💄 Best $3 Lipstick? Hanasui vs OMG Review
Image Credit: Jeokda Official
There is a distinct thrill in finding a "hidden gem." We have all been there—standing in the beauty aisle, surrounded by high-end brands promising the world for the price of a grocery run. But lately, the narrative has shifted. The rise of affordable local beauty brands has been nothing short of a revolution. It poses a daring question: Do you really need to spend $20 for a high-quality matte lip cream, or can you get the same performance for the price of a cup of coffee?
Today, I am taking you on a journey through my latest experiment. I decided to pit two of the heavyweights of the budget beauty world against each other: Hanasui Mattedorable Lip Cream and OH MY GLAM (OMG) Matte Kiss Lip Cream. Both are priced incredibly low—under $3 (often even less depending on sales)—and both claim to offer long-lasting, transfer-proof, and comfortable wear.
As a beauty enthusiast who has tested everything from luxury designer tubes to drugstore staples, I approached this with skepticism. Could these affordable tubes actually survive a 9-to-5 day, a greasy lunch, and countless sips of coffee? I wore them, I stressed-tested them, and I analyzed their ingredient lists to give you an honest, deep-dive comparison. Let's find out which one deserves a permanent spot in your makeup bag.
📦 The Contenders: First Impressions
Before we get into the nitty-gritty of performance, let's talk about presentation. In the world of cosmetics, packaging is the "appetizer"—it sets the tone for the experience. When you are paying such a low price, you usually expect flimsy plastic and lackluster design. However, the market has evolved, and brands know that aesthetics matter, regardless of the price point.
🌸 Hanasui Mattedorable Lip Cream
Hanasui has taken a very "sweet" approach to their branding. The box is predominantly a soft, millennial pink with holographic typography that catches the light nicely. The tube itself feels surprisingly sturdy. It has a gradient effect, transitioning from the shade color at the bottom to a frosted finish at the top.
The Scent: Upon opening the Hanasui tube, you are hit with a distinct aroma. Depending on the specific line (Boba edition or standard), it smells like sweet vanilla or brown sugar. It’s pleasant, though if you are sensitive to fragrance, it is noticeable during application.
💋 OH MY GLAM (OMG) Matte Kiss Lip Cream
OMG leans into a bolder, edgier aesthetic. The packaging utilizes stark black and vibrant color indicators. It feels slightly more utilitarian than Hanasui but screams "professional makeup artist kit." The tube is sleek, black, and has a clear window to see the actual color, which is a practical design choice I always appreciate.
The Scent: OMG has a more fruity, candy-like scent. It reminds me of the classic lip glosses from the early 2000s—nostalgic and sweet, but it dissipates relatively quickly after the product dries down.
💧 Texture and Formulation Analysis
This is where the rubber meets the road. A cheap lipstick is useless if it feels like cement on your lips. I applied both products to clean, exfoliated lips (no balm underneath) to test their true formulation integrity.
The Hanasui Experience
Hanasui promotes a "velvet matte" finish, and I must say, the description is accurate. The texture is creamy, almost moussy, when you pull the wand out. It glides on with significant ease.
- Drying Time: It takes about 60 to 90 seconds to fully set. This is a "Goldilocks" time—fast enough that you aren't waiting around, but slow enough that you can clean up mistakes or blend two colors for an ombre look.
- Finish: It dries down to a soft matte. It doesn't suck the moisture out of your lips immediately.
- Key Ingredients: It highlights Vitamin E and Olive Oil. You can feel this; there is a certain slip to the formula that prevents that "tight" feeling often associated with liquid mattes.
The OMG Experience
OMG OH MY GLAM is unapologetically matte. The formula is thinner and more liquid than Hanasui. Because of this viscosity, it allows for a very thin layer application, which is crucial for longevity.
- Drying Time: Rapid. We are talking 30 to 45 seconds. You need to work quickly with this one. Once it sets, it locks in place.
- Finish: Powdery matte. It fills in the lip lines to create a very smooth canvas, but if your lips are dry or flaky, it will cling to those patches. Prep is essential here.
- Key Ingredients: Also contains Jojoba Oil and Vitamin E, aiming to balance the heavy matte pigments with hydration.
⏳ The Wear Test: 8 Hours of Reality
Swatches on an arm are one thing; wearing the product through a chaotic day is another. I wore Hanasui on the left side of my lips and OMG on the right side (yes, I looked a bit ridiculous at home) to do a direct split-test.
1. The Coffee Test (10:00 AM)
OMG: Zero transfer. The mug rim was clean. Impressive.
2. The Oily Lunch (1:00 PM)
I ate fried noodles. Oil is the kryptonite of matte lipstick.
Hanasui: It faded slightly in the center of the lip (the inner mucosal area). It faded gracefully, though, creating a gradient effect rather than a harsh line.
OMG: It held on tighter than Hanasui, but when it did break down, it flaked slightly rather than fading. This resulted in a clearer demarcation line between the lipstick and my natural lip color.
3. The Comfort Check (5:00 PM)
By late afternoon, the difference in comfort became apparent.
Hanasui: My lips felt relatively normal. The Olive Oil component seemed to be doing its job. I didn't feel the urgent need to lick my lips or apply balm.
OMG: My lips felt a bit dry. Not "cracking desert" dry, but I was definitely aware I was wearing a heavy matte product.
🎥 Watch the Swatches in Action
Check out this video for real-time application and shade comparisons.
🎨 Shade Range and Pigmentation
One of the biggest struggles with budget brands used to be the lack of inclusive shades. They often catered only to fair skin tones or offered generic reds. Thankfully, both Hanasui and OMG have embraced the diversity of skin tones, particularly catering to the warm undertones common in Southeast Asia.
Hanasui's Palette: They excel in nude and earthy tones. Their "Salted Caramel" and "Brown Sugar" shades are legendary in the community. They are perfect for daily wear, office settings, or the "no-makeup" makeup look. They have recently expanded into bolder berries, but their strength lies in warm nudes.
OMG's Palette: OH MY GLAM brings the drama. While they have nudes, their reds, burgundies, and dark terracottas are incredibly pigmented. One dip is enough to cover the entire lip with full opacity. If you are looking for a statement lip for a night out or a wedding, OMG's pigment density is superior.
🔬 The "Safe Beauty" Check: Ingredients
As consumers, we are becoming more educated. We don't just want pretty colors; we want safety. Both brands are BPOM registered (Indonesian Food and Drug Authority), which ensures they are free from dangerous heavy metals like mercury or lead often found in unregulated cheap cosmetics.
However, if you check the labels, you will find Isododecane as a primary solvent in both. This is standard for long-wear lipsticks; it makes them waterproof but can be drying. The inclusion of Dimethicone provides that silky feel.
Pro Tip: Because both formulas rely on film-forming agents to stay matte, you must use an oil-based cleanser to remove them. Micellar water alone might require excessive rubbing, which damages the delicate skin of the lips.
🏆 The Final Verdict: Who Wins?
After days of testing, peeling, eating, and observing, I have reached a conclusion. The answer, as it often is in beauty, depends on your specific needs. There is no single "best," but there is a "best for YOU."
👑 Winner: Comfort and Daily Wear
HANASUI Mattedorable
If you have dry lips or want a lipstick you can wear for 10 hours straight without feeling like your lips are shrinking, Hanasui is the winner. The formula is more forgiving, the fade is more graceful, and the shades are more office-friendly.
Buy Hanasui Now👑 Winner: Longevity and Pigment
OMG Oh My Glam
If you need your lipstick to survive a hurricane (or a very long dinner date) and want bold, high-impact color, OMG takes the crown. It is truly transfer-proof and offers better coverage for those with darker natural lip pigmentation.
Buy OMG NowMy Personal Takeaway
For $3, both of these products are phenomenal. They outperform many drugstore brands that cost three or four times as much. Personally, I keep a Hanasui in my purse for daily touch-ups because I love the comfortable texture, but I keep a red OMG on my vanity for evenings when I want a sharp, defined look that won't budge on a wine glass.
The beauty industry is changing. High price tags no longer guarantee high quality, and low prices no longer mean low standards. Hanasui and OMG are proof that you can look like a million bucks without spending it.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q: Are these lip creams safe for pregnant women?
A: Generally, yes, as they are BPOM certified and free from dangerous heavy metals. However, pregnancy sensitivities vary, so it is always best to consult the specific ingredient list with your doctor.
Q: Which one is better for ombre lips?
A: Hanasui is slightly better for blending ombre looks because it dries slower, giving you time to smudge the edges. OMG dries too fast to blend easily unless you work at lightning speed.
Q: How do I stop them from cracking?
A: Preparation is key. Exfoliate your lips with a sugar scrub and apply a lip balm 15 minutes before applying the lipstick. Blot off the excess balm before applying the matte cream.