Huda Beauty power bullet matte vs cream glow lipstick – is the new launch better than the original?

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If you’re looking for a matte lipstick that no amount of tea drinking or dinner eating will shift, this is it.

One of the longest-wearing lipsticks we’ve ever tried, it’s not for the fainthearted, but if matte is your preferred finish, then this won’t let you down.

It’s incredibly pigmented, so one application is enough to coat your entire lips with colour, and there’s plenty of shades to pick from, whether you want a Nineties-style nude or a modern rosy pink.

Two shades we love are “wedding day”, a cool pink which is perfect to finish off a more subtle make-up look, and “third date”, a warm, rosy shade that makes for a great statement lip if you tend towards pink undertones.

The lipstick bullet itself has a flat, diamond-shaped tip that makes applying product into the corners of your mouth speedy and simple. While we also rate the Huda Beauty lip contour lip liners (£16, Cultbeauty.co.uk) for their creamy texture, we wouldn't say they’re essential to perfecting your application, as using a lip brush to paint on the product can be just as effective.

While the formula isn’t drying and stays soft throughout the day, we would strongly recommend using lip balm before you apply it to ensure you have as hydrated a base as possible for the most comfortable wear.

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On TikTok, a popular challenge video is to do one side of your make-up as you would in 2016 – the height of the matte finishes trend – and the other side as you wear it in 2021.

This 2016 trend was very much led by beauty YouTubers such as Kattan and her peers, with full-coverage foundations, heavy contouring, bold eye looks, big lashes and matte lipsticks making up most of the beauty tutorials.

However, in the past 18 months we’ve seen this style take a backseat and glossy, creamy textures come to the forefront as many are starting to favour lightweight make-up and sheer finishes.

We think the power bullet cream glow lipstick sits in the middle – it’s still rich in pigment, but with a creamy finish that has a subtle glow. While we were happy with one coat, you could easily build up the colour.

Read more: We tried Huda Beauty’s first-ever brow pencil, here’s what we thought

We found “habibi” was an almost exact match for “third date”, while “angel” is closest to “wedding day”, if just a tad pinker.

While we didn’t notice a plumping effect, it has a smooth formula that feels a bit like a rich balm.

It’s definitely heavier than other cream lipsticks we’ve tried, so this would suit someone who wants a creamy formula without scrimping on pigment.

It doesn’t have the same staying power as the matte lipsticks, but that’s to be expected considering the formula. We noticed it particularly after we ate, but it wouldn’t put us off.