Givenchy Rouge Stiletto & Violine Retro Le Rouge Mats Reviews, Photos, Swatches
Rouge Stiletto
Givenchy Rouge Stiletto Le Rouge Mat ($37.00 for 0.12 oz.) is a medium-dark red with neutral-to-warm undertones and a semi-matte finish. The color payoff was good but shy of full coverage (as described). The lipstick felt velvety and smooth as it glided across my lips with ease, but it was a thinner formula and seemed a bit more prone to emphasizing my lip lines overall, though not as badly as other shades in the formula had done. It wore well for five hours, left barely any stain behind, and was lightly moisturizing over time.
FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).
Top Dupes
- NARS Immortal Red (P, $26.00) is darker, warmer (95% similar).
- Sephora A Little Magic (22) (P, $8.00) is lighter, brighter (95% similar).
- MAC Fireworks (DC, $21.00) is lighter (95% similar).
- MAC Wild Memories (LE, $19.00) is lighter (95% similar).
- ColourPop Snow White (LE, $10.00) is lighter, warmer (95% similar).
- MAC Moody Bloom (LE, $19.00) is lighter (95% similar).
- Urban Decay 714 (DC, $18.00) is more muted (95% similar).
- Hourglass Secretly (P, $34.00) is darker (95% similar).
- Marc Jacobs Beauty Goddess (202) (PiP, $30.00) is lighter, brighter (95% similar).
- Tom Ford Beauty Dylan (P, $36.00) is darker (95% similar).
Formula Overview
$37.00/0.12 oz. - $308.33 Per Ounce
Givenchy released a new, matte finish of their Le Rouge lipstick range. It's supposed to have "an ultra-velvety intensely matte" finish where "one stroke is all it takes to saturate lips in plush, opulence color that lasts and lasts." While I've been a fan of the original Le Rouge formula since it launched, I found the Le Rouge Mats to be rather disappointing. The pigmentation varied but was rarely opaque--certainly not one-stroke "maximum coverage"--and the lipstick itself seemed to gravitate toward my lip lines and any imperfections on my lips. I always make sure to exfoliate my lips prior to doing a round of lip swatches about an hour ahead of time (to give them time to soak up some lip balm and calm down, in case they reddened at all!), and this formula tended to emphasize.
The texture was velvety and had a lot of slip without feeling wet--it felt packed with silicones like a face primer--so they were comfortable to apply, thin without being clingy, but they lasted between four and five hours on me with minimal staining with the deeper shades. The formula was lightly hydrating on me overall. They did have a floral scent but no discernible taste.
Browse all of our Givenchy Le Rouge Mat swatches.
Ingredients
Polyglyceryl-2 Triisostearate, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Polydecene, Synthetic Wax, Methyl Methacrylate Crosspolymer, Ozokerite, Trimethylolpropane Triisostearate, Cera Alba (Beeswax), C10-30 Cholesterol/Lanosterol Esters, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Silica, Fragrance, Trihydroxystearin, Bht, Sodium Hyaluronate, Butylene Glycol, Propyl Gallate, Spilanthes Acmella Flower Extract, Caprylyl Glycol, Phenoxyethanol, Camelina Sativa Seed Oil, Benzyl Benzoate, Hexylene Glycol, Hydroxycitronellal. +/- : Aluminum Hydroxide, [+/- , Ci 15850 (Red 6 - Red 7 - Red 7 Lake), Ci 15985 (Yellow 6 Lake), Ci 19140 (Yellow 5 Lake), Ci 42090 (Blue 1 Lake), Ci 45380 (Red 21), Ci 45410 (Red 28 Lake), Ci 73360 (Red 30 - Red 30 Lake), Ci 75470 (Carmine), Ci 77491 - Ci 77492 - Ci 77499 (Iron Oxides), Ci 77891 (Titanium Dioxide), 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.
Rouge Stiletto
PPermanent. $37.00.
Violine Retro
Givenchy Violine Retro Le Rouge Mat ($37.00 for 0.12 oz.) is a medium-dark, purple-berry with subtle, cool undertones and a semi-matte finish. It had semi-opaque pigmentation that applied somewhat evenly, but the product had a tendency to catch on imperfections and appear clumpy there. The lipstick felt lightweight with a thin texture that wasn’t clingy. It felt smooth and glided easily across my lips, which made it comfortable and lightly hydrating over the four and a half hours it lasted for.
FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).
Top Dupes
- MAC Babes and Balls (LE, $19.00) is darker, warmer (95% similar).
- ColourPop Galore (LE, $7.00) is cooler (95% similar).
- Makeup Geek Rocker Chick (P, $12.00) is darker, less glossy (95% similar).
- Smashbox Femme Fatale (P, $21.00) is less glossy (95% similar).
- ColourPop Srsly (LE, $9.00) is darker, warmer (95% similar).
- Milani I Am Powerful (P, $6.99) is lighter, cooler (90% similar).
- Make Up For Ever M501 (DC, $22.00) is darker, warmer, less glossy (90% similar).
- Make Up For Ever Daring Mulberry (218) (P, $23.00) is lighter, cooler (90% similar).
- ColourPop Persuasion (LE, $7.00) is lighter (90% similar).
- Urban Decay CSB (DC, $18.00) is darker (90% similar).
Formula Overview
$37.00/0.12 oz. - $308.33 Per Ounce
Givenchy released a new, matte finish of their Le Rouge lipstick range. It's supposed to have "an ultra-velvety intensely matte" finish where "one stroke is all it takes to saturate lips in plush, opulence color that lasts and lasts." While I've been a fan of the original Le Rouge formula since it launched, I found the Le Rouge Mats to be rather disappointing. The pigmentation varied but was rarely opaque--certainly not one-stroke "maximum coverage"--and the lipstick itself seemed to gravitate toward my lip lines and any imperfections on my lips. I always make sure to exfoliate my lips prior to doing a round of lip swatches about an hour ahead of time (to give them time to soak up some lip balm and calm down, in case they reddened at all!), and this formula tended to emphasize.
The texture was velvety and had a lot of slip without feeling wet--it felt packed with silicones like a face primer--so they were comfortable to apply, thin without being clingy, but they lasted between four and five hours on me with minimal staining with the deeper shades. The formula was lightly hydrating on me overall. They did have a floral scent but no discernible taste.
Browse all of our Givenchy Le Rouge Mat swatches.
Ingredients
Polyglyceryl-2 Triisostearate, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Polydecene, Synthetic Wax, Methyl Methacrylate Crosspolymer, Ozokerite, Trimethylolpropane Triisostearate, Cera Alba (Beeswax), C10-30 Cholesterol/Lanosterol Esters, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Silica, Fragrance, Trihydroxystearin, Bht, Sodium Hyaluronate, Butylene Glycol, Propyl Gallate, Spilanthes Acmella Flower Extract, Caprylyl Glycol, Phenoxyethanol, Camelina Sativa Seed Oil, Benzyl Benzoate, Hexylene Glycol, Hydroxycitronellal. +/- : Aluminum Hydroxide, [+/- , Ci 15850 (Red 6 - Red 7 - Red 7 Lake), Ci 15985 (Yellow 6 Lake), Ci 19140 (Yellow 5 Lake), Ci 42090 (Blue 1 Lake), Ci 45380 (Red 21), Ci 45410 (Red 28 Lake), Ci 73360 (Red 30 - Red 30 Lake), Ci 75470 (Carmine), Ci 77491 - Ci 77492 - Ci 77499 (Iron Oxides), Ci 77891 (Titanium Dioxide), 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.
Darn, I was hoping Violine Retro would be better rated.
Rouge Stiletto looks quite nice! Yet, still not something I’d buy, though, because this isn’t exactly an earth-shattering shade by any means.
Violine Retro as a shade, could’ve had some serious potential if it had had a far superior formula to this!
Agree on everything you wrote. 🙂
Nancy every time I read your comments it’s like you’re in my head!!!! Completely agree with you!!!
As usual, I agree with you. Violine Retro is such a lovely color, but it’s just too patchy.
Stiletto is a beautiful, vibrant red shade.
Rouge Stiletto is stunning! Shame about Violine Retro though.