Review + Swatches: Rouge Dior Is Where Color Meets Couture
Product photography by Perkin Gotohio
I feel good whenever someone asks me what lipstick I’m wearing and I say, “It’s Dior”. It’s a small thrill, really, but I think we all deserve a little luxury in our life. Having a signature designer lipstick in my purse makes me feel elegant and tasteful, especially when I have a high-low mix of products for the day! It doesn’t have to be all designer but I think having a couple in there just elevates the entire look. If you feel the same way, then you should get to know the Rouge Dior Lipstick (P3,000 in Dior boutiques and Rustan’s) a little more.
I’ve been testing out this lipstick for over a month now, so I can say with confidence that this is worth the splurge. The packaging alone feels expensive with the solid heft, the smooth magnetic slide-and-click as it opens and closes, the texture of the actual bullet that looks like fabric, and of course the CD logo and embossed cannage pattern on the top of the cap. The formula is the kind that gets benchmarked by brands all over the world - the one they send to their manufacturers with the note “make this, but less expensive”.
Honestly, the manufacturers will probably come close, but never quite capture the tactile feel as the Rouge Dior glides on and hugs the lips like a snug glove of color. I love that it wraps the contours of the lips in a way that makes them look full and crisp even without lip liner. For red lipsticks particularly, this is not as easy a feat as you might think! And yet Dior’s formula, for me, sits on top of the lipstick food chain precisely because of this. All of my lip swatches here are straight from the tube, and just a couple of swipes per section max.
Dior Beauty sent over six shades for review. Please note that the Velvet finish is more of a soft matte once it fully sets and dries down; in my lip swatches, the Velvets aren’t fully dry yet when I photographed.
100 Nude Look (Velvet) is a great matte nude lip color for me! It has a brown base and a dusty pink hue. It looks warmer in person than in the photos. This is a great lipstick for days when I do a full smoky eye.
720 Icone (Satin) on the other is a fabulous everyday lippie. It’s a medium rose pink, bright and happy.
777 Fahrenheit, 888 Strong Red, and 999 look similar in my photos but the difference is much more obvious in person! 777 is more of a red with a burnt sienna tone, 888 is more orange-y and bright, while 999 is closer to a classic true red. The Velvet and Satin versions of 999 are the same, but I slightly prefer the Satin one only because the shine makes my lips look fuller and more alive.
I have both the Velvet and Satin finishes, and both have the same lightweight texture. I thought the Velvet would feel dry and textured, as most velvet finishes tend to be, but actually it sits completely flat on the lips. You won’t feel bits of it when you rub your lips together - you know what I mean! Satin has an almost glossy finish to it, Staying power of both versions is pretty good too. I can eat and drink with these lipsticks and still expect them to look fresh afterwards, and they will only fade completely by hour 5 or 6.
These aren’t “setting” formulas, so they remain flexible on the lips.
Overall, I think the Rouge Dior Lipstick is worth a spot in your beauty wardrobe. There are and will be dupes, but they’re not Dior.
