Brand: Lancome
Range: L’Absolu Rouge (Advanced Replenishing & Reshaping Lipcolor SPF 12)
Shade: Beige Mirage #250
Swatched by yours truly: akisa

• Creamy luscious texture that wraps lips comfortably in a smooth satin finish.
• Gives the appearance of a fuller pout, with Lancome’s patented Pro-Xylane ingredient.
• Lightweight yet moisturising
• Beige Mirage is available in limited countries only (eg. Australia, some online sites) and is a sheer beige with subtle gold particles that reflect light.
• Verdict: This is my current favourite nude as it’s semi-sheer, creamy satin, illuminating and looks more sophisticated on me than other nudes.

 

This doesn’t give full coverage, but I don’t mind since it blends well so that my natural pink lip tones blend with the neutral beige.

Brand: Korres
Range: Mango Butter Lipstick SPF 10
Shade: Pink #14
Swatched by yours truly: akisa

• Available in 11 shades, Korres describes their lipsticks as a “rich intense colour with a high shine and wet look” but I would describe it as a  a moisturising tinted lipstick.  It’s more pigmented than the usual lip tints, but sheerer and glossier than lipsticks.
• Contains Mango Butter,  Vitamin C and E to moisturise & nourish lips
• Dupe: The formula reminds me of Giorgio Armani Sheer Lipsticks.
• Verdict: If you love pigmented lip colour but struggle with thick formulas, definitely worth trying this formula as it’s so wearable given the sheer finish. Personally I prefer this buttery formula over liquid lip tints which often requires blending with fingers.

 See what I mean by a pigmented yet tinted finish?

 Dermatologically tested and free of mineral oil, silicones, propylene glycol & ethanolamine.

Brand: Bobbi Brown
Range: Rich Lip Color SPF 12
Shade: Soft Coral #7
Swatched by yours truly: akisa

• Available in 12+ shades, Rich Lip Color SPF 12 is the latest addition to Bobbi Brown’s lipstick range.
• Bright, pigmented, creamy yet lightweight & moderately moisturising.
• Soft Coral turned out to be a pale coral on me, which reminds me of summer.  Since it was so bright, the coverage didn’t conceal my lips entirely, but I expect it won’t be an issue with darker shades.
• If you are prone to dry lips this lipstick only accentuates them further, so I’d recommend Bobbi Brown Lip Color instead, which is much more emollient.
• Verdict: Recommend for lippie lovers who love pigmented coverage, although I suggest trying shades closer to your lip tone for more even coverage.
• Link Love: Check out Temptalia’s swatch of the range here.

 

This product was sent for consideration.

Range: Dior
Range: Sérum De Rouge (Luminous Color Lip Treatment SPF 20)
Shade: Radiant Pink Serum #560
Swatched by yours truly: akisa

• Soft, creamy, emollient and nourishing formula that glides on lips.   Also boosts micro-circulation and collagen levels for healthy lips.
• Radiant Pink Serum is a sweet & vibrant pink, great for brightening medium toned lips like mine.
• Luminous finish that promises not to bleed
• Contains 10 times more active skincare ingredients than other lipsticks
• Comparison: Compared to Bobbi Brown’s Treatment Lip Shine SPF 15, this has a more lightweight watery finish that is better at smoothing lips.  However on a “bad lip day”, Bobbi Brown is more flattering as it conceals chapped lips better, unlike Dior’s watery texture that exposes the flakes.

Verdict:

• My current favourite all-in-one SPF treatment lipstick, as it’s combines practicality with luxury & attracts compliments for its luminous, smooth finish.
• However it looks best on ‘good lip days’, so you still need a lip balm in your bag to heal and conceal chapped lips.
• Tip: Unlike other lipstick packaging, once you wind it up it doesn’t wind back down, so be careful to only wind up the amount you need for 1-2 applications at a time.
• Click to view other swatches from Sérum De Rouge range.

 

 

In real life the pink is much more vibrant on my medium toned lips.

Looks best only on ‘good lip days’. Flakes are easily exposed even with this treatment lipstick

Best of all I love the pen-size packaging in Dior’s signature quilted design~

I bought this from Sephora.

Brand: Yves Saint Laurent
Range: Rouge Pur Couture SPF 15
Shade: Rouge Roxane – #16
Swatched by guest reader: Victoria from Russia!

• Thank you Victoria for your guest swatch! Even though it looks berry in the digital swatch, it belongs in the “orange” family, which explains why it looks more warm toned on lips! 
• Click here to check out more swatches from the Rouge Pur Couture range.