Coo-ee! Hiya! 😀
Hope you’re all keeping well during my enforced break and discovering, or in my case, rediscovering some beauty goodies. One of the things I rediscovered was just how much I like the Chanel Rouge Allure Velvet lipsticks. It’s quite something for me, because in general, I haven’t had a lot of luck with Chanel lipsticks (I find them a bit drying for me) and matte lipsticks in general (too drying and makes my lips look too lined).
But for some reason, these work for me.
I find it quite fascinating, because I wouldn’t personally pick a matte lipstick at any time of day. My choices always gravitate towards those that offer shine and a touch of gloss. The texture of the Rouge Allure Velvet lipsticks are, like their names imply, like velvet. The lipstick in tube has a satiny velvety look, with a touch of shine to it. What that means also, is that when applied, I don’t find it to be fully matte. Like velvet, there is a general matte finish, but with a bit of a sheen that I find flattering. Chanel calls it a “luminous matte” and while it sounds rather oxymoronic, I tend to agree.
I have 2 colours at present, a coral-peach shade called La Ravissante 32 (The Beautiful) which is unfortunately discontinued, and a lovely bright pink which has been described as a hot pink (although I disagree) called L’Exuberante 37 (The Exuberant) which thankfully, isn’t.
Chanel Rouge Allure Velvet Top: La Ravissante 32 (discontinued) Bottom: L’Exuberante 37
I started out my Rouge Allure Velvet experience with La Ravissante and I didn’t quite know what to expect. Most matte lipsticks dry my lips out and a peachy matte lip shade tends to look quite ageing. I was however, quite impressed at the fact that I did not find this drying at all, and it applies smoothly and opaque.
You do need fairly flake free lips so it looks smooth and flattering, and if you feel the need to wear lip balm underneath, realise that it will give the lipstick a bit more shine than it should. I don’t wear lipbalm so I wear this on its own and it’s fine.
These lipsticks swatch opaque in one swipe which is impressive. I do however find that when new, and when you haven’t used them for a while, they seem to harden, so it feels harder and the colour pay off is poor until you warm it up a little, then it applies very smoothly.
The plus point however, is that I find that it doesn’t transfer very easily so you don’t walk around leaving much of a mark on coffee cups as you would a glossy lipstick, and it feels very comfortable on.
The packaging is quite typical of Chanel – sleek and chic. You depress the gold bit at the end for the lipstick bullet to pop up and when you return it back into the case, you depress it again so it stays closed. Very sleek and impressive.
Chanel Rouge Allure Velvet Lipstick Left: La Ravissante 32 Right: L’Exuberante 37
Swatches on lips were done with one swipe straight from the bullet.
- La Ravissante 32 (discontinued) is a warm peach-coral that on me, shows up more peach with little pink. It isn’t a colour I’d normally wear but then we should move out of our comfort zones shouldn’t we? It goes well when I have on warmer eyeshadow colours and a warm peach or coral blush.
- L’Exuberante 37 is described by many as a hot pink but which I’d just call a pink. It’s very pretty and there is enough of a blue base so teeth aren’t made to look yellow, yet is warm enough so it doesn’t wash me out. I wasn’t sure about this, but it turned out to be a very flattering and face brightening colour on.
In a nutshell
The Chanel Rouge Allure Velvet lipsticks are described as a “luminous matte” which is quite apt, as it is a matte lipstick with a touch of a satin shine so it does not look flat as most matte lipsticks are wont to look. I do not find it drying for a matte lipstick, and it lasts at least 4 hours for me without settling too much on my lips. You do however, need to have flake free lips to wear these so they look at their best. I don’t generally wear a lot of matte lipstick, but if I had to pick just one, this formula would be it. It doesn’t age you and doesn’t dry my lips and the colours are flattering. That’s all we ultimately want in a lipstick.
Pros: Not drying, Matte texture is not flat and unflattering, Does not settle into my lips, Flattering range of shades
Cons: Feels hard if not regularly used but once warmed up a little applies smoothly and evenly
Who will like this: Anyone who hasn’t been able to find a good matte lipstick
I’m still working on finding the right light so here’s the best I could do for now in terms of a quick FOTD to show just how the lip shades look in an overall look.
La Ravissante works with a warmer overall face and green shadow straddles that balance between warm and cool, so it keeps the look warm enough. I do however, find that this colour makes me look more matured so I pull it out when I want to carry some clout at work and throw my weight around 😉
But I think L’Exuberante looks far better on me don’t you agree? It brightens my complexion and gives off a more youthful vibe that belies the more matured matte texture. In fact, I think the velvet texture of the lipstick works very well with this shade, as it doesn’t make it look too rah-rah young, but grounds the colour more than a glossy lipstick in the same shade would. I love it! 😀
Have you tried the Chanel Rouge Allure Velvet lipsticks? Are you a fan of matte lipstick textures?
I can’t say I love matte lipstick because they do tend to feel quite dry and look flat don’t they? Yet, some colours, like bright pink for example, lend themselves well to a matte texture so I’m really happy I discovered and rediscovered these Chanel ones. Best matte lipsticks I’ve used! 😀
Paris B
Chanel Rouge Allure Velvet Lipstick Price: RM95 (unsure if there’ s been a recent price hike) Availability: Chanel counters
I love Chanel Rouge Allure Velvet. I have the L’Exuberante too as well. One of my HG lipsticks together with Rouge G Guerlain. Chanel have beautiful casing too, I love lining them up in the lipstick holder 🙂
Woohoo! I can’t place them up there with Guerlain Rouge G, but they are definitely among my favourite matte textures, and that’s saying something! High 5 for loving L’Exuberante too 😀
YES! PINK! PINK! PINK! PINK! PINK! I love the eyes too – what colour did you use? 🙂
Pink indeed! It was Dior Green Design quint – an old Asia exclusive palette 🙂
Ahh, this is one of my fave matte lipstick ranges. 😀 I just have two because I stopped buying Chanel, but they’re pretty, if you’re on the lookout for more shades: La Favorite and La Distinguée. 🙂
Other matte lipstick formulas I like are the NARS Pure Matte Lipsticks (AAAH! ♥) and the NARS Velvet Matte Lip Pencils. 🙂 Some MAC Mattes are OK, too, but it depends on the shade.
Yay, Carina! 😀 I too stopped buying Chanel (because their lipsticks were drying on me for some reason) Why did you stop? I’ll definitely check out your fave shades too! I had a Nars matte lipstick but wasn’t crazy about it and I absolutely can’t wear MAC lipsticks at all! 🙁 Oh well, guess I’m “forced” to stick to Chanel eh? 😉
Gorgeous…
Very! 😉
The colours are so gorgeous!
They absolutely are, Jess! Try them next? 😉
orange lippie is so hot these days I keep seeing it on celebs and people walking around in department stores!! The La Ravissante looks totally different on bullet and on your lips?! I don’t think it looks mature on you though. 🙂 But yeah the pink one is better. 😉
Do you also wear more “serious” makeup for work? I do that too, for some meetings even it’s internal. I need people to take me seriously. hahahaha :p
Yes! There’s an orange lip trend for sure although I’m not on that bandwagon. Can’t wear orange lipstick, except for fun but rarely will I ever pull it out haha! On days when I have to sit in meetings and look serious, yes I tone down my makeup. Otherwise, I go a little crazy with colour, so people who call unexpectedly may catch me with blue shadow and hot pink lipstick! Haha!
Firstly, I have to agree about those oxymoronic names. Although some actually perform like how they’re ‘described’, these names are just confusing sometimes. Especially if you’re buying online and can’t swatch em. Luminous matte, is it luminous? is it matte? (it’s like the sheer glow all over again *hyperventilates*).
Further, I have to say, I’d say both colours look very nice and flattering on you! Also, want to compliment the eyeshadow work.~
Oh yes! They describe them alright, just that it sounds so confusing right? Sheer glow haha! Sheer or glowy? which? Thanks for the compliment, lovely! It’s been so long since I wore colour, it felt refreshing! 😀
Hey Paris, welcome back! I’m not that big on mattes, but I do like the formula! Another “matte” formula I like is Givenchy Le Rouge, although it’s not exactly that matte!
Hiya Sunny! Making baby steps haha 😀 Hope you’re doing alright and enjoying your Summer! Ooh speaking of Le Rouge, I have a couple in my drawer that I rediscovered too! Bought them and forgot about them (horrible right?!) so thanks to your reminder, I’ll go give them a whirl 😀
I agree the pink one looks better on you. LOL at serious makeup. I already have a bitchy resting face, so any makeup looks serious. Hahahaha!
Thanks Lily! Yeah I have that bitchy resting face too – good when you want to make a point, bad when people think you the Ice Queen – but I do have to tone down colours when it’s “serious time” at work 😉
La Ravissante is lovely. Not too orangey, not too brown, not too red. It’s not easy to pull off a coral i find. This is just so right. Something different from the usual pinks and reds. I love it. They discon this shade? Wow. Why???
Yes, you hit the nail on the head, Lisa. It’s just right and like everything that’s just right, it gets discontinued. Brands are weird 😛
I’m not a big fan of matte lipsticks either, but these look gorgeous!
They feel lovely too! Try one if you have the chance, Gio – there are some very lovely shades available.
Yay you’re back! Hope your house is in order now!
These both look lovely on you! I have one of these, a really dark vampy one. I don’t mind the formula either. Like you I’m not a huge Chanel lipstick fan either. I think I have 3 to be honest, and I usually get them at Duty Free which is probably the only time I ever buy from the brand haha!
Haha yay! Yes, am back albeit a little slowly cos my feet can’t seem to feel the bottom yet! Am about settled in now, whew! And loving it of course, because I have taken up a bit of daily exercise and it’s great! 😀 Duty free is the best place to get these luxurious beauties! I don’t have many Chanel lipsticks either but I can’t deny the siren call of their lovely packaging >.<
They BOTH look so good on you! I only picked up the L’Exuberant and I agree it does brighten up the face. I have yet to find a flattering coral/orange for my skin tone.. would you have any suggestions? (:
Thank you Xen and hurrah for loving L’Exuberante too! The effect on the face is impressive right? 😀 I’m not good with wearing orange myself (makes me look dark and sallow) so I’m afraid I’m not much help. As for coral, I like the ones from Dior because they tend to lean a little more red or pink and therefore are more flattering. Can’t think of one off the top of my head, but I think you can try Riviera 😉
I haven’t tried Chanel’s velvet lipsticks yet, but it’s on my to buy list!
But I have the same problem as you, I hate the look and feel of matte lipsticks. It settles into the creases of my lips and they dry out my lips so much!
I will definitely test them out in stores.
I really like la ravissante! It looks more coral when swatched on your hands and lips than in the tube.
Yes! Matte lipsticks are absolutely unflattering to lined and dry lips so it’s important to ensure they’re flake free. Do give these Chanel ones a go. The good thing, I found, is that they don’t dry out my lips through the day so it doesn’t look dried up and lined as the day wears on you know? La Ravissante is very lovely (and quite different from tube I agree, where it is quite boring to look at) so it’s quite disappointing that it’s been discontinued. But there are some other nice shades in the line up too!
‘Luminous matte’ does seem oxymoronic but then again, that’s exactly how Chanel’s Perfection Lumiere works too – it’s quite matte and makes it looks as if you’ve powdered but I’ve been told my skin looks ‘radiant’ with it on! So I can believe this wizardry extends to their lippies too.
Ok, I need to try this Perfection Lumiere foundation! 😀 Sounds like a dream
These two lipsticks both look great on you though I have to agree that the pink one looks better!I have been eyeing the shu uemura supreme matte, a surprisingly comfortable wearing matte when it tried it at the counter, but I can’t decide which shade to get. Any thoughts on this?
Thank you Mandy! 😀 I’m not familiar with the Shu Uemura Matte lipsticks although I think I tried one a while ago and wasn’t too taken by it. Have to admit that I have never warmed up to Shu Uemura lipsticks even from way back 🙁 Still, if you like it, go right ahead! After all, it’s just makeup 😀
Stahhhpp! We need to quit being lipstick twins lol! La Ravissante is my fave Chanel lipstick, it’s so purdy.
I’m also eyeing up the Shu Uemura mattes. They are amazing! I keep going to the counter and trying on and running away -they’ll ban me at this rate lol. <3333
Wheee for being lipstick twins Su! 😀 Someone who knows La Ravissante! Yay! 😀 Funny how you’re the 2nd person to talk about the Shu Uemura mattes! I was just telling Manday that I didn’t have a good experience with most Shu Uemura lipstick so I haven’t paid them a lot of attention. Not my to-go brand for lipstick, if I’m to be honest but you ladies have me intrigued! Sounds like it’s time you went to the counter and took one home 😉
Love the colors! They\’re so vibrant and pretty! Must have!
Absolutely! Time to get one in your stash 😉