Confession. I didn’t buy ANY of these when they launched. I was actually at the Chanel counter on the day they unpacked the shipment box. The MA was wearing one and it just looked crazy bad. Dry and fading… just not a pretty picture. I vowed to stay far, far away.
This past week I did a Chanel.com order and one of the samples was a card of 4 of the Rouge Allure Velvet Lipsticks - La Ravissante, La Raffinee, L’Exuberante, and La Fascinante. So, I exfoliated the lips like crazy and got to swatching. It actually wasn’t as bad as I expected!
What Neiman Marcus has to say about Chanel Rouge Allure Velvet Lipstick:
Elevating matte to a new elegance, this next-generation, non-drying matte lipstick glides on lips with intensely rich color and a sumptuously soft, velvet matte finish.
While still not my favorite of the Chanel Lipstick line, the Rouge Allure Velvet Lipsticks are no where NEAR as dry as I was anticipating. I thought my favorite on would be La Ravissante, but La Raffinee has captured my heart. These lipsticks sink into your lips and leave a bit of a stain, so if you have a gloss handy you can check up on yourself and not look all battered and dry. I loved applying the shades with the finger, because it left a nice, smooth tint effect, rather than just glopping on a whole lot of color.
La Ravissante (translation - the beautiful) looked peachy on the card, but swatched on the arm almost like a melon and peach mix. On the lips it definitely hit off as more peach, though it might be more melon on someone with a deeper lip pigment.
La Raffinee (translation - the refined) was my fave of the four. The easiest to pull off with it’s rosy pinkness. Classy, yet flirty. I actually expected it to be a bit darker on the lip, however was happy with the result.
L’Exuberante (translation - the exuberant) is a very bold and pigmented hot pink. I actually liked this better just pressed lightly onto the lips, but swatched a bit more heavily above to show off the true color and pigment. If you love this color, but the WOW factor has you holding back, try just dabbing it onto your lips and pressing together. It’s a nice tinge of pink that’ll give you that shade you want for Spring, but won’t make you feel like you need to constantly be questioning yourself.
La Fascinante (translation - the fascinating) is a red with pink undertone. I actually thought this would wear more fuchsia on me, but it actually ending up being a nice cherry red. Like maraschino cherries.
The next time I’m at the counter I’m going to give these a go and pick up one or two. I feel bad that we got off on the wrong foot and had such a horrid first impressions meeting. Does it need a gloss paired with it? Absolutely. Maybe you can get away with just the lippie here, but I can’t, even after heavy exfoliation. Are they beautiful and worth getting at least one? YES.
Chanel Rouge Allure Velvet Lipsticks retail for $32.50 and can be purchased at your local Chanel counter or at Chanel.com. All shades are marked on the Chanel website as Limited Edition.
Ahmad says
Extremely good post, I am browsing back again on a regular to hunt for posts.
I don't get the bad rep either. I have L'Exuberant and La Sensuelle and adore them both. They're as drying on me as Nars matte lipsticks and MAC mattenes which are a heck of a lot less drying than other matte lipsticks in the market
Ooo all four of these look very pretty! I seriously have to do a bit of research about Chanel lipsticks and get a couple more! In the meantime, I'm still crazy in love with Coco Rouge Mademoiselle 🙂
I really want la raffinée et la ravissante!
Cendana says
I want those two as well!!!! 😀
Cendana recently posted..shu uemura SS13 Collection: Blossom Dream & Unmasked
I don't know why these got such a bad rap, but I have LA SOMPTUEUSE and really like it. I don't find them too drying at all and the colours are so pigmented.