Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links and the products featured were provided for review.
Matte lip colors seem to always be on trend but they tend to become increasingly more popular during the fall and winter time to provide a much-needed pop of color to any makeup look. Lancome has recently extended the L'Absolu Rouge family to include a 24-shade matte collection called the L'Absolu Rouge Drama Matte Lipsticks ($40 CAD for 3.4 g). I've got review and swatches of a few shades to share with you today. To read on, click......
Packaging:
Housed in a snazzy push-to-release black tube finished with a chic matte finish, the L'Absolu Rouge Drama Matte Lipstick features two special, colored editions for the shades "157 Obsessive Red" and "388 Rose Lancôme". Instead of the classic black tube, these two shades have a colored tube that matches the lipstick shade inside.
Formulation:
Infused with lightweight, spherical powder pigments, the L'Absolu Rouge Drama Matte Lipstick is designed to provide an intense but blurred matte finish. With a slightly dry, almost crumbly texture, the lipsticks did not swatch very well on my arms as small pieces of the actual lipstick formed when the color tugged on the skin. However, the formulation performed much better on the lips, with some variation between the shades. "
157 Obsessive Red" is a bright coral-orange red; this shade is very pigmented but the formulation is chalky and patchy. With a few extra swipes, the finish eventually looks presentable but there are still subtle bald patches visible when observed up-close.
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388 Rose Lancome" is a bright cool-tone pink. As compared to "157 Obsessive Red", this shade has a much creamier texture that applies smoothly with no unevenness. "
505 Adoration" is a classic true red. This one lands somewhere between "157 Obsessive Red" and "388 Rose Lancome". It's not as creamy and silky as the pink but it's also nowhere near as patchy or chalky as the coral.
As you can see in the swatches, the Drama Mattes definitely have a drier, powdery texture. However, thanks to the jojoba oil infused with the pigments, the lipstick doesn't actually feel drying on the lips. Despite the soft, blurred effect, it was easy to achieve clean, precise lines and the finish is a true-matte with no subtle sheen or shine. In terms of wear, these fared pretty well. The pigments cling really well to the lips but there is still some smudging and transferring. Overall this is a pretty unique matte formulation that I've not come across before. The soft, powdery texture is not as smooth and creamy during application but the finish is indeed very matte and long-lasting. There seems to be some variation between the different shades so I do recommend doing some research before buying. Out the three shades I have here, I would definitely recommend "388 Rose Lancome" and "505 Adoration".
Availability:
Lancome is available online and in stores at
Sephora, The Bay, Shoppers, London Drugs, and
www.lancome.ca.
