A lipstick can transform any woman’s look—from pale to bold, wan to wild, plain to pretty. That’s why it’s the one consistently bestselling makeup product no matter what the economy. Because women can never have enough lipsticks, cosmetics giant L’Oréal Paris launched a new line of lip products called the Color Riche Rouge Magique.
Fifteen shades ranging from nudes and browns to reds and plums make up the collection. I got to try 10, and I swatched them here for you. As you can see from the photos, the colors are all vivid. I tried a few before settling on Royal Velouté, the reddest of the bunch, so that it matches my eyeglasses.
Rouge Magique promises that their lipsticks deliver “one-swipe intense color” and “one-swipe intense matte.” I agree with the intensities but it took me two coats—not one!—before I got full coverage. I also blotted with tissue then applied one final coat to achieve a deeply pigmented lip. So three coats total.
Even though it’s matte, the lipstick doesn’t feel heavy or drying. In fact, it feels smooth and creamy. It was comfortable to wear and looked amazing. Because the color is so intense, I highly recommend applying with a lip brush so that the lip shape is defined.
As for staying power, well, it didn’t last the whole day. It’s the type of lipstick you’ll need to keep in your bag for retouches. It transfers to everything! Coffee mugs bore witness to my lips. My husband and kids sported bright kiss marks on their cheeks. Lunch was a messy affair. My lipstick was on everything—my glass, my spoon, my food. After my meal, I carefully patted my lips with a napkin and my lipstick transferred to that, too. I had to check my lips if there was any product left! While my lips were still very red but the outline had blurred and I was in dire need of reapplication. By merienda time, I definitely needed to reapply. There was enough pigment left on my lips to look like I used a lip stain.
My verdict? If you’re pigging out with pals or planning a romantic date that will end in a makeout session, best to use a lip gloss! I still loved the deep pigments and moisturizing properties of the L’Oréal Paris Rouge Magique lipstick (and the affordable P400 price tag!) so I highly recommend the bold shades to make a statement at work or to add color to a night out dancing with your girlfriends.
Text by: Frances Sales
