On a whim, I bought a tube of Revlon’s Colorstay Overtime Lip Color.  I’m not normally a fan of drugstore style cosmetics but the Ultimate Wine hue looked so good that I just had to have it.

This is a long-lasting lip color, with the pigment on one end and the gloss on the other.  And it seems to have divided the beauty community in half.  One half love it, pointing out that the color lasts all days without budging.  Others, on the other hand, claim it dries their lips and is near impossible to remove.

So how did I find it?  I found that, so long as I followed the rules of application, this is a great lipstick.  To get a great look I did the following:

• Make sure your lips are soft and moisturised.  That means exfoliating them first, applying a moisturing lip balm and allowing that balm to do its job before you start.

• Make sure you use a liner before you apply.  It will give your lips definition and help to contain the color.

• When applying the color, apply the color quickly and ensure your application is light.  If you use a heavy hand and apply alot of the product, it will ‘ball’ and start to flake within hours.

• You have to wait until the colour dries completely before you apply the gloss.  This can take up to 2-3 minutes but it’s worth it.  The gloss only works with the color if the color is dry.

• Make sure you top up the gloss during the day to ensure your lips stay soft.  This lipstick will stay put all day, but it does have the propensity to dry your lips out, particularly in air-conditioned environments like the office.

My first gripe with this product was the struggle to get it off.  Revlon claim an oil-based cleanser will remove the lipstick but I found that even my best cleanser was no match for this stuff.  The only thing that worked was…. wait for it…. olive oil.  Yep, it took olive oil on a cotton ball to remove this stuff.  Hey, they claim it lasts forever and it does!

My second grip is that I have to follow rules to make this work.  I like effortless makeup and this, while looking superb, requires a little too much work for my liking.  One false move and you have to start all over again, which, given how hard it is to remove the stuff, makes this a labor intensive lipstick.

But, if you want a color that lasts forever (it’s the perfect lippy for a wedding or any other event which lasts for a long time and you have minimal access to touch-ups) and is stunning to look at, this is it.

Pros: Beautiful color, lasts all day and looks great

Cons: Difficult to remove without some effort, can be complicated to get the perfect look

Colorstay Overtime Lip Color

$19 – Revlon