Reviewers Agree: This is the Best YSL Lip Colour
Image: Matthew Reyes at Visionary Imaging
The Best Yves Saint Laurent Lipstick Colours
It is a truth universally acknowledged that a woman in search of a lipstick outstanding in both quality and brilliance would naturally opt for Yves Saint Laurent. After all the fashion house was the first in their field to delve into beauty in the 1970s, allowing for the time and experience to cement YSL as one of the most respected beauty brands today.
The problem you may stumble upon at this point is which colour to choose, a classic carmine or an always relevant nude? A romantic pink or an alluring plum? And while the shade that suits you might not work for your best friend we thought it was important to bring you a definitive list of the most loved YSL pouts so you can decide your next lip adventure. We sifted through hundreds of online reviews to bring you the lipstick shades that’ll have you cradling, stealing (from your friends of course) and raving wherever you go.
1.Rouge Pur Couture - No.1 Le Rouge
Yves Saint Laurent, Rouge Pur Couture ($59)
If the world suddenly became a post-apocalyptic, Mad-Max-type universe and there was only one shade you could choose as you battled it out à la Charlize Theron, this would be it. It’s that specific blend of crimson that many women spend years trawling various department stores and online forums for and is noted as being flattering to most if not all complexions. No. 1 Le Rouge is a reinterpretation of the iconic YSL red lipstick formulated back in the 1970s and has become a mainstay in the kit of any beauty lover worth their salt.
The lipstick itself has a satin finish—the perfect middle ground between a matte or shine. One reviewer also commented on the way the golden lid can double as a mirror, how’s that for multi-functional?
2. Tatouage Couture Liquid Matte Lip Stain – Rosewood Gang
Yves Saint Laurent, Tatouage Couture Liquid Matte Lip Stain in Rosewood Gang ($62)
This one is for the days when it’s cereal instead of brunch, a movie night over evening drinks and easy glam over the full-face-shebang because sometimes you just want to be low-key. That leads me to the second YSL shade that has those reviews clogged with excitement. Let me introduce you to rosewood gang, the tube that one mecca reviewer affectionately deemed “the lazy girl lipstick”. It’s a matte finish lip stain that lasts the whole day with just one hasty swipe. It’s part nude, part dusty pink depending on your skin tone but the general consensus is that it delivers for everyone.
Everything about this lippy is made for minimal effort. The applicator is angled to offer better precision when applying, unlike the dreary doe-foot applicators many other brands peddle. And the formula is long-wearing saving you the commitment of having to reapply every few hours.
3. Rouge Pur Couture - 19 Fuchsia Pink
Yves Saint Laurent, Rouge Pur Couture in 19 Fuchsia pink ($59)
When asked about his venture into beauty, Yves Saint Laurent replied: "I wanted a face for the woman I dress”. The makeup collection that was to follow would centre on the three YSL colours: red, fuchsia and orange. The shade in question is an energising pink with blue undertones and is the perfect fit for those looking for a statement pout. It is also one of the few lipsticks known simply by its number and was the first tint created by Monsieur Saint Laurent in 1979. To this day it remains the company’s best-selling lip colour.
One downside to its popularity is that it is frequently sold out, one mecca reviewer lamented. She cited it as being “her favourite lipstick in the world” and noted the way her patients in a Sydney hospital knew her by her vibrant lip choice.
4. Rouge Volupte Shine Lipstick - 82 Orange Crepe
Yves Saint Laurent, Rouge Volupte Shine Lipstick in 82 Orange Crepe ($59)
Remember how I said that YSL does fuchsia, red and orange best? Well, I wasn’t lying. And while I know many would opt for the classic Rouge Pur Couture 13 Le Orange to fulfil their tangerine dream, Orange Crepe is for those who don’t take themselves too seriously. It’s the perfect coral to take you from day to night with a sheer buildable pigment so you can adjust the colour to suit you. This lipstick is regarded as the most moisturising of the YSL lip range and comes with the added bonus of an addictive mango scent, making it a stellar buddy for the incoming summer months.
5. Vernis À Lèvres Vinyl Cream Lip Stain - 407 Carmin Session
Yves Saint Laurent, Vernis à lèvres vinyl cream lip stain in 407 carmin session ($59)
Carmin Session is your new everyday lip shade. This colour has been hailed as the ultimate ‘my lips but better’ hue so prepare to give this workhorse a go. It’s lightweight and shiny without being sticky so you don’t end up with strands of hair stuck to your mouth.
Once again this shade is a tricky one to tie down as it’s usually out of stock. The solution? Buy three so you can have one at home, in your purse and waiting for you at your work desk for those midday top-ups.
What’s your favourite lip shade? Let us know in the comments below, and check out more beauty stories, here!