REVIEW: Rimmel Show Off Lip Lacquers

I am all about the liquid lipstick craze that is going on in the drugstore right now, but Rimmel has claimed to have created something even “bigger.” The Rimmel Show Off Lip Lacquers (aka the Apocalips in the UK) is part of the popular fusion trend between gloss and lipstick that allows for high intensity color and a smooth, creamy application.

The three shades I have are Light Year, Apocaliptic, and Luna.

Light Year is a plummy brown with shimmer particles. This reminds me of the popular 90s trend of brown lipstick, which I think is due for a comeback this fall.

Apocaliptic, my favorite shade of the three, is a very-hot-almost-red pink that applies completely opaque in one thin layer.

Luna is a peachy melon that can lean nude on some skin tones. This one was the least glossy of the three.

The Rimmel Show Off Lip Lacquers have a consistency of medium thickness that is creamy. They go on with high shine but dry down to a semi-matte finish. With that said, you’ll definitely want to exfoliate your lips with a scrub before applying; lighter shades like Luna will point out dry patches pretty quickly. These aren’t meant to be hydrating, but they are pretty comfortable to wear for a few hours. I still suggest layering on top of balm for added comfort, though.

The applicator has a feature I haven’t seen before in a gloss— the doe foot has a little pocket in it that holds product so that you don’t ever have to double-dip for more color. Just apply more pressure for more product!

These are all extremely pigmented, with only one to two swipes needed for full opacity. The color lasts around 4 hours without eating or drinking. It takes a while for it to set into the semi-matte finish, but once it does, transferring is minimal. You will, however, have to reapply after a meal. Apocaliptic is the one shade out of these three that leaves a noticeable stain, and can last up to 5 hours. Rimmel hit it out of the park with the formula, really. They don’t slip, slide or feather like many glosses do, and the color is intense— just how I like it!

All in all, I’m really digging these. For only around $6, the pigmentation and creaminess can’t get better.