I Was This Close to Tossing It in the Mailer
Let’s be real. When the USHAS Matte Lipstick and Liner set arrived, my first thought was “Is this a joke?” The gold packaging in the photos looked luxe. What showed up at my door felt like a prop from a discount store’s bargain bin. Seriously. The case had this weird, plasticky feel that made a hollow click when I opened it. Not the satisfying magnetic thunk you hope for. It felt cheap. I was already side-eyeing the whole situation.
Then I tried the lipstick. Oh boy. The shade I got was a nude, but it went on patchy. Like, really patchy. I looked like I’d applied lipstick while riding a rollercoaster. My lips felt dry the second it touched down. The whole “matte” claim seemed to translate to “instantly sucks all moisture from your soul.” I gave it a full day’s test. By my third sip of coffee, it had migrated into the fine lines around my mouth. I had that dreaded butthole lip effect by 10 AM. Not a good look for a Zoom call. I was mortified. I grabbed the lip liner, hoping it would help. The liner was so hard it practically squeaked on my skin. I had to press down like I was etching glass. Honestly? My first impression was terrible. The box was already half-packed for a return.
And the smell. I have to mention the smell. It wasn’t awful, but it was there. This faint, waxy, crayon-adjacent scent. Not the sweet vanilla or fruity smell you get from high-end lipsticks. Every time I applied it, I was reminded of opening a new box of Crayolas. Which is fine for art class, but not for my face. I was stress-eating salt and vinegar chips when I noticed the color had completely caked and flaked off in the center. A total mess. I was THIS close to returning it.
The Grudging Second Chance
Look, I hate waste. The return window was still open, and the product was just sitting on my vanity, judging me. So I decided to give it one more shot. But differently. I’d been treating it like my other matte lipsticks—swipe and go. This thing clearly needed a different approach. I saw a tiny, easy-to-miss diagram on the bottom of the box that mentioned something about a “priming” step. I’d ignored it before. Out of pure, stubborn desperation, I decided to listen.
Why It Actually Works (And I Hate to Admit It)
Okay. Here’s the turning point. I exfoliated my lips like my life depended on it. I used a heavy lip balm, let it soak in for a full ten minutes, and then blotted every last bit off. I was watching a truly terrible reality TV show while I did this, purely for distraction. Then, I took that squeaky-tight liner and gently, with almost no pressure, outlined my lips. I didn’t fill them in. Just the outline. Then I applied the lipstick. Just one thin layer. Blotted it on a tissue. Then another micro-thin layer.
The difference was stupid. It wasn’t patchy. It went on smooth. It dried down to a true matte, but my lips didn’t feel like the Sahara. I honestly don’t know why it needs this specific ritual when my other lipsticks don’t, but it does. The color was even. It looked… good. Really good. A perfect my-lips-but-better nude that didn’t wash me out. I went about my day, fully expecting the usual disaster.
But it stayed. I drank an entire iced tea. I ate a pretty messy turkey sandwich. I even took a nap. When I woke up and checked the mirror, I gasped. The color was still there. It had faded ever so slightly in the very center, but the overall shape and pigment were intact. No feathering. No butthole lip. Just a soft, stained, matte finish. I was shocked. The “long-lasting” and “waterproof” claims, which I had written off as total lies, were… kind of true? As long as you don’t eat a gallon of greasy pizza, this stuff locks in.
And that packaging I hated? After carrying it in my bag for a week, I realized something. The cheap-feeling click case? It never once opened in my purse. Not a single smudge on the inside. My fancier, heavier magnetic case lipsticks have popped open and ruined a bag liner. This flimsy-feeling thing is actually secure. Go figure.
The Final, Slightly Grumpy Verdict
So, would I repurchase? That’s complicated.
Yes, but with major caveats. I wouldn’t buy this if you’re looking for a grab-and-go, low-maintenance lipstick. This is a diva. It demands a pre-game routine. If you’re in a rush, forget it. You’ll have a bad time. But if you have five extra minutes and need a lip color that will legitimately last through meals and hours without touch-ups, this weird little set from USHAS actually delivers.
It’s not perfect. The liner is still too hard. The smell is still crayon-y. I wish the packaging felt more substantial. But the performance, once you crack its fussy code, is undeniable. It’s become my go-to for long days where I know I can’t reapply. It’s the lipstick I wear when I need to look put together for 8+ hours and don’t want to think about it.
I hate to admit it, but the thing I almost returned is now a staple in my makeup bag. Go ahead and laugh. I’m laughing at myself.
If you want to try it yourself, here’s where I got mine. Just promise me you’ll exfoliate and blot first. Don’t say I didn’t warn you.
