I love Zelens. If you've read this blog for any length of time you will know I talk about them a lot. I was super excited to see Zelens come out with a matte lipstick. I grabbed Extreme Velvet in Nude Beige. Details per Zelens:
A moisturising highly-pigmented lipstick infused with a unique blend of active ingredients providing treatment benefits. Helps to plump lip volume, reshape contours, reduce the appearance of vertical lines and restore suppleness. Delivers rich long-wearing colour with a velvety, soft matte finish.
Active Ingredients:
Phytol: A natural active molecule derived from Black Jack (Bidens Pilosa). This plant originating in South America demonstrates strong anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. Clinical studies showed that phytol significantly increases the production of collagen and elastin through the stimulation of growth factors. It also stimulates lip renewal process by mimicking the activity of retinol through the modulation of the expression of retinoid receptors. Thus, it shows retinol-like activity without any irritation.
Tripeptide: This potent peptide stimulates natural collagen production. It activates Keratinocyte Growth Factor (KGF), one of the key players in modulating tissue repair and remodelling. Increases lip volume and improves texture of the lips with a visible impact on lip shape.
Purslane: A plant commonly used in cosmetics as it accelerates the wound healing process and improves the skin's elasticity. Boosts the production of hyaluronic acid in the lips. Due to the fact that it visibly increases lip volume, this plant is also known under the name "Kiss me quick".
Lipid Complex: This unique complex supplies major regenerating and restructuring lipids - phospholipids, sphingolipids and essential fatty acids (EFAs) from the Omega-3 and Omega-6 family. Improves lip moisture and helps to protect and repair lips.
Retinol ester: A source of vitamin A. Enhances cell communication, promotes collagen production and encourages the lip renewal process.
Ultra Filling Spheres™: A new generation spheres composed of low-molecular weight hyaluronic acid and glucomannan , a high-molecular weight vegtal polysaccharide from the plant Konjac Idevil’s tongue). These cross-linked spheres are able to penetrate the upper layers of the epidermis and absorb the water that evaporates from the deep dermis. Ultra Filling Spheres™ helps to plump up lips, smoothe out wrinkles and leave lips supple with long lasting moisture.
Hyaluronic acid: An important natural component of skin. Zelens uses a low-molecular weight hyaluronic acid with unique moisturising properties. Hyaluronic acid boosts lip moisture, promotes its elasticity and fills in wrinkles to help reduce their appearance.
Shiso leaf (Perilla, Japanese mint): Rich in polyphenols (particularly Rosmarinic acid) and triterpenoids (particularly Ursolic acid), natural molecules that demonstrate antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial and anti-allergic bioactivities. Shiso leaf acts as a powerful antioxidant defending skin from free radical damage. It helps to prevent skin reactivity and soothes sensitive skin. Shiso leaf is well known in Kampo medicine for its strong detox properties.
Palm oil: Extracted from the palm fruit growing in Africa. Rich in tocotrienols, natural molecules that are members of the vitamin E family. Tocotrienols are strong antioxidants effectively fighting damaging free radicals and oxidative stress. Tocotrienols also enhance healthy cellular growth and cell adhesion and thus promote natural lip repair and regeneration. Palm oil has excellent conditioning and soothing properties.
Cotton oil: Extracted from cotton, this oil has strong moisturising properties due to the high amount of unsaturated fatty acids.
Linseed oil: This oil, also known as flax seed oil, is rich in omega-3 and omega-6. Helps to improve moisture and soothe the lips.
Candelilla wax: Obtained from the leaves of Candelilla (Euphorbia cerifera), a plant growing in northern Mexico. Candelilla has excellent emollient properties and helps to provide a protective, moisture resistant environment for skin.
Vitamin E: An antioxidant with a key role in the protection of cellular membranes from free radicals. It is the major antioxidant in the human epidermis with strong protective effects against UV-induced skin damage.
I'm not usually into matte shades. I try to make myself like them but I really do prefer sheer or moisturizing formulas. I will try out a comfort matte nude now and then. Zelens Extreme Velvet is a comfort matte. It's not drying and smells heavenly like vanilla. Due to the non drying nature of the formula, the longevity of the lipstick is lower than a drier matte. I am absolutely in love with this formula. It's not drying, smells amazing and feels fabulous on the lips. The texture is thin and it doesn't cake on the lips like other comfort mattes. It's a smooth and pigmented formula.
Nude Beige is the perfect creamy light pink nude. It pulls pinker than it looks in the tube. I love that this shade doesn't wash me out. It's far from being very pale. This shade is exactly what I wanted Charlotte Tilbury's Pillow Talk to be. I've tried quite a few nude shade comfort mattes lately and they've all been too dark, light, cool, peachy, beige or pink. None were just right. It was like Goldilocks. Zelens Nude Beige is just right. It's the perfect nude for me.
Top to Bottom: Zelens Nude Beige; MAC x LarLarLee; Charlotte Tilbury-Pillow Talk, Confession, Very Victoria:
This is the best nude comfort matte that I've ever tried. The formula is amazing and it's quite literally the perfect nude for me. The formula is amazing and has Zelens skincare benefits. I think I'm going to have to try the red next. The only place to get this in the US right now is Barneys. I also love the silver case which screws versus clicking shut. This means it will never accidentally open up in your purse. It's well worth the $48 retail.
