Beauty review: Guerlain KissKiss Tender Matte Lipstick

I have worn matte lipstick for as long as I can remember. Even when it was devastatingly uncool for the average beauty nerd? I was still all over it like a rash. I just like the way it feels and love the way it looks, and call me a little too fond of the nineties - many do! - but I have always been a flag flying fan of a seriously matte lip.
I’ve been wearing one with pride since I first started slicking on lipstick (no gloss for me), and love that over the last few years, matte needn’t mean dry and chalky. In fact, truly great matte formulas now come with nourishing and hydrating properties, the latest being Maison Guerlain’s fresh new offering: KissKiss Tender Matte Lipstick. The work of Olivier Echaudemaison, head of Guerlain Makeup Creation, KissKiss Tender Matte Lipstick comes in 15 glorious shades and offers the lucky wearer a sophisticated matte finish with a velvety soft texture.

The luminous matte lipstick is designed to be “as tender as a kiss”, and it really does feel featherlight and oh so nourishing. At the heart of the formula is a trio of active ingredients: hyaluronic acid, shea butter and rose petal extract, all included to nourish and flawlessly shape the lips with no compromise on comfort for up to 16 hours of wear.
I love the second-skin texture and the seriously great wear time, plus the pigment levels are through the roof so just a few slicks go a very long way. The brand has created the KissKiss routine for best results, which starts with an application of KissKiss Liplift primer to smooth and prepare lips for long-lasting makeup. I have never tried the product myself – or KissKiss Roselip balm, which purportedly adds extra hydration – but if it makes the end look and feel even sweeter, I’m here for it.

Last but by no means least, because KissKiss Tender Matte Lipstick is an unabashedly luxe offering, it comes with a fragrance all its own. The light, delicate scent of a vanilla "floriental" wafts up with every application from the chic bullet, for extra intensity and a heightened sensorial experience.
Guerlain KissKiss Tender Matte Lipstick is on counter now, with an RRP of $62.