Bite Beauty #001 Creme Deluxe Lipstick ($36.00 for 0.15 oz.) is described as a “deep burgundy with red undertone.” It’s a medium-dark red with warm, brown undertones and a luminous finish. Tom Ford Beauty Pavlos (LE, $32.00) is warmer. MAC Runner (LE, $16.00) is more matte, cooler-toned, darker. Tom Ford Beauty Velvet Cherry (08) (P, $50.00) is more matte, lighter. NARS Bette (P, $32.00) is a smidgen lighter. NARS Jeanne (P, $32.00) is lighter, warmer. See comparison swatches / view dupes.

Since brands have really embraced the whole “let’s release a way more expensive version and call it luxury” over the past year or so, I think it’s important that brands do it right–that’s the least they can do–and Bite gets it really wrong here. Bite Beauty’s Luminous Creme formula (which has the exact same packaging) retails for $24 for 0.15 oz., which makes this luxury formula 50% more expensive. Huge fan of the Luminous Creme formula and other lip products by Bite, but I really couldn’t feel anything different in this “better” formula, and worse, it under-performed, period. It had semi-opaque color coverage that goes on unevenly with visible streaks and patchiness, while the formula is unforgiving and pulls into lip lines. I had feathering, which is unusual for me, after two hours, and the color was mostly gone after four and a half hours. The consistency had a lot of slip (a little more than their regular formula), but it was also thin, which I think made it shorter-wearing. It didn’t stain, which was also a surprise, given the darkness of the color. It was only somewhat hydrating, but it didn’t seem as moisturizing as their standard formula. The extra kick in the pants was that it had a strong, waxy scent and lemony-soap taste.

You would think that to kick off a 12-month long limited edition release party, they would have come out with guns blazing and given us something to covet, but this was disappointing and you’re far better off looking to their Luminous Creme formula for a better-performing, longer-wearing, and more pigmented option. The packaging should have reflected the up-charge, and the formula should have been near perfection, especially since their Luminous Creme formula is excellent, so there’s no excuse for this under-performing release. Bite can do a lot better.

One last annoyance was that the bottom wasn’t labeled with any name or number, so you might want to mark it!

Bite Beauty #001 Creme Deluxe Lipstick

Bite Beauty #001 Creme Deluxe Lipstick

Bite Beauty #001 Creme Deluxe Lipstick

Bite Beauty #001 Creme Deluxe Lipstick

Bite Beauty #001 Creme Deluxe Lipstick

Bite Beauty #001 Creme Deluxe Lipstick

Bite Beauty #001 Creme Deluxe Lipstick

Bite Beauty #001 Creme Deluxe Lipstick

Bite Beauty #001 Creme Deluxe Lipstick

Bite Beauty #001 Creme Deluxe Lipstick