Whilst I am pretty unsusceptible to modern marketing, in the examples of say ads in magazines, I am not so strong when it comes to a gorgeous swatch or review from a trusted blogger. In this case, it was not a blogger but Make Up Queen Lisa Eldridge in this video that made me really really want the new Lancome L’Absolu Velours – a liquid lipstick with a matte finish.
I chose two colours as Boots had an offer on – Caprice, a bright red that Lisa wore in her video and Framboise, a rich hot pink.
I haven’t bought Lancome in years – I think because I don’t really browse on counters much any more, so if I am buying online I tend to seek out rarer brands. I bought these from Boots…now what is it about these Lancome boxes? Why do they look bashed around, why aren’t the edges neat, why aren’t the boxes sealed? I know that sounds like a minor complaint and it is, but for this price (£21 each) I want a bit of luxury.
Here is my Instagram pick which shows the two colours.
They are BRIGHT. They are very pigmented. Liquid lip colours, particularly those that dry matte are kind of in so this product is not unique in that sense. The colour range (and I spent ages trying to pick my second shade) is quite bright apart from a light peach – and there seems to be lots of various shades of pink.
So this liquid lipstick is supposed to provide 8 hours wear and hydration whilst being matte.
I’ve tried various products like this especially from Korea. I have to say, the Lancome ones are a cut above in terms of pigmentation and texture and finish – despite being so bright, they are not clown like shades (some super bright mattes I’ve seen bored on clownish maybe because the hue is just every so slightly off on my skintone). These colours are really fun to wear but still chic and stylish. The texture is smooth, and it blends well and despite drying matte it is comfortable to wear even on my dry lips.
It is INTENSE pigment wise.
So what is my problem? Do I have a problem?
A bit. Whilst this product is one of the best quality matte lip colours I’ve ever used (worth £21 I think), the packaging is a lightweight cheap plastic tube which was SCRATCHED. Both of these had scuffs on the side like the had been dragged across a concrete floor – a small thing but it made me a bit crazy! Because at this price it shouldn’t look tatty.
I bought a third shade from Selfridges and once again – scuffs on the tube. I find that so odd!
365 Velours de Frambroise – is a pink hot pink (darker than this picture in real life). It is BRIGHT.
That reminds me – I felt the applicator sponge was a bit hard BUT it was a dream for shaping out the lips/
193 Velours de Caprice – is a bright orangey red. I thought this would be too bold for me but I love how it looks on – it makes me look more tan (as you can see from how the camera has treated my skin!). It is actually my favourite shade of the two.
Once tried the texture is an elegant matte, not so matte that you can see every single line on your lip.
Verdict:
Definitely one of the best matte liquid lip colours I have used, problem is I don’t know why all the tubes I’ve had look so tatty! That is enough to put me off buying more!
See the range here.
