YSL Forbidden Burgundy Rouge Volupte Lipstick

The Sultry Season: YSL Forbidden Burgundy Rouge Volupte Lipstick

YSL Forbidden Burgundy (12) Rouge Volupte Lipstick ($34.00 for 0.12 oz.) is an opaque, reddened plum with a glossy shine.  All Rouge Voluptes have this lightly sweetened mango-y scent (I note it as just generally, but my nose might not be sophisticated enough…), but I don’t notice any taste.  It’s moisturizing and wears four to six hours on me.

When I first tried Rouge Voluptes, they were one of the first high-end lipsticks I had ever tried, and I thought they were the bee’s knees. Over time, I’ve discovered lipsticks that I prefer (formula-wise), but Forbidden Burgundy is still one of my favorite shades of Rouge Voluptes. The Rouge Volupte formula is incredibly creamy, and while some of the lighter shades are almost thick in their creaminess, their darker, almost glossy, shades like Forbidden Burgundy are not.

I do recommend a lip liner on deeper shades like this one if you’re prone to your lip color bleeding, because the creaminess of Rouge Voluptes make it more likely to bleed.

Is this the right berry for you? Would you wear it?

The Sultry Season is a series of posts featuring deep, rich shades of brown, berry, plum, and wine lipsticks and lipglosses — just right for autumn — that runs through October 2010.

See photos and swatches…

The best in beauty products that have truly stood the test of time. Tried and true, these still rock.

YSL Rouge Volupte Lipstick ($34.00) come in eighteen creamy, sexy shades. (YSL’s Fall 2009 Collection will add four more shades to the line-up.) I believe I own about seven or eight of the available shades, and I adore them. This is my favorite lipstick formula, because each lipstick is extremely creamy, richly pigmented, glossy, and hydrating. I eagerly await the unveiling of the new shades for fall! Available at Nordstrom and Sephora.com.

Chanel Exceptionnel Mascara ($30.00) is a mascara I often reach for since I’ve tried it. I love the intensity of the black, the length it gives, and it doesn’t clump up too easily. It’s a bit pricey, but I do really like the formula and what it does to my lashes. It almost edges out my beloved MAC Plushlash mascara, but the price makes it not quite as fabulous. Available at Nordstrom.

See three more must-haves! Clarisonic ($195.00) is one of those products that often makes it onto wish lists, but the price keeps you from ever purchasing it. I have to tell you that I believed and still believe it is a worthwhile investment. (Just click on the product name–it’ll take you to my very lengthy review!) When I use it regularly, my skin is always better. (Writing this is giving me the kick in the behind I need to be less lazy and use this regularly again!) Watch out for sales at major retailers like Beauty.com and Sephora.com, where you can often get 20% off the Clarisonic–and I’d recommend picking up a few brush head replacements, too, while you’re at it. During Nordstrom’s Anniversary Sale, Clarisonic put together a kit including the Clarisonic Plus (I presume the new and improved version), three brush heads and a body brush, and a full size scrub for $225. Available at Nordstrom and Sephora.com.

Dior Amber Diamond Skin Shimmer (along with Rose Diamond, Pop Diamond, and Copper Diamond) is really my go-to highlighter. I use it at least a few times a week. I tend to opt for Amber Diamond over the others, only because it is so complementary with my skin tone. I always reach for Rose Diamond whenever I wear a cooler blush, too. The shimmer/sheen is so subtle and sophisticated, so it is great for all types of skin. No chunky glitter here! Available at Nordstrom and Sephora.com.

LUSH Angels on Bare Skin Cleanser ($9.95 for 3.5 oz.) is a go-to for skin cleansing. It’s a very mildly exfoliating cleanser that comes in a rolled up, slightly gummy shape. It’s Lush, so the product isn’t necessarily aesthetically pleasing. I don’t know — I didn’t think it looked odd to me, but maybe that just shows that love is blind… I’ve repurchased this throughout the years, and it’s never done me wrong. Available at LUSH.

From left to right: #1 Nude Beige, #7 Lingerie Pink, #8 Fetish Pink, #9 Caress Pink, #12 Forbidden Burgundy, #13 Peach Passion. (The order remains the same for all photos!)

Yves Saint Laurent Rouge Volupte Lipstick ($34.00) comes in a variety of eighteen shades. They range from pale to bright, beige to berry. The formula is described as “light and covering, the cream texture becomes fluid on contact with the lips, for a delightful feeling and an exceptional gliding effect.” The packaging is obviously luxe with its golden tubes and elaborately designed ring that overlays the lipstick “shade.” On the top of each tube is a mirror, which, while small, is usable when you need a touch up.

Let me tell you why I LOVED these babies! This is, quite possibly, the creamiest, most pigmented, and deliriously glossy formula I have ever tried. All six colors were rich in color and hue, and they were spot-on in terms of what you see is what you get. So, they’re creamy (meaning they glide on like a dream), but they’re moisturizing and not in the least bit drying to boot! Glossiness? Oh, yes, indeed. It has such a glossy, reflective finish that makes you think there must be a gloss on top, but nope, that’s just the lipstick by itself.

I always wear gloss on top of my lipstick, because I love shine and glossy finishes–but I’ve been wearing these colors all by their lonesome and loving it! Of the six I have, my favorites are Caress Pink, Forbidden Burgundy, and Peach Passion. Tomorrow, after I do some swatching at MAC, I’ll be checking out the YSL counter to see if any others catch my fancy! And no, I don’t care one whit that these are $34 a pop. I consider them worth it! (P.S. – Cremesheen? After experiencing these, you have a lot to live up to!)

See a TON of packaging photos, lip swatches, and skin swatches!

From left to right: #1 Nude Beige, #7 Lingerie Pink, #8 Fetish Pink, #9 Caress Pink, #12 Forbidden Burgundy, #13 Peach Passion.

From left to right: #1 Nude Beige, #7 Lingerie Pink, #8 Fetish Pink, (second row) #9 Caress Pink, #12 Forbidden Burgundy, #13 Peach Passion.

Nude Beige

Lingerie Pink

Fetish Pink

Caress Pink

Forbidden Burgundy

Peach Passion