A Non-Drying, Matte-Finish, Must-Have Gloss

BITE Beauty, a natural brand, recently debuted its new Cashmere Lip Cream ($28), and I’m already obsessed. In the package, it looks like another lip gloss, sure. But twist that cap and get ready to raise an eyebrow.

Even the extra-long applicator is out of the ordinary. It’s almost an extension of the wand, since it’s straight rather than angled like most. It’s also flexible, which encourages a slower, more careful sweep of the product onto the lips. This is a good thing, because the color payoff is bananas—BITE says that it’s four times higher than the average lipstick. I only needed one layer of Sancerre—a gorgeous traffic-stopping fuchsia—for a completely opaque, but still lightweight, finish.

And the finish, oh, the finish! This is where the “cashmere” comes in. Thanks to the Japanese silica powder in the formula, the result feels soft, smooth, and velvety, while staying on the surface of the lips without feathering. Despite being matte, it doesn’t make my lips feel dry at all, probably due to the sunflower wax, oils, and hand-milled butters that BITE added to the equation. The product has great staying power, only needing a touch-up after a particularly enthusiastic lunch. And, as always with this brand, the all-natural ingredient list means I don’t have to worry about ingesting something nasty when using it.

Have you tried any excellent matte-finish glosses?