Rimmel 'The Only 1' Lipstick - Review & Swatches

One of my favourite brands for affordable lipstick, Rimmel, have just dropped a brand new formula. They introduce new shades quite frequently but a whole new type of lipstick is quite rare, and this particular one is called 'The Only 1'. A pretty bold title in my opinion!

This new formulation claims to be the only lipstick you need, offering 'intense, high-impact' colour with an 'ultra-comfortable, weightless feel'. For their ultimate do-it-all lipstick, Rimmel have tried to marry the best features of both a moisturising and a long-lasting formulation. Have they succeeded? Read on to find out...


So first of all for the packaging. The pointed, architectural design definitely looks more high-end than it's £6.99 price point, but the cap itself is a little tight-fitting. It does have the useful colour strip at the base telling which shade is inside, which is a nice addition. Overall, I'm on the fence with the packaging. I don't hate it, but it's not the best I've seen on the high street.

Moving on to the colour selection. There are 15 shades in total. Although there are definitely some great shades in the line up (I especially love all of the purple colours) I think it's missing some of the more nude, earthy tones. The only nude shades they have are very mauve-toned. Perhaps that is something they will add at a later date, but if you're a nude-lover you might not find a colour you love.

Moving on to the all-important formulation. The lipstick applies opaquely, but feels quite wet and glossy. It's actually quite hard to apply neatly with the flat-top bullet shape, I definitely would have preferred a traditional bullet for ease of application here. It has a nice fruity scent like the other Rimmel lipsticks, but it seems to be quite a lot stronger than previous formulations. I personally like the scent but even for me, the aroma is a little too strong. After a few minutes, the product (and scent) dries down considerably, leaving a beautiful satin finish. I have to say I'm a fan of the finish because it is really comfortable, yet long-lasting. The staying power is fantastic. I wore this for about 6 hours before needing to top it up, all the while drinking coffee, eating lunch etc. The staying-power really is exceptional and it's so comfortable it's easy to forget you're wearing it.

L-R: Pink Me Love Me, Pink A Punch, You're All Mine, It's A Keeper, Listen Up

L-R: Revolution Red, Best of the Best, Peachy-Beachy, Cheeky Coral, Call Me Crazy

L-R: Naughty Nude, Easy Does It, Under My Spell, One-Of-A-Kind, Oh-So Wicked

Overall, they've definitely delivered on the formulation front. These lipsticks are lovely, especially for their £6.99 price point. However I do think the packaging design, scent and colour selection could be improved on. These are up there with some of the best lipsticks available on the high street, and I would definitely recommend checking them out when they launch on the 30th September, however they definitely aren't 'The Only 1' for me!

The Only 1 lipsticks launch in the UK on the 30th September, priced at £6.99 each.
Pros: Price, Colour pay-off, Comfort, Longevity, Finish, Great mauve/purple shades
Cons: Packaging, Scent, Lack of nude/neutral colour options