Rimmel #111 (Kiss of Life) Lasting Finish Matte by Kate Moss ($5.49 for 0.14 oz.) is a bright, warm, orange-toned red with a matte finish. Chanel Coromandel is more orange. Guerlain Callipgrahy Eye & Lip Palette #6 is very similar. Guerlain Genna is a bit more orange. CoverGirl Hot is less orange.

It has mostly opaque color coverage (you can see just a shadow of my lip freckle coming through), and of the three shades I picked up of this formula, this one was the best-performing and had the better texture, though it was still a little off to me. The scent of this was very waxy, while the others had a kind of fruity scent. It was creamy enough to apply, but not so creamy that it was prone to bleeding or feathering while worn or that it would slip around. This shade wore for five and a half hours, and then it left behind a stain, so while I did experience a slight ring of color on the outer portion of my lips, it wasn’t as noticeable because of the residual stain.

I only bought three shades of this formula, but because there’s an odd graininess in the formula and an uncomfortable feel on the lips, I don’t anticipate buying more for review.  At the price point, if a shade catches your eye, it may be worth trying, and you do get more than the average lipstick (0.14 oz.).  The graininess combined with the drying formula is such a shame, because the shade range, thus far, has been spectacular.

Rimmel #111 (Kiss of Life) Lasting Finish Matte by Kate Moss

Rimmel #111 (Kiss of Life) Lasting Finish Matte by Kate Moss

Rimmel #111 (Kiss of Life) Lasting Finish Matte by Kate Moss

Rimmel #111 (Kiss of Life) Lasting Finish Matte by Kate Moss

Rimmel #111 (Kiss of Life) Lasting Finish Matte by Kate Moss

Rimmel #111 (Kiss of Life) Lasting Finish Matte by Kate Moss

Rimmel #103 Lasting Finish Matte by Kate Moss ($5.49 for 0.14 oz.) is a warm, medium-dark pink with a creamy, matte finish. MAC Sunny Seoul is a bit warmer and shimmery. MAC Pink Pearl Pop is closer, but it is also shimmery. Le Metier de Beaute Fiji is a touch lighter.

It is incredibly pigmented, and it has even, opaque color coverage when initially applied. I wish I could say the texture was different from #107, but this shade had an odd graininess to the texture that made it not-quite-comfortable to wear. It has enough creaminess that you can apply the color to the lips in full, but it feels like it’s just sitting on lips as a layer of product. As it fades away, it fades from the center first, leaving behind a ring of color along the outer edges of the lips. #103 lasted five hours, and it was somewhat dehydrating during that time. On the upside, it contains 0.14 oz. of product, which is more than most lipsticks. I grabbed mine from Walgreens, but I haven’t seen them online yet.

Rimmel #103 Lasting Finish Matte by Kate Moss

Rimmel #103 Lasting Finish Matte by Kate Moss

Rimmel #103 Lasting Finish Matte by Kate Moss

Rimmel #103 Lasting Finish Matte by Kate Moss

Rimmel #103 Lasting Finish Matte by Kate Moss

Rimmel #103 Lasting Finish Matte by Kate Moss

A Berry-Red by Rimmel London/Kate Moss

Rimmel #107 Lasting Finish Matte by Kate Moss ($5.49 for 0.14 oz.) is a deep berry-red with cool undertones and a modern matte finish. Guerlain Orgueil has shimmer. MAC Hang Up is darker. MAC What Joy! is a touch more berry-colored. Guerlain Gigolo is a smidgen darker.

The lipstick is incredibly pigmented; you really don’t need more than a swipe to yield opaque color payoff, and the color itself will stain lips quickly. The texture is somewhat creamy, and the overall thickness was a bit heavy. It had this odd, almost grainy, texture that made it hard for me to reconcile the great color payoff with. I noticed that as the color faded, it did have a tendency to leave a ring of color (where it fades from the center and the outer edges of the lips are last to go). This doesn’t usually happen to me, but Lipglossiping also had the same fading issue. Though the color itself wore for five hours well, and then after six and a half, there was noticeable color missing from the center area of the lips.

The color itself is rich and should flatter many skin tones, because of its deep color and slightly undertones. The whole time I wore it, I wanted to love it, but there’s just something about the way it sits on the lips that feels a little heavy, slightly grainy, and not-quite-right. Even writing this review, I’m sad, because this is such a chic berry shade. It was lightly drying (not the most drying matte formula I’ve tried by a long shot), had a fruity scent, and comes in a matte red tube. It even contains 0.14 oz., which is on the larger end of the spectrum for lipsticks. I bought mine at Walgreens about two weeks ago, but I haven’t spotted them online.

Rimmel #107 Lasting Finish Matte by Kate Moss

Rimmel #107 Lasting Finish Matte by Kate Moss

Rimmel #107 Lasting Finish Matte by Kate Moss

Rimmel #107 Lasting Finish Matte by Kate Moss

Rimmel #107 Lasting Finish Matte by Kate Moss

Rimmel #107 Lasting Finish Matte by Kate Moss

Rimmel #107 Lasting Finish Matte by Kate Moss

A Frosted Pink by Rimmel

Rimmel Latino Moisture Renew Lipstick ($5.47 for 0.14 oz.) is a deep rusted pink–it almost seems like a coral, but it has more of that pink-raspberry sorbet kind of feel than that of a pink or red-based coral. It has a heavy dose of frost in the finish, coming from a mixture of wihte, pale pink, and fuchsia shimmer. The color is seim-opaque; it gives my lips plenty of color but doesn’t entirely cover my natural lip color (you can still see my lip freckle peeking through).

my thoughts on the formula: Rimmel’s Moisture Renew Lipsticks applies smoothly, but some shades, like frosted ones like Latino, are less creamy than ones with less shimmer (more of a satin or cream finish). I typically get between two and three hours of wear with this lipstick formula, and I do not find it to be very moisturizing, though not drying.

P.S. – Am I the only one who raised eyebrows at the name?

If you want to know more about how products are evaluated, read out Rating System FAQ!

• Product: 24/30
• Value: 9/10
• Ease of Use: 4/5
• Packaging: 4/5

FINAL THOUGHTS: I wish it was as moisturizing as it claimed, because then it would be slightly more comfortable to wear and live up to its claims. Aside from the wear time, it’s a decent lipstick.

WHERE TO BUY: Walmart

Rimmel Latino Moisture Renew Lipstick

Rimmel Latino Moisture Renew Lipstick

Rimmel Latino Moisture Renew Lipstick

Rimmel Latino Moisture Renew Lipstick

A Metallic Red by Rimmel

Rimmel Metallic Seduction Lasting Finish Lipstick ($5.19 for 0.14 oz.) is a darkened metallic red with ruby and berry shimmer. It’s nearly opaque and has a semi-frost finish–it’s not super frosty, but it definitely has that frost/metallic cross that gives it a fair amount of shine and reflection.

I like this lipstick, and I really have no issues with the formula itself except that it is supposed to be a long-wearing lipstick. Rimmel says it “locks colour to lips for up to 8 hours of wear.” Though in the past, lighter shades from this Rimmel line have only given me two, this darker shade gave me four, which is my average lipstick wear time–better than before but still short of their long-wearing claim. Please note that because this product is supposed to be long-wearing and it is not, in my experience, I have to take points from quality.

I evaluate products based on what they’re supposed to do, not what I want it to do or what’s “good enough.” I recognize that this is a remarkably pigmented lipstick formula with an affordable price tag, but it’s not enough: it does not do what it’s supposed to do.

If you want to know more about how products are evaluated, read out Rating System FAQ!

• Product: 23/30
• Value: 9/10
• Ease of Use: 4/5
• Packaging: 4/5

FINAL THOUGHTS: I like the shade, and for some, I think they don’t mind trading off wear time with the price tag, but I think it’s important to judge products on what they’re supposed to do. We shouldn’t expect less from less expensive products–but we can accept less if that is our perogative.

WHERE TO BUY: ULTA

Rimmel Metallic Seduction Lipstick

Rimmel Metallic Seduction Lipstick

Rimmel Metallic Seduction Lipstick

Rimmel Metallic Seduction Lipstick

Rimmel Moisture Renew Lipstick: Berry Queen

Rimmel Berry Queen (400) Moisture Renew Lipstick ($5.47 for 0.14 oz.) is a rich blue-based red with a glossy, high-shine finish. It’s nearly opaque, and it has a more emollient finish, so it glides onto lips, but it may bleed on those who find darker lip colors to feather on them.

The Moisture Renew formula applied smoothly, but the scent reminded me of a synthetic floral that was caught between perfume-y and wax-y–not particularly appealing but doesn’t last beyond the tube. In the past, I have experienced less than average wear (two to three hours) with Rimmel’s Moisture Renew lipsticks, but this shade lasts around four on my lips. However, for a moisturizing lipstick, I don’t find it moisturizing. I wouldn’t call it drying, but my lips were ready for balm after wearing this for four hours.

If you want to know more about how products are evaluated, read out Rating System FAQ!

• Product: 26/30
• Value: 9/10
• Ease of Use: 4/5
• Packaging: 4/5

FINAL THOUGHTS: If it were more moisturizing, this would live up better to its name–but since it’s supposed to be moisturizing and it’s not, that hurt the quality score. This is a red that should work on a variety of skin tones, particularly cooler ones.

WHERE TO BUY: Walmart

Rimmel Berry Queen Lipstick

Rimmel Berry Queen Lipstick

Rimmel Berry Queen Lipstick

Rimmel Berry Queen Lipstick

Bright-but-Wearable Pink Lips by Rimmel

Rimmel Dizzy Lasting Finish Lipstick ($5.19 for 0.14 oz.) is a beautiful shade of brightened medium pink with a soft blue undertone. It has a subtle frosted sheen, but it doesn’t feel or lean too frosty to me. The color coverage is excellent; it delivers opaque color and nearly covers my lip freckle. Lasting Lipstick has a creamy feel when applied, and while I wouldn’t describe it as moisturizing, it doesn’t dry out my lips either. It has a synthetic, fruity scent that’s a bit sweet but tolerable and doesn’t linger once applied.

From the get-go, this lipstick has all the makings of a great lipstick. My issue with this lipstick has to do with the claims it’s making about how long it wears. Rimmel says that it “locks colour to lips for up to 8 hours of wear.” Try one, maybe two. I typically get four hours of wear out of the average lipstick, but with Rimmel, I find the color has faded substantially by hour two. We don’t even get close to eight.

It’s really disappointing, because I can’t give this product high marks when it falls so short of the claims it makes. I evaluate products based on what they’re supposed to do, not what I want to do or what’s “good enough.” I recognize that this is a remarkably pigmented, smooth, creamy lipstick formula with an affordable price tag, but it’s not enough: it does not do what it’s supposed to do.

If you want to know more about how products are evaluated, read out Rating System FAQ!

• Product: 21/30
• Value: 9/10
• Ease of Use: 4/5
• Packaging: 4/5

RECOMMENDATION: If you’re on a budget and looking for more pigmented lipstick, Rimmel’s Lasting Finish seems to have some good options, as long as you don’t mind reapplying every couple hours.  I think this is one of the better budget-friendly lipsticks I’ve tried, but it doesn’t last long on lips at all.

AVAILABILITY: ULTA

Rimmel Dizzy Lipstick

Rimmel Dizzy Lipstick

Rimmel Dizzy Lipstick

Rimmel Dizzy Lipstick

The Sultry Season: Rimmel Burgundy Lustre (540) Lipstick

Rimmel Burgundy Lustre (540) Lipstick ($5.99 for 0.14 oz.) is a semi-opaque berry wine with soft raspberry shimmer.  It has a glossy finish and feels lightweight when worn.  It reminds me a bit of MAC’s Odyssey lipstick, though not as shimmery.  The Moisture Renew formula applied smoothly, but the scent reminded me of a synthetic floral that was caught between perfume-y and wax-y–not particularly appealing but doesn’t last beyond the tube.  Wear time is between two and three hours–just a little below average for me.  The color itself is beautiful, and I love that it’s almost opaque without being heavy.

Is this the right berry for you? Would you wear it?

The Sultry Season is a series of posts featuring deep, rich shades of brown, berry, plum, and wine lipsticks and lipglosses — just right for autumn — that runs through October 2010.

See photos and swatches…

Rimmel Burgundy Lustre (540) Lipstick