Christian Louboutin’s first foray into beauty was nail polish, which made total sense–his famous shoes adorn and accent a woman’s feet, just as nail color so often does. Louboutin’s next beauty venture, lipstick, also makes a certain amount of sense–his signature color is a vibrant red, after all, and no place in beauty is the color more beloved than on the lips. His just-launched lip colors start with Rouge Louboutin and go far beyond.
There are a few things you’re going to notice about this lipstick up front. First, it’s a weird shape. The tubes are shaped like literal bullets for some kind of very large gun, which is a play on the industry practice of referring to standard lipstick packaging as a “bullet.” As always, a little cheeky, Mr. Louboutin. It won’t sit flat on a vanity, but instead, the tube is meant to hang around your neck as a pendant. It has a little loop and everything. (Chain sold separately, as far as I can tell.)
Second, is, of course, the price tag. Each Louboutin lipstick will set you back $90, which makes the line the new high-price leader in the field; the most expensive non-limited edition lipsticks out there are from brands like Sisley, La Prairie, Guerlain and Tom Ford, which all fall somewhere in the $50 to $60 range. Louboutin has them all beat by a good bit of cash. (If you’re feeling luxurious, we did find a $300 limited edition lipstick in a crocodile tube from Givenchy.)
Third, the colors are great. I usually stick to a fairly narrow array of shades, but the more I looked at Louboutin’s lipsticks, the more many of them started to look like near-perfect representations of the colors they were supposed to be. Instead of being “good…but just a little too pink” or “nice…but not exactly what I’m picturing in my head,” they were spot-on. That’s not usually an experience I have when looking at lip colors, but if you’re going to charge a premium, I guess it’s important to get it right.
The line debuted with a ton of shades and three different finishes (matte, satin and sheer–each finish has a slightly different bullet casing), all of which are currently available via Bergdorf Goodman, Neiman Marcus, Net-a-Porter and beyond. For a slightly smaller splurge, Louboutin’s lipliners will set you back $40.
Check out the three finishes below. Could you ever see yourself spending $90 on one lipstick?
Christian Louboutin Mate Lipstick in Djalouzi
$90 via Bergdorf Goodman
Christian Louboutin Satin Lipstick in Let Me Tell You
$90 via Bergdorf Goodman
Christian Louboutin Sheer Lipstick in Rouge Louboutin
$90 via Bergdorf Goodman
Talk about dupable colors…. the only one “worth” it is Rouge Louboutin.
The prices for the lipsticks is outrageous
Rather buy Tom Ford.
Uhm, I’m not sure I want to wear lipstick around my neck. The price is expected. I’m sticking with Tom Ford and MAC
I might buy some…and the way it fastens around your next is a ribbon that comes with each box. The packaging is pretty appealing.
I agree I am a sucker for pretty packaging and I could see myself potentially reusing the tube with different lipstick once it is gone. I was one of the first people to buy the nail polish and I might jump on this bandwagon too…
What is that expression? “Highway robbery”?
I’ll stick to Chanel, Dior, and YSL lipsticks. Loboutin is a gimmick. Even his shoes are not that impressive up close.
Was wondering if I was the only one that thought this
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Nope. Absolutely not. I’m not paying just for brand and I can’t see these having a “performance” difference from great lip colors a third of the price.
Try again, CL. ????
The only thing I like is the shape of the tube, it is pretty and it has the ability to look like an edgy pendant if worn around the neck as suggested. I don’t like the price either as most have stated and I shall be sticking to MAC.
However, the idea of wearing your lipstick on your neck doesn’t sound too bad (esp. as the shape is kinda cute), think about the space you’d make available in your clutch LOL and then the ease of reapplying because it is right there on your neck.
I would buy this, like the nail polish, just as a display piece and not to actually use. I remember reading about these and thinking $75. The $90 price tag floored me. I just wasn’t prepared. I’ll just stick to the ones that I already like in the $20-$35 range.
Doesn’t Cle de Peau have a $70 lip gloss?
I will probably end up buying this but the product description is pretty much the most pretentious thing I’ve ever read… I lol’d… here is a snipped: ”
As a designer and creator of spirited objects, Christian Louboutin has transformed the everyday lipstick into a woman’s magic talisman. A beautiful objet d’art worthy of display, yet so intimate as to be worn like a precious jewel. Inspired by Babylonian architecture, the design captures the ornate aesthetics of Middle Eastern antiquities and the Arts-Deco movement. The solid black metal body, reminiscent of a precious elixir vial, holds the iconic Rouge Louboutin.”
Bull. Translation: There’s lots of money to be made and I want some of it.
Gagggggg LOL
Yeah I bought the nail polish and I’ve yet to paint a single finger with it….. Lol I’ll probably buy this too for a piece to put on my bedroom end table
No. Just… no.
I use nail polish and would def use this lipstick:)
The packaging actually turns me off even more than the price.
I agree. They look like some cheap Chinese packaging. Simplicity is classic (Chanel, Dior, Bobbi Brown, etc.). And I considered Tom Ford lipsticks overpriced! (they are nice, but there are better options on the beauty market)
Total turn-off. What’s next, lipsticks as earrings? Let shoemakers be shoemakers. To me, it’s kinda cheapening the brand. And for the price, might as well go all the way, why not? Must be really special… Ridiculous. Will never buy it.
I’ll never, EVER buy anything – shoe, bag – from CL. Louboutin is the epitome of trash. The brand screams “hooker”. This lipstick just confirms it.
That it does. Hookers do seem to love this brand.
What about women who are not hookers and like this brand???
I don’t want to be crass, but it looks like a butt plug…
Now you have given some people ideas LOL
I actually like the packaging…perhaps I can grab a few on first or second cut LOL
Yeah. No.
His shoes are of very poor quality. The soles wear out, and it is embarrassing to walk around in the torn red portion that gets so much use. His nail polish and lipstick prices are ridiculous. Why would someone spend so much money? Where is the quality? What is the point of having a lipstick that can’t stand? These look like a nightmare to put on a dresser, they will never stand, ugh. The space they occupy in a purse is also not ideal. I put my square Dior and Chanel in the inside side pocket, this one would take more space on one side instead of being symmetrical. Not a good design. Are the nail polishes doing so well that they expanded into lipsticks? Crazy!
I bit the “bullet” (haha) because I love the tube I do think it is very beautiful. After having spent some time with my “magic talisman” (Louboutin’s description, not mine) I am pretty happy with my purchase. The tube is gorgeous and as far as the matte goes, it outperforms many of those cheaper brands (Chanel, YSL, MUFE) in my opinion- you can wear it without balm, it’s not drying and the color payoff is insane. However, that alone is not a reason to purchase at this price. The tube is really cool, but I don’t plan on wearing it as a necklace as suggested, that would look really weird. I do plan on reusing it for balm when the color is gone.