We’ve been stuck indoors for so long that I’ve begun to miss my makeup.

I’m honestly not that big of a makeup fan, but when I was in Seoul during their Summer Sale season in Myeongdong, I hoarded tubes of Etude’s Matte Chic Lip Lacquer line.

Say that with me: Matte Chic Lip Lacquer. Matte Chic Lip Lacquer. Matte Chic Lip Lacquer. I say this a lot to annoy friends and family.

Anyways, in April 2018, Korean makeup brand Etude House launched an array of liquid lipsticks, which they claim are “long-lasting lip lacquers [which] keep the lips matte and less smudged or smeared as rich colors fixed fast upon application.” As explained on the Etude House website, they used a special kind of technology where oil is added to the formula to help “lock in” the colors on the lips.

The line carries fourteen shades, the first nine being Peach Beige, Rose Pink, Wink Pink, Too Much Orange, Ready for Red, Very Berry Plum, Romance Rose, Vita Energy and the fancifully named Super Tomato.

The other five shades were named after members of K-Pop girl group Red Velvet, who were endorsing the product (and who I adore). As Red Velvet has grown very popular these days, the lip lacquers in Irene Red, Seulgi Burgundy, Wendy Brown, Joy Grapefruit, and Yeri Pink sold out a lot until the partnership ended.

(I think that some of the colors from the Red Velvet line were eventually renamed, like Curious Pink might actually be Yeri Pink.)

I was able to buy myself one of the Red Velvet colors, which cost me Php 748.00 for a tube. I can’t remember exactly how much I spent in Myeongdong, but I believe it was Buy 1 Take 1 so two tubes cost around Php 400-500.

The only one Red Velvet one I got was the Irene Red (RD303), which is a very bright, bold red. It would suit wearers who have really fair skin the best, and that’s why I think I still managed to buy one.

The packaging is simple but elegant. I like that it is a long, opaque tube. When you unscrew the cap, you will be greeted by a long applicator wand with a slightly bent tip. The applicator wand was designed this way in case a gradient effect was desired by the wearer.

When you take out the wand from the tube, a lot of liquid comes up with it. For me, it makes application tricky and so much of the formula comes off that once you blot it, it kind of feels wasteful.

Upon application, the lacquer looks really glossy until it sets, then the color darkens and turns matte after. The shades are really pigmented, and I find that the color of the Irene one looked different from what she wore in the advertisements. Maybe it’s because I’m not Irene. And I don’t look like her. Haha. *clown shoes squeaking*

The lip lacquer doesn’t feel drying compared to other matte lipsticks. Initially, the texture is creamy and a little sticky on the lips but then becomes powdery once it dries. I am not overly fond of the smell of this lip lacquer though. It smells liks Play Dough.

And the claim of long-lastingness that the Matte Chic Lip Lacquer boasts about? It always has varying results for me, so I was initially disappointed with it because it claimed to be “transfer-proof, waterproof and kiss-proof.”

Overall, I don’t think everyone can wear the Matte Chic Lip Lacquer. It’s not the easiest to apply for someone who is a novice at putting on makeup, which is a shame since most products should be easy enough for even beginners to use.

Overall, the product itself is quite good for a matte lipstick and worth its price, but only if the wearer knows how to maximize it. It also really depends on what color will suit you best (and not whichever Red Velvet member is your favorite). My advice to potential wearers of the Etude House x Red Velvet Matte Chic Lip Lacquer line? Don’t be a “Rookie” and play “Russian Roulette” with the colors – swatch before your decide.

Product Ingredients: Isododecane, cyclopentasiloxane, trimethylsiloxysilicate, silica, polyisobutene, barium sulfate, disteardimonium hectorite, methyl hydrogenated rosinate, synthetic fluorphlogopite, polyethylene, acrylates/dimethicone copolymer, 1,2-hexanediol, lauryl peg-9 polydimethylsiloxyethyl dimethicone, polyhydroxystearic acid, cetyl peg/ppg-10/1 dimethicone, propylene carbonate, methicone, rosin, triethoxycaprylylsilane, dehydroacetic acid, tocopherol, Fragrance [+/- (May contain) titanium dioxide (CI 77891), yellow 5 lake (CI 19140), yellow 10 lake (CI 47005), iron oxides (CI 77491), red 22 lake (CI 45380), red 6 (CI 15850), red 28 lake (CI 45410), red 7 (CI 15850), red 33 lake (CI 17200), iron oxides (CI 77499), blue 1 lake (CI 42090).