Giorgio Armani Acajou (207) & Boudoir (507) Lip Maestros Review & Swatches
Acajou (207)
Giorgio Armani Acajou (207) Lip Maestro ($38.00 for 0.22 oz.) is a deep, reddened plum with subtle, warm undertones and a cream finish with the finest pearl strewn throughout (not enough to make it visibly shimmery to me in person). It had a smooth, velvety texture that was spreadable, lightweight but had some substance to it, that covered my lips with opaque coverage in a single layer. The color applied evenly, didn’t sink into my lip lines, and lasted beautifully for seven hours on me, while the formula felt hydrating over time.
FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).
Top Dupes
- Bite Beauty Infuse (DC, $24.00) is less shimmery, darker, cooler (90% similar).
- ColourPop 27 (P, $10.00) is less shimmery, darker (90% similar).
- Clinique Embrace Me (24) (P, $19.50) is lighter, warmer (90% similar).
- Giorgio Armani Mistero (212) (P, $38.00) is lighter, warmer (90% similar).
- Bobbi Brown Plum Brandy (P, $40.00) is lighter, warmer (90% similar).
- Estee Lauder Undefeated (P, $32.00) is brighter, warmer (90% similar).
- Burberry Oxblood (53) (P, $34.00) is less shimmery, darker, cooler (85% similar).
- Bite Beauty Chicago (LE, $26.00) is less shimmery, lighter, brighter (85% similar).
- Bite Beauty Cassava (DC, $24.00) is less shimmery, darker (85% similar).
- Tom Ford Beauty Chadwick (LE, $36.00) is less shimmery, lighter, warmer (85% similar).
Formula Overview
$38.00/0.22 oz. - $172.73 Per Ounce
The consistency has more slip and a velvety-smooth feel that softly “clings” to the lips, so while the finish has a glossier look for the first few hours, the color stays on well. If you’ve ever used a silicone-based primer, there’s a bit of that feel to the formula overall. Most shades last between six and eight hours on me, are non-drying to lightly hydrating, and comfortable to wear. The formula is unscented and has no discernible taste.
The Lip Maestro Notorious formula is supposed to have a “luminous matte” finish with “8 hours of wear” and “high pigment.” The Notorious shades are inspired by “chic Hollywood glamour” but otherwise appear very similar in feel to the original Lip Maestro formula.
Browse all of our Giorgio Armani Lip Maestro swatches.
Ingredients
DIMETHICONE, BIS-DIGLYCERYL POLYACYLADIPATE-2, DIISOSTEARYL MALATE, DIMETHICONE CROSSPOLYMER, HYDROGENATED POLYISOBUTENE, PHENYL TRIMETHICONE, KAOLIN, HDI/TRIMETHYLOL HEXYLLACTONE CROSSPOLYMER, ISOSTEARYL ISOSTEARATE, POLYETHYLENE, VINYL DIMETHICONE/METHICONE SILSESQUIOXANE CROSSPOLYMER, NYLON-12, PENTYLENE GLYCOL, HYDRATED SILICA, MAGNESIUM SILICATE, ETHYLHEXYLGLYCERIN, SILICA, CALCIUM ALUMINUM BOROSILICATE, CALCIUM SODIUM BOROSILICATE, SYNTHETIC FLUORPHLOGOPITE, PENTAERYTHRITYL TETRA-DI-T-BUTYL HYDROXYHYDROCINNAMATE, TIN OXIDE, CAPRYLYL GLYCOL, METHICONE, ALUMINA, [+/- MAY CONTAIN: CI 15850/RED 7, CI 7789/TITANIUM DIOXIDE, CI 77491, CI 77492, CI 77499/IRON OXIDES, CI 45410/RED 28 LAKE, CI 15985/YELLOW 6 LAKE, CI 45380/RED 22 LAKE, CI 19140/YELLOW 5 LAKE, CI 42090/BLUE 1 LAKE, CI 15850/RED 7 LAKE, CI 15850/RED 6, CI 75470/CARMINE, MICA]
Disclaimer: Ingredient lists are as available by the brand (or retailer) at the time of publishing. Please always check product packaging, if it exists, for the ingredient list applicable to the product you're purchasing, or the brand or retailer's website for the most up-to-date ingredient list.
Acajou (207)
PPermanent. $38.00.
Boudoir (507)
Giorgio Armani Boudoir (507) Lip Maestro ($38.00 for 0.22 oz.) is a medium pink with subtle, warm undertones and a pearl finish. It had nearly opaque color coverage in a single layer, which applied evenly and smoothly across my lips. The inclusion of the pearl made it combine better with the formula compared to applying a gloss on top, as the liquid format makes it easy for the shimmer to get overwhelmed by the liquid lipstick in practice. The consistency felt velvety, smooth, and dense without being heavy, so it was comfortable to wear. It stayed on well for five and a half hours and felt moisturizing while worn.
FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).
Top Dupes
- MAC Hot Gossip (P, $19.00) is less shimmery, lighter (85% similar).
- Guerlain #62 (P, $33.00) is less shimmery, lighter, warmer (90% similar).
- Cle de Peau Silk Thread (P, $65.00) is less shimmery, warmer (90% similar).
- Guerlain #77 (P, $33.00) is less shimmery, darker, brighter (85% similar).
- Estee Lauder Pink Parfait (P, $32.00) is more shimmery, lighter, warmer (85% similar).
- Estee Lauder Candy (P, $32.00) is more shimmery, darker, warmer (85% similar).
- Estee Lauder Power Mode (410) (P, $32.00) is less shimmery, warmer (85% similar).
- Shiseido Burning Up (RD310) (DC, $28.00) is less shimmery, brighter, warmer (85% similar).
- Revlon Gentlemen Prefer Pink (P, $8.49) is less shimmery, lighter, warmer (85% similar).
- Dior Delight (069) (LE, $38.00) is less shimmery, lighter, warmer (80% similar).
Formula Overview
$38.00/0.22 oz. - $172.73 Per Ounce
The consistency has more slip and a velvety-smooth feel that softly “clings” to the lips, so while the finish has a glossier look for the first few hours, the color stays on well. If you’ve ever used a silicone-based primer, there’s a bit of that feel to the formula overall. Most shades last between six and eight hours on me, are non-drying to lightly hydrating, and comfortable to wear. The formula is unscented and has no discernible taste.
The Lip Maestro Notorious formula is supposed to have a “luminous matte” finish with “8 hours of wear” and “high pigment.” The Notorious shades are inspired by “chic Hollywood glamour” but otherwise appear very similar in feel to the original Lip Maestro formula.
Browse all of our Giorgio Armani Lip Maestro swatches.
Ingredients
DIMETHICONE, BIS-DIGLYCERYL POLYACYLADIPATE-2, DIISOSTEARYL MALATE, DIMETHICONE CROSSPOLYMER, HYDROGENATED POLYISOBUTENE, PHENYL TRIMETHICONE, KAOLIN, HDI/TRIMETHYLOL HEXYLLACTONE CROSSPOLYMER, ISOSTEARYL ISOSTEARATE, POLYETHYLENE, VINYL DIMETHICONE/METHICONE SILSESQUIOXANE CROSSPOLYMER, NYLON-12, PENTYLENE GLYCOL, HYDRATED SILICA, MAGNESIUM SILICATE, ETHYLHEXYLGLYCERIN, SILICA, CALCIUM ALUMINUM BOROSILICATE, CALCIUM SODIUM BOROSILICATE, SYNTHETIC FLUORPHLOGOPITE, PENTAERYTHRITYL TETRA-DI-T-BUTYL HYDROXYHYDROCINNAMATE, TIN OXIDE, CAPRYLYL GLYCOL, METHICONE, ALUMINA, [+/- MAY CONTAIN: CI 15850/RED 7, CI 7789/TITANIUM DIOXIDE, CI 77491, CI 77492, CI 77499/IRON OXIDES, CI 45410/RED 28 LAKE, CI 15985/YELLOW 6 LAKE, CI 45380/RED 22 LAKE, CI 19140/YELLOW 5 LAKE, CI 42090/BLUE 1 LAKE, CI 15850/RED 7 LAKE, CI 15850/RED 6, CI 75470/CARMINE, MICA]
Disclaimer: Ingredient lists are as available by the brand (or retailer) at the time of publishing. Please always check product packaging, if it exists, for the ingredient list applicable to the product you're purchasing, or the brand or retailer's website for the most up-to-date ingredient list.
Golly, I’ve never seen a color quite like Boudoir. I wonder if that could finally be my version of a bubblegum pink lip. Ugh that awful packaging though… Well, it wouldn’t be the first time. 🙂
Acajou is so very much mah jam! Very wintery and rich, but I’d rock it year round just because!
Boudoir is a SURPRISE. I could never have imagined myself falling for a shade like this. But I have! Unlike Acajou, this screams summer to me. Again, I’d wear it whenever!
Oh dear… I have both Infuse and Cassava but I still want Acajou…
Boudoir is stunning! Not too light pink, and I love the pearl finish. It’s a pink I could see myself wearing.
hi christine! do you use a lipliner for lip product reviews? i always marvel at how the lip line is so clean and precise.
No – if I used anything with the lip product, I would list it (because I don’t apply them over anything in general – no lip balm, liner, primer, etc.!), and I think the only instance where you’d see anything like that in a review is if it was a set where there was a lipstick and liner, then you might see both applied together, but it would be shown in a different slideshow (the one for the set, not the individual shades).
Acajou is beautiful. I have Chadwick but much prefer the finish of this. I hunted for Chadwick for forever and it was sold out everywhere and then when I was in Seattle I found the last one at the Tom Ford counter. Snapped it up but I like this much better. I may have to spring for this but I don’t love the packaging either. I think the red cap goes okay with Acajou but I hate it with the other shades. Very jarring.
Boudoir is absolutely gorgeous. I may have to splurge!
I have dupes but I still want these! They’re so beautiful!
Hi Christine
I ran out of my favourite lippie and decided to splurge on a new one for everyday .
I couldn’t find many swatches of Acajou online and the stock photos look and say “brown”. Do they pull more red on you or is that just misleading?
I’ve ordered with my sephora discount code so crossing fingers !
I don’t mind if it’s darker for work if it’s easy to apply and fairly neutral. I’m pretty fair and neutral but besides my face the rest of me runs warm with my partial Asian background.
It’s definitely a lot redder than a true brown – maybe an ultra deep brick brown, so still reddish overall? I would guess it may appear a little darker overall since my photos are taken in more uniform lighting than one might run into from room to room!