YSL Transgressive Cacao & Equivocal Brown Slim Glow Matte Lipsticks Reviews & Swatches
Transgressive Cacao (211)
YSL Transgressive Cacao (211) Slim Glow Matte Rouge Pur Couture Lipstick ($39.00 for 0.07 oz.) is a muted, medium-dark copper-brown with warm undertones and a cream finish with very faint pearl. It had opaque pigmentation that applied well to my lips with even color delivered in a single stroke. The consistency was smooth, lightweight, and thin, but it still had enough glide to go on fluidly. It wore well for five hours and felt lightly hydrating over time.
FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).
Top Dupes
- Hourglass Only You (LE, $34.00) is cooler (90% similar).
- Make Up For Ever Beating Earth (322) (P, $23.00) is cooler (90% similar).
- Shiseido Sleeping Dragon (227) (P, $26.00) is cooler (85% similar).
- Bobbi Brown Soho Sizzle (P, $40.00) is lighter, cooler (85% similar).
- ColourPop Foolish (P, $10.00) is lighter, less glossy (85% similar).
- Tom Ford Beauty Maurice (LE, $36.00) is more shimmery, lighter, warmer (85% similar).
- Fenty Beauty Grill Mast'r (P, $20.00) is cooler (85% similar).
- Bite Beauty Hot Harissa (LE, $26.00) is lighter, cooler (85% similar).
- Make Up For Ever Burning Clay (118) (P, $23.00) is darker, cooler (85% similar).
- Becca Burgundy (DC, $24.00) is more shimmery, lighter, 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.
Transgressive Cacao (211)
PPermanent. $39.00.
Equivocal Brown (212)
YSL Equivocal Brown (212) Slim Glow Matte Rouge Pur Couture Lipstick ($39.00 for 0.07 oz.) is a muted, medium brown with strong, warm orange undertones and a satin finish. There was very fine, gold and copper pearl woven throughout the finish, which did wear down to more of a matte finish after an hour of wear.
The texture was lightweight, smooth, and thin with more of a velvety glide than traditional creaminess. It had mostly opaque color coverage that lasted well for five and a half hours and felt lightly moisturizing.
FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).
Top Dupes
- Clinique Tickled (18) (P, $19.50) is darker, cooler (90% similar).
- MAC Marrakesh (P, $19.00) is less shimmery, darker, warmer (90% similar).
- MAC Marrakesh-mere (P, $26.00) is less shimmery, darker (90% similar).
- Maybelline Spice for Me (P, $7.49) is darker, glossier (90% similar).
- NARS Deborah (P, $34.00) is more shimmery, darker, warmer (85% similar).
- Sephora Girl Gang (36) (P, $13.00) is less shimmery, darker, cooler (85% similar).
- Giorgio Armani Cedar (206) (P, $38.00) is less shimmery, darker, cooler (85% similar).
- MAC Marrakesh Me Later (P, $24.00) is less shimmery, darker, glossier (85% similar).
- MAC It's All Me (P, $24.00) is less shimmery, darker, cooler (85% similar).
- Becca Sable (DC, $24.00) is more shimmery, darker, warmer (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.
Love them both quite a lot. Whichever one isn’t too close to MAC Paramount or PML Strangé would be my pick. I do love a rich, warmer brown for this time of year!
Christine! Cacao looks amazing on you!!!
Aww, thank you!! 😀
I absolutely love both of these lipsticks – if only they weren’t so darned expensive. They are my perfect, holy grail shades.
I agree about the price and have very similar tastes to you Genevieve. But that also means I have something similar. I also shy away from mattes, especially come winter. I can’t wait to go to the Keys this Friday. I hate cold temps and it will be in the balmy 80s.
I like both, very pretty. I generally don’t use brownish lipsticks, but at times they can be so right. Unfortunately these are a bit too expensive to buy when it’s not a colour I use often., So a reluctant pass.
I couldn’t find any dupes, by the way.