Most of you would have been aware of the huge excitement surrounding the re-entry of YSL Beauty into Malaysia recently. They were here many years ago, but pulled out, and are now back, with lines still happening outside their solo store in Pavilion KL, waiting for the free engraving. Hmm… Know what? I still haven’t visited the YSL Beauty store! LOL! Not one to queue for this, me.
I’ve been getting many queries from people, asking me “Is YSL really all that? Are their lipsticks really as nice as everyone claims them to be?” Because you see, they can’t be arsed to queue either! LOL! :D
Well, I have to say that I can understand why their lipsticks get a lot of love. They’re beautiful to look at, lovely to hold, and have beautiful colours. Also, I believe they’re probably one of the more affordable items in store to buy :P Don’t quote me – haven’t stepped into the store, remember? :D
I have a couple of the famed YSL Rouge Volupte Shine Oil-in-Stick lipsticks, so I’d just quickly share some thoughts with you. For the record, have also tried Rouge Pur Couture lipsticks (square packaging) but I’m not a fan of those – too drying.
I bought my first YSL Rouge Volupte Shine Oil-in-Stick lipstick in Singapore a couple of years back, while beauty shopping with an old blogger friend. I was at a bit of a loss as to what colour to get, when she pointed out the colour No. 33 Fuchsia Intense to me. Ordinarily, I wouldn’t have gone for it. But on the day, I was feeling rather adventurous, so I got it.
That’s the #33 Fuchsia Intense on left, and #12 Corail Incandescent on right.
The colour in tube of #33 Fuchsia Intense is actually quite purple in real life. There is an iridescent sheen to it, that makes the colour change a little as you angle it, which makes it look very pretty. I wasn’t sure if the purple hue sat well with me, but it did. It is very cool toned.
I received #12 Corail Incandescent during the YSL Beauty party recently, to celebrate the brand’s re-entry into the local market. I was quite pleased, because as it turns out, I particularly like the texture of the YSL Rouge Volupte Shine lipsticks.
They slick on like butter, with very strong, pigmented colour, and a beautiful shine. The shine on your lips is a beautiful gloss that is very flattering, and far more attractive to me, than the flat matte lipsticks favoured by many today. Me, I go for a lovely shine any day!
You may see from these hand swatches, the texture I mean. It glides on – literally GLIDES on – and applies with beautifully intense colour. Although it has a shine, I don’t find it to slip around, as many lipsticks of this texture would, and even better, the colour actually stains your skin a little. So, even if the lipstick wears off, a tint of colour remains. It’s really quite something!
I love both the colours I have. #33 Fuchsia Intense, as you can see, is a cool-toned fuchsia pink with a purple undertone. It may not appeal to everyone, but it really grew on me. Bold, yet with a twist. #12 Corail Incandescent is a rather bright, warm coral with more peach tones. On my lips, it enhances the red tones, so I actually end up with a coral-red shade, that is very flattering for me. It is quite bright, as are most of the colours in the range, from memory.
Here’s how they look on me, with my almost regular barely-there makeup look these days haha! But a bright lip makes everything look better! :D
No. 33 Fuchsia Intense is on left, a lovely purple-based fuchsia that really pops, while #12 Corail Incandescent is a warm coral. I think they’re both very lovely colours, and I love the shine you get with these, that make your lips look so plump and juicy! :D
I do remember that many people, back when the Rouge Volupte Shines were first launched, really liked the pale pinks and nudes. Not being one for pale pink or nude lipstick, I avoided those colours like the plague. I like having some colour on, and these 2 shades do it for me.
But as much as I love the texture and colour and longevity of these Rouge Volupte Shine lipsticks, there is one major fly in the ointment – the scent. OMG! Imagine if you will, the scent of crushed, sweet, ripe mangoes, held under your nose all day long, as you wear the lipstick. Gag! :P
I love mangoes, but you can get too much of a good thing, and honestly, I don’t know why they chose this sweet, fruity scent, or why I detect the scent of mangoes. Most people don’t notice it, but I warn everyone who asks me about this, because seriously, it’s strong. And it bugs me. So I don’t wear these beautiful lipsticks as often as I would like to. Make them fragrance-free, YSL and I’d collect them all!
Well, except the nude and pale pink shades LOL! :D
IN A NUTSHELL
The YSL Rouge Volupte Shine Oil in Stick lipsticks come housed in beautiful, hefty, golden tube packaging, with an intricate lace-like motif around the middle, like a bodice. The colour of the lipstick is reflected so it’s easy to pick out the colour you want. The texture is very smooth, and it glides on without tugging on lips, feeling almost like a gloss, yet applying like a lipstick. There is no balminess, but it is not drying, and the colour will stain your lips, so a tint of colour remains as the day wears on and your colour wears off. However, the strong, sweet, rich scent of ripe mangoes right under my nose bugs the hell out of me, and that’s why I don’t have as many as I’d like to own.
PROS: Lightweight texture, Glides smoothly and evenly on lips, Pigmented colour, Tints lips as it wears off, Long lasting, Not drying, Beautiful packaging
CONS: Strong, sweet, fruity scent of mangoes, Pricey
WHO WILL LIKE THIS: Anyone who enjoys glossy shiny lipsticks, Anyone who can tolerate the strong sweet fruity scent
PRICE: RM145 | US$37
WHERE TO BUY: YSL Beauty boutique at Pavilion KL, YSL Beauty online, Nordstrom, StrawberryNet
For the record, I did not get any of my products engraved in store. I don’t see the point. After all, you buy it coz it says YSL, not <your name> right? :P
Do you own any YSL Rouge Volupte Shine Oil-in-Stick lipsticks? What other YSL Beauty stuff should I be looking at?
I own a few YSL Beauty pieces from years gone by, when they were still accessible locally. I also used to buy them online, or when I travel so I didn’t really feel like I was missing out. I used to enjoy the blushes and powders, and I’m told their new liquid foundation is worth a look, as is their cushion foundation. I don’t know – tell me where I should start! What’s your favourite YSL Beauty item? :D
Paris B
The YSL rouge volupte shine is one of my favorite formula. I always carry at least 5 lipsticks in my bag so i interchange my lipsticks often. Took me a while to realize that the only lipstick that almost gone is the YSL rouge volupte. I never really finish a lipstick before(im a lipstick hoarder lol) so this is an achievement for me. Their mascara is my current HG now, the YSL shock. It gives volume and length beautifully. Their perfume YSL Opium smells great too.
Haha Peggy you sound just like me – I carry a whole lipstick wardrobe in my bag too! I have to say the formula for Rouge Volupte Shine is amazing. Wish they’d kill the scent though. Thanks for the other YSL recs!
The Ysl rouge volupte shine is one of my faves. It also has a sentimental value to me because my first lippie was gifted by my husband. It does have a mango scent which is nice and I too will go for shine over matte!
Aww that is sweet gift, and glad to know the mango scent sits well with you! :D I forsee you buying the Rouge Volupte Shine for the rest of your life (and they’re great lipsticks, why not? :D )
Yeaaaa. Volupte shine in Fuschia in excess is my favourite. I quite like the cushion foundation too. ?
I’ll go check out the cushion foundation next time I pass by. I remember I tested it during the party, but it was in a dark hall and really, there’s no way you can check any makeup out under flashing strobe lights!
Aww…that fly haha
I used to love juicy, fruity scents back when I was a kid…but I think I just prefer no scent now, too.
The YSL is a photogenic lippie though. Looks great in your pics.
Thank you – it was a joy to photograph! It would be nice if they toned down the scent, if they don’t want to remove it totally. I’m told the French love their cosmetics scented, as they associate that with luxury, which explains why so many French brands are.
Mango!! Yucks. That will definitely stop me from buying it. I prefer my lipstick to be tasteless.
Same goes for some Chanel lipstick. Dislike the lingering of scents around my mouth as it will be like I drank some perfume.
I had a good giggle at your comment :P I love how assertive you are in you conviction about scents in lipsticks! :D
You’d be happy to know then, that the newer Chanel lipsticks have no scent (at least none that I can detect) which is why I like them. I too, prefer to have my lipsticks scentless. It just feels better, since our noses are so close to our lips!
Ooooo I need to get my hands on some of those lippies…. they just look so juicy and glorious! :D
I love their ‘Palette Lumiere Divine’, an illuminating finishing powder. It was limited edition here is Aus, but I believe it’s permanent in the US, which is SUPER annoying. I hate how cosmetic companies do that – make differences between markets. Grrrrr, so infuriating!
On another note, I love the Le Teint Touche Eclat liquid foundation. I found my perfect colour match (they have an awesome wide selection of shades) so its my staple :) I’d love to try the cushion eventually too (Ive heard good things).
I have a few Glossy Lip Stains and need to dig them out now that I think about it!
Thanks for the recs Sylvia :) I have heard a lot of good things about their foundation so I’ll probably have a go. I have a soft spot for foundation LOL Oh and an illuminating finishing powder sounds lovely!