Beauty Care: Fenty Beauty The MVP Icon Velvet Liquid Lipstick Reviews & Swaatches

The MVP

Fenty Beauty The MVP Icon Velvet Liquid Lipstick ($29.00 for 0.19 oz.) is a vivid, medium red with neutral-to-cool undertones and a satin finish. This one had such noticeable silicone “beads” along the edges that just wouldn’t go away! It didn’t feel textured like it looks in the close-up, though.

Opaque color payoff in one layer
Smooth, velvety texture that spread evenly
Light-medium thickness, prone to somewhat settling into lip lines
Long-wearing (six hours), non-drying

FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).

Top Dupes

View Swatches View All Dupes

Lancome Attrape Coeur (505) (P, $32.00) is lighter (95% similar).
Chanel Rouge Puissant (854) (P, $55.00) is lighter (95% similar).
Charlotte Tilbury Lucky Cherry (LE, $37.00) is lighter, warmer (90% similar).
YSL Scout's Red (124) (LE, $38.00) is warmer (90% similar).
Estee Lauder Excite (P, $32.00) is more shimmery, warmer, glossier (90% similar).
Chanel Camelia Rouge (357) (LE, $40.00) is more shimmery, warmer (90% similar).
ColourPop Kismet (P, $7.00) is lighter, warmer (85% similar).
Rare Beauty Inspire (P, $20.00) is lighter, warmer (85% similar).
Hourglass I Crave (P, $34.00) is warmer (85% similar).
Hourglass I Still (P, $34.00) is darker, warmer (80% similar).

View Swatches

Formula Overview

$29.00/0.19 oz. - $152.63 Per Ounce

The formula is supposed to have "high-impact color" with a "smooth, lightweight texture" that is "comfortable and non-drying" and has a "velvet-matte finish." They are very pigmented, smooth and velvety textured liquid lipsticks that applied evenly and spread well across my lips, but had a bit of a clinginess to them that wasn't drying but felt noticeable.

I've noticed that some silicone-heavy formulations can look bumpy or unmixed in close-ups, though they don't actually feel that way in person when pressing my lips together. The consistency was whipped, as described, but it was thicker and not as lightweight as I would have expected for this type of formula.

I found the formula fairly forgiving of lip texture but was more prone to settling into my lip lines, especially over time. It was better to a light blot after the initial application, which seemed to minimize the settling over time. "Dry down" is a bit of a stretch as they aren't transfer-free until enough has worn down over time. Most shades lasted for five to seven hours and felt non-drying.

Browse all of our Fenty Beauty Icon Velvet Liquid Lipstick swatches.