Strawberry smooch: Revlon Strawberry Suede dupes!

After years of hearing Lisa Eldridge and Estée hailing Revlon’s Strawberry Suede as their favourite lipstick, you can only imagine the heart attack I had when I spotted this discontinued beauty at Boots while on vacation in Thailand. I didn’t pick it up right away as I didn’t have any cash on me that day, but I basically spent every waking moment thinking about my discovery, obsessively googling swatches and reading rave reviews.

A few days later, immediately after my purchase I whacked it straight on despite the fact that I had no other makeup on and was about to hop on a flight home. I felt rather like a clown, walking around the airport, bespectacled and makeup-less but with striking red lips. 

Too be honest, I was kind of disappointed, Strawberry Suede didn’t look as amazing as I had imagined. In fact, I had something quite similar in my collection; which is why we are here today. May I present to you, not one, but TWO dupes for Revlon Strawberry Suede.

But first, what does Strawberry Suede look like anyway? Strawberry Suede (now discontinued) was part of Revlon’s Super Lustrous Matte line and as the name would suggest is a strawberry kind of red. This pinky-red lipstick is matte yet has a creamy formula that doesn’t tug at your lips, giving you a smooth and even application.

LtoR: Rimmel Kate #110, Revlon Strawberry Suede, Etude House RD303

The first of our makeup twinsies today is the Rimmel by Kate Moss lasting matte finish lipstick in #110. Bright strawberry red? Matte? Inexpensive? Tick, tick, tick! Rimmel #110 sure is striking and the similarities are uncanny. Both formulas are super matte (obv!), yet creamy and easy to apply. I would say the Rimmel one feels a touch more drying than Strawberry Suede. The colours are almost identical, with Rimmel being slightly more pigmented and more orange. Swatched next to each other Revlon pulls cooler, whereas Rimmel has warmer tones and is an orange-red. Rimmel #110 dries down quickly (in a good way) so it has minimal transfer making it a good kissable red. It’s almost perfect, though it does have a very strong artificial melon scent so beware if scents put you off.

 

On the other hand, our next makeup twin smells simply delicious – it’s the Etude House Dear My Blooming Lips-Talk lipstick in RD303 (Geez, what a mouthful!) I freaking love the scent of Etude House lip products, they smell like candy, hmm... maybe all Korean lip products smell like this. Funnily enough, shade RD 303’s name translates to Fantastic Red. Swatched next to Strawberry Suede you can see that RD303 is a shade lighter and leans a little more pink. Another difference is that it isn’t a matte formula; Etude House lipsticks aren’t particularly glossy nor are they entirely matte. To achieve the matte look, simply blot your lips or apply a mattifying topcoat. Etude House’s RD303 has amazing lasting power and leaves a nice stain, making it a really gorgeous girl’s night out lipstick. I do however find that this feels quite drying overtime so do slick on a balm.

LtoR: Rimmel Kate #110, Revlon Strawberry Suede, Etude House RD303

I may be bias, but all three shades are simply stunning! Though they aren’t dead-on dupes, they all give the same effect on the lips. I would say Revlon Strawberry Suede is the most subdued, making it a wearable (and dear I say, mature?) statement lip. Rimmel is the loudest and the warmest of the pick and it’s so retro and bright! Etude House is younger and more fun and leans more pink than orange, so it’s great for pink lip-loving girls. So whether you’re looking for a backup of Strawberry Suede or a super fun colour to try, I highly recommend Rimmel #110 and Etude House’s RD303 ($88hkd). Bright, on trend and long-lasting, these are sure to become your summer staple!