Review: YSL Rouge Volupte in Rose Paris 27

YSL Rouge Voluptes are highly praised by many beauty bloggers, due to their creamy, smooth finish and gorgeous packaging.  This was a purchase from a blog sale a couple of months ago which I snapped up in an instant.  So what did I think?

YSL Rouge Volupte in Rose Paris is a member of YSL’s permanent collection and features the standout packaging that is common to the YSL line.  The main aspect of the packaging that I love is that they put the colour on the side of the lipstick, meaning that is very easy to quickly identify which lipstick you are after.  I wish more companies such as Mac did this as it always takes me forever to find the Mac lipstick I am hunting for in a morning, and you can guarantee that it is the last one I will pick up!

The colour in the tube looks to be a pinky coral and extremely vibrant.  As with all Rouge Voluptes, the lipstick is extremely soft so you need to be very careful when winding it up and down to ensure you don’t squish it against the sides of the tube. 

When swatched, the colour goes on opaque in one pass and I actually found it almost too opaque!  It is very creamy and glides on easily, although due to its softness and vivid colour, I would recommend using a lip liner to avoid any potential bleeding issues, and you may find it easier to apply with a lip brush for more accurate application. 

The lip swatch below is done with one slick of the tube and it is VERY bright and almost a cross between a bright coral and a neon pink! I tend to blot it down a little after applying so that it is within my comfort zone but it still maintains its vivid, eye-catching brightness.

Lasting power is superb and much better than the other Rouge Volupte Pink Caress that I own (reviewed here).  I apply it first thing in the morning and it is still there 5 hours later after numerous cups of tea and mid morning snacks!  It has even lasted through a two-course lunch!

Verdict

This is currently one of my favourite bright lipsticks and it goes very well with a simple neutral eye.  If you like corals, such as Mac’s Crosswires, and fancy trying something a little pinker, this may be a good option and I could certainly see it working very well on those with darker skintones due to the high pigmentation.  The only negative I can see is that it isn’t a ‘swipe-and-go’ lippy and it does require careful application, but once it is on your lips, it will stay there for several hours.  Highly recommended!

5/5

Price –£23.50

Where to Buy  - Debenhams, Boots, John Lewis, House of Fraser

Review: Mac, See Sheer

Due to the constant influx of products and collections released by Mac these days, I sometimes feel that their permanent collection is overlooked by many in favour of the thrill of the chase of new, limited edition products that are more often lacking in quality compared to the permanent items.

Mac lipsticks are a mainstay of mine and I rarely visit their counter without at least swatching a few.  My Mum is also a Mac lover and owns more of their lipsticks than me!  She tends to gravitate towards similar shades of red and coral, and she has so many she can’t remember which ones she has bought.  This is how she ended up with two ‘See Sheer’s, and how I came to own this little beauty.

 See Sheer has a lustre finish, which is one of my favourites as I find it much less drying than the Cremesheens.  As you can see from the swatch below, it is a gorgeous light coral, with hints of brown in it. Although not completely opaque on the lips, it imparts a good amount of colour and goes well with a similar coral blush like Benefit Coralista or Nars Orgasm. Lasting time for me is approximately two hours which is typical for lustre finishes.  

 In terms of other Mac lipsticks, this is a good halfway between Crosswires which is more or a red coral and Ravishing, which is more of a lighter, paler, peachy coral.  It is so easy to wear as it looks polished and profesional and I wore it pretty much all summer.

L to R: Crosswires, See Sheer, Ravishing

Verdict

Mac’s permanent collection can be oft overlooked for their limited edition collections, however this is a great staple to have in your make up bag as it can be worn in summer or winter without looking too overdone.

5/5

Price - £13.50

Where to buy - Mac, Debenhams, Selfridges