A Bit of a Bear, Kevyn Aucoin Tenacious Matte Lip Color Is Worth the Fight

If I were a makeup artist working on an artsy-fartsy magazine shoot, I wouldn’t think twice about putting Kevyn Aucoin’s $32 Matte Lip Color in Tenacious on a model because it’s one of those rare, otherworldly lipsticks that takes your breath away in pics.

I can see it now, maybe with a bright green or shimmery gold on the lids…

When Nicki Minaj’s Pink 4 Friday Lipstick came out in 2010, this is what I was hoping that was going to look like (instead, it looked pretty ghastly on me).

Thing is, as much as I love how Tenacious looks in pics, in real life, it’s kind of a bear. Being highly pigmented and matte makes finding its sweet spot — the right amount to wear — difficult. Too little and it looks uneven and streaky; too much and it settles into my fine lines, leaving me looking like a hot mess.

Eventually, I get there, but not before a lot of layering, blotting, and pat-pat-patting with a finger.

Tenacious is definitely not a color you can absentmindedly swipe on your lips and bop along your day. Even after it’s applied, it’s like a needy boyfriend who requires frequent check-ins.

But man! — it sure looks great once you get it working.

What else should you know about Kevyn Aucoin Tenacious Matte Lip Color?

• It’s available now at Nordstrom for $32.
• It has a faint, classic rose flavor and scent.
• The lightweight formula feels relatively slippery for a matte (similar to the NARS Pure Mattes but slicker).
• Technically, it’s a matte, but I see a subtle, almost satiny shine; I guess I’d call it more of a satin finish than a flat matte.
• It lasts from 5-6 hours on the lips.

Ingredients: Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Octydodecanol, Isostearyl Neopentanoate, Euphorbia Cerifera (Candelilla) Wax, Kaolin, Microcrystalline Wax, Bis-Diglyceryl Polyacryladipate-2, Ozokerite, Methoxy PEG-11/Methoxy PEG-17/HDI Isocyanurate Trimer Crosspolymer, Tocopherol, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Lecithin,Citric Acid, Flavor, Benzyl Salicylate, Eugenol, Citronellol, MAY CONTAIN (+/-): Iron Oxides (CI77491, CI77492, CI77499), Titanium Dioxide (CI77891), Yellow 6 Lake (CI15985), Red 7 Lake (CI15850), Red 28 Lake (CI45410), Red 6 (CI15850), Blue 1 Lake(CI42090).

Tenacious really ought to be in pictures because I think that’s where it shines. It looks so interesting and beautiful in pics. It just takes a little work to get it where I want it to go in real life.

PRICE: $32
AVAILABILITY: Available now at Nordstrom stores and nordstrom.com
MAKEUP AND BEAUTY BLOG RATING: B

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

P.S. Happy semi-belated hump day. I’m just here in my hotel room getting ready for bed. I checked in with Tabs and El Hub back at home (they’re fine and doing some male bonding). Now I think I’ll Netflix an episode of House of Cards on my laptop and go to bed. 🙂 Have a good sleeps.