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Hourglass Raven Opaque Rouge Liquid Lipstick Review, Photos, Swatches

Hourglass Raven Opaque Rouge Liquid Lipstick
Hourglass Raven Opaque Rouge Liquid Lipstick

Not Nearly for 14 Hours–Maybe for 8 Hours

Hourglass Raven Opaque Rouge Liquid Lipstick ($28.00 for 0.10 oz.) is described as an “orange-red.” It’s a vibrant, bold orange-red that’s much more orange than red. Nonetheless, it is extremely bright and attention-grabbing! The color is not that unusual; there are numerous orange-red lipsticks. MAC Strut Your Stuff is a smidgen lighter. Guerlain Genna is very similar but has a sheen. Estee Lauder Extravagant Red is similar but has gold shimmer. MAC Ruffian Red is less orange. OCC Stalker is quite similar.

This is a new product from the brand, and it’s, in essence, a liquid lipstick. It’s supposed to be extremely pigmented, have a matte finish, and last 14 hours (with “continuous wear without flaking or dryness.” I’m usually impressed by Hourglass’ products, but I had a sinking feeling about the wear as soon as I read “14 hours.” That’s a really, really long-time for a lip product. Most (maybe all? I’m no cosmetic scientist) makeup breaks down with oil, which means eating oily food will contribute to faster breakdown of long-wearing products even in this kind of formulation.

Hourglass’ liquid lipstick creates a second-skin feel and look on the lips, almost like cling wrap but far more comfortable. The formula is one of the best-feeling I’ve worn to-date, because it’s not drying at all. I wore this shade for ten full hours, and I didn’t have to run for the lip balm, which is something I typically have to do with these formulas. It starts off glossy but sets after thirty seconds to a minute. I recommend trying to keep lips slightly parted while it’s drying, because as it drying, it gets a smidgen tacky, so it can cause unevenness if you press your lips together during the setting time. The color was totally opaque with one pull of product.

There was minor transfer throughout the day. I let it set for a full half hour before I tested it for transfer (note, the description of this product does not indicate it is transfer-free or -resistant), and there was a few stray marks on my coffee cup; very little but some. I put this on after breakfast around 10AM, then had lunch at 1PM, where there was some loss of color but it looked about 90% there. After eating dinner at 6PM, it had definitely worn away significantly and was flaking in places. I did not experience any feathering or bleeding, though. I did, unfortunately, find stray bits of lipstick on my teeth throughout the day, which is not normal standard operating procedure. It removed easily when I used my shu umeura cleansing oil to remove all of my makeup. There was no residual staining post-removal either, which is nice!

I recommend prepping lips for application; it’s not drying, but the matte finish is a less forgiving finish if you have any dry or flaking areas on your lips. It’s also imperative that you remove any lip balm that you may have been wearing prior to applying this–lip balm will absolutely impair the wear as well as the application, because it will cause uneven color and shorter wear. If you have dry lips, apply lip balm beforehand, let it sink in, and then blot. I always apply to the bottom lip first, and then the upper lip going around the cupid’s bow first. Then, I press lips together and look for any unevenness.

At best, this would wear better for eight to ten hours if you had a relatively oil-free meal (when I tested another shade of this formula, I timed it better and only had it on for one meal, so it lasted closer to 10 hours).  It will last through many, many cups of whatever you happen to drink.  Meals will test it, and the oilier the meal, the less likely it will make it to the end fully intact.  I wish the claim wasn’t so extravagant–14 hours is a very long time!–because the way it looks at eight hours is discouraging (note, the brand said 14 hours of continuous wear).

Hourglass Raven Opaque Rouge Liquid Lipstick
Hourglass Raven Opaque Rouge Liquid Lipstick

Hourglass Raven Opaque Rouge Liquid Lipstick
Hourglass Raven Opaque Rouge Liquid Lipstick

Hourglass Raven Opaque Rouge Liquid Lipstick
Hourglass Raven Opaque Rouge Liquid Lipstick

Hourglass Raven Opaque Rouge Liquid Lipstick
Hourglass Raven Opaque Rouge Liquid Lipstick

Hourglass Raven Opaque Rouge Liquid Lipstick
Hourglass Raven Opaque Rouge Liquid Lipstick

Hourglass Raven Opaque Rouge Liquid Lipstick
Hourglass Raven Opaque Rouge Liquid Lipstick

Hourglass Raven Opaque Rouge Liquid Lipstick
Hourglass Raven Opaque Rouge Liquid Lipstick (9 Hours)

58 Comments

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Christine Avatar

Well, this is kind of a specialized lip product that’s a bit different than traditional lipstick 🙂 And Hourglass did say 14 hours. The problem with this type of product is that you can’t really touch-up easily – it really needs to be removed entirely and redone, because it will pill up in places otherwise!

Christine Avatar

Sure, since “long-wear” isn’t an exact term, but based on what the industry seems to think of as long-wear, would be more like 6-8 hours. Although with this type of product, based on other formulations, I’d expect closer to 8 hours – it’s comparable to formulas like MAC Pro Longwear (8 hour claim), new MUFE Aqua Rouge (doesn’t specify but the packaging looks exactly like MAC’s PLWs), Revlon ColorStay Overtime Liquid Lipcolor (12 hour claim), and Stila Stay All Day Liquid Lipstick (6 hour claim) are all ones I can think off the top of my head. They all do a similar thing where they start off really liquid and wet but dry to a matte finish that really hugs/clings to lips.

Kate Avatar

I’m never sure why companies feel the need to make claims like this with lip products. I expect to have to reapply after eating and I’m certainly going to eat at least once in a 14 hour stretch.

Looking at your swatches, I really can’t see much difference between the look of this (including the way it wears and the length of time it lasts) and the regular “tube” version of Raven. It’s a great shade, but unless they’re planning on discontinuing the regular version (which would suck, because it’s refillable), I don’ see why they didn’t try new shades for the new product.

Marta Avatar

Reminds me of the Revlon Colorstay Liquid in Top Tomato! I’m not happy with this trend of 12-24h claims, honestly, who’s going to test/need them? And long lasting doesn’t mean good performance; I don’t want a long lasting eyeshadow that creases, or a lipstick that dries up my lips. Also, like you said, this kind of product doesn’t allow a quick touch up, so in the end if you really are going to wear them for the whole day maybe it’s better to get a long lasting lipstick and reapply every 3/4 hours. I know for me it is.
Thanks for the review!

Christine Avatar

It’s definitely easier to reapply a regular lipstick! This can absolutely be reapplied, but I feel like you need to do a better job of removing it first.

I’d agree that this formula is comparable to ColorStay Liquid as well. I don’t know about that particular shade, but at least formula-wise, it has a similar feel. I’d say this is slightly more refined, and the whole being hydrating thing is excellent to see as well.

Neha Avatar

Wow!U read my mind 🙂 I was eagerly waiting for this review..it looks so awesome…Thanks a lot ! Now, I am eagerly waiting for NARS Gina blush review. I have travel plans to India for 3 months and I need to grab so many gifts for my huge family. This one definitely will travel along 🙂

Dinitchka Avatar

I have not tried any of these but the colurs look so vibrant! Next time I am at Sephora (I’ll be in soon for my bday gift) I want to look at these. Lord knows I need another lip product, like I need more holes in my head. LOL!

Marian Avatar

Christine,
Thank you so much for the review! I’m in search of a long lasting red and this was very helpful. I hope you will be reviewing Makeup Forever’s Aqua Rouge…another hopeful.

blueraccoon Avatar

Aside from the wear time, how does this compare to the Guerlain Rouge G L’Extrait? It seems awfully similar to me although I know the Guerlain is more prone to transfer, but other than that?

blueraccoon Avatar

Thank you! I already have two of the L’Extraits so I’m not sure I need one of these, plus I have a Lacquer Rouge from Shiseido (awesome forumula if you need anything else to try out in this general line of things) but it’s worth keeping in mind if I see shades I like.

Mirian Avatar

I was so pumped for a review for this new line. I didn’t know that there were supposed to be long-lasting (14 hours??) and those really aren’t my cup of tea. The idea of it seems great, but after a few hours on me, my lips look so crumbly and patchy. Long-wearing lip colours are more for night-time IMO. Sitting at work with pieces of red in my teeth…NAGL

Kacey Avatar

Wow, lovely color and great post! Too bad about the inflated claim. I’m quite excited about all the liquid lipsticks entering the market right now (I’m a huge sucker for them): Guerlain and Shiseido and Hourglass, oh my! How does this product compare to the Guerlain L’extraits in finish/formula/wear, in your experience?

Veronica Avatar

I think you accidentally copied the Eyes to Kill dupe panel into this review. 🙂

This is actually quite gorgeous, but I think I’ll have to pass due to what you said about reapplication. I’m one of those people who is extremely pedantic about the opacity and appearance of my lip shade, so I will routinely check and reapply every few hours during the day. I can’t see that being very handy when I’m at work and having to take the time to wash all of it off to reapply.

I have to add add – my work day is 10+ hours, so I’m one of those people I would suppose they’re aiming the long-wear claims at. I find myself often unimpressed with these claim, as a lot of them tend to come with a set of side effects that are potentially more irritating than continuous touch up – i.e. staining, drying, etc. I’d rather just have decent wear that’s simply stays put and is easy to layer evenly during touch-ups.

Christine Avatar

Thank you for the tip, Veronica! Should be fixed now 🙂

What’s a bummer is it’s not exactly a color that wipes away easily, so removing it is hard(er) on-the-go (like at the office), rather than just adding more to a faded regular lipstick!

Tennyoceres Avatar

Hourglass set themselves up for failure. Even waterproof mascara used by synchronized swimmers during the Olympics suffers after an intense swimming routine. Just say ‘over 5 hours of wear’ to be realistic. Then again, touch ups for products like these are very minor compared to reapplying your lip gloss or lipstick all over again after 3-4 hours.

For my money I’m keeping my L’Oreal Infallible Beyonce Red. Drugstore brand but hey it didn’t lie to me saying it can last past my bedtime!

Christine Avatar

That’s pretty much how I feel! I’m just like, “14 hours? REALLY?” They could have been more conservative and went with 8. Or even 10!

The only thing is touching up with these is a pain, in my experience, because of the way they flake/fade – it’s just not something I’d want to reapply over. It reminds me of mascara – reapplying mascara over old mascara usually results in clumpy, dried lashes!

I’m going to be testing some L’Oreal Infallible glosses that have a rather daunting 8 stamped on them. I’m already worried!

sylke cook Avatar

I bought 2 and I really like them alot, doesnt have the dry matte feeling most matte lipsticks do. As far as your review, the claim says upto 14 hours, it does not say 14 hours, big difference.

Christine Avatar

I read it differently (from the description on Sephora): “delivers 14 hours of continuous wear without flaking or dryness.” On Hourglass’ website: “A full-coverage Liquid Lipstick delivering 14 hours of continuous wear, vivid color payoff, and a velvet matte finish.” I went back to the original press release, and it did say “up to,” but it’s at odds to the information they’re delivering on websites! I don’t agree with you that “up to” changes things as falling short by 6-7 hours is significant, I think “up to” should still give you an indication of where it should be, so we will have to agree to disagree 🙂 Why bother stating a specific hour claim? The whole point is to persuade buyers to purchase because it will last all day long, isn’t it?

I am glad you like them! I like them, too! How long do they wear for you?

Wwendalynne Avatar

I’m not a fan of that particular orangey-red, but hell 8 hours of wear through a lunch and almost a dinner is pretty darned impressive to me. The 14 hour claim is ridiculous, but whatever.. I will have to check out the other colours and I am still waiting for the similar formula with Guerlain lippies to arrive. Oh, and great tips for application, Christine 🙂

Christine Avatar

I’ve definitely seen as good/better wear (certainly, better-looking wear and tear – the flaking/uneven fade is so un-sexy!) with a regular red lipstick (since they tend to stain), so I don’t know. If it was a light pink, that’s more interesting, as light pink lipsticks usually don’t wear for longer than 4-5 hours.

BunnyHeffner Avatar

I have the Ballet shade of this and I love it! I felt like it lasted almost 12 hours. I wore it Thanksgiving and I was and drinking…a lot! I even had a family member ask me what sort of lipstick it was because it stayed so well. Also, I didn’t have any of that ick you are showing in the last photo. It seemed to wear off very evenly. Maybe lighter, pinker colors *are* the way to go with this product

Ann Avatar

I was so happy to see this review! I’ve been coveting these from a distance, but couldn’t decide. I’ve been waiting to see what you thought. I love this red on you. I don’t think I can pull of a true red, but I’m going to see if they have a softer, peachier color. Also, I don’t need it to last 14 hours. I just need it to last half a day and I’m happy. I do wish these reapplied better, but I think we’re just used to doing it that way. Perhaps we need to retrain ourselves on how we apply or lipsticks/stain/glosses as their formulas continue to improve. (This ain’t our momma’s lipstick anymore!)

Christine Avatar

Half a day as in 12 hours? I hope you can get that 🙂

The formula feels more refined and definitely way more hydrating than past iterations, but I don’t know if I’d say this is really brand spankin’ new – they’re really quite like MAC’s PLWs (which just happens to be the long-wearing formula I’ve had more experience with in the past). Those required a little more prep work and weren’t as forgiving (and could be drying).

Liz Avatar

Such a stunner! It wouldn’t suit my complexion, but it looks pretty amazing on you. I’ll have to check out the line, I don’t see myself wearing a lip-stick for more than 8 hours anyway. Fiance will appreciate the kiss-proofness haha.

Miss J Avatar

Thanks for the review on these! I love this shade; do you plan on reviewing the other (or some of the other) shades? This seems like something I might go for to use on a night out when I won’t be eating, and may perhaps be too buzzed to care for reapplication, LOL.

Kim Avatar

I have two of the deepest shades- a red and a plum & they are absolutely stunning! I love love love!
This one is pretty too, but just a little bight. The rest of the colors seemed not as easy to wear.
I wear mine often and also the shiseido lip lacquer, which in my mind is similar.

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