Becca Merlot & Maroon Ultimate Lipstick Love Reviews & Swatches
Merlot
Becca Merlot Ultimate Lipstick Love ($24.00 for 0.12 oz.) is a medium-dark, red-burgundy with cooler undertones and a glossy, luminous finish paired with ultra-fine pearl. It had more shine and slip compared to most shades in the range, so it was actually rather impressive how well the color applied overall. It could have applied more evenly to the inner area of my lips, but it didn’t seem to sink into my lip lines or feather outside my natural lips.
The consistency was lightweight, creamy with moderate slip, which was comfortable to apply and to wear. It had nearly opaque color payoff in a single layer, which wore well for six and a half hours, left a faint stain behind, and was hydrating to wear.
FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).
Top Dupes
- Hourglass You Inspire (LE, $34.00) is lighter, less glossy (90% similar).
- Colour Pop Tiana (LE, $7.00) is less shimmery, lighter (90% similar).
- MAC Media (P, $20.00) is darker, warmer (90% similar).
- Sephora Goddess (30) (P, $13.00) is less shimmery, darker, glossier (90% similar).
- Revlon Black Cherry (P, $8.49) is more shimmery, darker (90% similar).
- Tarte Berry Mojito (P, $21.00) is darker (90% similar).
- MAC La Femme (P, $19.00) is lighter (90% similar).
- Tom Ford Beauty Inigo (P, $36.00) is more shimmery (90% similar).
- Giorgio Armani Mahogany (601) (P, $38.00) is darker, warmer (85% similar).
- Bobbi Brown Cool Beets (P, $27.00) is less shimmery, lighter, glossier (85% similar).
Formula Overview
$24.00/0.12 oz. - $200.00 Per Ounce
The formula is supposed to have an "ultra-creamy" texture with "eight-hour wear" and "pure color in one swipe." They're real bold with the "eight-hour wear" claim when it is a softer, creamier formula that's very comfortable to apply and to wear... and definitely not the longest-wearing formula I've come across--which is likely not a deal-breaker for those who aren't looking for long-wear.
The wear averaged between four and six hours with some of the deeper, richer shades (like a red or berry) lasting six hours or longer. They wore down evenly and were lightly to moderately hydrating while worn. The pigmentation was nearly opaque to opaque for most shades, and the majority of shades applied evenly and sat well on my lips without emphasizing my natural lip texture or settling into my lip lines.
They had a sweet, vanilla scent but no discernible taste.
Browse all of our Becca Ultimate Lipstick Love swatches.
Ingredients
Ricinus Communis (Castor) Seed Oil, Diisostearyl Malate, Lanolin Oil, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Trioctyldodecyl Citrate, Euphorbia Cerifera (Candelilla) WaxCandelilla CeraCire De Candelilla, Octyldodecanol, Ozokerite, BIS-Diglyceryl Polyacyladipate-2, Silica, Hydrogenated Polydecene, Polyethylene, Microcrystalline WaxCera MicrocristallinaCire Microcristalline, Persea Gratissima (Avocado) Oil, Mangifera Indica (Mango) Seed Butter, Glycine Soja (Soybean) Seed Extract, Alumina, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Tribehenin, Olea Europaea (Olive) Fruit Oil, Cholesterol, Linoleic Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate, Squalane, Tocopheryl Acetate, Phytosterols, Sorbitan Isostearate, Ceramide NP, Polydecene, Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Hordeum Vulgare (Barley) ExtractExtrait D'orge, Triticum Vulgare (Wheat) Germ Extract, Tin Oxide, Saccharin, Sorbitan Oleate, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Ceramide NG, Fragrance (Parfum), Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, [+/- Red 7 Lake (CI 15850), Iron Oxides (CI 77492), Iron Oxides (CI 77499), Titanium Dioxide (CI 77891), Blue 1 Lake (CI 42090), Mica, Yellow 5 Lake (CI 19140), Carmine (CI 75470), Iron Oxides (CI 77491), Yellow 6 Lake (CI 15985), Red 28 (CI 45410), Red 28 Lake (CI 45410), Red 30 (CI 73360), Red 30 Lake (CI 73360), Red 6 (CI 15850), Red 33 Lake (CI 17200)]
Merlot
PPermanent. $24.00.
Maroon
Becca Maroon Ultimate Lipstick Love ($24.00 for 0.12 oz.) is a deep burgundy with subtle, cool undertones and a pearly sheen–there was very fine pearl throughout but not enough to read “shimmery” to the eye, just gave it luminosity. The consistency was lightweight, creamy with light-to-moderate slip, though it didn’t feel overly slippery while on my lips and stayed in place well.
It had nearly opaque pigmentation that adhered evenly to my lips and didn’t sink into my lip lines. For this level of shine and creaminess paired with the intensity and depth of hue, it went on extremely well compared to competitors. It lasted well for six and a half hours, left a faint stain behind, and was moisturizing while worn.
FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).
Top Dupes
- YSL Prune Power (89) (P, $38.00) is warmer (95% similar).
- Urban Decay Cherry (LE, $18.00) is less shimmery (95% similar).
- Colour Pop Tutu (LE, $6.00) is less shimmery, lighter, cooler (90% similar).
- NARS Siouxsie (LE, $34.00) is less shimmery, lighter, warmer (90% similar).
- Estee Lauder Nude Fatale (P, $32.00) is less shimmery, cooler (90% similar).
- NARS Opulent Red (P, $26.00) is less shimmery, warmer (85% similar).
- MAC Burnt Violet (DC, $21.00) is less shimmery, darker, cooler (85% similar).
- Tom Ford Beauty Jon (P, $36.00) is more shimmery, lighter, cooler (85% similar).
- Kat Von D Motorhead (P, $19.00) is darker (85% similar).
- Pat McGrath Full Blooded (P, $40.00) is less shimmery, lighter, cooler (85% similar).
Formula Overview
$24.00/0.12 oz. - $200.00 Per Ounce
The formula is supposed to have an "ultra-creamy" texture with "eight-hour wear" and "pure color in one swipe." They're real bold with the "eight-hour wear" claim when it is a softer, creamier formula that's very comfortable to apply and to wear... and definitely not the longest-wearing formula I've come across--which is likely not a deal-breaker for those who aren't looking for long-wear.
The wear averaged between four and six hours with some of the deeper, richer shades (like a red or berry) lasting six hours or longer. They wore down evenly and were lightly to moderately hydrating while worn. The pigmentation was nearly opaque to opaque for most shades, and the majority of shades applied evenly and sat well on my lips without emphasizing my natural lip texture or settling into my lip lines.
They had a sweet, vanilla scent but no discernible taste.
Browse all of our Becca Ultimate Lipstick Love swatches.
Ingredients
Ricinus Communis (Castor) Seed Oil, Diisostearyl Malate, Lanolin Oil, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Trioctyldodecyl Citrate, Euphorbia Cerifera (Candelilla) WaxCandelilla CeraCire De Candelilla, Octyldodecanol, Ozokerite, BIS-Diglyceryl Polyacyladipate-2, Silica, Hydrogenated Polydecene, Polyethylene, Microcrystalline WaxCera MicrocristallinaCire Microcristalline, Persea Gratissima (Avocado) Oil, Mangifera Indica (Mango) Seed Butter, Glycine Soja (Soybean) Seed Extract, Alumina, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Tribehenin, Olea Europaea (Olive) Fruit Oil, Cholesterol, Linoleic Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate, Squalane, Tocopheryl Acetate, Phytosterols, Sorbitan Isostearate, Ceramide NP, Polydecene, Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Hordeum Vulgare (Barley) ExtractExtrait D'orge, Triticum Vulgare (Wheat) Germ Extract, Tin Oxide, Saccharin, Sorbitan Oleate, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Ceramide NG, Fragrance (Parfum), Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, [+/- Red 7 Lake (CI 15850), Iron Oxides (CI 77492), Iron Oxides (CI 77499), Titanium Dioxide (CI 77891), Blue 1 Lake (CI 42090), Mica, Yellow 5 Lake (CI 19140), Carmine (CI 75470), Iron Oxides (CI 77491), Yellow 6 Lake (CI 15985), Red 28 (CI 45410), Red 28 Lake (CI 45410), Red 30 (CI 73360), Red 30 Lake (CI 73360), Red 6 (CI 15850), Red 33 Lake (CI 17200)]
If not for the fact that I have Nars Siouxsie, I would have absolutely bought Maroon. That is so very much my kind of super rich burgundy. And the quality is sublime for this deep of a shade, too!
Once upon a time my younger self would have been all over these shades, but now as I am older they are too dark for me. However they are stunning shades and I still love them.
Two new ones on the wish list.
Both of them are gorgeous, it is too hard to chose one. I’m not sure I’ll buy any of them, I need to study the dupe list. I have to admit having too many lipsticks right now. 🙂