Liquid lipsticks. They're a divisive issue. Some love them, some hate them; some are great and some are like wearing the Sahara desert. In my quest for the perfect matte lip, they have become my favoured product due to their intense pigment and long wearing colour. So, how does Sleek's effort measure up with their Matte Me Lip Creams?

Let's start with the basics. There are twelve shades and are an affordable £4.99 on the Sleek website. I own three of the shades - Birthday Suit, Rioja Red and Velvet Slipper (love that name!).

Whilst they are called a 'cream', they are definitely a liquid lipstick rather than what I would call a lip cream which is more mousse textured (think Nyx Matte Lip Cream).

These do set completely matte and the flat doe-foot applicator makes it really easy to get a precise line without a lip liner. The formula is quite thin and the pigment isn't as instantly smooth as Kat Von D's liquid lipstick - however, it layers really well because of the thin formula so once the colour is built up, you still don't have a thick layer of product on your lips. The lightweight feel is a huge plus point.



The second huge plus is how it wears - the main danger of a liquid lipstick is the crumble. They can be so drying that they crack and flake and generally cling to every crease in your lips - but not this one. The Matte Me creams are comfortable and they fade rather than crack and peel off - I think we have universally agreed that is the preferred quality in a liquid lipstick. This means that when you haven't had time to touch up, you won't be in for a huge shock when you finally get to a mirror.

This is just as well, as whilst these are long wearing, they're not indestructible. If you want to eat and drink and you know, generally get on with your day, then they are going to budge. Oily food in particular is not your friend. But to be honest, I'd take having to touch up over a crumbly hot-mess that you have to completely remove with heavy duty cleanser and then re-apply.

Velvet Slipper | Rioja Red | Birthday Suit

A brief word on the shades - Birthday Suit is a nice peachy/rose nude, very wearable and work-friendly; Rioja Red a true pillar box red which I think would flatter pretty much everyone; Velvet Slipper a grey-toned plum for an off-beat glam lip.

All in all, I really enjoy these. I reach for them consistently and for price, I don't think you can find a better liquid lipstick (if you have, let me know in the comments, I want some of that action).