Some of you may remember the huge promotional blitz surrounding the launch of the Lancome Rouge in Love lipsticks. If you are someone who is new to wearing lipstick, I do think that the Rouge in Love range is a good place to start looking. There are 3 groups of colours to suit 3 different “moods” – Jolis Matins (day wear where colours are light), Boudoir Time (mid tone “cocktail” colours) and Tonight is my Night (deep intense colour). There are 27 colours available locally so you can go a little crazy 😛
If you aren’t sure of what yours is (and really, there’s no need to be pigeon holed!) the letters after the numbers will tell you what they are. M (Jolis Matins), B (Boudoir Time) and N (Tonight is my Night). The colour I have here is 280N Bibi Rose, which you may have guessed belongs in the “Tonight is my Night” range so what we should expect to get is a deep intense colour suitable for the night.
Well, lets just say that I haven’t fallen in love with the Lancome Rouge in Love series of lipsticks. I’ll tell you why, naturellement 😉
First, packaging. I’m sorry Lancome, the packaging doesn’t do it for me. I dislike the almost industrial aluminium look and feel to the lipstick. When I buy into a brand like Lancome, I expect French luxury, heft, and elegance. I want to pull out the lipstick and have people’s eyebrows go up and think “Ooh, luxe!” The brushed metal case of Rouge in Love lipsticks look industrialized, and plain and the heft is disappointing. Non!
I talked about this before in how a brand, in attempting to woo the young seem to have ignored those wanting something classic. The Rouge l’Absolu case is classic and elegant. Next to it, the Rouge in Love seems almost gauche. I’m sorry if you like the case. Clearly, I don’t 😛
The sudden lace print on the side of the cover jars with the otherwise utilitarian metal packaging and makes me think that when they were designing the packaging, they weren’t quite sure what they were after. Delicate or serious, elegant or plain. The result was a mish mash of designs that I personally feel doesn’t go. Granted, its only packaging but that’s the first thing we see right?
The colour I have is 280N Bibi Rose which is a pretty name.
In the tube, Bibi Rose looks like a lovely opaque rose shade. The colour is absolutely lovely, and is a shade I would personally wear. However, I was a little taken aback that this shade is placed in the “night” category when I don’t think it merits that. Its just too light to carry off a “Tonight is my Night” look.
There is no shimmer, and what you get is a plain simple straight up rose. However, pigment is quite lacking, unfortunately. Again, for a colour that is targeted at those looking for something for the evening, I think Bibi Rose falls flat because you need quite a few layers for the colour to actually show up on lips.
Rouge in Love 280N Bibi Rose swatch Left: One swipe Right: 3 swipes
See what I mean? 1 swipe gets you something approximating a tinted lipbalm. With 3 swipes, you get something more “lipstick” like in terms of coverage. This isn’t a bad thing to be honest. Sometimes, we want something light and this fits the bill because you can then layer it on to build up colour.
If you are someone new to wearing lipstick, you may like this one, because the light translucent pigment means you don’t look overly made up as some people feel, when they wear lipstick. And if you are feeling more adventurous, you can layer it on for something more opaque. That said, it never really turns very opaque. The texture on lips is light and I’d hesitate to say that its balmy because its not as balmy as other hybrid lipsticks I’m used to. But its light so if you don’t like that heavy texture associated with lipsticks, you may like this.
Here’s approximately how it looks on my lips. I applied about 3-4 layers here to get it to show up properly, and you can see that it doesn’t look heavy at all. The colour is a soft rose which, at the risk of repeating myself, I feel is more of a day shade than an evening shade for lips. In the day, it brightens the features and skintone so wear this in the day 🙂
Lancome claims it lasts 6 hours. I never take my lipstick past lunch time so I’d say 4-5 hours is a good bet with liquid intake. I checked out some of the colours at a counter while I was going past one day, but if I’m to be honest, I’d say the colours aren’t very unique. They are in fact, very safe. They are colours I’d say would be a good launch pad to pick up your first lipstick, but at RM75 a tube, I personally would want something a little more. More balmy, more colour, more moisturizing, more unique. Rouge in Love is a good lipstick by all accounts, but I’m sorry, I’m not in love.
In a nutshell
Rouge in Love lipsticks come in 27 shades locally and are set out in 3 distinct categories to suit your mood. The colours are very safe and I find the texture a little sheer. You can easily layer it to get it to the opacity you desire, which is of course a good thing. If you are new to using lipstick and don’t want anything too strong, one layer of a light tint of colour will do the trick. However, I found that the lighter shades were disappointing on lips because they hardly show up. So I personally suggest going for the Boudoir or Tonight is my Night shades which impart more colour. I dislike the packaging which I find too utilitarian and industrial. I prefer my lipsticks to look more classical and elegant. Overall, I think the formula is good, but colour selection could be improved, as right now, there is little to distinguish it from other brands, even from the pharmacy/drugstore.
Pros: Light texture, Safe colours if you aren’t very adventurous with lip colours, Can be worn light or opaque as you wish
Cons: I dislike the packaging, Regular lipstick wearers may find little to interest them as the colour selection isn’t very unique
Who will like this: Anyone new to wearing lipstick and who wants something light yet not too strong coloured, Anyone who is an Emma Watson fan because she makes it look amazing
Here’s an example of how it looks in a full face shot. This series of photos weren’t to my satisfaction but I haven’t had the time to take new ones so I took the best of the lot, which is my version of the Messy Wands FOTD 😀 She looks way more amazing and modelesque though 😀
As you can see, despite the layers of colour, the lipstick isn’t very opaque nor overwhelming. It is a gentle sort of rose shade that brightens up the complexion but isn’t very unique. Its a colour I gravitate to often so I have quite a few lipsticks in a similar shade, simply because it looks good in the day without being too much, you look polished for work, and if you really have to, it looks fine for dinner in the evenings too 🙂
What’s your take on the Lancome Rouge in Love lipsticks? I’m a little harsh on them but honestly, I did expect a lot more because I was told that I’d love them, so I was quite disappointed. Don’t let me put you off though. You may like it 😀
Paris B
Lancome Rouge in Love lipsticks come in 27 shades locally Price: RM75 Availability: All Lancome counters
The colour actually looks good on you. =) While I like the formulation (still easing my way into full blown lipsticks), I agree with you that more pigmentation would make it a better product.
I’ve got mine in 337M, Rose Pink (it’s the my lips but better shade). Maybe because I do not own other Lancome lipsticks, so I was quite pleasantly surprised by the packaging.
I think it resembles a sturdy Greek pillar of old. haha, guess it’s my occupational hazard, cos I am very into architecture, and a strong pillar is kind of just right up my alley.
I went back to try and pick another shade, but realise the colours are just way too sheer, that no other shades appealed to me. I think the selection is very small and not unique too.
Thank you Jyoan 🙂 I can’t fault the colour, that’s for sure! I do have to agree with you too about the color selection. When I got to the counter, I was very underwhelmed. I actually preferred to play around with their “older sister range” lol! Now, those are excellent!
I didn’t even swatch them, I think the marketing campaign was really too much, I saw them everywhere -YouTube ads, YouTube videos, italian magazines and something else I’m surely forgetting- so I got bored before I even saw them.
I agree with you, the packaging it’s not something that screams Lancome.
I’ve never tried their lipstick but I bought one for my mom from their classic range, the packaging is amazing. I think that I’d rather buy one from the classic range for me as well.
Anyway, I really like this kind of color on you 🙂 xx
Yes yes! The Rouge In Love ads were everywhere! No escaping them at all! I do think their regular range is much better interns of colour, quality and packaging. I especially love how it shuts with a magnetic click! This one felt light and insubstantial by comparison. Have you gone to take a look at these or are you sick of them from the ads? Hehe…
Me too, like the rest, like this colour on you 🙂 I have 132M, it’s quite a soft pink shade but I don’t think I look great in it, for a matter of fact, I haven’t found a lipstick shade that won’t make me look tired or just not right. Having the Emma Watson face and the popular Emma Watson shade that she’s wearing on the advert, I guess the aluminium casing was trying to lean towards chic and errr, chick maybe? 😛
I’m not sure of your coloring, Jennifer but try a coral lipstick like Dior Riviera. Coral usually brightens up our Asian skintones. In the alternative, do rose or red shades. You don’t have to go chilli red, but a soft browned red is pretty and brightening. Pinks are dangerous territory in my view. I personally don’t own any soft pink lipsticks because I can look like death in them. I once wore a nice light pink (nice in tube) but was asked by at least 5 people if I was feeling well. Needless to say, I ditched it. Ese days when I do pink, I go fuchsia because it’s the only way I’ll look good in it! 🙂
I agree with Jen, you look amazing in the fotd Paris! I acturally like the ‘industrial chic’ look of the lipstick but the color payoff doesn’t seem to that impressive.
Thank you Sue Lin, you’re very sweet! I think they could have worked on the colour a little more. Still, some people do like it so I guess I’m just in the minority 🙂
I like the packaging but then again, I’m always drawn to metals! 😀 I agree re: the pigmentation (could be stronger) and how they will make a good launching pad for people foraying into lippies, though.
I love the colour on you! 🙂
Thank you Mag! I guess I might have forgiven it if it was a nice sturdy metal like the cases for Guerlain Rouge G. Now, those are luxe! 🙂
/flails at you!
I really like the color on you too but sucks that it takes so much effort to get there. Though I am considering a sheer lipstick… still on the fence with investing in one though. why not just blot off a regular one?!
I partially nailed it right? 😉 I like sheer lipstick but I go to Japanese brands for them. Only they have perfected the sheer but shiny, but not shimmery but colored lip. They’re amazing 🙂
Okay, so, I’m really confused about these. The one I tried on in store was really opaque and actually quite awful – very heavy – but everyone else is showing all of these beautiful, light, sheer lipsticks! I didn’t realize the range varied so widely!
Oh Larie, I’m told the US gets a different formula! Ours is from Japan but I’m not sure if we can verify the different textures in different countries. From your description, or doesn’t sound very nice at all!