Skin & Tonics : Skincare Guides & Product Reviews

I’ve spent an embarrassing amount of time in the cosmetics department at Belk these past couple of weeks. I’m on a first name basis with many of the SA’s working the makeup counters there, which something that both shames me and fills me with pride. The thing is, right now is a great time to stalk makeup counters – in addition to the release of the Fall 2013 makeup collections, there are also a lot of of new permanent collection additions emerging right now. Much of my time and money has recently been spent on new permanent collection releases from Laura Mercier, which include the lipsticks I’ll be talking about today – Laura Mercier Rouge Nouveau Weightless Lip Colour ($24).

Rouge Nouveau Weightless Lip Color was just released last month. It’s a long-lasting, wax-free lipstick that feels like wearing nothing. There are 15 available shades with three distinct finishes – matte, sheer, and crème. The shade names correspond with their finish – matte colors all have M names, sheer colors have S names, and the shade names for the crèmes all begin with the letter C.

The packaging for these lipsticks are very sleek – remember the long, skinny lipsticks of the 90s? The dimensions for these are a lot like those, but with the modern, elegant design of a Laura Mercier product. The cases all have a gleaming metallic finish that I would describe as a coppery, rosey, gunmetal.

Here is the full ingredient list:
Pentaerythrityl Tetraisostearate, Octyldodecanol, Mica, Silica, Polyethylene, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Isodecyl Neopentanoate, Triacontanyl PVP, Silica Dimethyl Silylate, Caprylyl Glycol, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Tocopheryl Acetate, Flavor (Aroma), Penta 

When I ran the list through COSDNA, there was one ingredient that came back as a potential irritant. That ingredient is Octyldodecanol, which is a fatty alcohol often used in cosmetics as a moisturizing and emulsifying ingredient. It ranks a 3 out of 5 as a potential irritant, though I did not experience any irritation from using this product.

Now for the fun stuff! I’m currently going through a matte lips phase, so I opted to pick up two of the matte colors – Malt and Myth. Malt is a beautiful dusty, rosy beige. I’ve been looking for my perfect MLBB (My Lips But Better) shade, and I think I’ve hit the jackpot with Malt. Myth is a medium berry shade. It’s glamorous without being over-the-top, which means I can wear it to work without being suspected of taking a second job as a cigarette girl in a 1930s casino. Not that there would be anything wrong with that – and actually, if that was still a thing, I would definitely take that job.

Left: Myth, Right: Malt

Left: Myth, Right: Malt

Both colors go on completely opaque with no tugging. I find I get optimum coverage with two coats and a blot. The colors last for around 6 hours with regular talking and drinking. Even at the 6-hour mark, they haven’t completely disappeared – they just need touching up. These lipsticks aren’t food proof though, so they do need to be reapplied after eating.

Malt

Malt

Malt

Perhaps the best thing about Rouge Nouveau Weightless Lip Color that unlike many other matte lipsticks, these don’t dry my lips out. The Laura Mercier website says they provide “lip-nourishing hydration.” I wouldn’t go that far – the colors I purchased don’t feel nourishing or hydrating, but they certainly aren’t drying, and that’s more than good enough for me.

Myth

Myth

Myth

Pros:
+ Gorgeous color
+ Long-lasting
+ Non-drying formula, even for matte colors
+ Sleek, elegant packaging

Cons:
– Pricey

Skin & Tonics Rating:
Performance: 5/5 – Great color payoff, long-lasting, non-drying

Quality: 5/5 – Smooth formula, easy to apply, sleek, solid packaging

Value: 4/5 – $24 is pretty standard for a mid-high end lipstick, but expensive as far as lipsticks go in general. That said, I think this is a worthwhile splurge!

Overall: 4.7/5

Where to Buy:

I bought mine at Belk. It’s also available at Macy’s, Nordstrom, and of course, on the Laura Mercier website. It retails for $24.

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