Giorgio Armani Beauty | Lip Maestro #634 Burgundy

The release of the Giorgio Armani Beauty Orient Excess 2014 Holiday Collection also included two new shades in the Lip Maestro formula, #414 Blood Red and #634 Burgundy, shown in this post (previous reviews of this collection can be found here and here). Said to impart ‘intensely matte “couture” lips’, I would have to say that this is more of a liquid lipstick formula that has serious staying power along with unbelievable colour saturation – but definitely not matte, by my definition. Did I mention that it’s also damn, damn sexy?

Lip Maestro #634 Burgundy (CAN $38.00) | While every brand – from high end to mass market – have released some type of their own version of liquid lip formula (I hesitate to call this group a gloss, but neither does it fall in the traditional lipstick category – so liquid lip, it is), I confess that Giorgio Armani Beauty was not only one of the first (if not THE first) to introduce this format to the world, but went on to perfect it as well. And let’s face it: no one – but NO ONE – does red lips as divinely as this brand.

The Lip Maestro format is one that is incredibly pigmented yet completely lightweight in feel, as the gel formula bears no “white” in the base, leaving nothing but pure colour on the lips, without any waxy or sticky feel. The angled and slightly tapered sponge-tip applicator has been uniquely designed to deposit the right amount of product per stroke, while the tip works beautifully on more detailed areas of the lips (cupid’s bow, corners), allowing for more precision work. There is a very, very light & slightly floral scent that I detect (but only by bringing the applicator right up to my nose) that seems to dissipate rather quickly upon application. The tube is clear which is a huge plus, as you can monitor the amount of product remaining – so much easier than having to guess whether you’re running out or not.

With regards to application, it really doesn’t get easier than this; one swipe of the brush yields enough product to fully cover the lips, while a second swipe simply intensifies the tone. As stated above, the feel is so lightweight, that if you didn’t know better (which obviously you do, considering the colour ∗duh∗), you’d swear you’re not wearing anything at all. The description calls this a “matte” lip product, but I find that it’s more a plush velvet finish instead – nowhere near the reflective finish of a gloss, and definitely far from the light absorbing properties of a true matte lip shade – the finish here falls somewhere in between, leaving lips drenched in colour, with a radiant sheen. Oddly enough, with a name like #634 Burgundy, I expected something significantly deeper in colour, and yet what I see is more of a true red with just the right combination of orange and blue tones in the base, making this shade workable on a wide variety of complexions, but definitely not burgundy (although I’m not complaining, as I absolutely love this red, regardless of the name). Staying power is impressive, lasting easily 9 hours (even through light eating & drinking, although some reapplication will be needed at this point), and even when some product starts to wear off, I find that a quick press of the lips is all that’s needed to re-distribute and revive the colour. On the bonus side, I experience absolutely no migration or bleeding into surrounding lip lines (although you do need to be aware of any colour getting on your teeth during initial application).

Giorgio Armani Beauty | Lip Maestro #634 Burgundy

For years now, I have stayed true to my comfort zone of neutral lip colours, but the past few weeks have seem me leaning more and more towards a brighter, crimson pout. The issues with wearing a red lip, however, is A) finding the right hue to suit your skin tone, and B) finding a product that will not only last, but also avoid leaving that dreaded red “ring” behind upon the lips. This #634 Burgundy Lip Maestro shade manages to accomplish both with ease, while being spot-on with what I’ve been noticing as a return to a more glamorous look – and with a shade as siren-sexy as this, you can certainly count on being noticed. Come-hither looks, optional.

Available now through Giorgio Armani Beauty counters – visit www.giorgioarmanibeauty-usa.com for more brand info.