YSL Arlene's Nude & Wolf's Red Rouge Pur Couture Lipsticks Reviews & Swatches
Arlene's Nude (121)
YSL Arlene’s Nude (121) Rouge Pur Couture SPF15 Lipstick ($38.00 for 0.13 oz.) is a muted, medium-dark rosy mauve with subtle, warm undertones and a satin finish. It had nearly opaque pigmentation in a single layer, which adhered evenly and smoothly to my lips without dragging.
The texture was lightweight, creamy enough to glide on but not feel slippery during wear. It wore well for four and a half hours and was hydrating over time.
FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).
Top Dupes
- Urban Decay Give 'Em Backtalk (P, $25.00) is warmer (95% similar).
- Estee Lauder Nude Mood (P, $32.00) is more shimmery, lighter (90% similar).
- Urban Decay Local (P, $19.00) is cooler (90% similar).
- Urban Decay Hideaway (DC, $18.00) is darker (90% similar).
- Tom Ford Beauty Sugar Glider (P, $57.00) is darker, cooler (90% similar).
- Maybelline Awestruck (P, $12.99) is lighter (90% similar).
- Revlon Queen of Quartz (P, $10.99) is darker, cooler (90% similar).
- MAC Daddy's Girl (P, $23.00) is more shimmery, lighter, less glossy (90% similar).
- Laura Mercier Beige Intime (P, $32.00) is darker, warmer (90% similar).
- Tom Ford Beauty Pink Charade (P, $57.00) is more shimmery, warmer (90% similar).
Formula Overview
$38.00/0.13 oz. - $292.31 Per Ounce
The formula is supposed to have "rich color with intense hydration ... in just one stroke." The lipstick has moderate slip--some shades are fairly emollient and can feel slippery during wear, while many are creamy but adhere well enough.
I've found that more mid-tone and deeper shades have better applications with smoother, more forgiving color that was semi-opaque or higher in coverage. Some of the lighter and the very deepest shades were more prone to settling into lip lines or yielding more medium to semi-opaque coverage.
The wear ranged from four to six hours on average. I found the formula was usually on the hydrating side. There was a sweet, floral scent with a very subtle taste, though I felt like it sometimes gave me a taste and other times, I didn't notice anything.
Browse all of our YSL Rouge Pur Couture SPF15 Lipstick swatches.
Ingredients
Octyldodecanol, Butyloctyl Salicylate, Stearyl/Ppg-3 Myristyl Ether Dimer Dilinoleate, Neopentyl Glycol Diheptanoate, Pentaerythrityl Tetraisostearate, Bis-Diglyceryl Polyacyladipate-2, Polyethylene, Microcrystalline Wax, Polybutene, Propylene Glycol Dibenzoate, Hydrogenated Coco-Glycerides, Candelilla Wax, Titanium Dioxide, Silica Dimethyl Silylate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Fragrance, Caprylyl Glycol, Water, Ammonium Glycyrrhizate, Mannitol, Polyurethane-15, Acacia Senegal Gum, Glyceryl Stearate, Lecithin, Tocopherol, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Butylene Glycol, Rosemary (Rosmarinus Officinalis) Extract , Yeast (Faex) Extract , Daucus Carota Sativa (Carrot) Root Extract, Retinyl Palmitate, Citric Acid [+/- May Contain: Ci 77019 (Mica), Ci 77491 (Iron Oxide), Ci 77891 (Titanium Dioxide), Ci 15850 (Red 7), Ci 15850 (Red 6), Ci 45410 (Red 28 Lake), Ci 77492 (Iron Oxide), Silica, Ci 19140 (Yellow 5 Lake), Ci 42090 (Blue 1 Lake), Ci 17200 (Red 33 Lake), Ci 75470 (Carmine), Ci 12085 (Red 36), Ci 77499 (Iron Oxide), Ci 15985 (Yellow 6 Lake), Ci 77742 (Manganese Violet), Calcium Sodium Borosilicate, Ci 73360 (Red 30), Synthetic Fluorphlogopite.
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.
Arlene's Nude (121)
LELimited Edition. $38.00.
Wolf's Red (122)
YSL Wolf’s Red (122) Rouge Pur Couture SPF15 Lipstick ($38.00 for 0.13 oz.) is a bright, medium-dark red with subtle, cool undertones and a satin finish. The pigmentation was nearly opaque and built up to full coverage with a slight pat of additional color in the areas that needed it.
The lipstick had a lightweight, creamy texture that had noticeable slip but never felt overly wet to the point where it would slide around. It smoothed out some of my lip lines but not all of them. It was still looking fairly good after six hours of wear and felt moisturizing while worn.
FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).
Top Dupes
- Pat McGrath Elson 3 (LE, $38.00) is lighter, warmer (95% similar).
- Clinique Red Hot (P, $19.50) is warmer, glossier (95% similar).
- Becca Tangy (DC, $24.00) is more shimmery, lighter (95% similar).
- Lancome Caprice (132) (P, $32.00) is more shimmery, lighter (90% similar).
- Chanel Rouge Spectaculaire (837) (LE, $45.00) is more shimmery, darker, warmer (95% similar).
- Chanel Invincible (73) (P, $45.00) is lighter, warmer, glossier (90% similar).
- Fenty Beauty Hot Blooded (LE, $20.00) is lighter (90% similar).
- Revlon Love That Red (P, $8.49) is lighter, cooler (90% similar).
- Chanel Rouge Triomphal (257) (LE, $45.00) is more shimmery, cooler (90% similar).
- MAC MAC Red (P, $19.00) is more shimmery, cooler (90% similar).
Formula Overview
$38.00/0.13 oz. - $292.31 Per Ounce
The formula is supposed to have "rich color with intense hydration ... in just one stroke." The lipstick has moderate slip--some shades are fairly emollient and can feel slippery during wear, while many are creamy but adhere well enough.
I've found that more mid-tone and deeper shades have better applications with smoother, more forgiving color that was semi-opaque or higher in coverage. Some of the lighter and the very deepest shades were more prone to settling into lip lines or yielding more medium to semi-opaque coverage.
The wear ranged from four to six hours on average. I found the formula was usually on the hydrating side. There was a sweet, floral scent with a very subtle taste, though I felt like it sometimes gave me a taste and other times, I didn't notice anything.
Browse all of our YSL Rouge Pur Couture SPF15 Lipstick swatches.
Ingredients
Octyldodecanol, Butyloctyl Salicylate, Stearyl/Ppg-3 Myristyl Ether Dimer Dilinoleate, Neopentyl Glycol Diheptanoate, Pentaerythrityl Tetraisostearate, Bis-Diglyceryl Polyacyladipate-2, Polyethylene, Microcrystalline Wax, Polybutene, Propylene Glycol Dibenzoate, Hydrogenated Coco-Glycerides, Candelilla Wax, Titanium Dioxide, Silica Dimethyl Silylate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Fragrance, Caprylyl Glycol, Water, Ammonium Glycyrrhizate, Mannitol, Polyurethane-15, Acacia Senegal Gum, Glyceryl Stearate, Lecithin, Tocopherol, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Butylene Glycol, Rosemary (Rosmarinus Officinalis) Extract , Yeast (Faex) Extract , Daucus Carota Sativa (Carrot) Root Extract, Retinyl Palmitate, Citric Acid [+/- May Contain: Ci 77019 (Mica), Ci 77491 (Iron Oxide), Ci 77891 (Titanium Dioxide), Ci 15850 (Red 7), Ci 15850 (Red 6), Ci 45410 (Red 28 Lake), Ci 77492 (Iron Oxide), Silica, Ci 19140 (Yellow 5 Lake), Ci 42090 (Blue 1 Lake), Ci 17200 (Red 33 Lake), Ci 75470 (Carmine), Ci 12085 (Red 36), Ci 77499 (Iron Oxide), Ci 15985 (Yellow 6 Lake), Ci 77742 (Manganese Violet), Calcium Sodium Borosilicate, Ci 73360 (Red 30), Synthetic Fluorphlogopite.
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 picked up Arlene’s nude before launching campaign lipstick no-buy. My lip base is cooler than yours, and this shade looks very pretty on me, pulls a little plumpinker.. very much MLBB. After many many years of following your blog, Christine, I finally figured out last year that whatever looks amazing on your lips, falls flat on mine. Whereas, something that looks nice on you, but not quite Wow (you can carry a far larger range than I can), works charm for me. Please do not take this as a criticism, just a way I’ve learned to analyze and see tones that work best for me.
That red looks spectacular on you!
I’ve done something similar. Whatever lipstick shade Christine has on, it’s always darker on me. I blame my weird coloring, I’m light olive which warms up in the summer but turns gray in the winter.
I think a lot of us who have followed the blog for a few years, have determined how shades on Christine will either work for us or not. I find that part of the issue is my monitor and since I am not a computer genius, I don’t know how to fix it so shades that look pink on Christine are actually much more of a brown base when I look at them in person. Wolf red above looks very warm toned on my monitor and would not work for me but since Christine says it is cool under-toned, I know it will likely work for me. I tend to rely more on the description of the shade rather than the picture but I use the picture for the finish/formula.
Totally agree with the translation of ‘on Christine’ vs. ‘on me.’ Some aren’t even in the same color family. Many browns On Christine are straight up purple on me. I guess my lips are cooler. It’s funny how something you think is fully covered is influenced by what lies beneath. And then, of course, there’s how the lipstick is cohesive with, or contrasts with, one’s skin tones.
These shades are both beautiful and the shade names are resonating because they are names of a couple of very dear, departed loved ones (one a relative, the other a pet), but I have dupes of both, so I need to pass.
Arlene’s Nude looks very nice.
Wolf’s Red is a more unique looking red. Like an Old Hollywood type shade. I love it, but I have MAC Yoni Crush. Not a listed dupe, but it has that same touch of warmer red to it.
Happily reminded of my plan to use that $25 Rouge coupon in late November/early December of TF Sugar Glider! ….or Soliel Neige or Honeymoon quad? ?
Wait, what $25 Rouge coupon???
That single use one that they send out several weeks after the VIB and Rouge sale! I always use it towards a bigger ticket item, because I think it’s $25 (or is it $20?) off anything over $50.
Oops! It’s $25 off a $75 purchase for Rouge, $20 VIB, $15 BI. Almost always in early December.
Thanks so much for reminding me of that, Nancy! I may buy the bullet (wink wink) and use it to get my first Pat McGrath lipstick – blitztrance blood rush
Meant “bite the bullet” but I guess I’d also buy it LOL
Wow – that Wolfe’s Red is stunning!
Love the red, Wolf’s Red, I love it so much I have 5 dupes. Money saved, but I still lust for it. I love red lipsticks, what can I say 🙂
Arlene’s Nude is very pretty, I don’t have dupes but it turned out I have a few of the very less expensive dupes on my wish list, so I might just go with one of those instead of splurging on this.
Have I ever said how much I like the dupe lists!