This Valentino Beauty Lip and Cheek Color Gives Me the Prettiest Flush

August 18, 2023

By: Ariel Wodarcyk | Makeup.com by L'Oréal

During the summer (and the days I hit snooze one too many times, regardless of the season), I’m all about multipurpose makeup products that I can blend out with my fingers and dash out the door wearing. It’s especially exciting when the product comes in pretty, easy-to-use packaging — there's nothing worse than a powder that crumbles or a messy squeeze tube floating around in your purse. The Valentino Beauty Liquirosso 2-in-1 Lip & Blush Soft Matte Color checks all of these boxes, with a buildable, matte formula that can be swiped onto lips and cheeks. Below, read my full thoughts on the formula and find out how it wears throughout the day.

The Valentino Beauty Liquirosso 2-in-1 Lip & Blush Soft Matte Color Formula

The Valentino Beauty Liquirosso 2-in-1 Lip & Blush Soft Matte Color is described as a “buildable, weightless soft matte color for lips and cheeks.” It comes in 12 shades, from a range of classic nudes and reds to a moody ’90s taupe and an on-trend bubblegum pink. Because the shades are so buildable, they lend themselves to a variety of skin tones and makeup looks — just layer more or less color depending on the effect you’re going for. They’re easy to blot and sheer out with your fingers for a soft yet pigmented veil of color. The formula has a light and silky feel, thanks to ingredients such as peony extract, amino acids and a Roma-Light complex exclusive to Valentino Beauty.

My Review of the Valentino Beauty Liquirosso 2-in-1 Lip & Blush Soft Matte Color

Like I said, I love multipurpose products — there’s something so effortless and cohesive about using the same shade on your lips and cheeks. I’m also a huge fan of a sheer, blotted out lip. Worn alone, the Valentino Beauty Liquirosso 2-in-1 Lip & Blush Soft Matte Color gives a matte, effortlessly cool vibe; layered under a clear gloss, it gives me a juicy, K-beauty-inspired lip. To apply the color, I like to swipe it across my lips using the doe-foot applicator, then tap out the color using my finger. I then lightly dab whatever color is left on my finger on the tops of my cheeks, where I would normally apply a blush. If you’re looking for more color on your cheeks, simply add more product to the area with the doe-foot and blend with your fingers or a brush.

The formula is matte but not drying, with a silky feel that is very easy to blend. It’s important to note that the formula is not transfer-proof, particularly when applied to the lips, so don’t expect liquid lipstick-like longevity. However, the shades do stain your lips, so you’ll still have some color left over after your morning coffee. I’ll add that the formula is particularly comfortable, so I have no complaints about reapplying.

Below, from left to right, I tried the shades 22A Rosso Valentino, a rich, cool-toned red, and 218A See You Later, a soft, sunny coral. I’m in love with both shades, but I can definitely see myself reaching for See You Later more frequently. This color is easy to build up from a barely there, warm-toned nude to a more vibrant orange, and I love the way it warms up my skin’s yellow undertones.