Smashbox Always On Liquid Lipsticks | "Girl Gang", "Driver's Seat" & "Bawse": Review and Swatches

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It's about time that Smashbox released its liquid lipstick line! For Fall 2016, Smashbox has a line of long-wearing matte liquid lipsticks called the Always On Matte Lipstick ($28 CAD). Available in 20 stunning shades, these liquid lipsticks promise a smudge and transfer-proof wear that lasts up to eight hours. To see some swatches of a few shades, click.......

Smashbox Always On Liquid Lipstick

Packaging:
The Always On Liquid Lipsticks come in sleek clear acrylic gloss tubes with a matte black cap. The applicator is a teardrop-shaped doe-foot with a tiny reservoir in its center that helps pick up more product. The applicator design is great at spreading and smoothing out the lipstick but I find it slightly too chunky to make very precise lines around the rim of my lips. For the darker two colors, I definitely needed to go in with a lip brush to perfect the application.

Smashbox Always On Liquid Lipstick

Formulation:
Infused with the Smashbox Primer Oil Complex, the Always On Liquid Lipsticks dry down to a completely matte and transfer-proof finish, similar to the well-known Stila Stay-All Day Liquid Lipsticks and the Kat Von D Everlasting Liquid Lipsticks. The formulation is softly creamy and it applies nicely on the lips. There is some slight variation in the pigmentation (see detailed shade reviews below) but overall these are strong competitors to the above-mentioned brands. The product has a subtle vanilla scent and the wear is fantastic! I do admit that these are pretty drying so make sure you prep your lips by scrubbing and moisturizing the night before to ensure a more comfortable wear. I recommend sticking to only one coat of the product. Unless the particular shade you are working with is too sheer, applying more than one coat will make the lipstick feel chunky and crusty.

Smashbox Always On Liquid Lipstick

Girl Gang: A dark and vampy burgundy-plum, Girl Gang is unfortunately patchy. I had to be very careful during application, making sure that my upper and lower lip did not touch before the liquid lipstick set. Because if they did, the product will shift and transfer, becoming even patchier. Even with my extra care, I had to go in with a second coat on some areas.
Driver's Seat: A gorgeous peach-rose nude, Driver's Seat looks quite pale in the tube but on my lips it was surprisingly flattering. Despite being a lighter color, the formulation is ultra smooth and pigmented! I rarely enjoy "nudes" like this but Driver's Seat totally won me over.
Bawse: A special shade inspired and designed by Youtuber Lilly Singh, Bawse is a beautiful and bold red. The color swatches lighter than it looks in the tube, making it quite similar to "Beso" from Stila (but perhaps not as bright). The formulation is super smooth and pigmented.

Smashbox Always On Liquid Lipstick in "Girl Gang"

Smashbox Always On Liquid Lipstick in "Driver's Seat"

Smashbox Always On Liquid Lipstick in "Bawse"

Availability:

Smashbox is available online at Sephora, Beautyboutique.ca and in stores at Shoppers Drug Mart and Sephora.