My mother has strong opinions about my lipstick choices, and she’s not shy about sharing those opinions. She has expressed distaste for some of my favorite lip products, such as Pat McGrath Madame Greige [“washes you out, like you’re not even wearing lipstick”], NARS Dolce Vita [“I know it’s supposed to be subtle, but there’s such a thing as too subtle”], Marc Jacobs Rei of Light [“too orange”], and Bite Rose Pearl gloss [“too glossy”]. If it were up to her, I would wear nothing but dark reds, berries, and plums in matte or satin formulas. I agree that those colors are my most flattering, but a woman needs variety, you know? Well, some women do; my mom wore the same two shades of L’Oreal lipstick, Blushing Berry and Raspberries, every day for at least twenty years.
To protect me from my dangerous self-unflattering impulses, my mom occasionally buys me drugstore lipsticks [she also thinks I spend too much money on lipstick, of course] in colors she approves of. And that’s how I acquired Maybelline Divine Wine, though I can’t recall whether she gave it to me when I was visiting San Francisco last January or sent it in my Valentine’s Day care package the next month. She’s been wearing Maybelline makeup, mostly eyeliner, since the mid-’60s; talk about brand loyalty.
This is the epitome of the kind of color my mom thinks I should wear every day. It’s a deep, slightly muted reddish berry that looks raspberry in some lights and almost brick red in others, with a soft semi-matte finish. I’m a fan of the Maybelline matte formula, which I’d describe as “dynamic”: it can be sheered out or built up without clumping or streaking. In the last year or so I’ve developed a taste for dabbing on bold matte lipsticks as soft stains, and Divine Wine is perfect for that method, as you can see in the swatches below; you’ll also notice that the more I sheer it out, the brighter and pinker it looks.
I’m sure no one will be surprised to hear that I own several lipsticks in this color family. L-R: Maybelline Raging Raisin, Smoking Red, and Divine Wine [all gifts from my mom, needless to say]; MAC D for Danger and Eugenie.
Smoking Red, from the discontinued Loaded Bolds line, appears almost identical to Divine Wine in these swatches, but it’s much darker on my lips: a flapper plum-red, not a ’50s plum-red. The closest match for Divine Wine in this lineup is actually MAC D for Danger, one of my all-time favorite lip colors and probably the closest thing I have to a “signature” lipstick. D for Danger is lighter, brighter, and pinker than Divine Wine, and the formula is more matte, but when I look back at photos of myself wearing one of the two, I sometimes can’t tell which one it is. But I do know for a fact that in the image below, I’m wearing D for Danger on the left and Divine Wine on the right:
My one issue with Divine Wine is that when I wear it at full opacity, I struggle to make it adhere to the inner part of my lower lip [as you can see in the above image]. I often have this problem with the soft, siliconey matte formulas that drugstore brands are producing these days, and that’s one of the reasons why MAC and NARS remain my favorite brands for matte lipsticks. But Divine Wine is still a beautiful winter lipstick, both because of its color and because it’s not drying; in fact, it smooths over the rough patches that my lips always sport this time of year.
I haven’t seen my mom in over a year now, and I’m not sure when I’ll be able to visit San Francisco again [this fall or winter, I’m hoping]. But wearing the lipsticks she’s given me makes me feel a little closer to her. And maybe, despite her talk of flattering and unflattering colors, that’s what she really means her gifts to do.
Love the colour, the finish lasts a pretty good time, and I like the scent. One of my absolute favourite colours of lipstick.
About reviewer [14 reviews]
Age30-35
SkinNormal, Fair-Medium, Neutral
HairBrunette, Wavy, Other
EyesBrown
695 divine wine is a deep burgundy red with a warm undertone. it's very similar to milani color statement lipstick in tuscan toast. i love both of these lipsticks and will repurchase for sure.
About reviewer [483 reviews]
Age30-35
SkinSensitive, Fair-Medium, Warm
HairBrown, Straight, Medium
EyesBrown
Revlon's Love Is On and Maybelline Sensational Creamy Mattes Rich Ruby helped me find reds that I loved after looking for a very long time. My lips are pigmented and can make certain reds look...
About reviewer [82 reviews]
Age44-55
SkinSensitive, Medium, Warm
HairBrunette, Straight, Medium
EyesBrown
I'm in the minority with this lipstick. It looks like a deep brown red in the tube but once on it looks more pink on me :[ I seem to have this problem with a lot of red shades. My biggest...
About reviewer [1338 reviews]
Age36-43
SkinCombination, Fair
HairBlond
EyesBlue
It's been a long time I have not posted any reviews but I have to share this. Since last year I've been flirting with Burberry Lip Velvet in Oxblood. A delicious oxblood lipstick. An expensive one...
About reviewer [47 reviews]
Age44-55
SkinSensitive, Fair
HairBrown
EyesBrown
I'm a little surprised this hasn't gotten a whole lot of reviews on here; it has been around for a hot minute and these Maybelline Color Sensationals are probably the quintessential creamy,...
About reviewer [274 reviews]
Age25-29
SkinNormal, Fair, Warm
HairBrunette, Curly, Fine
EyesGreen
Beautiful dark brownish wine red. I've yet to wear it out, haha, only got it 3 days ago. It is quite deep and bold on my fair NC10-15 skintone, but not too purple or too bright and I got dark...
About reviewer [17 reviews]
Age19-24
SkinCombination, Fair, Warm
HairBrunette, Wavy, Medium
EyesBrown
I expected to love this, but I can't wear it. For a pale person, I can often get away with dark reds. But this one is darkened with a color that doesn't flatter me. With my pale mauve natural lip...
About reviewer [46 reviews]
Age56 & Over
SkinCombination, Fair, Not Sure
HairBrunette, Wavy, Fine
EyesHazel
This was the first matte in this line that I tried. I had a hard time finding this as its was sold out in many stores,which shows you how popular it is. The other matte I tried was Rich Ruby. Both...
About reviewer [117 reviews]
Age36-43
SkinCombination, Medium Brown, Warm
HairBlack, Other, Other
EyesOther
My skintone is around an NC20. This shade pulls a very deep wine red. It makes my teeth look super white. I really love this shade. my old go to fall shade was black cherry by revlon but I was...
About reviewer [179 reviews]
Age19-24
SkinCombination, Fair, Warm
HairBrown, Straight, Fine
EyesBlue
I love Maybelline. Mascara, foundation, lipsticks - all amazing. When I saw this shade on Pinterest, I knew I had to have it. It was my first introduction to matte lipsticks and I've been hooked...
About reviewer [327 reviews]
Age36-43
SkinDry, Medium, Warm
HairBrunette, Wavy, Coarse
EyesHazel
I am not a big fan of the Maybelline lipsticks. I love the look of them, but the smell reminds me of my mom's old lipsticks..not is a good way. However, these creamy mattes are really nice. I...
How long does Maybelline creamy matte lipstick last?
LASTS UPTO 12 HOURS: The Maybelline Color Sensational Creamy Matte Lipstick lasts up to 12 hours. CREAMY TEXTURE: This rich creamy lipstick formula with shea butter leaves behind a burst of bold colour and the creamiest texture, giving your lips a sensuous feel.
Which Maybelline lipstick is long lasting?
BEST LONG LASTING BALM AND LIPSTICK: SUPER STAY 24® 2-STEP LONG LASTING LIQUID LIPSTICK. When we say long-lasting we mean it. This highly-pigmented color lasts up to 24 hours, glides on like a gloss, and moisturizes like a lip balm. Plus, special technology ensures color doesn't cake, flake, or dry.
Are Maybelline lipstick good?
Maybelline is one of my favorite drugstore brands, and for good reason. More often than not, I like the brand's products and would happily repurchase them. The SuperStay Liquid Lipstick is no different—from the cost to the shade range to the much-anticipated results, it's truly fantastic.
Which Maybelline lipstick is best for fair skin?
Nude lipstick for fair skin. Fair and light complexions usually have cool undertones, so look for a nude lipstick shade that has soft pink undertones that complement the cool undertone of your skin. If you are someone with a light or fair complexion and a warm undertone, look for a peachy-nude lipstick instead.