We Tried Haus Laboratories’ New Lipsticks—Here Are Our Honest Thoughts

Lady Gaga’s been cooking something up for us. No, it’s not an album, to many little monsters’ dismay, but a brand-new product from her beauty brand Haus Laboratories. When the line launched in September 2019, it was full of sparkle and shine, but there was one product we often see on Gaga that was notably missing: a full-on matte lipstick. That changes today: The brand just announced that its Le Monster Matte Lip Crayon is officially launching on February 18.

“We created Le Monster Matte Lip Crayon for the lipstick lover who never wants their makeup to fade,” Gaga tells Glamour. “It’s easy to apply and stays on, just the way my monsters’ makeup stays on at concerts. It’s reliable, irresistible, and sexy.” Le Monster is a full-coverage matte lipstick and comes in twist-up crayon with a precision tip. The line includes in 12 new shades, all named by Gaga herself, ranging from demure nudes to fluorescent pink. A big nonnegotiable during production: Gaga made sure every shade was tested on a range of skin tones and undertones to make sure they truly look good on everyone.

“What I love about this product is that it’s one-swipe full-coverage pigment, it’s ultra-matte and wears featherlight,” says Sarah Tanno, Gaga’s longtime makeup artist and global artistry director for Haus Laboratories.

For Tanno, one of the most important things was that the lipstick doesn’t budge; Gaga rigorously tested this claim by putting it to the ultimate test. She recently wore the hot-pink shade Hot Rod for her Super Saturday performance. (She also put it to more mundane—but crucial—tasks like eating and drinking.)

While the formula is made to be creamy and comfortable, Tanno recommends a little extra prep for best result. “Matte finishes show more texture on your lips, so start by exfoliating your lips with a sugar scrub,” she says. Then, she likes to apply lip balm and blot before swiping on the lipstick. For a super sharp look, she says to use Gaga’s RIP Lip Liners to define your lips. Plus, you can also put some concealer around your mouth to really accentuate your lip line.

A creamy, pigmented, long-wearing, and Gaga-approved lipstick sounds almost too good to be true, so we had Glamour editors put it to the test. Read on for our honest thoughts.

Le Monster Matte in Pusher

The lip crayon effortlessly glided along my lips, and the gorgeous maroon Pusher complemented my complexion perfectly. A single layer was all I needed, acting as both a lip liner and lipstick (no blotting necessary). The crayon itself is also a twist-up, which takes the drag out of searching for that little sharpener of yours that has conveniently made its way to the dark abyss (also known as the bottom of your makeup bag). Overall I was pleased with the color, even at the end of a long day. —Talia Gutierrez, beauty assistant

Le Monster Matte in 1950

I’ve become a big fan of lip crayons lately because they’re easy to layer over lip gloss for a tinted, almost blurred-lip effect. One downside to this technique is that the color doesn’t tend to last. But not with this lip crayon! The color stays in place throughout the day, and I like to dab any extra onto the apples of my cheeks to make myself look alive. Typically I’d go for a creamier crayon (this runs a little drier since it’s a true matte formula), but it’s a great Swiss Army knife–style lip product to keep in your bag. —Brionna Jimerson, associate social media manager

Le Monster Matte in Mastered

While I’m eagerly awaiting LG6, I was happy to have something new from Gaga to tide me over. I’ve been avoiding matte lipsticks like the plague this winter, so I was a little nervous, but this one is surprisingly smooth. It glided right on and didn’t feel tight whatsoever. It’s crazy pigmented, so I only needed one swipe for opaque coverage. My one gripe was that it was a little tricky to apply a crisp line, but that’s nothing that can’t be fixed with some lip liner. —Bella Cacciatore, beauty associate

Le Monster Matte in Hot Rod

This is the first Haus Laboratories product I’ve tried, and I enjoyed the functionality of the lipstick. The crayon is retractable, and I also like that I could change the angle of the lipstick to line my lips and then fill it in. It applied smoothly but clung to some dry spots, so I liked that the formula was buildable. You can wear it more sheer when your lips are chapped or bold when they’re hydrated. —Khaliha Hawkins, producer

Le Monster Matte in Destroyer

I recently got a Hydrafacial that did wonders for my skin but left my lips dry and cracked. So the first time I tried this, it didn’t immediately wow me. Even though the color was incredible (love a plummy berry!), the formula settled into chapped spots, which made it look patchy. The next time I took Gaga’s makeup artist’s advice by slicking on a thick balm and blotting first. The difference was night and day. The lipstick went on smooth, lasted the entire day (even through a chicken and kale lunch), and got me no less than three compliments. —Lindsay Schallon, senior beauty editor

Le Monster Matte in Talk Dirty

Thank you, Gaga, for finding the romantic, dusty rose of my dreams! This color pairs well with lace, ruffles, and lost love. Plus, it’s easy to get precise with my lip line and really emphasize that Cupid’s bow. Considering I only had to touch up my look once in the afternoon, I’d call it a win. —Madeline Hirsch, senior social media manager

Le Monster Matte in Dust

It’s hard to keep up with all the celebrity beauty drops these days, but this matte lip crayon didn’t disappoint. I’m a sucker for nudes, and this dusty-pink shade reminds me of my all-time favorite (now discontinued) lipstick, MAC Doe. It’s got great color payoff and seems to have impressive staying power. —Erin Parker, commerce writer

Haus Laboratories Le Monster Matte Lip Crayon will be available on amazon.com and hauslabs.com on February 18.

Bella Cacciatore is the beauty associate at Glamour. Follow her on Instagram @bellacacciatore_.

Originally Appeared on Glamour