When it comes to lipstick, there's certainly no shortage of options out there – from high-shine to softly glossy and heavily pigmented inks. There's also no denying its transformative power, or the intimate space it fills in our makeup routine.
Like lingerie for our lips, it gives us the green light to feel empowered, confident and flirtatious. Not only that, but the shade we choose is an outward reflection of our mood in that given moment. All of which is to say, there's a lot riding on finding the perfect bullet that boasts longevity, comfort and French-Girl cool.
That's why the latest lipstick launch to capture our imagination is from the ultimate French fashion house, Chanel. Building on the six iconic red shades of Rouge Allure Velvet that launched in 2011 are 14 chic new hues ranging from soft beige to intense crimson. The formula positions itself as a semi-matte that hits the elusive sweet spot “between matte and luminous" and has a texture not unlike velvety rose petals. We couldn't wait to put it through its paces…
Chanel Rouge Allure Velvet Luminous-Matte Lipstick at a glance
Chanel Rouge Allure Velvet Luminous Matte Lip Colour- The Pros: Delivers long-lasting colour, great shade range and you don’t get that dry, chalky feeling that some mattes create after swiping them on a few times.
- The Cons: The price means it's not an impulse buy.
- Price: £35
- Our verdict: Worth your hard-earned cash as there's a shade to suit everyone and a little goes a long way.
- GLAMOUR star rating: 4.5 out of 5
Meet The Reviewer: Fiona Embleton, GLAMOUR's Acting Associate Beauty Director
Although I try all manner of makeup for a living, my signature look is bronzer and eyeliner. So it takes a lot for a lipstick to earn its place in my makeup bag. That said, I have tested 100's of lipsticks in my career so if I really like something, you can trust that I have reached that opinion by vetting it against everything else I've ever tried. I usually lean more towards nude shades but am keen to try the combination of Intuitive and Éternelle that makeup artist Pati Dubruff mixed together for Margot Robbie at this year's Golden Globes.
The Product Details:
While the original Rouge Allure Velvet Lipsticks were different shades of red – from coral to red orange and fire engine red – the 14 new shades offer scope for all skin tones and moods. There are plenty of neutral red, pink and nude hues, as well as complexion-enhancing brights that thankfully fall short of being neon.
The formula has also been refined since its 2011 manifestation and now contains the latest in ultra-fine pigment technology. Some pigments are more intense to deliver a long-wearing velvety hue; others are pearly pigments that add a satin-like finish for a full-coverage yet subtly glowing finish.
To leave lips feeling soft, the formula is laced with conditioning emollients including castor oil and shea butter.
Of course, if you invest in a Chanel product you want the packaging to look and feel expensive too. You won't be disappointed with this lipstick as a simple click of the lid releases the lipstick bullet.
The GLAMOUR Wear Test
My number one concern is how well a lipstick will wear after a couple of hours. An added worry with matte formulas is whether it will make my lips shrivel up in a prune-like pout. I had no reason to worry on either front.
The Chanel Rouge Allure Velvet lipstick actually made my lips look plumper rather than shrunken. I put the colour through its paces at dinner with an eight course taster menu and can confirm it survived soup, burrata with plenty of olive oil dressing and several glasses of wine. Even when, after a few hours the lipstick did start to wear off, it did so evenly rather than leaving the outer rim of my lips ringed with colour.
As for the shades, Intuitive and Éternelle used together had a “your lips but better” effect. The classic nude Intemporelle doesn't look in the least bit chalky while I can't wait to rock Intense, a cool fuchsia, with a tan this summer.
The Verdict:
I love how both the texture and shades make your lips look flushed rather than heavily made up. I was also impressed with the fact that the lipstick doesn't need to be layered with lipliner or a dusting of powder to stay put. I applied it straight from the bullet, which is shaped to hug the curves of your mouth, and simply patted my finger to blur-out the edges. At £35 it's definitely not cheap, but it's worth it for the impressive finish and I'm gradually working my way through all the shades. Chanel Rouge Allure Velvet is available online at Selfridges, Boots and chanel.com.
Chanel Rouge Allure Velvet Luminous Matte Lip ColourFor more from Fiona Embleton, GLAMOUR's Acting Associate Beauty Director, follow her on @fiembleton.
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