Rimmel The Only 1 Matte Lipstick: Swatches and Review

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How to cite: Wong M. Rimmel The Only 1 Matte Lipstick: Swatches and Review. Lab Muffin Beauty Science. February 17, 2017. Accessed March 28, 2024. https://labmuffin.com/rimmel-only-1-matte-lipstick-swatches-review/

Rimmel The Only 1 Matte Lipstick: Swatches and Review

Here’s the sequel to Rimmel’s The Only 1 lipsticks which I loved: Rimmel The Only 1 Matte. Much like the original, they mix intense colour, easy application, and excellent staying power, and even feel moisturising… almost (let’s face it, matte lipsticks never truly feel moisturising!). There are 9 shades available, and all 9 shades are coming to Australia. Here they are:

Rimmel The Only 1 Matte Lipstick: Swatches and Review

  • Trendsetter (7oo) – warm pinkish brown nude
  • Salute (200) – nude pink
  • High Flyer (610) – dusty mauve
  • Leader of the Pink (110) – medium pink

Rimmel The Only 1 Matte Lipstick: Swatches and Review

  • Call the Shots (120) – fuchsia pink
  • Take the Stage (500) – bright red
  • The Matte Factor (810) – plum
  • Look Who’s Talking (750) – maroon brown
  • Run the Show (800) – bright purple

The colour selection is really well suited to my tastes. The only shades I’m not too fond of are Leader of the Pink and Salute, and even then Salute looks pretty good on me (I just don’t like how Barbie-ish cool pinks look with my colouring). The only common shade I can think of that’s missing is a deep red that isn’t purple or brown toned, but honestly it doesn’t seem necessary. I’m very pleased that Trendsetter looks good on me (it’s very close to my HG brownish nude, Marc Jacobs No Angel, but at a fraction of the price).

Rimmel The Only 1 Matte Lipstick: Swatches and Review

The Only 1 Matte tick pretty much all the boxes you’d want a matte lipstick to tick:

  • Highly pigmented? Check – two swipes and it’s opaque.
  • Not super drying? Check. It dries your lips out after a few hours, but a reapplication keeps things decent. Not as moisturising as the cream version, but pretty much top marks for matte.
  • Actually matte? Check… it’s a little bit satin in the right light, but for something that isn’t liquid, it’s about as matte as it gets.
  • Applies nicely with no drag? Check! The least draggy matte lipsticks I’ve ever used.
  • Lasting power? You bet! Gets through a (carefully eaten) meal without desperately needing reapplication thanks to heavy pigmentation.
  • Even fading? Yes! Leaves a pretty stain behind and doesn’t feather (though the edges get a bit patchy, but it’s easily fixed with reapplication).

Again, I’m not that keen on the tapered shape of the lid which doesn’t look elegant to me, and stops the lipsticks from sitting together nicely, but it does stop them from rolling around. It has the same cucumber/melon scent that’s used in other Rimmel products which a lot of people don’t love. I don’t mind it (though I can’t say I love it either), but it’s something to be aware of before you buy!

One thing I didn’t really appreciate enough in my last review – while the flat slanted shape isn’t as pretty as a traditional lipstick bullet, and makes the first swatch a bit annoying as the edge tends to crumble – it makes application REALLY CONVENIENT. I’m able to apply this lipstick in 5 seconds flat with one hand and no lip brush, and it looks decent. I’m sure the pigmented formula and the lack of drag helps as well!

Rimmel The Only 1 Matte Lipstick: Swatches and Review

These are some of my favourite lipsticks now. I’ve been successfully converted from the Kate Moss Lasting Finish collection. Rimmel lip products have always been my drugstore go-to, and these do not disappoint at all.

Rimmel The Only 1 Matte Ingredients

Synthetic Wax, Cyclopentasiloxane, Isononyl Isononanoate, Polyethylene, Polypropylene, Silica, Phenyl Trimethicone, C20-40 Alcohols, Parfum/Fragrance, Phenoxyethanol, Isopropyl Titanium Triisostearate, Tocopheryl Acetate, BHT, [May Contain/Peut Contenir/+/-: Mica, Titanium Dioxide (CI 77891), D&C Red No. 6 Barium Lake (CI 15850), D&C Red No. 7 Calcium Lake (CI 15850), Iron Oxides (CI 77491, CI 77492, CI 77499), FD&C Yellow No. 5 Aluminum Lake (CI 19140), FD&C Yellow No. 6 Aluminum Lake (CI 15985), FD&C Blue No. 1 Aluminum Lake (CI 42090)].

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