Lime Crime is a brand I’ve been meaning to try for years now and I knew that this would be my first purchase once I saw it on the lovely Natalie. Lime Crime velvetines are a bit of a cult product and this colour in particular seems to be perennially sold out on their website. I managed to hunt one down however, and I’m definitely not disappointed.

I have a ton of red lipsticks/ stains so I like to think that my standards are high. Saying that, I think that this is by far the longest-wearing lip product I’ve ever tried (in any colour). The product goes on wet and you achieve opacity with just one swipe.

After a minute or so, the liquid lipstick dries down to a super matte finish that won’t budge until you want it to. The swatch I made on my hand endured through washing my face, taking a shower, putting on nail polish, going to sleep etc. etc. Water just seemed to bounce off it so this product is definitely for you if you’re looking for waterproof makeup. It eventually came off with a good waterproof makeup remover and some elbow grease.

The colour is a blue-based red that is seriously bright so it’s definitely not for the faint-hearted. I decided that I couldn’t wear it without some type of lip liner so I added a dark brown to tone it down slightly. The product isn’t cheap at $20 (exc. shipping) but I think it’s fantastic value for what you get. However, it’s extremely similar to Sephora’s cream lip stain in “Always Red” if you’re looking for a less expensive dupe.

I love the way it pops on my skin tone (please ignore my unblended lip liner)

Red velvet, like MAC’s Ruby Woo, is one of those reds that will look good on anybody. However, the formula is very unforgiving if you make any mistakes so be prepared to either line your lips or use a foundation/ concealer to clean up any errors.

Also, it goes without saying but there’s no room for crusty lips here! This baby will spill all of your secrets so make sure to thoroughly exfoliate and moisturise before application. The Lime Crime velvetine in “Red Velvet” can be found here (currently out of stock), here, or here and it’s definitely a nice addition for red lipstick lovers of all shades.

Nana Adomah