You’ve got your ultra matte liquid lipsticks and you’ve got your tinted balms — and now you’ve got something a little in between: Sheer matte lipsticks. The blotted lip has been making the rounds lately and we have to admit, we’re smitten. After all, it’s one of those makeup looks that just gets better as…
2018 Is All About Soft, Sheer, Matte Lips
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Urban Decay
Lo-Fi Lip Mousse, $22 at Sephora
Urban Decay's newest lip product is so good, we're counting it as one of the best lipsticks ever. Between the innovative packaging (you'll love how the doe-foot applicator pops out when you open the pint-sized compact), the edgy shade range and the light-as-air formula, this sheer blotted lipstick's a winner.
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Burberry
Lip Velvet Crush Sheer Matte Lip Stain, $30 at Sephora
Though a new addition to Burberry's lineup, this unique lip product is already starting to disappear off of shelves. And it's easy to see why: It's got a buildable formula that dries down to a lovely matte stain that wears evenly (and comfortably) throughout the day.
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Victoria's Secret
Velvet Matte Sheer Blotted Liquid Lip, $14 at Victoria's Secret
Paint your lips with a few swipes of this new matte liquid lipstick formula — it's light as a feather and though it's got a gorgeous velvet-matte finish and a whole lot of color payoff, the formula is sheer and blendable enough that you won't find it intimidating (and if intimidating's your game, just add another layer — or check out the line's more dramatic Victoria's Secret Velvet Matte Cream Lip Stain, $14).
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Buxom
PillowPout Creamy Plumping Lip Powder, $22 at Ulta
"Creamy Plumping Lip Powder" might seem like a contradictory collection of words, but somehow this lippie manages to live up to its name. It applies smoothly with its sponge-tip applicator, adds a tingly plumping effect and has a lovely, semi-matte finish. We recommend blending with your fingers to get that sheered-out, lived-in look.
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Glossier
Generation G Sheer Matte Lipstick, $18 at Glossier
Remember the early days of Glossier? This was one of the brand's first color cosmetics products — and what a win it was (and is). It's lightweight like a balm and has a lovely, low-key, semi-matte finish that's oh-so-natural (officially making it the best of both worlds).
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Peripera
Ink Velvet Lip Tint, $13.49 at CVS
This lip tint is quite unique: Though packed with pigment, it's easy to sheer out to your desired level of drama. And once it's dried and set, it feels like nothing on your lips — and leaves a long-lasting stain all day long.
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Bobbi Brown
Crushed Lip Color, $29 at Sephora
Though these have a less matte finish than some of the other lipsticks in this list, they're still perfect for achieving that same lived-in, blotted look. Plus, it's very comfortable and so easy to wear, which makes it a great pick for lower maintenance looks where you still want to add a bit of panache.
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ColourPop
Ultra Blotted Lip, $6 at ColourPop
ColourPop may be most famous for its ultra-dramatic matte shades but don't sleep on this lower-key option: These lippies offer buildable, sheer-to-medium coverage that's just right — and the lightweight formula also happens to be pretty darn transfer-proof to boot.
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RMS
Beauty Lip2Cheek, $36 at Sephora
There are a lot of reasons to fall in love with this nifty multitasker — it's a great lip and cheek hybrid, it's made with all food-grade ingredients and it provides the perfect lived-in matte stain. What's not to love?
