Smashbox Insta-Matte Lipstick Transformer Review

Smashbox Insta-Matte Lipstick Transformer

Yesterday, I got a chance to try the Smashbox Insta-Matte Lipstick Transformer.  I didn’t really expect to like this as much as I did.  Now, I feel like I need this in my life.  So, I’m going to issue a warning.  Warning:  If you don’t want to mistake makeup for magic, you might now want to get/try this product.

I had a few misconceptions about this product and I feel like we should talk about that first.  I don’t know why, but in my mind, this was going to be like a lipgloss.  I thought it was going to be sticky and goopy and have a weird feeling.  I actually thought it felt really nice.  This wasn’t sticky or weird feeling and it even seemed to be a little hydrating, which surprised me.

Application.  Apparently, people have been having trouble with application.  In true fashion, I seemed to have accidentally stumbled upon the correct application process (similarly to how I’ve been baking for years without knowing that was a thing).  The instructions seem to say to apply generously which apparently causes problems, but I put a dab on my finger and applied that way.

How did it perform?  Amazingly.  It was like magic.  I thought maybe you would apply it and it would dry down to a matte finish.  I have a matte fingernail polish and it is thick and takes forever to dry, so maybe I thought the lip product was going to be like that.  But it wasn’t.  It works instantly.  And just a little dab gets the job done.

I layered this on top of three Smashbox Be Legendary Cream Lipsticks.  I wanted to try it with lip products I actually owned, but it was a Smashbox preview so I just grabbed what was handy. I wanted to try this with Pout, those pastel pinks get me every time, but they didn’t have a Pout tester.  I tried this with one nude shade, a pink, and I grabbed a more red shade.  The red shade turned out not to be as true a red shade as I thought at first but I actually really like the color.  It was Fig and I kind of want it.

Smashbox Audition

Audition is described as a neutral rose, I thought it was a pinkish nude.

Smashbox Panorama Pink

Panorama Pink is described as a true pink, it was the only pink they had available for swatching.  I’m honestly not sure how many pinks they have in this line as I’m not familiar with it.

Smashbox Fig

Fig is described as a red grape, which I think is a good description of the color.  It was like a dark magenta kind of color.

Smashbox Panorama Pink, Audition, and Fig

The lipsticks are $21 each.  They are creamy and very glossy.  In the swatches, I tried to keep the bottom of the swatches free of the Lipstick Transformer so you could see the glossiness.  I don’t know how well that shows up on camera.  The Insta-Matte Lipstick Transformer is $24.

Overall, I think I've already established I love this stuff!!! I do however question it's usefulness for me personally. I already have so many matte lipsticks.