Rare Beauty Strengthen & Heroic Lip Souffles Reviews & Swatches

Strengthen

Rare Beauty Strengthen Lip Souffle Matte Cream Lipstick ($20.00 for 0.13 oz.) is a medium-dark, reddened-plum with subtle, warm undertones and a satin finish. It had semi-opaque color coverage that could be built up to full coverage with a second layer. In this formula, some of the deeper, more red-based shades have actually ended up the sheerer shades, which is unusual.

It had a very smooth, velvety glide that spread readily across my lips and was easy to work with and maneuver along the edges of my lips. While thin and very lightweight, it didn’t cling to my lips. This particular shade could have applied more evenly, and it didn’t emphasize my lip texture but wasn’t quite as flattering as some of the other shades in the range have been. It stayed on nicely for seven hours and felt a smidgen drying over time for me.

FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).

Top Dupes

View Swatches View All Dupes

NARS Transeurope Express (P, $26.00) is lighter, cooler (90% similar).
Guerlain #75 (P, $33.00) is lighter, cooler (90% similar).
Bite Beauty Brandy (P, $24.00) is more shimmery, lighter (90% similar).
MAC Stone's Throw (LE, $20.00) is more shimmery, lighter, cooler (90% similar).
Colour Pop Hermosa (P, $8.00) is darker, cooler (90% similar).
Lisa Eldridge Velvet Myth (LE, $32.00) is cooler (90% similar).
MAC Burning Love (P, $24.00) is darker, cooler (85% similar).
Urban Decay Nonsense (LE, $18.00) is lighter, cooler (85% similar).
Makeup Geek Boss Lady (P, $12.00) is darker (85% similar).
Make Up For Ever M102 (P, $22.00) is lighter, cooler, less glossy (85% similar).

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Formula Overview

$20.00/0.13 oz. - $153.85 Per Ounce

The formula is supposed to be an "air-whipped lip cream" with "rich, melted-in color" paired with "nourishing hydration." It's a liquid lipstick with a more velvety consistency and satin to matte finish--some shades seemed to turn matte very quickly while others were a bit denser and creamier.

It has a lot of silicones in it, which gives it slip and glide but not in the typical way a liquid lipstick might feel; it has a lighter-weight feel and a slight powderiness to it. If you're familiar with silicone-based primers, it has a similar glide to it. The fomrula felt "air-whipped" as it was lighter-weight, mousse-like, and had softer edges as it was applied with most shades.

Most of the shades were opaque in a single layer, and I did not have any issues with the applicator over-applying product. It seemed like it was enough product for full coverage, but if one wanted more of a blotted, diffused matte look (which is often how this type of mousse-like formula is used for), it felt very doable without having to wipe off product.

The majority of the shades applied evenly, didn't crack or emphasize my lip lines, and lasted anywhere from four to eight hours (some left a stain). They were more neither hydrating nor drying to me over time. They had a faint, beachy floral scent but didn't seem to have a taste as the lip balm formula did.

Browse all of our Rare Beauty Lip Souffle Matte Cream Lipstick swatches.

Ingredients

Dimethicone, Methyl Trimethicone, Polyglyceryl-2 Triisostearate, Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Isododecane, 1,2-Hexanediol, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Phenoxyethanol, PEG-10 Dimethicone, Tocopheryl Acetate, Propylene Carbonate, Fragrance/Parfum, Linalool, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil, Gardenia Florida Fruit Extract, Nelumbo Nucifera (Sacred Lotus) Flower Extract, Nymphaea Odorata Root Extract, [+/- May Contain/Peut Contenir: Red 27 (CI 45410), Red 28 Lake (CI 45410), Red 7 Lake (CI 15850), Titanium Dioxide (CI 77891), Blue 1 Lake (CI 42090), Iron Oxides (CI 77491).

Strengthen

PPermanent. $20.00.

B+

Product

8.5

Pigmentation

8.5

Texture

Longevity

4.5

Application

88%

Total

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Heroic

Rare Beauty Heroic Lip Souffle Matte Cream Lipstick ($20.00 for 0.13 oz.) is a more muted, dark raspberry pink with subtle, cool undertones and a semi-matte finish. It had nearly opaque pigmentation in a single layer, which could be built up to full coverage with less than a second layer on top.

The texture felt lightweight, airy, and was spreadable with more of a velvety glide than a more watery or “wet” feel, which has been more traditional of liquid lipsticks. As this formula doesn’t have a full dry-down, the color remained more flexible while worn, even if it did dry down from more of a satiny sheen to semi-matte finish within a couple of minutes from the initial application. The color applied evenly and lasted well for six and a half hours, though it was non-drying rather than hydrating (as marketed).

FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).

Top Dupes

View Swatches View All Dupes

NARS Damage Control (P, $26.00) is cooler (95% similar).
MAC Off the Record (LE, $20.00) is darker, cooler (90% similar).
Rare Beauty Ascend (P, $20.00) is lighter, cooler (90% similar).
Lisa Eldridge Skyscraper Rose (LE, $32.00) is brighter, cooler (90% similar).
MAC Claretcast (DC, $21.00) is lighter, brighter, glossier (90% similar).
Hermes Rose Velours (78) (LE, $67.00) is more shimmery, lighter, cooler (90% similar).
Fenty Beauty Unlocked (P, $24.00) is lighter, cooler (85% similar).
Kat Von D Miss Argentina (P, $20.00) is darker (85% similar).
Colour Pop First of All (PiP, $7.00) is darker (85% similar).
Stellar Beauty Wicked Aura 01 (P, $22.00) is more shimmery, darker, cooler (85% similar).