Lipsticks have evolved over decades and now it’s become an irreplaceable part of our beauty routine, be it to feel pretty or to condition lips and prevent it from chapping. Personally, I’ve never really used lipstick due to the fact that I was worried about the chemicals in lipsticks getting into my body during a meal or when I lick my lips.

I came across raving reviews and shiny posters advertising Maybelline’s Superstay Matte Lipstick which had gained a cult like following from women from all walks of life. Many claimed they only had to touch up their lips once a day and that it remained on their lips for a very long time. Was this it? Is this product the solution for not ingesting as much lipstick?

Maybeline’s Superstay matte lipstick features:

Stays on for 16+ hours
Does not smudge on masks

I decided to verify this product myself and vlogged myself using the product for a few days. I was still iffy about putting it on my lips so I swatched in on my arm. True to its claim, it stayed on for more than 5 days through various showers and washes. In fact, it stayed on so long and effectively that a Superstay remover was needed specifically to remove the product. Using common make up removers just doesn’t cut it. Check out this video snippet featuring 1Source’s resident pharmaceutical chemist, to learn more!

Snippet of video:

Why does this specific brand stay on for so long?

C30-45 Alkyldimethylsilyl Polypropylsilsesquioxane is a long, synthetic hydrocarbon chain specially designed to replicate wax for long lasting lipstick.

Why does only a special type of make up remover work?

The longer the hydrocarbon chain, the more non-polar a compound is. As C30-45 Alkyldimethylsilyl Polypropylsilsesquioxane is a fairly long compound, it requires a similarly long hydrocarbon solvent, such as Octyldodecanol to dissolve or remove it. Common make-up wipes / removers tend to consist of short hydrocarbon chains, like e thanol, which are ineffective.

A closer look at ingredient components:

I use ingredient analyzers to vet the safety of my products and a quick search on the 1Source database yielded a detailed list of ingredients in the product. I was shocked to learn that a number of products were rated 7 and above, meaning toxic if ingested and swallowed on the Potential Risk Index, and that up to two ingredients were banned in some countries.

Ingredients banned in certain parts of the world:

Colorant: Red 22 Lake; CI 45380

Colorants are pigments or dyes that are added in order to change or enhance the color. This particular colorant, Red 22 Lake, has been prohibited by the European Commission for use in cosmetic products, particularly hair dye products. *For the sake of consumer safety, 1Source interprets and extends this to all cosmetic applications.

Preservative: Phenoxyethanol

Infamous in the cosmetic industry for being a preservative and disinfectant, the overall rating for phenoxyethanol is 4, however it is very damaging towards aquatic life, hence earning it a 10 in environment.

This ingredient, also found in Kylie Skin, is an environmental pollutant chemical toxic to sea creatures. The Republic of Palau has since issued a new law that banned sunscreen products containing phenoxyethanol since January 2020.

Seeing as how certain ingredients have a high rating on the Potential Risk Index, I feel uneasy about using this line of lipsticks. Yes, its long lasting and anti smudge features are attractive, meaning less of it will be consumed, however, ingredients are banned for a reason, and personally, I would not want them in my body at all.

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Sodium Levulinate
(in 1,584 products)

Potential Risk Index^®: