Burberry Lipstick In Prune (14)

Prune was the second Burberry Soft Satin Lipstick I chose (the other one was #9 Blush), and I have no idea which one I like better. Both are gorgeous and boast all the nice Burberry features- elegant packaging, superb texture, tons of pigment and a soft, moisturizing feel on the lips.

Prune is deeper and more dramatic than blush, but since my lips are naturally dark, it's a color I wear easily and not only in the evening. It's a brown-based color, not quite purple because it has quite a bit of warmth and red undertones. It's a fall/winter color, for sure.

The second swatch where it's next to the Sepia lip liner, the lipstick was actually rubbed off (either on my pants or on a random cat, I can't remember). Just look how much color is left- that's another testament to Burberry lipsticks' staying power.

Burberry Soft Satin Lipstick ($30) is a Nordstrom exclusive, available online and in select locations.

All photos are mine.

Givenchy Rouge Interdit 39 Absolutely Irresistible Red Satin Lipstick Limited Edition

Because there can never be enough perfect red lipsticks.

Givenchy makeup deserves to have brand ambassadors that are better than the average bored Sephora SA. The luxurious formulas and rich colors are lost in the general chaos and tackiness of the stores. Rouge Interdit lipsticks are especially fabulous- an almost glossy-creamy texture with a beautiful satin finish and impressive tenacity (very little if any transfers to your glass and some of the pigment is still visible after dinner). The lipstick glides on effortlessly and applies like a dream with or without a brush (do use a brush if you're getting a dark shade). It glosses over any imperfection and feels comfortable and a little moisturizing.

Absolutely Irresistible Red (#39) is as classic as they come, all Hollywood in its golden age. It has a pink(ish) base that doesn't come across in the tube but can be noticed in the swatches- both on paper and on my arm. I find it incredibly flattering and sexy. And quite irresistible.

Bottom Line: bold and beautiful.

Givenchy Rouge Interdit 39 Absolutely Irresistible Red ($28) is a limited edition and exclusive to Sephora, in store and online.

All photos are mine (and let's keep it that way).

Guerlain B64 Bee Limited Edition Rouge G Le Brilliant

I honestly thought that I was done with the 2010 Holiday collections on all their sparkle. Then last month I took a young cousin to Bloomie's and somehow we found ourselves at the Guerlain Counter. I already had a couple of Guerlain's holiday items and loved them, but then I came face to face with the limited edition Rouge G Le Brilliant in B64, Bee. It had to come home with me.

Rouge G lipsticks are fabulous from their beautiful packaging to the way they wear- the right balance of shine and color. In Le Brilliant Bee everything got kicked up a notch (now try to erase the mental image of Emeril Lagasse in a purple lipstick). There's more pigment, more golden shimmer and it stays on longer than the other Rouge G lipsticks I own, which are already pretty tenacious for such a moisturizing lip color.

The color is rich purple. It looks more violet in certain lights but reflects some red undertones in others. It's quite complex, thus looks very rich and pretty on the lips and I find that it has quickly become a favorite evening lipstick. The texture and luminosity make this Rouge G pretty low maintenance- I can get away with quick touch ups that don't include a liner and a brush.

Botton line:  There's a very cute bee embossed on the inside mirror. Who could ask for anything more?

Guerlain B64 Bee Limited Edition Rouge G Le Brilliant ($46) is available from decent department stores.

All photos are mine.

YSL Rouge Pur Couture Lipstick No.14 Rouge Feu

As promised, here's another YSL Rouge Pur Couture lipstick. This one is No. 14, Rouge Feu, which is a little more red and dramatic than Rouge Saadi (#3). You can see Rouge Feu is warmer, though it definitely doesn't have an orange undertone and isn't even tomato red. Fire red? I guess so, but maybe not quite. It's a great color anyway, one of those almost-universal reds that would look good on a wide range of skin tones.

YSL Rouge Pur Couture is part of the new generation of super-lipsticks. All have a wonderful texture- gentle on the lips and often moisturizing while providing an excellent coverage and lasting power. Rouge  Pur Couture has a more limited range of colors compared Chanel Rouge Coco, but lovers of red, fuchsia or orange have a good chance of finding at least one shade to rock their world.

Bottom Line: an(other) instant classic.

YSL Rouge Pur Couture Lipstick ($30) is available from most decent department stores.

All photos are mine.

Burberry Lipstick In Blush (09)

This is another one of those reviews that almost write themselves. Burberry launched the beauty line last summer to rave reviews. The colors, textures and packaging are all top notch. The products look and feel luxurious and form a cohesive line of wearable elegance. Burberry's Lip Cover Lipsticks are exactly what one would expect: creamy, hydrating, smooth with a beautiful satin finish. I played with many of them at my local Nordstrom and settled on two. For now, that is. There are several more shades I'd happily add to my collection.

Blush (09) is a red-based rose with maybe a hint of brown for good measure. You can see it compared to the darker and more plummy Prune (photos and review coming soon) and swatched next to a matching lip liner (ditto). It's a versatile color that can work as a day-to-evening lipstick. That's why I'm constantly hunting for my tube- I tend to carry it with me everywhere and forget which handbag has it.

Bottom Line: Big Love.

Burberry Lip Cover Lipstick ($30) in 09 Blush and other shades is a Nordstrom exclusive. Available online and from select locations.

All photos are mine.

YSL Rouge Pur Couture Lipstick No.3 Rouge Saadi

Rouge Pur Couture is the newest addition to YSL's lipstick wardrobe and it might just be their best offering so far. This is a new formula that feels deceivingly light weight while giving full coverage (at least in the darker shades I tested), an almost glossy finish and is very comfortable to wear. Rouge Pur Couture glides on effortlessly (I'd still recommend using a brush for red and dark purple colors that demand perfection) and coats the lips beautifully without pooling in lines and scars. I wouldn't call this YSL lipstick creamy or very hydrating, but it definitely protects the lips and maintains their moisture level.

Many of the shades offered in the Rouge Pur Couture range are variations of red, allowing just about everyone to find a perfect red. Rouge Saadi (#3) was among my first choices. The swatches on the YSL website are misleading, so I'm glad I got to test all of them at Barneys in NYC (my favorite Yves Saint Laurent counter. The service is always excellent). Rouge Saadi is a soft warm red that does not lean towards orange. You can see it compared to Rouge Feu (#14, reviews and more photos coming in a separate post soon). It perks up my face and lends itself to elegant looks without being too dramatic. I love it with an almost nude eye makeup (neutral allover wash, thin black liner and a little mascara) and a soft neutral blush- it's a good everyday red for my coloring.

Bottom Line: A beginning of a beautiful friendship.

YSL Rouge Pur Couture lipstick ($30) is available from the company's website and many department stores. Sephora also carries the line, but though Rouge Saadi is not offered there.

All photos are mine.

Guerlain Holiday 2010 Rose de la Reine (363) KissKiss Strass Lipstick

The bad news about the Holiday 2010 Collection Les Ors from Guerlain is that they didn't make anything as stunning as their Fall 2010 6 color eye palettes. I sort of hoped for one of two such compacts in a gilded packaging that would make us once again delirious with Guerlain lust. Of course, this is also the good news. I can wait a season or two for another $85 palette.

Collection Les Ors focuses on golden luminosity- for complexion, lips and eyes. Later this week I'll show you the new Meteorites Perles d'Or, but today we're talking lips. KissKiss Strass lipstick comes in two limited edition colors for the holiday 2010 collection. There's a dark red, Rouge Imperial, which looks very tempting in the promo pictures, but let's face it: I need another deep red lipstick as much as I need an additional set of lips. It's the nude department in my lipstick drawer that could use some reinforcement, and Rose de la Reine (#363) is a good addition.

While I hoped for more rosy pigment, I like Rose de la Reine for its texture and light reflecting qualities. It doesn't take away anything from my natural color and doesn't make my lips look pale or chalky. The little pigment this KissKiss Strass lipstick warms the complexion and works well with a bold eye look and sheer gold cheek color. It's very balmy and moisturizing, so one can wear it over a darker lip tint. By itself Rose de la Reine gives a very shimmery nude look. It will have more impact on the fair-skinned, pale-lipped crowd, but for the rest of us this is an easy to wear (and apply) nighttime option.

The balmy texture moisturizes and plumps the lips, but is quite heavy. It doesn't last long and requires frequent reapplying. I'd be curious to see if the other color, the deep red Rouge Imperial leaves behind a little color so one doesn't have to fix her makeup after every glass of champagne (all this gold, light reflecting from crystal goblets and chandeliers and plush textures is making my imagination work a little).

Bottom Line: nice but definitely not a must-have.

Guerlain KissKiss Strass lipstick ($31) and the rest of the holiday collection is already available at Bergdorf Goodman and select department store locations. A press sample was sent for consideration by the company.

All photos are mine.

Giorgio Armani Uptown Mauve Rouge d'Armani Lipsticks (605,606)

As promised, here are the newest two shades of Rouge d'Armani from the Uptown Mauve collection: Plum 605 and Plum 606. According to Giorgio Armani website they are limited edition, which is too bad. These are such classic, beautiful and wearable colors- could easily become signature lipsticks for many. For one insane moment I considered getting a backup. Then I remembered the three drawers full of lipsticks in my dressing room and the fact I haven't finished a tube in over a year. So, yes, by the time I'm done with 605 and 606 there will be many other favorites.

Like all /rouge d'armani lipsticks I've tested, the Uptown Mauve ones are just as soft, comfortable and saturated with color. They're not full coverage, though, and 606 is actually on the sheer side. I don't get 8 hours of wear, probably because I'm very fond of eating, drinking and talking throughout my day. Still, the pigment survives a snack and leaves enough behind after several hours. I like to reapply, though, and admire the sleek packaging.

605 is the darker of the two. It's more plummy while 606 is a rose/blush shade. Both have a good chance of flattering many skin tones. On me, 606 is a your lips, just better kind of thing, while 605 is dressier and can look great on a date night. Both are going to earn their keep- they are so easy to wear I don't need to put too much thought into matching and adjusting my look for them.

Bottom Line: big love.

Giorgio Armani Uptown Mauve Rouge d'Armani Lipsticks ($30 each) are available online from giorgioarmanibeauty-usa.com and probably at the various counters. I'd have checked and gotten them from my local Saks if the Armani SAs there weren't the worst I've ever encountered (on this side of the Atlantic). Seriously. Since both Armani online and most department stores don't charge shipping when you're a member (or have a code), I fully intend not to buy at that counter until something drastically changes.

All photos are mine. Assistant: Sophie