Matte lips are my jam, that's no secret, they're probably yours if you're reading this. I own many, many matte lipsticks, liquid lipsticks, matte lip creams and matte lip crayons - the majority of which are high end and edging towards £20 a piece. My bank balance is willing me to find a cheaper alternative, so, I've been testing out Maybelline's and Bourjois's offerings like a true make up researcher.

The Rules

A nude and a red from each range is put to the test for at least a full day. No lip liners, lip primers or other make up sorcery.

The Products

Maybelline Vivid Matte Liquid in Nude Thrill & Orange Shot.

Bourjois Rouge Edition Velvet in Cool Brown & Red-volution.

The Packaging

I much prefer the Maybelline packaging - very clean, crisp and shows off the product colour - reminiscent of the Jouer Liquid Lipstick packaging and feels higher quality.

The Formula

Now this is what you call a total mixed bag! Nude Thrill is beautifully smooth and pigmented whilst Orange Shot is patchy even when layered up. Red-volution takes a little work to get there but you can achieve a really even finish. Cool Brown is the bottom of the pile - it is strangely watery with very little colour pay off. They all have a whipped, mousse-y texture and fairly generic sweet cosmetic scents.

The Finish

Both Maybelline products I would describe as a demi-matte finish - they don't dry down at all. This makes them very hydrating but very transferable! Nude Thrill in particular has a smooth, almost plumping, finish on the lips. The Rouge Edition Velvets do dry down to a matte finish so naturally are less comfortable on the lips. 

The Application

Both have doe foot applicators however I much prefer the flat paddle style of the Maybelline over the regular doe foot of the Bourjois - I find them much easier to work with and get a precise edge. You can get some extra wear time and a more matte finish from the Vivid Mattes by layering and blotting off the excess a few times. Cool Brown barely shows up on my lips at all but Red-volution can be built up to a really intense vampy red.

The Staying Power

You can get around 4 hours from the Vivid Mattes before you need to re-apply - they do fade to a stain rather than crumbling or patching off which means they never look too haggard. As these ones don't dry down you will definitely need to re-apply after eating and your coffee cup will be sporting the same lip look as you. The Rouge Edition Velvet is more long-wearing (discounting Cool Brown as a bad egg at this point) and you can get around 6 hours with careful eating and drinking. Any fading or patching can be easily touched up with Red-volution.

The Winner?

Orange Shot is middling formula-wise and is absolutely NOT my colour. Cool Brown I truly hope I just got a bad batch because I love Bourjois and other shades from this range are much more pigmented and creamy. It's a close run between Nude Thrill and Red-volution - very flattering shades and I reach for them both regularly. The packaging, paddle applicator and the price (£6.99 vs £8.99 for the Bourjois) means that Maybelline Nude Thrill just shades it for me.But as always, let me know what you think are the best drugstore matte lips.