Mikyajy Sabaya Lipsticks review, swatches, photos: Middle Eastern makeup brand

I love discovering brands from around the world. In December, I first wanted to buy makeup from Middle Eastern brands. On asking around, every SA had one name to recommend - "Mikyajy" (pronounced "mee-kyaa-jee"). I have no idea what that means. Established in 1999, Mikyajy now has more than 500 stores in seven countries, and seven sub brands. The products themselves are made in the UK. They have everything from brushes and cases to foundations and primers.
As you can see from their website and the collection of lippies above, it was all I could do not to buy up the entire stock. I restricted myself to lipsticks and an eyeshadow palette (to be reviewed later) and regretted not having bought more products the moment I got back home. Read on and you'll know why.

Here is the review and the swatches of the Mikyajy Sabaya long lasting lip colour.

Packaging of Mikyajy Sabaya lipsticks

Nothing very fancy; sturdy and professional. You can see the colour through the tube, which is great. One end carries the lip colour while the other end carries clear gloss. The shape reminds me of the Maybelline 16-hour Superstay Lipsticks but those looked a lot cheaper and less sturdy and the formula was definitely nothing like Mikyajy's!

Might be a good idea to wait for the colour to dry before applying the gloss, otherwise this happens.

Doe's foot applicator. You get exactly enough to cover the lips.

There's a mild fruity fragrance out of the bottle but not once it hits the lips.

Swatches of Mikyajy Sabaya lipsticks

I know, I usually don't jump to swatches rightaway, but I'm saving the formula part for the last!

There are eight shades in this range and I bought well over a dozen concentrating on pinks, peaches, corals and maroon-reds, caught by the Mikyajy madness. Sadly, nothing has a name and it's all numbers. There are maroons, fuchsias, bright reds, peaches, corals and pinks. Here's an idea of the pigmentation. The reason I didn't swatch all the shades on my forearm is further below. These are 06, 10 and 09. All photographs in natural light. 09 is a dead-ringer for Chanel Rouge Double Intensite in Rose Quartz. And nope, they aren't going to look like you painted them on the lips, and they do suit medium skintones just fine.

Formula of Mikyajy Sabaya Lipsticks

Immovable. Unshakeable. Invincible. Chanel Rouge Double Intensite, here is your rival. These shall not be, these shall not be moved, just like a tree that grows by the water side, these shall not be moved.
This is what happens when you give it a scrub with water.

This is what happens when you give it a scrub with a makeup remover wipe.

This is what happens when you give it a good scrubbing with Nuxe Micellar Water (currently used makeup remover) and a wet wipe and your forearm turns red. The colour still hasn't gone, and I've scrubbed my skin raw. This is why I didn't swatch the whole lot for you. People will think I'm attempting to self-harm.

I haven't seen such staying power apart from Chanel Rouge Double Intensite or MUFE Aqua Rouge. These stay on longer than Estee Lauder Double Wear Stay in Place Lip Duos. No fading, no bleeding, no flaking off, no moving away to the edges. The picture below is at the end of the day. Thank goodness for long sleeves. No transfer anywhere. Eat, drink and be merry!

Oh, and I am not going to even talk about pigmentation. You've seen the swatches for yourself. I'll just say this: These lipsticks are SO pigmented that they'll cover up anything, even top-level government scandals.
These go on creamy and dry matte but aren't going to be drying if you apply the gloss over it. Oh, and they work well enough with other lip glosses and balms, too!
Now I haven't done on-the-lips swatches for this post, because I'd have to scrub my lips raw to change each colour. But here are some quick clicks of me wearing three of these shades over the daytime (peach 06, pink 09 and deep pink 13). Please forgive the lighting and lines - the top two were in the desert sun and quicksand respectively, and the third was in the cold falcon souq. Not very good photos, but you get the idea. No lip liner or primer was used.

Bottom line
At $20 per lipstick, these don't break the bank. There's a decent 5ml of liquid and 5ml of the gloss. Plus, you're saved reapplying through the day. The Mikyajy Sabaya lip colours are right up there among the longest lasting lipsticks. Since Chanel threw out my favourite shade in Rouge Double Intensite (Rose Garnet, swatched here), these are my new HG lippies.
It's a crying shame they don't sell online, but if you have any way of getting makeup from the Middle East, do go for these - and check out their fun website, mikyajy.com. I bet you make a large wishlist!
A surprise for my readers
I will be including a brand new Mikyajy Sabaya lipstick from this range in my first blogoversary giveaway! You've GOT to try it and fall in love with it. I'm just waiting for the weekend to shop for a couple more gifts so there's enough to go around. I bought a Bourjois Rouge Edition #17 today on the way home but got here and decided to keep it for myself, it is such a pretty dusty-pinky-coral! No worries, I'll get another one!
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Disclaimer: My own money. I'll do virulent green lights flashing around saying PR sample if I get around to featuring one.