Chanel La Precieuse (317) Rouge Allure Velvet Matte Lipstick ($34.00 for 0.12 oz.) is a vibrant, medium-dark blue-based red with a matte finish. It had rich, opaque color coverage, and the color glided on evenly and smoothly fairly well. It wore well for seven and a half hours, but it was drying on me. MAC Glam (DC, $15.00) is similar. MAC RiRi Woo (LE, $15.00) is darker, more matte. NARS Dragon Girl (P, $25.00) is also darker. NARS Luxembourg (P, $25.00) is similar. MAC Ronnie Red (LE, $15.00) is similar. MAC MAC Red (P, $15.00) is similar. Guerlain Calligraphy #5 (LE) is pinker. Dior Marilyn (LE, $36.00) is similar. Chanel Rouge Byzantin (LE, $34.00) is less matte. See comparison swatches.

La Desiree (327) Rouge Allure Velvet Matte Lipstick ($34.00 for 0.12 oz.) is a deeper, medium-dark red with subtle neutral-to-cool undertones and a matte finish. It had mostly opaque color coverage, and it applied evenly and smoothly with just slight drag. It lasted seven and a half hours, but like La Precieuse, I did find it rather drying. MAC Just a Bite (LE, $15.00) is similar. MAC Deeply Adored (LE, $15.00) is similar. MAC Charmed, I’m Sure is a touch brighter. (LE, $15.00) See comparison swatches.

This is one of my least favorite formulas, because I find it quite drying over time. Many readers have had great experiences with this formula, and others have had some issues with how drying it is. Chanel touts it as “non-drying” (but not hydrating!), but it’s one of the more painful formulas to test for me. Though both shades wore very long, I can’t wear anything after testing one of these for about a day after–I need a lot of extra TLC to get my lips back into shape after wearing one of these!

Chanel La Precieuse (317) Rouge Allure Velvet Matte Lipstick

Chanel La Precieuse (317) Rouge Allure Velvet Matte Lipstick

Chanel La Precieuse (317) Rouge Allure Velvet Matte Lipstick

Chanel La Precieuse (317) Rouge Allure Velvet Matte Lipstick

Chanel La Precieuse (317) Rouge Allure Velvet Matte Lipstick

Chanel La Precieuse (317) Rouge Allure Velvet Matte Lipstick

Chanel La Desiree (327) Rouge Allure Velvet Matte Lipstick

Chanel La Desiree (327) Rouge Allure Velvet Matte Lipstick

Chanel La Desiree (327) Rouge Allure Velvet Matte Lipstick

Chanel La Desiree (327) Rouge Allure Velvet Matte Lipstick

Chanel La Desiree (327) Rouge Allure Velvet Matte Lipstick

Chanel La Desiree (327) Rouge Allure Velvet Matte Lipstick