Review | Estée Lauder Pure Color Sensuous Rouge Lip Colors in 03 Sensuous Nude and 05 Enticing Fuchsia

New to Estée Lauder’s range of lip products is Pure Color Sensuous Rouge Lip Color, lipsticks with a moisturising jellified core.

Here’s what the brand has to say about the range:

French macaroons and truffles were the inspiration behind the Sensuous Rouge formula – decadent flavor with a soft center surprise in every bite.

This indulgent experience is mimicked in a lipstick – Sensuous Rouge is fused with two distinct formulas with a luscious center core, caressing your lips with a moisture rich infusion of delicious color.

How delicious-sounding! : ) ~

I’d read an online review that questioned why the brand didn’t simply infuse that same moisture throughout the lipsticks. A valid question but I’m guessing that doing it this way achieves a balance of conditioning agents and pigmentation; perhaps the emollience throughout would compromise the depth of colour?

I received preview samples of Sensuous Nude and Enticing Fuchsia from Estée Lauder Singapore and was surprised by the classy packaging which detracts from the staid one of old.

A gold mirrored cap sits atop a translucent base in the corresponding colour of the lipstick, its angular shape more modern than the usual cylindrical one. A small square centrepiece embossed with the brand’s logo rounds off the design.

Sensuous Nude is a warm mid-tone toffee, while Enticing Fuchsia is a cool deep fuchsia. Both apply evenly despite the dual components. The two lipsticks have a buttery smooth glide and subtle lustre, as you can see from the swatches.

The finish is similar to that of a satin lipstick over a lip balm (you can certainly skip balm application with this lipstick) – a velvety and soft finish that is elegant and appropriate for both simple and sophisticated looks.

As with EL lippies, they aren’t fragrance-free – they have a vanilla scent albeit subtler than that of MAC lipsticks.

They look less shiny on the lips than in the swatches but the silkiness is apparent both in appearance and feel. A touch of shimmer gives these lipsticks a delicate glimmer.

Do note that the core will not remain pristine and will experience colour transfer from the peripheral shade.

Sensuous Nude makes a good nude lip for warm eye/cheek makeup, while Enticing Fuchsia is great for cool looks. The nude is a subtle tone, while the latter gives intense colour with just one slick, brightening up the visage immediately.

They feel wonderful on the lips (they hug the lips ever so smoothly!) but their wear is average – they don’t last exceptionally long, given their moisturising texture but they don’t wear off very quickly, either.

They’re not mind-blowing in the sense that they’re nothing we haven’t seen before (Shu Uemura and even Revlon make something similar) but they are a good addition to your stash because of their highly-comfortable texture and beautiful velvety finish. It’s not hard to find something suitable for yourself in the wearable range of colours. My mum has the same skin tone as me and I’m probably purchasing Enticing Fuchsia for her, seeing how it works on me. I’m certain it will be flattering on her!

If you’re already a fan of Estée Lauder (lipsticks or otherwise), I think you’ll welcome this lipstick upgrade. Certainly, Tom Pecheux is slowly but surely taking Estée Lauder to new makeup places. ;)

Introduced to the Singapore market this month, Sensuous Rouge Lip Colors retail at S$42 and are already available at Estée Lauder counters island-wide.

Image source: Estée Lauder Singapore