Giorgio Armani Desert (522) & Rose Clay (525) Lip Maestros Reviews & Swatches
Desert (522)
Giorgio Armani Desert (522) Lip Maestro ($38.00 for 0.22 oz.) is a muted, rosy brown with warm undertones and a cream finish. It had rich pigmentation that applied evenly and smoothly across my lips without emphasizing my lip lines. The texture felt lightly creamy, velvety (a bit denser but still very smooth), and lightweight on my lips. While it’s liquid, it doesn’t dry down to a matte finish; it will wear down to a matte finish in a couple of hours (depending on whether you blot or drink with it on). It wore well for five hours and was hydrating over time.
FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).
Top Dupes
- Tom Ford Beauty Equus (P, $55.00) is warmer, less glossy (90% similar).
- MAC Smoked Almond (DC, $21.00) is more shimmery, darker, less glossy (90% similar).
- MAC Over the Taupe (P, $26.00) is less glossy (90% similar).
- Tom Ford Beauty Monica (LE, $36.00) is more shimmery, darker (90% similar).
- MAC Smoked Almond (P, $19.00) is more shimmery, less glossy (90% similar).
- Becca Mocha (DC, $24.00) is brighter (90% similar).
- Hourglass I'm Addicted (P, $34.00) is less glossy (90% similar).
- Clinique Closer (13) (P, $19.50) is lighter, warmer, less glossy (85% similar).
- Rare Beauty Support (P, $16.00) is darker, cooler (85% similar).
- Maybelline Mauve for Me (P, $7.49) is darker, less glossy (85% similar).
Formula Overview
$38.00/0.22 oz. - $172.73 Per Ounce
The consistency has more slip and a velvety-smooth feel that softly “clings” to the lips, so while the finish has a glossier look for the first few hours, the color stays on well. If you’ve ever used a silicone-based primer, there’s a bit of that feel to the formula overall. Most shades last between six and eight hours on me, are non-drying to lightly hydrating, and comfortable to wear. The formula is unscented and has no discernible taste.
The Lip Maestro Notorious formula is supposed to have a “luminous matte” finish with “8 hours of wear” and “high pigment.” The Notorious shades are inspired by “chic Hollywood glamour” but otherwise appear very similar in feel to the original Lip Maestro formula.
Browse all of our Giorgio Armani Lip Maestro swatches.
Ingredients
DIMETHICONE, BIS-DIGLYCERYL POLYACYLADIPATE-2, DIISOSTEARYL MALATE, DIMETHICONE CROSSPOLYMER, HYDROGENATED POLYISOBUTENE, PHENYL TRIMETHICONE, KAOLIN, HDI/TRIMETHYLOL HEXYLLACTONE CROSSPOLYMER, ISOSTEARYL ISOSTEARATE, POLYETHYLENE, VINYL DIMETHICONE/METHICONE SILSESQUIOXANE CROSSPOLYMER, NYLON-12, PENTYLENE GLYCOL, HYDRATED SILICA, MAGNESIUM SILICATE, ETHYLHEXYLGLYCERIN, SILICA, CALCIUM ALUMINUM BOROSILICATE, CALCIUM SODIUM BOROSILICATE, SYNTHETIC FLUORPHLOGOPITE, PENTAERYTHRITYL TETRA-DI-T-BUTYL HYDROXYHYDROCINNAMATE, TIN OXIDE, CAPRYLYL GLYCOL, METHICONE, ALUMINA, [+/- MAY CONTAIN: CI 15850/RED 7, CI 7789/TITANIUM DIOXIDE, CI 77491, CI 77492, CI 77499/IRON OXIDES, CI 45410/RED 28 LAKE, CI 15985/YELLOW 6 LAKE, CI 45380/RED 22 LAKE, CI 19140/YELLOW 5 LAKE, CI 42090/BLUE 1 LAKE, CI 15850/RED 7 LAKE, CI 15850/RED 6, CI 75470/CARMINE, MICA]
Disclaimer: Ingredient lists are as available by the brand (or retailer) at the time of publishing. Please always check product packaging, if it exists, for the ingredient list applicable to the product you're purchasing, or the brand or retailer's website for the most up-to-date ingredient list.
Desert (522)
PPermanent. $38.00.
Rose Clay (525)
Giorgio Armani Rose Clay (525) Lip Maestro ($38.00 for 0.22 oz.) is a muted, medium-dark, plummy-brown with neutral-to-warm undertones and a cream finish. The liquid lipstick spread evenly and smoothly across my lips with opaque coverage in a single pull of product. The consistency was lightweight, creamy and velvety without being too slippery, and while it didn’t emphasize my lip lines, it wasn’t as smoothing as some other shades in the range. It lasted nicely for six hours and felt hydrating while worn.
FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).
Top Dupes
- Tarte 5 O'Clock (P, $21.00) is lighter (90% similar).
- ColourPop Stud (PiP, $7.00) is darker (90% similar).
- MAC Coffee and Cigs (P, $23.00) is darker, warmer, less glossy (85% similar).
- Estee Lauder Unshakable (P, $32.00) is darker, warmer (85% similar).
- MAC Spank Me Santa (LE, $19.00) is lighter, warmer, less glossy (85% similar).
- ColourPop Grunge (P, $7.00) is darker, less glossy (85% similar).
- MAC Verve (P, $19.00) is more shimmery, lighter, warmer (85% similar).
- NARS Raiatea (LE, $25.00) is lighter (85% similar).
- LORAC Tres Chic (LE, ) is warmer (85% similar).
- Pat McGrath Lavish (DC, $40.00) is darker, warmer (85% similar).
Formula Overview
$38.00/0.22 oz. - $172.73 Per Ounce
The consistency has more slip and a velvety-smooth feel that softly “clings” to the lips, so while the finish has a glossier look for the first few hours, the color stays on well. If you’ve ever used a silicone-based primer, there’s a bit of that feel to the formula overall. Most shades last between six and eight hours on me, are non-drying to lightly hydrating, and comfortable to wear. The formula is unscented and has no discernible taste.
The Lip Maestro Notorious formula is supposed to have a “luminous matte” finish with “8 hours of wear” and “high pigment.” The Notorious shades are inspired by “chic Hollywood glamour” but otherwise appear very similar in feel to the original Lip Maestro formula.
Browse all of our Giorgio Armani Lip Maestro swatches.
Ingredients
DIMETHICONE, BIS-DIGLYCERYL POLYACYLADIPATE-2, DIISOSTEARYL MALATE, DIMETHICONE CROSSPOLYMER, HYDROGENATED POLYISOBUTENE, PHENYL TRIMETHICONE, KAOLIN, HDI/TRIMETHYLOL HEXYLLACTONE CROSSPOLYMER, ISOSTEARYL ISOSTEARATE, POLYETHYLENE, VINYL DIMETHICONE/METHICONE SILSESQUIOXANE CROSSPOLYMER, NYLON-12, PENTYLENE GLYCOL, HYDRATED SILICA, MAGNESIUM SILICATE, ETHYLHEXYLGLYCERIN, SILICA, CALCIUM ALUMINUM BOROSILICATE, CALCIUM SODIUM BOROSILICATE, SYNTHETIC FLUORPHLOGOPITE, PENTAERYTHRITYL TETRA-DI-T-BUTYL HYDROXYHYDROCINNAMATE, TIN OXIDE, CAPRYLYL GLYCOL, METHICONE, ALUMINA, [+/- MAY CONTAIN: CI 15850/RED 7, CI 7789/TITANIUM DIOXIDE, CI 77491, CI 77492, CI 77499/IRON OXIDES, CI 45410/RED 28 LAKE, CI 15985/YELLOW 6 LAKE, CI 45380/RED 22 LAKE, CI 19140/YELLOW 5 LAKE, CI 42090/BLUE 1 LAKE, CI 15850/RED 7 LAKE, CI 15850/RED 6, CI 75470/CARMINE, MICA]
Disclaimer: Ingredient lists are as available by the brand (or retailer) at the time of publishing. Please always check product packaging, if it exists, for the ingredient list applicable to the product you're purchasing, or the brand or retailer's website for the most up-to-date ingredient list.
Having a few dupes for Desert, which I love btw, I suppose I have a thing for this particular tone!
Also loving how Rose Clay looks, too. No close dupe for that one, thank goodness! Just PMG She’s Heaven at 80% with Rose Clay appearing significantly darker and a bit cooler.