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Chanel La Bouleversante & Pensive Rouge Allures Reviews, Photos, Swatches

Chanel La Bouleversante (51) Rouge Allure Velvet
Chanel La Bouleversante (51) Rouge Allure Velvet

Chanel La Bouleversante (51) Rouge Allure Velvet ($36.00 for 0.12 oz.) is a slightly muted, medium red with neutral-to-warm undertones and a satin finish. It had semi-opaque color payoff with a very smooth, thin consistency. The finish had a fair amount of shine–more than “velvet matte” would have as defined by most would be my guess! Though it’s not touted as hydrating, it is supposed to be “non-drying” and long-wearing, but my experience with it was that it was somewhat drying over the five hours it lasted. Something about the consistency made it seem like it didn’t really adhere to my lips that well. Dior Diva (LE, $40.00) is darker (95% similar). MAC Brave Red (LE, $30.00) is darker (95% similar). MAC Steam Heat (LE, $19.00) is more pigmented, better quality (95% similar). NARS Jungle Red (DC, $28.00) is lighter (95% similar). MAC Carmine Rouge (LE, $30.00) is brighter, cooler (90% similar). MAC Reddy to Go (P, $20.00) is darker (90% similar). NARS Mysterious Red (P, $27.00) is more pigmented, less glossy (90% similar). NARS Flamenco (DC, $28.00) is lighter, cooler (90% similar). Bite Beauty Candied Maple (LE, $24.00) is brighter (90% similar). MAC Nutcracker Rouge (LE, $19.00) is cooler, less glossy (90% similar). Chanel Ultrarose (257) (LE, $45.00) is lighter, cooler (90% similar). Illamasqua Maneater (P, $24.00) is brighter, more pigmented, less glossy (85% similar). See comparison swatches / view dupes side-by-side.

Chanel Pensive (162) Rouge Allure ($36.00 for 0.12 oz.) is a light-medium, peachy brown with warm undertones and fine peach pearl. It had sheer coverage that applies unevenly and settles into lip lines right away. It lasted for two hours and was slightly drying. Tom Ford Beauty Bradley (P, $36.00) is lighter (85% similar). Urban Decay Ex-Girlfriend (DC, $18.00) is brighter (90% similar). Tom Ford Beauty In the Buff (01) (LE, $55.00) is lighter, more pigmented, better quality (90% similar). MAC In Lust (LE, $19.00) is more shimmery, lighter, cooler (85% similar). Chanel Julia (404) (P, $37.00) is more shimmery, lighter, more pigmented (90% similar). NARS Redemption (LE, $29.00) is more shimmery, lighter (85% similar). Maybelline Truffle Tease (930) (P, $7.49) is less shimmery, lighter, better quality (85% similar). Guerlain Gracieuse (DC, $58.00) is darker, more pigmented, warmer (85% similar). See comparison swatches / view dupes side-by-side.

See more photos & swatches!

Chanel La Bouleversante (51) Rouge Allure Velvet
Chanel La Bouleversante (51) Rouge Allure Velvet

Chanel La Bouleversante (51) Rouge Allure Velvet
Chanel La Bouleversante (51) Rouge Allure Velvet

Chanel La Bouleversante (51) Rouge Allure Velvet
Chanel La Bouleversante (51) Rouge Allure Velvet

Chanel La Bouleversante (51) Rouge Allure Velvet
Chanel La Bouleversante (51) Rouge Allure Velvet

Chanel La Bouleversante (51) Rouge Allure Velvet
Chanel La Bouleversante (51) Rouge Allure Velvet

Chanel La Bouleversante (51) Rouge Allure Velvet
Chanel La Bouleversante (51) Rouge Allure Velvet

Chanel Pensive (162) Rouge Allure
Chanel Pensive (162) Rouge Allure

Chanel Pensive (162) Rouge Allure
Chanel Pensive (162) Rouge Allure

Chanel Pensive (162) Rouge Allure
Chanel Pensive (162) Rouge Allure

Chanel Pensive (162) Rouge Allure
Chanel Pensive (162) Rouge Allure

Chanel Pensive (162) Rouge Allure
Chanel Pensive (162) Rouge Allure

Chanel Pensive (162) Rouge Allure
Chanel Pensive (162) Rouge Allure

Makeup Look
On face:
  • Marc Jacobs Re(marc)able
  • Urban Decay Naked Loose Setting Powder
  • Chanel Alezane Blush

31 Comments

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Comments on this post are closed.
Yen.Lin Avatar

It is a shame these lipsticks do not perform well. (At least it saves money!) By the way Christine, just to let you know, brands’ names did not show up next to colours of dupes for the past few posts.

Nicole Avatar

I only have 2 others-La Petillante and La Romanesque. ( I think that is the names or something like that, lol). I like those two. So, I don’t have a lot to compare to. I think you marked those pretty high though. I probably will try it before I return it. But, if you say it’s dry, I probably won’t like it. Dry-I don’t do well.

Nancy T Avatar

What a sad shame for La Bouleversante! That is really a beautiful shade of red…, I remember when Channel consistently had excellent, or at minimum, very good lipsticks.

Nancy T Avatar

One has to wonder what on Earth is going on with almost all the HE & even midrange brands lately….they all need to get it together!

Quinctia Avatar

Shame about Pensive, it looks really pretty. But I know from experience, a lot of pearly lipsticks can be a pain in the rear to work with.

pePear Avatar

I don’t have any lipsticks from Chanel other than Rouge Coco which I like and at first I want to purchase Pensive because it look so pretty in the tube but they’re too sheer (more like translucent ) a bit disappointed.Do you have any recommend lipsticks from Chanel?

Melissa29 Avatar

La Bouleversante is such a pretty color. My lips are pigmented so it won’t look as bright on me. I can wear this color everyday because it would probably be warmer on my skin. Thanks Christine!

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