I have to be honest, when I first heard about the new Maybelline The Loaded Bolds Collection, I really didn't think there was going to be much for me there since I've definitely become more of a nude/mauve lipstick kind of girl. To my surprise, this is a really full range with a selection of both really wearable shades as well as some over the top shades that are beautiful, but that I'd never wear. Though I'm always tempted to buy those shades specifically to feature them here on the blog, I tend not to just because I know they'll go to waste once I write about them and I'm actually trying really hard to be less wasteful with my makeup collection.  I decided to pick up the two shades that really called to me, so I grabbed #770 Mauve It and #820 Berry Boss.

To find out my thoughts about these lipsticks and to see swatches, keep reading.

As you can see, the Loaded Bolds Collection comes housed in the same packaging as the rest of the Color Sensational Lipsticks, and this collection is distinguished with a deep blue lid. Weirdly enough, I love the Maybelline has different lids for different collections, because it makes it really easy to grab what you're looking for. The sticker on the base of the bullet is also the same shade as the lipstick and is actually really true to colour. 

Also like all of the Color Sensational Lipsticks, these have the same smell - which I'm not the biggest fan of, but am willing to put up with. If Maybelline changed the scent of their lipstick to more of a vanilla/cake type scent, I swear I would have a bigger collection of them in general.

770 Mauve It

Mauve It is a true mauve shade and I suspect it has a grey base. In the bullet, it looks almost too boring to be included in this collection, but when you put it on the lips it makes perfect sense. This shade is deeper than a lot of mauve lipsticks and definitely has that taupe undertone that's really popular lately, rather than pulling too pink. I would say this is a demi-matte finish in that it's creamy enough that it's not a flat matte finish. The texture is incredibly creamy with a lot of slip on the lips and it applies with full opacity in one swipe.

820 Berry Bossy

Berry Bossy is a raspberry shade that has a good hit of purple to it. It applies very true on the lips to what you see in the tube. While I wouldn't say that this shade is necessarily bright, it's quite vibrant and gives a really bold look to the lips that lives up to the name. I think pretty much anyone could wear this shade and it would look absolutely stunning. The texture of this one isn't quite as creamy as Mauve It, but it still applies very smoothly and will very full colour. Because this shade is so pigmented, I would recommend using a lip liner with it to get a really crisp look. Because this is such a highly pigmented lipstick, I do find that this shade does tend to stain your lips and you end up with that popsicle type look once it wears down or you take it off.

The thing that strikes me the most about these lipsticks is the density of the pigment combined with the texture. There's nothing the least bit sheer about these. They apply with full colour in one swipe, but with a very creamy, easy texture. Honestly, they remind me a little bit of the formula of the BITE Luminous Créme Lipsticks (the old formula), and I think they're incredibly high quality for a drugstore lipstick formula. The wear time is also quite good and once they lose their shine, you're still left with quite a lot of pigment on the lips.

Honestly, I think this is the most impressive lipstick I've tried from the drugstore in a long time and I'm very tempted to go back and pick up a few more shades. Because Canada has a narrower colour selection than the US, I may wait until I head down south this summer to pick up more shades, but I definitely want more of these in my collection. Either way, these definitely get my recommendation and I think a lot of people will be able to find shades that work for their skintone and taste.

Have you tried the Maybelline Loaded Bolds yet? Leave me a comment and let me know!

Thanks for reading!