I'm a neutral makeup girl. I try basically every bronzer, highlighter, or nude lip gloss, but colored lipsticks always scare me. I had a bad experience a few years ago when I wore a gorgeous bright red lipstick on a night out. It looked fantastic and I left home feeling confident, but what I didn't know was that the cherry red color was bleeding onto my teeth as I chatted, ate and drank. Needless to say, I didn't know this until I looked in the mirror a few hours later. One word: hurtful. To this day, I still kinda hate bright lip colors.
It wasn't until I recently tried the new Thrive Causemetics EmpowerMatte Precision Lipstick Crayon that I changed my mind. The moment I swiped on the 2-in-1 Lip Liner Crayon, I knew I'd stumbled onto something different. The crayon's plush, comfortable texture and long-lasting durability make it a perfect choice for everyday wear, while a variety of color options make it easy to elevate or tone down your look depending on your mood.
Read on for my full review.
quick overview
Price: $28
Best for: Lightweight, hydrating, matte finish with 12 hours of color development
Rating: 10/10
What I Like: In just one product, you get a 2-in-1 lipstick liner that provides long-lasting, velvety-smooth matte lip color that won't bleed or dry out your lips.
Thrive Causemetics EmpowerMatte Precision Lipstick Crayon
When it comes to lip color these days, I've learned to be boring. I love a fresh pop of color on my lips, but most bold colors bleed and leave me in a constant state of anxiety wondering if my lipstick is all over my face without me having a clue. That's why on the rare occasion that I choose a colorful shade, I make sure it's a formula that won't get messy—even over coffee or a cocktail.
Enter: Thrive's $28 Empowermatte Crayon Lipstick, which comes in 12 rich shades. It's made with lip-plumping peptides and semi-permanent micropigments that moisturize your lips and save you the embarrassment of application. You can think of it as a sister product to the brand's equally long-lasting, beloved Brilliant Eye Brightener eyeshadow stick.
My plump (but occasionally dry) lips
I admit I really like the shape of my lips. I get them filled with lip fillers once or twice a year and am happy with their perfectly plump but not too symmetrical look. I like to accentuate them with a neutral-toned lip liner, and tend to go a little bit over my lips—especially in the cupid bow area. My everyday look tends to involve layering my liner with a sheer gloss, mostly out of habit. Plus, the lip gloss helps prevent my lips from getting chapped and is quick and easy.
One thing I encountered was the occasional dryness, which as we know is generally not a good combination for colored lipsticks. When I have mildly cracked or peeling lips, I tend to shy away from colorful formulas for fear that it will only draw attention to the condition. However, this formula is surprisingly hydrating, almost like a lip balm. That’s because it’s packed with nourishing ingredients like shea butter, jojoba oil, and sodium hyaluronate.
my comment
Like I said, I'm a simple girl (at least when it comes to makeup). But I do love how a new lip color instantly changes the look of your beauty, so I was excited to try this fine point crayon. The fact that this product has a sharp tip that doubles as a lip liner attracted me right away. It even comes with a built-in sharpener on the other end, so you never have to worry about getting stuck on a dull nugget (which is key when you're after a crisp outline every time). I was first able to draw a precise, clean line, then flipped the crayon over to color the rest of the lips.
To easily fit it in, I stuck with neutral tones (Jo, pink, Kaisa, dusty rose) that feel pretty but feel safe on me. The application process is seamless, mainly because the texture is so smooth and comfortable.
Many times, lipsticks feel dry and tug more than they glide, but that is not the case here. To apply, I followed the advice of the brand's founder, Karissa Bodnar. "You might be wondering why you have this crazy 'X' on your lips, that's actually how I lined my lips before taking Empowematte," she said in an Instagram video. In fact, I've found this tip to be extremely helpful in tracking down tricky cupid bow areas perfectly. She said "it's like a picture book" and I had to agree. Once the lip line is drawn, the rest is easy to color.
The first time I wore this product was during an eight-hour workday, and I was pleasantly surprised at how well it wore throughout the day. It is important to note that it does not dry out like paint. It's blendable and somewhat malleable, so it does blur over time, but as far as pigments go, it stays on all day. I did go back a few times for touch-ups, but the precise contours stayed the same throughout the day. I was fascinated that the color didn't stain my teeth or smear beyond my lip line, even after eating and drinking.
After being so impressed with how I wore the neutrals, I felt empowered (no pun intended) to try darker shades for date night. This time I chose Stephanie's color - a moody deep magenta - that doesn't fade away at night either.
final verdict
When I first tried Thrive Causemetics EmpowerMatte Precision Lip Crayons, I knew this was going to be my new go-to. I've even accidentally started using this multi-tasking stick in place of my usual lip liner and gloss combo because it does the same thing for me with less product. The result: perfect definition that's still soft and comfortable. My favorite color is Jo, but Ragan (a warm plum) and Linda (a cherry red) have also made their way into my rotation for special occasions. I know it sounds silly, but this little crayon single-handedly helped me overcome my once-very real fear of colored lipstick.
