Lipstick Love at First Swipe: Tom Ford Matte Lip Colour in Plum Lush

Hi, everyone! If you're a regular reader of the blog, I'm sure you've heard it all before: Jen falls head over heels with a new luxury lipstick, blah, blah blah....  It's certainly not an unfamiliar tale, but once in a while I discover a lipstick sooo good that it *almost* makes me forsake all others for it. A shade that instantly brightens my face, makes me feel fresh and glamorous, and is a total pleasure to wear. This was the case when I swiped on Tom Ford's Matte Lip Colour in Plum Lush earlier this week. 

I was lucky enough to receive a gift card to Holt Renfrew for my birthday (thanks, Jenn!), and I instantly knew that I'd put it towards something luxurious. There are few things more luxe than Tom Ford makeup, so that was my first stop! I had my eye on a few bold shades from the collection (like Matte Lip Colours in Flame and Electric Pink, for example), but when I painted on Plum Lush, the deal was sealed.

Tom Ford Matte Lip Colours come in the same packaging as his original Lip Colours, a quilted, reflective deep brown box with gold detailing. 

The lipstick tubes are identical as well: weighty and rectangular, with glossy deep brown sides, rich gold accents, and the TF logo proudly on top. You can see that the packaging is relatively large, as well as heavy, as it looks rather imposing in my palm. 

The Matte Lip Colour lipstick bullets are also identical to the original Lip Colours, with a tilted tip and the TF logo pressed in. Careful inspection of this photo will reveal that I used the lipstick gently before photographing it- further evidence that I found it truly irresistible! 

Tom Ford Matte Lip Colours promise a satin-matte finish and, from their look in swatches and on the lips, it's clear that the "satin" aspect is for real- they really give a flattering, subtle glow to the lips! Plum Lush is a rich neutral to cool-toned raspberry pink. It's a beautiful blend of plum, berry, and fuchsia that creates a shade that's bright, but not neon, bold, but not vampy. 

Here is close-up of the shade on my lips. You can see that the pigmentation is intense and the finish is a bit more satiny than matte:

And here is Plum Lush in the context of a completed makeup look. I love how the shade instantly brightens my face and adds a beautiful pop of colour without overwhelming the complexion. Its vibrancy is totally up my alley, and yet it remains totally sophisticated and polished. I was shopping with Nicole when I picked this up, and she described it as my "professional PhD bright pink"- I think she was spot-on! :)

Although I'll argue that Plum Lush and its beautiful satin-matte, ultra-pigmented formula is unique in my stash, it does have some close cousins. Here it is swatched alongside YSL Rouge Volupte in Rose Culte (which is slightly shinier and more red-toned), Bite Beauty Luminous Lip Creme in Palomino (again, more luminous), Milani Colour Statement Lipstick in Flirty Fuchsia (decidedly cooler-toned, more blue), and Lime Crime Unicorn Lipstick in Centrifuchsia (shinier, more sheer, and cooler-toned). 

If you couldn't tell already, Plum Lush has quickly risen to the ranks of my all-time favourite lipsticks. I rarely grant this status to brand-new additions to my stash, but everything about this lipstick is perfect. The pigmentation is intense, the satin-matte finish allows it to glide easily across the lips, the wear-time is impeccable (wears nearly flawlessly though a light meal, leaves a pretty stain behind after 6+ hours), and, with my complexion, shades do not get more flattering than this! 

What is your go-to always flattering lipstick? Have you splurged on a luxe lipstick lately?

Have a fabulous weekend! :)