Yep, I have another Autograph lip product to review. Marks and Spencer have really been impressing me over the last few months with their rather extensive make-up range. The Matte Velvet Twist Up Lipstick has the pigmentation of a lipstick, but in the packaging of a lip crayon. Being a lover of both highly pigmented lipsticks and lip crayons, I knew I had to try at least one.
As usual, the lipstick comes in a standard Autograph box, but they've made this one matte to match the lipstick it contains. The lipstick packaging itself is beautiful, a gorgeous shiny gold with the brand name etched in black. It looks a lot more fancy and expensive than its £10 price tag. The lid doesn't 'snap' shut, but it feels very secure once it's been pushed on so I don't have any qualms about throwing it in my bag to take out with me. To reveal more of the product, you simply twist the bottom of the lipstick.
There are only 3 shades in the range at the moment: Rosewood, Nude Pink and the one I have here, Wine. Wine is a very rich, pink based burgundy that I think would look equally as nice on dark skin as it does on my very fair skin. The lipstick is matte without any shine at all and there's no scent or taste to it, something which I'm learning is the way with most, if not all, Autograph make-up.
Application is very easy, the width of the lipstick is perfect; not so wide that it's impossible to get a neat edge and not so thin that it takes ages to apply. I did feel the need to go back with a lip brush to make sure my edges were crisp, but it's not really necessary if you have a steadier hand than myself. For such a matte product it feels very creamy as you're applying it, and it has just the right amount of slip but once it's been on for a while it settles into a true matte and doesn't have any slip at all.
The wear time is outstanding, I wore this the other day and I drank numerous bottles of water, drank a cup of tea, ate a snack and two meals and I only needed to touch up once. Granted I was more careful eating than I usually would be, but still, I think that's excellent. It does transfer very slightly onto cups or glasses, but it's barely noticeable. It doesn't bleed or feather and I didn't need to use a lip liner with it, which I often do with dark or bold colours. It stains slightly, which because the colour is so bold, I'm pleased about. I really dislike it when a bold lipstick wears away and you're left with nothing but a ring around your lips. So even if this did come off while you were eating, you'd still have some colour on your lips until you could retouch it.
I had the lipstick on for 14 hours in my wear test, and after I took it off my lips didn't feel dry or tight, which can sometimes happen with matte formula's. I would say that a lip balm prior to application is going to help with that, but my lips weren't in amazing condition and it didn't highlight that.
Over all I'm really impressed with the Autograph Matte Velvet Twist Up Lipstick in Wine; the shade is gorgeous, there's no scent or taste, it applies beautifully, is opaque in one swipe, the wear time is outstanding and the packaging is beautiful. I've already bought another shade and plan on getting the other one in January.
Autograph Matte Velvet Twist Up Lipstick is available from Marks and Spencer online and in stores nation wide for £10 (currently on sale for £7.50).
Have you tried any of the make-up from Marks and Spencer? I'd love to hear your recommendations in the comments.
