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Clarins Le Rouge Lipstick: Exceptional, Long Lasting Lip Color Reinvented
Date of Review: Oct 20, 2002
The Bottom Line: Don't waste your money on Estee Lauder's True Color lipstick. If you want a fantastic lipstick, Clarins Le Rouge is fantastic!
After seeing several advertisements for Clarins Le Rouge Lipstick in InStyle Magazine and on Gloss.com, I wanted to try some for myself. As a matter of fact, that was what led me to the Clarins counter at Nordstrom about six months ago, where I had a makeover and I was introduced to several different Clarins products. I loved the results and the lipstick and eye color so much that I purchased my own after the makeover.
As an avid lipstick collector (on my last count I had around 50 shades), I promised myself I would "calm down" and stop buying lipsticks. However, I had to make an exception with this lipstick, because I loved everything about it! Clarins Le Rouge gives intense, long lasting color without feeling heavy. This lipstick is highly pigmented, long-lasting, luminous color and it makes the lips appear fuller and smoother. This lipstick doesn't feather like most lipsticks. This lipstick actually creates a light, smooth film (similar to Chapstick) against your lips. The color lasts for most of the day. (On an average day, I apply it around 7 AM, and it stays on until around lunchtime, so I reapply again at 1 PM). My lips stay dehydrated and supple throughout the day.
Application
Le Rouge is very easy to apply, because it glides on easily to the shape of the lips (some lipsticks don't). I apply mine directly although some women prefer using a lip brush. For best results, I always line my lips with lip liner before applying lipstick (I fill in the center as well, so it blends easily). During my makeover, the Clarins representative used Clarins Plumberry lip liner to line my lips and it looked great. I have been using Clinique Quickliner Crushed Berry, which also works well. (For someone who owns so many lipsticks, I own five liners, and only use two!)
Ingredients
The main ingredients in Clarins Le Rouge lipstick are:
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Wheat Germ extract(This nourishes the lips)
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Vitamin C & E (Add protection)
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Shea (This moisturizes, protects, revitalizes and softens the lips. Shea also has an anti-oxidant action.)
Colors and Numbers
Clarins Le Rouge Lipstick has 36 different shades. Taking a cue from some other cosmetic companies, Clarins has revamped their marketing strategy for their lipstick collection, so the collection shade names and numbers for individual colors. (It isn't quite as difficult as it sounds).
The selection includes:
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Emotion 110, 120, 130, 140, 150, 160 (These shades are warm tones. I like the Emotion 160, which looks like a raisin tone).
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Illusion 210, 220, 230, 240, 250, 260 (The shade I purchased was Illusion 260, which is a gorgeous shade that is a mauve/ plum/berry color that I love.)
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Passion 310, 320, 330, 340, 350, 360 (these shades are deeper, warmer tones. I love Passion 360, which I may purchase later. I got a sample of this during my makeover, since it was recommended as a shade for me)
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Inspiration 410, 420, 430, 440, 450, 460 (Coral and red tones)
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Fusion 510, 520, 530, 540, 550, 560 (These shades seem very dark, like deep reds and brown tones)
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Sensation 610, 620, 630, 640, 650, 660 (These shades are dark plum and grape)
(It appears numerically that I am a match for most of the lipsticks that end in the number 60, so I am not sure if that is a deliberate color match or just some odd coincidence.)
Packaging
For $19 for one tube of lipstick, you should expect some pampering. Clarins is all about beautiful packaging to compensate for what you have spent on the product. To be honest, I never cared much about the packaging, because for me a lipstick case doesn't matter for the most part. (Some lipstick snobs make a distinction between Clinique green lipstick tubes that come with a gift with purchase and the fancier silver barrel lipstick that you have to purchase, although it is the same lipstick inside.) However, Clarins lipstick cases are so elegant, that you almost want to show them off. My lipstick came in a refined red, square shaped tube, with a curved gold around middle of the barrel with Clarins logo etched in the gold. This lipstick goes really well with my Clarins eye shadow case and silky red carrying bag that came with the Clarins eye shadow palette.
Because of the square shape, the lipstick tube is a little bigger than most lipsticks, so it barely fits in my leopard print Lancome lipstick case for my purse (I have two of those cases, and that's where I keep my favorite lipsticks).
Where to Buy
You can find Clarins Le Rouge Lipstick Clarins.com or Gloss.com, or buy visiting Clarins retail counter nearest you (If you go to the counter, you get the opportunity test the texture). If you like lip color like I do, I would recommend that you try this brand. This is one luxurious lipstick that is worth every cent I paid!
Thanks to Category Lead Shantel575 for adding my favorite lipstick!
