Confession.
I've got expensive tastes.
Now, I'm not one to name drop, nor would I ever buy something just for sake of flaunting how much money I spent. I just appreciate quality when I see it, and often (but not always) the nicer something is, the more it will cost you. As my father often says "someone could take the price tags off of everything and you'd still pick out the most expensive thing in the store". It's probably about as close to a super power as I'm ever going to get.
Despite my affinity towards nice things, I'm also your normal working lady on a budget. Splurge purchases are not something to be made every day, and I've got to pick and choose carefully when spending my hard earned cash. While a lot of quality products cost a little bit more, dollar signs are not directly proportional to awesomeness, as I'm sure many of us have learned by spending way too much money on something that was overly hyped.
But that's one of the reasons I love blogging so much. Not only do I get to help other people steer clear of the stuff that disappoints or clue them into hidden gems, but I also have an amazing network of blogger friends and brands that do the same for me in return. One really awesome website that anyone can work with is Influenster. They team up with brands to help them find the right consumers to test out their products. That means you get to try awesome stuff for free in exchange for providing your honest feedback on the web or through social media.
In the past year I've gotten to participate in a number of cool campaigns, but this one might just be my favorite to date. I've been oggling Yves Saint Laurent's lip products from afar for years. They look so incredibly beautiful, but the sticker shock has always been too much for me to get over. Needless to say I just about fell out of my chair when I saw that Influenster was sending me two YSL Rouge Pur Couture Satin Radiance Lipsticks to try. With a retail price of $36 a pop, these babies are definitely in the splurge category for me, and I am SO thrilled to finally be able to try them out and let you know whether or not they're worth the hype (and your dolla dolla bills, y'all).
When YSL launched its cosmetics range way back in 1978, the Rouge Pur Couture Lipstick was its star. Luxurious, elegant, and beautifully pigmented, it's no surprise that it's managed to stand test of time. Truly, everything about this product screams attention to detail. The packaging is exquisite, with a sleek, gold metal case and YSL's signature logo imprinted on the front. Even just the weighty feel of it in your hand tells you this is not your average lipstick. When you pull off the cap you'll immediately be taken by its lovely, sensual, slightly floral scent. Unlike some cheaper lipsticks that can have an overly off-putting and perfumey fragrance, this one just seems 100% luxury to me. And of course, as a nice little extra touch, the product itself is also embossed with the YSL logo.
In forty years, the Rouge Pur Couture Line has also developed an impressive range of colors. There are over 50 different shades to choose from, which makes it pretty impossible not to fall in love with at least one. All Influensters were sent the same two colors to try - Shade 09 (Rose Stiletto) and Shade 19 (Fuchsia).
As someone who uses a lot of budget-friendly lip products, these lipsticks basically just blew my mind. Its much like comparing a leather designer handbag to a knock-off you bought on Canal Street. While your $25 purse might be cute and do the job, once you've got your hands on the real deal there's truly no comparison. The Rouge Pur Couture formula is just perfect. It's buttery smooth, yet incredibly lightweight and comfortable on the lips. It packs a ton of pigmentation, but isn't remotely chalky or patchy. While it doesn't entirely dry down, it also doesn't feather, bleed, or smudge around the lip line, and has quite a decent amount of lasting power. It's essentially everything one would expect from a product that has the word "couture" in its name.
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| Left: #`9 Fuchia, Right: #09 Rose Stiletto |
Rose Stiletto, on the other hand, might just be my new signature everyday lipstick. It's a gorgeous, dusty, your-lips-but-better pink. It's a little bit deeper and richer than your standard nude-pink, and will be absolutely perfect for the fall. I honestly can't remember the last time I was this excited to wear a lipstick, but I truly look forward to putting it on every morning.
Final verdict? In terms of splurge-worthy purchases, these lipsticks definitely make the list. If you can find one shade that you absolutely love and could see yourself wearing every day, I think it'd totally be worth every penny. Every woman needs at least one power player in her makeup collection (you know, that product that makes you feel conquer-the-world fabulous) and a killer lipstick is definitely a great way to go.
On that note, I'm also really curious about the YSL Rouge Volupté Shine Lipsticks and how they compare to these ones. If anyone has tried them I would love to hear your thoughts! Definitely post me a comment or tweet me @blushingbirdie and let me know if you have a preference for one or the other. In the meantime, I hope you all are having a great week! Let's chat again soon.
What is your makeup power player?
*I received these products complimentary for testing purposes. All opinions expressed are my own. This post contains affiliate links. For more information regarding my affiliations and disclosures click here.
