Beauty Revlon vs Laura Geller: Best Black Cherry Lipstick Tested
We compare the two best Dubonnet alternatives head to head: Revlon Super Lustrous Luscious Mattes in Black Cherry and Laura Geller Jelly Balm in Very Black Cherry. One is a full-coverage velvety matte, the other a hydrating sheer balm, but both channel the same deep berry soul.
| Factor | Revlon Super Lustrous The Luscious Matte | Laura Geller Jelly Balm Hydrating Lip Co |
|---|---|---|
| Finish | Velvety matte | Sheer balm, semi-shine |
| Coverage | Full, opaque | Sheer to medium, buildable |
| Shade depth | Deep black cherry | Berry brown, slightly softer |
| Best for | Evening, events, photos | Everyday, dry lips |
| Wear time | 6 to 8 hours | 2 to 3 hours |
| Lip feel | Lightweight but matte | Hydrating, cushiony |
| Key ingredients | Botanical complex, matte pigments | Squalane, vitamin E |
| Price tier | Budget | Mid-range |
Our Verdict
Choose Revlon Luscious Mattes Black Cherry if you want maximum impact and longevity, since the opaque matte delivers the full drama of the Dubonnet look and survives for hours. Choose Laura Geller Jelly Balm Very Black Cherry if you want comfort and ease, since the hydrating balm forgives dry lips and reapplies in seconds. Both capture the deep berry wine color that made Dubonnet famous. Drama seekers go Revlon; comfort lovers go Laura Geller.
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Not sold on either of these two? Here are more bestselling options worth considering.
Best for: Trying both the berry and a wearable nude in one set
Laura Geller Jelly Balm Hydrating Lip Color Duo
- Includes Very Black Cherry plus Sugar and Spice nude
- Same hydrating jelly balm formula in both shades
- Holiday 2024 set, great value for two lip colors
- Squalane and vitamin E nourish with every wear
Pros
- Two versatile shades cover day and evening
- Excellent value versus buying separately
- Makes a lovely gift for berry lipstick fans
Cons
- Sugar and Spice may go unused by berry devotees
- Balm format means both need reapplication
- Limited edition set may sell out
Want the Full Picture?
Black Cherry on Dry Lips: What a Jelly Balm Actually Delivers
Comfort is usually scored as a single generic trait in lipstick roundups, but dry lips and normal lips experience the same formula completely differently, and that split matters more for a deep shade like black cherry than for a sheer nude. On normal lips, the Laura Geller Jelly Balm in Very Black Cherry glides on evenly and the squalane and vitamin E base keeps the color looking juicy for hours. On dry, flaking lips, even a hydrating balm formula will catch on rough patches, and a dark berry shade makes every flake visible in a way a nude never would. The formula helps, but it does not replace prep.
The practical routine for dry lips is short: exfoliate gently with a damp washcloth or a sugar scrub, apply a plain balm and let it sink in for five minutes, blot the excess, then apply the Jelly Balm. Skipping the blot step is the classic mistake, because a slick balm base makes the color slide and pool at the lip line. With proper prep, expect comfortable wear of four to six hours before the center starts fading, which is strong for a hydrating formula but shorter than a true long-wear matte. If your lips are chronically chapped rather than just seasonally dry, work through the repair routine in our Aquaphor lip repair guide first, then judge the color's comfort on healed lips, since no lipstick can be fairly evaluated over cracked skin.
Getting True Black Cherry on Pigmented Lips
Deep shades behave differently depending on the natural pigment underneath, and this is where black cherry gets interesting. On fair lips with little natural color, Very Black Cherry reads almost black-plum in one coat and needs a careful hand to avoid a goth intensity you did not plan for. On medium to deep lips with strong natural pigment, the same shade needs two coats to reach its true depth, because the underlying warmth mutes the berry. Neither outcome is a flaw, but buyers should know which one they are getting before they apply it for an event.
The Sugar and Spice nude in the same duo is the fix for both extremes. Worn as a base layer under Very Black Cherry, it neutralizes uneven lip pigment so the berry applies as one even color instead of going deeper at the edges where lips are naturally darker. For fair wearers who find the full shade too intense, tapping the nude over the center of the berry softens it into a wearable everyday depth. Layer in thin coats and let each set for a minute rather than loading up one thick coat, which is what causes the color to feather at the edges. For keeping that layered color locked through the day, our long lasting lipstick guide covers the liner-base method that works especially well under deep shades.
The Cost-Per-Wear Math on a Two-Shade Duo
Nobody in the roundup world answers the value question properly: what does each wear actually cost? The Holiday 2024 duo format changes the math in the buyer's favor, because you are getting two full lip colors, a statement berry and a wearable nude, for roughly the price of one prestige single. With daily use of the berry shade, a jelly balm bullet typically lasts three to four months, which works out to a few cents per application, dramatically cheaper than rebuying mid-range singles twice a year.
The catch is uneven usage. Most buyers will finish the Sugar and Spice nude long before the Very Black Cherry, because the nude becomes the daily driver while the berry waits for evenings out. That is still good value, but it means the real comparison is not duo versus one prestige tube, it is whether you would have bought both shades separately anyway. If all-day lock is the priority rather than hydration and value, compare its wear against the longest-wearing mattes we have tested before deciding, since a jelly balm trades some longevity for the comfort that dry lips need.