Bite Beauty Power Move Soft Matte Lipstick Swatches

Bite Beauty Power Move Soft Matte Lipstick ($28.00 for 0.14 oz.) is a new range of lipsticks that includes 20 shades. The formula is supposed to be “creamy, non-drying” with “fade-resistan[ce]” and “velvet matte” finish that delivers “bold color.” The line also launches online at Sephora Sephora tomorrow for in-app and July 12th for online.

It is the long-awaited replacement for the prior Amuse Bouche range, though what they have most in common is that they’re both twist-up, traditional lipsticks, but the finish and feel are quite different. My initial impressions after swatching through the 14 shades I received as press samples and testing a couple (so far) is that the formula is the more modern, silicone-heavy kind that has a mostly matte finish, feels fairly lightweight, but is on the thinner side and is less forgiving of lip texture/imperfections. The lighter shades, as expected, were least flattering to wear, while the darker shades were the most flattering to wear.

Per the brand, it is “three years in the making” and they tested “over 100 different formulas” (not the flex they think it is; sounds like something went very, very wrong!). If you loved Amuse Bouche for its creaminess and more of a cream-satin finish (so some shine), these might not feel like a replacement. If you always felt Amuse Bouche was too creamy and wished it was more matte, these might be an upgrade.

Amuse Bouche was one of my favorite formulas for years, but I loved it for the intense, creamy color with satiny shine that still had good adhesion/wear time, so these were not “worth” the wait for me, unfortunately. I know that MAC’s Powder Kiss Lipsticks have gotten quite popular, so I can see why they went in this direction and expect that some will fall in love anew!