YSL Rouge Paradoxe & Mystery Red Slim Matte Lipsticks Reviews & Swatches
Rouge Paradoxe (21)
YSL Rouge Paradoxe (21) Rouge Pur Couture The Slim Matte Lipstick ($39.00 for 0.08 oz.) is a medium-dark red with moderate, cool blue undertones and a matte finish. The texture felt more silicone-heavy with a smooth, velvety feel that glided comfortably across my lips but did not feel wet or emollient.
It yielded full color payoff in one layer, which went on evenly and didn’t catch on imperfections. The color lasted well over eight hours, left a strong stain behind, and felt neither drying nor hydrating over time.
FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).
Top Dupes
- Burberry Military Red (No. 429) (P, $35.00) is more shimmery, lighter, glossier (95% similar).
- ColourPop On Display (P, $10.00) is cooler, glossier (95% similar).
- YSL Lale's Red (126) (LE, $38.00) is more shimmery, warmer (95% similar).
- MAC Betty Boop Red (LE, $19.00) is lighter, cooler, glossier (95% similar).
- Pat McGrath Vendetta (P, $38.00) is darker (95% similar).
- ColourPop Besame (LE, $6.50) is lighter, cooler (90% similar).
- NARS Immortal Red (P, $26.00) is warmer (90% similar).
- Pat McGrath Major Red (DC, $40.00) is cooler, glossier (90% similar).
- Patrick Ta That's Why She's Late (P, $32.00) is lighter, cooler (90% similar).
- Pat McGrath Elson (P, $38.00) is lighter, cooler (90% similar).
Formula Overview
$39.00/0.08 oz. - $487.50 Per Ounce
The formula is supposed to be "weightless" and "non-drying" that "stays put all day" with "high-pigmented matte color." The texture has a smooth, velvety consistency--it glided on readily but didn't feel wet or traditionally creamy, more like a silicone-based primer. The majority of the shades applied evenly, didn't separate along my lip lines, and were lightweight and comfortable to wear.
The pigmentation was mostly opaque to opaque, and the shade range seemed to pull more mid-tone and deeper with a fair number of red-based shades. As a result, numerous shades lasted six hours or longer with red-based shades leaving very strong stains behind (even into the next day, my lips were often pink-to-fuchsia!). Some shades seemed to go on and on and on because of the color itself and the underlying staining power! The formula was non-drying as promised.
The diamond-shaped bullet may take a use or two to get the hang of, but I didn't find it difficult to use at all. The triangular point did work particularly well for getting a sharper cupid's bow shape, if desired. The formula had a floral scent that was barely detectable while on and no discernible taste.
Browse all of our YSL Rouge Pur Couture The Slim Matte Lipstick swatches.
Ingredients
AQUA / WATER ● DIMETHICONE ● ISODODECANE ●BUTYLENE GLYCOL ● SYNTHETIC FLUORPHLOGOPITE ● ALCOHOL ●ACRYLATES/POLYTRIMETHYLSILOXYMETHACRYLATE COPOLYMER ●CETYL PEG/PPG-10/1 DIMETHICONE ●TRIMETHYL PENTAPHENYL TRISILOXANE ●DISTEARDIMONIUM HECTORITE
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 Paradoxe (21)
PPermanent. $39.00.
Mystery Red (23)
YSL Mystery Red (23) Rouge Pur Couture The Slim Matte Lipstick ($39.00 for 0.08 oz.) is a medium, orange-red with warm undertones and a matte finish. The lipstick had opaque pigmentation in a single stroke, which applied evenly and smoothly across my lips without tugging.
The consistency felt lightweight, smooth, and more velvety–so it glided but didn’t feel slippery or emollient on. It stayed on nicely for seven hours, left a stain behind, and was non-drying.
FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).
Top Dupes
- Urban Decay Bad Blood (DC, $18.00) is darker, glossier (95% similar).
- Tom Ford Beauty Scarlet Rouge (P, $57.00) is more shimmery, glossier (95% similar).
- YSL Red Urge (306) (P, $45.00) is darker, cooler (90% similar).
- Estee Lauder Immortal (P, $32.00) is more shimmery, glossier (95% similar).
- ColourPop Winnie (LE, $10.00) is lighter, glossier (95% similar).
- Sephora Deep Water Bay (24) (P, $8.00) is darker, glossier (95% similar).
- NARS Dolores (LE, $34.00) is cooler, glossier (95% similar).
- Tom Ford Beauty Scarlet Rouge (P, $55.00) is glossier (95% similar).
- NARS Jungle Red (P, $26.00) is cooler, glossier (90% similar).
- Givenchy L'Interdit (333) (P, $36.00) is more shimmery, cooler, glossier (90% similar).
Formula Overview
$39.00/0.08 oz. - $487.50 Per Ounce
The formula is supposed to be "weightless" and "non-drying" that "stays put all day" with "high-pigmented matte color." The texture has a smooth, velvety consistency--it glided on readily but didn't feel wet or traditionally creamy, more like a silicone-based primer. The majority of the shades applied evenly, didn't separate along my lip lines, and were lightweight and comfortable to wear.
The pigmentation was mostly opaque to opaque, and the shade range seemed to pull more mid-tone and deeper with a fair number of red-based shades. As a result, numerous shades lasted six hours or longer with red-based shades leaving very strong stains behind (even into the next day, my lips were often pink-to-fuchsia!). Some shades seemed to go on and on and on because of the color itself and the underlying staining power! The formula was non-drying as promised.
The diamond-shaped bullet may take a use or two to get the hang of, but I didn't find it difficult to use at all. The triangular point did work particularly well for getting a sharper cupid's bow shape, if desired. The formula had a floral scent that was barely detectable while on and no discernible taste.
Browse all of our YSL Rouge Pur Couture The Slim Matte Lipstick swatches.
Ingredients
AQUA / WATER ● DIMETHICONE ● ISODODECANE ●BUTYLENE GLYCOL ● SYNTHETIC FLUORPHLOGOPITE ● ALCOHOL ●ACRYLATES/POLYTRIMETHYLSILOXYMETHACRYLATE COPOLYMER ●CETYL PEG/PPG-10/1 DIMETHICONE ●TRIMETHYL PENTAPHENYL TRISILOXANE ●DISTEARDIMONIUM HECTORITE
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.
Both shades are stunning and ones I would love to wear when life gets back to where one can wear an intense red tube lipstick without having to worry about it smudging under their mask. Just yesterday, I was in a Cosmetics Company Outlet. Found a tube of MAC Violetta. Was so stoked until I realized it could be awhile before I could wear it out and about. 😭
Wowza ! Both are gorg ..I think O love Rouge Paradox the best .
YSL creates gorgeous red shades and these are no exception. It’s the matte finish that I wouldn’t like though.