Beauty Sultry Plum Lip Color Showdown: Best Bold Picks Compared
We compared three takes on the sultry lip: the BestLand three piece dark nude liquid lipstick set, the evpct purple plum liquid lipstick with matching liner, and the REVLON Ultra HD Lip Mousse in the plum berry shade Spice.
| Factor | BestLand 3PCS Velvet Temptatio | evpct 2pcs Purple Plum Matte 2 | REVLON Ultra HD Lip Mousse Hyp |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price point | Budget | Budget | Budget to mid range |
| Format | 3 piece liquid set | Liquid plus liner | Mousse liquid |
| Shade range | Caramel, berry, plum | Purple plum 01 | Plum berry Spice 825 |
| Finish | Matte | Matte | Hyper matte mousse |
| Wear time | Long lasting, waterproof | 24 hour claim | Longwearing |
| Comfort | Standard matte | Standard matte | Creamy whipped feel |
| Precision | No liner included | Matching liner included | Doe foot applicator |
| Best overall value | Best shade variety | Best precision value | Best comfort |
Our Verdict
The BestLand three piece set is our top pick because it delivers three wearable depths of sultry color, caramel through plum, for less than the price of a single prestige lipstick, letting you find your perfect depth by wearing them. Choose the evpct purple plum set if precise application matters most, since the included matching liner is a genuine advantage with deep shades. The REVLON Ultra HD Lip Mousse in Spice is the comfort winner, with a whipped texture that makes bold plum feel effortless. Any of the three gets you the sultry look without the luxury markup.
More Top Picks in This Category
Not sold on either of these two? Here are more bestselling options worth considering.
Best for: Creamy mousse matte in a sultry plum berry shade
REVLON Ultra HD Lip Mousse Hyper Matte, Longwearing Creamy Liquid Lipstick in Plum Berry, 825 Spice, 0.2 oz
- Hyper matte mousse texture
- Plum berry shade 825 Spice
- Longwearing creamy formula
- Heritage drugstore brand
Pros
- Whipped texture is very comfortable
- Rich plum berry color
- Trusted brand with wide availability
Cons
- Mousse transfers more than true matte
- Single shade in this pick
- Tube is on the smaller side
Want the Full Picture?
Plum on Deep Skin Tones: Finding Your Depth
Plum is one of the most flattering lipstick families for deep skin tones, and one of the easiest to get wrong by choosing the wrong depth. The rule is contrast management: a plum close to your natural lip depth looks harmonious, while one dramatically lighter risks the washed-out effect and one dramatically darker can look harsh. The sweet spot for most deep skin tones is a plum one to two shades deeper than the natural lip, with warm berry undertones rather than blue-purple, since warmth harmonizes where coolness can turn ashy.
Undertone matters more than the color name. Two "plum berry" shades can read completely differently: one with red-brown warmth that glows on deep skin, one with blue-violet coolness that sits on top of it. Test in daylight on the lip, not the hand. And consider the rest of the face: a sultry plum pairs best with quiet eyes, since plum plus heavy eye makeup competes on deeper skin where both read strongly.
The mousse format on this page is actually an advantage for deep skin, since mousse textures tend to be more forgiving at the edges than traditional liquid mattes, and the softer edge suits the dimensional look that flatters deeper lips. Our long-lasting lipstick guide covers wear techniques that keep deep shades like this from feathering, which matters more as plum depth increases.
One Coat or Two on Pigmented Lips?
Dark shades like plum berry cover pigmented lips easily, which changes the coat calculation. One coat usually reaches full opacity, and the question is whether a second coat adds anything or just problems. Honestly: a second coat deepens color slightly and extends wear, but thickens the film, increasing the chance of cracking at the lip lines. For most wearers, one generous coat, blotted once, outperforms two full coats.
Blotting does quiet work here. Pressing lips on tissue after the first coat removes surface oils while leaving pigment locked in, giving a single coat the staying power people assume requires two. If color looks uneven after one coat, the issue is usually application: dark mattes show every skip, so apply methodically from the center outward. A second coat fixes skips but costs thickness, so get the first coat right instead.
On fair lips with little pigment, the calculation flips: plum berry may need the full two coats for the depth the shade promises, since there is no natural pigment helping. Either way, let the first coat dry fully before deciding, since wet matte always looks sheerer than the finished result. The SuperStay longevity comparison shows how different longwear formulas behave across one versus two coats, useful for calibrating your own application.
Dark Mattes on Mature Lips
Dark matte on mature lips stacks two unforgiving variables: a dark shade that shows every edge imperfection, and a matte finish that settles into every line. The result can be stunning or aging, and the difference is application. The non-negotiable step is liner: a matched or clear anti-feathering liner at the natural border keeps dark color from bleeding into the vertical lines above the lip, the failure that ages the whole face.
Finish softening helps more than shade softening. A dark plum as full matte can look severe on thinning lips, but the same shade with balm pressed into the center becomes dimensional. The technique: apply the matte fully, blot, then press a tiny amount of clear balm just into the center with a fingertip. Edges stay crisp while the center catches light, which reads as fullness. That single step separates a dark matte that flatters mature lips from one that emphasizes every line.
Also reconsider the border. On younger lips, a razor-sharp dark lip border looks intentional; on mature lips with a softened border, slightly diffusing the very edge with a fingertip looks more natural than a hard line. Sharp where the lip is still defined, soft where it is not: that is the mature-lip rule for dark mattes.