I read a review on a beauty blog a few months ago which mentioned the ELF matte lip colours and decided to buy a couple to try because they sounded great.

At £3.75 per 1.8 gram lipstick they're extremely good value for money and after having a look at the swatches I decided to buy 'rich red' - a deep blue red shade and 'tea rose' which is a dark baby pink shade. There are four other shades available and I didn't really like the look of them from the swatches but they include a beigey colour, coral, an orangey brown and a very light pink.

The colour choice is pretty good and there's a shade to suit everyone. The lipstick is part of ELF's studio range of cosmetics which are marketed as being top rated professional makeup that's super affordable and easy to use. The lipstick isn't in the average lipstick packaging and instead the tube is shaped like a long, chunky eyeliner pencil. The packaging is made from sturdy black plastic and it has got the product and brand name written on the side of it.

There's a small band on the bottom of it which has a swatch of the colour that the lipstick is so it is easy to tell which lipstick is which just by looking at the packaging which I find handy seeing as I have it in two different shades. The lid pulls off easily and underneath there's the lipstick which is a good size and it looks a bit like a jumbo sized crayon nib. I usually apply lipstick with a lip brush so that it's neat and precise but because I can hold this just like a pencil it is really easy to apply it and I find it quite fun!

The lipstick glides over my lips and it is not at all waxy or drying, nor does it feel heavy on my lips. The formula is lovely - really soft and creamy and it is fragrance free. It is enriched with vitamins A, C & E and it makes my lips feel quite moisturised which for a matte lipstick is quite unusual but I'm not complaining! Although it doesn't feel dry on my lips, it does highlight any lines, cracks or dry patches so a base of Vaseline is always necessary before applying it and I usually exfoliate my lips prior to using it as well.

The finish is really impressive - bright, bold, well pigmented lips and the lipstick looks a lot more expensive than it is. However, it is not actually fully matte and it does give my lips a very slight sheen which is extremely subtle and definitely not glossy. It is almost unnoticeable in some lighting and it isn't in your face or anything - personally I like that it is not fully matte as it makes my lips look moist and healthy and it also means that I don't need to apply lipgloss over the top. The lipstick lasts for a few hours before going patchy and starting to look faded and worn but it is quick and easy to re-apply due to the packaging design.

Removing it is quick and easy as well. It is not non transferrable and it does make a massive mess if I kiss or snog my boyfriend which is a minor disadvantage!! It is not drying on my lips though and it looks amazing for the price so I highly recommend it. Five out of five stars.