Saturday, October 3rd, 2009
Chanel Santal Rouge Allure Laque ($32.00) is the fifth entry to drool over in our seven days of Chanel Rouge Allure Laque feature.
Santal is a subdued peachy-coral. It has just a little bit of a coral-tone to it, but otherwise it is quite peachy. There’s almost a hint of pink, but yet there’s definitely some golden-orange shimmer. This is exactly what I love about the Chanel Rouge Allure Laques: the colors have so much going on, it’s hard to classify them. It’s lightly glossy (but not quite as glossy as some of the other shades, like Dragon), packs plenty of color, and subtle shimmer that’s there but not glittery.
I find one layer of color provides me plenty of full color coverage. I think the natural pink of my lips does add some of the pink tones I see in Santal, so if your lips are less pink, it may appear more peachy. Like Ming, this is a shade you can wear anywhere and anytime; it’s perfect for everyday or paired with a dramatic smoky eye.
Since I don’t want to just re-write what I say about the formula (since it is the same–if there are any variations, you can be sure I’ll call them out), here’s a quick bullet-point summary.
Pros
- Satiny, creamy lip color that hydrates
- Opaque color in one layer–very pigmented
- Lasts for hours and even through eating/drinking
- Glossy sheen
- Looks like a lipstick AND a gloss
- Easy to travel with
- Sleek packaging
Cons
- Product: 28/30
- Value: 8/10
- Ease of Use: 5/5
- Packaging: 4/5
Recommendation: For easy, wearable color, Santal offers exactly that!
Availability: Nordstrom
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Friday, October 2nd, 2009
Chanel Ming Rouge Allure Laque
Chanel Ming Rouge Allure Laque ($32.00) is the fourth to drool over in our seven days of Chanel Rouge Allure Laque feature.
Ming is a soft, medium pink that runs just a little warm, but overall, I’d consider neutral. It’s just this perfect girly pink that’s feminine, soft, and very, very wearable. This is a shade you could wear anywhere, anytime, and for any occasion. I could easily see this being a go-to for a quick slip of everyday color that looks gorgeous and lasts for hours. I found Ming has the least staying power, but I still was able to get through a light meal with minimal fading (mostly just the glossiness fades). It’s not as opaque as deeper shades like Coromandel and Dragon, but it’s still quite pigmented on my lips and covers up most of my natural lip color. What I like is that even though it’s very light, my natural lip color doesn’t seem to drag the color down at all–it looks very much as it does in the tube as it does on my lips.
Since I don’t want to just re-write what I say about the formula (since it is the same–if there are any variations, you can be sure I’ll call them out), here’s a quick bullet-point summary.
Pros
- Satiny, creamy lip color that hydrates
- Opaque color in one layer–very pigmented
- Lasts for hours and even through eating/drinking
- Glossy sheen
- Looks like a lipstick AND a gloss
- Easy to travel with
- Sleek packaging
Cons
- Product: 28/30
- Value: 8/10
- Ease of Use: 5/5
- Packaging: 4/5
Recommendation: If you’re all about the pink lip, check this one out!
Availability: Nordstrom
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Thursday, October 1st, 2009
Chanel Dynastie Rouge Allure Laque
Chanel Dynastie Rouge Allure Laque ($32.00) is the third to be featured in our seven days of Chanel Rouge Allure Laque feature.
Dynastie is a beautiful shade of fiery coral. It’s not too red or orange–it’s a good mix of bold and bright without being over the top. It has an orange-coral base with a softer peachy-coral shimmer and glossy sheen. It feels like silk on the lips; weightless and just a smidgen creamy when you apply it, and then just long-lasting color for hours.
It’s opaque in just one layer (I only need to use whatever is on the applicator; no double-dipping required!) and easy to apply with precision. Being able to apply it with ease and not having to worry about it bleeding or dragging on my lips is such a relief. It just makes this a no-brainer for me. This shade is deep enough for the fall/winter, but it’s still appropriate for a lovely summer coral, too!
Since I don’t want to just re-write what I say about the formula (since it is the same–if there are any variations, you can be sure I’ll call them out), here’s a quick bullet-point summary.
Pros
- Satiny, creamy lip color that hydrates
- Opaque color in one layer–very pigmented
- Lasts for hours and even through eating/drinking
- Glossy sheen
- Looks like a lipstick AND a gloss
- Easy to travel with
- Sleek packaging
Cons
- Product: 29/30
- Value: 8/10
- Ease of Use: 5/5
- Packaging: 4/5
Recommendation: If you love coral lips and want color that lasts for hours and looks gorgeous, try Dynastie!
Availability: Nordstrom
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Wednesday, September 30th, 2009
Chanel Imperial Rouge Allure Laque
Chanel Imperial Rouge Allure Laque ($32.00) is the second up in our seven days of Chanel Rouge Allure Laque feature.
Imperial is a slightly warmed-up, muted red-coral. It’s not quite the coral that comes to mind when I think “coral,” but it’s certainly not the “deep rose” that Chanel describes it as. I always find the descriptor “rose” to mean something pinky, but this has more red in it. It’s like a wearable version of a red with a touch of coral. I suppose if we think of red roses, maybe this is “deep rose.” I would say this is one of the harder shades to describe, because it’s beautiful, but I can’t find the words to aptly describe it! The shade has a dusting of slightly rosy-gold shimmer and the same glossy sheen as others in the line-up. It applies evenly without a fuss and goes on full-color right away.
Since I don’t want to just re-write what I say about the formula (since it is the same–if there are any variations, you can be sure I’ll call them out), here’s a quick bullet-point summary.
Pros
- Satiny, creamy lip color that hydrates
- Opaque color in one layer–very pigmented
- Lasts for hours and even through eating/drinking
- Glossy sheen
- Looks like a lipstick AND a gloss
- Easy to travel with
- Sleek packaging
Cons
- Product: 29/30
- Value: 8/10
- Ease of Use: 5/5
- Packaging: 4/5
Recommendation: For a more muted, but still opaque lip look, consider Imperial. Not too warm or cool, it can easily be worked into your lip wardrobe.
Availability: Nordstrom
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Tuesday, September 29th, 2009
Chanel Coromandel Rouge Allure Laque
Chanel Coromandel Rouge Allure Laque ($32.00) is the first up in our seven days of Chanel Rouge Allure Laque feature. After last week’s experience with Chanel’s Dragon Rouge Allure Laque, I knew I had to have them all. There are eight shades in total, and I’ll introduce to each shade over the next week.
Coromandel is a fiery orange-based red with just a flicker of orange shimmer that’s very, very subtle. It applies evenly with ease (which is a huge OMG-YES! factor from this product, period), and it feels like a satiny, lightly creamy lip color that hugs lips without drying them out (in fact, hydrating). It has a glossy sheen that lasts for hours, which does fade when you eat/drink through a whole meal, but the color itself hangs on like a trooper–see the evidence here. Coromandel goes on opaque in one layer; there’s no real need to layer here. I usually just slip out the applicator and apply with whatever is on it and I’m good to go.
The only downsides of Rouge Allure Laques are that they’re pricey at $32 a pop. The packaging is solid black with a slight glossy appearance–it’s subtle and sleek. To rationalize the price a bit (at least for myself), I consider this pretty much a wear-and-go lip color–that means it’s a gloss and a lipstick in one. There’s absolutely no need to layer on additional lip products with these, because the color is so intense and pigmented and the product itself has the look of a lipstick with a gloss over it… there’s literally no need. This makes it a two-for kind of deal, but it’s also superb for traveling or touch-ups. Get fancy lip color with no fuss!
I personally do prefer Dragon over Coromandel for a red, but I find myself drawn to more neutral reds–”true reds”–over orange-y reds. They’re both beautiful shades, and I’m sure there are some who prefer Coromandel over Dragon and vice versa!
- Product: 29/30
- Value: 8/10
- Ease of Use: 5/5
- Packaging: 4/5
Recommendation: If you love orange-based reds with lots of sizzle and pop, check out Coromandel!
Availability: Nordstrom
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Tuesday, September 29th, 2009
Guerlain Gaela Le Rouge G de Guerlain Lipstick ($45.00 for 0.12 oz.) is the ultimate in lip luxury. This lipstick’s compact was designed by Lorenz Bäumer, a famous jeweler from the Place Vendôme in Paris, which is one reason this lipstick compact comes with a high price tag.
Gaela is a pretty-in-pink shade. It’s a medium pink with a slight sheen but not a whole lot of shimmer. I’d classify it as a neutral-warm pink, and it’s bright enough to add a pop of color to lips, but it’s not so bright that it stands out from miles away. It applies opaquely with one layer, and even from the tube, it goes on fairly evenly.
Le Rouge G de Guerlain Lipsticks are creamy, long-wearing, often opaque to semi-opaque in color pay off, and they feel hydrating once slicked onto lips. The wear-time depends on the intensity of the shades (e.g. darker shades like reds and burgundies will last longer and easily get through a meal with minimal fading, but lighter shades disappear a bit faster), but I get no less than six hours of wear with these babies. I can even get through drinking/eating, too. I do find that there is some noticeable fading after eating a meal, but it’s not a deal-breaker. These just feel very lightweight and yet give you amazing color with a few swipes. They last long enough to get me through the day without worrying about fading lip color, and they leave my lips feeling hydrated.
The packaging is sleek, luxe, and more than most look for in lipstick packaging. It’s a heavy, metal-based compact (the heaviest lipstick I’ve personally owned) with a flip-top mirror on the outside casing, which can be handy for re-application. Now, I’m not willing to fork over extra money for a mirror (hey, I can buy a $2 mirror and keep that in my purse instead!), and even though I love innovative packaging, I’m not sold on paying for it, you know? The packaging does keep fingerprints like other Guerlain packaging, but I will say that fingerprints are a lot less noticeable (hardly noticeable, in fact) compared to their other packaging. It’s most noticeable when I take flash photography of the product (ha!), but not when you’re just looking (admiring?) it. Bottom line: packaging is gorgeous and every bit luxe, but I’d rather pay $35 and skip some of the bells and whistles of the case.
For those who love to splurge on luxury beauty items, Guerlain Le Rouge G de Guerlain didn’t disappoint me. In fact, I really love the lipstick formula itself, and I’d love to see it offered sans the heavy-duty luxe packaging if only so I could feel better about purchasing these!
- Product: 28/30
- Value: 7/10
- Ease of Use: 4/5
- Packaging: 4/5
Recommendation: If you’re feeling like a splurge, Guerlain’s Le Rouge G de Guerlain Lipsticks aren’t a bad place to start. The formula is outstanding, but the price tag is tough to swallow–pretty much the only reason this product isn’t rated an A.
Availability: Nordstrom, Saks 5th Avenue, Sephora
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