Armani

When the Notorious Collection launched in spring 2017, it immediately caught my attention. The limited-edition lineup introduced six Armani Beauty Lip Maestro liquid lipsticks, and for someone already obsessed with the Giorgio Armani Lip Maestro Notorious Liquid Lipsticks, this release felt unmissable. At $38 each, they leaned on the pricey side, but the glamorous shades carried that undeniable sense of old-school Hollywood drama. They were so chic and striking that even the name “Notorious” reminded me of a Notorious RBG t-shirt I’d always meant to pick up.

What made them stand out from typical formulas was their texture. Instead of the heavy, drying feel that so many notorious liquid lip color products tend to have, these delivered a lightweight semi-matte finish with a whipped moisturizing formula that felt luxurious. The result was smooth, soft color payoff that looked like not lipstick, it’s lipgloss, but without the stickiness of gloss. That perfect balance of comfort and sophistication is what has made this collection one I’ve reached for again and again.

When I tested the notorious liquid lipsticks swatches, shades like 301 A-List, 408 Notorious, 515 Dress Code, 516 Spotlight, 517 Maharaja, and 518 Paparazzi Pink blew me away. Just one swipe gave an opaque lip look with dimension not completely flat, but enhanced by the way light bounced off, making my lips look plumper. The effect was effortlessly polished and, dare I say, even a little delicioso in the mirror.

In terms of wear time, the color stayed intact for about 3–4 hours if I was only sipping on a drink or nibbling something light like Fuji apple slices. After a full meal, the semi-matte layer would fade, but instead of disappearing unevenly, it left behind a lovely lip stain that covered the full lip area rather than clinging to the edges. That smooth fading effect made reapplication a breeze.

Out of all the shades, the only one I don’t fully recommend is the lightest, 518 Paparazzi Pink. It tends to settle into vertical lip lines, and the contrast between natural lip color and pigment is a bit too noticeable. While every shade shows a slight tendency to sink into lines, Paparazzi Pink is the only one that goes too far. The rest of the collection, however, is filled with beautiful, bold, bright colors that flatter most lips. Still, unless your lips are perfectly smooth, I’d think twice about reaching for that palest pink.For those searching online, you can often find the Notorious Liquid Lipsticks Amazon listings, though I personally prefer picking them up directly through Armani Beauty Lip Maestro retailers for authenticity. Whether you’re looking for a high-impact red, a daring berry, or a classic nude from the note lipstick shades, the Armani Lip Maestro review consensus remains the same: these are must-haves. Even in a world where niche brands like notoriously morbid lipstick spark curiosity, Armani’s craftsmanship with the Armani Beauty Lip Maestro Liquid Lipstick line continues to set the gold standard.