[Lip Swatch + Review] Living Dead Liquid Lipstick by Fabled Fragrances

• Shop name: Fabled Fragrances
  
• Location: Austin, Texas
• Known for: Cruelty-free (and sometimes vegan) makeup and perfumes inspired by mythology, fantasy, horror, and literature; also free of alcohol, soy, pthalates, gluten, and parabens
  

Living Dead is described as a dark blood red lipstick with a matte finish. I bought this from Fabled Fragrances in 2019 when I was on the hunt for the perfect deep red liquid lipstick.

This is a sample size, which Fabled Fragrances has for all of their products. According to the website, it's meant to be a creamy consistency that goes on opaque in 1-2 coats and dries in less than 60 seconds. I had no issues applying the lipstick with the small doefoot applicator, and I do agree with the claims that it applied smoothly and didn't take too long to dry. I wish the coverage were more even, though; you can tell in my swatch photo that some of the areas applied darker than others. I have also worn this with another layer, which darkened the color significantly but did look much more even as a consequence. The product does feel a little strange (almost powdery) on the lips but is very comfortable and has an impressive wear time. In one wear test, it looked nearly flawless all day through drinking water and eating crackers and pasta. I experienced a little bit of fading in the middle, but it wasn't noticeable unless I intentionally exposed that part of my lips. In another wear test, it lasted really well while I ate but did crack and get a little bit crumbly. I imagine it would stay well in most situations but may be best for times when the patchiness may not be seen by anyone up close.

This product also claims to be:

• VEGAN, CRUELTY-FREE
• Smudge Resistant (oily foods or products will smear lipstick)
• Transfer Resistant
• Water Proof
• Kiss Proof (pecks and smooches are fine; more intense kisses may smudge)

Thoughts

I'm a little bit torn on this lipstick - on one hand, I do like it, but I also don't think it's perfect. Do I keep using it since I already have it, or should I continue searching for the perfect dark red that lasts all day? This is why I like getting samples when possible. Ultimately, I will probably wear it around my house because I already own it. Besides, I am certainly not going anywhere I need lipstick anytime soon! In the future, though, I don't think this is going to be an item I repurchase. I like it and will try to work more with it, but I'm not sure how to make the application more even. I loved the deeper color it became when I added a second layer, but I still need something in this dark red shade. Part of me wonders if the color would apply differently in a full-sized tube, but I'm not sure it's time for that yet. If I discover any breakthrough tips, I will report back!

 

Update: This continues to give me trouble, and I find the wear too inconsistent to keep messing with it. It's possible that my sample is old and has gotten less usable with time, but I am not willing to take the chance on a full size when I have other formulas that I prefer, even ones much older in my collection. Below is a photo from January 2021, where Living Dead cracked and flaked off before I even had anything more to eat than crackers and nuts. (You can also see how much deeper and more even the color gets with two coats, which I do like.) This formula just doesn't seem to be for me!