I thought it was a good idea to step out of my comfort zone and try some of the newer shades that I wouldn't normally wear, and I'm really glad I did. Here are the colours I decided to test:
Once they are dry, they stay put. They don't transfer, smudge or flake and won't wear off easily - I had to use coconut oil and soap to get the swatches off my arm and the colours were slightly visible even then. Your lips also won't feel dried out while wearing the lacquers, especially if you exfoliate and moisturise your lips before application.
I tend to shy away from nude shades as they tend to wash me out because I'm so pale. This is why I was reluctant to try Halycon in the first place but I thought I'd throw caution to the wind and give it a go.
I'm glad I did as the apricot tone is really flattering and works well with my ghostly complexion. The soft, slightly coral tones are a nice change from brown nudes and adds a nice warmth to the colour. I definitely recommend it if you want a great all-round nude lipstick.
Dash is another brown tone, which again often wash my pale skin out. However, it has lovely red pigments, which always look good on me - even if I do say so myself.
I think it helps that this lipstick is matte, as it adds a softness to the colour, which means it isn't too harsh. I think it will be a nice alternative to my usual crimson look and will go great with heavy eye makeup for a sultry look.
I wasn't expecting this colour to be quite as bright as it is. On the website it looks like a lighter red but in real life it is a really bold orange that I really like.
It really isn't one for the faint-hearted as it is a day glow, true orange shade. I think this will be a nice choice for summer, as it makes a great statement but the citrus shade is perfect for the sunny season - even if you might need sunglasses to look directly at it.
I think this is my favourite shade out of all my new lip lacquers as I'm a sucker for a good dark pink. Just like my favourite shade of red, Moxie has nice blue undertones that creates a rich and bright colour that looks great against my pale skin.
It looks darker in the tube than it actually is and I think it will flatter most complexions. I can see that this is going to become my top alternative choice to red.
I don't know what I was expecting with Unity, but it is a really super pale lilac shade that I'm still a bit unsure about. It highlights exactly how pale, so I think I need to counter that with some added colour to my cheeks.
It is a perfect on-trend colour for spring though and I can see that it would be great for creating matte ombre looks, so I may order Symphonic or Kooky to use with it.
Another orange shade, Zest is beautifully bright. Rather than the true orange tone of Atomic, Zest has pinky tones that make it a similar colour to pink grapefruit. I've been wearing this today and it looks great and a number of people have said how nice it is.
It is one of those shades that will work with most skin tones. I think it would also work well with Moxie for a two-tone lip look that is ideal for summer.
Vivacity is a pure pink and is everything you want from a pink lipstick. It looks really similar to Barbie pink, so has really subtle blue notes. I think its a great colour for the day and again a lovely one for summer.
It is another tone that looks great against pale skin but it is easy to see that it is really versatile. I may have to experiment with a touch of glitter gloss for a full-on Barbie look.
I'm excited to see what other colours MUA release - I'd love a blue or green - as these really are my favourite options for matte lips.