Kat Von D Motorhead, Prayer, Mercy Studded Kiss Crème Lipsticks Reviews, Photos, Swatches
Motorhead
Kat Von D Motorhead Studded Kiss Crème Lipstick ($19.00 for 0.12 oz.) is a deep burgundy with subtle, cool undertones and a satin finish. It had semi-opaque color payoff, which did not build up beyond that, and it went on unevenly with color clumping in places, settling into my lip lines, and becoming patchy as it wore on. The texture was thin, a bit firmer/stiffer in the tube but not quite as dense as other shades in the range, but it wasn’t the easiest lipstick to work with by any means. The color wore for six hours, left a stain behind, and was slightly drying.
FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).
Top Dupes
- Revlon Royal Amethyst (P, $10.99) is less shimmery (95% similar).
- Fenty Beauty Griselda (P, $18.00) is less glossy (90% similar).
- MAC Velvet Rebellion (LE, $19.00) is warmer (90% similar).
- ColourPop Mamacita (DC, $6.50) is less glossy (90% similar).
- Make Up For Ever C407 (DC, $22.00) is warmer (90% similar).
- Estee Lauder Nude Fatale (P, $32.00) is less shimmery (90% similar).
- MAC Viva Glam Ariana Grande (LE, $19.00) is warmer (90% similar).
- MAC Beatrix (LE, $19.00) is less glossy (90% similar).
- Burberry Black Cherry (439) (P, $35.00) is lighter (90% similar).
- YSL Prune Power (89) (P, $38.00) is warmer (90% similar).
Formula Overview
$19.00/0.12 oz. - $158.33 Per Ounce
Per the brand, the new formula is supposed to be "the creamiest, most cushiony and unbelievably pigmented lipstick to ever cross your lips" that is "comfortable" to wear. I don't know if the brand has actually tried the plethora of other lipsticks on the market, because I can tell you that after swatching all 40 shades back-to-back, these are nowhere near "the creamiest" or "most cushiony" or even "unbelievably pigmented." They were, on average, much creamier than the original formula, but a fair number of shades were firm and dense enough that short strokes was better for application otherwise there was noticeable tugging. Some shades were pigmented, some shades were uneven or sheer. The mid-tone shades seemed to be the best overall in terms of application, pigmentation, and how they looked on the lips, whereas the shimmery shades were often sheerer, gritty, and drying while the deeper, vampy shades were lacking pigmentation and could apply streakily.
They seemed to have longer wear than most lipsticks (five to eight hours) but have been lightly to intensely drying, depending on the shade, and I found that wearing them back-to-back made the drying aspect more pronounced. They had a strong, sweet, burnt sugar kind of scent that was noticeable when initially applied, but I didn't detect during wear.
I did not review all shades in the original Studded Kiss formula as it wasn't feasible for me to purchase all of those at the time, and after trying what I did purchase, they weren't promising (often very dry, stiff, and painful to use with a drying formula). From what I can tell, some are better (see: LUV (Original) vs. LUV (New); Coven (Original) vs. Coven (New)), some are worse (see: Gold Blooded (Original) vs. Gold Blooded (New); Poe (Original) vs. Poe (New)). The shimmery shades seemed worse for the reformulation, and the glittery shades are like the grittiest sandpaper across one's lips; I felt like I was ripping my lips off when applying both Gold Blooded and Piaf with Poe not being far behind.
Browse all of our KVD Beauty Studded Kiss Crème Lipstick swatches.
Ingredients
Motorhead
PPermanent. $19.00.
Prayer
Kat Von D Prayer Studded Kiss Crème Lipstick ($19.00 for 0.12 oz.) is a deep burgundy with cool undertones and a satin finish. It had good pigmentation with a smooth, lightweight texture that was just barely creamy so it didn’t tug much on my lips and seemed to glide on after a second or two of warming up against my lips. It was one of the more comfortable shades to apply within the range. The color applied evenly and stayed on well for six hours. It left behind a stain and was non-drying.
FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).
Top Dupes
- Guerlain #555 (P, $36.00) is lighter (95% similar).
- Maybelline Midnight Merlot (DC, $7.49) is lighter (95% similar).
- ColourPop Hello Stranger (P, $10.00) is lighter (95% similar).
- Urban Decay Cherry (LE, $18.00) is cooler (95% similar).
- Sephora Scorpio (96) (LE, $8.00) is darker (95% similar).
- MAC Beatrix (LE, $19.00) is darker, less glossy (90% similar).
- NARS Siouxsie (LE, $34.00) is glossier (95% similar).
- Pat McGrath Full Blooded (P, $38.00) is lighter (90% similar).
- MAC Eugenie (LE, $19.00) is less glossy (90% similar).
- NARS Opulent Red (P, $26.00) is warmer (90% similar).
Formula Overview
$19.00/0.12 oz. - $158.33 Per Ounce
Per the brand, the new formula is supposed to be "the creamiest, most cushiony and unbelievably pigmented lipstick to ever cross your lips" that is "comfortable" to wear. I don't know if the brand has actually tried the plethora of other lipsticks on the market, because I can tell you that after swatching all 40 shades back-to-back, these are nowhere near "the creamiest" or "most cushiony" or even "unbelievably pigmented." They were, on average, much creamier than the original formula, but a fair number of shades were firm and dense enough that short strokes was better for application otherwise there was noticeable tugging. Some shades were pigmented, some shades were uneven or sheer. The mid-tone shades seemed to be the best overall in terms of application, pigmentation, and how they looked on the lips, whereas the shimmery shades were often sheerer, gritty, and drying while the deeper, vampy shades were lacking pigmentation and could apply streakily.
They seemed to have longer wear than most lipsticks (five to eight hours) but have been lightly to intensely drying, depending on the shade, and I found that wearing them back-to-back made the drying aspect more pronounced. They had a strong, sweet, burnt sugar kind of scent that was noticeable when initially applied, but I didn't detect during wear.
I did not review all shades in the original Studded Kiss formula as it wasn't feasible for me to purchase all of those at the time, and after trying what I did purchase, they weren't promising (often very dry, stiff, and painful to use with a drying formula). From what I can tell, some are better (see: LUV (Original) vs. LUV (New); Coven (Original) vs. Coven (New)), some are worse (see: Gold Blooded (Original) vs. Gold Blooded (New); Poe (Original) vs. Poe (New)). The shimmery shades seemed worse for the reformulation, and the glittery shades are like the grittiest sandpaper across one's lips; I felt like I was ripping my lips off when applying both Gold Blooded and Piaf with Poe not being far behind.
Browse all of our KVD Beauty Studded Kiss Crème Lipstick swatches.
Ingredients
Prayer
PPermanent. $19.00.
Mercy
Kat Von D Mercy Studded Kiss Crème Lipstick ($19.00 for 0.12 oz.) is a medium-dark plum with cooler undertones and fine pearl. It didn’t have larger sparkle, so it did not feel gritty or rough on the lips, but the texture was dense, firm, and stiff against my lips, which meant it tugged and dragged uncomfortably during application. It had semi-opaque coverage, which wasn’t buildable, and applied fairly evenly overall, though color pulled into my lip lines noticeably (and worsened over time). It lasted for five and a half hours on me and was a bit drying.
FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).
Top Dupes
- Dior Midnight Corolle (077) (LE, $40.00) is less shimmery, cooler (90% similar).
- Tom Ford Beauty Jordan (LE, $36.00) is more shimmery, darker, warmer (90% similar).
- Smashbox It's a Mood (P, $24.00) is less shimmery, cooler (90% similar).
- Revlon Va Va Violet (P, $8.49) is less shimmery, warmer (90% similar).
- Laura Mercier Plum Fatale (P, $32.00) is less shimmery, darker, cooler (90% similar).
- YSL After-Prune (97) (LE, $38.00) is less shimmery (90% similar).
- YSL Prune Avenue (54) (P, $38.00) is cooler (90% similar).
- Fenty Beauty Sci Fly (LE, $19.00) is less shimmery, lighter (90% similar).
- Tom Ford Beauty Deborah (LE, $36.00) is more shimmery, lighter, cooler (90% similar).
- Urban Decay Banger (DC, $18.00) is darker (85% similar).
Formula Overview
$19.00/0.12 oz. - $158.33 Per Ounce
Per the brand, the new formula is supposed to be "the creamiest, most cushiony and unbelievably pigmented lipstick to ever cross your lips" that is "comfortable" to wear. I don't know if the brand has actually tried the plethora of other lipsticks on the market, because I can tell you that after swatching all 40 shades back-to-back, these are nowhere near "the creamiest" or "most cushiony" or even "unbelievably pigmented." They were, on average, much creamier than the original formula, but a fair number of shades were firm and dense enough that short strokes was better for application otherwise there was noticeable tugging. Some shades were pigmented, some shades were uneven or sheer. The mid-tone shades seemed to be the best overall in terms of application, pigmentation, and how they looked on the lips, whereas the shimmery shades were often sheerer, gritty, and drying while the deeper, vampy shades were lacking pigmentation and could apply streakily.
They seemed to have longer wear than most lipsticks (five to eight hours) but have been lightly to intensely drying, depending on the shade, and I found that wearing them back-to-back made the drying aspect more pronounced. They had a strong, sweet, burnt sugar kind of scent that was noticeable when initially applied, but I didn't detect during wear.
I did not review all shades in the original Studded Kiss formula as it wasn't feasible for me to purchase all of those at the time, and after trying what I did purchase, they weren't promising (often very dry, stiff, and painful to use with a drying formula). From what I can tell, some are better (see: LUV (Original) vs. LUV (New); Coven (Original) vs. Coven (New)), some are worse (see: Gold Blooded (Original) vs. Gold Blooded (New); Poe (Original) vs. Poe (New)). The shimmery shades seemed worse for the reformulation, and the glittery shades are like the grittiest sandpaper across one's lips; I felt like I was ripping my lips off when applying both Gold Blooded and Piaf with Poe not being far behind.
Browse all of our KVD Beauty Studded Kiss Crème Lipstick swatches.
Ingredients
Prayer and Mercy (which sadly doesn’t sound “merciful”) are gorgeous looking! Likely won’t be buying either one, though. I do have TF Seadragon and MAC Media, those are close enough, I suppose.
How could Prayer be so good and Motorhead (what an awful name) be so bad? Quality control is just not happening at Kat Von D re their lipsticks. The quality is all over the place.
They are lovely shades though.
That is too bad that a lot of these are scoring worse in the new formula. I have Mercy in the old formula and it performs pretty well. And there’s not a lot of dupes for it (that score well) so I’m really glad I picked it up. Magick in the old formula is also great, one of my favorite pinks.
I really like Prayer!