Lakme Absolute Sculpt Studio Hi-Definition Matte Lipstick Review
You wished, and I granted. Today’s review is on Lakme’s Absolute Sculpt Hi-Definition Matte Lipsticks – lippers to die for if you’re into everything matte, but more on that in just a short bit!
Lipsticks speak femininity like no other. Women with higher levels of estrogen tend to have fuller, naturally colored lips indicating health, fertility, and attractiveness. Basically, nature’s way of announcing your arrival on the dating scene. And luckily for us, our ancestors seem to have caught on to this secret right about the time they discovered fire (no, seriously :P). From using crushed gemstones to crushed bugs (eww), and some algae, beeswax, and plant dyes in between, we’ve definitely come a heck of a long way in choosing what we apply to our lips and how. And leading this bandwagon here in India is none other than Lakme.
I’m a sucker for matte lipsticks. Since my personal sense of style tends to sway towards clean cut silhouettes with minimal makeup, matte lipsticks are a great addition to my makeup kit. Plus, there’s much to be said about owning a power look too, which matte lipsticks help you achieve, whether at work, or a day out. Speaking of which, there’s been much ado about Lakme’s Absolute Sculpt Studio Hi-Definition Lipsticks of late. Considering the buzz, they were definitely worth a shot and boy, they did not disappoint!
Description
Inspired from the pinnacle of high fashion in India, the Lakme Fashion Week, the Lakme Absolute Sculpt Studio Hi-Definition matte lipsticks have been designed as ‘your go to professional product that provides nothing less than an expert finish’. With this particular range, you can forget rushing to the nearest ladies’ room for a quick touch up thanks to its intense color formula. It promises a high color payoff with just one stroke. Available in 30 gorgeous shades, if you’re in the market for ‘a chiseled long wear experience with rich matte finish’, one stroke of contoured perfection from this range is all you need!
Lakme Absolute Sculpt Matte Lipstick Packaging
Considering that Lakme has been marketing the Absolute Sculpt range under their high fashion collection, the packaging reflects that spirit too. Contained within sleek silver tubes that might just remind you of gunmetal (cuz fashion slays, geddit?), each lipstick bullet pops out with a click when twisted up (a feature that seems to be unique to this range, but the significance of which is lost on me). A transparent cap tops off the case, while the shade name can be found at the base of the lipstick. Nothing really pathbreaking, if you ask me, but hey, it isn’t who we are on the outside but what we are on the inside that counts, right? 😉
Also, call it the heart of a writer or whatever, but the first thing I absolutely loved about the Absolute Sculpt Matte lipsticks were their shade names. I love love LOVE word play, and when something has names like ‘peach pout’ and ‘pink me up’, it does make me smile in appreciation. Brownie points for that!
Lakme Absolute Sculpt Matte Lipstick Features
If you’ve been eying these lippers for a while now, here’s a quick rundown on why you should consider getting them already:
- Matte texture and finish
- High color payoff in one stroke with the most vibrant shades
- Long lasting formula
- Contoured lips
- Available in a range of trendy and glamorous shades
- Created and recommended by backstage experts
Pros
- Gorgeous matte finish
- High color payoff right from the first application
- Lightweight, settles easily on the lips
- Good staying power
Cons
- Starts to bleed if not applied right
- Not waterproof
- Ingredients not mentioned
- Certain shade names are misleading
Lakme Absolute Sculpt Studio Hi-Definition Matte Lipstick Review
Lakme’s Absolute Sculpt Studio Hi-Definition Matte lipsticks seem to have been tailormade for the needs of the modern woman. Bringing fashion from the runways of the Lakme Fashion Week to your everyday life, Lakme’s Absolute Sculpt range has a wide collection of reds, pinks, browns, and some other colors to cater to a wide assortment of people. With a high color payoff for an intense sculpted look, these lightweight lipsticks start creating their magic right from the first application. What I love best about these lippers is that they announce sophistication and class in every stroke, and are better suited to women aiming for a more mature look.
Lakme Absolute Sculpt Studio Hi-Definition Matte Lipstick Shades
Now, with over 30 different shades in their collection, choosing the right shade can be quite the task. To make things a little easy for you, we’ve picked 25 of their best selling shades for discussion here. Can’t wait to get started? Me neither!
1. Burgundy Affair
Color – Red with brown undertones
Texture – Velvety smooth, lightweight
Longevity – 6 hours, give or take. Lesser with meals.
Suitable For – Olive to brown complexions
Lakme plays to the wedding galleries with this particular shade they’ve named ‘Burgundy Affair’. A warm red with brown undertones, this shade is a good match for those looking for red lipsticks that complement traditional attire. And while the richness of the color would mean it can be worn by just about any skin type, I do feel that the olive to brown complexioned women would be able to carry this off better.
2. Cinnamon Charm
Color – Brown with red undertones
Texture – Velvety smooth, lightweight
Longevity – 6 hours, give or take. Lesser with meals.
Suitable For – All Indian skin tones
The ‘Cinnamon Charm’ is a beautiful rust brown matte with red undertones. Suitable for all skin types, this particular shade especially comes through on women with warmer skin tones. Ideal for an evening out with a date, or a corporate luncheon, this is the color for those women who like to keep it sophisticated.
3. Classic Rose
Color – Red
Texture – Velvety smooth, lightweight
Longevity – 6 hours, give or take. Lesser with meals.
Suitable For – All Indian skin tones
The shade ‘Classic Rose’ is precisely what it promises – a classic shade of red. What I love about this particular shade is that it is a no fuss, no muss red that is bright without being flashy. If you’re a woman that loves her reds, this is a shade you definitely don’t want to miss out on.
4. Coco Shot
Color – Brown with mauve undertones
Texture – Velvety smooth, lightweight
Longevity – 6 hours, give or take. Lesser with meals
Suitable For – Cool toned fair to wheatish complexions
Don’t be misled by the name of this shade, Coco Shot is more of a mauve leaning towards brown than an outright brown shade. A neutral shade that isn’t too extravagant (and hence, perfect for the summer!), Coco Shot might be better suited to women of fair to wheatish complexion with cool undertones. Darker complexioned women may use this shade with a couple of extra applications to build up color (fair warning though, the color might just be a wash out).
5. Coral Flare
Color – Orange with red undertones
Texture – Velvety smooth, lightweight
Longevity – 6 hours, give or take. Lesser with meals.
Suitable For – All complexions
Another slightly misleading name, the ‘Coral Flare’ isn’t an absolute coral shade, rather a pretty orange with red undertones. Suitable for a preppy, fresh look, this shade can be used by women of any complexion for a fun, youthful vibe.
6. Crimson Touch
Color – Red-Pink
Texture – Velvety smooth, lightweight
Longevity – 6 hours, give or take. Lesser with meals.
Suitable For – Cool toned complexions
In my humble opinion, the very abundance of reds in Lakme’s Absolute Matte range is both a blessing and a curse. The ‘Crimson Touch’ shade is yet another red but with dark pink undertones. Suitable for cool complexioned women, use this particular red if you dislike the other reds for standing out too much.
7. Deep Caramel
Color – Rich brown
Texture – Velvety smooth, lightweight
Longevity – 6 hours, give or take. Lesser with meals.
Suitable For – All complexions
Brown! Finally! If you wear lipsticks on a regular basis, or even if you’re just looking to start, a deep brown is one shade that should definitely find a spot in your makeup bag. Lakme’s Deep Caramel is a rich brown that is well suited to women of all skin tones. Apply once, or multiple times, for better color build up.
8. Le Fuscia
Color – Hot pink with blue undertones
Texture – Velvety smooth, lightweight
Longevity – 6 hours, give or take. Lesser with meals.
Suitable For – Cool toned women
A fashion staple, pink is a color for all seasons. Lakme’s Le Fuscia shade is a gorgeous hot pink that has blue undertones, unlike the regular pink reds that you find on the market. Use this color for a fun day out with your friends, or to weave some wedding magic at night. Thanks to the blue undertones, Le Fuscia is ideal for cool complexioned women, whether fair or dark.
9. Maroon Magic
Color – Maroon red
Texture – Velvety smooth, lightweight
Longevity – 6 hours, give or take. Lesser with meals.
Suitable For – All Indian complexions
A stunning shade of maroon, Lakme’s ‘Maroon Magic’ is another must have this wedding season. Ideal for women of all complexions, whether cool or warm toned, if you’re the kind of woman that likes her lips to do all the talking, there’s no way you can look the other way when it comes to this particular shade. Oh, and did I forget to mention the delectable gold shimmer on this matte? 😉
10. Mauve Fix
Color – Purple with brown undertones
Texture – Velvety smooth, lightweight
Longevity – 6 hours, give or take. Lesser with meals.
Suitable For – All skin types
With the flood of different colors and shades on the market, more and more women have been experimenting with unusual colors of late. While purple and plum shades have been around for a while now, consider Lakme’s ‘Mauve Fix’ a break from the regular reds and pinks. A mauve shade with brown undertones, Mauve Fix is a true, anytime-anyday color thanks to its suitability for women of all complexions.
11. Mauve Fun
Color – Mauve-pink
Texture – Velvety smooth, lightweight
Longevity – 6 hours, give or take. Lesser with meals.
Suitable For – Warm toned women
A step up from Mauve Fix, Mauve Fun is a fun purple shade that promises that you won’t look anything less than outstanding. A moderate purple, this shade is better suited for wheatish to fair skin types. For darker skin tones, purples from some other brand like Faces or MAC might be a better choice.
12. Peach Pout
Color – Peach
Texture – Velvety smooth, lightweight
Longevity – 6 hours, give or take. Lesser with meals.
Suitable For – Fair to wheatish complexions
Lakme’s Peach Pout is the perfect neutral shade for everyday wear. A light coral shade, this color is a subtle lipper, ideal for fair to wheatish complexioned women. Since darker complexioned women might find this color to be a washout; darker shades of peach might be a better call for them.
13. Pink Caress
Color – Peachy pink
Texture – Velvety smooth, lightweight
Longevity – 6 hours, give or take. Lesser with meals.
Suitable For – Fair to wheatish complexions
Similar to Peach Pout, Pink Caress is a peachy pink that is a regular pastel shade ideal for daily wear. Wear it to work or a casual day out when subtle is the name of the game you want to play. Suitable for fair to wheatish complexioned women.
14. Pink Flash
Color – Soft pink
Texture – Velvety smooth, lightweight
Longevity – 6 hours, give or take. Lesser with meals.
Suitable For – All Indian complexions
Finally a ‘pink’ pink from Lakme’s Absolute Matte Collection. Pink Flash lives up to its name as it gives the softest hint of pink, ideal for a sun-kissed youthful vibe. Can be worn by women of all skin types. However, if you have pigmented lips, you might need to apply the color 2-3 times for better build-up.
15. Pink Glam
Color – Vivid pink with magenta tones
Texture – Velvety smooth, lightweight
Longevity – 6 hours, give or take. Lesser with meals.
Suitable For – All Indian complexions
The best word to describe this offering from Lakme’s Absolute Matte stable is ‘runway pink’. A vivid pink with shades of magenta, Pink Glam is an ideal shade for occasions where you need to stand out. Thanks to its excellent color payoff, it can be worn by women of all complexions with ease.
16. Pink Me Up
Color – Vivid pink with red undertones
Texture – Velvety smooth, lightweight
Longevity – 6 hours, give or take. Lesser with meals.
Suitable For – Warm toned women
Consider this shade the warm toned, lighter counterpart of Lakme’s Pink Glam. A vivid pink with red undertones, Pink Me Up has great color payoff too. And, while it too can be worn by women of all complexions, it is definitely better suited to women with warm undertones to their skin.
17. Pink Passion
Color – Pink with red undertones
Texture – Velvety smooth, lightweight
Longevity – 6 hours, give or take. Lesser with meals.
Suitable For – All complexions
Very similar to Pink Me Up in terms of the pink on red undertones, I personally find it interchangeable with the same. So, my review is kinda the same too – bright pink, great color payoff, suitable for all complexions.
18. Pink Possession
Color – Pink with coral undertones
Texture – Velvety smooth, lightweight
Longevity – 6 hours, give or take. Lesser with meals.
Suitable For – Wheatish complexions
I know, Lakme’s collection of pinks seems to be never ending. Rounding off this list tho (finally!) is their ‘Pink Possession’. Unlike the pink on red, pink on magenta shades discussed so far, this particular shade is a pink with coral undertones. Ideal for an everyday look, this color comes off best on women of an intermediate complexion and is made to last.
19. Plum Spell
Color – Bright red
Texture – Velvety smooth, lightweight
Longevity – 6 hours, give or take. Lesser with meals.
Suitable For – All complexions
With Plum Spell, we’re back to Lakme’s list of ‘shade names that are nowhere near the color they describe’, which is kind of disappointing since this particular shade was the one I was most looking forward to (love me some plums!). A bright red that is comparable to a few of the other reds in Lakme’s collection (and thus, interchangeable) wear this (or one of its clones) for a night out in town.
20. Red Envy
Color – Red with orange undertones
Texture – Velvety smooth, lightweight
Longevity – 6 hours, give or take. Lesser with meals.
Suitable For – All complexions, preferably warm tones
The brightest of Lakme’s reds, Red Envy is a rich red with slight orange undertones that really help the color pop. Comparable to the mattes from L’oreal’s star collection, the Red Envy is a decent option for someone looking for a solid matte red without an extravagant price tag.
21. Red Flames
Color – Deep red
Texture – Velvety smooth, lightweight
Longevity – 6 hours, give or take. Lesser with meals.
Suitable For – All complexions
When you go shopping for makeup, and ask for ‘red’, this is the shade you mean. A pure unadulterated red, Lakme’s Red Flames has no undertones or shimmer, just a rich red pigment that looks velvety, even when seen from afar. Suitable for all complexions, if the Lakme Fashion Week finish is what you’ve been aspiring to, I’m very glad to be introducing you to your new best friend.
22. Red Rush
Color – Everyday red
Texture – Velvety smooth, lightweight
Longevity – 6 hours, give or take. Lesser with meals.
Suitable For – All complexions
Much like the pinks, the difference in Lakme Absolute Matte’s range of reds isn’t very distinct either. However, unlike the reds reviewed so far, Red Rush is more of an everyday red that can be worn by day, or night, without one having to worry about the color popping too much. Suitable for all complexions, its high color payoff will save you the hassle of multiple applications.
23. Rose Bloom
Color – Dusty pink
Texture – Velvety smooth, lightweight
Longevity – 6 hours, give or take. Lesser with meals.
Suitable For – Fair complexions
A personal favorite amongst the pinks in this collection, Rose Bloom is a dusty pink that comes through beautifully on women of all complexions. An exquisite pastel shade, Rose Bloom is ideal for wear all year long. Might require a couple of extra applications to attain the perfect build up.
24. Tangerine Lush
Color – Dusty orange
Texture – Velvety smooth, lightweight
Longevity – 6 hours, give or take. Lesser with meals.
Suitable For – All skin types
A welcome break from Lakme’s collection of reds and pinks, the Tangerine Lush is a mellow orange shade. Lacking any sort of shimmer or shine, this shade is absolutely perfect for women looking for sophistication with a twist. Can be worn by women of all skin types.
25. Wild Berry
Color – Berry Pink
Texture – Velvety smooth, lightweight
Longevity – 6 hours, give or take. Lesser with meals.
Suitable For – Cool toned complexions
Another favorite, the Berry Pink from Lakme’s Absolute Matte collection is a delicious berry shade ideal for just about any occasion. What I love about this shade is its versatility as it can be worn at any time of the day or year, for any event, and by women of any age. A true winner, this. With great color payoff, this shade is suitable for all skin types, but is best for women with cool toned complexions.
How To Use Lakme Absolute Sculpt Studio Hi-Definition Matte Lipstick?
To get the best out of your Lakme Absolute Sculpt Studio Hi-Definition Matte Lipstick, follow the directions given below:
- Always start by moisturizing your lips with a light dab of non-tinted lip balm or Vaseline, especially if you have dry lips. This helps prevent flaking, and reduces the appearance of fine lines on the lips. (Ideally, do this step at least half an hour before applying the lipstick).
- Optional: Using a lip liner is a matter of choice. But for the ultimate contoured look, use a lip liner in the same color as your Lakme Absolute Sculpt Studio Hi-Definition Matte Lipstick. Starting at the center of your upper lip, follow the natural contours of your lips to line them. If you’re feeling confident and have a steady hand, you can even line outside the lip line (also known as the vermilion border) for a bolder, enhanced pout. Especially helpful in case you have thin lips.
- Starting at the center of your upper lip, apply the lipstick in one gentle stroke from the center to the outer corners. If you have previously lined your lips with lip liner, all you need to do is fill in. If not, take care to stay within the vermilion border. Repeat the gentle stroke at the bottom lip.
- Apply 2-3 times for a richer color payoff.
For more details, read the step by step tutorial on how to apply lipstick perfectly.
Net Weight
3.7 gm
Expiry Time
For products bought in 2017, the expiry date extends well up to 2019 (two years), giving you ample time to use these lipsticks.
Rating
4 out of 5.
Knocking a star off due to duplicity of certain shades. Also, waterproof lipsticks, and the ingredient list mentioned in the future would be greatly appreciated. Hope Lakme’s listening.
Yes.
The Lakme Absolute Sculpt Studio Hi-Definition Matte lipsticks are comparable to some of the leaders in this range – namely MAC and L’oreal, but available at much lesser than their price. Given, you can’t expect all the goodness of a MAC lipstick in this range, but you may rest assured that it is definitely comparable.
With nearly 30 shades to choose from, Lakme gives its customers a plethora of options, which is both a blessing and a curse. Blessing since these shades are not just complexion but undertone specific too. Curse because some of these shades seem to be have been duplicated under a different name, with the difference being unremarkable, even to a keen eye. But in the shades that Lakme gets right (which is nearly all), it does that with a bang.
With a makeup revolution underway these past few years, more and more women have been getting on the makeup train, which is an absolute delight. Matte being the buzzword off late, Lakme has tried to cater to the matte needs of women on each end of the color spectrum, and in between, with its Absolute Sculpt Studio Hi-Definition Matte lipsticks. With a variety of reds, pinks, browns (and some oranges and berries thrown in for good measure), their sole objective seems to be to replace every matte shade in your makeup with their collection. Of course, how far that’s been effective is something only you can tell us.
*Subject to Availability
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