YSL Ambiguous Chestnut & Intimate Chocolate Slim Glow Matte Lipsticks Reviews & Swatches
Ambiguous Chestnut (216)
YSL Ambiguous Chestnut (216) Slim Glow Matte Rouge Pur Couture Lipstick ($39.00 for 0.07 oz.) is a muted, medium-dark reddish-brown with subtle, warm undertones and barely-there pearl paired with a cream finish. This particular shade had a glossier finish with more shine–noticeable even in person–compared to many shades in the range.
It definitely wasn’t matte until all that shine wore down–about two hours doing nothing, faster if one blotted, of course!–and suffered the pitfalls of having a darker shade paired with a more emollient consistency. The lipstick had semi-opaque coverage, didn’t build up, applied somewhat unevenly and settled into lip lines. It lasted for four hours and felt lightly hydrating over time.
FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).
Top Dupes
- Bite Beauty Cognac (P, $24.00) is less shimmery, darker (95% similar).
- Becca Chocolate (DC, $24.00) is less shimmery, lighter, warmer (90% similar).
- Clinique Velvet Kisses (29) (P, $19.50) is less glossy (90% similar).
- MAC Turn to the Left (P, $22.00) is less shimmery, lighter, cooler (90% similar).
- Anastasia #6 (Vol. 1) (PiP, ) is less shimmery, lighter, warmer (90% similar).
- ColourPop Oh Behave (LE, $7.00) is less shimmery, lighter, warmer (90% similar).
- Laura Mercier Chocolat Divin (P, $32.00) is less shimmery, lighter, cooler (90% similar).
- Pat McGrath Divine Brown (P, $38.00) is less shimmery, lighter, warmer (90% similar).
- Pat McGrath She's So Deep (LE, $40.00) is less shimmery, darker (85% similar).
- Make Up For Ever Magnetic Brown (122) (P, $23.00) is less shimmery, darker, cooler (85% similar).
Formula Overview
$39.00/0.07 oz. - $557.14 Per Ounce
The formula is supposed to have a "luminous, glowing matte finish" and help to "smooth" and "moisturize" lips. It is silent on coverage, though promotional images by the brand show full coverage. It is also supposed to be "long-lasting" and "creamy."
I can see what they mean by a "glowing" matte finish; it's more of a modern matte--not as flat or as dry-looking as matte lipsticks from many years ago. Sometimes, it seems like brands are just afraid to use the term satin or semi-matte, though! They have a semi-matte finish--less shiny in person--with subtle pearl that looks less like shimmer in person and more of that "glowing" finish as described.
The texture was more velvety, so it didn't feel as wet as a traditional lipstick, but it still glided readily across my lips. I found that it had a tendency to pill a little when swatched on my arm, but most shades did not have any issue like that when applied to my actual lips. This is rare, but I have had that happen where a product was clearly designed for lip skin over skin-skin!
They wore between five and seven hours, depending on the shade; deeper, richer shades (like a red) tended to last longer than lighter shades (like a peach or lighter brown). They were more on the non-drying to lightly hydrating side.
Browse all of our YSL Slim Glow Matte Rouge Pur Couture Lipstick swatches.
Ingredients
Bis-Diglyceryl Polyacyladipate-2, Dimethicone, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Phenyl Trimethicone, Tridecyl Trimellitate, Vinyl Dimethicone/Methicone Silsesquioxane Crosspolymer, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Hydrogenated Jojoba Oil, Isostearyl Isostearate, Paraffin, Ci 77891 / Titanium Dioxide, Ci 77491, Ci 77492, Ci 77499 / Iron Oxides, Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Mica, Cera Microcristallina / Microcrystalline Wax, Isohexadecane, Polyethylene, Synthetic Wax, Calcium Aluminum Borosilicate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Ci 15850 / Red 7, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, Aqua / Water, Aluminum Hydroxide, Silica, Benzyl Alcohol, Limonene, Tin Oxide, Benzyl Benzoate, Punica Granatum Fruit Extract, Anise Alcohol, Althaea Officinalis Root Extract, Citric Acid, Tocopherol, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate, Parfum / Fragrance.
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.
Ambiguous Chestnut (216)
PPermanent. $39.00.
Intimate Chocolate (217)
YSL Intimate Chocolate (217) Slim Glow Matte Rouge Pur Couture Lipstick ($39.00 for 0.07 oz.) is a deep, reddish-brown with subtle, cool undertones and multi-colored, ultra-fine pearl. It had a slightly glossy finish, which seemed shinier than some shades in the range, and as a result, it didn’t have the best application of color.
The lipstick had semi-opaque pigmentation in a single layer, which didn’t build up too well. It applied unevenly, especially along the inner area of my lips, though it didn’t seem to settle noticeably into my lip lines. The consistency was lightly creamy, lightweight, and thin, so at least it was comfortable to wear. It stayed on decently for four hours and felt lightly moisturizing over time.
FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).
Top Dupes
- Make Up For Ever Magnetic Brown (122) (P, $23.00) is less shimmery, lighter (90% similar).
- Estee Lauder Secret Life (P, $32.00) is less shimmery, cooler (90% similar).
- ColourPop Coal It Quits (P, $8.00) is lighter, warmer (90% similar).
- Smashbox Caffeinate (P, $24.00) is less shimmery, lighter (90% similar).
- Clinique Velour (30) (P, $19.50) is less shimmery, lighter (85% similar).
- Tarte Shades (P, $21.00) is less shimmery, brighter, cooler (85% similar).
- Too Faced Indecent Proposal (P, $22.00) is less shimmery, lighter, warmer (85% similar).
- YSL Ambiguous Chestnut (216) (P, $39.00) is less shimmery, lighter, warmer (80% similar).
- Marc Jacobs Beauty Editrix (250) (P, $30.00) is less shimmery, lighter (80% similar).
- Pat McGrath She's So Deep (LE, $40.00) is less shimmery, lighter, warmer (80% similar).
Formula Overview
$39.00/0.07 oz. - $557.14 Per Ounce
The formula is supposed to have a "luminous, glowing matte finish" and help to "smooth" and "moisturize" lips. It is silent on coverage, though promotional images by the brand show full coverage. It is also supposed to be "long-lasting" and "creamy."
I can see what they mean by a "glowing" matte finish; it's more of a modern matte--not as flat or as dry-looking as matte lipsticks from many years ago. Sometimes, it seems like brands are just afraid to use the term satin or semi-matte, though! They have a semi-matte finish--less shiny in person--with subtle pearl that looks less like shimmer in person and more of that "glowing" finish as described.
The texture was more velvety, so it didn't feel as wet as a traditional lipstick, but it still glided readily across my lips. I found that it had a tendency to pill a little when swatched on my arm, but most shades did not have any issue like that when applied to my actual lips. This is rare, but I have had that happen where a product was clearly designed for lip skin over skin-skin!
They wore between five and seven hours, depending on the shade; deeper, richer shades (like a red) tended to last longer than lighter shades (like a peach or lighter brown). They were more on the non-drying to lightly hydrating side.
Browse all of our YSL Slim Glow Matte Rouge Pur Couture Lipstick swatches.
Ingredients
Bis-Diglyceryl Polyacyladipate-2, Dimethicone, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Phenyl Trimethicone, Tridecyl Trimellitate, Vinyl Dimethicone/Methicone Silsesquioxane Crosspolymer, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Hydrogenated Jojoba Oil, Isostearyl Isostearate, Paraffin, Ci 77891 / Titanium Dioxide, Ci 77491, Ci 77492, Ci 77499 / Iron Oxides, Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Mica, Cera Microcristallina / Microcrystalline Wax, Isohexadecane, Polyethylene, Synthetic Wax, Calcium Aluminum Borosilicate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Ci 15850 / Red 7, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, Aqua / Water, Aluminum Hydroxide, Silica, Benzyl Alcohol, Limonene, Tin Oxide, Benzyl Benzoate, Punica Granatum Fruit Extract, Anise Alcohol, Althaea Officinalis Root Extract, Citric Acid, Tocopherol, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate, Parfum / Fragrance.
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.
I wonder why so many deeper shades of lipstick, especially brown and burgundy, are made to be more emollient and glossy when that is the very thing that inevitably destroys their quality? It bugs the heck out of me! If not for that fatal flaw, Ambiguous Chestnut would have made it onto my list.
Both of these shades are pretty similar to each other and I love the shade, although it is now too dark for me to wear. Ambiguous Chestnut would be my favourite out of the two, but it does have some formula issues.
The names are a little odd to me. I really expected better performance from a couture brand
Oh, man, these two are my perfect vampy fall shades all day.