Serge Lutens • lipstick • Lips

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liangaf1 on 2/6/2013 5:09:00 PM more reviews by liangaf1

Age: 30-35   Skin: Normal, Fair   Hair: Brown   Eyes: Brown    

Ah, the mystique of Serge Lutens. I ordered one of the lipsticks from the cosmetics line in #6, a creamy beige-pink-gray. I deliberated between a classic red or darker shade, and a more wearable neutral. After speaking with the MUA at Barneys during the GWP promo last Sept I opted for the neutral shade. It is creamy, but sadly that is where the positive attributes end. I wish I had my $75 back!
Let me list what I don't like:
- TINY - really, I have lipstick samples the same size or larger
- not long lasting
- odd sensation of not being hydrating despite creaminess
- the color is equal to my lips with lipbalm
Those are pretty important negatives! I mean, that is basically everything you can comment on in a lipstick. I am not sure how all those negatives resulted in an overall score of 3 - I guess because I like the general look on - but I would recommend ONLY buying one of these after testing at a counter! Save your $$$ for Guerlain!

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cheryl01234 on 7/16/2012 11:52:00 PM more reviews by cheryl01234

Age: 30-35   Skin: Normal, Fair-Medium   Hair: Brown   Eyes: Brown    

This is hands down the best lipstick I've ever used! I know it's pricy but it's the only lipstick I actually want to put on my face. The staying powder is unbelievable and the texture is awesome! I've used lipsticks with similar color payoff but very drying. The colors can seem either too dark or light but I believe they are actually meant to be used mixed. But I have the darkest red shade and I like the color.

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nikorouge on 11/14/2011 12:44:00 PM more reviews by nikorouge

Age: 36-43   Skin: Other   Hair: Other   Eyes: Other    

It's not worth the hype. Not long lasting, transfers very easily, drying and the price is insane. Except votre sienne (if somebody knosw a good dupe for it, please let me know), the other colors are dupable, it seems couvre feu is very close to YSL pur couture N°08 Belle de Rose.

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chrystelica on 3/7/2010 11:23:00 AM more reviews by chrystelica

Age: 25-29   Skin: Dry, Fair, Warm   Hair: Brown, Straight, Fine   Eyes: Blue    

OK!! I never thought the day would come when I would spend $75 on a lipstick, but I truly love two of these shades, and they wears beautifully, and the color is perfect. I got a purple shade in #3, Pourpre Maure, and it is absolutely the most gorgeous lipstick I have ever used. A MUST TRY for ANYONE.... it is worth even this ridiculous price.
It wears beautifully, does not bleed, transfer or fade, and the color looks fabulous, even though it is cool, with my warm complexion. Although, I am not a typical 'warm,' I have mainly pink undertones with blue and green (mostly from my veins which are very apparent before I cover them up with makeup), but I am pigmented, so my freckles give me a little more golden warmth.
This shade does not make me look vampy at all, it just looks absolutely stunning, totally gorgeous bright purple on me, almost a magenta/fuschia, fantastic. The perfect shade!!!! I LOVE it. It has a creamy texture, covers well, is lightweight, glossy and shiny on the surface but it is highly pigmented and the color is deep. I used a lipstick base first (from Shiseido's Benifiance line, later switched to Orlane) that gives it a little more gloss and makes it easier to apply. Just awesome. I will probably wear this anytime I go out and want to look dressed up. Casual enough to wear with jeans but totally sexy. I love this color anyway, but in a lipstick it's perfect.
EDIT: I also fell in love with Mise a Mort, which is a beautiful, almost theatrically dramatic red, which reminds me of the (pretty far removed) French vaudeville heritage I have every time I wear it!! It's a lovely, rich shade of blue-based, peppy classic red, which is slightly goth on me but bright and spirited, almost a traditional Japanese look.
I'm not sure how it manages to seem French and Japanese at the same time, but it is a peculiar shade he must've spent at least a few weeks developing. I am tempted to believe, and not just because of the price, but because of the subtle complexities of the actual pigments themselves, that the wearing of these lip pigments is a form of performance art. That is, if you care.

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JCAUDO on 3/6/2009 12:19:00 PM more reviews by JCAUDO

Age: 36-43   Skin: Combination, Fair-Medium, Warm   Hair: Brunette, Wavy, Medium   Eyes: Hazel    

I guess I'm the odd one reviewing this. I actually LOVE this lipstick. It is very pricey, but honestly has lasted much longer than others I"ve paid close to the same price for. This product is not for everyone, its not a dramatic lipstick but more of a nude or natural stain type lipstick. It has alot of pigment so you dont' need much, it certainly is not a shiney lipstick so if you like shine, you'll need a gloss. I like the fact that you can buy refills, I only use two shades but one holder for both bullets. I also love the fact that it does not bleed, how many other lipsticks can I really say that about. Anyways, its expensive but I have repurchased the refills twice already.

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*TOP REVIEWER* miranets on 1/9/2009 11:21:00 PM more reviews by miranets

Age: 19-24   Skin: Combination, Medium, Warm   Hair: Brown, Straight, Medium   Eyes: Brown    

Texture and finish: Thin and semi matte, so it feels like a stain (for the more pigmented shades at least). I have to wear some sort of balm under this as my lips feel dry after a short while. The scent is musky and reminds me of "old ladies", although it does not bleed into the mouth and leave a residue taste. I only need a few swipes of this on a lip brush to completely shade the lips, and the stain effect is somewhat buildable.


(these shades are reviewed in a somewhat best-suits me order.)


7 Notre Sienne is a rose/mauve red, which is like a MLBB shade for me.


8 Compliment Beige disappears on my lips if I don't use a concealer, essentially it IS my lip colour with a tad more pink (which is lost against the undertones of my natural lip colouring). If I use a concealer, such as Canmake, in the lighter shade, then this becomes a very nice flesh pink/nude for my complexion.


1 Mise a Mort is a brick red with blue/purple undertone (not the true fire engine classic red). I have never tried blue based lip products as I have yellow undertones and I always thought they would emphasise sallowness in the complexion. However, this is a very nice shade, somewhat bold but I can pull it off in the office. If the red were any sharper, then it would not suit a day look for medium-warm complexions.


4 Or Perle, perhaps it could be used as a "gloss" or finishing stain, however it is a defunct translucent pale gold shade that does not show up against any other shades either.


3 Pourpre Maure, a purple magenta shade - again another "cool" toned base which I normally would never use against my warm complexion. However, it works decently to create that whole vamp noir look without making one look like death. Normally, I'd go for brown reds for evenings looks, but this would be OK given if you use a foundation that really brightens the complexion.


6 Mauve de Swann. Pale purple mauve beige. Not a shade that suits my lip colouring, adds a pale touch. Suits very light lip colouring with cool fair complexions.


Overall, the 6 colour palette sampler was a great introduction to blue based tones that I would have otherwise never bothered experimenting with. I think SL offers some unique shades... considering I own 100+ lipsticks, I've yet to come across anything that looks as nice as Votre Sienne or Compliment Beige. However, there are many better formulations out there, with less inhibitive prices, and more readily available.

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*TOP REVIEWER* CJCJ on 9/5/2008 5:28:00 PM more reviews by CJCJ

Age: Unknown   Skin: Dry, Fair   Hair: Brunette   Eyes: Brown    

The way to try this product is to insist on the 6-color trial pack. You recieve a card w/6 shades on it; the 3 reds, a gold, a pink-rose and a mauve. The shades go on beautifully, last and leave a stain behind, do not dry out your lips or bleed. The problem is:

*the price is awful. You buy the refills and, well, the system is just too much money
*the shades will NOT work for everyone.

The reds are blue based: very blue, brown-blue and purple. Blotted, they look like velvet on your lips but are very dramatic. Yellow/warm tones would not look good.

The gold is a clear gold. The pink-rose is just that and the mauve is a blueish purple mauve;not bad, but light in shade.

Simply put, nice product but NOT worth the money. At least, not my money.

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*TOP REVIEWER* qwendy on 2/8/2007 6:02:00 PM more reviews by qwendy

Age: 44-55   Skin: Sensitive, Fair, Cool   Hair: Blond, Wavy, Medium   Eyes: Blue    

For the last week I've been trying out the six lipstick I got a sample pack for at the Palais Royale shop. I was terribly curious to see if the insane expense and hype of the line actually meant anything, and as a serious SL fan, wondering what he's doing with his makeup. I can only imagine that there was some kind of imperative from his parent company, Shiseido, to venture into the cosmetics arena, partly to show off their virtuosity and also to make money, since Japanese consumers would have no problem forking over serious cash for items with this kind of quality and pedigree.

Pedrhaps they also took control of the colors of the lipsticks, as there are two groups of three colors each: the first, nude, group, which I can imagine looking great on Asian skin tones, is a veil of tinted lip stuff (see the other review for details); while the second is a range of MUCH darker shades, looking in their sample forms, like red, strong pinky, and purple. In fact they are all completely blue based, perhaps best for Asian skin tones, if you're into serious drama! Since I have so much pink in my skin, I can wear these colors, but in moderation, not my daily fare. And I can imagine the classic French Femme shrinking from these colors, which are almost in bad taste, and would class horribly with what we call French Red hair! THE COLORS: Big Mistake, bizarrely narrow range.

I must say that the formulations are absolutely stellar, amazingly long lasting, neither shiny nor matte, and they really stay put! I applied the "red" this morning and it was completely intact until lunch, and not a hint of dryness, even though the coverage is very thin. The Stephane Marais in a similar color I applied after lunch was wrecked in 90 minutes, and my lips feel a bit dry..............

In conclusion, while I would never pay $75 for ANY lipstick, if I WERE that sort of gal, I would certainly pay it for this superior formulation in proper colors, but these aren't them!

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*TOP REVIEWER* janebkrn on 5/19/2006 9:31:00 AM more reviews by janebkrn

Age: Unknown   Skin: Dry, Fair, Warm   Hair: Blond, Curly, Fine   Eyes: Blue    

I think everyone on this planet is turned off by the high cost of the SL cosmetics. Sure, we'll pay more for a fantastic finish, famous names and for pretty packaging. Serge has taken those ideas to the point of insult. Who is he trying to kid? There is a foundation and mascara, which I have not tried. There are 4 lipsticks. The colors are nothing but odd.I purchased these at a real bargain price (still too much) I am fair, so can get away with pale colors such as those that limit the SL line. However these are WAY too pale. The only one I halfway liked is the mauve which makes my lips look like I'm starving for oxygen.It actually wouldn't be too bad as a top color if it had some more frostiness to it. The texture is quite nice at first, making me think that perhaps this was a HEALTHY lipstick. It reminded me of the Prada colored lip treatments. But then it wears off quickly, so any benefit is lost.Some may assume that the high costs of these products is for packaging - there is not anything special there either. So I gqess it boils down to paying for Serge's name. I'm sorry, he is just not worth it.

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