Reviews
Sumptuous colour with excellent payoff
Never before have I spent so much on one lipstick (£23 to be exact), but they were pennies well spent. I was in search of a very specific shade of red and after visiting over twenty different counters in a plethora of department stores I was awestruck when I stumbled across Rouge 403.
403 is probably the closest you can get to the colour of real blood without having to create a custom shade by layering a bright red lipstick on top of a dark lip liner. Unlike most other reds which have a pink or purplish undertone, 403 has a distinct hue of warm, rusty brown. It is rich, deep and autumnal without being too dark or too brownish, and I find it doesn't compete or clash with my fair complexion. Because it's not as bright and vivid as a true red lipstick, it can be paired with heavier eye make up without looking overdone. I like to wear 403 with neutral smoky eyes and plenty of mascara for a vintage vampy look.
The saving grace of this expensive lipstick is that a little goes a long way so you don't need to worry about applying layer after layer to achieve maximum colour payoff. One stroke is all it takes, although I do recommend using a lip liner in a similar shade to ensure it stays put for longer.
The only downside is that it does feel a little bit drying once blotted, but for me this is something I can happily cope with because the shade is so lovely.