Slick on the Cle de Peau Beaute Refined Lip Luminizer for a soft glow on lips that is like Sweet Satin or Sweet as Candy

New lipsticks in different textures are launched every other season, but it has been a while since I’ve noticed a new, slim-packaged, moisturising lipstick. So, when the Cle de Peau Beaute Refined Lip Luminizer dropped, I perked up a little.

Part of the reason is this – I bought one of their older versions of a lipstick in similar type of packaging, and I did not like it. I think it was called the Enriched Lip Luminizer or its predecessor, or something along those lines. You could buy refills and holders separately.

At the time, I was in love with the formula offered by these sorts of lipstick. I was still mourning the loss of the Dior Serum de Rouge, and I later moved on to the Chanel Rouge Stylo. Cle de Peau did not hit the spot.

So, years later, when recently confronted with the CdP Refined Lip Luminizer, I confess to being a little underwhelmed to try it. But in the spirit of being adventurous, I did.

And I’m glad I did! 😀

Clé de Peau Beauté Refined Lip Luminizer – who is it for?

The Cle de Peau Beauty Refined Lip Luminizer is a fairly soft, moisturising lipstick that comes in a slim tube packaging. Packaging like these for lipsticks are commonly used for textures that are softer than normal.

The result would be a lipstick that glides effortlessly on your lips, drenching lips with moisture. Lipsticks of this sort tend also to be infused with oils and skincare ingredients to help care for the delicate skin on your lips.

So who will like this then?

Basically, someone who likes their lips to have a soft shine and gloss. If your lipstick preference lies with matte, opaque textures, then this will not be for you.

I’d say however, that if you find that your lips tend to feel dry or irritated when you wear lipstick, consider switching to a more moisturising formula (that means skipping the dry liquid lipsticks for a bit). Our lips have no oil glands, so it needs care. Sometimes you need colour as well, so get a lipstick that can give you both.

Packaging

The packaging is simple and sleek. The cap fits tightly, and feels like a soft-close which is quite lux. Everything about this looks, and feels lux.

Well except one bit. The clear acrylic bit at the end.

I realize that the intention by Cle de Peau Beaute was to allow for customers to identify the lip colour easily, especially if you have deep pockets and own a few of these lipsticks. Unfortunately however, I feel that it cheapens the look of the product. It makes it look like a tester at the counter, as opposed to a luxury item you’d want to pull out.

I’d much prefer if they made a little dab of colour at the end, or maybe a little band of colour to reflect the colour within. That’s my quibble with this.

The other point to note is that the texture is a little soft, so I suggest twisting up only a little bit so you don’t waste product, nor cause it to smoosh or break.

Texture, Pigment and Longevity

As for texture, pigment and longevity, I must say that I am very impressed.

To be perfectly honest, I was not expecting much. I had hang-ups thanks to my previous experience, so I was not expecting anything. But as I said, it has been a while since I’ve worn a moisturising lipstick in this form, and I loved it!

Swatched on the back of my hand, you can see how glossy and smooth they are. They swatch without tugging on skin at all, and feel like a whisper of silk going on the lips.

The Refined Lip Lumnizer is infused with skincare ingredients and argan oil to protect, soothe and comfort lips. It also makes it glide more smoothly, while helping lips stay more moisturised for longer.

Colour pigment is fair by me. It isn’t bold, in your face, pigment. But it is pigmented enough that you can just swipe on a slick and go, without having to layer it on, for colour to show up.

The 2 colours I have are :

• 3 Sweet Satin – A light, pale peachy pink in the tube. This isn’t a colour I’d voluntarily pick for myself. However, when worn, as you will see below, it looks natural and youthful and in person, is quite flattering if paired with stronger eye makeup, or for a more simple girl-next-door look
• 10 Sweet as Candy – A bolder shade, Sweet as Candy is a cherry-red that looks a little bolder in tube than it does on lips. On me, it is a very brightening cherry-red that I don’t think is too bold. The lightness of the texture, and the slight gloss and shine makes it look flattering without being garish.

Here’s how both colours look in a full face.

My makeup is quite light in this look, but I think you can see how the different lip colours bring out a different vibe and look. Sweet Satin is a lovely lip colour that I’d wear as a “daily lip colour”, while Sweet as Candy is a little bit bolder. Yet, it is hardly as bold as some of the other reds you’ve seen me wear 😀

I think you can also see how the shine makes lips look fuller and more alluring. I am a fan of lip colours that have a bit of shine to them. It is generally more flattering. If healthy skin is glowing skin, why then are we walking around with flat, matte lips? 😛

Longevity for me was fair. It fades faster than a matte or longlasting lipstick would, but for normal day-to-day, I felt it was reasonable. Just top up if you need more lip colour.

What I liked most, was how my lips felt. I could feel the oils in the product melt on my lips as I glide the lipstick over. The lipstick almost seems to melt on contact with the warmth of your skin.

My lips felt plumped, yet it was so lightweight that I did not feel it at all the whole time I was wearing it. There is a very very light rose scent, but it is barely perceptible to even the pickiest of noses like mine. I was quite enthralled by it because it’s just so lush!

IN A NUTSHELL

The Cle de Peau Beaute Refined Lip Luminizer is a new lipstick range that features highly moisturizing lip colours in a slim packaging. The colour range is quite pretty, with soft, wearable shades that aren’t too over the top nor in your face. The product is infused with oils and skincare to protect lips and keep them soft. For this reason, it is a little soft. I recommend only twisting up a little bit to apply to lips or you may end up wasting product. I loved wearing this. My lips felt smooth and lush, and the colours were pretty and refreshing. Lips looked healthy with a soft shine and glow and really, it was impressive!

PROS:
Beautiful blend of colours
Pigmented in one swipe
Lightweight texture
Moisturising and protects lips
Flattering soft shine and glow
Sleek and slim packaging

CONS:
Pricey
Soft texture may break if too much is twisted out
Acrylic bit at the end doesn’t look luxurious

WHO WILL LIKE THIS: Anyone who enjoys using lipsticks that are not too bold and have a soft shine, Anyone who has very dry lips

PRICE: RM215 | US$58

WHERE TO BUY: Cle de Peau counters and boutique (Pavilion KL), Net-A-Porter,Bloomingdales, Barney’s New York, Neiman Marcus, Nordstrom

Do you like lipstick textures like this one?

I do and always have. These tend to glide on beautifully and leave a lovely shine on lips that I particularly like. But not everyone does them, or does them right, unfortunately. These do 🙂

Paris B