Five looks with the Jordana Sweet Cream Matte Liquid Lip Colors
The first time we fell in love with Jordana was via the liquid lip colors in our Naughty and Nice Kit last December. We only got to try two shades of the Sweet Cream Matte Liquid Lip Colors then so we're finally swatching more their shades!
Creme Brulee, Rose Macaron, Red Velvet, Sweet Marsala, and Tiramisu all have a powdery finish and lightweight feel, but they do have varying degrees of dryness and opacity. The formula somewhat varies per shade but they are all pigmented, flat matte, and buildable. Instead of just the usual lip swatches, I decided to create five looks featuring each shade to give a better idea of how to wear them. There’s something for everybody in this range!
The best part of the liquid lip colors is that it’s buildable but lightweight, and at the end of each day, I never felt in a rush to take them off due to discomfort. On average they last 5 hours, but since touch ups can be done, your lips won’t feel like a desert. They’re affordable too, at P399 a pop, and easy to find at SM Beauty counters. On to the looks!
My favorite of the bunch, Creme Brulee is a gorgeous nude (for someone with a medium, NC35-40 skin tone) that looks more neutral in the tube but oxidizes to a more pinkish shade on the lips. It’s really reminiscent of those Kylie lip colors and just oozes girly-ness! I wore this shade to a launch event (with a whole lotta food and coffee) at work and I knew I was going to wear pastels, which is why I chose this shade.
I kept my skin looking “healthy” with a drop of In Her Element’s Pure Squalane Oil mixed with L’Oreal’s Pro Matte Infallible to get a matte base with a slight sheen. Then I applied Happy Skin’s blush in Bride-to-Be from their Beauty in Bloom duo in a more rectangular shape to get a sort-of sweet cheeks look, and because it matched my pastel purple shirt. I kept the hair simple too, with just a middle part.
Creme Brulee is great for daytime events or brunches with your friends because it will last through food and leave no mark on your coffee cups. This shade also looks the most velveteen and least drying of the five. You can still see the darker lines of my lip, but since I didn’t want it to look too done up, I let it be. I tried to maximize the opacity as well on another day and two layers work just as well.
We had a mock job interview at school so I decided to use the “safest” color, Rose Macaron. This is one of those ‘My Lips But Better Shades’ but oxidizes to a slightly darker mauvey-pink on the lips, which is perfect for an everyday work face. This was a more formal appointment, so I kept the eyes simple with just some contouring with warmer matte browns from the Kat Von D Shade+Light Eye Palette, since I would be making eye contact with interviewers at an early hour and wanted to fake my awake-ness.
My blush was of the same mauvey-pink shade from Tom Ford (in Wicked), applied very lightly in a Nike logo shape from the apples of my cheeks heading upwards to my temples. Everything was kept classic, really, with a low ponytail to boot. I had no trouble with opacity here, with full coverage at just one swipe, and the doe-foot applicator of the lip color made it easy to smack on even in the morning rush. The color also made it through morning coffee untouched, which is exactly what you need before an appointment like an interview.
Red Velvet actually looks like, what else, red velvet cake (and carpet, and ropes), and goes on the lips as intensely as possible. You have to be careful with applying darker shades like this, which is possible with just the doe-foot applicator. Use the pointed part of the applicator like a lip pencil and the flat side to spread the color and you’re good to go! With such a classic color, you can’t go wrong with a classic wing and all black ensemble. I drew a big, pointed wing so that it shows through the glasses I wear, and wore no blush with a matte complexion. You can also ramp it up with some contouring, if you so please. There is, however, a caveat: the lip color smudged after a meal of (not even that oily) carbonara and water.
The smudging was doubly unfortunate since I gave a presentation that night and only noticed after, when we were done and couldn’t be bothered to redo the whole lip. Oh well.
This lip color is a statement! Sweet Marsala is a plum with one coat, a patchy mess at two, and a full, even marsala at three coats. I was actually afraid to do three layers because we all know how some liquid lipsticks can feel so uncomfortable but it actually felt fine. I only did a slightly darker brow to have some balance in the look, but used nothing else save for foundation and concealer.
It was all about the perfect canvas contrasted with such a strong lip. I paired this look with a severe side part and ear cuff as a complement to my Resting Bitch Face. Honestly, I would wear this as a daytime look, because in my night life, all the Art Hoes wear this kind of look with some kind of choker and military jacket (which I would also do if I didn’t have a freakishly wide neck that few chokers can cover). After a Jollibee meal, the inner part of the lip color faded, but it was nothing a touch up couldn’t fix. If you know you’re going to be photographed with this lip color though, try to resist the Chickenjoy.
Tiramisu looks more brown in the tube but again oxidizes to a pinker brown on the lips. This color is reminiscent of trendy brown lipsticks and Instagram makeup, which is why I went for a very Instagram look, with a messy top knot for more ridiculousness. The foundation is matte, along with some full coverage concealer with Laura Mercier’s Secret Camouflage and brows that were lined, filled in, and run through with mascara. I also went the whole nine yards with bronzing (Laguna by NARS), and contouring and highlighting (with the Sephora powder contour palette), and even more highlighting with (what else) Becca’s Champagne Pop. I would’ve added a severe cut crease too, but I just had my lash extensions retouched that day and didn’t want to ruin them.
The lip color actually also works as a more everyday shade, but it’s just at the right muted-ness and depth to be paired with more elaborate eye looks. However, I ate one lemon square and the color on the inner part of my lips immediately rubbed off. It also didn’t help that I felt the need to peel my lips due to its more drying nature. I suppose that my lips had gotten tired of 5 straight days of liquid lips, and with better preparation, this could be avoided.
Creme Brulee, Rose Macaron, Tiramisu, and Sweet Marsala (with a lip liner) will make it to my rotation, and I’m happy to say that I’ve enjoyed them all and will continue to use them. Anyone who’s looking for an affordable but quality liquid lip without the heavy feeling will find the Jordana Sweet Cream Matte Liquid Lip Colors a great option for a multitude of looks and purposes.
What’s your favorite look to do with certain liquid lip shades? Any combinations I should try in the future? Let’s discuss.
