Surprising quality for P195: The Ever Bilena Matte Liquid Lipstick
If my memory serves me right, the first nude lipstick I ever bought was the Ever Bilena Matte Lipstick in Mauvey. This was almost a decade ago. Bright pink was the color to wear and nude was normally an unflattering sickly color on Filipina skin tones, but Mauvey was different. It was satisfyingly nude but without the dead zombie look. At less than P150 back then, I got to try a color I wouldn't have experimented with at any other price point!
The nostalgia is strong today because Ever Bilena has a new lipstick collection with all their classic colors. The Ever Bilena Matte Liquid Lipstick (P195*) features EB's signature matte lipstick shades in a long-wearing, pigmented liquid format. It's easy to scoff at these because of the price, but I'm honestly surprised by the quality of many of the colors.
Here's a rundown!
TEXTURE. The EB Matte Liquid Lipstick has a watery texture out of the tube, but it dries down to a powdery matte finish. I like that it gives me enough time to work the color around the edges before drying; there is nothing, and I mean NOTHING, more frustrating that trying to beat the drying time of liquid lipsticks as you apply them.
PIGMENTATION AND OPACITY. The lipsticks apply a bit light, with some colors being streaky at first, but the color shows its true self once the formula is dry. Most of the lipsticks are completely opaque in a couple of layers, save for Rouge Berry which is patchy no matter what I do. Don't go for Rouge Berry unless you're willing to invest time in putting on lip liner first.
STAYING POWER. Not all shades are equal in terms of staying power. The darker shades will show fading more easily. Generally though, these colors last for about four hours if you don't eat or drink. The formula can power through a meal with minor fading (more dramatic of course when it's dark)! It doesn't transfer on glasses as it sets completely.
TOP THREE SHADE PICKS
- Siennas is a beautiful reddish brown that goes on fabulously in one layer. It's consistent as you apply it, so it never streaks! Toast of New York (a crowd fave) is darker and browner. I'd still go with Siennas if I can only choose one.
- Love That Red is a striking, unforgettable retro red that everybody will be sure to ask the wearer about. It reminds me of MAC Ruby Woo. The reds in this line all look great but Love That Red just takes the color to the next level.
- Vivid Violet is the dark horse of this collection. It looks like a fuchsia purple in the tube and indeed, it looks too purply when freshly applied to be wearable. But once it dries it is a drop dead gorgeous deep grape color that I don't think I have yet! I do two layers to get full opacity but it's not that streaky in the first layer naman.
I love Siennas!
SCENT. The liquid lipsticks have a mild vanilla candy scent, but this goes away completely once dry. It's milder than what you'd expect from a drugstore formula.
PACKAGING. The tube is no frills, with a standard doe-foot applicator.
APPLICATION TIPS. Apply one thin layer first and wait for it to dry. You can safely add one more layer when needed without the formula feeling flaky AF; just don't touch your lips together until each layer is completely dry. You may also opt to use a lip pencil to increase staying power and opacity at least three times!
If you have flaky lips, make sure to exfoliate beforehand. If you have dry lips, let your lip balm sink in for a few minutes first before putting on the color. These are not *too* drying for a liquid lipstick, but it does not add any moisture to the lips.
VERDICT. At P195*, the Ever Bilena Matte Liquid Lipstick is a steal. The average quality of the formula is good (you do need two layers to be safe) as staying power, pigmentation, and lip feel pass my expectations. It doesn't feel like I have dried paste on my lips and I don't have to worry about it while I eat. I find all the shades wearable, even the nudes! I recommend getting one if you like any of the colors.
Which ones are your top picks?
*Price may vary across some retailers
