YSL Rouge Pur Couture Glossy Stain in 16 Pourpre Preview

Seems like I've been eating my words quite a bit lately. When YSL came out with their Glossy Stains nearly two years ago now, I wrote them off as totally gimmicky. How can a lip product be a gloss and a stain while being effective as both? It seemed like an oxymoron. But I found myself at Sephora a couple weeks ago looking at the YSL section and decided to give these Glossy Stains a good swatching session. And I now put my tail between my legs and admit that these execute exactly as marketed. I was tempted to grab several of these upon swatching because YSL released these in some seriously gorgeous shades, but as they're quite pricey, I decided to get one first to see if I loved them enough to merit buying more. So I snatched up the one that caught my eye the most: 16 Pourpre Preview. The Rouge Pur Couture Glossy Stains are packaged in rectangular black tubes (with a clear panel in the centre to show the shade inside) and gold caps embossed with the YSL logo. They have a light grape-like scent, but no discernible taste as it dries down. Each Glossy Stain comes with a pointed sponge-tip applicator, contains 6 ml of product, and retails for $38.
16 Pourpre Preview
16 Pourpre Preview

16 Pourpre Preview is a vibrant fuchsia-purple with a glossy cream finish. This is a permanent shade. The texture is lightweight and gel-like, and it goes on smoothly and evenly. It has medium-high pigmentation and semi-opaque to opaque buildable colour pay-off. It is more purple than YSL 19 Fuchsia in Rage Rouge Volupté Shine, brighter and more fuchsia than MAC Up the Amp, lighter and more purple than MAC Zen Rose Sheen Supreme Lipstick, darker and more purple than MAC Love Forever! Pro Longwear Lipcreme and Shiseido RS 320 Fuchsia Perfect Rouge, and more purple than Urban Decay Anarchy.

We all know I'm a sucker for purple lip products, but this one manages to be incredibly unique even in my personal stash. MAC's Up the Amp continues to be one of my favourite purple lip shades because it manages to be firmly in the purple camp rather than pink, and this is a more — for lack of a better term — amped up version of that. Even though it has fuchsia in it, it still manages to be a purple lip colour. What sets this particular shade apart, of course, is the finish. It really is both a gloss and a stain. Like, it goes on fully glossy, but good god, does it wear like a champ. (Fair warning: If you swatch this on your hand, it will stay on until the next day. Even after using multiple make-up removers and washing your hands a million times.) It stays glossy for nearly eight hours which is already a huge feat for any gloss, but after the glossiness fades, it leaves a seriously vibrant stain that wears over 12 hours. And even after that, there are remnants of that stain that you need a really damn good cleansing oil to remove. The best part is that they aren't drying at all. I think a huge drawback to lip stains in general is that they're ridiculously drying. These don't technically hydrate, but they don't feel uncomfortable or drying at all during the entire duration of wear. If you're someone who often finds that lip colours don't stay on your lips or hates re-applying lip products, the YSL Glossy Stains are a truly exceptional option, high price tag be damned. And if you're just a sucker for purples like I am (coincidentally, this shade is the Pantone Colour of the Year, too), 16 Pourpre Preview is perfection.

YSL Rouge Volupté Shine Lipstick in 15 Corail Intuitive

When YSL initially came out with their Rouge Volupté Shine Lipsticks, I was truly uninterested and had written them off has boring because they seemed too similar to many lipstick/lip gloss/lip balm hybrid formulas already out there (e.g. Chanel's Rouge Coco Shine, MAC's Sheen Supreme, Dior's Dior Addict, Revlon's Lip Butters, etc.). But since buying and totally falling in love with 19 Fuchsia in Rage, I've eaten my words. Now, one of my favourite and most used lipsticks is Chanel's Rouge Coco Shine in 50 Rivage, but I have since learned that they discontinued that shade (at least, I can't find it in stores anymore). So in search of a good dupe for it in both texture and shade, I ended up snatching up YSL's 15 Corail Intuitive. The Rouge Volupté Shine Lipsticks are packaged in a weighty gold metal tubes with the YSL logo surrounding the centre of the tube. Each lipstick contains 4.5 grams of product, and retails for $39.
15 Corail Intuitive
15 Corail Intuitive

15 Corail Intuitive is a light-medium warm pink-coral with a glossy finish. This is a permanent shade. It has a light tropical fruit scent and flavour. The texture is lightweight and creamy, and it goes on smoothly and evenly. It has medium-high pigmentation and semi-opaque colour pay-off. It is much sheerer and much more muted than YSL 13 Peach Passion Rouge Volupté, sheerer and darker than YSL 26 Tender Peach Rouge Volupté, brighter and glossier than MAC Coral Bliss, more pigmented and more peach than MAC Peach Blossom, lighter and more pink than MAC Fashion City Sheen Supreme Lipstick, sheerer and less pink than MAC Blossom Culture Sheen Supreme Lipstick, slightly more peach than Chanel 50 Rivage Rouge Coco Shine, lighter and more vibrant than Clinique Mega Melon Chubby Stick, and lighter and more pink than Revlon Juicy Papaya Lip Butter.

YSL describes the Rouge Volupté Shine as "an innovative and comforting lipstick enhanced with fruit extracts rich in vitamins and antioxidants that leave lips visibly softer and smoother with up to eight hours of hydration... The luscious, hydrating texture glides on your lips leaving a lightweight aqua shine effect." I definitely agree that these feel really smooth and lightweight going on, and the finish has that almost-wet glossy look (especially great when I am too lazy to apply gloss on top). The semi-opaque colour pay-off gives an almost jelly-like effect, which makes lips look fuller and plumper, too. They do feel hydrating when worn, though I can't say it had any lingering or long-lasting hydration after it wore off. For such a lightweight, glossy lipstick, though, these do wear quite well — this shade in particular wears about three hours before fading which is pretty good considering the lightless of the shade (darker and brighter shades wear about four to five hours). There are a lot of almost-dupes for this lipstick, but I couldn't find an exact one to replicate both the colour and the texture of it. It's one of those shades that aren't terribly exciting or unique, but one that I will use a lot (if my near completion of Chanel's Rouge Coco Shine in 50 Rivage is any indication). Is it a must-have at $39? No, probably not. But I love the formula and the colour is so incredibly wearable (I love bold, bright shades, but I reach for these softer shades way more for regular use) that I reckon it'll have one of the lowest cost-per-use rates for me; it's already become a staple in my cosmetics bag.

YSL Rouge Volupté Shine Lipstick in 19 Fuchsia in Rage

When YSL initially came out with their Rouge Volupté Shine Lipsticks, I was truly uninterested and had written them off has boring because they seemed too similar to many lipstick/lip gloss/lip balm hybrid formulas already out there (e.g. Chanel's Rouge Coco Shine, MAC's Sheen Supreme, Dior's Dior Addict, etc.). But this past summer, I found myself at a Sephora in Buffalo and 19 Fuchsia in Rage totally caught my eye. So I swatched it on my hand, and it was game over — I was completely smitten. Of course, I was all set to buy it, but that particular Sephora was sold out. Which only made me want to buy it more. I came back to Toronto and walked into several Sephora locations and couldn't find that shade anywhere. Like, it wasn't even being carried here. It's available online, but I didn't want to put in an order for the sake of buying one lipstick (before I was a VIB Rouge member, it was only free shipping with a purchase of $75 or more). Then I went to Pennsylvania last month and with renewed vigour, I was on the hunt yet again for this lipstick. And, just my luck, the store I went to (at Ross Park Mall in Pittsburgh) had one left. It was meant to be. And, thusly, I ate my words and bought a Rouge Volupté Shine Lipstick. They are packaged in a weighty gold metal tube with the YSL logo surrounding the centre of the tube, and a small mirror at the top of the cap. Each Rouge Volupté Shine Lipstick contains 4.5 grams of product, and retails for $39.
19 Fuchsia in Rage19 Fuchsia in Rage

19 Fuchsia in Rage is a medium-dark vibrant purple-toned magenta pink with a glossy finish. This is a permanent shade (possibly only available online and in the US). It has a light tropical fruit scent and flavour. The texture is lightweight and creamy, and it goes on smoothly and evenly. It has medium-high pigmentation and semi-opaque colour pay-off. It is lighter and more purple than MAC Girl About Town, darker and much more pink than MAC Up the Amp, slightly more purple than MAC Love Forever! Pro Longwear Lipcreme, lighter than MAC Zen Rose Sheen Supreme Lipstick, similar though sheerer and glossier than Shiseido RS 320 Fuchsia, darker and more purple than NARS Schiap, and darker than NARS Full Frontal.

Gorgeous, gorgeous, gorgeous! YSL describes the Rouge Volupté Shine as "an innovative and comforting lipstick enhanced with fruit extracts rich in vitamins and antioxidants that leave lips visibly softer and smoother with up to eight hours of hydration... The luscious, hydrating texture glides on your lips leaving a lightweight aqua shine effect." I definitely agree that these feel really smooth and lightweight going on, and the finish has that almost-wet glossy look (especially great when I am too lazy to apply gloss on top). The semi-opaque colour pay-off gives an almost jelly-like effect, which makes lips look fuller and plumper, too. They do feel hydrating when worn, though I can't say it had any lingering or long-lasting hydration after it wore off. For such a lightweight, glossy lipstick, though, these do wear really well — about four hours before starting to wear off — and this particular colour leaves a stain, too, which makes the wear-time appear longer. As someone who owns nearly 400 lipsticks, though, that's not what makes this particular lipstick special. Yes, the packaging is nice and screams "luxury" (it is $39, after all), but this colour is just stunning. I was actually wearing this yesterday (my birthday!), and I got compliments on it nearly everywhere I went. Fans of fuchsia, magenta, and purple — this is a definite must-have, and worth every damn penny.

YSL Manicure Couture Colour Nail Polish Duo No. 7

I actually bought this nail polish way back in February at a YSL counter at one of The Bay locations in Montreal (or, rather, La Baie) and promptly forgot about it when I got back. But I found it a couple days ago among my stash and decided to put it on before I forgot about it again. This colour actually comes in a set of two polishes called "Manicure Couture Colour Nail Polish Duo" in No. 7, and the whole idea behind it is that they can be worn together for a sort of French manicure look. I'm not one to do French manicures, and even if I was, I wouldn't wear the two colours together because the other colour in this duo is a really dark brown and I just don't think they look good together. Thusly, I am reviewing this colour alone, but you can only buy it as part of the duo. Each polish contains 6 ml of product, and comes in square glass bottles with gold caps with the YSL logo. The duo retails for $32, and is available at all YSL counters.

No. 7 is a medium jade green with fine gold shimmer. I had some trouble using this brush — it's thick with stiff bristles and comes with a slanted edge, which makes for a streaky, uneven application. I can't say for sure if the polish itself is troublesome or if it's the brush, but I'm leaning more towards the latter, because the polish itself seems to have decent pigmentation. But because the brush causes such obvious streaks, I had to use three coats to achieve opacity (or, at least, to cover up the streaks). It is cooler and brighter than Dior's Waterlily, and though I don't own it, it seems darker than Chanel Jade. I found this nail polish really disappointing as a whole, because for the price, I really expected a better application. I love this colour a lot and it looks really gorgeous on the nails and is super-fun for Spring, but to me, it's just not worth the price and the amount of work.

YSL Rouge Pur Couture Lipstick: #5 Beige Etrusque

On that trip to Murale with Mary, I bought a third lipstick, one that Mary and I loved so much, we both had to have it: YSL's Rouge Pur Couture in #5 Beige Etrusque. (You can see a lovely full-face vision of this lipstick on Mary here.) Like my beloved Rouge Voluptés, these also come in elegant weighty gold metal casing, but square instead of round and with the YSL logo centered at the case opening. Not quite as flamboyant, but ultra-chic just the same. Rouge Pur Couture lipsticks are ultra-creamy, very pigmented with incredible colour pay-off, and give off a lovely sheen. They go on very smoothly, evenly, and opaquely, and wear very well. They also have a subtle tropical fruit scent but no taste. Each Rouge Pur Couture lipstick contains 3.8 grams of product, and retails for $38.

#5 Beige Etrusque

#5 Beige Etrusque is a medium peachy beige with a hint of pink in a satin finish. This shade is neutral enough to go with all shades of blush and eyeshadow, but has more colour and depth than a full-fledged nude. It should suit both cool and warm undertones beautifully. It is more peach than MAC Kinda Sexy, more pink than MAC Cherish, and lighter and less brown than MAC Mocha.

I was trying to figure out what the difference was between the Rouge Volupté formula ("Silky Sensual Radiant Lipstick") and the Rouge Pur Couture formula ("Pure Colour Satiny Radiance Lipstick"). As I previously mentioned, they're both ultra-creamy, very pigmented with incredible colour pay-off, and give off a lovely sheen. They go on very smoothly, evenly, and opaquely, and wear very well. But the difference was more noticeable in the wear: Whereas the Rouge Volupté started off moist and dried down rather fast (not to be mistaken for drying), the Rouge Pur Couture go on moist and stay that way. While I like the colour range of the Rouge Voluptés more, I definitely like this formula more. I didn't think it was possible, but there you go. Looks like there will be a few many more shades in my future...

YSL Rouge Volupté Lipstick: #11 Rose Culte and #12 Forbidden Burgundy

I went to Murale with Mary last Friday and left with some new Yves Saint Laurent lipsticks, including two shades of Rouge Volupté. For those who have never had the pleasure of trying YSL's Rouge Volupté lipsticks, they are the epitome of luxury make-up. The packaging is ultra-chic and elegant in weighty gold metal casing, with the YSL logo surrounding the centre of the tube, and a small mirror at the top of the cap for easy touch-ups on-the-go. The formula is ultra-creamy, almost buttery, and it's very pigmented with incredible colour pay-off and a lovely sheen. Despite the creamy formula, they aren't exactly moisturizing, but they aren't drying, either. They go on very smoothly, evenly, and opaquely, and wear very well. They also have a subtle tropical fruit scent but no taste. At the end of it all, they feel and look amazing on the lips.

#11 Rose Culte and #12 Forbidden Burgundy

#11 Rose Culte and #12 Forbidden Burgundy

#11 Rose Culte is a medium bright hot pink with red undertones. This is a fantastic bright pink for those with warmer skintones, or for those who want to wear fuchsia but find it a little too cool-toned. It is warmer and more red than MAC Girl About Town.

#12 Forbidden Burgundy is a medium-dark berry-plum. Typically, berry shades lean cool, but the subtle brown undertones in this shade makes it an ideal berry shade for warmer skintones. It is warmer and less pink than MAC Rebel, and less red than MAC Hang Up.

At $38 a pop, it's definitely a splurge, but if you find a shade that you really like, it's absolutely worth it. In terms of formula, colours, and packaging, YSL's Rouge Voluptés are the most decadent and luxurious lipsticks I own (I like these infinitely more than my Tom Ford lipstick, which is $14 more!). Honestly, Rouge Volupté is my favourite lipstick formula of all time. If they weren't so expensive, you can be damn sure that I would buy every single shade.

YSL Volupté Sheer Candy Glossy Balm: #4 Succulent Pomegranate and #6 Luscious Cherry

I stopped by Murale to redeem some points I got from the 20x Optimum points event at Shoppers Drug Mart over the weekend, and finally got the opportunity to grab a couple of Yves Saint Laurent's new Volupté Sheer Candy Glossy Balm Crystal Color lipsticks. They actually came out last month at Sephora and select department stores, but I held off, wanting to take advantage of the Optimum points program. Murale only had four of the six shades in stock, so I picked up two shades, #4 Succulent Pomegranate and #6 Luscious Cherry.

#6 Luscious Cherry and #4 Succulent Pomegranate

The formula on these is really gorgeous: lightweight, semi-sheer, smooth, and hydrating. I actually find these to be more hydrating (e.g. leaves lips softer) and thus more balm-like than both Chanel's Rouge Coco Shines and Dior's new Addicts, though the actual finish and look of YSL's Volupté Sheer Candy lipsticks is similar to the two. I find that the packaging, in elegant and weighty silver tubes with the logo in classic gold, screams, "Luxury!" more than the other two, though. Each Volupté Sheer Candy lipstick contains 4 grams of product and retails for $38 a pop (which is why I'm glad I got them for free!).

#6 Luscious Cherry and #4 Succulent Pomegranate

#4 Succulent Pomegranate is a semi-sheer bright watermelon pink in a glossy finish. Its red undertones makes it wearable for both warm and cool undertones, though I find that the sheerness of the product makes it harder to show on darker skintones. #6 Luscious Cherry is a semi-sheer cherry red with subtle golden shimmer in a glossy finish. I actually found it to be a fairly neutral red, so this shade is also great for both warm and cool undertones, but again, the sheerness won't read as well on darker skintones. This is a great shade for those who want to try the red lip trend but don't want to go too dramatic. The result of both looks like a popsicle-stained lip; very cute and summery. They are both scented in a fruity aroma, though I can't quite put my finger on which fruit (maybe mango or papaya), and are taste-free. Those with particularly picky noses might be turned off from this lipstick for that reason, but the formula is gorgeous enough to overlook it.

YSL Rouge Volupté Lipstick: #29 Rose Opéra

On a trip to Murale with Mary, I picked up a new tube of Yves Saint Laurent's Rouge Volupté Lipstick in #29 Rose Opéra. For those who have never had the pleasure of trying YSL's Rouge Volupté lipsticks, they are the epitome of luxury make-up. The packaging is ultra-chic and elegant in weighty gold metal casing, with the YSL logo surrounding the centre of the tube, and a small mirror at the top of the cap for easy touching up on-the-go. The formula is ultra-creamy, almost buttery, but it's very pigmented with incredible colour pay-off and a lovely sheen. They go on very smoothly, evenly, and opaquely, and wear very well. They also have a subtle tropical fruit scent but no taste. At the end of it all, they just feel amazing on the lips.

#29 Rose Opéra is a gorgeous medium flamingo pink that leans slightly coral. It gives a beautiful pop of colour without being too bright – perfect for Spring. This shade originally came out with YSL's Spring 2010 Collection, but they have since made it permanent. The closest dupe I can think of is MAC's Ultra Darling, but slightly more pink and much more opaque. (Sort of like if Ultra Darling and Chatterbox had a baby.) At $38 a pop, it's not exactly the most affordable lipstick, but if you find a shade that you really like, it's absolutely worth it. Honestly, this is probably my favourite lipstick formula of all time.