We put Gigi Hadid’s Met Gala lip combo to the test…

ICYMI (although, we’re sure you didn’t) Gigi Hadid stunned on the Met Gala red carpet. Yep, nothing out of the ordinary for the gorgeous model really. The inspo for this red carpet character? None other than the old Hollywood glam star herself, Marilyn Monroe. 

And what’s most iconic about Monroe? Okay, a lot of things. But when we think Monroe and beauty together, we instantly visualise a classic red lip. Sure the beauty spot is legendary and the short curls are pretty enviable, but nothing says old glamour quite like a red lip. 

And trust us, we’ve been through a LOT of lippies to find our favourite formulas (we have Taylor Swift to thank for that). But when Gigi Hadid steps out on a red carpet wearing a red lipstick we pay attention. We scoured every makeup artist’s social media for signs of what she might be wearing to no avail (we still aren’t sure exactly who created the look!). But thankfully before we drove ourselves mad, Maybelline New York confirmed their stable of products was involved.

Yep, Gigi wore budget-friendly Maybelline to the Met Gala. And genuinely we couldn’t be happier! Why? Because it made for a seriously pocket-friendly incoming review…

Our Verdict On The Maybelline Superstay Vinyl Ink Lipstick:

• Our rating: 9/10
• Why we rated it a 9/10: TBH, it did exactly what it said it would: stay. And boy did it stay! Plus it delivered on a world of pigmented goodness.

Pros

• Seriously budge-proof
• 16 hour long wearing formula 
• Enriched with vitamin E and aloe vera 

Cons

• It felt pretty sticky for a while post application
• It was tricky to remove; multiple attempts were needed with a hard-hitting cleansing balm
• It does transfer onto teeth (watch out)

What’s So Special About Maybelline Superstay Vinyl Ink Lipstick?

Aside from being the lipstick that graced the lips of Gigi Hadid at the Met Gala, the Superstay Vinyl Ink Lipstick is well and truly deserving of its own ticker tape parade. Why? Well, aside from the fact that it seriously stays, the colour payoff is next level. 

And if hard-hitting colour, and a long-lasting formula isn’t enough, the Maybelline Superstay Vinyl Ink also provides a range of incredible shades. All for a seriously affordable price point. It’s giving wins all around really. 

As for Hadid’s exact shade, she actually teamed two together. The shade 25 ‘Red Hot’ was a lighter and brighter red that created a perfect base, while shade 50 ‘Wicked’ was a deeper, bluer-toned ‘true red’ that created a layer of dimension. And while we didn’t know exactly how Hadid’s lipstick was applied we chose to layer lighter than darker to create depth.

• Affordable price point 
• Vegan formula 
• Colour Lock technology stops transferring
• Incredible sweet scent
• Infused with nourishing ingredients

Results From BEAUTYcrew’s Maybelline Superstay Vinyl Ink Lipstick Review

Look, I’m going to be super honest here guys. When it comes to budget-beauty I’ve definitely been one to turn my nose up at it before (call me a snob, I know, I’m sorry). But I’ve repented my ways and I’m well and truly on board the budget beauty train (although you will still see me sporting some exxy picks). So, when it came time to put Hadid’s lip look to the test, I was truly excited to walk out the office doors and pick up these lippies to give them a red (pun intended) hot crack. 

Not sure about you, but whenever I go to apply a red lip, I need a solid few minutes of hype time, and a solid pep talk. The look might be worth it but the stress of application can be a total nightmare. So, my actual first steps in applying the Vinyl Ink lipstick of course included my general red lip rally. 

My initial reaction was disbelief that I was going in with a red lip sans a lip liner. But what about the dreaded product bleeding? After I got over my initial fears and started layering the lipstick (first with 25, ‘Red Hot’) I was seriously surprised. Firstly by the sweet vanilla-y scent, and then by how easy it was to apply. Matte lip products more often than not end up being a totally tough immovable force, but this super-staying lipstick couldn’t be further from that. 

The product didn’t take too long to dry down, which is when I went in with the second (deeper) red shade (50 Wicked). This ‘true-red’ shade is really what sealed the deal for me. Of course, once it had dried down a good ‘kiss-test’ was necessary, so I took a tissue and gave it a blot with almost nothing coming off. 

And honestly, anything that’s not going to smudge all over my drink bottle all day is a major win in my eyes. 

Overall, Is The Maybelline Vinyl Ink Worth It?

While I may not be swanning up the steps of The Met, this Marilyn Monroe moment lip definitely gave me major NYC vibes. And for where we’re at in this cost of living crisis, the (often discounted) $26.99 lipstick goes on our ‘would totally recommend’ list.

Where To Buy Maybelline Vinyl Ink

Because of the budget nature of this lippy you’ll be able to pick it up at (pretty well all) your favourite online beauty retailers. Which also means, you’re almost guaranteed to find it on sale somewhere! And if you’ve got Amazon Prime, you’ll be able to snap up (nearly) next day delivery!

• $13.49 (usually $26.99) from Priceline
• $18.69 (usually $26.99) from Amazon Australia 
• $27 from Big W
• $18.69 (usually $26.99) from Chemist Warehouse

Related:

• These are the (other) liquid lipsticks you need to try out…
• Not done with all things Gigi? Here’s her Met Gala hair rundown…
• Need to know what Gigi smells like? We’ve got you covered!