didn’t help with the longevity.
This is how Muse swatches on me. Notice it’s just one swipe!
The biggest enemy of any lipsticks is food. Some disappear with the grease, others migrate, but Muse does something entirely different — it seems to flake off. If I only have a thin layer on, the flaking off isn’t too dramatic a process. I have almost never found any flakes on my teeth or face either. Usually after a meal, it’s time to reapply. I will suggest you remove whatever is still left on your lips before you do so, otherwise the new layer will look uneven. I have doubts about Muse lasting for 14 hours like what Hourglass promises even without food, but the non-drying part is true. From the way it sets I was worried it would be drying. However, at the end of the day, my lips pretty much stay the way they normally are.
Here is Muse on me:
See how vibrant that is? In real life it’s practically neon! It’d be such a great shade in summer. I think it might look different on me when I have a tan as well. I’ll have to find out!
Bottom line: If you don’t mind reapplying after a meal, Hourglass Muse Opaque Rouge Liquid Lipstick is still worth looking into. It’s such a saturated and dramatic summer shade for lounging in the sun, and it hardly transfers when you drink. I was hoping it’d really last for 14 hours, but alas, no such luck!
Have you tried Hourglass Opaque Rouge Liquid Lipstick or any liquid lipsticks? It seems like while there are some excellent lipstick formulas around, there remains room for improvement in the liquid lipstick department. Still, for a color like this, I personally don’t mind one reapplication or two!
Sunny, your beauty culture translator xx
PS: If you’re interested in Hourglass but don’t live in North America, Zuneta will hook you up!
