What’s one beauty product that can take your look from plain to polished within seconds? A lavish swipe of a luxury lipstick, of course.
While we’ve been seeing endless launches of lipsticks every year, this year is extra opulent.
Christian Louboutin made its red hot arrival in July, headlined by its highly anticipated lipsticks (SGD142 each) and Gucci Makeup arrives in Singapore in September, debuting with… yes, you’ve guessed it, a collection of lipsticks (SGD53 each). If you haven’t seen the writing on the wall, read our lips: 2019 is the year of luxury lipsticks.
With so many luxurious lipstick launches around at every corner, which one should you be splurging on? We tried five new luxury lipsticks in the market from Gucci, Chanel, YSL, Burberry, and Giorgio Armani worth more than SGD250 in all. And here’s the ultimate lowdown on each of them.
1. Gucci Makeup Rouge A Levres Voile
Shade tried: 602 Wife Vs. Secretary
First impression: Its gorgeous packaging, which features a floral design accented with gold finishes, already makes it stand out from the rest. In fact, it may just be the prettiest lipstick I have in my enormous lipstick collection. The lipstick comes with a pleasant fragrance that reminded me of the scent that fills my mother’s room after I watch her complete her makeup when I was a girl – it’s nostalgic and feminine.
Review: The lipstick turned out to be more sheer than I expected and I’m not complaining. While I am known to remain unfaze before any bold lip colour, it’s always good to have something that you can wear every day, but doesn’t look boring. And for those who aren’t as adventurous as I am, this is definitely a shade that anyone can pull off. The lipstick glides on beautifully onto my lips and feels very hydrating. While it’s not transfer-proof, regular touch-up throughout the day doesn’t make your lips drier or rougher, like some lipsticks do. Anyway, for a lipstick as gorgeous as this one, I really don’t mind taking it out for a touch-up every now and then. If you got it (a pretty lippie), flaunt it, right?
Recommended for: Beauty enthusiasts looking for a collectible. This gorgeous lipstick case is something that no self-respecting beauty junkie can overlook. As a plus point, its sheer finish makes it a wearable lipstick that you can put on every day, which definitely gives your investment extra mileage.
Gucci Makeup Rouge A Levres Voile retails at SGD53 and is available at Takashimaya Department Store Beauty Hall. It is available in 18 shades.
2. Chanel Rouge Allure Ink Fusion
Shade tried: 824 Berry
First impression: I first tried Chanel’s Rouge Allure Ink in 2016. It was one of the most comfortable matte liquid lip colours I’ve ever worn and it remains among my top picks for matte lipsticks. The new Rouge Allure Ink Fusion promises to take the matte effect and bold colours to new heights and I didn’t know how much better it could be compared to my experience with the Rouge Allure Ink… until I applied it for the first time. The saturated pigment that settled upon the first swipe was what impressed me most. This is definitely not a lipstick for the faint-hearted.
Review: A single swipe gave me a stain that I can wear any day of the week. Put on another layer, and I get a fearless look that tells you I’m ready to face any challenge that day. Once this lipstick dries down, it remains transfer-proof. Even at the end of the day, it fades down to a pretty stain that doesn’t require any touch-up. I also like that the product appears to smoothen out the lines on my lips to present a more pristine look. You’ve probably heard this quote: give a woman the right lipstick and she can conquer the world. I’m pretty sure they’re referring to this one.
Recommended for: The power woman who wants to make a statement with her lip colour and can’t be bothered with touching up. There are 12 shades in the collection but I highly recommend the darker ones for a high-impact look.
Chanel Rouge Allure Ink Fusion retails at SGD52 and is available at Chanel Fragrance and Beauty Boutiques in ION Orchard, The Shoppes at Marina Bay Sands, VivoCity, and Raffles City, as well as all Chanel Fragrance and Beauty counters. It is available in 12 shades.
3. YSL The Slim Sheer Matte
Shade tried: 107 Bare Burgundy
First impression: Just like its predecessor, The Slim Matte, this has a sleek exterior coupled with a unique block-shaped bullet. The square bullet took me a few seconds to get used to, but after fiddling with it for a while, I understood how it could be used to create precise lines along the lips.
Review: I love how buildable this lipstick is, which allows me to create everything from a just-blotted to a full-colour look. Its versatility makes it my go-to lipstick for work, because it can take me easily from a morning meeting to an evening date. As a matte lipstick, it is extremely comfortable and I can imagine with its sheer formula, it will make a great first lipstick option for makeup novices too.
Recommended for: The fuss-free woman who’s looking for a versatile lipstick that works for any occasion; simply build up its intensity according to your whim and fancy
YSL Beaute Rouge Pur Couture The Slim Sheer Matte retails at SGD54 at all YSL Beaute stores. It is available in 12 shades.
4. Burberry Kisses Lip Lacquer
Shade tried: 53 Oxblood
First impression: Its beautiful casing reminded me of a vial of potion, and I was hoping that it would cast a magic spell on my lips as I swiped it on. Thankfully, it didn’t disappoint. The colour was vivid and all it took was one swipe to create a bold look.
Review: This is a high-shine, full-coverage lipstick that gives a laminated finish that’s sure to turn heads. Unlike most glosses that tend to be sticky, this isn’t, and is in fact quite moisturising. I like that it delivers rich colour in one swipe; but note that this trait may be intimidating to those who aren’t used to bold lip looks. Like most glossy lipsticks, this also isn’t transfer-proof.
Recommended for: Those who are in love with glossy lipsticks. If “high-shine” is your middle name, then you probably can’t find any lipstick better than this one. This has got to be one of the best glossy lipsticks I’ve tried in a while.
Burberry Kisses Lip Lacquer retails at SGD44 and is available at Sephora.sg and Sephora ION. It is available in 12 shades.
5. Giorgio Armani Matte Nature Lip Maestro
Shade tried: 206 Cedar
First impression: Other than their foundations, Giorgio Armani’s lipsticks have always been a fixation of their fans, and I can see why. The great colour payoff and the effortless application make their lipsticks a crowd-pleaser.
Review: As a matte lipstick, it comes with a velvet finish that ensures that my lips didn’t look dry and wrinkled. However, I find that application isn’t easy if your lips are chapped, which means this is a product I would use only after exfoliating thoroughly. However, the colour is so gorgeous, I am willing to take the extra step to prep my lips before application.
Recommended for: Giorgio Armani Lip Maestro fans. If you’ve always loved the iconic Lip Maestro lipsticks, you’re going to want to add this to your current stash.
Giorgio Armani Matte Nature Lip Maestro retails at SGD55 and is available at Giorgio Armani counters.
